4A
Wednesday, August 19. 1992
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KU represented in Summer Olympics
Two students, one alumna perform in closing ceremonies
By Joe Harder
Kansan staff writer
While many University of Kansas students joined the world in experiencing the 1902 Summer Olympics through television, two KU students and one KU graduate were not only in Barcelona, Spain, but had a part in the Games as well.
Debbie Adams, Overland Park
debilr, and Sonya Snyder, Topeka
senior, were part of a 50-member
United States dance troupe that
performed during the closing cer-
monies. Adams is co-captain of the KU Crimson Girls, a cheerleading
dress, and Snyder is co-captain
of the varsity cheerleading squad.
The seven-minute routine, "The Spirit of Atlanta," highlighted the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics and interpreted different Olympic events through dance and gymnastics. Snyder said. The mascot of the Atlanta Games, "WHATZIT," was also unveiled during the routine, she said.
"It was really an incredible time," Adams said. "The biggest rush was right before we walked on stage. The stadium was packed, and it was great just to be able to take part in the Olympics."
Snyder said the routine combined many different musical and dance
styles, including ballet, jazz and tap dancing, as well as gymnastics. The end result was labeled "sports ballet," she said.
Being a part of the Games was also a chance to rub shoulders with other Olympic participants. Although they didn't meet any U.S. athletes personally, the women were able to walk down on the stadium field with them after the ceremonies were over. And they did meet several Australian soccer players and swimmers, Snyder said.
A 1992 KU graduate and former member of the cheerleading squad, Lovena Stamation, also was a member of the dance company. She had not returned from Europe and could not be reached for comment.
The three women were selected after a nationwide talent search. Tryouts were held in seven cities, including Chicago, where the three KU women auditioned. Adams estimated that 1,500 people nationwide tried out for the 25 female and 25 male positions.
Snyder said that having three people selected from the same school was extraordinary. Most of the other
members of the company were professional dancers from Los Angeles and New York, including an actor who is currently playing the lead in the musical "Cats" and another who played in "A Chorus Line" and the movie "Do the Right Thing".
Snyder said KU women's gymnastics experience helped prepare them to perform both dance and gymnastic moves.
After auditioning in February, the women waited for notification of their selection in late April. They then met with the troop in Atlanta for two and a half weeks of daily five-hour practices, Adams said.
The troupe traveled to Barcelona Aug. 5 for more practices before performing during the closing ceremonies Aug. 9. All trip expenses were paid, Snyder said.
The troupe tentatively is scheduled to perform in Atlanta on Sept. 17 during a ceremony welcoming the Olympic flag back to the United States, although the performance has not been confirmed.
"Because (the routine) was as creative and as well-done as it was, I would assume that it would be used again and again," said Rebecca Jones, an Atlanta-based theater producer who managed the U.S. dance company in Barcelona.
New residents of Amini Scholarship Hall take a break from moving in to investigate a corner of the second floor living room. The window in the center of the room was removed from the building that originally stood on the site of the new scholarship hall. The hall was recently completed for move in, but workers will continue putting on the finishing touches for several weeks.
'Posh' new scholarship hall catches eyes
By Christine Laue
Kansan staff writer
"I felt more like it was a hotel than a scholarship hall," said Christofer Bell, Buhl freshman and one of the 50 residents at the men's hall, situated in the 1300 block of Louisiana Street.
KU students began moving Saturday into Amini Scholarship Hall, the new $1.5-million housing facility that residents are comparing to a luxury hotel.
"We're not bragging, but it's more posh living than the other halls," said Shan Schwartz. Topeka senior and
hall director.
The scholarship hall was funded mainly by a $1-million gift from KU alumni K.K. and Margaret Amiini of San Antonio, Texas. It has a ground-level patio, second-story balcony and a recreation room with a television, videocassette recorder, and ping-pong桌.
With the exception of the administrative staff's rooms, each of the 13 four-person suites has a central living room, and each suite has a b-by-s-foot walk-in closet.
Other features include cable, central air, an elevator that reaches the
hall's three stories and basement, and new furniture, including a leather couch in the main lobby.
"It is the most studiest hall on campus," said Steve Bond, Wichita junior. Bond is one of 18 Amni residents who previously lived in one of the other scholarship halls. Chris Locke, Topeka senior and hall proctor, said that since only 18 men applied last year to live in the new hall, the remaining 32 vacancies were filled by students new to the scholarship hall system. They began moving into the hall yesterday.
Even though men living in the other
scholarship halls last year had the opportunity to apply, many are envious of the fancy facility, Schwartz said.
"There's a little bit of that feeling like 'We're paying the same amount of money to live in Stephenson Hall,'" Schwartz said.
Stephenson Scholarship Hall was built in 1952.
Ken Stoner, director of student housing, said Amini is the first scholarship hall to be built since Douthart and Grace Pearson Scholarship Halls were built in 1954.
Residents are working on finishing touches to prepare for the hall's open house Oct. 10.
demand for more housing within the scholarship hall system, Schwartz said. The University plans to build a new women's hall directly north of Amini when sufficient funds are available. Stoner said.
