UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesdays, September 10. 1996
5
New Hausa instructor arrives
Teacher leaves home and family for University job
By Nicholas C. Charalambous
Kansas staff writer
On the eve of a 6,000-mile journey to the University of Kansas, Ibro Chekaraar walked for half a mile in the dark with his mother along the sunbaked, beaten track leading out of the village of Gadambo, Niger, in the heart of northern Africa.
Although Chekaraou (shek-ar-or) had left home before, his mother had never seen him off and needed to give him her special Islamic blessing, which is reserved for when people may never see each other again.
Chekaraou, 30, was leaving behind his wife of six weeks — at least for now — as well as a job as a high-school teacher in the country's capital, Niamey. The government had asked him to stay for one more year, which would have allowed him to claim a $2,000-a-year teacher's salary while studying in the United States. But Chekaraou said he could not delay.
In England and the United States, he said, people run everywhere.
"They run for what?" Chekaraou
said. "They run to work for them."
country. In Niger, people walk like chameleons. For me it's too slow a life in our country. That's why we are left behind. That's why I'm ready to sacrifice whatever it is to come here."
Cherkaraou, graduate student in applied linguistics and a teaching assistant in the department of African and African-American studies, is the first student to come from Niger to the University of Kansas.
Chekaraou said he loved Niger and planned to return. England, where Chekaraou has studied, and the United States had shown him that people love their country by working hard for its progress, he said.
The University recruited Chekaraou with the help of Fiona McLaughlin, assistant professor of linguistics and African and African-American studies.
McLaughlin had been a Fulbright professor at the University of Niamey from 1992 to 1993, where Chekaraou received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in English. She did not meet Chekaraou at the time, but she asked colleagues at the university to help her find a native Hausa speaker for the University's expanding Hausa program.
"Hausa teaching assistants are in demand," McLaughlin said. "To find not only a native speaker of this language but someone who is qualified to teach it is very, very rare."
Hausa is the dominant ethnic
group or Niger's nine ethnic groups. Overall, 80 percent of Niger's population speaks Hausa. In addition to Hausa and English, Chekaraou speaks French and Ajami, which is an Arabic form of Hausa.
As a teaching assistant, Chekaraou will receive $8,600 yearly and a tuition waiver.
"He's a wonderful guy. He's naturally affable and he is a good listener," Bartol said. "I can't imagine what kind of personal education he
Tyler Wirken/
Alicia Bartol, a Colorado Springs Colo., graduate student in Chekaraou's Hausa language class, couldn't decide whether to learn Swahili or Hausa for her master's degree in geography. After an hour's conversation with Chekaraou during teaching assistant orientation, her mind was made up.
Ibro Chekarauro,
30, Niger, Africa,
is the first student from his country to come to the University of Kansas.
Chekarauro is a teaching assistant in the department of African and African-American studies at the University.
would have had to undertake to become as well-read as he has."
Chekaraou was part of the first generation in Niger to receive formal schooling. Only 28 percent of Niger's people are literate. Chekaraou said he had wanted to be a doctor in a country which has only one physician for every 53,000 people. But teaching is a way of helping, too, he said. When he was a high-school teacher, he spent all his spare time listening to students who read him poems and short stories that they had written.
"In Niger, you don't live for yourself, you live for your family and your community." Chekaraou said. "I'd rather go back to my country with all the intellect I have from here and use it. Staying here with all the intellect I have will do nothing."
Sandstone wraps up with final concerts
Kansan staff writer
By Erin Rooney
After Sept. 21, this will be the continual state of Bonner Springs' outdoor concert facility. Sandstone will reopen in the spring, as it does every year after closing for the winter.
The hard plastic blue chairs and the sloping lawn of Sandstone Amphitheater have been empty for 18 days. No $4.75 beers have been sold, the metal hot dog warmers have been bare and the Chief's cheerleaders have returned to Arrowhead Stadium.
Four concerts held during the next two weekends will end the 1996 season.
"I'm not one for concerts but Dave Matthews is so good, I can't wait to see him," said Corrie Cohen. Dallas junior.
Ben Harper, a former skateboarder and now acoustic slide guitarist, will open for the Dave Matthews Band at 8 p.m. Friday. Matthews hit the top-40 charts with the songs *Ants Marching* and *What Would You Say*. Lawn tickets are $21, and no reserved seats are available.
The bands Jethro Tull and Emerson, Lake & Palmer will play at 8 p.m. Saturday. Jethro Tull reached its height of popularity in the '70s. The band now is on tour for its new album Roots To Branches. Tickets are available in the first reserved seating sections two
and six for $32.50, the second reserved seating sections 7, 13 and 14 for $25, and the lawn for $17.50.
Sawyer Brown headlines the Yallapaloosa country music festival on Sunday. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. and features Toby Keith, Western Flyer, Stephanie Bentley, Mark Wills and Steve Azar.
Ben Meyer, promotions director for the Kansas City radio station KBEQ, said the show would end about midnight and would be the longest show of the season.
Reserved seats remain for $15 in sections 7 and 14. Pairs of free lawn seats will be available for the first 250 people to come between 6 and 8 p.m. on Thursday to the Movie Gallery at the corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Pfumlee Street in Kansas City, Kan.
