2A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2005
What do you THINK?
BY HALEY TRAVIS editor@kansan.com KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Should parents' involvement with their child's education stop after high school?
"I think it's going to be good for some really clingy parents that won't really let go of their kids. My roommate's mom is like that, so I kind of know how it is, but I think it will actually be a good idea."
*Philip Adam, Kansas City, Kan., freshman.*
"I think it's probably a good idea that parents know what's going on in the University, as long as they still give their sons the freedoms they have in college to be on their own and be independent."
◆ Javier De Palacios, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, junior.
Frank Tankard / KANSAN
"I think it's a good opportunity for parents to get involved and know what their children are getting involved in at the school: know what type of roommate they're going to be rooming with if they come from a different background, if they want to be more associated with different people. We have different ethnic groups that come from different places, if they wanted to learn about different places and have different experiences."
★ Duchess Williams, Miami senior.
"I think it's great for parents to be involved. The only thing is, some students come to school to detach from their parents. It might make the student feel like they're still in high school, with their parents coming to meetings and being able to phone in. I think college is more about an independent experience and not relying on your parents."
April Rand, Missouri Valley, Iowa, junior.
Unexpected path leads to KU
"Well, it's good that parents want to be involved in your education and everything. Who else do you talk to if you have a problem, because not everybody knows what you're going through." <br> **Aqua Burras, New Orleans senior**
Paris Matthews stands on the lawn in front of Oliver Hall, her new college home. Matthews, Los Angeles freshman, arrived at the University one week ago after Hurricane Katrina forced her to leave Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans.
University opens doors to student
BY FRANK TANKARD
fiankard@kansan.com
KANSAN STUDENT WRITER
Paris Matthews sits in the lobby of Oliver Hall, wondering how she got there. Wondering how she got tossed from innercity Los Angeles to New Orleans to Topeka to Kansas City, Mo., to Lawrence in less than a month.
"It's nice here." she says.
It's like last week, Matthews didn't even know what a Jayhawk was. She had no idea she'd ever be one.
Her journey started a little more than a month ago when she left South-Central Los Angeles, where she'd lived all her life. She boarded a plane for New Orleans and traded her dangerous neighborhood for Xavier University of Louisiana to study political science.
to study she arrived at Xavier, unpacked her belongings, met her roommate and started class Aug. 22.
"I didn't like it there," she said. "It was too small. The curriculum seemed very easy."
She wasn't there long. Six days after classes started she fleed the city with two of her friends from Xavier — girls she'd gone to high school with who'd since left the neighborhood — after the news spread that Hurricane Katrina was going to hit.
The three of them climbed into a cab around noon on Aug. 28, the day before Katrina hit land, and headed to Atlanta. They arrived at 3 a.m., a few hours before Katrina made landfall. Total cab fare for the three of them: $573, Matthews said.
couple of days at the home of one of her traveling companions, but the friend's family didn't want them there for long, Matthews said.
She looks well-rested now after being here for a week: No circles line her eyes, her hair is neatly braided.
They stayed in Atlanta for a
She had decided that whatever happened, she wasn't going back to Los Angeles, so she and her other friend flew to Kansas City, Mo., after two days in Atlanta, to stay with her friend's aunt and uncle in Topeka.
Matthews was once again told she could stay there for a while — but not permanently. She learned that she would have to transfer colleges because the 4,100-person Xavier — not to be confused with the larger Xavier University in Cincinnati — had been hit hard.
After about two weeks and an unsuccessful attempt to get into Washburn University, the family suggested she look for another place to live, she said. One option was a local shelter for hurricane victims.
shelter." Matthews said.
So she called her mother, who in turn called up some old friends from their longtime church in Los Angeles — Gil and Bennie Crockran, who live in Kansas City, Mo.
"I know the environment she came from, and she's had a tough row to hoe, growing up in South-Central Los Angeles, in a gang-infested neighborhood. God has his hand on this girl's life," Gil Crockran said. He manages a Poneye's restaurant in Olathe.
"I wasn't going to live in a
As it turned out, they were the right people to call. They'd already been looking into sheltering a hurricane victim, and here was Matthews at their doorstep, the girl they'd known since she was 7 or 8 years old.
TRANSFERS
They took her grocery shopping and spent hours on the phone until she got her $2,000 relief check from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
They made it their mission to
University of Kansas transfer students from colleges closed by Hurricane Katrina as of yesterday:
◆ Undergraduate: 19
◆ Graduate: 6
◆ School of Law: 3
Total: 28
Source: Office of Admissions and Scholarships
find her a college. First they tried the University of Missouri-Kansas City, right down the street from their house. People there told them to contact Rockhurst University a few blocks away, Bennie Crockran said, and Rockhurst officials sent them to the University of Kansas.
