friday, august 22, 2003
news
the university daily kansan 5A
Freshman follows brothers' paths
By Zack Hemenway
zhemenway@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Like his two older brothers, Daniel Miller made the drive from Wichita and lugged his gear up the stairs to his residence hall room on a hot Sunday afternoon. Now all he had to do was pick a bed.
His brother Bobby, a junior, had given Daniel a steady stream of advice as he moved into McCollum Hall. Bobby pulled his younger brother out into the hallway, away from their parents for one last recommendation.
"Take the bottom bunk," he whispered. "When you get home from a party late at night, you don't want to be climbing up ladders and stuff."
His brother also told him not to be overwhelmed, but Miller said his Wichita home life made that advice unnecessary. Escaping a combination of household chores and "annoying little brothers" outweighed
any nervousness Miller might have felt.
"I was excited about starting at KU," he said. "Living so many years in a seven-person house, I think I was just ready to get out."
Daniel, the middle son, joined his two older brothers in attending the University, but each picked the school with different goals in mind. Raymond Miller graduated last year with a meteorology degree, and Bobby is studying physical fitness. Daniel is planning to major in theater and film, continuing an interest in acting.
Miller was involved in numerous productions in high school, and hopes to continue acting at the University. He said he immersed himself in his roles, staying in character backstage during productions.
during his year, in one senior-year production, though, staying in character took a little less work. Miller played a comedian who had a hard time making people laugh.
"Everyone said 'you already
were him," he said with a laugh.
"Because every time I try to re-tell a joke, I flub it up."
Miller began his newest role, KU freshman, on Sunday afternoon, and so far the show is going well. He and his roommate are still in the honeymoon stage; they call themselves "the most considerate people we've ever met." He's applied for jobs on campus, just like his brother Bobby.
"It's good to be away from home but still have your family close by." Bobby said.
Bobby. The Miller brothers may be eager to escape their house and gain independence, but they accomplish these goals together. Daniel Miller said Bobby had always looked out for him, and he expected to see his brother regularly.
Bobby and Raymond Miller were roommates for a year, and Daniel and Bobby, who've shared a room at home since middle school, will probably follow that example.
Two "annoying little brothers" left at home could make the Millers a complete Jayhawk family. Daniel Miller thinks there's a good chance 16-year-old Jimmy and 12-year-old Kevin could follow in their brothers' footsteps.
brothers to keep me
"I think at first they'll say 'I don't want to be like my brothers,' " he said. "But eventually they could end up here."
A five-child family of KU students is far from a common occurrence, and Daniel Miller said some familial recognition wouldn't be out of the question. He just couldn't decide what kind of award was appropriate.
"It'd be awesome if all five of us went to KU," he said. "We should get a tuition discount, or a plaque with statues of my parents or something."
For now, Miller has simpler,
more immediate goals in mind.
"I just want to have a good time, meet some interesting people, get good grades, and impress everyone," he said.
Edited by Shane Mettlen
Daniel Miller, Wichita freshman, shows off some of the DVDs in his collection. Miller, who plans to major in theater and film, has a brother who also attends the University of Kansas and another who graduated from the University last year.
Megan True/Kansan
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