4C ON THE HILL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SUA
MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2006
New director says success comes from student input
BY JACK WEINSTEIN
Jannette J. O'Toole-Curan is the new director of KU Programs and assistant director of KU Memorial Unions.
One of her primary responsibilities is overseeing Student Union Activities, an organization that plans events for KU students.
She stepped onto her seventh college campus when she was hired, spending time at the other six as either a student or employee. Those stops include Pittsburgh State, Emporia State, Tulsa, Texas A&M, Washburn and UMKC.
Q. Why KU?
A. The position came open and I thought it looked interesting. It's a little different than what I've been involved with in the past.
This position also includes supervising the rec. coordinator and assistant rec. coordinator, which is the Jaybowl and the engraving shop and the student radio station along with the box office and SUA. I thought that would stretch my skills a little bit more and I'd get some facility experience and I know KU is a wonderful University so I took a chance and applied.
Everything else I had done up to that point was really student advising, student focused. I thought this would help me progress, career wise.
Q. Is this the first time on KU's campus for you?
A. No, being from Kansas and living in Topeka, before I moved to Kansas City. I can't say I'm really familiar with KU, but I obviously know a lot about KU since I'm from the state and I was a student here in the spring of 2005. I started my doctorate here and transferred it to UMKC when I started working there, but I'm going to transfer back in the fall and be a student too.
Q. What are your immediate plans for SUA?
A. I don't know if I have any immediate plans right now for SUA. My goal right now is really to learn more about the office and how all of our different areas operate and see how I can help to improve each of the areas.
I know SUA had a really good year last year. They were able to obtain the student activity dollars and use it on large-scale programs with Carlos Mencia, Day on the Hill and those kinds of things. I'm really excited to be a part of that, going into the second year of being able to use the student activity fee for some large-scale events with having Darrell Hammond this fall and Ben Folds. I think that will be really exciting for the campus and for me.
This semester, I'd just really want to learn how the board operates and then what I can do to make things better in the spring and still manage to bring some small- and large-scale events to the campus.
Q. Do you have any future plans for SUA?
A. That's a hard question. I think I would ask that in six months from now. Not that I'm trying to avoid it, but I really want to spend this semester learning about KU and finding out what KU students want and what do they want to see. Which programs would they like to come to campus and then help the board and the program advisors that work with the board, do that.
A small thing in my mind is how do we assess our programs to find out what students like and what they don't like, what do they want to see come and those kinds of things.
Hopefully in six months from now, we can say we want to delve in this area of programming on campus.
Q. How do you plan to go about gauging student interest?
A. Well I think there's some easy things to do and I'm sure SUA, I can't say for sure what SUA is doing because I've only been here two weeks, is what we do at the end of the program to ask them. What kind of evaluations are we doing. Are we handing out a little comment card at programs that are easy to do that.
Some programs it's obviously difficult to get a student to fill out an evaluation because of the nature of the program doesn't lend to doing that.
When we can, are we asking them 'What did you think about this program, how did you find out about it, did you see it on a poster, did you get an e-mail, did you hear from your friends, word of mouth,' those types of thins.
For me it's really interesting to find out how they found out about it, what did they think about it, what would they like us to bring, would they like this to come back and see more of it. Those are some small things.
Another thing that I've seen at other schools is to ask student leaders what programs, what programs are they interested in co-sponsoring. A lot of times, if a student organization has an event that they want to bring to campus and they're seeking co-sponsorship, there's obviously an audience there.
So right now, I think it's important to find out who's our audience for what program's we're hosting.
I don't think that every program SUA puts on will appeal to every KU student, but are we providing a diverse group of programming for student so that students are saying 'there is a program for us that SUA is offering that we can attend.'
Q. Is there anything that you're looking forward to, outside of your job, as a Lawrence resident?
A. I really like Lawrence, I have family that lives here, a nephew that attends KU and a cousin that will play on the baseball team so I'll be looking forward to going to his games and also just seeing my nephew around campus, things like that.
I like Mass. Street. I still get my hair cut there. I think it's a nice livable city and the University complements Lawrence really well.
