Wednesday, August 27, 1997
The University Daily Kansan
.
Section A·Page 3
Center finds new site, mission
Islamic center's move won't affect prayer observation
By Ryan Koerner
Kansan staff writer
The Islamic Center of Lawrence is located at 19th and Naismith. The center serves as a resource center for Muslims and those interested in Islam. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
At its new location, the Islamic Center of Lawrence, 1629 W. 19th St., is striving to be the ultimate resource center for Muslims and non-Muslims interested in the Islamic religion.
"The center is open to anyone in the community who is interested in Islam," said Ahmed Zafer, Medina, Saudi Arabia, graduate student. "Our arms are open; our hearts are open. We handle anything but hostility. Period."
More than 50 students regularly visit the center, Zafer said. Many of them do not fit the Muslim stereotype.
"Most people think it is strange to see a blue-eyed blonde practicing Islam," Zafer said. "But we have some in our group, and many other non-Arab Muslims. Islam is a world religion, not just a religion of the Arabic countries."
Between 200 to 300 Muslim students attend the University of Kansas, Zafer said.
The center began moving to its new location last summer. It had been located at 1300 Ohio St.
"We just closed the deal on this location May 1," Zafer said. "So all of the people are fully functional, but with the boxes still unpacked the facility is not functioning."
The day-to-day business of the center is run by the executive council of the Muslim Student Association, a student group of the University of Kansas. Zafer is president of the association.
A Board of Trustees comprised of elected elders of the Lawrence Muslim community oversees the center.
"The Board of Trustees acts as our advisers," Zafer said. "They are here to make sure we, as students, make good choices for the center."
The center provides educational information to non-Muslims in the community, Zafer said. The executive council will speak to other religious or student groups about the beliefs and practices of Islam.
The center provides a place to practice Islam and provides a sense of community for Muslim students.
"We have social activities," said Mohamed Hassib, Cairo, Egypt, junior. "As students we can get together in the center and play table tennis or whatever, just for fun."
The center does not hold regular religious services like those of Christian religions. Instead, the center has a large "prayer room" for Muslims to use for any or all of
the five daily prayer times Muslims observe.
"Our religion dictates that we have congregational prayer on Friday," Hassib said. "It is a personal religious experience; it is just a time to be together to pray."
Hassib also said that if a scholar was present, he or she may lead the prayer, but he did not preach to the congregation.
Scholars are Muslims who are well-versed in Islam and the Koran, the holy book of Islam. Clergymen are not part of the Muslim religion. Instead, scholars advise Muslims who need guidance.
"Part of what we do is match students, anyone really, with the right people to talk to." Zafer said. "If
Muslim Students Association
The Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays.
Where: 1629 W. 19th St.
someone needs advice, we will find the scholar that is the best for them to talk to."
To contact MSA or the Islamic Center, call 749-1638.
Biology merger enhances research
Two departments combine to offer broader education
By Mike Perryman Kansan staff writer
Two biological departments have mutated and evolved into one new, bigger and stronger department.
The new department, Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, was formed from biochemistry and physiology and cell biology on July 1, with the beginning of the fiscal year. Graduate student research opportunities and resources should improve as a result, according to the department's acting chairperson, Mark Richter.
"Graduate students will now have a much broader choice for finding a topic of interest," Richter said. "They won't have to worry so much about choosing between biochemistry and cell biology."
A five-year plan is in the works and deals mostly with the hiring of new faculty.
"We are still ironing out a few remaining details on the plan to foster the new department and its positions," Richter said. "But so far it looks great."
Robert Weaver, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said both departments were in agreement that the merger was a good thing.
"The departments made the deci
sion," he said. "It was a good decision, too, because it will create a bigger, better faculty, which translates into more quality teachers and diverse research opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students."
The college will support several new assistant-professor-level faculty positions, including a new chairperson position, Weaver said.
Of the five candidates being interviewed for the position of chairperson, none are from the University of Kansas.
The merger is expected to attract top-notch graduate research students and help the University become more competitive in research. Weaver said.
Dean Stetler, director of undergraduate biology, said he agreed with Weaver.
