Inside Section
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Learning the Ropes
Lewis Hall is currently being renovated to better provide for the changing needs of students. Once opened, it will resemble Templin Hall. SEE PAGE 4D.
Monday
August 17, 1998
Section:
D
Page 1
WWW.KANSAN.COM/NEWS/SPORTS*
Options passes lower entertainment costs
Tickets available for movies, sports
By Graham K. Johnson
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas organizations offer discounts via special passes for a variety of student activities and services.
Student Union Activities has an annual movie pass for $45 and a semester pass for $25 to see more than 50 shows, said Sue Buckley, manager of programs for SUA. The pass is available through the enrollment center's options card or at the SUA box office on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union.
For those wanting to hit the local amusement parks before they close, SUA has a super pass for $34. The pass admits two people for one day at Worlds of Fun or one person to both Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun for two days, said Mary Smith, SUA's box office director.
SUA also offers international student identification cards for $20. The card helps students traveling get insurance, flight discounts and hotel discounts around the world. Smith said.
For only a quarter, students can register their bikes with Douglas County officials
at the SUA office.
"We just do it as a service, because so many people ride bikes here on campus," Bucklev said.
Students with a taste for fine arts will not have to break their pop-culture budgets with the All Arts Card, available through the options card or at the Murphy Hall box office. The $150 annual pass admits students to at least 15 Lied Center events and University Theatre and Music and Dance department shows, said Karen Christilles, public relations director for the Lied Center.
"With the pass, the cost turns out to roughly five dollars per event for the Lied Center shows." Christilles said. "It's a
wonderful deal for students."
wonderful deal for students
Christilles also said that all seats were half price for students at the Lied Center, but events still were cheaper overall with the pass. Students can volunteer to usher events and see them for free, Christilles said.
For sports enthusiasts, the All Sports Combo pass provides student tickets to the Kansas Relays, home football games and coupons for all home basketball games for $81, said Kathy Frederickson, ticket associate with the Athletics department.
The pass is available only through the options process but there might be extra passes available through the ticket office in Allen Field House, Frederickson said.
Many of these passes can be obtained at the options table located just outside the enrollment center in Strong Hall.
The table, set up by the Organizations and Leadership office, operates during spring enrollment and allows returning students to sign up for passes and other options, which are billed to their tuition, said Patti Steffan, options fee payment coordinator.
She said that new students going through orientation would be able to stop by the options table until August 23. But if returning students did not sign up during the spring, they are out of luck. Those students will have to go to each organization themselves, Steffan said.
Through practice drills and training, ROTC students gear up to..
SERVE THEIR COUNTRY
By Courtney Kroutzer
Special to the Kansan
It is 5:30 a.m. and John Glaser, Overland Park senior, groggy rubs his eyes and rolls from his bunk at Camp Pendleton in San Diego as a horn blares revelle through the loudspeaker, piercing the stillness of the quiet morning.
Outside, the base springs to life. Artillery fire sounds like thunder in the distance, sometimes shaking the ground even though it is miles away. Harrier jets scream over the horizon and the sound of 70 heels hitting the pavement echoes outside as the platoon sergeant barks out the cadence.
Lance corporal John Glaser, Overland Park senior, holds his gun as his platoon receives lessons about use and care of their weapons. Glaser has spent time during two summers at Camp Pendleton in San Diego for R.O.T.C. Contributed Photo
While his friends spend their summers lying beside the pool and going out every night, Glaser, a lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, has spent two summers on a military base.
The six-year contract for reserves requires the commitment of one weekend a month and a portion of each summer.
Glaser is one of about 265 University of Kansas students enlisted in the military who spends part of each summer in training.
These students begin their training at boot camp. Air Force camp lasts six weeks, Army and Navy camp lasts eight weeks and Marines camp lasts 12 weeks. The following summer involves six to eight weeks of specialized military job training.
After completing basic and specialized training, reservists spend the remaining four summers in two-week training sessions.
The students are paid for their time served. Pay values among the branches of the military and according to rank and length of weekend drills.
Last summer, Glaser spent eight weeks at desert like Camp Pendleton, where controlled burns kept the earth scorched and dusty.
The only break in the dry, dead scenery was the lush grass, shrubbery and palm trees that surrounded the place Glaser called home — his barracks.
"With the help of sprinklers, the barracks were like an oasis," Glaser said.
A typical day began at 5:30 a.m. and involved 12 grueling hours of weaponry lessons, training exercises and physical conditioning.
At 6 p.m., the Marines were allowed free time.
