JAYHAWKS, TIGERS TO MEET AT THE "K"
The game will be a nonconference match-up between Kansas and Missouri because of the
neutral field. First pitch is at 7 p.m.at Kauffman Stadium,and tickets are $10.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2007
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOL.117 ISSUE 141
THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 1A
opinion
Check out The Kansan's latest opinion cartoon.
7A
outer space
Outside the reaches of our solar system, astronomers discover a planet with the potential for life.
men's golf
The Jayhawks continue their road trip today against the Cornhuskers in Nebraska and against Creighton on Thursday.
index
LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX
Classifieds. . . . . . . 3B
Crossword. . . . . . . 6A
Horoscopes. . . . . . . 6A
Opinion. . . . . . . 7A
Sports. . . . . . . 1B
Sudoku. . . . . . . 6A
All contents, unless stated otherwise.
© 2007 The University Daily Kansan
Get skin deep in the wonderful world of Slumber Parties, a land full of tickling rabbits vibrating sponges and arousing accessories.
STORY BY ASHLEE KIELER PHOTOS BY AMANDA SELLERS
ore than a dozen women sit in a half circle, watching as a slender woman holds up a large.
pink vibrator, equipped with a tickling rabbit.
A few women appear to hang on her every word, while others shift uncomfortable in their seats as she flips on the buzzing vibrators and begins passing them around for closer inspection.
Some women examine the toys from every angle, while others quickly pass them on as if it's going to burn their hands.
The woman in front of the room, Danielle Hay, is putting on a Slumber Party - a gathering of women in private homes where sex toys are shown and purchased much like housewares and cosmetics at Tupperware and Mary Kay parties.
Slumber Parties — although designated to sell products — are designed to educate and empower women to take control of their sexuality, Hay said. On this particular night, Hay is empowering college-age women in Lawrence.
The home-based parties offer women a chance to view and test some products exclusive to Slumber Parties in the company of their friends rather than in a public store, where they could run into their professors or other people they know
sors or other people they know.
According to the Slumber Parties, Inc. Web site, www.slumber-
Hay began throwing Slumber Parties in April 2006. The gig started as a summer job before Hay started medical school at Kansas City University of Medicin
parties.com, Kim Brecheen founded Slumber Parties in 1993, after the adult toy company she worked for failed. She began working in the industry after witnessing the overwhelming interest from female friends.
and Biosciences.
Women become distributors by being recruited by current distributors. A new distributor must purchase a starter kit to become an active in the company. A kit starts at $250. Distributors receive 40 percent off all retail purchases; with each new recruit they sign up, their discount increases.
"I'm able to work when I want to," Hay said. "I can schedule par- und school."
Hay enjoyed the job so much she decided to stick with it. Making $50 to $100 an hour helped Hay save up for school.
The pay and flexibility weren't the only reasons Hay decided to stay on.
"It's a really fun job and people really enjoy attending parties." Hay said.
After a year of throwing parties, she has worked out
ties around school."
parties, she has worked out a routine. To start each presentation she asks the women to pick designated names for the male and female sex organs.
This night, the women choose "twig" for penis and "taco" for vagina. Hay begins by showing novelties and gag gifts.
School adds two graduate degrees
ENGINEERING
BY NATHAN GILL
The University of Kansas School of Engineering will offer two new graduate degrees in bioengineering next semester, contributing to the rapid growth of biosciences in Kansas and the nation.
The two new degrees will be a masters and doctoral of sciences in bioengineering.
Stuart Bell, dean of engineering, said that bioengineering, the application of mechanical processes to
the human body, was one of the fastest growing fields of engineering.
He said that the growth in the life sciences industry in Kansas, fueled in part by millions of dollars in state investment in universities and
"We've definitely had a lot of interest in it. It seems to be an up-and-coming popular degree."
NICKIE LEE Graduate recruiter for engineering
start-up companies, was one of the reasons for starting the new degree programs.
"Our overriding goal is to match up our programs with this regional emphasis as well as our national emphasis in bioengineering," Bell said.
Glen Marotz, interim director of bioengineering, said bioengineers were in a people-serving profession. He said the work of bioengineers could include improving drug delivery and manufacturing methods to developing better prostheses and
Marotz said the program was the only such graduate program in Kansas, and that it combined faculty researchers and instructors from the various engineering fields, such as mechanical and chemical, and medical fields like pharmacy and biochemistry. He said the school had been recruiting faculty for the program for the last four or five years. The school has also been renovating space in Learned Hall for a new Bioengineering Research Center.
wheelchairs.
"We're preparing to see pretty big growth in this area," Marotz said.
Nickie Lee, graduate recruiter for engineering, said that 10 graduate students were currently committed to KU
bioengineering for the fall, which she said was good for the first crop of students. She said many students interested in the program were engineers who had an interest in medicine, but not patient care.
"We've definitely had a lot of interest in it," Lee said. "It seems to be an up-and-coming popular degree."
Kansan staff writer Nathan Gill can be contacted at ngill@kansan. com.
Edited by Ryan Schneider
BY JOE HUNT
The Carpenters Union has been protesting against the University of Kansas employment of nonunion workers on the Wescoe Hall Conversion project.
Kansas" on the corners of Bob Billings Parkway and Iowa Street, as well as other locations in Lawrence since April 16.
Members of the union have been standing beside large banners that read "Shame on the University of
Jackie Hosey, interim associate director for news and public relations, said the University had
》 CONSTRUCTION
Contracted workers stir union discontent
not heard directly from the union or its members although the University has a general idea of why the carpenters are upset.
"Midwest Drywall does not pay an area standard wage including fully paying for and providing for health care and pension."
PAT STEWART Union representative
"We don't know that much about it," Hosey said. "We haven't received any letters and we are not going to go approach them."
Union representative Pat Stewart said that letters were sent to Construction Design and Management and the Office of External Affairs. Stewart said the union had problems with Midwest Drywall Co. Inc, a sub-contractor hired by R.M.T. Construction Company, which the University hired to do the project.
Stewart said the University should still be held responsible even though the University was not directly responsible for hiring Midwest Drywall, a Wichita-based company.
"Midwest Dryland does not pay an area standard wage, including
fully paying for and providing for health care and pension to all their carpenter craft employees on all their projects," Stewart said. "We're running a public awareness campaign to spread that information."
Carpenters holding up an outside banner were enthusiastic about supporting their union.
"No one is allowed to insulate themselves behind independent contractors." Stewart said.
"If you get out
If you get out of this thing you're lucky to have your body parts working," said Ed Thormon, a carpenter who said he had worked on campus buildings for 26 years. "That's why you need a retirement and a pension."
Stewart said that the protest would go on until Midwest Drywall no longer worked on the project. He said the union would consider running a picket line at the construction site.
Midwest Drywall could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Kansan staff writer Joe Hunt can be contacted at jhunt@kansan. com.
Edited by James Pinick