THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
NEWS
3A
》 CONFERENCES
Africa moves in for seminar
BY SARAH NEFF
sneff@kansan.com
Hilary Hungerford found that a Kansas City art exhibit devoted to Africa did not represent the cultural development in the continent — and now she's showing why the exhibit is outdated.
Hungerford, a Denver graduate student, researched the stereotypes reinforced by a permanent collection of African art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo. She'll present her conclusions at an African studies conference at the University of Kansas this weekend.
The University will play host to the 13th annual Mid-American Alliance for African Studies (MAAAAS) conference Friday through Sunday. Students and faculty from universities across the Midwest and several African countries will present research papers relating to the theme of the conference, "Africa in Motion."
Hungerford said the theme referred to the motion of people in Africa, including migrations, politics and beliefs that form societies.
Hungerford researched the African collection at the Nelson-Atkins museum and compared it to race relations and perceptions in the United States. She said the
exhibit consisted mostly of older art and didn't include modern pieces that better reflect the current situation in Africa.
"Ethno art exhibits reinforce the idea of Africa as primitive things that feature the past of Africa we aren't really learning about Africa today," Hungerford said. "It just reinforces stereotypes of primitive Africa; that there are no cities, there are no people learning in universities."
Garth Meyers, director of the University African Studies Center and president of the conference, said the keynote speaker, Derick Moyo, deputy chief of Mission of
Angela Gray, Sioux City, Iowa, graduate student, said she had been to several MAAAS conferences. She said she had presented several papers in the past.
the South African, would be a highlight of the conference. He also said Brian Daldorp, associate English professor at the University, would read a poem Friday night.
"It's a really good experience for graduate students to start because it's regional, not national. It's a little more low key, and it gets you used to conferences." Gray said. "Now I've done national conferences as well, but it keeps you connected to people nearby that study what you
study."
This weekend Gray will present research on refugee camps hosted in Zambia, specifically one in Ukwimi. She said she would talk about the creation, construction and evolution of the camp and the subsequent reactions after the camp closed.
The first MAAAS conference was held at the University in 1995. Since then the University has hosted the conference every four years. Thirty-five presenters will participate in the conference.
Edited by Amelia Freidline
africa in motion
FRIDAY
11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Registration Maletto Room, Kansas Union
12:30 p.m-2:10 p.m. Session I Resources, Development and Politics in Motion, Maletto Room
2:20 p.m-4 p.m. Session II African Arts and Literature in Motion, Maletto Room
4:10 p.m.-5:20 p.m. Keynote Address Derick Moyo, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Washington, DC, Malott Room
5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Welcome Celebration and Poetry Reading, Malott Room
SATURDAY
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Welcome,
including breakfast, Malott Room
9:40 a.m.-11:20 a.m. Session III
(concurrent panels)
III A: Belief in Motion: The
Theoretical Perspective of Cultural
Psychology and its Application to
African Studies, Malott Room
III B: African Migration I: Histories
and Ethnicities, English Room 1:10 p.m.-2:40 p.m. Session IV (concurrent panels)
IV A. African Migration II: Transmigration and Displacement, Malott Room
IV B: South African Migrations: A Roundtable Discussion, English Room
For more information, visit www kasc.ku.edu, and click on "Conferences," then "MAAS"
TEXTBOOKS
Overpriced book prompts refunds
BY JEFF DETERS jdeters@kansan.com
Students who purchased the main textbook for Speaker-Audience Communication, classified as COMS 130, this semester are eligible for a refund. Because of a pricing error by Pearson Education, publisher of the textbook "Public Speaking: Strategies for Success," the KU Bookstore, Jayhawk Bookstore and University Book Shop are offering a refund for the price difference.
Refunds range from about $8 at the Jayhawk Bookstore to $14.32 at the KU Bookstore.
Steve Rhodes, assistant director of the KU Bookstore, said the bookstore was notified by Pearson Education about the error. The store then notified the Communications Department, and the students were then informed that they had overpaid for the book.
Rhodes said more than 500 books were purchased for the class from the KU Bookstore, totaling
more than $7,000 in overcharges. Students who have a receipt for the textbook will be refunded, but those who didn't keep a receipt
might be out the money.
"There's no way other than a receipt to verify the book was bought here," Rhodes said.
Mark Dietz, Overland Park senior, is a student in the class. He purchased his textbook from the Jayhawk Bookstore and didn't keep a receipt. He said he was upset about the overcharge but didn't agree that needed verify where he bought the book.
"I've seen this happen before. A small percentage of people won't get their money back."
"I'm more pissed that you have to have a receipt," he said.
store might be able look up the transaction on the computer.
