CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, August 27, 1996
3
DJ spins music with a message
Alternative station increases diversity
By Erin Rooney
Kansan staff writer
Vertical Reality may sound like most of the programs on the Lazer, but it's not.
Zach Shear, a 1993 KU graduate and host of the radio show, said he played real alternative music on his program. Music that, he said, has a message.
"The grass-roots of alternative music were based on sounds that were not mainstream, not part of pop-culture," Shear said. "So I would have to say that Christian music is at the center of alternative music. The music has caught up with the mainstream in its quality but still sits on the back burner in its popularity."
Zach Besheer, a KU graduate, is a disc jockey at KLZR. He hosts a Christian alternative radio show from 8 to 10 a.m. every Sunday morning under the pseudonym Zach Shear. Christian music is at the center of alternative music, he said.
While Zach Shear is his on-air name,
Zach Besheer is his real name. His show
airs 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday on 105.9 FM, the
Lazer.
Shear got the idea for his show during the summer of 1992, which he spent in Wichita. He listened to a commercial Christian rock station, and when he returned to Lawrence, he decided the
area needed a Christian alternative show.
He tried to find a station that would allow him his own radio show. Shear recorded a sample program at a friend's studio and sent tapes to all the major radio stations in Kansas City and Lawrence.
All of the stations turned him down except for the Lazer, which told him to try again later. Shear tried to convince the station to give him a chance and a year and a half ago, he made his way onto the air.
Roger the Dodger is programming director for the Lazer. "He sent us music, a list of potential sponsors and lists of friends and acquaintances who would be interested in listening to a show of his kind," said Roger, who wouldn't give his last name. "He was constantly giving us reasons why we should do something like this. It was really persistence on his part, more than anything else, that got him on the air."
Michael McShea, Stockton junior, said Vertical Reality had been tuned-in on his radio more than once. He said the lyrics of regular music had affected his decision to listen to music with a Christian theme.
"Garbage was being poured into me and
I wanted to be filled with something that was more clean," McShea said.
Statistics were not available on how many people listen to Vertical Reality. Shear said the majority of his listeners were in high school and college.
The only common theme in Shear's
show is Christian bands. Not every song mentions Jesus, he said.
"I don't ever preach while on the air." Shear said. "I just jock and let the music speak for itself. I want to give people an opportunity to hear about God through music that isn't dorky or out-dated."
ON CAMPUS
The Episcopal/Lutheran Campus Center will hold worship at noon today at Danforth Chapel. For more information, call Rev. Joe Allford at 843-8202.
KU KI Aikido Club will meet at 6:30 tonight at 207 Robinson. For more information, call 864-1798.
AIESEC will hold its first meeting of the semester at 7:10 tonight in 2023 Haworth. For more information, call Kia Flesher at 865-5575.
The MS Support Group will meet at 7 tonight at the Holcom Park Recreation Center in the north room. For more information, call Dawn at 842-6175 or Shannon at 842-1011.
Kansas City Baptist Temple Bible Study will hold a question and answer bible study at 7:30 tonight in the International Room in the Kansas Union. For more information, call John Henford at 841-1683.
Gay and Lesbian academic and staff advocates will hold a brown-bag meeting at noon tomorrow. Everyone is welcome. Call 864-0624 for location.
Office of Study Abroad will hold an information session about French-speaking countries at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow at 4058 Wescoe Hall. For more information call the Office of Study Abroad at 864-3742.
Office of Study Abroad will hold a study abroad returnees welcome back reception at 4 p.m. tomorrow in the Malott Room in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Ted Noravong at 864-3742.
Group's name change stirs debate
By Nicholas Charalambous Kansan staff writer
It's OK to be queer.
Once a term used only by bigots, the word "queer" has been reclaimed by KU Queers and Allies, a student organization serving lesbian, bisexual, gay, transsexual and transgendered students.
Using the word risks offending those who consider it derogatory. But Rob MacRae-McKie, director of Queers and Allies, said the name was chosen to reflect the group's inclusive philosophy and was catchy.
"We're not saying it's acceptable
for someone to say queer," he said, referring to people who use the word in an offensive way. "It is the intent behind the use of the word that's important."
The decision to change the group's full name from LesBiGay Services of Kansas to KU Queers and Allies, LesBiGayTrans Services of Kansas was made in May at an open general meeting. The 20 members present didn't voice any strong objections to the new name. MacRae-McKie said.
Marcia Epstein, director of Headquarters Counseling Center which often refers people to the group, said she still was uncomfortable with a word that has been used cruelly toward people she knows. She warned that reclaiming the word could backfire.
"The ideal is that you reclaim that word and it doesn't have any stigma," she said. "My fear is that it will give people permission to be even more cruel."
Only a few people have objected to the name and they had little connection with the group, MacRae-McKie said.
The name change was part of an effort to include transgendered students, who are not necessarily homosexual but behave against gender tone MacBae-McKie said
Adding the word "allies" to the
group's name will help the group establish links to other minority organizations also fighting for equality, recognition and acceptance, he said.
"When you walk in the door, you're not saying you're a gay man but that you're a friend of ours and a part of our family," he said.
The University Daily Kansan's policy is to call people what they want to be called, said Kansan editor Amanda Traugher. However the Kansan will not use the group's acronym Q&A.
"We feel that Q&A stands for questions and answers, and we try not to use acronyms because they can be misleading," she said.
ON THE RECORD
A KU student's car rear window was damaged between 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday in the 900 block of Arkansas Street, Lawrence police said. The damage was estimated at $100.
A KU student's car was stolen between midnight and 1 a.m. Sunday in the 1400 block of Eddingham Drive, Lawrence police said. The car was valued at $850.
A KU student's compact
A KU student's car stereo was stolen Saturday in the 900 block of Arkansas Street, Lawrence police said. The items and damage were valued at $450.
Student Ticket Distribution Please read before picking up your tickets
Your Assigned Picked-Up Date
Last Name
Wescoe Beach
A KU student's purse, cash, pen and other miscellaneous items were stolen between 5 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Friday from a room in GSP, KU police said. The items were valued at $453.
KU student employees reported a person attempting to use a false Kansas driver's license and a false alien resident card at 1 a.m. Saturday at the front desk of McCollum Hall. KU police said.
discs, CD case and video tapes were stolen Wednesday morning from a room in McCollum Hall, KU police said. The items were valued at $1122.
H - P
8:30 - 4:00
Monday, August 26
Tuesday, August 27
Wednesday, August 28
Make-Up Day
You may pick up only your own ticket.
Thursday, August 29
You must bring your KUID with a current FALL 1996 fee sticker to receive your tickets.
You will receive your football tickets only at this time. You will receive the men's basketball and Kansas Relays portion of your Sports Combo at a later date. More detailed information will be available at pick-up.
If you miss your assigned pick-up date and make-up day,you may pick up you tickets at the Athletic Ticket Office in the East Lobby of Allen Fieldhouse beginning Friday, August 30,1996.
Home Opener, this Thursday. Aug. 29, 7:00 pm - Jayhawks vs. Ball State
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