THURSDAY AUGUST 19,2004
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3A
Hawk Week introduces school pride
Bv Ross Fitch
rfitch@kansan.com
rfitch@kansan.com
RFITCH STARF WINTER
All the regulars showed up at the University of Kansas Hawk Week activities.
There were the wide-eyed freshmen, University officials, student volunteers and, of course, Elvis. Well, Elvis wasn't exactly a regular, but he sure made things interesting at Unionfest.
Hawk Week, a University tradition, is designed to introduce freshmen and new students to campus.
The events, starting Sunday with Unionfest, drew an estimated combined crowd of 10,000 students.
At Unionfest, students played a variety of games, including blackjack, for a chance to win prizes.
Some students went away with socks, while others took home gift certificates and CDs.The prizes were welcomed.
Brian Wells, Derby freshman said free stuff was always good and it made Hawk Week enjoyable.
But free stuff wasn't the only
reason for going, said Marcus Melander, Chanute freshman. He really enjoyed learning all the traditions, getting to sing and especially meeting new people, he said.
Melander attended Traditions Night, a University star-studded introduction to the chants, songs and history of the University.
Richard Johnson, dean of students, used his speaking time to tell students how to root for the "Hawks: "I'm a Jayhawk" and the correct beak for the Imperial March song were two of the traditions Johnson spoke about.
Marles Roney, vice provost for student success; Steve Munch, student body president; and Bonnie Henrickson, new coach of the women's basketball team, were just some of the other University higher-ups who spoke.
Each talked about pride for the University and the history that each freshman inherits.
"I feel a lot better about being a lashvah. "Melander said.
The parking lot was filled with food, games and music. Students also enjoyed a blow-up slide and laser tag arena.
After Traditions Night, most of the freshmen headed over to the Visitor's Center parking lot for
Rock-A-Hawk.
Beach 'N' Boulevard was Tuesday evening. More than 30 campus organizations had booths, giving away information and often candy.
Jeffrey Robinson, Garnett senior and member of the American Baptist Student Fellowship, said he thought Beach 'N Boulevard was much better organized this year, with more students and more interest in the various student organizations than there had been in previous years.
Rachel Peart, Overland Park junior and SUA member, said the turnout for Beach 'N' Boulevard and the other events was the highest she had seen in her years at the University. She was surprised by the excitement.
"We've never had students dancing in the streets," she said.
Not all students at Hawk Week were freshmen or affiliated with an organization.
Jael Hall, San Antonio sopho
more, said this was her second year at Hawk Week and she always enjoyed it. She said she always learned something new at Beach 'N' Boulevard.
"I always run into some group I didn't know existed," Hall said.
The feeling from upper classmen attending Hawk Week was that it was important in helping freshmen adjust to college.
Will Lamborn, Colorado Springs, Colo., senior, said coming to KU as a freshman can be scary, and he thought this year was great.
"it's better than last year," Lamborn said. "the best I've seen."
After all events wrapped up, Elvis remains the most entertaining icon.
Throughout his show, Elvis sang the typical songs, but also included random covers. But that wasn't all of Elvis' creativity.
At one point, Elvis was off the stage walking toward a group of women, serenading them. His attempt to get them in the show, however, was unsuccessful.
— Edited by Ashley Doyle
RobertQuach/KANSAN
Melissa Smith, Health Education Coordinator at Watkins Health Center, spins cotton candy onto a stick Tuesday evening at HAWK Link's Take Over the Beach event at Wescoe Beach. More than 50 organizations had booths set up at Wescoe, where they handed out information to first-year students.
Freshman elections provide quick way to get involved
By LAURA FRANCOVIGILIA
lfrancoviglia@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
For the second time in University of Kansas history, freshmen will have the opportunity to represent their class by becoming student senators.
"It's an opportunity for them to look around while everyone else is still trying to figure things out," said Arthur Jones, Student Executive Committee chair. "It's their chance to get their voice out."
Jones, Dallas junior, said it was important to have freshmen in Student Senate because they could give a voice to concerns unique to first-year students.
"Once they're sophomores, they're oblivious to what they
cared about the first few weeks they were in school." Jones said.
