4A
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THEATER
Students perform tragedy 'Aqamemnon' in Greece
BY SACHIKO MIYAKAWA
smivakawa@kansan.com
Heat, the absence of microphones and acting with Greek lines were among the challenges theater students experienced when they performed a Greek tragedy outdoors in Greece this summer.
KU theater students rehearse the play "Agamemnon" in an ancient amphitheater in Katohi, Greece. Thirteen students traveled to Greece during July to perform in a summer theater festival as well as learn Greek culture and modern Greek. They will restage the play at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday in Swarthout Recital Hall.
The students were in Greece as part of a study abroad program. Dennis Christilles, associate professor of theater and film at the University, directed the play, "Agamemnon," and said the Greek audience welcomed the performance.
Christilles said the audience in Lawrence would also enjoy the performance.
The students will bring their production of "Agamemnon" to the University this Saturday. The play will start at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 23, in Swarthout Recital Hall. It is free and open to the public.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Thirteen students participated in the study abroad program in Katohi, a rural farm town in Greece, to perform in a Katohi summer theater festival. They learned Greek culture and modern Greek along with practicing the play.
"Agamemnon" is a story about a mythic Greek hero and his wife, who planned to avenge their daughter's death. Aeschylus wrote
the play in the 5th century B.C. Christilles rewrote the story, combining English and modern Greek lines, which allowed speakers of both languages to understand and enjoy it.
Spencer Lott, Lawrence junior, played Herald, a main character of the tragedy.
He said the outdoor theater was physically demanding. He had to routinely deal with heat and mosquitos, and project his voice without microphones. But he said he enjoyed the environment of the theater because it was similar to acting in ancient times. The actors wore simple but bright costumes. The stage stood on the sand and relied on the natural light and shadows.
"We performed in an ancient amphitheater," Lott said. "They just uncovered within past twenty years."
The students performed the tragedy in front of an audience of 400, mostly residents of the village.
Elizabeth Grim, Ames, Iowa, graduate student, said the audience was distracted at the beginning, but she noticed they became engaged in the story toward the climax and connected with the tragic characters.
Christilles wrote the lines and Brian Bondari, Tifton, Ga., graduate student, composed the music for the viola, clarinet, drum
Grim said the live orchestra enhanced the tragedy.
and voices.
"Music takes almost half of the play," Bondari said. "It is a unique blend between theater and music."
Christilles said "Agamemnon" was straightforward and anyone could follow the story without knowledge of ancient Greek theater.
"jealousy, revenge, lost love and loneliness," he said. "Same themes are living now as they were there."
MONEY
Weak dollar attracts students to U.S. Improving economy brings the University visitors from abroad
BY BETSY CUTCLIFF
bcutcliff@kansan.com
Money value
The falling value of the dollar and the improvement of the economy abroad has opened the door for more international students to come to the University of Kansas.
Currency Units per US dollar 2000 Units per US dollar 2008 Dollar Value Percentage change
Australia Dollars 1.716 1.150 -33%
Canada Dollars 1.482 1.062 -28.3%
Euro 1.101 0.671 -39%
U.K. Pounds 0.667 0.53 - 20.5%
China Yuan 8.278 6.861 - 17%
U.S. Dollars 1.000 1.000 0
The low exchange rate, mixed with China's economic boom, has given students an opportunity to study abroad and become a Javhawk.
Peter Morgan, Hastings, England, junior, was one student who took advantage of the weak dollar.
"Now is the time to study abroad if you want more for your money," he said.
While it is easier and less expensive for students around the world to come to the United States, there has been an influx of Chinese students eager to take advantage of the chance to learn in America's capitalist environment.
"The Chinese economy is improving so parents have money
This year saw the University's largest international orientation, said Katelyn McGill, coordinator of this year's international student orientation. Approximately 300 international students enrolled directly at the University for the fall semester.
now to send their children to school overseas." McGill said.
Students have come from rural and urban areas all over China, studying everything from American History to microbiology. Shangnan Lin came to the University from Sichuan to study English to further her career goals.
