Section C · Page 14
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, August 16, 1999
Journalism dean revolutionizes school
By Phil Cauthon
Kansan staff writer
After his early morning run, the dean of the University of Kansas School of Journalism flips on some classical music and peruses the Laurence Journal-World, The Kansas City Star and The New York Times.
But that is not the first place Jimmy Gentry gets his news.
Every day he gets on the Internet and goes straight to the Drudge Report — the site that first broke the Lewinsky story and that many journalists respect little more than supermarket tabloids.
"I don't necessarily believe him," Gentry said, referring to the site's namesake, Matthew Drudge. "But I know I'm not always going to get the standard stuff."
Gentry's aversion to the standard stuff is reflected in the changing face of the school. Since coming to the University two years ago, he has helped revolutionize the school's curriculum to prepare its students for media convergence. Starting in Fall 2000, students will be able to survey newspaper, magazine, radio, television and Internet journalism as well as advertising.
"The school wasn't preparing well-rounded students but
pigeonholed them into one field," Gentry said.
Career opportunities resulting from the new curriculum might include newspaper reporters who shoot video clips to post with their stories on the Internet or television studios that work out of a newspaper office, he said. But Gentry isn't waiting for the professional world to create standards. His proactive vision is to integrate the University's student-run news formats — KUJH-TV, KJHK Radio, the Kansan and its online component, www.kansan.com — as soon as possible.
The Digital jayhawk, www.digitaljayhawk.org, is an experimental platform for just that.
KU has a diverse following — whether it be alumni, sports fans or current students and faculty — that justifies creating a unified news medium to function as both a service and as a learning tool. Gentry said.
He said that integrating KU's news formats would require cooperation between the various branches of faculty, and he views his job as the school's mediator.
"I don't run this place, and I don't really control anything here," he said. "My job is to get everybody figuring out what our focus is and to work together to achieve common goals."
Rick Musser, professor of journalism, said that Gentry's leadership had put the University far ahead of its collegiate peers. Musser and Gentry both have traveled to newspapers that are experimenting with media integration, such as the Orlando Sentinel.
"The distinctions will blur between newspaper, broadcast and on-line reporters," Musser said. "We need to be able to train people to be reporters who can use various media as the tools of the trade."
Gentry came to KU after serving as dean at the University of Nevada-Reno for five years. He had also run the copy desk at the University of Missouri's student paper in the late '70s and was a faculty member there for 16 years.
Now Gentry and his wife, Mary Beth, are fully adjusted Jayhawks with basketball season tickets to boot. Their daughter, Kerry, is a KU junior sampling the richness of the University, he said.
Despite his propensity toward being on the cutting edge of journalism, Gentry does not deny the value in some of the standard stuff. The soul of the school
— writing, reporting and editing — will remain. But beyond that, who knows, he said.
Journalism dean Jimmy Gentry stands by an antique printing press in Stauffer-Flint Hall. Gentry's progressive stance toward media convergence is channelling the curriculum. Photo by Roar Namer/NKANSAN
"I think there is unanimity that we've got to give our kids breadth of exposure," he said.
"The future that is being creat ed is their future, not mine." — Edited by Kimberly Erb
Spooner Hall facelift requires art and masonry
By Lisa John
Kansan managing editor
When William Brown Spooner died in Boston in 1880, among the assets he left to his wife were his horses, harnesses, carriages and his robes. To the University of Kansas, he left Spooner Hall.
The $91,000 bequest to the University financed construction of the building that bears his name, as well as the first chancellor's residence. When Spooner Hall was dedicated on Oct. 10, 1894, the University was 28 years old and there were only five buildings on campus.
Today, after 105 years of enduring Kansas weather and temperatures, Spooner is getting a facelift.
Klp Davis, project manager of Kissick Construction's masonry division, Kansas City, Mo., said the work is necessary to save Spooner Hall.
"The building had shifted about four to five inches, making it structurally unsound for the entrance," he said. "We're taking the porch down. Then we'll survey the building to see what needs to be done."
Davis said that structural concrete beams and columns would be added to reinforce the structure. Originally, the corner columns that supported the front of the porch roof were made of solid sandstone. These are being removed, Davis said, and replaced by concrete columns. The fronts of original sandstone will be nut over the concrete.
Throughout this project, it's of utmost importance that the historical architecture be retained, Davis said. "We want it to have as close a historic resemblance as possible."
