2A
Wednesday, May 1, 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Spring brings talk of twisters
On screen and off, tornado time nears
It's tornado season, and twisters are whirling through Hollywood this spring.
Fascination with them also is blowing across the University.
By R. Adam Ward Kansan staff writer
"The new movie about tornadoes called Twister is freaking me out," said Brad Shanks, Overland Park sophomore. "I have dreams about tornadoes."
Shanks said that he didn't think he had a phobia about tornadoes but that watching the movie probably would give him one.
The movie, written by Michael Crichton, opens on May 10.
Dave Nadler, Overland Park sophomore, said he thought he understood people's fascination with twisters.
"I think unexplained things are interesting to the public," said Dave Nadler, Overland Park sophomore.
Because meteorologists don't understand the details of tornado formation, it adds to the mystery in people's minds. Nadler said.
He said he intended to see the movie because he thought it would be fascinating if it showed the way tornadoes formed and what it was like to be in one.
Joe Eagleman, professor of meteorology and physical astronomy, said a tornado was a vortex extending from a cloud to the ground and
formed by a thunderstorm.
Eagleman said that the right circulation of air in warm lower levels of a storm rose and collided with the backside of a storm, forming a double vortex.
If the circulation is strong enough to extend to the ground, it becomes a vortex, which is a tornado.
He said that the last big blast from a tornado in Lawrence was September 21, 1993.
Tornadoes cause more than 100 deaths a year nationwide, which is more than hurricanes but not as many as deaths caused by lightning, he said.
Last year 48 tornadoes and mesocyclones, a part of a thunderstorm from which tornadoes form, were spotted in Kansas. Texas and Oklahoma have a few more tornadoes a square mile, he said.
Eagleman said that the odds of surviving were not good if a person were picked up by a tornado.
"Normally, if you're traveling at 300 miles per hour it's not a safe landing." he said.
People have many misconceptions about tornadoes, Eagleman said. For instance, trailer courts don't attract tornadoes. But the construction methods in them are so weak that the damage is much more evident when a tornado hits one.
Another misconception is that you should open windows during a tornado, he said.
He completed a study of tornadoes and found the northeast corner of the lowest level of the house to be the safest place to take cover.
ON THE RECORD
ON CAMPUS
A yellow mountain bike was stolen from a KU student between 4 p.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday in the 2000 block of Stewart Avenue. The bike was valued at $2,300, Lawrence police reported.
Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center is sponsoring a resume writing and interviewing tips session from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at 115 Strong Hall.
12:30 p.m. Saturday in Blake Annex. The modem was valued at $200, KU police reported.
A KU parking permit and sunglasses were stolen from a KU student's car between 1:30 and 2 p.m. Monday in the 1100 block of Mississippi Street, KU police reported.
A modem was stolen from the School of Social Welfare between 3 p.m. Friday and
University of Kansas Naval ROTC will sponsor a Pass in Review/ Awards Ceremony/ 50th Anniversary at 4 p.m. today at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion and Frontier Room at the Burge Union. Guest speaker will be Admiral L.A. Felton, USN. Call Lt. Michael W. Bastian at 864-3161 for more information.
OAKS—Non-traditional Student Organization is sponsoring a brown bag lunch and meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at Alcove A in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Laura Morgan at 864-4064.
pus Center will celebrate Mass at 12:30 p.m. today at Danforth Chapel.
Study Abroad will sponsor an informational meeting about Western Civilization Study Abroad at noon tomorrow at 212 Spencer Museum of Art. For more information, call Heinz Kattenfeld at 864-4935.
St. Lawrence Catholic Cam-
Process often takes up to eight weeks
Book repair leaves students in a jam
By Amanda Traughber Kansan staff writer
Looking for research materials sometimes makes students feel as if they're in a real bind.
The library doesn't have a system that designates when particular volumes are to be sent away, said Brian Baird, preservation librarian.
Brad Schaffner, Russian and East Slavic studies librarian, said he had helped students in Slavic studies find articles they needed to complete end-of-semester research because several volumes of Slavic materials had been sent out to be bound.
By coincidence, the periodicals reading room had worked its way to the Slavic shelf at the same time reference did, and both departments sent Slavic materials away at the same time.
Binding may not be convenient for researchers, but it's necessary to protect volumes from theft and wear and tear.
Schaffner said students can get more articles from other sources. Interlibrary loans are the easiest way, but Schaffner said that students should start work early to ensure that they get what they need.
Other alternatives are downloading articles from computer networks or asking other libraries to send photocopies, Baird said.
"It's unfortunate, but it needs to be done," Schaffner said. "If it doesn't get bound, it gets destroyed."
The library sends about 1,150 volumes every other week, Baird said. "When you're sending out that many volumes, you're going to be taking something that someone wants."
And the wait could be as long as eight weeks. If a library department just misses a shipment, the volumes the department wants bound can sit for two weeks until the next pickup. Binding takes two to four weeks. When volumes return, they can sit in an area up to two weeks waiting to be checked for binding errors before reshelving.
The library recognizes this wait as a problem and is trying to find ways to alleviate it.
The libraries have been negotiating a new binding contract with provisions to cut turnaround time by one to two weeks, Baird said. The libraries also are trying to coordinate binding preparation so that volumes aren't removed from shelves until just before shipping out.
Weather
Source: Chian-Wei Chang/KU Weather Service
Woman charged with arson
Kansan staff report
A Lawrence woman was charged with aggravated arson yesterday after a fire destroyed her apartment and damaged at least three neighboring apartments early Monday evening.
ment when firefighters arrived. However, authorities brought her to the fire scene when she became a suspect, McSwain said. After interviewing Smith, police arrested her in connection with the aggravated arson.
Police arrested Rhonda Smith, 35, after authorities concluded through evidence and interviews that the fire was not accidental, said Jim McSain, fire chief.
Authorities would not say how the fire started but said that it was not accidental.
Smith was not present at the apart-
"It was not accidental," he said.
"We know how it started, but the information is not available for release at this time."
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Ready For Some Fun? (and freebees) The Lazer Presents Coors Light Nights!
Tonight and every night through Saturday from 10-midnight join The Lazer at 4 of your favorite places. We'll be giving away a Sony Discman each night and on Saturday we'll also be giving away a bookshelf stereo system. Plenty of freebees and of course, plenty of Silver Bullets too.
It's been a long semester. Join us and blow off a little steam.
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
The Yacht Club Duffy's Johnny's Tavern The Bottleneck