THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2006
NEWS
3A
ACADEMICS
Professor, former student compile story collection
BY BEN SMITH
The contemplative portrait of William Faulkner shook slightly as James Carothers, professor of English, signed his name on the title page Friday afternoon in the North Gallery of Spencer Research Library.
Further down from Carothers, Theresa Towner, associate professor of literature at the University of Texas at Dallas and a former student of Carothers, also signed copies of the book "Reading Faulkner:
The signing and brief reception was a celebration of the publication of the 501-page reader's guide and the end of a five-year project that Carothers and Towner worked on together.
The purpose of the book, Towner and Carothers said, was to aid readers of Faulkner's short stories, giving background and commentary on each tale and providing explanations of certain terminology.
"It's intended to be completely accessible, written with general readers in mind," Towner said.
The two co-authors divided 42 of Faulkner's stories and systematically researched and analyzed the stories editing each other's work as they went.
The collection includes "Barn Burning," "A Rose for Emily" and "Shingles of the Lord," stories that were said at the reception to be well-read in high school and college courses.
Towner, a KU graduate, said it felt wonderful to work with Carothers again.
"It's the kind of project that was so big we each of us couldn't do it alone," she said. "It was a massive project. A lot of fun to do and I feel I learned a lot."
Towner said it was challenging to compile all the data for the book. She pointed out that the works cited section of the book had more than 20 pages listing the various sources she and Carothers used "chasing down allusions to things that have come and gone, such as World War I slang and songs."
Carothers said he agreed that the
project had been long and trying.
"I've been saying it was like trying to pave a six-sane, transcontinental highway with one-inch ceramic tiles." Carothers said.
At times, Carothers said, the only thing that kept him going was the thought of the reception.
However, Carothers said he remained a great admirer of Faulkner. He has been attending the annual Faulkner conference in Oxford, Miss., since 1979.
“it's sort of like going to Faulkner camp?” Carothers said. “You see people you've met in previous years and
new people. And there's food."
Carothers said he recalled spending time with his colleagues reading paragraphs out of Faulkner's works and discussing them.
The book was published in May 2006 by the University Press of Mississippi and is available at Oread books in the Kansas Union.
Kansan staff writer Ben Smith can be contacted at bsmith@kansan. com.
Edited by Kristen Jarboe
ACTIVISM
Creating Change conference aims to improve LGBT rights
BY COURTNEY HAGEN
T-shirts, posters, magazines and condoms were displayed on several floors of the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo., last weekend, all promoting the same cause: lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender rights.
About 2,000 supporters, advocates and prominent members of the LGBT community filled the hotel for five days for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's 19th annual Creating Change conference.
Pedro Julio Serrano, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force communications coordinator, said the Task Force held the conference in Kansas City this year for its first year in the Midwest. The conference has previously been held on the East or West coasts in places such as San Francisco, Miami and New York.
"We think that LGBT people are everywhere in the country and we think that it is important to come to the heartland and speak to our LGBT people and allies here to create a broader and stronger social
justice movement," Serrano said.
"Being that the conference is so close to Kansas I hope it reminds people that we are not alone in our fight for equality and that we have a whole nation of LGBT and allied members behind us," Pryor said. "I hope those who were able to attend can bring back what they took from the conference and spread it through KU and our local communities."
Jonathan Pryor, KU Queers and Allies director and Columbus senior, was not able to attend the conference but said he hoped that it would help to spread awareness and tolerance in the community.
Held just days after the 2006 election, this year's conference focused on building political power within the LGBT community. The conference took advantage of the gathering to set the agenda for issues, concerns and actions that will be undertaken in the upcoming year.
Serrano said the Task Force is targeting the rights of the transgender, disabled and multicultural segments of the LGBT community.
The conference also discussed the HIV/AIDS crisis, which began 25 years ago. Several key figures in the AIDS awareness and support movement spoke about the disease's pervasive effects on Saturday.
"One of the things we are focusing
Marjorie J. Hill, Gay Men's Health Crisis chief executive officer, roused the crowd to take action on awareness, prevention and assistance of the disease.She said there are 40,000 new cases each year in the United States.
on now is that there can not be a federal non-discrimination law without including transgender individuals." Serrano said. "That can not happen and we will not let it happen."
"The answer here is not about HIV," Hill said during her speech. "It's about creating change."
Kansan staff writer Courtney Hagen can be contacted at chagen@kansan.com.
Edited by Kate Shipley
BY COURTNEY HAGEN
ARTS
Pakistani musician Salman Ahmad counts former President Bill Clinton and U2's Bono as fans. A KU student organization hopes that after tonight, Ahmad will also be able to count KU students among his fans as well.
Musician Salman Ahmad to visit University
South Asia's most famous musician will perform songs, screen a film and answer questions in a free event at 8 p.m. in the Kansas Union Ballroom. Alamad made the trek to the University as part of a four-part pit stop in the Midwest; his visit to Lawrence was organized by the Pakistani Student Association.
Ahmad is a guitarist and songwriter for the band Junoon, whose music is characterized as "sufi rock," eastern rhythm songs of peace and praise in the Islamic tradition. He also works as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador on HIV/AIDS.
Fahd Latif, Pakistani Student Association president and Peshawar, Pakistan senior, said the organization wanted to bring Ahmed to the University to spread his message of goodwill that is praised by the likes
of the former President and a U2 musician.
