thursday, september 18, 2003
news
the university daily kansan 3A
3A
Campus-bound snails indigenous to Sunflower State
By Amber Byarlay
abyarlay@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Most University of Kansas students will only see them after it rains, yet snails are there all of time.
In fact, snails have been in Kansas long enough to be in the state's fossil record.
Beth Davis, Cleveland graduate student, said she was not sure how the mollusks got here. But the amount of moisture and food appears to influence where the snails stay.
"Lawrence has a lot of good habitat for snails — a lot of bushes." Davis said.
Thanasis Saouros, Nicosia, Cyprus senior, said he saw the snails in front of Fraser Hall and on steps between Watkins and Battenfeld scholarship halls.
She should know. According to Davis, she is the only person in Kansas who studies snails, but she's certainly not the only person who notices the mollusks.
problems." Saouros said, "I tried not to step on them."
"I hope I didn't cause them any
Davis said the mollusks found on campus were pulmonate snails, meaning they had lungs
Davis is studying the behavior of the snails on campus and has collected them from around Lawrence.
The mollusks on campus usually have brown bodies and beige-colored shells and can be as large as a quarter. They are nocturnal so they are seen at night, though they are most commonly found after it rains, when they congregate to mate or eat, Davis said.
At other times the snails burrow under the ground and excrete a coating of mucus over their shells. This mucus coat conserves water.
Jordan Tucker, Kingman senior, said he saw the snails' mucus trails while he waited on campus for the bus.
Water conservation is important because the mucus the snails use to move is 90 to 95 percent water. The snails move by excreting mucus and applying pressure to it. The mucus changes from being solid-like to fluid-like, depending on the amount of pressure applied to it.
"Snails are funny," Tucker said. "They've got the little things that come out."
One of those little things is the foot, the appendage snails use to move by putting pressure on the mucus.
"It's sort of like silly putty," Davis said. "If you pull silly putty fast it breaks; if you pull it slowly it stretches. Depending on what you do to it, it will have that sort of property."
Beth Davis, Cleveland, Ohio, graduate student, held four snails during a carrot feeding. Davis is studying the behavior and actions of snails that cover campus and the Lawrence area.
The snails' food source is a fungus that grows on decaying plants. Davis said this made the snails more of a help in the garden than a nuisance.
Megan True/Kansas
"They help decompose things," she said. "They break down the excess stuff in your soil."
The snails eat by scraping layers off the surface of their food. The snails' bottom two tentacles are part of their mouths. The two tentacles on the top of the snail's bodies are optical and sense light
Davis said the snails would live for at least five years, and the
and dark.
more whirls a snails' shell had the were as babies," Davis said. older it was.
"The center is the size they — Edited by JJ Hensley
Senate funds speakers, aids clubs in speedy session
By Paul Kramer
pkramer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
A Student Senate meeting with a brief agenda featured the funding of two speakers who will be coming to the University this fall.
Queers and Allies requested $2,500 for speaker and artist Stacevann Chin.
Schafer said Chin's mixed ethnicity, consisting of American, German and Jamaican backgrounds, and her being a lesbian
made Chin an ideal choice to speak about diversity.
Colt Schafer, Queer and Allies senator, said it was important that Chin spoke close to National Coming Out day.
The money will be subtracted from the $7,500 the group is normally allotted by the Senate for Gay Pride week in the spring.
Chin will speak on Oct. 10 at a location to be announced. National Coming Out day is Oct. 11.
Senate also accepted a bill for $3,000 to bring in environmental speaker Derrick Jensen.
Jensen will speak Oct. 2 on a wide variety of issues such as the environment, social justice and animal rights. He will also comment on modern culture.
Jensen will also be at the university on Oct. 5 conducting
workshops.
The University is working together with The University of Missouri-Kansas City to reduce lensen's speaking costs.
Senate zipped through last nights' agenda in less than 90 minutes. STUDENT
Bills and resolutions also passing Senate last night included
A bill to fund the University's Cultural India Club. The $3,415 will fund special events and go toward expenses such as sound and lighting for the club's events.
A bill to pay for 10 chess
boards and clocks for the KU Chess Club. The bill's author, Patrick Quinn, off-campus senator, said the group had outgrown its capacity and needed the boards.
The resolution to hear full debate, which was brought up in committee meetings Sept. 10, was passed unanimously.
A bill for $431 of general funding for the KU Israel Alliance passed.
The Scooter Hawks funding was passed in the consent agenda, therefore not requiring a Senate vote.
-Edited by JJ Hensley
Senate Spotlight
Name: Jayme Aschemeyer
Senate Seat: Off-campus
Hometown: Aurora, Colo.
Office Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 1
Office Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday
Favorite TV Show: Queer Eye For the Strait Guy
Favorite Concert: Lynydr Skynyrd Favorite thing about Senate: Opportunity to get involved in campus groups such as University of Kansas safety board and Lecture Series board.
"Without Student Senate I never would have known about any of
the things I am involved in.
Least Favorite thing about Senate: "The Web site is not up, and I like
everything to be efficient."
Aschemeyer
Politician dead or alive she would most like to meet: Howard Dean, "I fully support his causes and his campaign," she said. "Howard Dean in 2003 baby."
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence
kansan.com
Red Lyon Tavern
944 Mass. 832-8228
Reservations Available!
843-4111
746 Massachusetts St.
Downtown Lawrence
Brunch
Saturday and Sunday 9:00am to 2:00pm
9. 95 per person kids 12 and under 5.95 includes choice of coffee, tea or juice
Buffet
Ala Carte
Frittatas (baked Italian omelet)
Scrambled Eggs
Fried Potatoes
Pancetta (Italian bacon) and Sausage
Assorted Crepés
Fresh Fruits and Cheeses
Assorted Crostini (including lox and cream cheese)
Fresh Bread
Tossed Salads
Chef's Choice Pasta
Sweet and Savory Turnovers
French Toast 4.95
Buttermilk Pancakes 4.95
Pancetta or Sausage 1.50
Fruit & Yogurt 3.95
Granola & Milk 3.95
Turnovers 2.95
Juices & Milk
Orange 1.75
Pineapple 1.75
Cranberry 1.75
Grapefruit 1.75
Milk 1.75
House Coffee 1.75
Cappuccino 3.00
Espresso 2.50
Latte 3.00
Café au Lait 3.00
Hot Chocolate 2.00
Mocha 3.75
Lunch items available from 11:00am until 4:00pm
Coffee Drinks
Cocktails
Mimosa 4.00
Bloody Mary 4.00
Freixenet 4.50
Chandon Brut 7.00
Teller's House Salad
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tossed with our balsamic vinagrette
topped with imported olives, vine
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The Classic Caesar Crisp romaine, homemade croutons, Parmesan, and our Caesar dressing. 4.50 / 6.95
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Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
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Chicken and Pancetta Sandwich Grilled boneless breast of chicken topped with sliced Italian bacon, mozzarella cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on grilled focacia. 595
Linguini and Meatballs Italian linguini cooked al dente and served with our classic homemade meatballs and marinara. 6.95
Soup of the Day
New day, new soup. 2.50 / 3.50
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