Friday, September 10. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 7
Architecture school up for accreditation
By Amanda Kaschub
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The School of Architecture's reputation will be on the line Sunday when the National Architecture Accreditation Board comes to evaluate the program.
Board members will stay at the University for four days to decide whether or not the program deserves to be reaccredited. The evaluation occurs every five years, said John Gaunt, dean of the school.
"They will do a full and exhausting analysis of the program," he said. "There are 37 criteria, and they will examine it all in detail."
The criteria range from the school's ethics to verbal writing skills to building codes and human behavior.
Donna Luckey, chairwoman of the architecture programs, said the board would look at students' artwork, which would be displayed all week along with class exams and syllabi.
"They are going to be looking at every class at every level," she said. "We have given them a written report about how we meet the criteria."
As part of the requirements, the School of Architecture will display hundreds of works from undergraduate and graduate students in Marvin Hall and the Art and Design gallery. The exhibit will run through the week under normal gallery hours and is open to the public.
The School of Architecture has had an accredited program since the 1920s. Gaunt said he did not foresee a problem with being reaccredited.
"We don't have any reason to be concerned." Gaunt said. "It's an absolute necessity for any top school to be reaccredited."
Gaunt said the only flaw in the school that might cause a problem would be the lack of space in Marvin Hall.
If the board determines that the school does not pass all of the criteria, the school could be put on a three-year probation period. Luckey said being reaccredited should not be a tough task for the school.
The accrediting board also will talk with School of Architecture administrators, Chancellor Robert Hemenway and students before making its final decision.
On Sunday, the team will meet with administrators to get to know them better. Students will be able to voice their opinions at an open forum on Monday afternoon, time to be announced, and at
a joint forum with faculty and students at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Marvin Hall.
Jeremy Crabb, Kansas City, Mo. senior in architecture, said attending a forum would be a good experience.
"The architecture school has a good reputation," he said. "They usually keep the best students."
Gaunt said the evaluation allowed the school to hear opinions from outside and inside the school.
The final decision will be presented to the Chancellor and architecture administrators on Wednesday in an informal report that will address any concerns from the board. Afterward, the board will send out a formal report, discussing any problems in the criteria.
"It's a time of intense self-evaluation," he said. "We're not seriously lacking anything, but we're not perfect either."
— Edited by Jennifer Roush
Students missing class may need to prove why
By Amber Stuever
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
For some University of Kansas professors, "My dog ate my homework" or "My grandmother died again this week" just won't cut it as an excuse for missing class.
So students looking to get out of class, papers or tests, need to get creative.
Lindsey Douglas, St. Louis junior, knew it would take more than a weak alibi to get excused form her Spanish final to see her brother play basketball for Truman State in the Division II Final Four tournament in the spring. She told her professor she had a wedding to attend, but he asked to see documentation.
"I had to go to Kinko's that night," she said.
"The next day I gave my teacher the invitation, and I totally got out of it," Douelas said.
Douglas browsed the Internet for a legitimate church and address, inserted a date and the name of her brother and his ex-girlfriend and had the invitation printed
However, some professors and teacher's assistants aren't about to be fooled by illegitimate excuses.
Charity Alloway, Conway Springs senior, had to miss a journalism class and turn in a small assignment late when her grandfather passed away in the spring. The professor insisted Alloway fax her an obituary in advance of the funeral and could still not guarantee her there would be no penalties for the late paper.
"I know there are people that make up funeral or death in the family excuses
all the time." Alloway said. "But I think for people who have a legitimate excuse, it's going over the line to ask for an obituary or funeral program."
Katy Brown, graduate teacher's assistant in linguistics, said she always asked for documentation when a student missed a test. She formed her policy on excuses because of a student who once claimed to have been pregnant and miscarried. The student took off a couple weeks and received lots of sympathy, Brown said.
"Of course no one is going to ask for documentation on a miscarriage," she said.
But when she discovered the student was lying, she learned to ask students for proof.
"Thate to do it, but I ask for a little card from a funeral even, and I tell them why," Brown said.
Jewish students who asked to be excused for religious holidays have also faced suspicious professors. Tonight at sundown signifies the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.
Julia Wagman, Houston junior, said that although the holiday doesn't start until sundown, some Jewish students might ask to be excused to travel to services. Although most teachers have been understanding in the past, she said, some were suspicious.
"They might talk to me about it and dive in and ask questions about it to see if I'm telling the truth," she said.
Brown said she would excuse a student who missed because of the holiday.
"If they can get the rabbi to write something, I'm fine with that," she said.
"But I prefer to have it written in Hebrew."
Edited by Ronnie Wachter
By Todd Halstead
Laundry washes away funds
Kansan staff writer
Jayhawkter Towers resident Courtney Pence takes her clothing from a campus washing machine and places the drenched burble into a driver.