"This is important for KU to allow the Pakistani Student Association to introduce the campus to Pakistan culture," Latif said. "We can't think of anyone better than Salman to represent us in a peaceful way."
Ahmad will screen an award-winning film he helped to produce entitled "It's My Country Too" about the place of Muslims in a post-Sept. 11 society. Ahmad said he has been working throughout his career to bridge cultures and raise awareness. In recent years, he has spoken about peace between India and Pakistan.
"The reason I became a musician was to share this music and culture and play for people," Ahmad said. "After 9/11 there was all this talk of conflicts and fear of the Muslim world. I felt that my music was a bridge between these cultures, and I think it is important to bring this message to the Midwest."
Imran Ghazali, Pakistani Student Association treasurer and Lahore, Pakistan sophomore, contacted Ahmad's manager months ago in an effort to bring Ahmad's message to the Midwest. Ghazali said he hoped
the event would entice a variety of cultures to attend.
"I'm expecting that we will get attention of not just Pakistani or Indian, but also American and other multicultural students as well because Ahmad's music is a different kind of music." Ghazali said.
Ahmad said he simply wants to leave a message of honesty and acceptance with the University.
"I want to leave the message to look at life and look at people with heart," Ahmad said. "If you look at them that way, masks will fall down. In my own life I don't really look at people as east or west, and that is the theme of my own music — if you look at people with heart, things become visible."
Information on the translation of lyrics and videos of Ahmad's songs that will be performed tonight can be found at: www.isufrock.com or www.junoon.com.
Kansan staff writer Courtney Hagen can be contacted at chagen@ kansan.com.
Edited by Kristen Jarboe
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
Make a difference today. Apply for the Student Senate Elections Commission. Applications are available in the Student Senate office, Room 410 (Kansas Union 4th Floor).
Student Senate
Interested in the political process?
Contact Andrew Payne at opayne@ku.edu if you have any questions.
Alternative Breaks
KU Anime Club
カンメス大学のアニメクラブ
For more information, visit www.ku.edu/~albreaks
Alternative Breaks information sessions are coming up TONIGHT at 7:30pm in the Pine Room, 6th Floor Kansas Union. Free pizza will be provided!
ALTERNATE SPRING BREAK APPLICATIONS
WILL BE DECEMBER 1ST.
www.ku.eau/~kuanime
Tonight at 6:30 Smith Hall Room 100
With Dr. DARRYL HART, author & church historian
The Last Dance:
Why the Romance Between the Religious Right and American Conservation May Be Over
November 13,2006
ROBERT J. DOLE
INSTITUTE OF POLITICS
The University of Texas
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2008
7:30 p.m.
of the Belle Institute
be accompanied by the
Interlibrary Loan Center
and the Afternoon Fair
KU College Republicans Meeting
Tomorrow, 7pm Big 12 Room, 5th Floor Kansas Union
20/20 Vision
20/20 Vision is showing Al Gore's environmental documentary An Inconvenient Truth. There will be a raffle and food will be provided.
Contact usa-atw9@ku.edu if you have any questions.
Wednesday, 7:30pm
Woodruff Auditorium,
5th Floor Kansas Union
Hawks 4 Health
10 items = 1 Rock Chalk Hour
Contact h4h@ku edu if you have any question.
Hawks 4 Health will be collecting band-aids, Tylen antacid tablets, First Aid kits and individual items hand sanitizer, gauze, deodorant, dental hygiene products, blankets, etc.
All week long. 12-3pm in the 4th Floor Lobby of the Kansas Union
KU Environs
Thursday, 6pm
Mellott Room, 6th floor Kansas Union
KU Environics is hosting a public hearing regarding the proposed Holcombe power plants. Come be informed about the largest CO2 producer west of the Mississippi.
America Recycles Day 2006
Recycling Drive at Memorial
Stadium on Friday!
8am-5pm, Bring your recyclables
funded by:
SUBMITTED BY
SENATE
PMD FOR BY KU
"America's Responsibilities to Developing Nations in fisis"
Tuesday,
Nov. 14, 2006
7:30 p.m.
at the Dole Institute
With Guest Speaker:
J. BRIAN ATWOOD,
Former USAID
Administrator
ROBERT J. DOLE
INSTITUTE OF POLITICS
The University of Nebraska
The African Children's Choir is an ambassador for all children in Africa who have become orphans because of the AIDS pandemic. They are their voice to the rest of the world. The choir is comprised of children ages seven to eleven from East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania). Many of the children in the choir have lost one or both parents to poverty or disease.
1350 Petefish Lawrence, Lawrence, KS 66045
.785.864.4900. www.doleintiune.com
The African Children's
Chair performs
throughout the world
bringing hope and joy
to everyone they meet
while shining the spotlight
on the plight of
children in Africa. For
more information about
the chair, please visit
the African Children's
Chair web site https/
www.africanchildren-
school.com/。
KU for Uganda
African Children's Choir Concert Tomorrow Night 7pm @ Alderson Auditorium 4th Floor Kansas Union concert is FREE
ku unicef
co- sponsors:
KU 4 Uganda ECM ISA F.I.G.H.T
STUDENT SENATE
The Student Senate is looking to fill the following empty senate seats: 1 Jr/Sr, 1 Off-Campus, 1 Pharmacy, and 4 Graduate. If you are interested in filling one of these open spots, pick up an application in the Student Senate office, Rm 410 in the Kansas Union or online
studentsenate.ku.edu.
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