monday, October 13, 2003
news
the university daily kansan
3A
Student follows video game design dream to Kansas
By Zack Hemenway zhemeway@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Mike Schwakopf sat and listened as the freshman adviser tried to crush his dream.
Schwakopf wanted to design video games. He'd sent letters to the major game-makers asking for advice and was in the computer science office at Colorado State University, beginning its recommended first step.
"How dare you?" she asked the adviser. "If he wants to do it, he can do it."
The adviser was explaining to Schwakopf that he would never get the job he wanted, when Schwakopf's mother interrupted.
Schwakopf smiles at the memory.
"Even though she may question me playing video games all the time, she still wants me to go for my dream," he said.
Three years and a transfer later, the Overland Park junior has kept his dream alive.
A computer science major who loves video games brings to most people's minds a nasal-voiced nerd who loves to stare at bright screens in dark rooms. Schwakopf, who has three piercings, long hair, and prefers the Ramones to Linux, doesn't exactly fit this image.
"He's kind of the anti-stereo
type," said Brad Van Goethen, Overland Park senior, a close friend. "He does his thing with computers, but he still skates and plays poker with us and things like that."
Poker, while taking a backseat to career goals, is another top priority in Schwakopf's life. He and his friends play three or four times a week.
Lately, they've been sticking with Texas Hold'Em, the style featured in the World Series of Poker, recently televised on ESPN. The new TV-friendly airings, where viewers are shown each player's hand, gave ESPN some of the highest ratings it had ever had in the time slots the poker shows aired, according to Time magazine.
Schwakopfis one of these loyal viewers. He said seeing the game on TV inspired him to call his poker posse.
"Every time I watch it, I just start jonesin' for a game," he said.
Schwakop disputes the idea of poker as a game of chance. He proudly offers his high in wins, $30, but refuses to divulge his all-time loss record.
"I never lose," he said.
Van Goethen laughed at this improbable assertion. But he admitted that his friend had been nicknamed "Steamboat" due to his knack for drawing full houses, which are called "boats."
So far at the University of Kansas, Schwakopf has been dealt a tough hand. He's a year behind because many credits from Colorado State didn't transfer, and he can't take the computer science classes he needs until he's accepted to that school.
Schwakopf said he misses his old school at times, and he's planning to visit there this weekend. But he is happy to be back in Kansas. He lives in the same town as his girlfriend for the first time in college and spends his time with what he calls a solid base of friends from high school.
But his favorite part of campus is an aspect that's usually the subject of student complaints.
jetstream "I like the hills," he said. "At CSU, there's no hills anywhere near campus."
The long process of becoming a video game designer won't be as easy as transferring schools. Swakwopk said his lofty career goal led to self-doubt.
“It's tough,” he said. “Just last night, I started to think to myself, 'am I really going to be able to do this?'”
Schwakopf better be careful. As he learned four years ago, his mom won't stand for that kind of talk.
"My mom always told me,' find something you love to do and try to get paid for it." Schwakofp said.
- Edited by Erin Riffey
Mike Schwakopf, Overland Park junior, glanced at his cards while playing poker at a friend's house Thursday night. When asked if he was winning he said, "Not yet." Schwakopf transferred from Colorado State University to study computer science and become a video game designer.
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
Alpha Chi Omega spreads awareness on domestic violence
By Amber Byarlay
abyarlay@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Domestic violence may not be talked about nearly as much as it occurs.
"It's something that many people don't think about," said Sarah Nelsen, Alpha Chi Omega domestic violence awareness coordinator. "They don't think it happens to people they know."
To spread awareness about domestic violence, Alpha Chi
Omega sorority is giving out purple ribbons. The ribbons are attached to purple cards that provide information about support centers.
Alpha Chi Omega will collect used cellular phones and chargers and sell T-shirts from Oct. 20 to Oct. 31, Nelsen said.
She said the phones were given to Women's Transitional Care Services, 2518 Ridge Court. WTCS provides emergency shelter for women and children leaving homes because of domestic
violence. It also offers support groups, a crisis line and counseling said Lea Carland, WTCS volunteer program director.
The used phones and chargers are given to domestic violence victims who come to WTCS. The phones are given to victims so they can call 911 in an emergency.
The T-shirts will be sold for $10 each and will have the message "Break the silence, stop the violence." Nelsen said. All of the money the shirt sales raise would
to go toocl shelters, specifically to WTCS Nelsen said.
Nelsen said Alpha Chi Omega would also help WTCS with the University of Kansas Domestic Violence Awareness Day on Wednesday, Oct. 29. The organization will help with the Clothesline Project, Nelsen said.
The project involves displaying T-shirts that have been decorated by victims of domestic violence. The shirts display individual victim's stories, Nelsen said.
ple ribbons to become as well known as red and pink ribbons, which signify AIDS and breast cancer awareness, respectively.
"I hope people at least recognize purple is for domestic violence, that purple is getting better know about so domestic violence is more talked about in society," Carland said.
Carland said she wanted pur-
Carland said women ages 16 to 24 experienced the highest number of domestic violence incidents per capita than any other age group. WTCS, however, does
not have many college students use its shelter.
"They have more resources than women that stay in the shelter," Carland said. "Either they aren't living with their partner or can go back home."
Students do, however, use the service's hotline, Carland said.
Carland said to help WTCS people could volunteer at the shelter or contact her at 865-3956.
Edited by Abby Sidcsinger
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