CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, October 10. 1995
3A
KU students unaware of new center
Multicultural Resource Center suffers from lack of publicity
By Hannah Naughton Kansan staff writer
Jason Kerschner thinks that students sometimes need to be slapped in the face to see what's going on around them.
And Kerschner, Long Island, N.Y., sophomore, said the publicity for the Multicultural Resource Center hadn't achieved that effect.
"I consider myself to be an average student," Kerschner said. "I haven't heard about it, and other students probably haven't either."
The Multicultural Resource Center opened Sept. 6, and despite the programs the center has been involved in, some students still are unaware that it exists.
Matt Clark, Olathe sophomore, said he knew of the name and some of the center's activities, but wasn't sure what they were. He would get involved if the activities were right in his face, he said.
Tina Hamilton, Topeka junior, said she would like to hear more about the center.
"I really haven't heard much," she said. "I see things they are doing, and it looked interesting, but I didn't really find out ahead of it."
The center serves an important purpose because people should have the opportunity to experience different cultures, Hamilton said.
So far the center has sponsored or co-sponsored four programs, including two dialogues on healing racism and a leadership institute Saturday that discussed leadership and diversity. They also co-sponsored several diversity dialogues with the KU Coalition of the Lawrence Alliance.
"Give us that chance to grow," said Gloria Flores, associate director of minority affairs, the office that oversees the center and its activities. "I think that, as ideal as it would have been to open the center and have 20 programs ready to go, the center is in a time of obvious metamorphoses."
Lisa Patel, Glenview, Ill., sophomore, said she had never heard about the center.
"I'm more concerned with classes I'm involved with right now rather than outside things," she said. "If I hear about them, I won't go out of my way to go to them."
Sarah White, Wakefield, Mass., freshman and Vinnie Narciso, Abilene freshman, said they had seen the center's opening-day celebration, but since then they hadn't heard anything more.
"I haven't taken the time to get out and find out about it," White said.
Besides a lack of publicity, a problem for the center is scheduling workers.
Flores said that about 20 people, faculty and students, visit the center each week.
The five workers at the center split their time between the Office of Minority Affairs and the center. Someone always is at the center during its open hours, but the Office of Minority Affairs is trying to find volunteers to cover the front desk.
Nikia Owens, Wichita senior, said she hadn't heard about many of the activities, but the need for a center like this was long overdue.
Cultures around the world need to feel welcome at the University, she said. People can't be scared to talk to others just because they dress differently, talk differently, have more money or look differently.
"The best experiences you could have with multiculturalism are not in the classroom." Clark said.
Clark said he lived with an East Indian and a Native American whom he met while living at McCollum Hall. Living in a residence hall was a great place to experience multiculturalism, he said.
"Multiculturalism is more experienced than taught," he said. "But I think the people who need it most won't do it."
Emergency response
The Douglas County Ambulance Service responded to a medical emergency at 4:30 p.m. yesterday at Watson Library. Tora Jackson, Lawrence senior, was listed in stable condition at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Information on the cause of the emergency was not released.
Andy Rullestad / KANSAN
HALO members learn about leading
By Hannah Naughton Kenya staff writer
Kansan staff writer
The Hispanic American Leadership Organization at the University of Kansas is trying to strengthen its leaders' voices.
"It helps with caucusing, getting people in touch with one another and
This weekend, 11 members of HALO attended the 13th annual United States Hispanic Leadership Conference in Chicago. About 4,000 others participated. The conference stressed the development of leadership skills and the importance of unity among the different Hispanic ancestry groups.
solidifying support for Hispanic leaders," said Matt Duran, Salina sophomore and president of KU HALO.
Duran said the conference addressed several issues that were important to Hispanic Americans. It stressed the importance of registering to vote to counter anti-Hispanic legislation in Congress, including the trend away from affirmative action, the English-only bill and Proposition 187, an anti-immigration proposal passed in California last year.
"We are a group of cultures, united by similar languages and similar interests," Duran said. "It is important to bring these groups together to become a more effective political
body"
Some of the forums the HALO members participated in dealt with unity, empowerment, pride, community and diversity. Some of the more specific topics investigated included fundraising strategies and immigration.
Because the University is predominantly white, it is important to have groups to represent different ethnic groups, said Regina Santoyo, Kansas City, Kan., freshman and conference participant.
HALO funds paid the students' $75 registration fee. The students paid for lodging and transportation.
"It's not just being a leader in the organization, you need to be a big
enough leader for everyone to see," Santoyo said. "You have to strive for yourself. You can be a leader just with your peers."
The conference helped to reinforce in other people's minds that Hispanic Americans can lead, said Alex Ruiz, Newton junior and conference participant. It also reinforced in their own minds that they could be leaders, he said.
Duran said the conference was a chance for HALO members to grow closer together.
"It acted almost as a retreat for the active members, the members who will play a large part in HALO's future," he said.
KU ROTC strong despite Army downsizing
Cadets face slimmer chances for promotion because of cuts
By David Teska
Kansan staff writer
The job of the KU professor of military science has a simple description — to train future Army officers who will serve in an ever-shrinking military.
Lt. Col. Don Denmark is the new professor of military science for the Jayhawk Battallion this semester. Before coming to the University of Kansas, Denmark served at the Center for Army Leadership at Fort Leavenworth, where he was responsible for designing and implementing training programs for Army civilian employees.
But his students will face competition for advancement and assignments when they enter the
Denmark describes himself as just a soldier training soldiers.
Army, Denmark said.
For example, in 1987, the Army had a total of 781,000 soldiers. By the end of 1996, 495,000 soldiers are projected to be in the Army. For students now enrolled in ROTC, the chance is about 90 percent for getting active duty, Denmark said.
Competition is stiff for one of the scholarships available, as well. The Army offers two, three- and four-year scholarships. Recipients receive $150 a month, tuition, $225 a semester for books and up to $225 for additional fees.
Twelve cadets will be commissioned in May, three less than last May. The new officers will serve either on active duty, in the reserves or in the National Guard. Nationally, the Army will commission fewer officers from the ROTC.
But national downsizing shouldn't affect students enrolled in the KU's ROTC program, Denmark said. Although he said his students had excellent opportunities for earning active duty, he was less certain about
their prospects for a long-term Army career.
Despite the reductions, recruiting remains the primary tool of attracting interested students. To assist with recruiting both on campus and in area high schools, 2nd Lt. Scott Kruse serves as the Gold Bar Recruiter while waiting to start flight school in January. He graduated from Washburn University in May and attended ROTC classes at KU. After flight school, Kruse will serve in the Army for six years. He said that he was not worried about his future in the Army, because he would gain leadership and management experience.
"As a second lieutenant, you're a manager of personnel and equipment," Krusse said.
The Army program at KU covers 162 students enrolled at KU, Washburn and Emporia State University.
This semester, the Army eliminated the program at Emporia State. Denmark drives to Emporia once a week to work with the students now enrolled. When those students have graduated, the program at Emporia State will end, Denmark said.