CAMPUS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, August 19, 1996
9C
Regents Center offers communications studies
Non-traditional students bring insight to classes
By Susan Franke Special to Kansan
The new communications studies program at the Regents Center is similar to the same program on the Lawrence campus, with one significant difference: the clientele.
In addition to attending class, nontraditional students at the Regents Center often work full-time and have family and civic commitments. The Regents Center in Overland Park introduced the 30-hour master's degree program in communications studies in Spring 1996.
Tracy Russo, program director and assistant professor of communication studies, said non-traditional students brought a rich perspective to the program.
"There is something special about the intensity and work experience these students bring to class," Russo said. "They take time away from their families and come to class prepared to do the work."
Russo launched the Regents Center program with a class called New Communication Technologies and the Work Place. Russo said the class provided a humanistic approach to technology.
"The angle these classes takes is to look at what happens to people in their interactions with technology," she said. "I ask students, 'Is this your experience in the work place?'"
All students in the class were given e-mail address. Russo encouraged them to surf the Internet and discover how they would respond to
items ranging from The Library of Congress to obscene materials.
The class also looks at why organizations implement technology and how relationships are formed and affected by technology.
J. P. Stonestreet, Lenexa graduate student, said the class kept pace with the latest technology. And he's already seeing some direct applications to his job as a network operations specialist for Sprint, which is based in the Kansas City area.
"We just installed a new e-mail system at work," he said. "The technology class has made me look differently at how people use technology."
Stonestreet, who graduated from the University of Kansas in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in communications studies, said the graduate program provided a more relaxed atmosphere, yet it was an intense experience.
Classes include courses on new communication technologies, leadership, organizational communications, performance feedback and improving communication between men and women in organizations.
Cal Downs, professor of organizational communication, teaches a class called Strategic Communication and Human Resources. The class surveys and compares various theories of leadership and management, such as the approach developed by author and speaker Steven Covey.
Downs said the test of a theory was whether it could be applied. He said he hoped students would accept and reject ideas to form their own perspectives on the role that communication plays in society and the work place. He added that he found working students to be refreshing because of the experience they brought to class and shared with one another.
Russo provided a picture of the Regents Center communication studies student: average age, 40.6; work experience, one and 35 years. More than 30 students signed up for the new master's program in the spring of 1996.
They represent a wide range of area companies including Hallmark Cards, Inc., Yellow Freight Systems, Inc., Johnson County Community College and Payless Shooresource. Several KU employees also are night students.
The program was more appealing to Stonestreet than pursuing an MBA.
"It's a well rounded degree that teaches you how to handle yourself in many situations, not just business," he said.
Randy Dick, a Roeland Park graduate student, said he got involved in the program because he was on a communications task force for his employer, the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The task force was designed to improve internal communication.
Dick said that with the introduction of e-mail to NCAA offices in Overland Park, he could see opportunities to apply what he was learning in Russo's technology class, such as dealing with privacy and access issues.
Although Dick sees going to school at night as a challenge, he said Russo made the class fun.
Russo said she wanted students to create a new mental framework for understanding communication through this program.
"I hope students retain an enthusiasm for the ideas of communication as well as the practice," she said.
Students diet exercise to avoid dreaded 'Fifteen'
Weight gain often affects incoming college freshmen
By Bridget Mason Special to the Kansan
Year after year, college freshman are warned of the 'Freshman Fifteen.' Despite warnings and efforts to avoid the foe, most students gain unwanted pounds, exerts say.
The combination of a slower metabolism, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and change in lifestyle adds up to freshman weight gain. Kress said.
Jeff Kress, KU fitness instructor and doctoral student in sports psychology, said that everyone's metabolism slows down as they age, so weight gain occurs naturally for most people in their early 20s.
Dawn Wormington, Garden City sophomore, enrolled in two physical education classes, intent on avoiding the 'Freshman Fifteen'. She worked out four to five days a week and ate pasta instead of the fried food in the cafeteria. Despite her efforts to stay trim, Wormington gained 10 pounds during the fall semester. She later learned that the cafeteria put soybean oil on the pasta to keep it moist.
After that discovery, Worming-on said she couldn't trust the cafeteria food. She now makes her own sandwiches or salads so she can be sure they don't have extra fat in them.
"Soybean oil is more fattening than a McDonald's cheese-burger." Wormington said.
Dieticians say most weight gain can be attributed to fattening residence hall food, but beer, late-night pizza and lack of exercise also are prime culprits.
In high school, Becky Cusumano, St. Louis sophomore, participated in soccer, softball and gymnastics. Now she finds it difficult to fit exercise into her busy schedule.
Hailey Bammes, Salina sophomore, is one of a minority of students who have achieved a bulgfree freshman year. Bammes avoided weight gain by walking everywhere and working out at Robinson Center.
"I don't have a bus pass, and I drive my car as little as possible," Bammes said. "Instead, I rely on walking to get everywhere."
Bammes said that she hadn't gained weight because she ate cereal or sandwiches instead of cafeteria foods. She said that she ate less because the cafeteria food was not available 24 hours a day, unlike the food in her kitchen at home.
Although exercise is a healthy way to lose weight, some weight loss methods can be dangerous. Allison Vaughan, Shawnee junior, learned in a nutrition class that fad diets are unhealthy and don't yield lasting results.
"A common mistake that people make is dieting. Instead of dieting, you must change your lifestyle and the choices you make about food," she said.
Vaughan said that the people interested in changing their eating habits should set long- and short-term goals. Each time a goal is reached, it should be reinforced with a non-food reward. Then a new goal should be made.
A nutrition class has taught Erin Fox, Garden City junior,
"A common mistake that people make is dieting. Instead of dieting, you must change your lifestyle and the choices you make about food."
Aileon Vaughan
Shawnee junior
how to make better decisions about the foods she eats to stay healthy. For example, cravings for sweets should be satisfied with fruit instead of candy. Eventually the body will learn only to crave natural sugars such as fruits, Fox said.
Kress said suggested controlling weight gain by exercising and making healthy eating choices. Salads are a good choice but avoid salad dressings or use vinegar without oil.
Exercise is important to keep the extra pounds off. But Kress said the exercise should be fun, not a dreaded activity.
"Many people think that exercise is a bad word, but there are a lot of sports that people enjoy playing that can also be good exercise — like biking or volleyball," he said.
Hey You!
(Yes you)
Student Senate is looking for someone like you to represent KU on committees and boards.
All students are invited to join
We are now accepting applications for Student Senate Committees and Boards. Finance University Affairs Student Rights Multicultural Affairs Graduate Affairs
Deadline: Friday, August 30th at 5 p.m.
Call 864-3710 for questions
Applications are available in the Student Senate Office - 410 Kansas Union
Save Money!
A price comparison by University Daily Kansan in the Fall '95 Semester found the KU Bookstores in the Unions had the lowest overall prices!
Get Cash Back!
Receive a cash rebate the next semester and save even more!
The only store to stock all the books for all the classes!
Two convenient locations:
Burge Union Kansas Union
913-864-5697 913-864-4640
http://www.rock-chalk.com/kubookstores/