THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
A&M FROM PAGE 1
PAGE 3
school
In order for the Aggies to receive an invite from the SEC, nine of the 12 SEC university presidents would have to vote in favor of adding Texas A&M to the conference. The addition of Texas A&M would give the SEC 13 teams, and it will likely look elsewhere for a 14th team.
"As I have indicated throughout this process, we are seeking to generate greater visibility nationwide for Texas A&M and our championship-caliber student-athletes, as well as secure the necessary and stable financial resources to support our athletic and academic programs." Loftin said. "This is a 100-year decision that we have addressed carefully and methodically. Texas A&M is an extraordinary institution, and we look forward to what the future may hold for Aguies worldwide."
Texas A&M has been a member of the Big 12 since 1996. Last season, the Aggies claimed nine Big 12 championships and four national team titles, according to www.tamu.edu. Since their admittance to the conference 15 years ago, they have claimed 55 conference championships. Texas A&M's departure leaves an already depleted Big 12 with nine teams.
The Big 12 has been a primary
target in the conference realignment shuffle over the past year, losing Colorado to the Pac 12 and Nebraska to the Big Ten. It has yet to be determined whether the Big 12 will seek to expand or simply remain at nine teams. The only school that has publicly expressed a desire to join the conference is Southern Methodist University.
- Edited by Jennifer DiDonato
Texas A&M's letter of withdrawal to the Big 12 comes just one day after the school refuted a report in The New York Times that said the school submitted the letter to Beebe on Monday.
DINING FROM PAGE 1
Adegoke said.
Sacha Sinclair, a junior from London, said an unlimited plan would have been "a waste of money" for her. She instead selected a Blue Basic plan, which costs $2,798 per year and gives students $100 yearly in Cuisine Cash.
Kidwell said that she hadn't received much feedback on the new plans yet. Because students could select meal plans online this year with their housing contracts, Kidwell said Dining Services were somewhat concerned that students
were focusing on the bottom dollar rather than examining each plan closely.
Dining Services is making some additional changes to its dining centers, installing flscreen TVs and wireless internet access in Mrs. E's and Oliver. Kidwell said that the department hoped to have those features done by mid or late September.
"In colleges and universities today, our dining rooms are becoming literally the social networking site," Kidwell said.
Additionally, because of ongoing construction at GSP-Corbin Hall. Dining Services created a special
Corbin package for this year. The plan gives students access to five hot meals a week, two Cuisine-ToGo meals per day and $500 yearly in Cuisine Cash.
Dining officials said they would be tracking responses to the changes, but so far thought that things were going well.
"We're seeing 200 to 300 people in the time that would have been between lunch and dinner previously," said Jeff Schilling, assistant manager at Mrs. E's. "I would say that that's a successful and positive thing."
Edited by Mike Lavieri
EDUCATION
Cursive writing eliminated from new school curriculum
TIFFANY SCHROEDER
tschroeder@kansan.com
Lexie Ferman-Ortiz, a senior from San Francisco, is unknowingly becoming the exception rather than the norm for students in college. She stands out because of something she does every day: write in cursive. Some educators consider cursive to be outdated and unnecessary, and this year's state educational standards no longer require that it be taught.
Last October, Kansas adopted a set of education standards aimed at regulating the information taught in schools across the country. The standards are part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which has also been adopted by 45 other states. The education standards laid out In the initiative seek to create one universal set of concepts that students in kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) will need to know before graduating high school. This would ensure that all K-12 students received the same quality of education and would all get the necessary knowledge and skills needed to go on
to college or enter the job market.
To create a universal set of educational standards, a few old requirements had to be replaced. One of which includes the requirement to teach cursive. Under that standard, states are no longer required to teach their students cursive. Instead of spending time teaching cursive, the standard requires states to spend more time teaching K-12 students how to type.
LEXIE FORMAN-ORTIZ
Some critics of the initiative argue that cursive is a vital skill and is necessary in getting a job. David Gaston, director of the University Career Center, counters the argument by saying that even today, knowing how to write in cursive is not a skill employers are demanding.
"So far, when employers are recruiting, we've never had anyone list cursive as a job requirement," Gaston said.
Supporters of the initiative agree with Gaston. They are in favor of getting rid of curvature because few students still use it when writing. This holds true for some university students, even though they were
taught to write in cursive.
"I hand write my notes and type everything else," said Seth Williams, a sophomore from Olathe. "I only use cursive to write my own name."
Regardless of whether or not they used cursive, Forman-Ortiz, Gaston and Williams all agreed that knowing how to type is a necessary skill that K-12 students will need. However, despite the importance of keeping up with modern technology, Gaston and Forman-Ortiz think that cursive should still be taught because of the things that a pen can do that a keyboard can't.
"I still think it's important to know cursive because there's something to be said about writing something down with your own hands," Forman-Ortiz said. "It's not like the relationship with a computer; you connect to the words more. Maybe it forces more memory or takes more thought because it takes more time to do it."
