4A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
NATIONAL SPELLING BEE
Two Kansans spell their way to D.C.
Anthony S. Bush/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Aishwarya Pastapur, 10, of Johnson County, Kan., left returns the second place medal she was awarded and Kent Toland, 13, Allen County, Kan., center, returns the first place medal he was awarded Saturday during the Kansas Spelling Bee at the White Concert Hall in Topeka. A challenge was made and the two spellers had to spell a few new words, making Aishwarya and Kent co-champions.
Discrepancy allows for two champions
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2006
TOPEKA — Normally, the All-Kansas Spelling Bee is a winner-take-all affair.
But after a disputed finish Saturday, officials have decided to send two competitors to the national contest in Washington.
Fourteen-year-old Kent Toland, of Iola, was the first announced winner, beating out Olathe fifth-grader Aishwarya Pastapur. But there was a problem.
Aishwarya, 10, had misspelled "pestle." Kent got it right and then spelled "trigonometry" for the apparent win — tying his brother, Scott, who won two titles several years ago.
But Aishwarya's father, Eshwar Pastapur, protested that his daughter had been given the wrong primary pronunciation of "pestle" (the "t" is silent).
"I was like, 'Hmm, that's strange. I don't know this word," said Aishwarya, who guessed at "P-E-S-T-L-E-". "It was a foreign word to me."
Kent had asked for a secondary pronunciation, and so heard the word the right way. He spelled his last word before Aishwarya's father could lodge his appeal, but the judges ruled that she should be allowed to continue anyway.
"Before we knew it, they start- ed taking these medals off these children's necks," said Kent's mother, Karen Toland.
The ruling caught Kent off guard, too.
"I felt not ready to spell anymore," he said Monday. "I was ready to go home and relax. Any spelling bee is just a marathon."
Kent missspelled his next word, "hypolimnion." Aishwarya gave it right, then correctly spelled "teleological" for the
victory. This time, the Tolands protested, but to no avail. The first-place medal went to Aishwarya.
"It was hard to watch the kids go through that," said Christy Underwood, sales manager of The Salina Journal and one of the judges. "I won. No, I didn't. Maybe I won. I don't know.' It was hard to watch the kids go through that emotional struggle."
But on Monday, The Topeka Capital-Journal, which has hosted the state contest for the past 53 years, appealed to officials at Scripps Howard, sponsor of the national bee.
Officials there decided to declare Aishwarya and Kent
co-champions, inviting both to the national finals May 31 June 1.
"We are pleased that both children get to represent Kansas in the national bee," said Terri Benson, the newspaper's director of marketing. "They are both exceptional spellers, and we are pleased with the outcome."
Both families remain convinced they have the rightful winner — but for now, there is another competition to prepare for.
"It's all about the kids," said Bharati Pastapur, Aishwarya's mother. "And two good kids are going from one state."
Exceptions are possible on a case-by-case, basis, said Paige Kimble, director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The rules do not limit each
state to one competitor, but normally each qualifying bee can have only one winner.
"If we feel that the judges erred procedurally in such a manner that it is irreparable, if there is not a way to sort out who could or should have won, we will declare co-champions in the interest of the children," Kimble said.
Kansas will have a third representative in Washington, after 9-year-old Kayya Shivashankar — also a fifth grader — won the Olathe School District's qualifying bee.
Heartland CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
On the other hand, Elizabeth Tomlin, Overland Park senior, is a psychology major and has no intentions of pursuing a medical career. She started volunteering after she broke her foot and followed a recommendation that she go to Heartland because it offered cheaper X-rays. She was impressed by her experience at the clinic.
"Everybody who works here genuinely cares about the people who come in," Tomlin said. "They're not just another patient, they know their names."
Though Heartland Church, where Tomlin worships, and the clinic only share a name by coincidence, the clinic did start as a Christian-based ministry, operating for a half day a week out of a hallway in the church.
Dennis Sale, the doctor who founded the clinic, works two other jobs so that he can donate his time to the clinic three days a week.
Although the clinic is ministry-based and geared to provide for low-income or uninsured people, they will see people of any faith or income level. When patients choose to pay for their visit with insurance that usually helps to cover the cost of a patient who could not afford to pay.
"I feel it's my ministry and that's why I do it," he said. "If I didn't feel that way I certainly don't need the extra hours and stress."
- Edited by Matt Wilson
Support
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KJHK
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The new tower will allow the antenna to be placed higher in the air, which could increase signal strength to cover more parts of Topeka, while maintaining the signal's reach as far east as Kansas City, Mo. Dierks said that with good weather, the antenna could be installed as soon as Thursday.
This is good news for Levy and Greenbenick, who are eagerly waiting the return of their favorite programs such as "Breakfast for Beatlovers," as well as a chance to call in requests.
The KU Circle of Support also holds optional group coaching sessions each Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the northwest corner of the Kansas Union Marketplace.
- Edited by Lindsey St. Clair
Senators
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Quinlan said those trying to quit should surround themselves with as many supportive allies as possible. Within her circle, two members have quit smoking.
Patty Quinlan, nursing supervisor at Watkins, quit smoking last month with the support of her circle. Quinlan, who calls herself a "professional quitter" and has tried to quit before, said having a named group of supporters, was one of the things that made this attempt successful.
Studie Red Corn, Shawnee sophomore and presidential candidate of Delta Force, said that it took a lot of dedication to be in Senate and run for office, but that you had to keep the campaign separate from Senate. He said during Delta Force's candidate training they addressed the issue.
"We incorporate ethical standards in to our candidate training," he said. "This includes things like interacting with our opponents in a respectful manner, in and out of Student Senate. We believe that divisions in Senate should not get in the way of helping the student body."
Edited by Kathryn Anderson
Mark Thompson, assistant professor of health, sport and exercise science, said most estimates of the number of smokers were low because social smokers did not consider themselves true smokers. As many as 30 percent of college smokers did not admit it, he said.
Smith said many anti-smoking messages fell on deaf ears. College-aged students were the youngest to which tobacco companies can market and make up the largest group of smokers in the United States, she said.
Herken said she tried to quit smoking in the past, but other things interfered with her plans. Graduation might bring enough change to help meet that goal, she said.
- Edited by Matt Wilson
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