Lin's family, which owns a steel
"I want to be a successful leader in my family's company," Lin said.
company, has benefited greatly from the expanding infrastructure in the south-central Sichuan province. Within the past few years, Lin's family moved into a bigger house and was able to afford
sending her to the University.
Youyang Xu, Jilin, was also enjoying the flourishing Chinese economy and said she knew she wanted to study in the United States when her family could afford it.
"It is a better location for studying," Xu said. At home in Chinas Jilin province, Xu's family is enjoying a bigger house and more luxuries. She said everyday life has improved now that her parents are
"Now is the time to study abroad if you want more for your money."
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While studying in the United States, foreign students have been taking advantage of the exchange rate by traveling around the country. Popular sites include Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, where normally high prices don't break the bank for foreigners.
advantage of the opportunity to study here at nearly half the cost. According to the University's Web site, standard tuition for a nonresident for the 2008-2009 year is $16,800. The current exchange rate
"It if it was one pound to the dollar. I wouldn't have come here," Honey said. "In fact, I probably wouldn't have studied abroad at all."
—Edited by Arthur Hur
is 67 cents to the euro, compared with 91 cents per euro in 2000, and 53.5 cents to the British pound, compared to $1.50 per pound in 2000, according to www.xe.com.
Dani Snow, Sydney, Australia junior, wouldn't have normally come to the United States to study abroad.
"I would've gone to the U.K., but it was more expensive than coming here." Snow said.
Like U.S. students, many international students pay for school through student loans or through their parents.
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CAMPUS
University receives $10 million grant from health institute for medical research
BY JOE PREINER
jpreiner@kansan.com
Bob Hanzlik, professor of medicinal chemistry, received a $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health this week.
"The NIH has recognized the potential of these people and of the center."
The NIH grant is a renewal of a previous grant awarded to Hanzlik five years ago. The Institutes awarded the funding to the University of Kansas to continue development
BOB HANZLIK Program director
of its Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, located on West Campus.
Hanzlik said the center, which researchers refer to as the COBRE, focuses on two main initiatives. The primary focus is to recruit, support and mentor new junior faculty investigators. Most of the junior faculty members are assistant professors from each of the universities that COBRE works
with, which also include Kansas State, Wichita State and the KU School of Medicine.
"I was delighted of course and
The second focus of the center is to select a scientific theme to dedicate research to
ences, said the grant gave COBRE the opportunity to hire experts in the protein research field that would improve the center's efficiency. He also said news about the renewal helped improve his outlook on research for the next few years.
For the COBRE, that theme is protein structure and function. With this research, the center hopes to discover or improve medications available to the public.
"I was delighted of course and very pleased that our efforts were not futile."
ROBERT DE GUZMAN Assistant professor
The grant covers costs and development within the center during the next five years.
"I think it is recognition of the quality of the faculty at this center." Hanzlik said. "The NIH has recognized the potential of these people and of the center."
Hanzlik, who serves as the program director and principle investigator, said the renewal of the grant is a good sign.
Roberto De Guzman, assistant professor in molecular biosci-
Guzman said
very pleased that our efforts were not futile." De Guzman said. "It also gave me the confidence that things will be tough, but doable."
Kevin Boatright, director of research communications, said the amount of money awarded by the grant placed it among the 15 largest grants ever given to the University. He said the influx of early annual funding was an
the center conducted cutting edge research and complex work in the protein structure and function field. He said some of the money would go to hiring specialists for research machinery in COBRE.
go up.
indicator of the quality of research t a k i n g place at the University.
Hazlil said with constant inflation, it was only natural to see the amount for the grant
"There was a time when this would have been the largest grant ever," Hanzlik said. "They are just like track records though, inevitably they go down."
De Guzman said the renewal of the grant would not change his level of motivation when it came to his work. Even with the guaranteed funding, he said he did not feel any more at ease.
"I certainly don't feel more relaxed now than before." De Guzman said. "But my relaxation doesn't come from grants; it comes from the Robinson pool or the bike path at Clinton Lake."
Edited by Jennifer Torline
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