KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010 / NEWS
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TRAVEL (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
issue, such as environmentalism and poverty, during the week-long trip.
Students visited Peach and Pine, the largest homeless shelter in Atlanta, through the Alternative Breaks program during spring break. Sixty-eight students volunteered at 10 locations in the U.S.
Contributed Photo
Branch was one of the two site leaders, participants who organize trip details and manage and lead small groups, for the Denver location. Herteam of seven worked with the Autism Society of Colorado. They helped with office work and assisted families with autistic children through a program called Respite Care.
"It's a twenty-four-seven job for them; most people hadn't been on a date in ten years." branch said.
The group helped the parents with autistic children by assisting with chores around their houses and taking care of the children while their parents enjoyed a right out.
Branch said she was interested in the Denver alternative break site because she worked with disabled children last summer, which opened her eyes to the challenges they face.
The other six students on Branch's team had little previous experience with autistic children. Branch said their reactions to the
children were transformed throughout the week.
"It was cool to see us change the kids and the kids change us" Branch said.
L i b b y Johnson,ajunior from Lawrence was a site leader
"It was cool to see us change the kids and the kids change us."
"That didn't look like it could be better than anything." Johnson said.
for a group of seven students who volunteered in Atlanta. Her group worked directly with the homeless population. Johnson said she did not know what to expect going into the trip, but knew Atlanta would be very different from Kansas City.
The group stayed at a church called the Emmaus House, which hosts after school programs and works with the community to help prevent poverty. Johnson said she enjoyed working with the kids in the church's after school program
JAMIE BRANCH
Topeka freshman
The group visited Peach and Pine, the largest homeless shelter in Atlanta. Johnson said the room was full of narrow bunk beds with an inch and a half of foam on them. People would often leave sicker than when they came in because the shelter was so dirty. She said she was shocked that the people living there considered it better than living outside.
because they were so happy, just like any other kids, and it was important to help keep them from living in terrible conditions.
Laurissa Beckman, a
freshman from Louisburg, also went on the Atlanta trip. She said that the trip helped her to break-down stereotypes and that she learned homelessness could happen to anyone. Both Beckman and Johnson said they learned from speaking with people who were previously homeless at a halfway house run by Atlanta Outreach.
"I realized it's not necessarily that they are lazy or anything like that, but it could basically happen to anyone. One day you could be wealthy and the next day some crazy situation could happen and you could lose it all." Beckman said.
ALTERNATIVE
SPRING BREAK
LOCATIONS
AIDS Foundation
Arizona, Texas
Autism Society of
Colorado
Denver, Colo.
Humane Borders Tucson, Ariz.
Lakeshore Foundation Birmingham, Ala.
Lower Nine New Orleans, La.
Project Live Love,
Atlanta, Ga.
Teach For America, Chicago, Ill., and Denver, Colo.
The Steel Yard Providence, R.I.
Volunteers of America Southeast Mobile, Ala.
Branch, Johnson and Beckman each said they would definitely go on another alternative break. Branch said after being a site leader on her first trip, she has a few ideas of how she could do a better job next time.
— Edited by Kirsten Hudson
Skyler Reid/special to The University Daily Kansan
Sean Kennedy, a junior from Leawood, thanks assistant coach Melanie Campbell for all her help after Kennedy's loss to Michigan State University in the octofinal round of debate. The fourth day of the 2010 National Debate Tournament, held primarily on the UC Berkeley campus, brought together teams from universities across the country.
DEBATE (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
positive frame of mind and can now look forward to a second debate tournament called CEDA, which begins tomorrow.
The Cross Examination Debate Association, which functions as a tournament sanctioning agent, is referred to as "the people's tournament." Any school squad can participate in the competition. This year there will be 240 teams contending.
THE LAST ROUND
Sadly though, for Christopher Stone, this will be his last debate tournament of his life. The career of debaters only lasts as long as they are undergraduates.
"We all graduate out of the system eventually and either end up becoming coaches or moving on." Lindsey Shook, a graduate student and debate coach from Tulsa, Okla., said.
Most of the debaters here have been doing this since the beginning of high school. There is life after debating, but for a lot of seniors it has become a lifestyle. With eight or nine years of debate under their belts, getting
used to a life without debate will be a drastic change. It's a way of life they have been captivated with on an everyday basis.
They perceive that their performance at the NDT and CEDA is how they will be remembered in debate for the rest of their lives because these are their final debates.
Shook said that if you went down the path of coaching there would always be a feeling that you would never do it again; it's not a sport where you can play intramural debates. After the final debate, it's an eerie, unfamiliar transition for some. But there is nothing they can do about it; debating after undergraduate graduation is not permitted.
Stone, a senior from Derby, is in this very position. He began debating when he was a freshman in high school.
"I kept debating in college because I found that it was a way to stay engaged in current events," Stone said. "It was a way to participate in a game that is essentially chess played at a high speed and with words."
Shook described Stone and his teammate Patrick Kennedy, a junior from Leawood, as consistent. They work hard and the way they concentrate on debate is centered on a methodical process about the topic and what the resolution says.
Stone said debating revolved around the variety and essence of a debater's research. If a debater is well equipped he or she could win against anybody.
"The best part about our team is that we tend to be hard workers who invest a lot of time in this activity to produce good arguments." Stone said. "I think we pride ourselves on being one of the most prepared teams in the nation."
The debate team returns from California next week after CEDA, and they will always remember the adrenaline rushes, the long hours and the countless tubs that got them to NDT in the first place.
Edited by Drew Anderson
Just for kicks! Kickboll TOURNAMENT
Noon-6 p.m. April 18 Lyons Park, Lawrence
$10 (includes T-shirt and snacks)
This kickball tournament is designed to bring KU students and alumni together in the spirit of good healthy competition! Proceeds from the event will go toward Student Programs at the KU Alumni Association.
Sign your team up by April 7 at www.kualumni.org/students
Don't Take Chances. Call Before You Dig.
Remember to call 811 at least two working days before you begin any digging. This free service coordinates local utilities to mark underground pipes and wires before you start your project.
Don't take chances. A call to One Call 811 will help you avoid potential expense—and the possibility of serious or fatal injury.
For your own safety call 811 before you dig.
Know what's below. Call before you dig.