Volume 125 Issue 36
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
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Page 4
RED FLAG
TYLER ROSTE/KANSAN
Students in Classics 148, located in Budig Hall, attend lecture on Friday. The students are all involved in using the new "My Success" program.
MARSHALL SCHMIDT
mschmidt@kansan.com
Nick Stadler, a freshman from Overland Park, is one of 400 students enrolled in the Greek and Roman mythology class, but he receives a personal notification from his instructor when he excels or struggles on an assignment.
Stadler's class, Classics 148, is one of nine involved in the MySuccess program introduced this fall, which aims to improve student persistence — especially with freshmen — at the University. Each week, students who are failing an assignment receive a "flag" while those who did exceptionally well receive a "kudos," both in the form of email notification.
"The kudos show that the instructors are involved with the students." Stadler said. "If I got a flag, I would make sure to buckle
down and read."
Andrea Samz-Pustol, a grad-
Andrea Samz-Pustol, a graduate student from Boyceville, Wis., is one of the teaching assistants for the class. Samz-Pustol sees the benefit of the program.
as students receiving six flags are required to meet with their academic adviser.
"MySuccess is an early warning system for students who are struggling to be alerted," Samz-
Pustol said, "It's like the 'check engine' light of their academic car"
For Amy Carlisle, a junior from Kansas City, Kan., receiving a flag was a wake-up call.
"I had been forgetting to do the online quizzes,but now I am
reminded to do them," Carlisle said.
Even still, Samz-Pusol sent students 96 kudos and 140 flags last week, a quarter and a third of the class, respectively. She estimates
"If students simply came to class, they would do so much better."
ANDREA SAMZ-PUSTOL Graduate Student
only half of the enrolled students show up for lecture.
"The lectures are posted online, so I think a lot of students think they will watch it
later, but then never do," Samz-Pustol said. "If students simply came to class, they would do so much better."
So far, 17 flagged students from Classics 148 have met with their advisers as a result of the program.
The program's results will be analyzed by the Office of Institutional Research and Planning toward the end of the semester, said Kathryn Tuttle, Assistant Vice Provest for Student Success.
"A key is to try to assess the impact on student performance and see if it increases the number of students who are successful in the class and who persist at KU," Tuttle said. "The plan in the longer term is to have a significant number of first- and second-year courses utilizing MySuccess."
As for Keagan Long, a freshman from Overland Park, receiving kudos for his higher quiz scores boosts his engagement in the class.
"They keep me on track," Long said.
Edited by Joanna Hlavacek
Course: BIOL 150 - Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology Instructor: Jim Orr Class Size: Lecture only - 508
COURSES USING MYSUCCESS
Fall2012
Course: CLSX 148 – Greek & Roman Mythology Instructor: Tara Welch Class Size: 439
Course: ENGR 108 -- Intro to Engineering
Instructor: Robert Sorem
Class Size: 60
Course: GEOL 101 – Intro to Geology
Instructor: Tony Walton
Class Size: 194
Course. GEOL 171 - Earthquakes and Natural Disasters
Instructor: Don Steeples with Luis Gonzalez
Class Size: 397
Course JDUR 101 - Media and Society
Instructor: Tom Volek
Class Size: 363
Course: PRE 101 — Seminar
Instructor: Kathryn Nemeth Tuttle
Class Size: 15
Course: NSES 244 - History & Foundations of Physical Education Instructor: Scott Ward Class Size: 88
Course: HSES 260 - Personal &
Community Health
Instructor: Phil Lowcock
Class Size: 318
ELECTION
Campus political groups encourage voting Nov.6
LUKE RANKER
lranker@kansan.com
University student groups offer outlets for students to volunteer with political campaigns or to just discuss political issues despite party affiliation or lack thereof.
With the presidential election moving into its final weeks, students searching for ways to get involved have a few options on campus.
KU YOUNG DEMOCRATS
Gates, a senior from Wichita, said the Young Democrats participated with several organizations, including the Dole Institute of Politics' Student Advisory Board, in a large drive to register voters. As the election gets closer, Gates said the group will seek local candidates to support and focus on increasing voter turn out. She said Young Democrats are concerned with the direction Romney wants to take education and health care reform, issues that directly affect students.
"Everyone only gets one vote, and it counts as much as the next persons," she said. "Saying that you are not going to vote because you will not make a difference is really just an excuse for shirking your civic duty."
Evan Gates, president of KU Young Democrats, said in an email that the group wants to make sure students understand that every vote counts.
"We have found when talking with students a lot of them just don't realize what a crucial election this is for our generation," she said.
KU COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
Jacob Peterson, president, said KU College Republicans' major goal is supporting local and national candidates. He said members have worked directly for local Republican candidates by walking in parades and doing door-to-door campaigning.
For the presidential campaign, the College Republicans held phone banks at its weekly meetings.
"We reach out to Romney supporters and encourage them to vote," Peterson said.
