8A
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2007
CAMPUS
Jessie Fetterlinn/KANSAN
The Hall Center for the Humanities has named Lawrence sophomore Brenna Daldorph its first ever Hall Center Scholar. Daldorph will meet with all of the Humanities Lecture Series speakers.
Hall Center names first scholar
BY JEFF DETERS jdeters@kansan.com
Last year Brenna Daldorph didn't plan on being so involved at the Hall Center for the Humanities. But her hard work during the past year paid off.
Daldorph, Lawrence sophomore, has been named the first Hall Center Scholar and received a $500 stipend. She will also get to meet and greet speakers and have lunches and dinners with them when they come to give a lecture. Daldorph's first experience with the Hall Center came at a lunchon last fall when Andrei Codrescu, a poet and commentator for National Public Radio, was the evening's guest speaker. She enjoyed meeting Codrescu, and has worked for the Hall Center since then.
"It's really fantastic," she said. "The Hall Center brings in some incredible people."
Jasonne Grabher, associate director of the Hall Center for the Humanities, said Daldorph has made a favorable impression on the speakers and those who work with her.
"Brenna is fantastic," Grabber said.
"Her enthusiasm and endless curiosity are infections. She is exactly the kind of student we want to interact with our Humanities Lecture Series speakers"
The Hall Center Scholar program is funded through donations to the Friends of the Hall Center and is open to undergraduate students who demonstrate academic success as well as community involvement. And Daldorph, who is majoring in journalism and international studies working on a minor in French, had strong credentials.
Dalderph is a National Merit Scholar and Chancellors Club Scholar. She is also a member of the University Honors Program. She said attending an Ivy League school such as Harvard or Yale was never really an option.
"KU is an absolutely fantastic place," Daldorp said.
While at the University, she has taken an interest in African studies and in the spring she traveled to New York City and studied the Jewish community in the Lower East Side, which was built by immigrants.
"That was an eye-opening experience," she said.
This summer Daldorp began doing research for the University's
Honors Research Development Program. She said she did some preliminary research on oral history in Shalom Village in Kansas City, Kan., which is made up of elderly Jewish people. Daldorf said she studied how the community told ghost stories. And in the spring Daldorf will study abroad in France. She will live with a host family, and she said she wanted to continue developing her French-speaking skills.
In the immediate future, Daldorph said she wanted to focus on her studies and she enjoyed hanging out with friends. Her father, Brian Daldorph, is an assistant English professor at the University. He said his daughter always lived life to the fullest.
"I think she's the sort of person who wants the best for every moment in her life, not just academically but also personally," her father said. He said as Brenna continued with her schooling he wanted her to be tested in whatever career path she chose.
"I'd like her to be happy in her studies and challenged by them," he said. "But I think she can work in a lot of different areas."
—Edited by Luke Morris
MUSICIAN
Songwriter balances school, music Nick West draws inspiration from campus scenery on EP
BY MATT LINDBERG mlindberg@kansan.com
The music business isn't exactly a piece of cake, especially finding success in college. Nick West
Maciag, Plano Texas, senior is a full-time student majoring in economics. He also aspires to have a career as a singer-songwriter.
Maciag who goes by the stage name "Nick West," is
said West's ability to use his Lawrence surroundings for music inspiration was what made him a great artist.
Maciag hadn't heard of the University until a friend suggested he consider it after high school. Maciag chose to attend the University for a new experience he hoped would inspire his music. He wanted to focus on economics as his major and possible career.
"He writes about what he knows.
He is definitely one of those peo-
"I have my priorities straight — my family and I want me to graduate and have a successful career with whatever I do," he said. "I know music doesn't guarantee me a career." Maciag said his parents have always been accepting when it came to odd jobs. He thought this might be to do with his oldest brother being the first in his family to graduate from college.
"He is definitely one of those people who cares about the music he makes and is not simply doing it for the fame."
West released his EP "Save Me" in May. He said the University heavily inspired the music. He said campus has a great layout and that Wesco Beach, people-watching and campus scenery have helped craft his musical ideas.
ASHLEY SMARKER Lawrence Arts Center Employee
a New Jersey native. He began making music when he was a freshman in high school. Dave Matthews and Radiohead inspired Maciag to start writing his own songs. He became interested in making music professionally only a year and a half ago when a friend suggested that he start a career.
Macag said that initially telling his parents he wanted to record music professionally went over better than most people would think.
Lawrence Arts Center employee and KU alumna Ashley Smarker
ple who cares about the music he makes and is not simply doing it for the fame," Smarker said.
Maciag isn't satisfied with his music yet. He said balancing school and music could get frustrating. At
times he contemplated putting his career on hold.
"A lot of days I really doubt
myself and ask how I can do it.
I watch MTV and see those big-name artists, wondering if I can entertain like that or should I focus fully on economics as a career? It can be difficult," Maciag said.
Maciag will travel to Nashville, Tenn., when he graduates. In November he will visit New York City to record an album with a full band. He will submit it to several record labels. Maciag said doubts about his career path still linger because he has two years after he graduates to become a successful artist. Then he loses his parents' support.
West will perform at 10 p.m.
Friday at the Jazzhaus, located at
926 Massachusetts Street.
- Edited by Rachael Gray
Nick West Maciag, Plano, Texas, senior studies economics and records music. He released an EP "Save Me" in May.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO