THE UNIVERSITY OF DARWIN KANSAS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2006
NEWS
HOMECOMING WEEK
3A
Traditions make comeback Competitions, performances top list of week-long events
BY BEN SMITH
KU Homecoming 2006 kicks off Saturday and promises a chance for a week-long friendly competition between 18 to 20 campus organizations.
In the last six years, the homecoming committee has built up a series of events. There will be a week-long medallion hunt, mural competitions, a spirit run, float competitions in the annual homecoming day parade, the 'Can'struction competition and many others.
Jennifer Denny, Plano, Texas, senior and co-director of the homecoming committee, said the homecoming tradition dated back to 1912 and had become a large to-do in the last few years since Dean Richard Johnson revived the committee in 2000.
"There were definitely times when homecoming was a big
deal," Denny said, citing the periods during the Vietnam conflict and the mid-1990s as examples.
With 16 members working through the summer on the events, Denny said, the tradition had grown strong again.
Each homecoming event is assigned points for participation with additional points given to the top three finalists. At the end of the week, each of the groups' points are tallied up to determine the overall winner, which will be announced Oct. 7 in Memorial Stadium at the football game against Texas A&M.
Some of the week's big events include a special performance Tuesday at the Lied Center by comedian Kathy Griffin, a 5K spirit run and a new jayhawk Idol competition, which will take place throughout the week. The winners will sing the national anthem at men's and women's basketball games.
Devin Mirfasihi, Leawood sopho
more, and his group representing Phi Kappa Tau, are ready to have some fun in the spirit games planned throughout next week.
"We're in it to win," Mirfasi said.
"If you're not first, you last."
"That gets to show off all the organizations," Harrell said. "It's something I always look forward to"
Tiffany Harrell, Overland Park sophomore and daily events chair, said that though she thought all the activities were equally important, she was looking forward to the parade.
For an information packet, contact information and event profiles, check out the homecoming Web site at www.homecoming.ku.edu.
Kansan staff writer Ben Smith can be contacted at bsmith@kansan. com.
— Edited by Elyse Weidner
all week events
- T-shirt sales and info table, Wescoe Beach, weekdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Mural Display in Strong Hall
- Medallion Hunt
- Pancake Tickets on Sale
SATURDAY, SEPT. 30
- Jayhawk Ida Auditions: 1 p.m. in
Ulm
- Spirit Sprint: registration at kansas
Union at 8 a.m., begin race at 9 a.m.
- Jawhawk IID Auditions: 1 p.m. in
Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
-Spirit Sing Auditions: 3 p.m. in
Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
MONDAY,OCT.2
- Medallion Hunt Kick-Off
- Murals due to Strong Hall 9 a.m.
- Feed Your Beak Hot Dog Eating Contest: 12 p.m. on Wescoe Beach.
- Jayhawk Idol Semi-Finalists: 12 p.m. on Wescoe Beach.
- 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament: 4 p.m. Student Fitness and Recreation
Center.
- Deck the Halls Judging.
TUESDAY. OCT. 3
- KU Can' Construction: 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
on Wescoe Beach.
- Jayhawk Idol Finalists: 12 p.m. on Wesco Beach
- Homecoming Celebrity Appearance, Kathy Griffin 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center, Tickets $5.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4
- Sign the Good Luck Banner, Wescoe, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Jayawk Idol Finalists: 12 p.m. on Wescoe Beach.
- Office Decorating Judging, THURSDAY, OCT. 5
- Chalk n'Rock: 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Wescoe Beach.
- Pep Rally: 6 p.m. start at Visitors' Center Parking Lot.
- Spirt Sing: 6:30 p.m. at Pep Rally.
- Announce Jayhawk Idol Winner at Pep Rally.
FRIDAY, OCT. 6
- Crimson and Blue Spirit Day all day on campus.
- Grand Marshal Reception: 5:30 p.m.
- Homecoming Concert: 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. on Eighth and Massachusetts streets.
