UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
Monday, April 28, 1997
3A
Eric B. Howell/KANSAN
Nancy Kassebaum Baker narrates The Lord of the Rings, a symphony composed by Johan DeMeij. The piece was performed Friday at the Lied Center by the University of Kansas Symphonic Band.
Kassebaum honored
By Ann Marchand Kansan staff writer
Former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker returned to her alma mater this weekend to showcase her talents across educational disciplines.
Kassebaum Baker narrated a portion of Fantasy, a performance of several mystically inspiredlections Friday night. It was the first time a concert of this type had been performed, and the performance commemorated conductor Robert E. Foster's 25th anniversary with the University of Kansas Symphonic Band.
About 1,000 people attended the symphony at the Lied Center.
Kassebaum Baker narrated three movements of a five-movement symphony inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
As the band played, Kassebaum Baker described what had happened in the story. The symphony echoed the storyline, ranging from the upbeat, happy hobbit jig to the monotonous drone of a funeral march.
Foster said he was thrilled to have Kassebaum Baker participate in the unique symphonic experience.
"She's one of my absolute favorite people in the whole world," he said.
Kassebaum Baker said she enjoyed participating in the symphony. She also said that part of the reason she agreed to be the guest narrator was that The Hobbit was a favorite of her children while they were growing up.
"I remember the enjoyment my children had taken when they read The Hobbit in their high school years," she said.
Amy Hester, Prairie Village junior, said she thought Kassebaum helped add prestige to an already-respected program.
"I think it's great that she's supporting the arts like this," Hester said. "Maybe if we get more political people like her, we can get more funding for the arts."
At a ceremony yesterday night at the Eldridge Hotel, Kassebaum Baker was presented with the third annual Gene A. Budig Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Mission of the School of Education at the University of Kansas.
"No one has done more than Nancy Kassebaum Baker to advance the cause of education in America," said former chancellor Gene Budig. "The impact of her work transcends national boundaries."
Social welfare school looks back, forward to progress
By Sarah McWilliams Special to the Kansan
Social Work Day at the University of Kansas was a time for students, faculty, staff and alumni of the School of Social Welfare to celebrate the school's past 50 years. It was also a time to look ahead.
The school's 50th anniversary of graduate teaching and 25th anniversary of undergraduate teaching was marked by highlights from the past, as speakers addressed more than 100 people Friday at the Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Speakers discussed the programs the school had started and the changes the school had undergone.
School alumnus Rix Shanline's play revealed the work of Esther Twente, a Kansas social worker who started the social welfare program in an army barracks behind Strong Hall in 1947. Twente and Carol Clark, professor of social work, expanded the program into a department of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
One of the school's first graduates in 1947, Bill Palm, spoke about his encounters with Twente.
"She had an air of kindness and benevolence that never left her." Palm said.
Palm also spoke about how it felt to be an African American at the University in the 1940s and the encouragement Twente gave him.
"She had to come up against racism," Palm said. "She fought those battles silently. I was very fortunate that the woman who started the school was my mentor."
In 1969, Arthur Katz, former dean of the department of social welfare, helped to expand the department into a school and move it into the former Watkins Hospital, which became Twente Hall.
More than 650 students currently attend the school, which U.S. News and World Report ranks in the top 20 out of 110 national schools of social welfare, said Matt Loehr, president of the KU Social Work Alumni Society.
The school is known nationally for its teaching of the strengths' perspective, a philosophy that calls on social workers to focus on their clients' positive qualities rather than their weaknesses, and also to look at patients' ability to change their lives, said Dennis Sebeyeb, professor of social welfare.
Ann Weick, dean of the school, concluded Social Work Day with her views about the next 50 years of social work education.
"We have a sense of how to bring human beings together," Weick said. "Our hope provides energy to social workers in the 21st century."
The Apartment & Sublease Guide...
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HILLEL presents:
The Israeli Film Series:
A Collection
of Israeli Made Films
Now SHOWING
Now Showing
Wedding in Galilee Monday, April 28,1997,7:00 pm 2092 Dole Hall
The mukhtar of a Palestinian village under Israeli occupation wants to hold a traditional wedding for his son, and invites the Israeli military governor as a guest of honor.
ATTENTION FINE ARTS STUDENTS!
APRIL 30,5:30 P.M. ADAMS ALUMNI CENTER PARKING LOT
THE CLASS OF'97 GRADUATE GRILL
Burgers and
- Enjoy FREE burgers and 50-cent draws (with ID). - Chat with your faculty and classmates.
Where graduating seniors can grill alumni, faculty and staff for information about making Jayhawk connections after graduation — and all the deans get to grill is the bursters.
■ Receive a free Jayhawk license plate frame or KU T-shirt when you sign up for a Jayhawk bank card. (Call INTRUST bank for details about a Jayhawk VISA or MasterCard, 1-800-222-7458.) ■ Win great door prizes, including a how-to-study for grad school exams video from Kaplan. ■ Learn how you can make KU connections worldwide through involvement with the Alumni Association. ■ Your graduation packet includes an RSVP form or you can fill one out at the Alumni Association (3rd floor of the Adams Alumni Center).
CALL 864-4760 FOR DETAILS. The Graduate Grill is sponsored by the Student Alumni Association
The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Department of Music & Dance presents the
University Dance Company
with Cohan/Suzeau and the KU Symphony Orchestra Concert Choir University Singers Women's Chorale
8 p.m.
May 2 & 3,1997
Lied Center
General admission tickets on sale in the KU box offices:
Murphy Hall, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864-ARTS; SUA office,
864-3477; $6 public, $4 students and senior citizens.
Both VISA and Mastercard accepted for phone reservations.
STUDENT
SENATE
Partially funded by the KU Student Senate Activity Fee.