THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2011
PAGE 3
OBITUARY
Young alumnus remembered
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Drew Anderson, a recent KU graduate, died Saturday. Anderson, who was a former Kansan staffer, was an avid Jawahawk fan.
IAN CUMMINGS icummings@kansan.com
If you talk to the people who knew Drew Anderson, they will say he was, first and foremost, a Jayhawk fan.
He was rooting for Kansas in Saturday's football game with his family when he fell ill. Anderson died that evening at KU Medical Center in Shawnee. Friends of the family said the exact cause was not yet known.
Anderson, 22, a University graduate from Kansas City, Kan., suffered from muscular dystrophy since childhood. He was confined to a motorized scooter as a University student, but friends and acquaintances talked about his humor, independent spirit and a wisdom beyond his years.
He was born in Germany where his father was stationed with the military, but Anderson lived in America since infancy and graduated from Piper High School in Kansas City, Kan., in 2007. He graduated from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications in May 2011. During college, Anderson also served as a copy chief for The University Daily Kansan.
Even those who only knew Anderson casually were impressed with his maturity. Sergio Banos, a supervisor at Ekdahl Dining Commons, became familiar with him over three years while Anderson lived next door in Lewis Hall.
"He was a very calm man." Banos said. "Very focused on his education. A very cool man."
"I told him not to go over 35 miles per hour in the dining hall," Banos said.
Banos came to know Anderson well enough to joke with him, even about his scooter.
Doug Ward, associate professor of journalism, knew Anderson as a student in his editing course and as a copy chief at The Kansan.
Anderson jokingly complained to Ward that the three young women in charge of the newsroom were fussing over him and treating him to potluck dinners.
"They just adored him," Ward said. "He loved people, and they loved him back. Drew forced people to look inside themselves deeper because he saw the world so positively. He had this infectious personality
and he lighted up the room."
Joel Petterson, a senior from Prairie Village and a current managing editor for The Kansan, knew Anderson as his supervisor on the Kansan copy desk and also worked alongside him as a copy chief. He said Anderson never let the stress of the work show.
"He was always trying to lighten the mood," Petterson said. "He was always joking around and he was a crazy, die-hard KU sports fan."
Petterson said Anderson dressed in Jayhawk colors and was loyal to his home teams. Even last week, while sports commentators were captivated by the late-season battles of the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, Anderson was more concerned with the troubles of Kansas City Royals draft pick, Bubba Starling.
Brian Lindstrom, 38, knew Anderson better than most. He volunteered as Anderson's personal camp counselor at a Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp for 10 years, and the two maintained a close friendship even after Anderson was too old to attend.
"He didn't have a lot of buddies to hang out with on a day-to-day basis," Lindstrom said. "So, I tried to be that for him, even though I'm 16 years older."
of his parents' softball team. Lindstrom moved from Overland Park to Shawnee so the two could spend more time together. Anderson was the best man at Lindstrom's wedding, and with good reason; he was the one who introduced the couple when they volunteered at the MDA summer camp.
Through his friendship with Anderson, Lindstrom practically became a member of the family. He attended basketball games at Piper High School when Anderson was the team manager, and Anderson cheered Lindstrom on as a member
"I think he's been a mentor to a lot of people," Lindstrom said. "He came into my life when I needed him."
Lindstrom said he had set out to provide guidance and care to Anderson, but found he received more than he could give.
After graduation, Anderson sought a job as a copy editor at newspapers in Lawrence and the Kansas City area. He had written on his blog about how much he enjoyed working with words and with people, and wrote that he had found his niche in the job of an editor. Ward said Anderson wanted to stay in Lawrence if possible because the city's public transit system offered him independence as he moved into adult life.
Anderson's home was richly adorned with University memorabilia. He found his professional calling here and he lived for Jayhawk football and basketball.
"He loved KU" Lindstrom said. "This is what he used to say: 'Bill Self is my priest, Allen Fieldhouse is my church, and Phog Allen is my god'"
Edited by Sarah Champ
EDITORIAL
When words don't do justice
It's hard to avoid superlative clichés when talking about someone like Drew Anderson. Even for someone whose life revolved so much around words, words unfortunately don't come close to doing Drew justice.
BIRDS FROM PAGE 1
You could say he brightened up every room he entered, which is true. But unless you saw the way he ran what could be one of the most stressful rooms on campus – the Kansan newsroom – without ever breaking his laid-back and sarcastic demeanor, you wouldn't fully understand how he affected those he worked with. He could show more affection with a teasing comment than many people could with their best compliment.
You could say he overcame any obstacle that came his way, but that would be one of the greatest understatements you could make. Drew was able to make you forget that he faced more obstacles than anyone else, even though his muscular dystrophy meant he had to use a motorized wheelchair to get around everywhere. And if you ever heard him complain, it was probably about the jayhawks offense or the Royals' pitching and not any of the numerous complications he faced with his disease.
You could say he has gone too soon, that he was robbed of as promising a future as any graduate from the University of Kansas had - which is all too true - but that would be ignoring everything he accomplished in his life already. It would ignore the work held done at The Lawrence Journal-World and The Kansan, for which he won an award from the School of Journalism. It would also ignore all the people whose lives were made more amusing and more enjoyable from Drew's presence.
