CAMPUS/AREA UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3A
Wednesday, April 24,1996
Social work helps student, others
Matt Flickner / KANSAN
Beth Chao, coordinator for independent living, and Judith Wasinger, Hays graduate student, work at Independence Inc., an agency that provides services and is an advocate for people with physical or mental disabilities.
Local agency provides service to assist people with disabilities
By David Teska Kansan staff writer
Judith Wasinger chose a career in social work because she wanted to work with people in their own environments.
"I like the philosophy of social workers because they deal with people holistically," the Hays graduate student said.
Wasinger is fulfilling her goals by working this academic year at Independence Inc., 1910 Haskell Ave., an agency that provides service and is an advocate for people with physical or mental disabilities. Wasinger's job is part of the practicum requirements of a masters in social welfare.
Wasinger said what attracted her to the agency was that it let the consumers determine what and how much service they needed. The agency doesn't use the word "client."
"It's very consumer driven," she said. "They come to us and tell us what they want."
Wasinger said the independent living program helped consumers master the skills necessary to manage their own lives with the goal of helping them become as independent as possible. Assistance could range from helping someone balance a checkbook, write a resume or develop basic social skills.
"Some people just need help in how to plan meals," she said.
If a consumer came to her with a request that couldn't be met at the agency, Wasinger said she'd work to find help from another agency within Lawrence.
"The agencies in Lawrence have worked very hard to coordinate their services." she said.
Wasinger said she worked an average of 20 hours a week at the agency. Her two-year degree program requires her to complete 1,320 hours of practicum in addition to the 48 hours of course work, she said. To practice social work in Kansas, all social workers also have to pass a licensing test. Wasinger said.
Beth Chao is the agency's coordinator for independent living and Wasinger's field instructor. Chao, a 1991 graduate of the School of Social Welfare, said she valued having Wasinger at the agency because her connection to the school helped keep Chao up-to-date in her profession.
"I think the School of Social Welfare is a real good
resource," she said. "Having the tie-in with the school is good for me, both personally and professionally." She also said the agency had benefited directly from having an intern on staff.
"We get input from another person," Chao said. "They keep us up-to-date."
Guggenheim awarded to KU professor
By Amanda Traughber Kansan staff writer
A KU professor and department chairwoman is one of 158 people nationwide to be awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellowship, an award given for distinguished past work and promising future work.
Roberta Johnson, professor and chairwoman of the department of Spanish and Portuguese, received a letter last week informing her of the prize, which she won because of her research in 20th century peninsular Spanish fiction.
"I'm very excited," she said. "I'm very pleased by this. It is the nicest honor that I've received in my career."
Johnson said she would use the prize money to take a sabbatical leave and finish writing her book, Out of the Cave: Women and the Spanish Novel in the Modernist Era. She will spend a month in Spain to finish her research for the book.
To be considered for the fellowship, Johnson had to write an account of her career and accomplishments, a research proposal and a curriculum vitae or list of published works.
The foundation was started by U.S. Sen. Simon Guggenheim to provide scholars and artists with monetary prizes to assist with research or creative arts. Among the winners of the $4,500,000 in awards this year are poets, painters, photographers, film makers, scientists and scholars.
Bob Hershberger, Evergreen, Colo., graduate student, said Johnson's award showed how good the Spanish department's graduate program was. Johnson has been Hershberger's mentor since he started the program, helping him get articles published, attend conferences and prepare for comprehensive exams.
"We're just all very happy for her," he said. "It's an honor to have someone win one of the most prestigious awards in the humanities. It's a great tribute to her and to our department."
Story of the sea challenges dancers
Adaptation of Irish play to be performed at KU
By David Teska
Kansan staff writer
The sea is both the provider and the taker of life.
That theme of struggle and adversity will be presented by members of the KU Dance Company when they perform Threnody tomorrow and Friday at 8 p.m. in the Lied Center. The dance is an adaptation by Mary Anthony of Irish playwright John Millington Synge's play Riders to the Storm.
The story is one of life and death and how they impact the family members of an Irish fishing village, said Muriel Cohan, associate professor of dance. Synge gained insight into the lives of Irish fisherman after he visited the Aran Islands at the turn of the century, she said
"He saw a whole culture where the young men went off to sea," Cohan said. "That was their life and their death."
Patrick Suzeau, instructor of music and dance, said the dancers had to convey the characters' moods by infusing their dance movements with emotional texture.
"If you're throwing a rope and you don't have a rope, you have to sense the weight." Suzeau said.
Jennifer Wilson, Edmond, Okla., junior, said learning the role of Maurya, the mother who mourns for the death of her husband and sons, was hard because of the expression required.
"He saw a whole culture where the young men went off to sea. That was their life and their death."
Muriel Cohan Associate professor of dance
In February, Anthony was in residence for two weeks at the University of Kansas, where she taught a short course on modern dance and auditioned the cast for the dance.
Jason Johns, Wichita senior, who plays Michael, the son of Maurya, said the emphasis was not so much on the movement but on telling the story.
In addition to *Tremody*, company members will perform Bouquets, Five Deadly Sins, Danzas, Octet and Let Me Count the Ways. The Cohan/Suseau Duet Company will perform the duet Cartello.
"Iused to expressing with my body language, so it's difficult to express myself using my face," she said.
Tickets are $6 for the public and $4 for students and senior citizens and are available at the Murphy Hall and Lied Center box offices and the SUA office.
Brian Flink / KANSAN
Kenneth O'Connor, Topeka junior, rehearses at the Lied Center. Six dances will be performed tomorrow and Friday at 8 p.m. in the Lied Center.
Hearing for Henley is set in child-support payments
By Amy McVey Kansan staff writer
With the mother of his child at his side, Kansas junior running back June Henley was ordered yesterday to appear at a hearing on May 14 to determine whether and how he will pay $700 in child support for his 3-year-old daughter.
Henley was ordered by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services to pay $50 a month and $473 in back child support in March 1995 after his girlfriend, Michelle Lanoue, applied for federal aid for her child.
As of February 1996, Henley had not paid child support and was found in contempt of court. He didn't show up for a March 20 court date, and a bench warrant was issued on April 2.
When Henley discovered that there was a warrant out for his arrest, he went to the Douglas County Jail and was arrested and released on $200 bond to guarantee his appearance yesterday. Henley said.
Henley said he didn't know how he would pay child support given his athletic status.
"I'm on scholarship, and I'm not allowed to have a job," he said. "How am I supposed to pay child support when I can't have a job?"
Lanouse said she understood that Henley couldn't pay child support when he was on scholarship and didn't anticipate a court order against him when she applied
June Henley
for help.
"He's really worried about this," she said. "He sees his daughter every day. He just doesn't understand." Henley, Columbus, Ohio, junior, became last season the fifth running back in school history to rush for more than 2,000 career yards, and he ranks in
the top five in rushing yards in KU history.
Henley was arrested in October of 1993 for petty larceny and ordered to pay $25 in restitution. He was ordered to pay a fine of $221.50, according to Douglas County criminal records.
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Brian Farley, trustee, said that the court understood that Henley had a scholarship and that it would try to work with the rules. But he said athletes such as Henley could work to make money in the summer.
"They're going to try and work a deal with him," Farley said. "But $50 is a real minimum order. There are things that he is allowed to do."
Farley said the court might consider monitoring the case while Henley was in school and ordering him to pay when he graduated.
"He's got a kid out there, and he needs to be responsible," he said.