The Student Executive Committee made amendments during the summer to the freshmen elections. Jones said he hoped a revamped system for freshmen senate elections would improve voter turnout and the productivity of the elected freshmen senator
Elections will be held Sept. 8 and 9, much earlier than last year's November election. Freshmen can vote for five freshmen senators online from any computer on campus.
Jamie Hollenberg, who was a candidate in last year's freshmen senate election, said she thought freshmen who were senators had an advantage over others who wanted to participate in Student
Senate later on. Hollenberg received 46 votes in last year's election, which was not enough to give her a seat in senate.
"It's a great opportunity once you're in," said Hollenberg, St. Louis sophomore. "You can progress from there."
Jones said he hoped holding the elections at an earlier date would improve voter turnout. He said the freshmen class tended to be more energized and interested in being involved in the University at the beginning of the school year. He said students were already apathetic by last year's November election.
Jones said voter turnout was dismal last year, with about 2 percent of the freshmen class voting.
Jones said freshmen have diffi
culty running on issues because they are new to the University.
Hollenberg she said she felt disadvantaged because no one advertised the election and information about the candidates was not available to voters.
Freshmen will be able to campaign the week of the elections. Jones said freshmen who are serious about being senators should meet everyone they can and tell them they are running for senate.
"Stand out of Mrs. E's for two nights in a row." Jones said. "It's possible to get elected, but it depends on the ingenuity and perseverance of the person."
Luke Thompson, vice chair of the students rights committee and former freshmen senator, said the committee was looking at better
ways to orient the freshmen senators because he and others had felt intimidated and unprepared coming into office.
Jones said he planned to meet with the freshmen regularly after the election and assign them to other senators to decrease their adjustment period.
Thompson, Lawrence sophomore, said the success of the freshmen senators depended on their personalities.
"It depends on their energies and whether they throw themselves in and get in front of the microphone and speak," said Thompson. "We were working toward our own future and the future of the campus."
—Edited by Bill Cross
FRESHMEN SENATE ELECTIONS
How to get involved in freshmen elections:
Fill out application
Get dean's stamp to prove enrollment
Gather 50 signatures on nation
Information meeting: 6 p.m.
on Aug. 25 in the Kansas
Union Ballroom on Level 5.
Registration deadline: 5
p.m. on Sent 3.
The Student Senate office: 864-3710, room 410 in the Kansas Union.
Source: Arthur Jones, student executive committee chair
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
AUGUST 19,2004
Join CCO for a fun-filled day of service activities throughout the Lawrence community as part of our annual Hawk Week Service Project
Saturday, August 21 Kansas Union Lobby 10 a.m.-2p.m.
Center for Community Outreach www.ku.edu/~cco
405 Kansas Union Lawrence, KS 66045 (785) 864-4073 cco@ku.edu
slab
student legislative awareness board
Join KU Young Democrats for a Campaign Kick-Off Party featuring:
When: 9/1 & 9/2 @ 6 p.m.
Where: The Parlors, Kansas Union
email: slab@ku.edu
phone: 864-3710
Come to a SLAB Meeting!
Governor Kathleen Sebelius Congressman Dennis Moore Congressional Candidate Nancy Boyda
Liberty Hall Tuesday, August 31st 8:00 p.m.
$5 Students
$10 Adults
$100 Sponsor
KU Democrats
http://www.ku.edu/~kudems
JEFF KANTERMAN
the band that saved the world
abe & jakes
Landing
6th & new
hameshire
STUDENTS PROTECT
cheesecake ractony cheesecake sheridan's frozen custand cash bar ran over at sunday august 22, 0PM
Students Protect is working to help and support child victims, fight crimes against children, strengthen child welfare systems, and safeguard communities against predators.
Come by our table at the Info Fair
or
Contact Nancy Edu @ 393-4741
www.ku.edu/~protect
FIRST MEETING
SEPT. 7 AT 7 P.M.
FOR THE LOCATION OR TO CONTACT US, LOG ON TO
WWW.ADVISING.KU.EDU/PHIALPHADELTA
PADUKANS@YAHOO.COM
MAKE YOUR MARK AT KU Join Student Senate!
First meeting: August 25 The Kansas Union
www.ku.edu/~senate
STUDENT
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
SENATE