Kansan staff writer Jack Weinstein can be reached at Jweinstein@ kansan.com
Student success
EDUCATION
No matter where you are in your undergraduate career, here are some tips to a smooth path to graduation.
BY DANI HURST
At the beginning of every school year some students feel perplexed and out of their comfort zone.
A new year is uncharted territory and with it comes new responsibilities, experiences and trials.
Students are often hesitant to ask questions for fear of being looked down upon by their peers.
Have no fear as Kansan reporter Dani Hurst asked 25 KU students what advice they would give a new freshman, sophomore, junior or senior.
The final product: some valuable advice from the people who have been there, done that and moved on.
Freshmen
- Get involved on campus and branch out.
- Don't get too overwhelmed with everything. Ask for help if you need it.
- Don't just stay in your room; get out, be social and meet people.
- Take care of your body so you don't gain the dreaded freshman 15.
- Get used to getting the short end of the stick, at least for this year.
Sophomores
Try taking as many classes as possible that count for more than one major, especially if you aren't sure about your major.
- Don't get too carried away with your newly-acquired social
Explore and utilize campus resources. You're already paying for them.
life.
- Still take classes you enjoy if you have the time, even if they don't count toward a major.
It's definitely not as easy as freshman year. Plan accordingly.
Juniors
- Your class selection is thinning,
so be sure to be on time for your
enrollment appointments.
It's still cool to call SafeRide... when you're legal, that is.
Buckle down; if you study hard this year it should make the rest of your college work load a little easier.
■ If you have chosen a major, make sure it's one you truly enjoy. If it isn't, get out now.
If you haven't decided on a major, get on it.
Seniors
Just because it's your senior year doesn't necessarily mean you are going to graduate.
- Stay motivated, especially at the beginning so that when "senioritis" really kicks in it won't affect your grades as negatively.
- Know how to find good research books in the libraries.
- Look at graduation deadlines early to make sure you meet all the criteria.
It's almost done, so don't get discouraged.
Kansan staff worker Dani Hurst can be reached at dhurstkansan.com
advice
And now for some advice that transscends grade levels.
> "For all grades, limit the procrastination, and acquire a taste for coffee."
—Laura Wurtz, Clifton senior
> "Don't stress out too much about graduating in four years."
—Carissa Redigo,
Wichita senior
"Go to class every day, even if you don't think you're learning anything."
—Trevor Steeves, Wichita senior
> "Try to be balanced. Try and do as much as you can, but not too much."
Shannon DeBaney, Seattle graduate student
> "If you think you should study, study."
— Danielle Fickier, Parker, Col, junior
RA (CONTINUED FROM 2C)
"A lot of kids are pretty creative and clever about hiding broken stuff," Eidelman said.
Annie Harrigan, Prairie Village junior, said her RA had a great influence on her and made her feel like anyone could belong.
One duty of an RA is to establish a sense of community with their residents by planning events and programs, and decorating bulletin boards on their floor. They are there for students - especially freshman - for guidance and advice, and to help them assimilate into life at the University of Kansas.
"She made it clear that there was a place at KU for everyone," Harrigan said.
Harrigan RA ar Hashinger Hall was also one reason that Harrigan became a RA. Harrigan said she wanted to have the same kind of positive influence on her residents that her RA had on her.
Matt Brown, Grandforks, N.D., senior, said he became interested in becoming an RA thanks to the extremely positive influence of his former RA.
Antwan Winkfield, Kansas City, Mo., junior, and former RA, said he enjoyed his job at Ellsworth mostly because he liked working with people.
"I'm a big people person,"Winkfield said. "I enjoy helping people whenever I can."
Kansan staff writer Dani Hurst can be reached at dhurst.kansan.com
— Edited by Adrienne Bommarito
TRANSITIONS (CONTINUED FROM 3C)
"I've been taking classes to nail down my major," he said. "And I'm doing a lot of research on internships."
