8A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY. MAY 5. 2008.
CAMPUS
Veteran receives award on behalf of Bob Dole
BY JESSICA WICKS
jwicks@kansan.com
Army Sergeant Matt Lammers, an Iraq War veteran from Olathe who lost three of his four limbs in Iraq last June, accepted an award on behalf of Bob Dole Friday night at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics.
The department of special education named the award after Dole for his lifetime work for people with disabilities as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said, "I can't think of a better way to celebrate special education than we have been able to do it tonight."
Dole, who could not be there because of scheduling conflicts.
personally requested that Lammers accept the award for him.
"I am just another soldier," Lammers said. "I am not greater or better than anyone else."
It has not even been a year since Lammers lost both of his legs and his right arm in an explosion, and he is already standing, walking and joking about how his new arm can rotate 360 degrees.
"I picked my arm up off the ground," Lammers said, remembering the day of the explosion, "and I was more worried that I had messed up my tattoo than anything else. I paid $100 for that thing."
Gary Lammers, Matt's father,
said that he never knew where
Matt's life would take him next.
"Matt has always wanted to be of
service in a large way." Gary said, "and while we would have chosen different ways, we have still been supportive of that."
"I always joked about getting blown up," Lammers said. "I guess you should be careful what you joke about."
The KU department of special education is number one in the United States according to a US News and World report. Chriss Walther-Thomas, department chair, said the need for people in special education was high, but the school was making strides on a national level to benefit people with disabilities.
She said that after 50 years, it was a good time to stop and reflect on all the work they had done.
"Each person here represents thousands of people that we could have invited who have been touched by special education at KU."
Walther-Thomas said that Dole was a fabulous role model for the department on its 50th anniversary and Lammers was the perfect person to accept the award.
Lammers said Dole befriended him. He said Dole and his wife, Elizabeth, picked deserving war veterans to help instead of giving each other birthday and anniversary gifts. He said they found him when he was at the hospital.
Lammers said the worst part of the whole thing was at the hospital.
"I hate making women cry," Lammers said, "and when I got back, one of the nurses told me that
I made them all cry."
But the hospital wasn't all bad.
"When I woke up, I had all these beautiful women around me," Lammers said. "I thought I must be in heaven."
"But he said it was OK," Lammers said.
Lammers never remembered losing consciousness during the aftermath of the explosion, and he even recalled telling another soldier he was sorry for getting his uniform bloody.
Lammers has two daughters who look up to him.
"I love them to death, and I just want to get better so I can take them to the playground and do all the things a good daddy is supposed to"
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The department of special edu
cation will name the Dole award annually to a deserving Kansan who has helped advance the field of special education.
Ed Meyen, chair of the 50th anniversary committee for the department of special education, hands Sergeant Matt Lammers an award on behalf of Bob Dole.
Edited by Daniel Reyes
Supporting Worker Activism at KU
Documentary Film Showing about Living Wage Campaign at Vanderbilt University
Following the film, there will be a discussion about worker treatment at KU, current labor contracts with the university, and how to support worker organizing on campus.
Monday, May 5th, 7:30 PM ECM [1204 Oread Ave.] Sponsored by KUWatch
CHINA
Please contact info@kuwatch.org for more information
CHINA More than 4,500 children infected with virus
A common illness that typically causes little more than a fever and rash has killed 24 children in China, and health officials fear the worst may be yet to come as outbreaks occur in neighboring countries.
China's Health Ministry issued a nationwide alert over the weekend after the enterovirus 71 virus, or EV-71, which causes hand, foot and mouth disease, infected more than 4,500 children in central Anhui province.
The outbreak in China comes as the country gears up for the Olympic Games. But Hans Troedsson, The World Health Organization's country representative for China, said the disease should not disrupt the Beijing games, which start Aug. 8.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a childhood illness found worldwide that spreads through contact with saliva, feces, fluid secreted from blisters or mucus
from the nose and throat. Symptoms typically include fever, skin rashes and sores inside the mouth and on fingers and toes.
There is no vaccine or specific treatment, but most children affected by the disease typically recover quickly without problems.
However, EV-71 can result in a more serious form of the illness that can lead to paralysis, brain swelling or death. Many of the severe cases in China did not exhibit typical symptoms, and the children eventually died from respiratory problems, which kept Chinese experts puzzled about the cause of the outbreak, Troedsson said.
He told reporters Sunday that while more cases are expected, he is confident the outbreak does not pose a serious threat.
A major enterovirus outbreak hit Taiwan in 1998, infecting up to 300,000 children with hand, foot and mouth disease and killing at least 55, according to WHO.
Associated Press
You've made it!
Everything we do stengthens KU. Since 1883, the KU Alumni Association has kept 'Hawks connected to KU!
Finally the all-nighters and daily treks up the Hill have paid off. As you prepare for Commencement, use the "Grad Guide" at www.kualumni.org/classof2008 for information about our graduation events, how to stay connected and life after KU.
For more details about Commencement, go to www.commencement.ku.edu
Our graduation gift to you In partnership with KU Endowment we are giving you, upon graduation, a one-year, free membership in the KU Alumni Association! You'll receive the Kansas Alumni magazine, a 2009 KU campus calendar, access to the online directory, special discounts and so much more.
Our graduation gift to you
In addition to the year of free membership, you're eligible for the new grad yearly dues rate of $25 for the next four years. Plus, if you join the KU Alumni Association during Grad Grill on May 8, you'll receive a special KU Class of 2008 pint glass at the event.
Don't miss these great graduation events!
GRAD GRILL
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 8
Adams Alumni Center
Join us for your first official alumni event at the Adams Alumni Center sponsored by the Student Alumni Association. Don't miss out on great door prizes, free food and drinks. This is your chance to pick up information about alumni activities and services Campus offices will be on hand to share information about their services to you... a proud KU graduate!
Please RSVP to saa@ku.edu by May 7.
COMMENCEMENT LUNCH
11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 18
The Outlook, Chancellor's Residence
Before you walk down the Hill, celebrate at the Chancellor's residence. Robert and Leah Hemenway will provide free box lunches for graduates and their guests. The KU Alumni Association will welcome you into alumni status, and the Senior Class officers will announce the class gift and banner.
To attend, send in your registration card and pick up your tickets on the third floor of the Adams Alumni Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays May 1-16.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The University of Kansas
Questions? Call the Alumni Association at 864-4760, e-mail kualumni@kualumni.org or visit www.kualumni.org.
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