NOTICE
WEARING EACH OTHER'S SHOES
Dinner discussion: Members of the Koinonia community live in the basement of the Ecumenical Christian Ministries building and participate in communal volunteer work, meals, and conversations ranging from religious matters to the Greek origin of the group's name.
STUDENTS FORSAKE SPACE AND COMFORT TO GET INTENTIONAL ABOUT COMMUNITY.
JOSH HAFNER
August 15 was move-in day on Daisy Hill. A mess of minivans and pick-up trucks driven by parents spending their Sunday carrying boxes and futons up dormitory stairwells, left students
On the opposite corner of campus, across from the Kansas Union and in the shadow of the Oread Hotel, 1200 Oread Ave., another group of new residents settled into the basement of the 51-year-old Ecumenical Christian Ministries building. The living room is well worn, but charming. Natural light shines through onto the room's various houseplants. Atop a brick fireplace stand both a large cross and a hookah, a reminder that both faith and youth are found here.
So why forgo space and comfort to move into an aging structure that lacks central air conditioning? For Andrea Sitek, who calls the ECM home, the goal is intentional community.
"We have a lot of people coming from different places, but generally people who are wanting to be involved in a community and wanting to grow." Sitek, Andover junior, says. "Allowing yourself to be a part of a community is an opportunity for growth in a lot of ways, and I think people who seek this out are aware of that."
Since 1961, men and women have cohabitated in the lower level of 1204 Oread as part of the ECM's Koinonia community, a program that
seeks to provide affordable housing and a yearlong growing experience in service, fellowship and faith. Most members are students, though some are recent graduates involved in nonprofit work. "Koinonia" is a Greek word that, translated loosely, means communion. However, sitting around the dining table in the their basement, the new roommates debate the precise translation.
"It means community," says Ben Dillon, a recent journalism graduate from the University of Missouri, who intends to work with Americorps this fall. "So when we call it the Koinonia Community, it's kind of redundant."
"Does it? I thought it meant fellowship," Sitek says.
"Ah yes, it's Greek for 'sharing your life with another in a friendship that is capable of being in another person's shoes,'" says Erik Buchholz, a 2010 graduate in psychology and Chinese who reads the definition from a packet of information on Koinonia. "But that's the long definition."
Though new members are still grappling with what "Koinonia" means, living up to the group's name and goals of compassion and empathy can prove challenging, says Thad Holcomb, the ECM pastor who has overseen Koinonia since 1991. "It connotes a community, not a group, and many who become a part not only are attracted because of that sense of community, but work hard at it occurring," he says.
Aside from living together, members volunteer 45 hours each semester with local service programs, such as tending community gardens or tutoring ESL students. They also meet weekly to share community meals, where, besides food, many other items come to the table, from
deep discussions on faith to who didn't wash their dishes.
"We talk about where we are with our spirituality, but that's not all we talk about." Sitek says. "That's one time when conflicts come to the table. We try not to be passive aggressive or talking behind each other's backs."
Sitek, Konoinia's only returning resident, lived in Hashinger Hall her freshman year. Although a sense of community can be found in the residence halls, it's neither obligatory nor guaranteed. Students can take their hall's side-stairwell on their way to class instead of passing their floormates in the lobby.
The theory at Konoimia is that life is better when shared together and deeply, Sitek says. "The goal is to work through that conflict and become a stronger community," she says.
Sometimes conflicts pertaining to the Koinonia living space arise. During the dining table discussion, the ECM's aging interior began to show its wear.
"I'm being dripped on," declares Dillon, pausing to inspect the ceiling. "I just realized
this wall is wet right here."
Sitek points to a corner where the basement's parquet tiles are covered in water.
OTHER TYPES OF COMMUNITY LIVING
Though it's still early in the year, the residents find that each conflict, whether flooded basement or personal dispute, draws them closer together in community — in Koinonia. And while none of them can foresee what the upcoming year might hold, they hope to go through it together. It's a process Holcomb has had the opportunity to witness for almost 20 years." Members often state that they have experienced great support through crisis and a place to laugh and cry without being embarrassed," he says. "Koinonia attempts to be a place where hospitality is practiced through compassion and faith is explored."