But to really understand, you simply would have had to know him as so many people on this campus did - as a friend. All of us at The Kansan certainly counted him as a friend, and we will miss him dearly.
Joel Petterson, Managing Editor
No one knows where Greve's great interest came from, as she was the one who brought the interest in birds into her family's life. At the age of six, Greve's parents gave her a pair of parakeets, her first birds. Since this day, Greve has constantly had birds in her home.
put the box in, they're ready to go. It's in their nature," she said.
"I was born with a connection to birds. I've had them most of my life, so I'm used to everything they do," she said.
"They're loud, make messes, and even poop on me; but I don't care at all. None of it phases me anymore."
Greve's family and friends have all grown to love and respect her passion for birds.
Aley Pennington, a senior from Leavenworth, has known Greve for two years and is fascinated by her hobby.
"It's definitely one of those hobbies that kind of defines a person, or at least it does for her." Pennington said. "She adores her birds. I think she could talk about birds all day to anyone who would listen. And I know if she had her way, she'd be a bird instead of owning them."
Her passion has paid off over the years. Greve's love for birds has only continued to grow, and she doesn't see the pace slowing anytime soon.
"I'm comfortable with being the bird nerd now; I rock it," she said.
Edited by Rachel Schultz
MAY MIKIII FCKY/KANSAN
ROBBERY FROM PAGE 1
Clyde Barrow, played by Shawn Trimble jumps in the 1933 Ford Sedan getaway car after Friday's reenactment of the 1932 robbery.
ing business in your fair city", Trimble said, his voice projected through the sound system set-up outside the restaurant.
Members of the historic Eldridge Hotel asked the University student group, KU Filmworks, to record the reenactment and create a short promotional film of it.
Lucas Singleton, a senior from Hutchison and member of KU Filmworks, said that the group used a golf cart and a crew of 10 film students to capture the action as it unfolded.
"I didn't expect there to be
so many people gathered in the street," Singleton said. "But we had good coverage of everything."
Tom Wilson, owner and operator of Teller's, said that he would like the re-enactment to become an annual event for Lawrence's downtown activities.
"Next year, we're going to try to promote and do things to bring more business to Lawrence," Wilson said.
Edited by Mandy Matney
w'MUSIC
KJHK chooses bands for annual competition
SARA SNEATH
ssneath@kansan.com
Before KJHK's annual Farmer's Ball takes place Oct. 13-15, music must pass through the ears of a small group of KJHK staff to earn a spot in a Lawrence battle of the bands.
Five KJHK staff members sat in the apartment of James Baker, JKHKs live events director, Sunday afternoon. The music was turned up and pizza was passed around, but there was little talking, Baker,
music 40 seconds into each song.
%but one complained.
a senior from Dallas, changed the
"We try to make it a fair and even playing field," Baker said. "No one here knows any of the bands' names."
On scraps of paper, KJHK staff rated the music based on five categories: quality, originality, "KJHK-ness", live show and personal preference. "KJHK-ness" is whether or not the band would be played on KJHK, Baker said. He said all genres are welcome and diversity is desired. The staff also considers the fact that some bands may not have access to the same level of recording.
"The quality of recording can definitely hamper the decision. The Will Nots, who won last year, submitted live recordings." Baker said. "So there's proof you don't have to have studio-quality recordings to win the Farmer's Ball."
This year, KJHK experienced some technical difficulties in its submission process, Baker said.
Baker said the resubmission might have encouraged more bands to apply. He said 20 to 30 bands normally submit for the event, but this year the staff received 34 entries.
"Our server didn't handle some of the MP3s, so we basically started a campaign to resubmit," Baker said. "We think it only affected five or six submissions. I'm pretty sure we recovered all of those."
Alex Applegate, a junior from Wichita and KJHK staff member, said he enjoyed participating in the selection process this year because he hasn't had much exposure to local music.
"I really wanted to see a good variety of music and that's definitely been met," Applegate said. "It's like listening to a nice mixtape from Lawrence."
"This is the jumping off point for a lot of bands, at least for the Lawrence scene," Baker said.
Baker said the Farmer's Ball is a great way for local bands to gain exposure.
Tyler Anderson, the lead singer of
"We had been working on demos and it seemed like it was about time." Anderson said. "We played together for a long time, but we hadn't been pushing for something serious."
last year's Farmer's Ball winners The Will Nots, said KJHK's competition came at a good time for the band.
Anderson said winning the Farmer's Ball was a confidence booster.
"It was an awesome experience and really nice to have the support of the people we live with," Anderson said.
The Will Nots will perform at the Farmer's Ball pre-party at 9 p.m. on Oct. 13 at Jackpot Music Hall.
PRELIMINARY FARMER'S BALL BANDS
Royal
Strider
Atilla
Captain Ahab and the
Narwhals
Fire In The Churchyard
Panda Circus
Dishes
Instant Tradition
— Edited by Laura Nightengale