Campus/Area
Section A · Page 3
Monday October 27,1997
Eric Sims, Lawrence senior, explains how civil engineers transport and filter water from lakes so that it can be used safely. Sims' presentation to high school students from Parsons was part of Minority Engineering Prospective Student Day. Photo by Roaer Nomer/KANSAN
The 3-foot gap between the table and the front row might as well have been the Grand Canyon. At the table sat 10 students from the School of Engineering, and in front of them were 11 freshmen and sophomores from Parsons High School.
In order to bridge the gap between the experienced college students and the young high school students, the school sponsored a Minority Engineering Prospective Student Day Friday at the Burge Union.
By Roger Nomer Special to the Kansar
The college-student panel was just one event during the day, which was designed to inform minority high school students about college life as an engineering major. Other events included an introduction to the associated dean and the director of admissions, a catered lunch and a presentation by two engineering students on civil and architectural engineering.
Prospective students begin engineering plans for future
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"I't hard, it's challenging, but it' s nothing that you, or you, or you can't do," said Conway Ekpo, Lawrence senior, as he pointed around the audience. "You have to have dedication, first and foremost."
"Theses kids need to hear about preparation now," Boldridge said. "The only way they'll make it through if they're prepared."
Florence Boldridge, director of Diversity Programs at the school, said the goal of the visit was to get high school students prepared for college early.
The Parsons students were hit with a barrage of information throughout the day. Their eyes grew wide as Ekpo described the $30 pens and the all-nighters demanded of an engineering major. They received warnings that motivation in college would have to come from within — that their parents wouldn't be there to force them to do homework or get to class. And they were introduced to the harsh reality of walking the hills of Lawrence as they took a tour of campus.
Boldridge said that she wanted the high school students to find role models among minority engineering students — role models who came from the students' background and who were now talented students studying in college.
Mary Collins, a language arts teacher in Parsons, contacted Boldridge about bringing her students to the University for a visit. Collins, who has three brothers who are engineers, said engineering was an increasingly important field that she wanted her students to start thinking about.
The college student panel introduced the high school students to these role models. The panel offered advice about everything from tutoring to the value of the college experience.
"Education is a privilege. It's something you can't get back if you let it go," said Chere Smith, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore.
The students, who arrived sleepyeyed after a two-hour morning ride to the University, left with a better picture of what college was like and what it would take to get there.
"It really gave me a better look at things," said Donneisha Colbert, Parsons High School sophomore. "You don't really know what it's like at college until you get a chance to come here and visit."
The college students felt the visit was important to show high school students they could make it as engineering majors.
"One main reason I got into architectural engineering was that an engineer came to my high school, and I saw that I was just like him." said Ekpo. "I saw that I could do this."
Trafficway proposal still gridlocked
The Etc. Shop
By Ann Premer apremer@kansan
Kansan Staff Writer
A court-ordered mediation attempt to end the appeal of the South Lawrence Trafficway ended with no resolution Friday.
"There was no movement," said Bob Eye, attorney for Wetlands Preservation Organization. "I think at this point, the parties believe that this will only be resolved by the court."
Jason Daniels, Colby junior, member of KU Environs and a defendant in the appeal, said the mediation was standard in the tenth circuit.
Opponents of the trafficway sued SLT planners because they wanted the planners to complete the environmental impact statement before advancing with the trafficway. The study would examine the road's effects on the wetlands and other areas along the roadway.
By Ann Premer
"It was just kind of a formality." he said. "It was really in the county and state's hands. We won the case; they were the ones appealing."
Tim Orrick, county attorney, did not return a series of phone calls.
Federal Highway Administration later joined the appeal.
The 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ordered the mediation in an attempt to solve problems outside of the courtroom.
Supporters want to extend the road, which runs from the Kansas Turnpike west of Lawrence to South Iowa Street to Kansas Highway 10 east of Lawrence.
Eye said briefs could be due to court by mid-November, and the arguments could start in February.
The appeal was made by Douglas County and the Kansas Department of Transportation in July after U.S. District Judge Tom Van Bebber placed the trafficway under a permanent injunction and ordered a supplemental environmental impact statement be completed. The
Pantries benefit from food, fans, philanthropy
By Gwen Olson
golson@kansas.com
Kansan staff writer
Volunteers delivered food Saturday night to five Lawrence service agencies: the Ballard Community Center Inc., Penn House, the Salvation Army Church, the Pelathé Community Resource Center and ECKAN Community Action Agency.
Despite wind, rain and cold temperatures, 25 volunteers collected about 1,000 food items Saturday for local service agencies.
Make a Difference Day, a national day of service sponsored at the University of Kansas by the Center for Community Outreach, helped fill empty food pantries in Lawrence through a city-wide food drive.
David Cade, director of the Pélathe Community Resource Center, said the drive helped the center.
"We got about $70 in donations," Najim said. "We'll divide that money up and give it to the agencies so that they can use it for more food or whatever else they need."
Food also was collected at Lawrence Dillons stores, Checkers Foods and Hy-Vee Food and Drug. Nicole Skalla, Salina sophomore and University Relations coordinator for the Center for Community Outreach, said the store drop-offs were the most successful.
Najim said that most of the fans at the game had been from Nebraska and had not brought any food donations. She said some of the fans had given volunteers cash donations.
Jamie Najim, Wichita senior and co-director of the center, said the drive was a success despite scheduling and weather problems. Volunteers collected food before the Kansas-Nebraska football game at spots around Memorial Stadium.
"We only got around two boxes of food where I was collecting at the stadium," she said. "The stores were great and very helpful. That's where we collected most of the food."
"I haven't done a count yet, but they delivered two shopping carts full of food," Cade said. "There are a lot of agencies that need food right now, and at this time people are having a hard time making ends meet. The food we got will really allow us to assist the families who come to the center."
"The community responded really well," she said. "We were definitely hindered by the weather, the time switch of the game and the overwhelming number of Nebraska fans."
Make a Difference Day is sponsored nationally by USA Weekend magazine and the Points of Light Foundation, an organization that promotes community service. The foundation will award $2,000 to each of the top 75 participants in the service day.
Najim said she would submit her evaluation of the event and the winners would be notified in March or April. She said she didn't know whether the KU event would win the money.
"Dropping off the food was the most rewarding part," she said.
"Looking in the pantries and seeing that they have food, that is what really makes a difference."
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