Along with helping campaigns, he said the group raised publicity for registering to vote and plans to continue promoting voting before the election.
Peterson, a senior from Osage City, said that while group activity has weakened over the semester, new members frequently join.
"We've been really pleased with our turnout," Peterson said.
YOUNG AMERICANS FOR LIBERTY
Anthony Orwick, social media coordinator, said Young Americans for Liberty is a nonpartisan, nonprofit
group that doesn't support any specific candidate.
"It's that place for students who are politically homeless," he said.
Orwick, a sophomore from Overland Park, said Young Americans for Liberty tend to lean toward libertarianism because they support social liberalism and fiscal conservatism. These issues include lowering taxes and less government involvement in business.
Orwick said that group members discuss current politics at weekly meetings on Tuesdays in the Walnut Room of the Kansas Union. In the past, the group has supported local libertarian candidates, and in September they participated in National Constitution Week.
YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST
He said the group would like Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate Jim Gray to visit campus.
Elizabeth Fehr, president of the Young Democratic Socialist, said the Democratic Socialist wants to apply democracy to all aspects of life, including wealth.
Fehr, a sophomore from Chanute, said one of the major things the group supports is the Student Loan Forgiveness Act. The bill, introduced in March, aims to freeze student loans at 3.4 percent and forgive loans if students pay at least 10 percent of their income for 10 years. She said the group has been petitioning to gain support for the bill.
Fehr said that while she supports President Obama, Democratic Socialist members support a wide range of politicians. She said the group hasn't done anything specific for the presidential election.
"We're focusing on building membership," she said.
— Edited by Christy Khamphilay
CAMPUS POLITICAL GROUPS
KU Young Democrats:
Evan Gates
kucollegedems@gmail.com
Young Democratic Socialists
Elizabeth Fehr, President
kuys.dsas@gmail.com
KU College Republicans
Jacob Peterson, President
ku@kansascr.com
Twitter: @kucs
Youne Americans for Liberty
Justin Vebar, President
yak.kansasuniversity@gmail.com
CAMPUS
SUA hosts artisan crafting, students learn about other cultures
HANNAH BARLING
hbarling@kansan.com
Bellus isn't alone in her love of DIY. According to the Daily Mail, homemade gift websites like Etsy have turned the hobby into a $29 billion industry. And in the TV world, the TLC reality competition "Crafting Wars" debuted this summer.
Taylor Bellus loves crafts. After discovering crafting as a kid, she's turned an old coffee table into a bench, created a thriffy way to display her jewelry with a bulletin board and made several projects with magazine cutouts.
"It's a good stress reliever and a great way to get away from work for a while", said Bellus, a sophomore from Shawnee.
Crafting has even become a
Although Bellas called crafting one of her favorite ways to break away from school, she said the hobby is hard for college students to afford.
Craft supplies may be expensive, but there are opportunities on campus for students to do crafts for free. Student Union Activities began hosting Artisan Crafts earlier this month. As part of the event, students are invited to learn about crafts from various cultures with an artisan from the Lawrence or Kansas City area.
popular pastime among college students. Websites such as Pinterest and Tumblr provide inspiration for do-it-yourself projects.
An Oct. 10 event featured a henna lesson from an employee of the Cosmos Indian Store located at 734 Massachusetts St. About 25 students attended and had henna
Last week's event was a calligraphy lesson from Kansas City-based artisan Leslie Tarzy. The last two opportunities of the month will be Guatemalan doll-making today followed by sugar skulls next Wednesday on Halloween. Both artists leading the upcoming lessons are from Mattie Rhodes, a nonprofit organization in Kansas City, Mo., that focuses on multicultural programming.
painted on their hands by the artisan.
"It's a great deal because a henna kit usually costs about $15 or $20," said Subha Upadhyayula, cultural programming coordinator of SUA.
Valerie Peterson, SUA assistant coordinator of cultural programming, said she feels students are so used to a busy class schedule that they miss out on experiencing everything around them.
The Spencer Museum of Art hosts a monthly Craftsy Meet-up in the gallery of the museum, offering another crafting experience. Participants bring projects they are working on and discuss crafting ideas with fellow crafters.
Kristina Walker, director of education at the Spencer Museum of Art, said that the Craftsy Meet-ups lets students expand their social circle.
"There'a a whole world out there that people are missing and a lot of things that people don't get the chance to see," Peterson said. "When we put this on, they get the opportunity."
"It's an opportunity for social engagement and interaction," Walker said. "It's a chance to meet new people who share common interests."
BRANDON SMITH/KANSAN
CLASSIFIEDS 7 CRYPTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 8
CROSSWORD 4 OPINION 5 SUDDUK 4
An Renee Reasor, a sophomore from Thayer, touches up on her art skills Wednesday in the Union. This is part of a weekly artisan craft program sponsored by Student Union Activities.
All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget to see SNL star Vanessa Bayer tonight in Budig 120!
Today's Weather
Partly cloudy and windy. Very warm.