Volume 125 Issue 47
Tuesday. November 13, 2012
kansan.com
BEARD UP
VETERANS' DAY
Code talker receives degree
MARSHALL SCHMIDT
mschmidt@kansan.com
Sixty years after he last enrolled in a class at the University, Chester Nez, the last living member of the original 29 Navajo code talkers who served during World War II, received his diploma Monday morning. Nez studied at the University for three years under the GI Bill until his funding ran out in 1952.
"Getting that sheep skin is a wonderful thing that's happened," Nez said, referring to the degree. "It's something that I've been looking forward to, and it's finally happened."
During a ceremony held in Lied Center Pavilion, Danny Anderson, dean of liberal arts and sciences, presented Nez with his degree in fine arts. Anderson praised Nez's dedication to education and his military service before conferring Nez with a diploma.
"It is unfortunate that KU was unable to help Mr. Nez complete his degree
Mike Austin, a graduate student from Lawrence, was glad to participate in the ceremony celebrating
sixty years ago," Anderson said. "We have a new approach to scholarship support now that will enable us to help students with financial challenges to complete their degrees."
Nez
educational opportunity for minorities by leading the singing of the national anthem and alma mater.
"Conferring the degree symbolizes the shift in attitude towards more equality," Austin said.
come."
t shows how far we've
Degrees are rarely conferred on former students without all of their coursework being completed, said Sarah Rosen, vice provost of academic affairs. But after a
monthlong process, the faculty senate approved the degree based on Nez's coursework completed, extenuating financial circumstances and talents as a code talker demonstrated during World War II, Rosen said.
Nez's situation was first brought to the attention of the University by Kansas First Lady Mary Brownback after meeting Nez at the Kansas Book Festival in September.
"Some of his education occurred out of the classroom, and I think it sends a message about how we honor our vets," Brownback said. "And KU recognizes that."
Edited by Hannah Wise
SUA
'Live Group Sex Therapy' to visit Union
Daniel Packard, love coach, started "Live Group Sex Therapy" six years ago. Packard has traveled to around 200 colleges in the U.S. with his show that is an interactive and comedic lecture. Student Union Activities will be hosting the show in the Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union at 7 p.m. The text-in poll questions have interesting and unbelievable results, which help people understand the opposite sex a little better, Packard said.
REBEKKA SCHLICHTING rschlichting@kansan.com
saw Packard's show at National Association for Campus Activities and decided to invite him to the University. She said that members couldn't stop talking about how funny and different he was after they returned from his show.
Jenna Olitsky, Student Union Activities special events coordinator, said members of SUA
questions that people are too afraid to ask, but since they are done anonymously, they should not be
"Students will take away love and relationship advice, as well laughs," Olitsky said. "He answers
Packard
Packard's mission is to make people laugh and help students to look for love with confidence.
Packard suggests that people just own their love life, either do something about it or don't but not stay complacent mak-
afraid to ask them."
ing up a bunch of scary rumors about finding it.
Packard said his degree is not
in psychology, but in engineering. Packard started out as a comedian but wanted to move from talking about airline food to a topic he cared more about, love. He analyzed his own struggles to love and as well as those around him for the past ten years. He spent the last five years as a love coach, helping mostly singles. Currently, Packard is working on a Broadway version on the show along with a TV show called "LoveLab."
Edited by Whitney Bolden
CAMPUS SPEAKER
Equal pay activist speaks at Union
REBEKKA SCHLICHTING rschlichting@kansan.com
KU students, members of the community and women's rights supporters filled Woodruff Auditorium for Lilly Ledbetter's lecture, "And Justice for All? Why Equal Pay for Women Matters to Everyone," last night in the Kansas Union. Ledbetter, a women's rights activist, fought against discrimination and unequal pay in the Supreme Court in 2006.
"When you look at the issues of pay equity, it is just so critical for women," said Kathy Rose-Mockry, director of programs at the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity. "That is the essential component of women's freedom, is being able to support yourself with a livable wage."
Ledbetter talked about her experiences facing discrimination in the workplace. She grew up in a poor county in Alabama and worked hard to achieve the American dream., landing her ideal job as a first line manager in production for Goodyear Tire & Rubber.
After 19 years of service, someone left her an anonymous note that said she was making 40 percent less than the men working the same job and motivated her to fight for equal pay. Three years later, her court case against Goodyear made it to the federal court and was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2006.
"The law was on my side," Led.
"This is critical that families are paid fairly," Ledbetter said. "There are so many women out there today who are struggling, working two full-time jobs."
The lecture was part of the Jana Mackey Distinguished Lecture Series. The Jana Mackey campaign advocates for victims of domestic violence and supports gender equality. Jana Mackey was a former KU student and women's rights activist who died in 2008 as a victim of domestic violence. Her parents, Curt and Christie Brungardt, started the campaign to honor their daughter. They introduced Ledbetter at the lecture.
Evan Traylor, a freshman from Edmond, Okla., said the lecture gave people information about how they can find out about equal pay and why this is an important issue for everyone.
"Equal pay is something we don't really think about in this day and age, but it's definitely something that still happens and continues to happen." Traylor said. "Not being paid for the same work because of a difference in gender isn't right."
Edited by Emma McElhanev
In 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The act addresses the Supreme Court's decision and Ledbetter's fight for equal gender pay.
better repeated throughout her story of discrimination.
Index
CLASSIFIEDS 9
CROSSWORD 4
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
SPORTS 14
SUDOKU 4
All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
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