SATURDAY,OCT.7
- Parade: 10 a.m. on Jayhawk
Rowleyard
- Pancake Feed. 8 a.m.-11 a.m. on
Stauffer-Flint lawn
Football Game: time TBA - KU vs Texas A&M at Memorial Stadium.
Source: http://www.homecom ming.ku.edu
Students entertain children during play Theatre group performs Homer's Odyssey for junior high schoolers
ARTS
BY DARLA SLIPKE
Audience members cried, "Leave the bag alone, that's a bad idea," as sailors were about to open a bag of wind that would blow them away to dangerous islands during a performance of Homer's Odyssey.
The KU Theatre for Young People staged the play for area elementary and junior high students this week at the Inge Theatre in Murphy Hall.
The play started Monday and will run through Sunday,
Megan Persinger, Hiawata senior and an assistant with Theatre for Young People, said it was difficult for the actors to remain in character during the spirited outburst, but that type of earnest reaction was what made the show most rewarding.
"To hear the students laugh, scream, gasp and warn us when a character is about to do something
sister hid in a box and the other characters searched for her. Teanor said he liked the background noises during the scene.
especially foolish adds a whole new level of energy to what we do," Persinger said.
Other actors also said performing for the young students was exciting for them. Courtney Schweitzer, Leawood senior, said witnessing their reactions was especially thrilling.
"The kids have much less inhibition in their reactions to the performance," Schweitzer said. "They squirm in their chairs, scream, laugh hysterically and ooh and ahh through the entire show."
Kari Gillespie, Missouri City, Texas, junior, said experiencing their appreciation was rewarding. Before filing onto the yellow school buses after the show, the students gave the actors hugs and told them their favorite parts of the production. Gillespie said their eyes lit up as they did this.
Kristen Gray, a teaching assistant at Lecompont Elementary School, said the students really liked the shows they attended at the University.
Travis Teanor and Caitlin Robb, fourth grade students, both attended "Red Rosie", a former production of the Theatre for Young People, as second graders. They said their favorite part was when a character's
The KU Theatre for Young People stages two productions a year, jeanne Klein, director of the program, said. The program will stage "Lily Plants a Garden" in the spring for grades one through three.
Kansan staff writer Darla Slipke can be contacted at dslipke@ kansan.com.
—Edited by Kristen Jarboe
NATION
Detainee bill passed by Congress
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday endorsed President Bush's plans to prosecute and interrogate terror suspects, all but sealing congressional approval for legislation that Republicans intend to use on the campaign trail to assert their toughness on terrorism.
The bill would create military commissions to prosecute terrorism suspects. It also would prohibit some of the worst abuses of detainees like mutilation and rape, but grant the president leeway to decide which other interrogation techniques are permissible.
The 65-34 vote means the bill could reach the president's desk by week's end.
The House passed nearly identical legislation on Wednesday and
was expected to approve the Senate bill on Friday, sending it on to the White House.
The White House and its supporters have called the measure crucial in the anti-terror fight, but some Democrats said it left the door open to abuse, violating the U.S. Constitution in the name of protecting Americans.
Twelve Democrats sided with 53 Republicans in voting for the bill. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., in a tough re-election fight, joined 32 Democrats and the chamber's lone independent in opposing the bill. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, was absent.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who helped draft the legislation during negotiations with the White House, said the measure would set up a system for treating detainees that the nation could be proud of.
He said the goal "is to render justice to the terrorists, even though they will not render justice to us."
Democrats said the Republicans' rush to muscle the measure through Congress was aimed at giving them something to tout during the campaign, in which control of the House and Senate are at stake. Election Day is Nov. 7.
"There is no question that the rush to pass this bill — which is the product of secret negotiations with the White House — is about serving a political agenda," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
The Supreme Court nullified Bush's initial system for trying detainees in June, and earlier this month a handful of maverick GOP senators embarrassed the president by forcing him to slightly tone down his next proposal. But they struck a deal last week.
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