Amini was built because there was a
"Even though the building is brand new, there's a lot of work," Locke said. "We still have some things that need to be fixed. I'm going to be real strict on cleaning. I want to keep it looking the way it did the first day I came in."
Western Civ diversifies curriculum
By Muneera Naseer
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas students taking Western Civilization courses will face a changed reading list and a new style of instruction starting this semester.
The department revised the curriculum, adding the Koran, the sacred book for Moslems, and readings such as Epic of Gilgamesh and The World and Africa by W. E. B. DuBois, an African-American writer.
Kathleen Chatman, senior instructor in the department, said the changes were not made under pressure from any special interest groups, such as women.
"In ancient history women were just not running the show," she said.
Chatman said the department was trying to give students a more diversified experience.
"The new reading list is a compromised document," she said. "The big difference with the new reading list is with the strategy and not the purpose of the course."
The course also will employ a new model of teaching where one text is the main focus and shorter readings would either support or oppose the main text for debate.
Jennifer Freund, Lawrence junior,
was glad that the Koran was added.
"We have a lot of dealings with the Middle East," she said. "We depend a lot on them for our oil resources. Any change that would help us understand another culture is a step in the right direction."
David Gawell, Western Civilization graduate teaching assistant, said there was some concern in the department that the discontinued readings field such as up or emphasized in other fields such as history and political science.
"There is only so much time to cover phenomenal times in history," he said. "We need confidence that that material is being duplicated somewhere."
This was the situation the Kansan was in at the end of the Spring 1992 semester. We discovered many areas of the Kansan where stagnation had established a solid foothold and others where it was just beginning. Clearly, change was needed.
In the end, we came to several conclusions. Newspapers across the nation are becoming more visually oriented. Stories are being written
We decided to put the Kansan through a redesign process.
Change is inevitable. Without the ability to change and adapt, stagnation occurs.
Kansan redesigned to aid readers
We examined many different areas: design, layout, type styles, the overall look, our purpose and the way we presented the news. We looked at other publications to discover new trends in newspaper design. We also examined the internal working structure of the Kansan to find areas for improvement.
Our goals were to make the Kansan easier to read and understand, the news easier to find and the final prod-
Imitation may be the highest form of flattery, but it does not provide individuality. We wanted to create our own publication, not a conglomeration of other newspapers. We feel that the new look of the Kansan accomplishes that task.
more concisely. We decided the Kansan, too, must follow these trends.
uct more pleasing to look at.
But we didn't want to limit our changes to just the design and visual areas. We wanted to make improvements in our coverage of campus and minority issues, and we wanted to cover local news more thoroughly, providing insight into the happenings of Lawrence.
We hope we have accomplished these goals, but ultimately that is for you, the readers, to decide.
KANSAN STAFF
ERIC NELSON
Editor
GREG FARMER Managing editor
SCOTT HANNA Business manager
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
BILL LEIBENGOOD Retail sales manager
Asst. Managing...Almee Brailand
News...Alexander Bloemholt
Editorial...Stephen Martino
Campus...Gayle Osterberg
Sports...Shelly Solon
Photo...Justin Knupp
Features...Cody Holt
Graphics...Sean Teas/Michael Ries
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
Campus Fest offers food, fun
Campus sales mgr...Angela Clewenger
Regional Sales mgr...Melissa Terlargi
National sales mgr...Brian Willems
Co-op sales mgr...Amy Stumbo
Production mgr...Brad Bron
Marketing director...Arlene Clarkton
Creative director...Alison Judith
Classified mgr...Judith Standley
Business Staff
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the University of Kansas include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position. Of course, a letter from the University of Kansas may include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position.
The Kanas reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kanas newroom, 111 Staffer Flint Hall
Free food samples, sweepstakes drawings and chances to win a new car will converge Friday, Aug. 21, on the Burge Union parking lot for Campus Fest, sponsored by KU Bookstores.
Kansan Staff Report
The event lasts from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Games and demonstrations will be featured. A voter information and registration drive will also be held, sponsored by Home Box Office, which is celebrating its 20th year of cable television programming.
Other features of the festival
include
A drawing for a Scoopu Turbo by Hyndai.
A drawing for hundreds of dollars in prizes from KU Bookstores,
Free issues of Campus Connection magazine.
A drawing for an American Express gift card
Free food samples of Hershey chocolate, Kellogg's Pop-Tarts, and Nutrasweet brand products.
A national sweepstakes to win
events in HBO concerts and boxing
Registration and fee payment
For students who enroll Aug. 19-20
- Pick up your registration materials in the Fraser Hall, August 19, 9 a.m., to 4 p.m. for last names beginning A-K and August 20, for last names L-Z.
- Pick up your fee statement in the Big Eight Room, fifth floor, Kansas Union.
- You must pay your tuition and fees by 4 p.m. Aug. 21 in the Kansas Union Ballroom or your enrollment will be deleted.
Source: University of Kansas Timetable, Fall 1992
Sean M. Tevis/KANSAN
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