UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, March 31, 1995
5A
Labels stereotype, don't reflect cultures
Eduardo A. Molina
Kansan staff writer
Labels don't make sense to Julia Lu, Wichita freshman. Being born in Taiwan and raised in the United States gave her two different cultural perspectives.
For Lu, both cultural backgrounds are important, but some
people who come in contact with her ask her to define herself as a member of a racial group.
She doesn't mind saying that she is Asian American, but she does not believe that a category is necessary to identify her as a person.
Tenn., junior, agreed that racial labels should be used to represent this country's diversity, but she said that racial labels also could be used in a wrong way.
Lu's dilemma is not a new one. Some people like to be called African American but not Black. Others would like to be called Latino but not Hispanic. And some others would prefer the word fag instead of gav.
Many people accept labels as a way to identify groups, but some others use labels with a negative connotation to hurt somebody else.
William Tuttle, professor of history, said that labels became an issue when the members of a particular group didn't choose the label that was used to identify them.
"We have different nationalities, races, and credentials in the United States," she said. "In that way we are unique. I like African American because it represents
"The important thing is to call people the way they want to be called," he said. "This is an issue because we want to determine what we are. People should choose the best word that describes them."
LaTina Sullivan, Memphis,
Bill Friend Nortonville senior
my historic and cultural b a c k-grounds, but I don't like B l a c k because it only designates the color of my skn."
Bill Friend,
Nortonville
senior, disa
greed.
Friend, who
is homosexual,
said that
using labels
to identify gays, lesbians and bisexuals didn't work.
"I hate labels," he said. "The problem of using labels is that some people don't fit in those categories. Some labels such as gay or straight leave out bisexuals."
Gabrielle Segura, Kansas City,
Kan., junior, said that sometimes
labels were too general to identify people.
"I don't mind to be called Hispanic, but I prefer Mexican American," she said.
Lu said that the problem with labels was that they defined a particular group as a monolithic unity.
"We are unique," she said.
"There is a difference within groups that people should be aware of. I am proud of my cultural background, but I would like people to know me as a person rather than using a label."
CLASSROOMS In need of repairs
Continued from Page 1A
Strong or 109 Blake Annex are low on the repair priority list. Bigger classrooms are higher on the list because they hold more students.
Marci Francisco, a room space analyst for the office of institutional research and planning, said renovation and repair decisions were made by three groups: the space committee, the registrar's office and the teaching commons committee.
KU has received badly needed funding for classroom repairs and renovations for three years, Francisco said.
This summer, a $150,000 renovation of 412 Lindley Hall will equip the water-damaged auditorium with new audio-visual capabilities, new air conditioning and a refurbished interior.
The first project included repairs to large classrooms in Malott Hall. Last year, overhead projection screens were purchased for classrooms across campus.
Sara Peckham, Claflin junior, took her Western Civilization midterm and final in 303 Bailey Hall.
Other large classrooms and auditoriums are not so conducive to learning.
"It has to be one of the worst classrooms I have been in," Peckham said. "It sucks. There weren't any lights. It was hot. It was nasty."
Her instructor, Jim Hilmesheim, professor of educational policy and leadership and Western Civilization lecturer, said that burned-out lights were replaced after he complained, but the room still had a low level of lighting.
Even worse is 308 Dyche Hall.
The lighting in the auditorium is terrible. The seats are narrow and close together. And the room temperature rises when a lot of students are in class, Colburn said.
"Everybody sweats on everyone
else," Colburn said. "It's really hard to pay attention in there."
Dennis Christillies, assistant professor of theater and film, teaches Colburn's introduction to theater class.
His main problems are with the audio-visual capabilities of the room and lighting adjustments for
Repair dollars
The University of Kansas received approximately $2.7 million for repairs and renovations this year. But only $100,000 was earmarked for classroom renovations and repairs. KU spent $1 million repairing roofing and masonry and $1 million meeting safety and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The remaining money is used to repair sidewalks, steps and streets. Here's how the money for classroom repairs has been spent in the last three years:
1105 Mass
Lawrence, KS
Fiscal year 1995 allocation:
$100,00 for the renovation of
412 Lindy Hall this summer.
■ Fiscal year 1994 allocation:
$90,000 for projection screens and various repairs.
Fiscal year 1993 allocation:
$100,000 for repairs to Malott Hall
"The auditorium is not entirely inadequate," Christilles said. "It's got some drawbacks, but we're able to do it."
their projections.
Eventually, new classroom space in Budig Hall will enable the University to not have to rely on 303 Bailey and 308 Dyche, Francisco said.
PARAMOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS A LORNE MICHAELS PRODUCTION A FAYE PETER SEGAL TOMMY BOY
CHRIS FARLEY DWAID SPAD BD DEREK AND BRIAN DENNYMER MUSIC G. WARD ROSWELL VISUAL DESIGN DAVID NEWMAN
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS MICHAEL EWING BARNARY THOMPSON SOUND DESIGN ROBERT W. KISS BROUNCE BOWNE TURNER & TERRY TURNER
FNC 15 IS SHOWING STUDIO CUSTOMER
PARAMOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS A LORNE MICHAELS PRODUCTION A FAYE PETER SEGAL TOMMY BOY
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS MICHAEL EWING BARNARY THOMPSON SOUND DESIGN ROBERT W. KISS BROUNCE BOWNE TURNER & TERRY TURNER
NOW SHOWING Sorry, no passes
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