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VOLUME 120 ISSUE 18
PROFILE
KU graduate gives advice for students on aid work
BY RYAN MCGEENEY
rmcgeeney@kansan.com
After four and a half months on the ground in Afghanistan, one thing Brad Arsenault, a 1991 KU graduate, is sure of this: There's no such thing as a typical day in Farah, 400 miles southwest of the Afghanistan capital, Kabul.
Arsenault, the man on the ground for the United States Agency for International Development, has had to adapt quickly to an extreme level of security, an ongoing epidemic of opium production and a host of infrastructure problems.
"We have a really difficult situation in Farah," said Arsenault. "Whenever I do travel, it's with a lot of security. If I want to see something, we have to mobilize a lot of people - armored HMMVs, body armor the security is just another layer to deal with trying to get to the projects and get
Arsenault is USAID's field program officer to the Integrated Command Team in Farah, which also includes a military commander and representatives from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and State.
Much of Arsenault's day-to-day work involves working with the elected provincial council in Farah on issues such as education, infrastructure and agriculture. Although USAID doesn't participate in erudication, Arsenault helps to promote alternative agriculture programs to make other crops, such as wheat, fruit and vegetables, more marketable products for
Afghan farmers.
"Farah used to have a vibrant, dynamic and active agricultural base," said Arsenault. "But after the Soviet invasion, the soil just kind of deteriorated."
But beyond developing more crops, there are also issues of highway development and water management.
"Only about 18 percent of Afghanistan can be cultivated." Arsenault said. "So you've got a small amount of land to work with, and what you have has to be at maximum production."
"Afghanistan is an isolated place," said Arsenault. "It's not like any other place I've ever worked."
Arsenault said nothing could have fully prepared him for this experience.
Arsenault said that students interested in working in the international development community can best begin preparing themselves by reading a variety of news sources.
"Pay attention to a given situation from a global point of view — see what a Chinese journalist is saying, or what an African journalist is saying." Arsenault said. "Try to begin developing ways of analyzing a problem or situation from the point of view of as many different cultures as you can."
Additionally, Arsenault said that both his work in the Peace Corps and his graduate degree made him much more valuable in the foreign service field.
"When you get into international work,
that's what people want to see," Arsenault
said. "Having Peace Corps on your resume lets people know that you can tough it out in a poor, developing place for a couple of years without a lot of resources - it just gives you a little street credit."
The journey from receiving his undergraduate degree in English to promoting development projects in the Middle East wasn't a short one for Arsenault, or even direct. Arsenault participated in study abroad programs, piquing his interest in development work in undeveloped areas.
After leaving the University, Arsenault spent two and a half years in the Peace Corps, primarily in Central Africa, teaching basic masonry and carpentry skills, before returning to Chicago, his hometown. After another six years of roving from one employer to another, he enrolled in a graduate program in urban planning and policy. He returned to Africa working for a number of non-governmental organizations from 2001 to 2004 in Guinea, Sierra Leon, the Ivory Coast and a half dozen other countries. None of these countries could have entirely prepared him for his current assignment, however.
While Arsenault said he typically tried to return to the United States at least once every six months, he also realized that the situation in Afghanistan would probably outlast his own service.
"It's going forward." Arsenault said.
"But it's not going forward quickly."
Edited by Ramsey Cox
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Brad Arsautnell, a 1991 KU graduate, is now working in western Afghanistan for the US Agency for International Development. Arsautnell has also worked for the Peace Corps and various other non-governmental agencies.
MUSIC
Promotion to use student recording
BY BRANDY ENTSMINGER
bensminger@akansan.com
Cast members and musicians worked yesterday to create an original cast recording of "The Girl, the Grouch and the Goat," a musical by Jack Helbig and Tony Award winner Mark Hollmanhe. The recording will be used by Helbig and Hollman when they send out promotional materials for the musical.
Megan Pulhr, Oatle junior, Cassie Holmann, Overland park senior, and Sam Beasley, Topea sophomore sing during their cast recording of "The Girl, The Grouch, and the Goat" in Murphy Hall on Sunday afternoon. The last show was performed on 2 July 20th in the Coffea-Frauer theater in Murphy Hall.
The musical debuted at the University this summer and was originally going to be performed again in August but was canceled because of scheduling conflicts. John Staniunas, associate professor and chair of the department of theater and film, said recording all 18 songs would give the cast an opportunity to say goodbye to the musical.
"I wanted the cast to have closure on the show." Staniunas said.
After contacting a variety of recording studios in the Kansas City area, Staniunas decided to go with LA Audio in Olathe. Lynn Allred recorded the music and said it would take about a week to complete the editing and mixing.
Allison Richardson/KANSAN
Four musicians played the piano, clarinet, flute, harp and various percussion instruments for the show. Ben Shellhaas, Grand Island, Neb., graduate student, played seven instruments including a drum set, marimba and triangle.
"Its fun to draw on all your expertise." Shellhaas said.
Barbara Puckett, program assistant with the department of theater and film and music director for the show, said one of the most challenging parts of making the recording was finding a balance between the instruments and the singers.
ing would also be challenging because it wouldn't be as dramatic as performing the story on stage.
"It's just a matter of getting everybody on the same page," Puckett said.
"You have to create character on the spot and put it into your voice," Sear said.
Jeff Sears, Overland Park junior, played the grouch and said making the record-
Students will have the opportunity to add the recording to their resumes. Logan Walker, Holcomb senior, said he would take it on casting calls and give it to prospective agents.
"It is definitely going to help in my career." Walker said.
The musical tells the story of a grouch in ancient Greece who, during a 20-year drought, has a monopoly on the town's only well. When the grouch's son falls in love with his rival's daughter, he must accept that their love could be the only way to please the gods and end the drought.
gave students the opportunity to leave their marks on the characters and the show.
"There is something so rewarding about creating and owning a character that has never been seen or heard before," Sears said. "The sense of freedom is exhilarating to say the least."
Sears said being part of the original cast
Edited by Adam Mowder
CAMPUS
Students use program to know dean
editor@kansan.com
BY HAILEY OSTERHAUS
Education students are pulling up chairs next to the dean for free lunch and good conversation.
Since Dean Rick Ginsberg came to the School of Education three years ago, he has been putting time and energy into a program called "Dine with the Dean."
The program allows groups of 15 students to become acquainted with Ginsberg and speak to him about anything they might like or dislike about the school.
"This is their vehicle to get to know me and ask questions," Ginsberg said. "It's how I can get feedback on what's going well in the school and what students like."
In the past, Ginsberg said he had felt somewhat disconnected from the students. He said the "Dine with the Dean" meetings provided him with a better sense of how the education program should be structured.
Generating interest in this program was a struggle for Ginsberg at first, but this semester a significant number of students have signed up to participate.
"I don't think a lot of people knew about it in the past," said Chris Barritt, administrative assistant to the dean. "But now Ginsberg's head is posted in the main office window, so that might be why."
After the sizable photo of Ginsberg was posted, students have been filling
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