The Ad Astra House | 1033 Kentuckv
The Ad Astra House | 1033 Kentucky With an emphasis on sustainability, the Ad Astra House features mink-painted walls, an insulated foundation and rain barrels that collect rainwater for gardening
The Mountain Dewds | 1115 Tennessee Encompassing two houses in the Oread neighborhood, the Mountain Dewd's mission "to promote awesomeness" can result in moon bounces, pig roasts, or a giant walk-through mazes — all in the front yard.
The Sunflower House | 1406 Tennessee Born out of the social and political climate of 1960's Lawrence, the largest cooperative in Lawrence is actually two three-story buildings joined together with 30 rooms.
The Canterbury House | 1116 Louisiana
Associated with KU's Episcopal Campus Ministry,
the Canterbury House offers a regular program
for students seeking worship, fellowship, or just
fun. Move and game night is the third Thursday
of every month, right after Eucharist.
Howard Ting/KANSAN s. Jones helped
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1001
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waterproofing
SEED DESIGN ON PAGE 3A
joined school. He is an architecture student. You will receive option, a 197-seat expansion.
INDEX
To view photos of student architecture projects visit kansan.com/photogalleries
Classifieds...4B
Crossword...4A
Cryptoquips...4A
Opinion...5A
Sports...10A
Sudoku...4A
TODAY'S WEATHER
SATURDAY
87 61 Isolated T-Storms
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
85 66
Partly Cloudy
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© 2010 The University Daily Kansan
Chris Neal/KANSAN
Chris Neal/KANSAN Tiffany Lau, a senior from Wichita, jumps over a wall as she trains for the Next Level Games competition this Saturday. Lau is one of a few KU students competing in the competition that consists of an obstacle course, a strong man portion and a prowler challenge.
FITNESS
Students to compete in 'Strongman' games
BY GARTH SEARS gsears@kansan.com
That's why he'll be at Watson Park on Saturday, participating in the 2nd Annual Next Level Games, which include the "Strongman Challenge," the "Prowler Challenge" and an obstacle course. The competition will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The "Strongman Challenge" involves pulling a truck, flipping a 450-pound tractor tire end-over-end and a "farmer's walk" of hauling heavy items through a course.
Need a tow truck? For Skyler Farley, a junior from Lawrence, pulling a truck with his bare hands isn't a big deal.
Farley said he participated in an internship at the University of South Florida during the summer, where he worked out with a group of people training for "strong man" events. Now he incorporates it into his regular workouts, and said it helped him with normal weightlifting.
"It's like, 'Oh, I just pushed a truck or I flipped this tire,' Farley
"Your time can be completely screwed up if you keep putting your hands in the wrong spot," he said.
While he said the truck pull didn't require much attention to mechanics or timing — "it's pure effort" — the tire flip does.
said. "Everything seems easier after that."
With the technical complexity or simply flipping a tractor tire, it isn't surprising that there are "strong man" classes offered locally.
He said that it could be difficult to train for a "strongman" event because many weightlifting techniques pinpoint one thing, while tire flips and truck pulls use multiple muscle groups in different ways.
Chris Dellasega, a second-year graduate student from Pittsburg, is a strength coach for Next Level Fitness — the company hosting the competition — and has instructed a "strongman" group. He'll be helping run the event Saturday.
To put it differently, flipping a tire is a three-dimensional effort, compared with bench pressing
Although the "Strongman Challenge" is the most unusual part of the Next Level Games, the two other stages are designed to give the competition some balance.
The "Prowler Challenge" requires competitors to push a weighted sled, similar to what a football team uses for practice, and an obstacle course that focuses on agility.
New coach will create stability
"We're not just looking for big, bulky people or bodybuilders who aren't functional," said Laura Richards, who co-owns Next Level Fitness with her husband.
She said about 40 people had signed up so far this year, compared with about 50 last year.
"One of the best ways of getting good at flipping a tractor tire is to flip a tractor tire," he said.
A team of three University of Kansas track athletes will also be competing Saturday, despite not
Dellasega suggests mimicking the event as closely as possible in training.
JUDO | 6A
something up and down.
The club appointed a coach who is familiar with the club and will help to move them in the right direction.
SFE STRONG ON PAGE 3A
5
KU student to appear in court
CRIME | 3A
Teen accused of rape begins legal process and will learn the date for his first hearing.
4.