"A new department will bring together similar research interests and will offer more for graduate students," he said. "Combined budgets will also allow for purchases of larger research equipment and supplies."
Bachelor's of science and arts programs in biochemistry, and the bachelor's of science program in cell biology would remain the same, Stetler said.
Weaver said he was optimistic. "Everyone will benefit," he said. "The new department will improve most aspects of graduate research, it will provide more opportunity for interaction between scientists, and it will provide more opportunity for undergraduate students to get involved in some of the research."
Weaver said he was optimistic.
Overland Park second best for raising children
National survey graded 219 cities on many factors
By Tim Harrington Kansan staff writer
The mass migration of families to the safe harbor that is suburbia has panned out nicely for those who chose Overland Park.
According to the Children's Environmental Index, a list survey of 219 U.S. cities that ranks "kid-friendliness." Overland Park is the second-best city in the country to raise children.
Released yesterday, the Index graded cities on 20 factors, such as infant mortality, teen pregnancy, school dropout rates and pollution.
The Index was produced by Zero Population Growth, a nonprofit organization concerned with the welfare of children.
Shawn Reidy, Naperville senior, was not as enthusiastic about the town as Zero Population Growth.
Beating out Overland Park for first place was Naperville, Ill.
"It's not bad. Kind of boring for the older crowd," Reidy said. "When we were in high school, we all said it sucked but going
back there now, it's a nice place."
Glenn Quick, assistant director of admissions, said that as of fall 1996, the University of Kansas had 781 products of the second-most kid-friendly city enrolled in classes.
One of those well-raised kids, Kimm Eilenberger, Overland Park sophomore, found nothing shocking about her hometown's high ranking.
"It's pretty high but really not all that surprising." Eilenberger said. "I thought it was a great place to grow up."
Dave Ravin, Overland Park sophomore, agreed.
"There's not much to say really. It's just a really nice place," Ravin said. "It's got the least amount of drugs and the least amount of crime in Kansas City."
Along with low crime and low drugs, some Overland Parkers boast of getting one of the best educations around.
"I definitely agree with the ranking," Katrina Gillett, Overland Park senior, said. "The school systems are really top level."
Gillett, however, did recall one drawback to her native town.
"This is still Kansas though," Gillett said. "There's really not a lot to do."
Missing bins trash paper recycling
Copies of the "University Daily Kansan" once filled a big blue recycling bin in front of Stauffer-Flint Hall.
Newsprint being wasted until a new program is established, officials say
By Daniel Ethan Thompson Kansan staff writer
"I've been getting lots of calls asking where the bin was," said Victoria Silva, specialist for environmental health and safety.
The bin, along with newsprint barrels in Wescoe, Summerfield, Snow and Carruth-O'Leary halls, have been removed and are awaiting a new recycling program.
During the summer, facilities operations took took the blue bin on a truck from campus to Lawrence High School. Lawrence High students would unload the bin at the school by hand and send the newspapers to be recycled . Then the bin would be moved back to campus.
But the bin has disappeared.
All proceeds went to the Lawrence High sci.
Patterson said Lawrence High was now depositing its newsprint at Lawrence's drop area at Checkers Foods, 23rd and Louisiana streets.
Lawrence High stopped its program on August 18 and asked facilities operations to come pick up the bin permanently.
But the market for newsprint dropped, causing recycling programs to have to pay instead of being paid, to recycle.
Silva said the bins were incompatible with city recycling bins and if filled, would have to be emptied by hand.
Attempts to reach Mike Richardson, director of facilities operations, about the location of the bins were unsuccessful.
The bins are in storage, Silva said, and cannot be used without a new program in place.
With one part-time worker, that is impossible, she said.
"We had a concern that it would fill up and people would dump them on the ground," Silva said. "We're trying to prevent a total mess."
Silva said she had to remove the barrels because she had no where to store the newsprint.
Andrew Rohrback / KANSAR
She is working with Lawrence officials to
implement a new program and hoped to have it in place before the end of September.
"Right now, the only thing we can do is ask students to take their papers to Wal-Mart or Lawrence City recycling centers." Silva said.
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