Making the work a little more difficult, Davis said, is that the front door of the building had to be accessible to the public during the reconstruction.
Jeff Burch hammers a wooden chisel into mortar to separate the large blocks of sandstone that make up a pillar on Spooner Hall. Photo by Lisa John/KANSAN
"That makes it extremely interesting." he said.
Bud Ballworth, assistant director for Design and Construction Management, said the $330,000 project is
in large part a stone restoration project.
"We will go in and remove all the stonework on the porch area, and then we'll do structural rehabilitation." Stallworth said.
The stones will be cleaned and repaired before being replaced.
This is where Gary Keshner's company, Creative Sculpture and Restoration, Kansas City, Mo., comes in.
Keshner said it took awhile to find the perfect match for the two shades of sandstone restorative material needed. But once located, the work began. After the sandstone blocks have been removed from the building, workers remove damaged and worn areas of the original sandstone. Then, mixing water with a powdered sandstone material, they spread the moist sandstone mixture on the area, replicating the original shape of the stone. They let it harden and then cut decorative grooves that match the original intricate designs.
Lloyd DuPont, Lees Summit, Mo., is one of those who is renovating the stonework. She said the project is running smoothly.
"I think it's been pretty predictable, which is unusual for such an old building," she said.
Keshner said he looked forward to working on the well-built Snooner Hall each day.
"It's not that it's such a challenging building," he said,
"It's a fun building."
Davis agreed. He has worked with Keshner on other buildings, such as the chapel at Baker University and the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City. Like those, Spooner Hall has a design all its own.
"Something this unique we only get to work on about once a year." Davis said.
Mark Reiske, production manager for Design and Construction Management, remembers when Keshner's company repaired the lion heads and terra cotta on Strong Hall in 1994. The repairs are still in good shape after five freeze and thaw cycles.
"We get up on Strong once a year to make sure the roof's OK, and a lot of the work he did is up high there, and we don't have any visible damage." Reiske said.
Stallworth said the work on Spooner began in July. The estimated contractual obligation for completion of the project is 150 days. Stallworth said.
— Edited by Mike Miller
Rec services gives students lots of options places to play
By Jessica Dawes Special to the Kansan
You don't need an expensive private gym membership to battle the infamous "freshman 15."
Recreation Services offers University of Kansas students, faculty and staff a wide range of fitness programs comprised of intermurals, sport clubs, aerobics classes and personal trainers.
The KU FIT program offers more than 60 non-credit aerobic fitness classes and costs $60 a semester. Between 300 and 450 people enroll in the KU FIT program each semester. Participants may attend any of the classes and may join the program at any time for a prorated cost.
"The goal of KU FIT is to provide quality fitness instruction in a safe, fun and friendly environment," said Michelle Reiter, interim fitness director.
Two years ago, KU FIT added personal trainers to its lineup. There are now five trainers. KU FIT enrollees may meet with a personal trainer three times a week for no extra charge. Additional sessions cost $7 per hour. Reiter said that 75 percent of KU FIT participants meet with personal trainers.
Recreation Services offers 26 intramural sports. Each sport is organized into men's, women's and co-recreational divisions. Interested students should attend informational meetings at the beginning of each sport season. Participation fees vary.
"I played three intramural sports last year, and they were fun and well-organized," said Nhan Nguyen, Wichita senior. "It was casual, and I played when I wanted to."
Intramural programs focus on participation and welcome all skill levels. Most teams require little or no practice time.
"Our goal is to offer at least one intramural sport that appeals to every individual every year," said Jason Krone, intramural director. "We want to provide an opportunity for everyone to play and enjoy themselves."
There are more than 25 sport clubs at KU. The sport clubs can be competitive, recreational or instructional in nature.
"The sport clubs offer a level of competition between the intramural and intercollegiate level," said Mary Chappell, director of recreation services. "The clubs are good for those who have participated competitively in high school and want to continue on a competitive level."
When an individual wants to start a club, a meeting is held to determine student interest. Club success is determined by student enthusiasm.
"I remember when the first rock climbing meeting was held," Chappell said. "We thought that no one would come, and 150 people showed up to rock climb."
Experience is not necessary for club participants.
"Some athletes will try a sport like rugby that they hadn't played in high school and find that they're good at it," Chappell said.
For more information, call Recreation Services at 864-3546.
Edited by Derek Prater
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