The last show of the season will be the Cracker and Cranberries concert at 8 p.m. on Sept. 21. The tour is for the Cranberries latest album To The Faithful Departed. Tickets are $29.50 for reserved seating and $21 for the lawn. Lawn tickets are $10 at the Sandstone box office and Ticketmaster outlets with KUIDs.
"KBEQ gave 12,000 lawn seats," Meyer said. "The place will be packed."
Ticketmaster charges a $5.25 to $5.45 service fee and a $1.80 handling fee.
Health topics addressed at Wescoe Beach
By Ashleigh Roberts
Kansan staff writer
On their way to class tomorrow morning, students can find out their height and weight, get free condoms, have their body fat measured, their stress level tested and their blood pressure taken.
Watkins Memorial Health Center will hold a mini-healh fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Wescoe Hall.
"We do the fair to provide students with information, not just about the health center, but about health issues and any personal concerns or questions," said Candyce Waltley, Watkins nurse and health educator.
Students can talk to counselors about their health concerns and pick up informational brochures, Waitley said.
"We get a lot of general health questions," she said. "If we don't have the information at the booth, students can come down to the health center and we will get it for them there."
This year, it's not possible to check cholesterol levels, but free coupons with mid-October expiration dates will be passed out, Waitie said.
The Career Center will have a mini-career assessment test and measure students' stress levels.
In addition, students can have their blood pressure tested.
"It is important for students to know now if they have elevated blood pressure so they can begin taking steps to change it," she said.
One area of the health fair will feature information regarding sex, Waitley said. Students can ask questions and get brochures on everything from sexually transmitted diseases to practicing breast and testicular cancer detection exams on plastic models, she said.
"The fair makes it easy for students to check out the health center and catch up on their personal health without having to take time out of their schedule," she said.
the fair used to be a two-day event on the west side of Watkins, but was moved this year because of construction, said Jim Strobl, director of Watkins Student Health Services. Next year it will be outside Watkins again.
"The fair will be a little smaller this year because we rotate staff members every 30 minutes to an hour, and we just can't do everything with all that distance." Waitley said.
The University Theatre IS Your Theatre!
*Hairt (Revised)*, book & lyrics by Gerome Ragni & James Rado
music by Gali MacDermor
November 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 1996
The Merry Winds of Windor by William Shakespeare
March 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 1997
University Theatre Series (3rd Season)
Coming Here: A Trilogy by John Gronbeck-Tedesco
October 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 1996
Abide with Me by Tom Averill (Alimis Come Home ill production)
April 24, 25, May 1, 2, 3, 1997
All performances are in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre
Alex and The Stretch World by Racer Averil
Saturday, February 15, 2019 (2:30 and 7:00 p.m.)
KU Theatre for Young People
Husb: An Interview with America by James Still
Saturday, September 28, 1996 (2:30 & 7:00 p.m.)
All performances are in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre
Inge Theatre Series
Image Theatre Series
The Memorandum by Vaclav Havel
October 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1996
Wrigs, by Ankur Bhupi, a virtual reality project
December 2, 4, 5, 6, 7*, 8* , 9, 10, 19
Original Play Festival. Commission by Don Schawang and
Tales From the Wasteland by Will Averill
January 30, 31. February 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 1997
all performances are in the William Inge Memorial Theatre
Unless noted, performances are at 6:00 p.m.
*    2:30 p.m. maturee
**    2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Bienvenu Pancho Villa and A Naked Woman by Sabina Berman,
translated by Shelley Tepperman
Season tickets now on sale in the Murphy Hall Box Office. Call 913/864-3982.
James Still Most likely to become a prize-winning playwright
James Still
Rebecca Balding Most likely to star on "Soap"
Darrell Everson
Darren Everson Most likely to come here a star
Judy Levitt Most likely to buy season tickets
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God is Demonstrating His Power to Change Hearts and Lives Coming September 8-14th Bazil Howard-Browne
As a result of his ministry - People are coming face to face with the reality of God Hearts are being ignited with a new love for Jesus. Numerous emotional and physical healings have been reported.
As a result of his ministry
We invite you to come, not to hear from a man, but to hear from the Holy Spirit, through a man of God.
September 8th-14th
Dates & Times.
Sunday 10a.m. & 7p.m.
Tuesday 7p.m.
Wednesday 10a.m. & 7p.m.
Thursday 10a.m. & 7p.m.
Friday 10a.m. & 7p.m.
Saturday 10a.m. & 7p.m.
700 Wakarusa Drive • Lawrence
841-5685
Effective Business Communications
Strategies for composing effective business communications related to the job search process will be discussed. Targeted documents will include such things as resumes, cover letters and thank you/follow-up letters.
- Tue, Sept. 10 3:30 pm
Rm 149, Burge Union
- Wed. Oct. 9 Noon Alcove D, Kansas Union
- Tue, Nov. 12 3:30 pm
Rm 403, Wesco Hall
Sign-up at the University Placement Center
110 Burge Union, call 864-3624
email: upc@ukans.edu. homepage: www.ukans.edu/~upc
K. U. RECREATION SERVICES 208 ROBINSON, 864-3546