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Wednesday, Aug 19, 1987/University Daily Kansan
Professor plays musical chairman
Diversity a trademark for self-named flower child
By KRISTEN HAYS
Staff writer
He calls himself a child of the 60s, influenced by the free-flowing liberalism of that decade, but he looks like a preppy college kid with his horn-rimmed glasses and wispy light brown hair.
He's Burdett Loomis, chairman of the department of political science, chairman of the Downtown Improvement Committee, chairman of the Kansas Advisory Committee to the Kansas Civil Rights Commission and a soccer coach for boys 8 years old and under.
Loomis doesn't look his 42 years. Just a few inches over 5 feet tall, his attire outside the classroom usually consists of bermuda shorts, bold print shirts, and worn running shoes.
He has been on sabbatical since January, working on a manuscript for a textbook about contemporary politicians. During that break, he's been spending more time than usual with his wife, Michel, and his 7-year-old son, Dakota.
"I like his name. it's rough-hewn,
and it reminds me of trucks and
boats."
Loomis gets a soft look in his eyes when talking about Dakota. He keeps an 8-by-10-inch photo of his blond son behind his desk in his office, and every once in a while, he glances back at it.
Between trips to Worlds of Fun and soccer practice with Dakota, Loomis has polished his manuscript, but still cannot decide on the title.
"The title of my book keeps changing, but it's about a new style of politician that about emerged in the last 15 years.
Loomis's courses are about the workings of Congress, interest groups and public policy. He prefers to promote a dialogue rather than
give straight lectures.
"But I probably kid around too much," he said. "You can't take politics too seriously, even though it's serious stuff. There's plenty of irony and humor in politics.
"Students think class is a serious endeavor, but it can be light and informal. If I do have a flaw, it's disorganization. Students want clear outlines and structure, but life, learning and politics don't operate that way.
"Politics isn't an organized sport," Gavin Fritton, Topeka senior, took Loomis' introduction to U.S. Politics 111 and International Politics 170 courses.
"He's a good professor. He'll talk about anything in class and apply politics to basketball or something to keep the students awake," Fritton said.
"He also tries to spend time outside class with students. When (Louis) Farrakhan came to speak a couple of years ago, Burd went to the Crossing (now the Rock Chalk Bar, 618 W. 12th St.) to drink beer with his class. And he always has a barbecue at his house every spring for his students."
Loomis' involvement in local politics began with his move into a spacious old Victorian house in the Old West Lawrence neighborhood two years ago.
"I've been working on the house, and I walk around, see people sitting on their porches, and get a feel for the community. I'm interested in doing what I can to maintain its status quo."
Bridget Todd, teaching assistant in political science, said Loomis' house was decorated with all kinds of paintings, "and I always wonder where these paintings came from, if he lifted them from some museum somewhere," she said.
Although he's the chairman of the Downtown Improvement Committee, Loomis said the committee's activity ground to a halt after the city election last April because of public resistance to a downtown mall.
"Our job is to transform that 'no' in some positive way. We need to make people understand that development is OK, it's not just a big box at the end of Massachusetts Street."
Hannes Zacharias, a city managerial assistant who works with Loomis' committee, said, "He's a good chair. He allows for free-flowing conversation, but keeps the committee from losing direction. By that I mean he keeps him on the subject at hand, though he's not heavy-handed.
"He also keeps the meetings light with his sense of humor, and in that way I guess he tries to keep the meetings enjoyable."
Loomis earned his bachelor's degree in government international relations in 1967 at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. He gained interest in promoting civil rights then, which contributed to his present position on the Kansas Advisory Board.
"It's the eyes and ears of the Civil Rights Commission, but it's pretty turbulent now with budget cuts. I formed a lot of my opinions at Carleton, and being a moderate liberal democrat, I want to make the system work with justice and fairness. "Sounds pretty idealistic, eh?
"When I was offered the position on the KAC, I was afraid that if I didn't take it, a more conservative view might."
After he and Michel were married 19 years ago, they moved to Madison, Wis., where Loomis earned his master's and doctorate degrees in political science at the University of Wisconsin.
Loomis and his wife both taught at Knox College in Illinois and came to KU eight years ago because he wanted to teach at a larger school.
"One thing I do miss about Knox, though, is that I formed some pretty close friendships with students there.
"Here, I only really get to know the honors students who come in to talk to me, and that's unfortunate."
Michel Loomis teaches physical education and English and also coaches volleyball and track at Central Junior High School.
"She's by far the best teacher in the family." Loomis said with a wry smile.
Loomis likes to jog, and jogging around the various neighborhoods in Lawrence was a good way for him to familiarize himself with the community. He and his wife run together in the summer, but not during the school year because of their conflicting schedules.
"She's won races, but I clearly don't have the body type to be a runner. They say people eat to run, but I eat to run," he said, laughing.
Though he's always had a consuming interest in politics, Loomis has no plans to run for office.
"I'd be hard-pressed, not being a native like Dole or Kassebaum," he said.
"I might be interested in being an administrative assistant in a congressional office, but to do that I'd have to move to Washington, and Dakota would kill me.
"There's a tremendous amount of kids in Old West Lawrence, and Dakota's pretty social."
With a quiet sigh, Loomis glances with a smile at the picture of his son, whose name reminds him of trucks and beers.
Lawrence offers transportation options
Special to the Kansan
By MIKE CRUVER
A student has a lot to worry about at the start of a new semester at the University of Kansas. How to get around without a car, for instance.
service provided by the Student Senate.
If a student doesn't have a car, he may have to depend on other transportation to get to class, around town or out of town.
One of the best ways to get to class is to ride KU on Wheels, the bus
The routes for KU on Wheels cover all the residence halls, Jayhawker Towers apartments, Naimsinh Hall, many apartment complexes and downtown. Schedules of bus routes and times are available at the Kansas and Burge Unions and at the Lawrence Bus Co., 841 Pennsylvania St. The fall schedule goes into effect the first day of classes, Aug. 24.
The service costs 50 cents per ride or $30 for a semester pass.
Cabs are another source of transportation for students wanting to get around in Lawrence.
"We have cabs available 24 hours a day," said Ward Thompson, owner of Yellow Cab Co., 1045 New Jersey St. Cab rates start at $1.30 and increase 20 cents every two blocks up to a maximum of $3.50 anywhere in Lawrence, he said.
"We take up to five people in a cab at no extra charge." Thompson said.
travelers heading out of town can choose between buses, trains and airplanes.
"There are 26 bus departures from Lawrence each day," said Tim Jensen, owner of Union Bus Station. 1401 W. Sixth St. "I don't anticipate losing any runs when Greyhound
See Transportation, p. 4, col. 3
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