By the time junior year rolls around, students should have decided on a major and can begin concentrating on that area. Harder classes like the 300-plus levels start becoming the norm, and the
"Pass all your classes, so you don't have to take them again," Amy McVey, Kansas City, Kanson, said.
Tyler Gallagher, Salina junior has decided on a major, but is still keeping his options open in case another area carehes his eye.
Seniors graduating in May 2007 at KU offer their advice;
Lauren Hendrix, Wichita senior,
said, "Remember to relax and don't stress out over school. You only have
amount of studying increases.
Gallagher said he was starting to get worried
"I'm not trying to make a four year run. I'm trying to go at it slow and take my time."
"Things have to get done," he said, "I have to pick classes not just for fun, but the classes I need."
A m a n d a Mai, Hutchinson senior, said the biggest advice she could give was "Don't procrastinate. Especially important once in your major."
now that his college career was halfway completed.
"I'm not trying to make a four year run," he said. "I'm trying to go at it slow and take my time."
However, Gallagher isn't too concerned with graduating in four years.
four years to enjoy it."
TYLER GALLAGHER
Salina junior
The best
Kansan staff writer Adrienne Bommarito can be reached at abommarito@kansan.com.
source of, guidance, according to Hailey Harding, Chanute senior, was "Knowing upperclassman that have token the same classes."
Edited by Dena Hurst
LIED CENTER OF KANSAS
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1th Annual FREE Outdoor Concert The Wailin' Jennys
Friday, August 18 - 7:00 p.m. This award-winning Canadian trio has a unique folk-pop sound all its own.
Half-Price Tickets for KU Students! Available at Lied Center, University Theatre, and SUA Ticket Offices.
Fireworks, music ensemble
in Cartoon
Saturday,
Sept. 30 - 7:30 p.m.
Pacifica Quartet
Sunday,
Oct. 1 - 2:00 p.m.
2006-07 Single & Season Tickets on sale
Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Co.
Friday, Oct. 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Simon Shaheen & Dr. A.J. Racy and the Near Eastern Music Ensemble Saturday, October 21-7:30 p.m.
L.A. Theatre Works in
The Caine Mutiny
Court-Martial
Friday,
Oct. 27 - 7:30 p.m.
FAMILY ARTS FESTIVAL 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Patan Thiyam's Chorus
Repertory theatre
Wednesday & Thursday
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Burning River Brass
holiday concert,
sunnyday,
Dec. 6 - 7:25 p.m.
Miami City Ballet
in Don Quixote
Saturday
fri. to 7-30 p.m.
LIED CENTER
ON KANSAS
The University of Kansas
ULALI
Cantus
men's vocal ensemble
Thursday,
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Pail Ice by KU
women's a capsella tilt
Saturday
Nov. 11 - 7:30 p.m.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis
December
A Civil Rights Reader
TDD: 765.064.2777
Lorin Mazel conducts the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic
February
Cypress String Quartet
Inspired by America
Friday, Jan. 26 - 7:30 p.m.
Merita Halli & The Raif Hyseni
Orchestra
Albany Music High
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Friday, Feb. 2 - 7:30 p.m
A Civil Rights Raide featuring DBR & THE MISSION SQ UNIT and DI Scientific
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Mozart Festival Open
in Don Giovanni
Saturday.
Feb. 10 - 7:30 p.m.
Man of La Mancha
Wednesday.
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STUDENT
SENATE
March
Riverdance
Tuesday
Mar 17 - 7:10 p.m.
Washington
Jan. 14 - 8:00 a.m., Booth 632
George Winston, piano
Saturday,
Feb. 24 - 7:30 p.m.
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Wednesday, Feb. 28 to 7:30 p.m.
Tickets:785.864.2787
Armitage Goneal Dam
Saturday,
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Eton John and Tim Rice's
AIDA
Wednesday & Thursday,
Apr. 18 & 19 - 7:30 p.m.
Emerson
String Quartet
Friday, Apr. 20 - 7:30 p.m.
David Gonzalez in
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Storytelling & music
of Russian fairy tale
Saturday.
April, 21 - 4:00 p.m.
Buy online www.lied.ku.edu