Volume 125 Issue 6
kansan.com
Monday, August 27, 2012
INTERNATIONAL
Larryville KU WEEKEND
erryberry
Early on in my collegiate career, amidst numerous required classes that had nothing to do with my major, I learned something much more important than the Quadratic Equation: I learned how to have fun. I'm Dylan Derryberry, an aspiring journalist, thrift store shopper and uncoordinated (yet highly entertaining) dancer. My goal: to get everyone to have some fun.
Whether you're new to the University or wrapping up your super-senior year, there's always something new to check out around
town, and through this column I hope to offer some options. If you don't like my suggestions, well, that's OK because there are a dozen other options Lawrence has to offer.
For this weekend, head to Massachusetts Street and check out the Lawrence Busker Festival. The fifth annual downtown event features dozens of oddball street performers doing anything from eating fire to comedic juggling all weekend long. It's free, it's open to all ages and it's totally weird — the good kind of weird, like a Tim Burton movie with natural lighting.
For more info, check out http://lawrencebuskerfest.com.
Check back here every Thursday to see what's going on around town, and remember: Class may be for education, but college is for experience.
— Edited by Megan Hinman
NIKKI WENTLING
nwentling@kansan.com
Busker set to start Friday
Five years ago, Richard Renner, a graduate of the University of Kansas theater department, founded the Lawrence Busker Festival with the intent of opening up the streets of downtown to performers of all kinds, from all over.
The festival, a free event that highlights the talents of street performers, or "buskers," will be held along Massachusetts Street this weekend, Aug. 24 to 26. The buskers — performers who entertain in public places for gratuity — will line the streets, attracting crowds with their unusual acts.
"You can walk within the space of two blocks and see four shows all for free, and however much you want to put in the hat is entirely up to you," Renner said. "This is the purest form of business. These people know they are only going to get paid what they're worth."
Renner said about 15,000 people go to the festival each year to see the musicians, sword swallows, fire breathers, jugglers, aerial acrobats, mimes and dancers who come to entertain.
When the festival was introduced in 2008, Renner called various performers, asking them to be a part of the event. He was able to schedule 20 acts on three stages. This year, Renner received about 60 applications from entertainers throughout the U.S. and overseas. He cut that number down to 25 acts on four stages.
In addition to the scheduled acts, Renner said some street performers just show up and choose a spot to set up and perform.
"Those are the unscheduled entertainers, and I have no idea who they are or where they will be," he said. "Anybody could show up and play, and many do."
In 2008, one of the unscheduled acts was Sarah Glass, a University graduate. Glass, who now performs under the name Miss Conception, went to the first festival in 2008 to hulahoop on the street. As she performed her solo act, Glass was inspired by the other busker acts all around her.
"I wanted to do more and work harder with more people. Instead of just me out hula-hoping in the street, I wanted it to be more choreography, more magical things happening." Glass said.
Glass evolved her hula-hooping into a larger performance. She, as Miss Conception, along with the KC Tribe of Vibe, mix hip-hop with dance, poetry, singing, dancing and juggling. The act will be the finale on Saturday at 10:15 p.m. on the Plaza Stage at the corner of Ninth and Massachusetts Street. This will be Glass' first year performing on
"I'm super excited. I love the idea of artists being out on the street doing what they love and ideally making somewhat of a living off of it," she said. "I like what it means to busk: It's interaction, not just a passive show, and that's one thing that I really strive to bring. As a whole we want to break that line between audience and performer and empower everybody." Glass said. Renner said that the festival has been successful, and he hopes to further promote an atmosphere for more out-of-town performers to stop in Lawrence.
"If word gets out that Lawrence is OK with street performers, we'll get more people just stopping by," Renner said. "It will add to the unique culture we have downtown."
Renner said the festival is targeted toward a family crowd
RYAN WAGGONER/KANSAN
A performer from the Voler Thieves of Flight group dangles above the crowd outside the Lawrence Art Center on Saturday during the 2nd Annual Lucasius Busker Festival.
in the afternoon and a younger audience in the evenings. He recommends coming downtown, having a beer and grabbing some dinner before enjoying the nights' festivities.
"It's just another typical night in downtown Lawrence," Renner said. "That's all."
Edited by Allison Kohn
For a full schedule, map and to see a description of the performers, go to lawrencebuskerfest.
Pick & Plan Your Weekend with Fresh Finds From Our New Local Calender
of Women at the University, to recognize female students, faculty and alumnae for individual or group accomplishments. Calendars are available in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center in the Kansas Union and also KU Bookstores.
—Charity Phillips Lander, a graduate student in geology with an emphasis on biogeochemistry from Corpus Christi, Texas.
-Kelsey Murrell, a graduate of the University from Overland Park, with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
The following women are featured on the 2012-2013 calendar —Jamie Branch, a senior from Topeka majoring in mechanical engineering.
—Emily Dellwig, a graduate of the University from Overland Park, with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. Dellwig is an assistant electrical engineer at Burns & McDonnell, a nuclear energy group.
-Nikki Galvis, a graduate student from Memphis, Tenn. in bioengineering.
cal science and women, gender and sexuality studies.
—Taylor Anne Haun, a graduate student in the School of Social Welfare. Haun graduated from the University in 2012 with a Bachelor's of Social Work.
-Megan Watson, a senior from Overland Park majoring in chemistry and English.
-Kait Perry, a senior from
Paige Blevins, a law student from Great Bend in the KU School of Law.
—Sarah Stern, a senior from Lawrence majoring in Latin American studies and journalism.
—Rita Clifford, associate dean for community engagement at the KU School of Nursing. Clifford is a registered nurse with a doctorate.
-Ellen Tyler Hanson, a graduate of the University with a Bachelor of Arts. Hanson is chief of police in Lenexa.
Margaret Bayer is professor and associate chair in the math department.
—Mary Banwart, a graduate of the University with a Bachelor of
Jane Tuttle, a doctoral graduate of the University. Tuttle is the assistant vice provost for student affairs.
—Mary Ryan, a graduate of the University with a Bachelor of Science in journalism. Ryan is the associate dean of academic affairs at the Edwards campus.
—Lynn Villafuarte, the program coordinator for the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development and Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program in the Office for Diversity in Science Training.
Edited by Nikki Wentling
"These are all major projects that we have been working on since day one," said Senate Outreach Director Alek Joyce. "They each present their own obstacles, but thanks to collaboration across KU's campus, with a number of administrative offices, we are advancing toward completing our platform goals."
Some platforms include creating a student resources website so students can find useful information in one location, stabilizing grading within departments, renovating Wescoe Beach and adding a Spanish minor for students. One proposal, Responsible Refreshments, has already received attention, from several local bars that have agreed to provide non-alcoholic beverages to designated drivers.
A tew construction projects are also being discussed, including building cell phone charging kiosks on campus so students can recharge their phones between classes. Student Senate is collaborating with KU InformationTechnology to find a practical way to implement the idea, and right now they are coming up with visuals for what the kiosks will look like. Other projects are more long term and may take more than a year before they can be carried out.
For example, Bolton and Woodard have plans to create Student Entrepreneurship Centers, which according to the Boltan-Woodard administration will
CLASSIFIEDS 8
CROSSWORD 4
Index
SEE SENATE PAGE 7
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
SPORTS 10
SUDOKU 4
unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
Today is Global Forgiveness Day. Breathe deeply and let go of any grudges you might be harboring
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