TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5A
Guide aims to inform KU community
By Nathan Dayani
Kansan staff writer
New members of the community beware. It's time for some disorientation.
This fall's Disorientation Guide, produced by the University of Kansas' Center for Community Outreach, is only days away from hitting the streets.
Brian Thomas, CCO communications director and Plano, Texas, junior, said the guide's goal was to help students and locals become more aware of their community.
"Almost every organization we feature somehow has that interaction between students and the community," he said. "The same thing goes with businesses and histories - it's usually about the interaction between how Lawrence has grown up and how KU has grown up with it."
Tommy Bobo, design intern for CCO and North Augusta, S.C., sophomore, said those who read the guide would probably have a greater appreciation for the
wealth of culture in the Lawrence area.
"We have one of the most educated populations in the nation. There are more college degrees per capita here than anywhere else in the world," Bobo said. "That definitely has an effect on the intellectual climate. We have more culture than New York City per capita, in terms of artists in the area."
Thomas said a major component of the guide was its comprehensive listing of locally owned and operated businesses. Bobo said the listing gave readers an alternative to shopping at nationally established franchises.
"It's not saying that corporate is bad, it's saying comparatively, you can do a lot more good if your money stays in the Lawrence system," Thomas said. "It's paying for the salaries of people who work here, it goes back to the city commission and its taxes pay for more services in Lawrence."
The Disorientation Guide also includes information on community organizations, recycling and the local music scene. Thomas
said the guide had two feature articles; one covers this fall's tuition increase from students' perspectives and the other is a historical narrative about former KU Chancellor E. Laurence Chalmers.
Chalmers served a brief tenure as the University's chancellor, from 1969 to 1972, during an era characterized by social upheaval.
"He's largely been ignored by KU history, despite the fact that he was chancellor during the Vietnam War years," Thomas said. "He led the University through one of its most difficult times, and he did a fairly good job of keeping things together."
Thomas said the universities of California Berkeley, Texas and several others across the country produced similar disorientation guides.
He said some 3,000 copies, which cost a total of $2,700, would be dispersed at University departments, dormitories, scholarship halls, greek organizations and local businesses, pending their permission. Thomas said
"It's not saying that corporate is bad, it's saying comparatively you can do a lot more good if your money stays in the Lawrence system."
Brian Thomas Communications director KU Center for Community Outreach
Student Senate and CCO paid for production costs.
Nathan Hartshorne, Overland Park freshman, looks forward to reading this year's Disorientation Guide. He said he had experienced a bit of culture shock when he first came to Lawrence.
"It's not some rich, yuppie area," he said. "Because of that, it's odd for me to drive by bars and see a lot of interesting people to meet."
Contact Dayani at
ndayani@kansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Samuelson.
By Lindsay Hanson
ndayani@kansan.com. This story
edited by Audu Samuelson
Students brave needle in search of extra cash
Kansan staff writer
Students in need of pocket change might be able to earn it by helping others.
Giving plasma pays about $20 to $25 per donation, said Jason Goolsby, assistant manager for ZLB Plasma Services.
Goolbsy said companies use plasma, the straw-colored translucent liquid that carries red and white blood cells, to make drugs that can save the lives of burn victims and hemophiliacs.
"It doesn't hurt to catch that extra money." Goolsby said, "but people do get a sense of feeling like they're helping out the community."
Anyone more than 18 years old who weighs more than 110 pounds can give blood plasma twice a week at ZLB Services, 816 W.24th Street, one of 47 ZLB centers nationwide.
Gooldsby said the Food and Drug Administration allowed people to donate twice a week because
the human body replenished plasma on a 24-48 hour cycle.
Even giving plasma the maximum number of times per week yields minimal side effects. Goolsby said.
"Sometimes people complain of light-headedness, some nausea or a warm, faint feeling," he said. "Usually that's because they aren't hydrated enough."
Giving plasma twice a week means spare cash for Ryan Kramer, Belleville senior.
"If you don't mind needles, it's not bad," he said. "It's extra cash for gas, booze or anything else."
Goolsby said one client purchased an engagement ring for his fiancee with money he had earned selling plasma.
According to the ZLB website, www.zlbusa.com, ZLB sells the specialty plasma-derived drugs that it produces to pharmacies and hospitals.
Contact Hanson at ihanson@kansan.com.This story was edited by Nicole Roché.