Rhodes added that students who pre-ordered their books or those who paid with a credit card might be refunded because the
Students who bought the book at the KU Bookstore are eligible
BILL MADL
Textbook Manager
Jayhawk Bookstore
for the refund only if they purchased the book from Aug. 1 to Sept. 18, the length of time the book was overpriced. Students also must get their refunds before Oct. 5.
indefinitely," Rhodes said. "We thought a two-week period was long enough."
Bill Madl, textbook manager of Jayhawk Bookstore, 1420 Crescent Rd., said the store sold about 275
"We can't have it going
Brad Heins, store manager of University Book Shop, 1116 West 23rd St., said the store probably wouldn't set a time frame for refunds.
copies of the textbook and would have about a three-week period for refunds.
"I've seen this happen before," Madl said. "A small percentage of people won't get their money back."
All of the bookstores said they would work with students who their lost receipts on a case-to-case basis for refunds.
Denise Keating, co-owner of Beat the Bookstore, said the store was unable to stock the textbook this semester.
Edited by Ashlee Kieler
Auction benefits animal shelters
》 LAWRENCE
BY ERIN SOMMER
esommer@kansan.com
A rare piece of Kansas memorabilia will be auctioned tonight at the Holiday Inn Holidome.
action, which starts at 6
An original, signed photo of Forrest "Phog" Allen taken in the 1920s will be one of the more than 400 items auctioned tonight for the "Pawsible Dream Benefit Auction" to benefit the Lawrence Humane Society. The photo is valued at more than $450.
The auction, tonight, also features a signed throw back Gale Sayers jersey, tickets to University of Kansas football and basketball games, trips to the Dr. Phil show in Los Angeles and Disney
ing operations at the society's two shelters in Lawrence. Grinstead said that the society spent about $45,000 a month to operate both shelters. In addition to the money received from the auction, the society also will be accepting donations toward paying off the costs of recent construction at the Charles Ise Memorial Shelter. Grinstead said that an addition of 1,500 square feet was made to the shelter this year to fix damage that occurred in 1994, and the construction has created a debt for the shelter.
"It's just a great evening of fun and festivities."
MIDGE GRINSTEAD
Director
Lawrence Humane Society
World in Orlando, and gift certificates to local businesses.
Midge Grinstead, director of the Lawrence Humane Society, said all items being auctioned were donated by individuals or businesses.
Bobbie Pray, volunteer at the society, said the Phog Allen photo was bought at an estate sale and donated for the auction.
"We're certainly hoping for that amount of money again," Pray said.
This is the 13th year the society has put on the auction. Pray said that last year the auction raised about $55,000.
The money goes toward financ-
Grinstead said the addition was much-needed because puppies, kittens and smaller pets were all housed together before the addition.
"I think they were so happy to get out of the
building," Grinstead said.
The benefit includes both a silent auction of 370 items and a live auction of 63 items. The silent auction starts at 6 p.m., the live auction at 8 p.m. The Phog Allen photo and the signed Gale Sayers jersey will be auctioned at the live auction. The benefit also includes food and entertainment.
"It's just a great evening of fun and festivities," Grinstead said. Tickets are $25 per person, or $40 for two people. The Holiday Inn Holidome is at 200 McDonald Drive.
— Edited by Amelia Freidline
POLITICS
Obama's wife says too much during visit to Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — Democrat Barack Obama's campaign moved quickly Thursday to dampen any expectations raised by Michelle Obama who said this week that her husband had to win Iowa.
Most polls in Iowa show the Illinois senator in a tight race with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards. During a visit Wednesday to Davenport, Iowa, Michelle Obama commented on the importance of a strong showing in the caucuses.
"Iowa will make the difference," she said. "If Barack doesn't win Iowa, it is just a dream. If we win Iowa then we can move to the world as it should be. And we need your help in making that happen."
On Thursday, Obama's campaign said they were optimistic about winning in Iowa but didn't consider it essential.
"Every campaign has said it's important to do well in Iowa, and that's our goal," said Tommy Viotor, a spokesman for Obama. Viotor said the campaign would continue, regardless of his showing in Iowa.
Associated Press
Students $12.00
Limited seating! Deadline for signing up is Tuesday, October 2, 2007 Business attire required. For more info: www.ucc.ku.edu Stop by the University Career Center, 110 Burge, to RSVP Contributing to Student Success!
Johnson County Clin-Trials
FLU VACCINE STUDY
Johnson County Clin-Trials
is currently looking for healthy volunteers ages 18-49 to participate in a clinical research study involving an outpatient investigational flu vaccine.
Qualified Subjects will receive:
- Study-related medical exams
- Study-related Laboratory assessments
- Compensation up to $1050 for time and travel.
If you are interested or would like more information, please contact us at:
Johnson County Clin-Trials WWW.JCCT.COM ... (913) 825-4400
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