Section A·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, September 16, 1997
KU students help combat illiteracy
Volunteers tutor people of all ages in community
By Gwen Olson golson@kansan.com Kanson staff writer
Volunteers from the University of Kansas are helping people of all ages learn a valuable skill necessary for success how to read.
Students Tutoring for Literacy is a program provided through the Center for Community Outreach that places volunteers at sites around the Lawrence community. Volunteers help people of all ages with reading, writing and learning skills.
Volunteers work at nine sites in Lawrence and each specializes in a different age group.
"Adult sites focus both on new readers and on people trying to obtain their G.E.D." said Emily Heath. Oskaloosa senior and codirector for the Center for Community Outreach.
"The work with children and junior high students is more working on their reading level and basic literacy skills." Heath said.
Tutors are asked to volunteer a minimum of two hours each week and are placed at sites ranging from schools to the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center. 330 Industrial Lane.
Scott Hendrix, Lawrence graduate student and co-coordinator for the program, said he hoped to improve the experience for all participants.
"Last year there were as many as 15 sites," he said. "The tutors and coordinators noticed a problem in keeping the lines of communication open."
Hendrix said this year the program cut back the number of sites to improve organization and had established site coordinators to meet with the tutors every few weeks.
Last year more than 100 students volunteered for the program. This year, about 50 students are signed up. Although there are fewer students who have signed up this year, Hendrix said he would not mind starting with a smaller group of volunteers.
"If we can get started with 40 or 50 people, it's a good start," he said. "We hope to build to 60 or 70 by the end of the semester."
Volunteers would be trained before they begin their work at the sites.
Heath said the training is designed to prepare students for their responsibilities.
"We try to teach them strategies to keep it really learner-focused," Heath said. "We want it to be that the learners are making their own changes and not depending on a tutor to help them."
Heath has worked with the program for two years and said she had most enjoyed working with junior high school students and families at the Homework Club at Edgewood Homes, 160 Haskell Ave.
"Working out there has been definitely one of the most positive experiences I've had at KU," she said. "Whenever I'm bogged down with my classes, I go out there and remember that this is why I'm in school and that I'm lucky to be in school."
Students interested in volunteering can contact the Center for Community Outreach anytime during the semester.
Students Tutoring for Literacy
Information and training sessions for Students Tutoring for Literacy:
6 to 7:30 p.m. tonight in Alcove A at the Kansas Union
6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Alcove A at the Kansas Union
For more information call the Center for Community Outreach at 864-4073.
CD club offers fresh alternatives
Fresh Tracks gives subscribers chance to hear new bands
By Rachelle Detwiler
rdetweiler@kansan.com
Kansas Staff Writer
With the first shipment from the compact disc club Fresh Tracks, listeners get one step closer to unknown bands and small-time musicians before they become stars.
Listening to a band before its big break is a goal of many music listeners.
The Chicago-based company mails subscribers two CDs by up-and-coming bands each month.
Last week Fresh Tracks' first orders went out across the United States and Canada.
Subscribers pay a nonrefundable fee of $14.95 each month and must subscribe for a minimum of two months.
Chris Wright, Fresh Tracks representative and KU graduate,
toured nightclubs in Lawrence and Kansas City last weekend promoting the company's grass- roots approach.
The company wants to make music more personable and more listener oriented, he said.
By distributing unknown bands with high-quality sounds, subscribers can hear a band before its big break and understand its origin. Wright said.
While in Lawrence, Wright discovered some bands, such as Frog Pond, that fit Fresh Tracks' criteria but didn't know if the club would add the bands.
Wright said that he knew of local bands' potential because he had heard good live music at small night clubs when he lived in Lawrence.
"People are getting sick of paying $60 to go to listen to a band for one song," Wright said. "But there's a sense of intimacy at a place like Liberty (Hall)."
Julie Doppelt of Fresh Tracks said that intimacy had been lost between listeners and big corporations producing one-hit won-
"Most people who subscribe are true music fans and interested in whats happening all over the county."
Julie Doppelt
Fresh Tracks representative
Many listeners feel let down after buying an album, but Fresh Tracks subscribers would be more satisfied because of the quality of Fresh Tracks recordings, she said.
Fresh Tracks two-month subscription offers listeners an opportunity to sample music without spending a lot of money or making a long commitment, Doppelt said.
Fresh Tracks' free newsletter "In Tune" also makes music more accessible.
Fresh Tracks
September bands featured are Hello Dave, Swerve, Soup and the Yellow Hammers.
Subscriptions are available at (888) 537-3745 or visit the Web site at www.freshtrack.com.
Subscriptions range from a two-
to 12-month commitment. There is a $14.95 nonrefundable
charge each month.
The newsletter is mailed with each order, and it profiles each band, follows their evolution and provides tour dates.
"Most people who subscribe are true music fans and interested in what's happening all over the country," Doppelt said.
Mentor program aids Haskell students in transition to life at Mount Oread
"Even if you don't fall in love with every song, you'll appreciate the music on the whole," Doppelt.
By Ryan Koerner
rkoerner@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Haskell Indian Nations University may be just across town from the University of Kansas, but for Haskell students transferring here, it can seem a world way.
To help smooth the transition, the Freshman/Sophomore Advising Center has created a mentoring program.
"The goal of the program is to assist Haskell Indian Nations University transfer students with their transition to KU by providing faculty, staff and student mentors," said Kathryn Tuttle, director of the Freshman/Sophomore Advising Center.
Tuttle said the need for the program was targeted by the KU/Haskell Indian Nations University Task Force.
"From the committee's discussion about the transition period between Haskell and KU and my experience on the Haskell campus, we saw this as a way to make that transition period smoother." Tuttle said.
"When you come here to a larger campus, it is more decentralized. We want to help the students create what they had at Haskell — a family environment." Tuttle said.
Because of the differences between the two schools, not only in ethnic makeup but also in size of enrollment, the transfer process can be intimidating, Tuttle said.
"On the Haskell campus it's like a family. Students get to know each other and campus issues," Tuttle said.
Last semester, Tuttle and other staff members from the advising center contacted Haskell students who had applied to the University for the fall semester.
Interested students were asked to fill out a questionnaire listing information such as intended major and areas of concern.
The center then matched the students with peer and staff mentors. The Advising Center will also be appointing faculty mentors for each student.
Since the program is new, a mentor's main responsibility is to answer questions.
"The most help they need is
with procedural things," Tuttle said. "As mentors, we provide many of the resources orientation does — just on a more personal level."
The Native American Student Association is the advising center's main resource for student mentors.
Regina Grass, NASA president, said she provided the center with a list of names of NASA members who were interested in being peer mentors.
"It gives us the opportunity to humanize the University for transfer students," said Grass, Vian, Okla., graduate student. "They come from such a small community at Haskell and this program allows them to take in KU at a personal level."
Board of Class Officers
and
Student Union Activities
Nominations are now being accepted for the
Ex.C.E.L. Award $500 Scholarship
- EXcellence in Community, Education, and Leadership
One male and one female KU student will be chosen on the basis of their capacity for leadership, effective communication skills, involvement in the KU community, academics and their ability to work with a wide variety of students and student organizations. Each recipient of the Ex.C.E.L. Award will receive a $500 scholarship.
Nomination forms available at: - Organizations and Activities Office, 4th Floor, Kansas Union
- SUA Office, 4th Floor, Kansas Union
Nomination forms are due by 5 p.m., Friday, October 3, 1997, to the SUA Office.
For more information, call SUA at 864-3477
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Advertising 119 Stauffer-Flint 864-4358
News Room 111 Stauffer-Flint 864-4810