WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2006
NEWS
SPEAKER
Nicoletta Niosi/KANSAN
Joseph Heppert, professor of chemistry, delivers a lecture on evolution in the schools at the Dole Institute of Politics yesterday. The lecture, entitled "Understanding 'Alternatives' to Evolution," was the final speech in the "Science, Education and the Public" lecture series.
Professor explains curriculum hearings regarding evolution
BY MELINA RICKETTS
mricketts@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The Kansas State Board of Education science curriculum standards have undergone no shortage of scrutiny, especially regarding evolution.
Joseph Heppert, professor of chemistry, spoke about the board's hearings regarding evolution and intelligent design during a lecture called "Understanding 'Alternatives' to Evolution" on Tuesday at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics. The lecture was the last of a four-part lecture series on science
The hearings were held to explore confusing issues of legal and scientific substance in the proposed revision to the scientific curriculum standards that the state board approved in November.
Heppert presented statistical data and various testimonies from the May 2005 hearings, at which, he said the scientific community ultimately did not feel the need to show up.
The board ruled that criticism of evolution had to be included in school science standards.
The lack of scientists at the hearings has undergone some public scrutiny, but Heppert said that 150 years of published scientific findings regarding evolutionary theory were really what supporters of intelligent design were testifying against. He said that those supporters did not present any data at the hearings.
"You can't just criticize scientific theories," he said. "You have to be in there doing the
science and you have to prove your assertion is true."
Heppert called the idea that evolutionary theory was crumbling "highly amusing." He said scientists coveted recognition, so if there was
any basis for opposing theory, young scientists would be all over it "like ants on an ice cream sundae."
being like a secular religion.
At the hearings the nature of science underwent criticism for being dogmatic or
"Science cannot answer questions about the meaning of life." Heppert said. "It doesn't even try to do that."
- Edited by Lindsey St. Clair
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3A
CAMPUS KU student is voted Sexiest Vegetarian
Ricky House, Salina freshman, may be a beefcake, but he wouldn't eat one. It was announced Tuesday that House had been voted "Sexiest Vegetarian Alive." He was determined winner of the contest, sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, after more than 250,000 votes submitted to goveg.com were tallied.
attractive?
Being a winner is definitely sexy in this case, but what does House find
"To me, there's nothing sexier than a woman with lots of passion and compassion." House said in a press release. "Going vegetarian means that you care about yourself and you care about the world around you, and to me, that's a real turn-on."
For winning the contest House will receive, among other prizes, a box of vegan chocolate truffles, cologne from Jason Natural Cosmetics and a $50 gift certificate to MooShoes, which sells non-leather shoes.
— Melinda Ricketts
CAMPUS Step show to benefit Boys and Girls Club
Kappa Alpha Psi will host a step show Friday to help fund the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, which is suffering from recent budget cuts.
The fraternity will sponsor the show in which the members of the Boys and Girls Club, an after-school program
that provides tutoring for students in math and reading, will compete against children from other local schools.The event will take place at 7 p.m. at Central Junior High School.
The budget cuts could reduce the program's staff and student involvement, or cause local sites to be closed. The event is free and open to the public; the Club encourages donations.
Rachel Parker
CAMPUS Writer's Roost director to fly the coop
Michele Eodice, director for the KU Writing Center, will leave the University next week to take a position at the University of Oklahoma.
Moira Ozias, assistant director of the KU Writing Center, will take over as interim director until a new replacement is found.
Eodice will work directly with the provost at the University of Oklahoma and serve as director of the Writing Center and Writing Across the Curriculum.
Rachel Parker
STATE Wine may flow freely in and out of Kansas
TOPEKA — Wine could be served at the Kansas State Fair and flow in and out of the state in greater volume thanks to a bill that relaxes wine shipping regulations lawmakers sent to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday.
The Senate passed the compromise legislation 36-2 after the House approved it 87-36, with some lawmakers saying they didn't like the idea of wine being served at the fair, where beer is already sold. Rep. Jan Pauls (D-Hutchinson) said the fair should be an event that doesn't need alcoholic beverages to improve its entertainment value.
The Associated Press
CLASS OF 2006:
THERE'S STILL TIME TO LEAVE YOUR MARK!
Join these seniors who already pledged their support for the 2006 senior class gift.*
Abbey Archer
Jennifer Attebery
Jaime Baggett
Theodore Baines
Alexis Bannwarth
Brandon Bartkoski
Shmuel Bergman
Linda Bonebrake
Jason Boots
Daniel Bristow
Emily Brooks
Katrina Bruce
Peter Buchanan
Kaela Byers
Angela Carlon
Michael Carmichael
Dewi Chang
Brian Cole
Nathaniel Collins
Nathan Cooper
Derek Cudney
Robert Davis
Brian Dawson
Clarisa Diaz
Caludia Dietrich
Lauren Dirnberger
Stephanie Dodge
Jennifer Donnally
Elizabeth Erickson
Jonathan Even
Donald Fennesy
Ashley Frazer
Angela Fritz
Michelle Gabbert
David Gaus
Lindsay Gehring
Guillermo
  Goicocheap Paulette
Ryan Good
Charles Gordon
Hamid Hajebian
Julliann Harvey
Justin Henry
Christopher Hill
Francis Hitschmann
Yasuhiro Hormma
Phil Hood
Ryan Hubona
Steve Iboubidzebangole
Brandon Isbell
Kellie Johnson
Mark Kalusha
Robyn Karlage
Alicia Kerr
Zahra Knott Lindsey Knox Cathy Ko Zachary Kohl Erika Kuster Noah Laible Joseph Ledbetter Craig Lee Samantha Lovgren Megan Macomber Lara Mann Melissa Marietta Lisa Matchulat Christina McCoy Bryant Merriman Salman Mohal Mckayla Morby Erin Morgan
David Mutabazi
Brandon Naylor
Anthony Ontiveros
Mason Pech
Brandon Petz
Mary Pitman
Cynthia Pizano
Diane Princ
Jessica Rawlings
Sridhar Reddy
Ariane Rhone
Meghan Riley
Jill Rohde
Sasha Schippers
Anna Schrader
Christina Schulz
Jason Schwartz
Arasu Senthil
Scott Shorten
Sarah Stucky
Thomas Szott
Christopher Teefey
Cong Teng
Misha Thompson
Amanda Torbett
Vince Traynelis
Audrey Tullis
Jessica Virtue
Jose Vitteri
Neil Ward
Michael Warner
Bria Wilkins
Dana Williams
Surlena Williamson
Jaclyn Ziegler
* As of May 1, 2006
TO LEAVE THEIR MARK ON KU, THE CLASS OF 2006 HAS CHOSEN TO PROVIDE A BENCH AND LANDSCAPING AROUND POTTER LAKE - A GIFT THAT WILL ALLOW GENERATIONS OF JAYHAWKS TO ENJOY KU'S BEAUTY.
Donors can pick up their Class of 2006 t-shirt at the Grad Grill at the Adams Alumni Center on May 10 from 5:30-7:30pm. Seniors can also give to the Senior Class Gift at the event.
www.kuendowment.org/donate