THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2010
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLUME 123 ISSUE 42
DIG IN
Ben Pirotte/KANSAN
Chase Hamilton, a senior from Topeka (right), and Jordan Wade, a graduate student from Charlotte, N.C. (left), help David Clark (middle), move compost onto the fields of Maggie's Farm, just outside of Lawrence. The farm, which grows organic tomatoes, basil, and garlic, among other crops, sells to local businesses in Lawrence such as Wheatfields, Community Mercantile, and Genovese. Clark and his wife Barbara have been on the land for 17 years, and promote organic and locally grown food.
"We were very lucky in Lawrence to have so many restaurants and businesses that support our food." Barrett Guested
BY KELLY STRODA kstroda@kansan.com
Amid rows of yellow tomatoes, red peppers, bush beans and basil at Maggie's Farm north of Lawrence, three students stood — shovels in hand — ready to work.
They started shoveling compost out of a bucket that was attached to a bright orange tractor.
They shoveled and until the 100-foot row was covered with compost.
The students aren't farmers, but they do have an interest in local farming.
They're a part of a student-run initiative called Support for Local Organic Farms, which hopes to get students involved with local farming.
Chase Hamilton, a senior from Topeka and the organizer of the initiative, started the project last April. He was an Alternative Breaks director for weekend breaks and organized a trip to Maggie's Farm.
decided to make a way for farmers to get regular help. That's when he started Support for Local Organic Farms.
Julia Barnard, a junior from Lawrence (right), helps Barbara Clark (left) pick basil from bushes grown on Clark's farm, called Maggie's Farm, just outside Lawrence. The farm sells its produce to many businesses in the Lawrence area, including the Merc, Wheatfields, and others. Barnard was there with other KJ students to help out on the farm as part of an initiative to support and promote locally grown, organic food.
After realizing how much help local farmers need. Hamilton
He said one reason local farmers need help from students is that farming is significant time investment.
"It's a 24-hour job," he said. "You can't take vacations."
The group works with four local farms around Lawrence: Maggie's Farm, Thellman Farms, Karlin Family Farms and Pinwheel Farms.
These farms help supply Lawrence restaurants with local produce. Maggie's Farm, for example, sells produce to Genovese, Wheatfields and The Merc.
"I feel more connected to my food," she said.
Julia Barnard, a junior from Lawrence, got involved with the initiative when Hamilton asked her to help out. Before that, she said she wasn't very interested in organic farming. Now she has a different outlook.
farm each weekend of the month. Usually, four to eight people go to the farms each weekend, Hamilton said.
The students go to a different
Barbara Clark of Maggie's Farm said the student's work has helped the farm she and her husband, David, own to continue running. As she and her husband have gotten older, she said, it has been harder to get everything done.
The students help with different tasks around the farms. Hamilton said it's more than planting and harvesting — those only happen once a growing season. The students have helped put up lattices, shovel and mix compost and shear sheep, too.
Jordan Wade, a graduate student from Charlotte, N.C., used scissors to clip off the tops of basil. The basil she harvested went to Genovese. She said she was involved with farming in Austin, Texas, before coming to the University. Wade said helping out with local farming provides a well-needed break from school.
Nancy Thellman of Thellman
Farms said she thought Support for Local Organic Farms showed that young people are interested in farming.
anything to do with it" she said.
"But they do."
"Nobody believes that kids want
— Edited by Leslie Kinsman
GOVERNMENT
Senator plans to battle bullies
BY ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON
amcnaughtonkansan.com
He's heard some comments about himself—he's even been called a slut. But Kris Velasco considers himself fortunate that he's never been seriously harassed or bullied because of his sexual orientation.
Velasco, a sophomore from Wamego, attributes this to Lawrence's liberal attitude and the diverse group of friends he has always surrounded himself with. Velasco said he thinks it depends on where someone lives, but even growing up in rural Kansas — where he said he knows people talked behind his back — he never experienced harassment first-hand.
"I get harassed more from the gay community for not fitting in with them than I do from the straight community," Velasco said.
But across the country,derogatory comments have led to the suicides of several teens who were reportedly bullied about their sexual orientation. The suicides of several young people, including Tyler Clementi,a freshman at Rutgers University, has prompted demand for protection for teens and students against harassment and bullying.
Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey announced his plans on Oct. 6 to draft legislation that would require federally funded colleges to create policies prohibiting the harassment and bullying of any student. Clementi's death is the driving force behind the bill.
Lautenberg plans to introduce the bill when the Senate is back in session in November.
A survey for Campus Pride's 2010 State of Higher Education for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people reported that LGBT respondents were significantly more likely to experience harassment when compared with their heterosexual
SEE BILL ON PAGE 3A
CAMPUS
Daisy Hill accident leaves one injured
At approximately 8 p.m.
Monday, there was an injury
accident near the intersection
of Engel and Irving Hill roads on
Daisy Hill.
Sgt. Gary Wieden, shift commander with the KU Public Safety Office, said a male pedestrian was crossing the street when a
car hit him. The car, which was traveling east down Irving Hill Road, was a gold, two-door, mid-1990s Honda Accord. The driver did not appear to be a student. After submitting a statement to KU Public Safety Office, the driver got into his car and left the scene.
Alex Trazaska, a freshman from Barrington, Ill., said he thought the victim was a fellow
INDEX
Classifieds...8A
Crossword...4A
Cryptoquips...4A
Opinion...5A
Sports...10A
Sudoku...4A
WEATHER
TODAY
68 43
WEDNESDAY
78 48
Partly Cloudy
Sunny
7845
THURSDAY
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2010 The University Daily Kansan
— Kelly Stroda
Weiden said the victim was transported by ambulance to the hospital.
freshman who lives in McCollum Hall. He thought the victim was walking from McCollum Hall to Hashinger Hall.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
On Monday night at approximately 8 p.m., a University student was involved in a car-pedestrian accident at the intersection of Engel and Irving Hill roads next to Hashinger Hall. The student was transported by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital immediately following the accident.
ADMINISTRATION | 3A
Workshops to be forum for new plan
Students, faculty can attend the Center for Sustainability's four workshops this week focusing on the Campus Sustainability Plan.
Burglary decrease may be due to new security steps
CRIME|7A
Based on campus statistics from the past 12 years, burglary has been at a low during two of past three years. Campus safety officials credit this to improved security measures, such as lighted pathways and better resources for students in dorms.
HEALTH | 7A
Low condom use troubling
According to a national survey, college-aged adults are not using protection during sexual encounters as frequently as health experts say they should be.
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