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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KU museum to host 'Sexy Science' exhibit
Bekkah Lamp, a member of the Public Education Department in the Natural History Museum, shows Red Lyon patrons a chemical reaction taking place in a glass cup. The KU Natural History Museum put on the event Bar Science Wednesday night to get people more involved in scientific experiments.
TYLER ROSTE/KANSAN
The KU Natural History Museum is bringing sexy back.
MARSHALL SCHMIDT mschmidt@kansan.com
Students can visit the museum tonight to learn about group sex among mollusk species, cannibalistic sex among spiders and bees that explode after copulating.
that capture their moods.
The event, at the museum in Dyche Hall at 5 p.m., is called "Sexy Science," and it kicks off the fall lineup of new events.
For ages 18 and older, the event includes "Condom Olympics," where students compete to properly put condoms on models while blindfolded or wearing beer goggles. Visitors can also look forward to a museum-wide scavenger hunt, refreshments and prizes including t-shirts, water bottles and condoms.
"Sexy Science focuses on the suggestive side of natural history," said Kitty Steffens, visitor services and events coordinator for the museum. "It will help students look at science in an exciting and different way."
Chris Wildgen, a senior from Lawrence, works at the museum and hopes "Sexy Science" will stimulate students' interest in the museum.
"It's edgy," Wildgen said. "The sexual nature of the event entices the college demographic to explore the museum and learn about science."
The museum is always free for students, but Wilddog thinks
many have never seen its attractions. Some of the highlights: the world's largest fossilized Masasaur — a prehistoric marine lizard — 12 live snakes and a tricaratops skull. A jackrabbit with tiny antlers, commonly known as the mythical jackalope, sits in its own display.
display. This semester, the museum is tripling the number of events it sponsors and is staying open until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday to appeal to students and the community.
"Sexy Science" is cosponsored with the student-run Peer Health Education group, which hopes to push safe sex education in a fun atmosphere.
Museum visitors Thursday night will find information about proper use of different types of contraceptives. They'll also see a demonstration of the strength of condoms that involves filling one with oranges.
"If you use contraceptives correctly, they can be very effective," said Ken Sarber, public health educator at the University and an organizer of the event.
Sarber said improper use reduces the effectiveness rate of condoms by 15 percent.
"It's a very fun way to learn about sexual health and safety," Sarber said.
Edited by Ian Cummings
STUDY ABROAD
School of Music plans to make Germany trip annual event
NIKKI WENTLING
nwentling@kansan.com
Some School of Music students recently returned from a nine-week program in Lawrence's sister city, Eutin, Germany. Now, more music; students will prepare for a commissioned
concert in New York this spring.
cert at the Lied Center on April 2.
Members of the University wind ensemble will perform Mohammed Fairouz's "In the Shadow of No Towers," a concert that explores life post-9/11, in the Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall on March 26. They will return to Lawrence to play the con-
The school is also working with organizers in Germany to plan another trip to Eutin in summer 2013.
"I think it will be great for the students to do this every summer," said David Neely, director of orchestral activities for the school. "It's a great
experience for them, and it's a great gain for KU!"
Students Stephen Mellan, Ether Barley, Amber Thoenes and Matt Stratt traveled to Eutin. Germany to preform in an orchestra at the Eutin Festival last summer.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
For the past two summers, students performed at a music festival in Eutin. In 2011, more than 70 students — a whole student orchestra and opera cast — traveled to Eutin. This past summer, 33 students were selected to go. These 33 students performed alongside professionals and other students from Germany and other countries.
Madison Mikenna, a graduate student from Birmingham, Mich., performed in the chorus at the performances in Eutin.
"In the opera chorus there were about 65 people, and 14 of them were American singers," Mikenna said. "The rest were a mixture of people from Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Sweden and Korea."
"I auditioned because I wanted to have the music experience of playing in a different country and getting to meet other musicians from around the world," Mellier said. "It was the
Meiller, a junior from Normin,
Okla., had a free day at least once a
week. He travelled to Berlin and small
cities and beaches near Eutin.
The festival spanned from June 15 to Aug. 20. Students rehearsed in Eutin for two weeks before the concerts and operas - "Nabucco," "L'elisir d'amore" and "Die Blume von Hawaii" - began. Mikenna and the rest of the chorus rehearsed nine hours each day, but the instrumentalists, like French horn player Stephen Meiller, had time to travel.
Neely explained the importance of music students playing in festivals and concerts, either in the U.S. or abroad, during the summer months. He said that in Eutin, students were able to learn the differences between European and American instruments and how to act professionally during a performance. They also were exposed to new perspectives on music.
first time I've been in Europe. I enjoyed getting to travel around and explore the different cities"
"It's unwise to stop playing," he said. "They need to stay active and network with new teachers, get different points of view and have new experiences"
"I thought it would be nice to invite him over to conduct," Neely said. "This is a pretty rare thing. It's pretty special."
Neely went to Eutin for the last week of the festival. He conducted a concert alongside the German organizer to show the cooperation between the sister cities. Neely also invited the conductor to travel to Lawrence this spring and participate in a concert.
Edited by Sarah McCabe
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