KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2010 / NEWS
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CAMPUS
Reorganized Western Civ courses to cut volunteers
BY SAMANTHA FOSTER
sfoster@kansan.com
Michael Blumenfeld, a Lawrence retiree, has been teaching a discussion section of honors Western Civilization at the University for seven years. He doesn't do it for the money; he's a volunteer.
"I always was interested in the classics." Blumenfeld said. "I had a pretty good classical education at Harvard. I thought I could do some good and help some kids, maybe."
Blumenfeld had an extensive career in government and business that included stints as assistant Secretary of the Army and working in administration at Harvard and New York Universities. Seven years ago, he was asked if he would like to teach a discussion section of honors Western Civilization. He said yes.
But that will change this fall when Blumenfeld, and the seven other volunteer teachers from the Lawrence community, will no longer be teaching these discussion sections.
knowledge along with discussion sections led mainly by community members. Beginning in the fall, there will be three sections of the course and it will change to a lecture-discussion format with the
James Woelfel director of Western Civilization programs, said the decision to remove the volunteers from the course was not based on student discontent or
"My two discussion leaders, Nan and Jerry Harper, have been the best teachers I've ever had at KU."
evaluations, but instead the desire to conform to general standards across the nation for teaching honors courses.
HAYLEY BRAZIER Topeka senior
The course currently consists of a weekly rotating lecture by professors with specialized
same professor teaching each class.
"My two discussion leaders, Nan and jerry Harper, have been the best teachers I've ever had at KU." Brazier said.
Hayley Brazier, a senior from Topeka, said she thought the decision to take the volunteer teachers out of the course was crazy.
She said she took the honors Western Civilization course with the Harpers in both the fall and
current semesters because she liked them so much. For Brazier, the experience of having nonfaculty teachers was special. She said the Harpers had written reference letters for her, and when
she studied abroad they gave her tips and places to go.
Brazier said she never felt short-changed by having the Harpers as her teachers instead of senior faculty members.
other volunteer instructors found out about the decision about two weeks ago. He said the volunteers didn't know that changes were being considered to the course and was very disappointed in
"They're all very capable, very professional people who did this simply for the love of teaching ..."
JAMES WOELFEL Director of Western Civilization
"I think because they're retired and have more time on their hands to do the class and do it not paid because they want to, they care a lot more about their students," Brazier said.
Blumenfeld said he and the
the decision to change the format.
"I very much liked teaching the honors section," Blumenfeld said. "There are not very many faculty members who know kids
Woelfel said this was a difficult decision that should have been handled with much more sensitivity.
personally as you have the chance to do in such a very small section as Western Civ."
"These are the volunteers that provided valuable service, some of them for many years." Woelfel said. "They're all very capable, very professional people who did this simply for the love of teaching Western Civ."
He said the recommendation to change the format of the honors Western Civilization courses was made after about two years of discussions about the honors program followed by a year long study of the program and an external review. He said the change to the course format would eliminate problems with coordination that caused confusion for students about what information they needed to know from each professor.
"We feel it's the right decision given issues over the years," Woelfel said.
MUD
Edited by Cory Bunting
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Last year's event raised $2,300, with 100 percent of the proceeds going towards the Student Leadership Award. Only the money raised at the Mud Fest funds the award.
Karlin said she thinks students participate in the event for the philanthropy but also to have a good time.
"I think it's not only a fun event but it's also giving back to other people and other students, so it's a good cause," she said.
$3 dining
Students like Lickteig don't mind spending the $15 to play in the tournament either.
"They're not asking too much money and I'm a college student, I understand scholarships are important," she said. "Education isn't cheap and, for the students that win the award, it's well-deserved money."
For more information and to register to participate, visit hawkmundfest.org or stop by the tables set up on Wescoe Beach next Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday.
The Coca-Cola Co. and Mr. Goodcents will attend the event, as well as KJHK radio and a local DJ who has yet to be named. The winning team will receive trophies and medals. All participants receive a T-shirt.
Edited by Kelly Gibson
Tanner Stenner, right, a senior from Wichita, and John Culen, a senior from Kansas City, Kan., eat pizza inside Slice of History at the Oread Hotel. The gourmet pizza restaurant offered a $3 all-you-can-eat pizza and salad buffet Thursday from 11 a.m. to close. "I'm gonna shoot for six to eight slices," said Stenzer when he was on his third.
Tanner Grubbs/KANSAN
QUARTERS
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selves "Team Destiny," because their meeting seemed to be a fortunate twist of fate.
"It's totally random," Love said. "Of course we're Team Destiny. We were pretty much destined to win."
"Usually you don't think this kind of stuff is going to happen. It's awesome."
"I practice quite a bit." Brunk said. "She hasn't practiced at all, but I've practiced a lot before."
As a team, the two have barely practiced. Individually, Brunk practices every few days, and he said he's much more in need of practice than Love.
CASEY BRUNK Hesston junior
For winning the regional championship, they received an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas, where they will be competing for the national
championship and the grand prize of $25,000. Over the course of the weekend, the two will have the chance to hang
with fellow contestants, lunge by the pool at the Hard Rock Hotel, and go to basketball tournament watch parties.
The actual tournament will take place Sunday night, when the duo will be competing against teams from across the country. Love said the two weren't worried about winning. But if they do win, they'll use the prize money in the Vegas casinos.
"Usually, you don't think this kind of stuff is going to happen," Brunk said. "It's awesome."
- Edited by Cory Bunting
Spencer Walsh/KANSAN
Brittany Love, a senior from Conway Springs, and Casey Brunk, a junior from Heston, stand with a stack of clay chips that will be used to compete in a national quarters tournament held in Las Vegas, Nev. The duo is playing for a $25,000 prize.
MARIJUANA
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to 18 would reduce dangerous drinking on camuws.
"All were doing with the Emerald Initiative is asking for the same type of open debate about whether allowing marijuana use by students would result in fewer negative incidences with alcohol," said Mason Ivert, executive director of SAFER.
The "Emerald Initiative" was sent out to the some 130 college presidents and chancellors who signed the Amethyst Initiative, but none have agreed to endorse it so far.
Although the Student Senate won't take action on the initiative this year, Bigus said he was organizing debate sessions and planning a concert to take place this spring.
— Edited by Megan Heacock
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