WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2007 | NEWS | WWW.KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
13
in brief
University to discontinue dial-up access on campus
As of August 31, students who use the University's dial-up connection to access the Internet will have to switch to a cable or DSL connection or find another dial-up service provider.
According to Bill Myers, director of information services for KU Libraries, the University currently has a dial-up connection that students, faculty, staff and retirees may subscribe to. However, because of the dwindling numbers of subscribers, Myers said the connection has become expensive to maintain.
"When we had 7,000 subscribers it was worthwhile," Myers said. But now that there are 600 users out of a maybe possible 30,000, it's not."
Myers said if a student using dial-up wishes to continue doing so, he or she would have to find another provider, like AT&T. Students who choose this option will still be able to access the KU network and their KU account in the fall.
— Maggie VanBuskirk
Jayhawk Blvd. to be closed at 14th Street intersection
Jayhawk Boulevard will be closed for construction near its intersection at 14th Street beginning June 27 and lasting until the start of the fall semester.
The boulevard will be closed to through traffic in both directions for the construction of a new traffic booth to be located at the south end of the intersection of Jayhawk Boulevard and 14th Street.
Lilac Lane and 14th Street will remain open with signs posted ahead of the construction site to divert traffic to Mississippi and 14th Streets. Buses will use Mississippi Street as an alternate route.
Mike Krings, University spokesman, said the new booth is going to replace the temporary traffic booth near Danforth Chapel that was placed at the intersection during the construction of the Docking Family Gateway at 13th Street and Oread Avenue in 2006.
Krings said that Jayhawk Boulevard will not be closing completely.
"You just won't be able to go through that one intersection," he said.
Ben Smith
CAMPUS
Program helps freshmen adapt
Summer institute allows newcomers to meet friends, learn about campus
By Alaide Vilchis Ibarra avilchis@kansan.com
On the 6th and 7th floors of Lewis Hall, 53 incoming freshmen are learning about the University through the Freshmen Summer Institute, a program designed to give incoming freshmen a taste of University life before school starts in the fall.
The institute has been part of the University for 10 years, but this was the first year that it was a four-week session. Previously, the program consisted of two three-week sessions.
Jessica Ward, graduate coordinator for the FSI, said that the change came because the two sessions were not diverse. The first session would have more in-state students and the second session consisted of more out-of-state students.
"They wanted more of an even mix," Ward said. "I think we have that. We are half and half male and female, and in-state and out-of-state."
Lisa Moore, FSI resident assistant, said that one more week would help the students bond with each other and get to know the
campus and its traditions better in order to be "a step ahead of all their peers."
Students also said that one week makes a big difference when it comes to the FSL.
"I don't think three weeks is enough time to get everything that we would like to know and
get to know the people that we are trying to get to know." Ashley Magana-Garcia Hutchinson freshman, said.
Although students take two classes, the learning experience that the FSI has to offer has
Magana-Garcia said that the teacher in her PRE 101 class said the freshman would get to know campus as well as they knew their own bedrooms.
less to do with academics and more to do with the little things.
University.
"I don't think three weeks is enough time to get everything that we would like to know and get to know the people that we are trying to get to know."
"Campus is so big and my high school is so little," Magana-Garcia said. "FSI will definitely
"I was just scared about getting around and knowing where things are," Tucker Cox, Kansas City, Kan., freshman said.
ASHLEY MAGANA-GARCIA Hutchinson freshman
Students take a tour of campus within the first few days of moving in and have to take PRE 101, a class designed for freshmen who want to learn about the
will certainly help us not feel as much as freshmen."
The freshmen also do a community service project and are encouraged to attend different floor activities on campus.
Students
can go out at night with other FSI participants or stay in and play video games, watch TV or make puzzles. On the 6th floor, there are three different unfinished puzzles on a table in front of the elevator.
The social aspect also plays a big part for students participating in the FSI.
Magana-Garcia came to the FSI
to meet other students because she would not be living in the residence halls during the fall. She said the FSI was a good place to meet those students she might not have the chance to meet living in an apartment.
Sam Arkin, Chicago freshman said that the friendships he has formed at the FSI would help him get better acquainted with the University and dorm life in the fall.
"This is like beginning freshman year early and when we start out with everybody we have friends that we know from the summer and we will all still be friends," Arkin said.
Some students said the FSI helps them to come back in the fall a step ahead of most other freshman that have not had such exposure to campus life.
"I have the upper hand, especially when 1,000 and 2,000 more freshmen don't know where they are going. I could just literally laugh at them... not that I will or anything," Arkin said.
— Edited by Joe Caponio