A stack of quarters waits to perform a ritual that Pence has too often performed. The quarters cause vociferous metallic, hollow noises as they entice the dryer to begin its rhythmic dance — one some campus residents feel is the plundering of their already empty pockets.
"I always have to use more than the proposed 75 cents to get my clothing halfway dry," said Pence, Ottawa junior. "I realize that it is not a major social ill, but it gets kind of irritation."
The laundry machines installed in campus residence halls are Maytag products contracted out by the Jetz Co. Inc., 901 N.E. River Rd., Topeka. Jetz has been in business for more than 30 years.
It costs residents 75 cents to use the washing machine and an additional 75 cents to use the dryer. Students may add another quarter for an additional 15 minutes of drying time.
"In the industry as a whole people try to put in more than what is considered an average load to save themselves from having to do another load later," Sommers said. "A washer will take a slight overload and wash satisfactorily, but when you take that slight overload to a timed drier of 45 minutes, you're going to run into a drying problem."
Ron Sommers, vice president and general manager of Jetz, said that the standard drying time was 45 minutes for 75 cents but declined to comment on Jetz's earnings per year.
Jeremy Hartman, Drexel, Mo., freshman and McColum Hall resident, said that he put normal loads of laundry into the dryer but still found damp clothes after 45 minutes.
"It's very frustrating to have to put on damp underwear and socks because the laundry
Sarah Lesebery, Seneca freshman, unloads her laundry from an laundry Hallworm dryer. Although the cycle was up, Sarah said her clothes still were drunk. Photo by Nick Kruiz/KANSAN
never fully dries." Hartman said.
Sommers said that students needed to adjust for heavier articles, such as bath towels and jeans, because they tend to retain more water.
"Students should lighten the load with heavier articles and add a dry bath towel," Sommer said. "That will speed up the drying process because it gives somewhere else for the moisture to be pulled from the clothes. But it won't help in overloading."
"I've heard people complain, but I've never had a problem with my clothes drying," Brand said.
Molly Brand, Valley Falls freshman and Hashinger Hall resident, said that her clothes always have dried perfectly using smaller loads of laundry.
Ken Stoner, director of the Department of Student Housing, said that he had not received any complaints about the dryers. He said that students who had problems should contact the department.
Edited by Brad Hallier
Greek lock-in to offer games without alcohol
By Lori O'Toole
by Lori O'Brien
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
About 800 to 900 greek members are expected to attend an alcohol-free party tonight at Robinson Center for games, a movie and a chance to win a trip for two to Walt Disney World.
The New Member Lock-in, which is planned to run from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., was organized by Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol, an auxiliary group of the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association.
She said last year was the first time the event was offered and only about 200 people were invited to attend. Each house was limited in the number of new members it could send.
"We want to offer a setting to the new members that's a fun, social environment," said Jennifer Kinney, assistant director for Greek programs. "There's not that pressure of drinking and not drinking."
one first year was kind of a trial process," Kinney said. "Because we got through the first year pretty smoothly, we wanted to open it up to all new members this year."
Some chapters have required that new members attend, while others are leaving the decision to the individuals.
Greek members who assisted with formal recruitment and worked with the new sorority and fraternity members also were invited.
Planned activities include food, dancing, rock climbing and a showing of the movie Notting Hill on a 16-by 20-foot screen.
Local businesses donated a variety of prizes for the event, including a football autographed by Terry Allen, a basketball autographed by Roy Williams, T-shirts and free meals.
Kinney said the trip to Walt Disney World would be awarded at the end of the party. She said that the trip's recipient would be determined by a drawing and that the person would have to be present to win.
She said Walt Disney World donated the trip, which included two nights at a Disney hotel and admission to Disney theme parks. She said greek programs would pay the air fare for the recipient and a guest.
Bryce Miller, Hutchinson freshman and new member of Sigma Nu, said he and the other 24 new members were required to go.
"It's just something else we have to do for the house," Miller said. "If it were our choice, there's probably not many of us that would go."
Rachel Adams, Shawnee freshman and new member of Delta Delta Delta, said she planned on attending the event.
Adams said that most of the new members in her chapter were planning to go.
"It will be nice that everybody can get together," she said. "We don't know that many people from other pledge classes."
She said she was excited to have a chance at winning prizes, especially the trip to Walt Disney World.
"It would be an added bonus if I did," Adams said. "But I'm not going just because of that."
- Edited by Ronnie Wachter
The Torah Learning Center
(913) -385-5770
Wishes the entire Jewish student body a sweet and happy new year 5760. May it be a year where we all add in the study of Torah and the fulfillment of mitzvot.
The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lied Center New Directions Series presents
Bell/Bush/Marshall/Meyer
Friday, September 17, 1999 8:00 p.m.
An UNFORGETTABLE CONCERT EVENT, featuring selections from their new recording, Short Trip Home.
All tickets half price for students.
when they party.
Wellness campaign