+ + arts & culture HOROSCOPES >> WHAT'S YOUR SIGN? KANSAN.COM/NEWS | THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2016 Aries (March 21-April 19) Peaceful introspection suits your mood. An idealist needs to be held to the facts. All is not as it appears. Let family know if plans change. Taurus April 20-May 20 Gemini (May 21-June 20) Professional challenges engage you. Dig into a research project and get out into the field over the next six weeks, with Mars in Aquarius. Keep practical objectives. available. Cancer (June 21-July 22) (June 21-July 22) Love gives you strength. Don't count on money that hasn't come in yet. Revise the budget to grow your investments and business. Choose your path carefully. (April 20-May 20) Friends are very helpful. Your influence is spreading. Pour energy into your work. Move forward boldly, with confidence. A rise in professional status is available. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Venture into unfamiliar territory. Get farther with a partner over the next six weeks, with Mars in Aquarius. Collaborate for funding. Share resources and talents A challenge at work has your focus. Imagine perfection. Consult a good strategist. Dispel illusions to reveal practical solutions. You may find an answer in Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Cultivate love. Find passion in your work and focus on that. Treat your physical body with healthy nutrition and exercise. Beauty feeds your spirit. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Someone nearby is looking good. You're gaining confidence. Put in extra effort. Quick action gets results. Clean house and prepare something luscious. Invite a special guest special guest. Sagittarius [Nov. 22-Dec. 21] Household responsibilities and upgrades require physical action. Efforts today pay long dividends. Figure out how you want things, and make it happen. Share your vision your vision. Capricorn Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) There's money to be made if you go for it. Get promises in writing. Draw upon hidden resources, and play that ace up your sleeve. Aquarius Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18) Available profits require disciplined action toward tangible goals. Keep it cool. Gentle, steady pressure works the trick. A friend shows you how. You can do this. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You're getting stronger, ready to make improvements. Write down a dream, and consider what possible realizations might look like. Organize a plan for growth Kaila Trollope/KANSAN for growth. Phillip McGruder stands in front of Allen Fieldhouse. McGruder is a student at the University of Kansas who started Believe Autism Matters, a student group at the University. One student's life with Asperger's at KU ▶ OMAR SANCHEZ @OhMySanchez n the fall of 2013, Phillip McGruder began his freshman year living in the dorm rooms at Templin Hall. On one of his first days in Lawrence, the dorm held a floor meeting to introduce everyone to their new community. In quick succession, students spoke of who they were and where Contributed Photo Raven-Symoné has announced she will reprise her role as Raven Baxter in "That's So Raven II." they were from. When Phillip finished his turn to speak, many of those around would not believe what was unique about the first year sports management major. "They were saying 'you don't look like someone who has autism,'" said Phillip, now a senior at the University. "Yeah, but I had the difficulties that people who have autism go through." As an infant, Phillip I knew that I would have to him teach courage, boldness, and other values that would allow him to become his best self." Anne Davis-McGruder Phillip McGruder's mother was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, categorized under the autism spectrum disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. While he has the ability to do much of what others can, it is at times at a slower pace. A common occurrence with the developmental disorder is focusing on irregular things that people typically wouldn't think to pay attention to. "I'm into football analytics," he said. "If you are a team that's looking to throw long down the field, but you don't also account for how the passing game can also help you gain extra yards in other ways, you are focusing on the big picture. For me, the little picture or details I see can create something bigger." SEE MCGRUDER PACER 'That's So Raven' spin-off series announced ▶ OMAR SANCHEZ @OhMySanchez On Oct. 27 actress and "The View" panelist Raven-Symoné dropped major news on live television. She was leaving the daytime talk show by the end of the year, and she's coming back to reprise her role as Raven Baxter for a "That's So Raven II" series on Disney Channel. The news shook fans of the original series, which aired on Disney Channel from 2003 to 2007, where they immediately took to social media hopeful to see the band back together for another round of fun. One of the co-creators and executive producers on the show is 1998 University alumnus Scott Thomas. Knowing the success of the original series, Thomas is beginning the process alongside Symoné and co-creator Jed Elinoff to revamp a story many people loved. "The best case scenario would be to have familiar faces from the old show and have them pop up, have them involved in some way," Thomas said. "But at the same time introduce some new stars through the kids." The new series will have Baxter as a divorced mother of two pre-teen "The show will focus on the family and hilarious situations that come out of having a mom with psychic abilities," Thomas, a Coffeyville native, said. kids years after the original. She will still have the visions of the future that often got her into trouble, although her children haven't shown they have the ability too. The new series will play off the successful formula of the original. During its run, "That's So Raven" not only entertained audiences but paved the way as the first show to have a black woman star and have her name in a comedy series title. It also won two Nickelodeon "Part of it is that we want to update the series because it was a fun product of its time," Elinoff said. "Ultimately, it's a character show about relationships and about family and that's really the important part." Kids' Choice Awards and was nominated for two Primetime Emmy's, among other distinctions. While the creative team will be looking to pay homage to the original series, they want to stay committed to adding an overarching storyline in the new edition that will get audiences to watch more than one episode at a time. Baxter and her children will be getting into precarious situations, but they will bond as a result, with the hope that Baxter becomes a model of the hardworking mother in the 21st century. But of course to get to that point, the classic physical hijinks will be in short order. "I think the hallmark of the show was the physicality of it," Elinoff said. "So as we're searching for the new cast, we'll be looking for kids that have some real genuine comedic skills. It's hard to find with kids especially, that they don't have the luxury and time to develop these skills so sometimes you're looking for people with raw talent and we can develop." "We want to get this thing moving quickly, because I think if the internet is anything to judge things by there's a hunger for the show," Elinoff said. Shortly after they finished, Thomas and Elinoff received a call from a Disney executive about joining the team for a new "That's So Raven" series. Now, they are in the process of developing the pilot script for the show in hopes that they can get the show off the ground as soon as possible. The longtime creative team of Thomas and Elinoff are no strangers to developing young talent. They are also co-creators of "Best Friends Whenever," a Disney Channel show that just wrapped up its second season. The show tells the story of two teens that have the ability to travel through time. There is not yet a set time to expect the show's premiere, but they know they have to work diligently to compete with streaming shows on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon. "We're working with the Disney execs and with Raven to come up with the perfect story to kick this thing off," Thomas said.