The three of them drove to the University on Sept. 14 and were relieved when finally, a university greeted Matthews with open arms.
"Everybody was so kind, like she was a star. The word had buzzed around about the girl from Xavier. People were saying, 'Is she here yet?' Bennie Crockran, an animal control officer, said.
Robert Page, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, gave the Crockrans and Matthews a tour of campus, helped Matthews enroll and gave her a blue T-shirt with "Class of 2009" printed on it. She started class the next day.
Page contacted Matthews' professors to make sure they'd let her make up missed work, and he warned her that starting school late would be challenging.
"She has a tough road ahead of her, but with what she's been through and her life experience, I think she'll be tenacious enough to make it at KU, both academically and personally." Page said.
Matthews plans to stay at the University all four years before applying to law school.
"I don't feel like moving around no more," she said. "There's been too much unpacking and packing again."
Edited by Anne Burgard
ON CAMPUS
Lech Walesa, former president of Poland and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, will receive the 2005 Dole Leadership Prize at 8 p.m. at the Lied Center. Tickets are no longer available.
- Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority is showing an episode from the PBS series "American Family" followed by a discussion at 6:30 p.m. at the Walnut Room in the Kansas Union.
♦ Merrill Gilfillan, poet, essayist and
The Lawrence Flea Market will be at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Saturday.
fiction writer, is scheduled to read from his recent work at 4 p.m. at Oread Books, Level 2 of the Kansas Union.
Note: The University Daily Kansan prints campus events that are free and open to the public. Submission forms are available in the Kansan newsroom, 111 StaFFer-Flint Hall. Items must be turned in two days in advance of the desired publication date. On Campus is printed on a space available basis.
REGION
Year's first West Nile case strikes Kansas City man
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 40-year old man has been hospitalized with the first confirmed case of the West Nile virus in Kansas City this year, the city's health department said yesterday.
The man spent considerable time outdoors, the department said. No other information about him was released.
So far this year, the state has
reported one death from the disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. A 70-year-old man from Adair County in northeast Missouri died on June 14. The man had other medical problems, but the virus was considered a contributing factor in his death.
body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes.
West Nile is found in birds. Mosquitoes, after biting the birds, transfer the virus to mammals, including humans.
Less than 1 percent of those infected become seriously ill.
Most people infected with the virus develop no symptoms, while others suffer only mild illnesses, such as fever, headache,
Health officials say people wanting to protect themselves should wear an effective insect repellent, like one that contains DEET. It also helps to wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors. Tires and other items that can hold water should be removed from properties, because they can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
The Associated Press
Tell us your news
Contact Austin Caster,
Catering, Keating
Anjali Kaur, Kaite Nakar
Te Bearman or Kate Narlin at
864-4810 or
editor@kansan.com
Kansas newroom
111 Staffer-Film Hall
1435 Jayhill Ave,
Lakewood, KS 60045
(785) 664-8410
MEDIA PARTNERS
NEWS
JUHJH
For more news, turn to KUJH- TV on canpwheel Cablevision
Channel 31 in Lawrence. The student-produced airs at 5:30 p.m.; 7:30 p.m.; 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. every Monday through Friday. Also, check out KUJH online at tvku.edu
Whether it's rock n' roll or reggae, sports or special events, JKHJ 90.7 is for you.
ET CETERA
KJHK is the student voice in radio. Each day there is news, music, sports, talk shows and other content students, by students, on roll or reck.
LIBERTY HALL 644 Mass
7:49-19:12
THE ARISTOCRATS (NR)
9:16 ONLY
BROKEN FLOWERS(R)
4:40 7:10
students $5.00
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 119 Stauffer Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 68045. The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4962) is published daily during the school year except Saturday, Sunday, fall break, spring break and exams. Weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Periodical postage is paid in Lawrence, KS 68044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $120 plus tax. Student subscriptions are paid through the student activity fee. Postmaster: Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 119 StauFFER-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 68045
Have you reached your Zen yet?
We have the Zen Micro and MP3 accessories.
Pfizer, Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals and many of the world's best-known consumer brands.We have an unparalleled opportunity for top performing sales representatives to join our winning team.
PHARMACEUTICAL REPRESENTATIVE
Representatives are responsible for selling prescription drug products to physicians, hospitals and pharmacies. Candidates should have proven successful sales experience,a four-year college degree and an ability to work in a competitive environment.In addition,candidates must be able to learn scientific information quickly,and be willing to travel.
Pfizer, Inc. offers company paid training, salary and full benefits. If you are interested in working for the sales force that was rated #1 over-all by physicians for nine years in a row (according to the 2004 Pharmaceutical Sales Force Structure and Strategies survey conducted by Scott-Levin).
Principles Only. No Phone Calls Please. EOE
www.Pfizer.com/Careers
THU
100
V
I
---
1