FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 29,1995
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
NEWS 864-4810
ADVERTISING 864-4358
SECTION A VOL.102, NO.30
(USPS 650-640)
CAMPUS
Bicyclists ride en masse
Critical Mass riders join forces to show the need for bike paths. Page 3A
The Kansas softball team will be a part of history this weekend when it opens play in the new conference. Page 1B
SPORTS
Glance into the Big 12 future
Student slain during research
A Michigan doctoral student posing as a prostitute was found dead. Page 5A
NATION
WORLD
Peace pact creates protest
Protests erupted in Israel yesterday as Israel and the PLO signed a historic accord at the White House. Page 5A
WEATHER
CHANCE OF RAIN
High 75° Low 55°
Weather: Page 2A
INDEX
Opinion . . . . . . . . 4A
Nation/World . . . . . . 5A
Features . . . . . . . 6A
Sports . . . . . . . . 1B
Scoreboard. . . . . . 2B
Horoscopes . . . . . . 4B
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is free.Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents.
KU reviews four-year degree plan
Agreement would ensure class spots timely graduation
By Josh Yancey
Kansan staff writer
First, the Ginsu knife. Then, the Thighmaster. Now, higher education could come with a guarantee
David Shulenburger, vice chan
cellor for academic affairs, said the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences had been asked to study the feasibility of a plan that would guarantee graduation in four years. If the plan is considered feasible, it would be applied to the entire University.
Incoming freshmen and students already on track to getting a degree in four years would be able to sign an agreement with the University that would ensure a timely graduation. Students would agree
to take a certain amount of credit hours each semester and to pursue their degrees diligently, and the University would make sure the students got into needed classes. The students would graduate in four years. Guaranteed.
See GRADUATION, Page 3A.
Doug Houghton, assistant dean of students at Iowa State, said the guarantee was helpful only for students who stuck with their majors and took the appropriate classes right away.
Iowa State University and the University of Colorado offer such plans. Students can sign an agreement that promises they will take 15 to 18 credit hours each semester and enroll in the appropriate classes for their majors. In return,
"Nobody, however, asks their parents what they think about it. That's another year of tuition, which isn't cheap," he said. "For those students who know what they want to do and want to graduate in four years, we promise that they can do that."
the universities promise that needed classes will be available to the students, regardless of whether the classes are full. Spots will be made in the class rosters, or alternative classes will be offered.
"A majority of students know they will take more than four years
to graduate, and they don't care," Houghton said. "They make choices to play sports, to work, to participate in other things.
Students making a difference
Greeks volunteer in local schools
By Craig Lang Kansan staff writer
Kennedy Elementary School teachers have a full plate when it comes to educating the children of lower-income families in Lawrence.
"It's hard for teachers to balance the academic demands and social-emotional needs of the Kennedy community," said Shea Stanfield, a first-grade teacher at Kennedy, 1605 Davis Road.
To assist Lawrence elementary schools with crowded classrooms and busy teachers, KU Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council have sponsored Adopt-A-School, a program in which fraternity and sorority members volunteer three hours a week at one of six Lawrence elementary schools.
Stanfield, the coordinator of Adop-A-School at Kennedy, said that having college students in classes provided positive role models for students.
Bryan Breckenridge, Louisburg senior, works in a class with second-graders who have behavioral disorders. Breckenridge said that teachers decided what volunteers could do but that most volunteers worked directly with children.
Breckenridge said he worked one-on-one with students who were behind in class so their teachers could work with all the students instead of spending most of their time helping a few students catch up.
"It takes some pressure off them," he said.
Adopt-A-School was started last fall by the National Interfraternity Council in Indianapolis. Paige White, Overland
Park graduate student and graduate Panhellenic adviser, said 155 colleges and universities across the country had local Adopt-A-School programs.
White said that the University wanted to start sending volunteers to the elementary schools last fall but that it had to get consent from the school board.
"Things moved very slowly," she said. "We had to find out what type of elementary schools needed our help the most."
Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council could have begun the program last spring, but because it was late in the school year, they decided to wait until fall. White said.
Matt Hamil, Baldwin sophomore and co-coordinator of Adopt-A-School, said that about 65 volunteers were involved in the program.
Amanda Martinez, Kingman senior, volunteers at New York Elementary School, 936 New York St. She said she looked forward to volunteering every Thursday morning because the children always were eager to show her what they had learned.
"They are happy to know someone there cares about them," she said.