Edited by Mike Lavieri
SENIOR FROM SAN FRANCISCO. 22
HALLIE MCCORMICK
SENIOR FROM KANSAS CITY, KAN.. 22
Is the pen mightier than the Keyboard?
More students prefer sitting in a classroom than taking an online class, a new study by the Pew Research Center shows.
TECHNOLOGY
Online courses require further determination
Denver.
Only 29 percent of adults think that an online class provides the same educational value as a traditional classroom, according to the study.
"It's easy to open a new tab and, like, stray away with that, so you definitely have to have another sense of maturity to be successful with online classes," said Jack Langdon, a freshman from
"I think online classes, I'm not a big fan of them. I don't think I would be, at least, just because you don't have teacher involvement," said Sam Goodrich, a sophomore from Topeka. "You don't have someone to ask questions to. You don't have the students around."
College presidents don't agree,however. Fifty percent of college presidents think online classes and traditional classes have the same educational value,the study said,but in the future,many of these presidents expect that most of their students will take classes online.
More than three-quarters of the colleges polled offer online courses.
CAMPUS
New interactive kiosks will scan users' faces
By Breanna McCarthy
The KU Memorial Unions will soon add six interactive kiosks to campus. Bob Terry, president of Axon Displays, said the software used in the kiosks will sort users by image into four categories and provide advertisers with information about their audience. These will soon make an appearance
on campus.
The kiosks will include an interactive campus map, schedules for athletic events, access to the University's twitter accounts, event information and calendars.
Those who are hesitant about image-tracking software need not worry, Axon Displays is not retaining images acquired by the program.
tor of public affairs, confirmed five of the six locations. Three are planned for the Kansas Union, two will be located in the Underground, while one is yet-to-be determined. The University of Kansas will be the first university in the nation to establish the kiosks on campus.
Mike Reid, KU Memorial Union direc-
10
By Kayla Overbey
Tyler Amble, a sophomore from Shawnee, runs with the quaffle during a Quidditch match.
CLUBS FROM PAGE 1
THE KU UGLY SWEATER & KITE FLYING SOCIETY:
Everyone has their guilty pleasure, and for some KU students it consists of ugly sweaters and flying kites. Starting out as a humorous joke among a few friends, the KU Ugly Sweater and Kite Flying Society has grown to reach almost 50 members.
CONTRIBUTED BY JERRY WANG
"Anyone who has an undying love of ugly sweaters and/or loves to fly kites and be silly, just show up. Bring your friends. Bring your friend's friends. Just RSVP via Facebook if you can," junior vice president Caroline Renzelman said.
Ugly sweaters are worn for their parties and holiday-themed celebrations. During the months when the weather is too warm for sweater wearing, the group carpools to Clinton Lake to relax and fly their kites.
The KU Ugly Sweaters and Kite Flying Society has decided to use their unusual infatuation and turn it into a charity event to help others.
"We will definitely be hostin an ugly sweater Christmas party which we will be taking donations at for either Adopt a Family or Soldier, but other events have yet to be organized," Renzelman said.
Relaxation, meeting new friends, and having a good time are the things that The KU Ugly Sweater and Kite Flying Society hopes participants take away
Ready To Summit The North Face Of Mt. Oread.
The Zombie Awareness Council is fully dedicated to educating the student body about the serious dangers of a zombie attack, providing movies and books to help members better understand the dangers of a real invasion and increasing the zombie defense at KU.
THE ZOMBIE AWARENESS COUNCIL
from the experience.
"The topic is fascinating from the medical perspective, but also the post-apocalyptic "what would you do" side. Besides, the University of Kansas is woefully unprepared for a zombie invasion. Thus the ZAC was born," said co-creator of ZAC, Alex Rippberger, a junior from Olathe.
Along with the usual police security, KU is also being looked after by another discreet protective system that has one focus: zombies.
"We just have a great time. It's an easy-going club. I'd like to think we're an approachable bunch of dorks," Renzelman said.
Great Backpacks For All Occasions
Members of the Zombie Awareness Council are completely firm in their beliefs about preparation
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and understanding of the consequences a zombie outbreak could bring.
"There are potential for very serious discussions about pandemics, evacuations, emergencies, but these are tempered with the humor of zombie popular culture," Rippberger said.
The Zombie Awareness Council isn't just for the zombie crazed. Attending the meetings, which are said to be organized soon, will not only provide information on the concept of zombies but are also an opportunity to try something new and meet people.
With over 600 organizations available, it is apparent that KU has a group for everyone's interests, no matter how unheard of or diverse.
"I think everyone could benefit from some aspect of the organization. Whether you want a serious biology discussion or just a fun group of people to play an advanced form of tag (Humans vs. Zombies), or just chilling with friends while watching an old zombie movie," said Rippberger.
Edited by Stefanie Penn
Clyde Hoggatt
Junior majoring in English
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