2A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16.2006
THINK?
BY JOE SCHREMER
editor@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Should the government take preventative action against the bird flu?
"They could start by preparing vaccines, but I don't think there is any way to stop it from coming. But I really just don't think it's going to come over here.
+ Keah Cunningham, Glen Elder sophomore
"I don't know what they could do besides stop travel which, is ridiculous. If it comes it comes — like any type of sickness or plague."
Mike Parker, senior
"I haven't given it much thought. I can't think of anything the government could do. I heard about it, but it didn't really grab my attention."
+ Beth Zupec, Elgin, Ill., freshman
KANSAN.COM
Want to know what people are talking about? Here's a list of Wednesday's most e-mailed stories from Kansan.com:
1. Black History Month Profile: Lawrence couple fight segregation
2. Lecture to discuss Chamberlain's role in Lawrence desegregation
3. Please send your resumé and a link to your Facebook profile
4. Investigating landlords can save time, trouble
5. KU pitcher looks towards a second College World Series
Fact of the day
The term "mayday," used as an international distress call by pilots and ships, comes from the French, "m'aidez," help me. Bonus fact: If you use "mayday" incorrectly on a radio transmission, you could be subject to criminal or civil charges.
Source: Randomhouse.com
"In those days, most people read newspapers, whereas today, most people do not. What caused this change? One big factor, of course, is that people are a lot stupider than they used to be, although we here in the newspaper industry would never say so in print."
"Quote of the Day"
Dave Barry
SCIENCE
NASA funds student's work
BY CATHERINE ODSON
codson@kansan.com
KANSA STAFF WRITER
Contributed photo
Joel Plummer, Sidney, N.Y., doctoral student in geography, sets up VRF radio wires used for communication during his research trip to Antarctica over winter break. Plummer received a $72,000 fellowship from NASA, for his work.
NASA awarded a KU student $72,000 to support his study of glaciers and global warming.
Joel Plummer, Sidney, N.Y., doctoral student, received one of 50 Earth System Science Fellowships conferred by NASA this academic year. The honor gives Plumber $72,000 over a three-year period as he continues his research in geography. Plummer must reapply each year of the fellowship to ensure his work meets NASA's expectations.
Over winter break, Plummer tested radar systems in Antarctica with other researchers from the University of Kansas' Center for the Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets. His group arrived in Antarctica on Dec. 22 to determine the depth of the ice and the geography of the rock underneath.
Plummer's research proposal required him to map the rocky terrain under moving glaciers. From his office in Kansas, Plummer created a nationally recognized map of a glacier bed in Greenland that he said might be the beginnings of a dissertation.
"It's maybe a little different map than you get on Mapquest," said David Braaten, Plummer's adviser and associate professor of geography. "It's not like we're going out and seeing where the rocks are. It's a map of thickness."
Plummer installed specialized
radar equipment to make these measurements and navigated snowmobiles around parts the vast, desolate continent. The important part professionally, he said, was learning how to prepare for a major trip.
"Something always goes wrong." Plummer said. "There are no hardware stores down there, so if something breaks, you have to figure out how to get by."
Plummer researches the relationship between climate change and glacier movement. The significance of this research, paired with Plummer's accomplished work record, made him a strong candidate for the fellowship, said Prasad Goginien, director of the center.
Braaten said the competitiveness of the fellowship indicated the importance of the topic. The maps Plummer creates will allow scientists to determine the volume of ice flowing from glaciers into the ocean, he said. This will help give scientists insight into rising sea-levels.
NASA designed the fellowship to provide tuition assistance to graduate students doing research pertinent to the organization's goals. Plummer began receiving the money last October and could use the additional money to cover research and traveling costs. He hopes to graduate in May 2008.
first associated with the center since its establishment in June 2005.
Plummer's fellowship is the
- Edited by Timon Veach
'Pride and Glory' to memoralize officer
NEWYORK -The New York police officer shot by an onduty patrolman last month will be memorialized in a film starring Colin Farrell.
Eric Hernandez was surrounded and attacked at a White Castle on Jan. 28. Following the beating, the dazed officer pulled a gun on a man in the parking lot. He was critically shot by a patrolman arriving on the scene, who had no way of knowing Hernandez was a fellow officer.
Hernandez, 24, had agreed to appear as an extra in "Pride and Glory," which is now in production.
Valentine's Day.
The Associated Press Nelson makes history with release of song
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Willie Nelson released a different sort of cowboy anthem this
"Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)" may be the first gay cowboy song by a major recording artist.
Sublette said he always imagined Nelson singing it.
The song, which debuted Tuesday on Howard Sten's satellite radio show, was written by Texas-born singer-songwriter Ned Sublette in 1981.
It is available exclusively on iTunes.
Follow the leader
The Associated Press Mellencamp booked for NCAA Final Four
INDIANAPOLIS — John Mellencamp will take the stage in downtown's Monument Circle on April 2 to perform a free concert during the NCAA's Final Four.
The concert will take place in between the NCAA men's basketball semifinals on April 1 and the championship game on April 3 according to Mellencamp's publicist, Bob Merlis.
The Associated Press
Michelle Grittmann/KANSAN
Joshua Efron, Overland Park junior, leads Ann Sitzman, Overland Park Freshman, down the sidewalk behind Murphy Hall. Efron and Sitzman were taking turns being blindfolded for class so that they could practice relying on their senses of hearing.
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