Because many of the children at Kennedy are from low-income families, Breckenridge said volunteering at the school opened his eyes to some of the problems children had growing up in troubled homes.
Breckenridge said that one day a sadeyed second-grader asked, "Mr. Breckenridge, do you beat your kids?"
Breckenridge said that working with the children would influence the way he raised his children when he had a family.
Krystal Francis, Richland Hills, Texas, junior, volunteers three hours a week at Kennedy Elementary School, 1605 Davis Road. She is a member of the Adopt-A-School program.
Andy Rullestad / KANSAN
Matt Flickner / KANSAN
James Hawkins, Lawrence High School senior, talks with Charles Paxton, Los Angeles graduate student, as part of a program for at-risk students.
KU students help at-risk teens
By Phillip Brownlee
Vancouver staff writer
Kansan staff writer
Instead of waiting for high-school students to come to them, two KU social workers have gone to the students.
them, two KU social workers have gone on a Social welfare graduate students Kellie Davis of Leavenworth and Charles Paxton of Los Angeles are pioneering a program at Lawrence High School in which they spend three days a week practicing social work in the classroom.
Davis and Paxton have joined a directed-studies program at the high school that works with at-risk students. The students have had academic success in the past, but for various reasons are now struggling in school.
The directed-studies program already focused on academic and life-skills training. Now, with Davis and Paxton on board, it also addresses social problems or emotional difficulties students may be facing.
Having Davis and Paxton in the classroom makes them visible so students get to know them, said Karen Locke, social worker for Lawrence Public Schools.
"When needs arise, students know who to take them to," she said.
Josh Rosebaugh, Lawrence High sophomore, said he liked having counselors in the classroom instead of in an office down the hall.
"They're here and available," he said. "If I have family problems, I don't want to go to someone I don't know."
Having social workers in the classroom also shows students that the school cares about them as human beings. Locke said.
"It sends a message that it is OK to seek help," she said.
"Times are hard, and life isn't exactly easy in this age."
Dick Paterson, assistant principal, said the overall goal of the program was to keep students in school.
"We have to give support, or else we'll lose them," he said.
Black Student Union brings 'Def Comedy Jam' to KU
By Hannah Naughton Kansan staff writer
Live at the Kansas Union Ballroom — it's the Black Student Union "Def Comedy Jam."
Inspired by the successful HBO comedy show, the Black Student Union scheduled four comedians for 7 p.m. tonight in the ballroom in conjunction with Powerhouse Productions of St. Louis.
"Powerhouse Productions put together the contracts and actually took care of scheduling the comedians here," said Jacinta Carter, Omaha, Neb., senior and program committee chairwoman for the Black Student Union.
Cheryl Underwood, who has been on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," will headline tonight. Darius Bradford, who also has been on "Def Comedy Jam," will perform before her. Levell Crawford and Roman Murray, who have been on "Comic View," a show on Black Entertainment Television, also will perform.
The organization developed the idea of the comedy show last year and will be using it again this year, Carter said.
"It's mostly for fun," she said. "It's a good way to bring Black students — well, actually, all students — together."
Carter said that the program helped uplift the Black Student Union's image.
together. Julius Williams, assistant director for minority affairs and adviser to Black Student Union, said that
"In the past, people had a negative attitude that. 'They never do anything.'" she said. "We try to incorporate students in all activities. We try to get Black Student Union's name out on the campus."
because the organization was the oldest minority group on campus, they were in a position to be an example of what a positive minority group could accomplish.
The money raised by the event will help cover the $5,600 for the comedians and $1,000 for other expenses.
Chan. The dance will start after the comedy show, at 11 p.m., and last until 2 a.m.
Carter, seven members of the executive board and other volunteers have worked for the past three weeks making tickets, reserving hotel rooms and planning a dance with DJ Charlie
Carter said that the Black Student Union expected to sell all of the 720 tickets available. The tickets cost $5 with a KUID and $10 without.
Any extra money will go back into the group's account to be used for more programs, Carter said. These programs include this weekend's three-on-three basketball tournament.
"The purpose of our programs is to try to encompass all students," she said. "Help is always welcome."
Comic Lineup
Def Comedy Jam,
sponsored by Black
Student Union, will
start at 7 onight in
the Kansas Union
Ballroom. Tickets are
$5 with a college ID
and $10 without one.
The comedians are;
Cheery Underwood
Darius Bradford
Levell Crawford
Roman Murray