"At the beginning of free time everyone eagerly surrounds the platoon sergeant for mail call." Glaser said. "I would say 90 percent of Marines' favorite thing is mail call."
Lance corporal John Glaser, Overland Park senior, drops over a wall in an urban combat exercise at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. Glaser is in the US Marine Corps Reserves. Contributed Photo
"It was hard at night," Glaser said. "I would be going to bed at 10 o'clock knowing that my friends were just getting ready to go out."
Taps, played over the loudspeaker, end each day at 10 p.m. Tired Marines climb into their bunks for lights out, and the base becomes still.
The rest of the evening is spent reading mail, playing cards or lifting weights. Shining boots, taking a shower and preparing gear for the next day are common activities during this time.
Paul Quirago, Long Island, N.Y., senior and a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, said, "I enjoyed the monthly weekend drills and annual training because I like doing real training, but I do feel like I missed on partying and girls."
Glaser said that reservists got more homestick than active-duty Marines because, despite identical training, reservists were not full-time Corps members.
Both Quiroga and Glaser said coming home was a great feeling.
"When I got home and was walking down the jetway I can't describe how I felt. It was the best thing in the world," Glaser said. "I was anxious to do the things I missed when I was away. I had pride in what I had accomplished and relief that it was over."
Chad Beeman, Overland Park senior and a specialist in the U.S. Army National Guard, spent his summer two years ago at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
He said that although he had learned a lot about responsibility, there were some drawbacks.
you face discrimination as a college student from those who are working full time and either can't afford or don't have
the desire to go to school. Beeman said.
"They enjoy giving you a hard time."
Quiroga said the biggest drawback was the threat of war, with its possibility of injury and death.
“It’s not that I am as concerned with my own death,” Quiroga said. “I’m concerned with how it would affect my family.”
Last November, Glaser's platoon was placed on alert when tensions arose between Iraq and the United States.
"It was very difficult to try and put that out of my mind and concentrate on my schoolwork." Glaser said.
Despite negative aspects, all three men said their experiences had been rewarding.
"It has been a valuable experience," Beeman said. "If I had it to do over again, I would do it."
Lance corporal John Glaser, Overland Park senior, fires his weapon in a pop-up target exercise. Glaser has spent time at Camp Pendleton in San Diego during the summer to fulfill his requirements for R.O.T.C. Contributed Photo
Early action initiative help secure financial aid
By Duane Wagler
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas students interested in financial aid and scholarships can help themselves by being prompt.
"We actually have a priority date of March 1 for the following academic year," she said.
Brenda Maigaird, associate director of student financial aid, said that it was wise to apply early because most federal grants and loans have limited funds.
Students still can apply for fall-semester financial aid through November, Maigaard said.
Federal grants available to undergraduates include the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. Maigaard said that both grants required students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Students who have children younger than five in child care can apply for a child-care grant beginning Sept. 1, Maigaard said. Students interested in this grant still should complete the FAFSA by March because eligibility is based on financial need.
Students who need to borrow money for school have several options, including the Federal Direct Student Loan and the Federal Perkins Student Loan. Maigaard recommended the Perkins Loan, in part because of its 5 percent interest rate.
"It's a great loan," she said. "If you have to borrow, it's the best way to do it."
Students also can borrow money through the private KU Endowment Loan, which does not require completion of the FAPSA. Undergraduates who receive a KU Endowment Loan can borrow up to $2,500, while graduates can receive up to $3,000. Application materials are available at the office of the KU Endowment Association, in Youngberg Hall on West Campus.
Maigaard said that funding for the federal work-study program had increased this year. Although much of this year's funds have been allotted, students can find out if more work-study money is available at the Office of Student Financial Aid's website, www.ukans.edu/~osfa.
This is the fourth year that the Office of Student Financial Aid has been designated as one of more than 100 federally supported experimental sites. Maigaard said that being an experimental site eliminated some red tape.
for example, University freshmen can receive their aid immediately instead of having to wait the federally mandated 30 days.
"It's been a real advantage for students at KU that we participate in this," Maigard said.
Students should know that the University is a direct-lending institution able to provide promissory notes for loans, Maizard said.
Students are encouraged to ask questions of the office, which is located in 50 Strong Hall. "We really encourage students to know what their rights and responsibilities are associated with borrowing." Maigard said.
Students who are interested in scholarships should apply early, said Alan Cerveny, director of admissions and scholarships. The priority deadline for new student scholarship applications is Jan. 15.
Cerveny said that students interested in scholarships should inquire at their respective academic departments.
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