8A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2008
CAMPUS
Committee requests grade policy change
BY FRANCESCA CHAMBERS
fchambers@kansan.com
University Senate's Executive Committee did not approve the changes the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee recommended to the class drop policy at SenEx's meeting last week.
SenEx agreed with the Academic Policies and Procedure Committee, the AP&P, that the mark "W" withdrawn, should be reinstated in place of the marks "WP", withdrawn passing, and "WF" withdrawn failing. But SenEx asked the AP&P to rewrite its recommendation regarding signatures of drop forms because of ambiguous wording.
Geraldo de Sousa, chairman of the AP&P and associate professor of English, said the committee wanted to be sure students knew they would have to follow the drop rules of the school of their major, not the school of the class they were enrolled in.
Jack Brown, a member of SenEx and professor of molecular biosciences, said he supported the reinstatement of "W" on transcripts, but did not agree with the AP&P that "W" was a neutral mark.
Brown said the University instituted the "WP" and "WF" grades because past studies done by the AP&P had shown that "W" was looked at negatively. He said people had assumed students withdrew from their classes because they were not doing well in them. The "WF" and "WP" grades were instaled in Fall 2006.
Sousa said he did not think an occasional "W" on a student's transcript would be a problem. He said the mark only became a problem when students habitually withdrew from classes.
Brown said the only argument that had persuaded him was the inconsistent standards teachers used to give "WFs". He said it was unfair to the total population of students that some disciplines did not like to give out "WFs" but others did not mind using it. He also said the fact that
"If the student has never performed, then how do I know if they were falling?" Brown said.
some teachers gave "WFs" to students because they had not yet done any work in the class was unfair.
If University Senate approves the AP&P's current recommendations, students might be able to drop their classes online after the third week of the semester because schools at the University would be able to make their own signature rules.
Kim McNeley, a member of the AP&P and assistant dean of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said students should get permission from an adviser to drop a class if they were a freshman or close to graduation.
SenEx was also concerned the new policy would be hard to implement because students who were taking the same class could have different drop rules.
SenEx also stated it was afraid some students would not understand the consequences of withdrawing from a class if they were not required to obtain a signature.
Sousa said unless the school said otherwise, "W" was not a grade, but an administrative record. He said because teachers would no longer have to decide whether a student was passing or failing a class, the new system would actually be simpler.
Cindy Derritt, registrar at the Office of the University Registrar, said the new policy would be easy for the Registrar to implement. She said the Registrar could begin accepting drop slips without signatures immediately, but it would be at least 18 months before students could drop classes online after the third week of the semester because its programming staff was so backed up.
The AP&P will report its revised recommendations to SenEx after spring break. If SenEx approves the recommendations, they will be sent to full University Senate for approval before becoming policies.
— Edited by Patrick De Oliveira
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
ENTERTAINMENT
Jun Kuribayashi's sore muscles tell a story.
"Every day you're injured."
Kuribayashi said last Thursday.
Performance returns dancer to roots
BY RUSTIN DODD
dodd@kansan.com
Kuribayashi, a Lawrence native and KU alumnus, had just left an early morning massage in Florida — therapy for his aching body. But Kuribayashi has learned to cope with the pain. Mostly, because he has to. When you're a member of Pilobolus, an internationally-known dance company from Connecticut, a little bodily discomfort comes with the territory.
The pain might be easier for Kuribayashi to handle on Wednesday. Pilobolus, known for its exaggerated body contortions and physical interaction between performers, presents a five-piece program tonight at 7:30 at the Lied Center. That means Kuribayashi, who graduated from Lawrence High School in 1997, gets the opportunity to return home.
Lawrence is a special place to Kuribayashi. His mother still teaches piano here. He met his wife, Casey, here. This is where Kuribayashi began the dancing journey that has taken him all around the world.
In 2000, Kuribayashi was taking time off school and practicing Capoeira, a Brazilian mix of martial arts and dance. He was a staple in the Lawrence breakdancing circles, showing off his moves at Lawrence clubs such as the Granada.
"I wish we could do this every year," Kuribayashi said. "I'm sad that I'm only there on a Wednesday, just one night to perform."
One night a friend spotted Kuribayashi and asked him to do a demonstration of Capoeira in a University of Kansas world dance class.
Watching the day Kuribayashi gave the demonstration was Joan Stone, former department of music and dance director.
Stone saw a little talent and asked Kuiibayah if he'd ever consider enrolling in the department.
pilobolus
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lied Center
What: A touring dance company known for its unorthodox choreography, Pilobolus will perform a five-piece program. The company, which hails from Connecticut, performed at the Academy Awards in 2007.
"I was just working," Kuribayashi said. "Just taking time off of school, so I said, 'Sure, I'd love to come dance.'"
Kuribayashi spent his childhood playing soccer, swimming and practicing gymnastics.
Jun Kuribayashi, Lawrence native and KU alumnus, began his dance career break-dancing and practicing Capoirea before studying in the department of music and dance. He will perform with the Pillolob Dance Theatre at 7:30 at the Lied Center.
Kuribayashi said dancing just seemed like a natural progression.
"It was just another way to stay active and have fun and be around beautiful ladies."
