The weekend's weather
HIGH LOW 88 68
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Tomorrow: Humid.
Sunday: Hotter and humid.
Kansan Weekend Edition
HIGH LOW 90 68
Friday
August 20,1999
Section:
A
Vol. 110 • No.3
Saturday
& Sunday
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
(USPS 650-640)
Evolution decision troubles KU faculty
By Clay McCuistion writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas faculty and students are bracing themselves for potential effects of the State Board of Education's decision not to require the teaching of evolution in Kansas public schools.
The board voted 6-4 for new science standards Aug. 11. The vote may make it harder for Kansas to attract qualified science instructors and top-ranked students, said Sally Frost Mason, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
"People are going to think twice before they come to the state of Kansas," said Frost Mason, also a professor of biochemistry. "It creates a PR nightmare for us."
She said that problems would arise in teaching in-state students educated under the new science standards.
"It's going to make our job even more difficult when they come to KU because they won't have the background." Frost Mason said.
The University has a distinguished department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural History Museum, she said. Students regularly move on to study at universities such as Harvard and Johns Hopkins.
But now the University's reputation may suffer.
"The damage is that people look at us as a comedy," Frost Mason said. "It's funny, but embarrassing."
Frost Mason, who was raised on the East Coast, came to Kansas 20 years ago to work at the University.
"For the first time in 20 years, I've questioned whether I made the right decision," she said.
Thomas Taylor, chairman of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department, also is concerned with the ramifications of the board's vote.
"It's deplorable," Taylor said. "It's going to have an impact if it's allowed
See EVOLUTION on page 2A
City seeks helping hands
Student volunteer project to merge campus with community
By Emily Hughey
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
But before the celebration ends, students can venture off campus to help the Lawrence community.
The Office of New Student Orientation and the Center for Community Outreach are sponsoring a campus-wide community service project from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Students will meet at 9 a.m. at the lobby in the Kansas Union, where they can choose their day's project from 17 different service options.
"There will be anything from a habitat house for Habitat for Humanity to the humane society, to three different nursing homes," said E.J. Reedy, co-director for the center. Reedy said other opportunities included the Salvation Army; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Edgewood Homes, a low-income housing development in town; and a clean-up with homeless members of community.
"We could easily cover up to 200 people and if we had 500 people show up, we could probably handle that, too," Reedy said. "It's really to get out and experiment. It's for people who don't want to make big time commitments but they may want to know what it's like to be a big brother or work in a nursing home. It gives them the freedom to see what's out there."
Mary Ryan, director of New Student Orientation, said that the project had been a part of Hawk Week for three years, but that she expected this year to attract the largest turnout.
"It started about 3 years ago, but I don't think it's been to quite this level," she said. "The Center for Community Outreach has taken a lot of initiative to really increase the sites. We also promoted CCO through orientation."
Ryan commended the event as beneficial for both the University of Kansas and Lawrence communities.
“It’s nice for the college students to be exposed to a lot of youth in the community, and I think it’s nice to build bridges between the University and the community,” she said. “Part of that is taking this great energy and value from those college students and giving back to the community.”
While Hawk Week events traditionally are geared toward new students, Ryan said the community service program was open to everyone.
"Part of this week is a lot about getting to know people and the University," she said. "Certainly a lot of
new students come here knowing a lot of people, some may know a lot but they want to meet new people and some may not know anyone at all. It's a huge transition, and I think that the opportunity for service is a very comfortable way to get to know one another.
Jason Williams / KANSAN
And for those of us who live and work on campus it's good for us to get out and get to know our community."
Edited by Darrin Peschka
CONCERTCALENDAR
Tonight:
■ The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. — Star
■ Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St. — Jesse Jackson Five
■ Free State Brewery, 636 Massachusetts St. — Free State Jazz Quartet
■ Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St. — Captured by Robots
Tomorrow:
■ The Bottleneck — Exit 159, The Creature Comforts, The Touchdowns
■ Jazzhaus — Boogie Chyld
Index
News ...3A
Nightlife ...6A
Coupons ...3B
Sports features ...1B
Horoscopes ...2B
Movie Listings ...5A
Classifieds ...9B
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents.
Defending the post
Pyramid Pizza wheels on
Pyramid Pizza moves to a new location because The Wheel opened its own pizza place in Pyramid's former location. See page 6A
Hugh knocks 'em dead Hugh Grant, with his 'gift for comedy,' saves this otherwise lackluster mob movie. See page 10A
10.
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