Well, it was for a while, at least.
Professor of dance Janet Hamburg watched as the new kid in the department turned heads.
"It took him a while to find his passion," Hamburg said.
Once he did, Kuribayashi's dance career took off.
"He had a natural fluidity of movement," Hamburg said. "He learned much more quickly because of that."
After five days of auditions Kuribayashi received a job offer. As it was, his dancing at the clubs came in handy and the dance company noticed his skill for improvisation. "I'd be at the clubs and I'd be dancing around these people," Kuribayashi said. "I'd constantly have to evolve my movements just so I didn't hit somebody that had a beer in their hand."
After nearly four years in the department, Kuribayashi had progressed so much that Hamburg sent him a notice about an audition in August 2004. Pilobolus, the unique dance company with the funky choreography, was holding tryouts in New York City.
After nearly four years of traveling and performing 48 weeks a year, Kuribayashi is finally returning to his hometown to perform a place he visits whenever he has time off.
The enigmatic personality that had caught the eye of faculty at the University also caught the eye of the Pilobolus members. The masses of other athletic and chiseled Pilobolus hopefuls didn't intimidate Kuribavashi.
"It's just sort of like a reunion of sorts," Kuribayashi, who has appeared on the cover of Dance Magazine, said.
Instead he just greeted everyone with a pleasant, "Hi my name is Jun, I'm from Kansas."
"You can't do this job without having a very understanding spouse." Kuribayashi said.
"Students think they're at a disadvantage," Hamburg said. "They think, 'I couldn't possibly go to New York.' He's a wonderful role model."
His family will be there tonight,
so will Hamburg and other department faculty members, and so will his sixth grade teacher and high school swimming coach.
Kuribayashi walked away from his morning massage refreshed. He said he was excited to fly back to Lawrence to celebrate his wife's birthday on Tuesday.
For the moment, his mind was free of thoughts about sore muscles and piercing pain.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Edited by Katherine Loeck
Shuttle to deliver giant robot to space station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.
— Endeavour's seven astronauts jumped into their first full day in orbit Tuesday as the shuttle pursued the international space station to deliver a giant robot and the first piece of a new Japanese lab.
In a rare middle-of-the-night launch, the shuttle blasted off with an almost blinding flash. But the darkness meant fewer pictures than usual to look for signs of possible
damage to the spacecraft during the climb to orbit.
NASA knew the nighttime launch would come at a photographic cost. But past successes at preventing the shuttle's fuel tank from losing big chunks of foam insulation during liftoff and the accuracy of heat shield inspections convinced managers the night launch was a good choice.
A new photographic flash system embedded in a cavity in Endeavour's belly helped illuminate the external
fuel tank as it dropped away, empty, eight minutes into the flight.
Cameras captured only one significant piece of foam or other debris coming off Endeavour's tank, just more than a minute into the flight. It appeared to miss the right wing.
To be certain of that and to check for other possible damage, Endeavour's astronauts geared up for a slow-motion laser inspection late Tuesday of the shuttle wings and nose, the most vulnerable areas. The inspection has been standard procedure ever since the 2003 Columbia disaster in which seven astronauts died.
NEED CASH?
Instant Money Iceland
Donate plasma. It pays to save a life.
It was the first major chore of the 16-day flight, the longest space station mission ever planned for a shuttle.
816 W 24' St
Lawrence, KS 66046
(785) 749-5759
www.zlblplasma.com
$40 TODAY
$80 THIS WEEK
FOR NEW DONORS
ZLB Plasma
"We had an exciting trip to orbit
The three space station residents had to drastically shift their work and sleep hours in order to synch up their schedule with that of the shuttle crew, due to arrive at the orbiting outpost late tonight.
"We had an exciting trip to orbit ... and we're looking forward to our first full day in orbit," astronaut Michael Foreman told Mission Control after waking up in the late afternoon.
"I'd say good morning, but I don't know what time of day it is," the space station's commander, Peggy Whitson, told flight controllers late Tuesday afternoon. She said she and her crewmates were feeling fine, but added: "We'll see how we do at the end of the day."
Fair and democratic society may always serve please be pleased to
provide the礼品 of respect and Security Secretary Gill
Brady.
The 10 space travelers face a staggering amount of work once their spacecraft link up. Five spacewalks are planned during Endeavour's visit, the first one getting under way Thursday night.
The spacewalking teams must assemble Canada's robot, Dextre, which was packed aboard Endeavour in nine pieces, and attach a Japanese storage compartment to the space station. It is the first installment of Japan's massive Kibo lab, which means Hope.
Interested in Nursing?
You may be eligible to apply for the Southwestern College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2008
Why Southwestern College Nursing?
Our program focuses on a unique blend of caring, health promotion,and professionalism and hands-on skills. You'll be well-prepared to work in a wide variety of health care settings.
To be considered for admission:
- At least 60 hours of college coursework is required
- Application deadline is April 1
Scholarships & Financial Aid Available!
For more information please contact:
Leslie Grant at 800-846-1543 ext. 6269
Holly Peterson at 800-846-1543 ext. 6207
www.sckans.edu/nursing Southwestern College 100 College St. Winfield. Kansas 67156