KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 / NEWS
3A
LAWRENCE
Islamic Center celebrates end of Ramadan with Eid
BY KELLY MORGAN kmorgan@kansan.com
In past Eid celebrations, worshipers have stepped into the Lawrence Islamic Center and suddenly found themselves engulfed in the excitement of the holiday season. The entire place has been swarming with people. Loud voices and the smell of homemade foods have been wafting through the air as family and friends gleefully greet one another with a hug and the traditional saying of "Eid Mubarak," or "Happy Eid."
"It is like a rainbow of colors," said Khatija Vaid, a resident of Kansas City, Kan. "That's the best way to describe it because everybody's wearing different colors. Everyone's really happy."
Today is the first day of the Islamic holiday Eid, a three-day
celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. It consists of a worship service, a familial gift exchange and, in the case of the Lawrence Islamic Center, a giant brunch to break the month-long Ramadan fast.
"The first day is very early in the morning starting at 7," said Ibrahim Alanqar, a senior from the Gaza Strip, and president of the KU Student Muslim Association. "People gather in the mosque or Islamic center and start praising God. Then around 8 we pray and hear a speech about how we celebrate Eid."
In keeping with the fourth pillar of Islam. Eid participants also give a Zakat, or monetary donation, for those less fortunate than themselves.
"It's money we pay so that poor people can also have a good Eid day," Vaid said.
The holiday provides all types
of people with the opportunity to unite under a single religious belief.
"I see so much diversity," said Asma Zaidi, an associate professor of biochemistry. "There's so much unity with Eid in that we're all experiencing joy for the same use."
With this year's holiday coinciding with the anniversary of 9/11, members of the Lawrence Islamic Center are well aware that some people might have mixed feelings about the celebration.
"I think right now it's actually a good thing that we have all of these mixed opinions or biases," Zaidi said. "It means that people are paying attention and once you get that attention you can start to focus on solutions. It's time for us to explain our side of things."
Edited by Lisa Curran
Evan Palmer/KANSAN
Evan Palmer/KANSA Fayez Algami (right), a senior from Saudi Arabia, leads the isha prayer Wednesday night at the Islamic Center of Lawrence. Thursday concluded Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims.
ENERGY (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
conserve energy. Efficiency Kansas is a new, low-cost loan program that helps Kansans make energy-efficient improvements to homes, rental units, or small businesses. Horn said Lee can help students see how they can work with their landlords to make their rental units more efficient and in turn save money.
Both Horn and Benson said they were extremely excited about Westar Energy's presentation at the fair.
Westar will showcase its new smart grid investment grant program. Lawrence residents are the first and only residents within Westar's service territory to receive smart grids.
"I think this is going to be a huge thing for Lawrence," Benson said.
Smart Grid technology is a state-of-the-art approach to managing electricity systems, according to Westar's website. The website states customer benefits will include enhanced service reliability and response to outages, daily energy use and cost information, optional services such as text and email alerts for bill trends and outages, and web portal with energy savings tips, carbon footprint calculator and neighborhood comparative analysis information.
"Smart grids will allow you to change your energy usage and save
money, which is an opportunity we never had before," Horn said.
In addition to innovative energy-saving technology, some presenters and vendors will be there solely to educate the community.
For Benson, anything, no matter how small it is, can make a difference.
"The slightest thing that you can do or are willing to do is good enough." Benson said. "That's money in your pocket that you could, I don't know, go spend on a football ticket."
Edited by Abby Davenport
CAMPUS
Rock Chalk Revue to hold benefit
scollins@kansan.com
BY SAMANTHA COLLINS
scollins@anq.com
For the first time the Rock Chalk Revue advisory board hopes to unite the KU community with a University-wide outdoor benefit concert tonight to raise money for the United Way of Douglas County.
Mark Campbell, executive producer for the Rock Chalk Revue advisory board and a senior from Leawood, said Rock Chalk Revue isn't only a Greek life event, but rather an event for the entire University to enjoy.
"We are making Lawrence a better place with the money we raise," Campbell said.
The Sigma Chi Fraternity house, 1439 Tennessee St., will host the event on its lawn. The concert will feature the mashup, remix co called The White Panda. Doors open at 8 p.m., and students can purchase tickets for $15 at the door. Tom Evans, a member of The White Panda, said the duo produces music similar to the popular group called Girl Talk.
Last year, the Rock Chalk Revue raised about $47,000 throughout the year for the United Way. Joe Moore, executive fund raising coordinator and a senior from Wichita, said the organization
hopes to raise $75,000 this year.
Pre-show ticket sales have already raised almost $40,000.
"It will get the student body together to help the community," Moore said.
Rock Chalk Revue is one of the oldest student-run fundraising groups at the University, this year being its 62nd year. Each spring, the Rock Chalk Revue hosts a musical variety show containing five acts from different student organizations. Partnership with the United Way started about 25 years ago. The United Way supports 21 nonprofit organizations throughout Douglas County ranging from the Humane Society to meal programs for seniors.
Erika Dvorske, CEO of the United Way of Douglas County, said colleges around the nation envy the historical relationship between the Rock Chalk Revue and the United Way of Douglas County, not only because of the fundraising but also the collaborative efforts of the various student groups involved in the organizations.
"We are proud that the students want to be involved in this way," Dvorske said. "It has a great impact on the community."
Edited by David Cawthon
**WHEN:** Friday, 8 p.m.
**WHERE:** Sigma Chai frater
nity, 1439 Tennessee St.
**COST:** $15 at the door
BENEFIT CONCERT FOR ROCK CHALK REVUE
Student Success realigns
CAMPUS
BY ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON amcnaughton@kansan.com
Student Success, the University's student services organization, is looking to create some more success of its own.
This summer, Marlesa A. Roney, the vice provost for Student Success, initiated changes in more than 20 of Student Success' departments. A realignment placed all of its departments within three areas — advising and academic support; health and wellness; and recruitment, scholarships and financial aid. Before, each department acted more like a separate entity.
With the reorganization, Student Success hopes to strengthen its presence among struggling students and help meet Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little's goals of increased retention and graduation rates. Jeffrey Vitter, provost and executive vice chancellor, said Student Success would use database, real time programs — such as an early alert system run by faculty members - to help achieve this.
Under the early alert system, once a faculty member recognized
a student had a problem — for example, if the student had poor attendance or came to class smelling of alcohol — they would notify Student Success, which would then reach out to the student, assess the problem and find a solution.
Lori Reesor, associate vice provost and head of the advising and academic support department, said they would ask the referred students, for example, if they had thought about tutoring or using other Student Success services.
Notification about holds is another service that Roney said Student Services would like to improve. Roney said they would like to implement an e-mail notification system, for example, to let a student know well in advance about parking or tuition holds so they could take care of the problems before enrollment.
Student Success also took a more hands-on approach at the beginning of the school year to strengthen its student presence.
During the first weeks of school, Brenda Maigaard, assistant vice provost for Financial Aid and Scholarships, organized help desks near Strong Hall to create a point
of contact as students entered the building.
"During those 10 business days, University representatives assisted 2,468 students." Maigard said.
Maigaard said students asked questions about class locations, directions to various building on campus and for general assistance, such as where to go for academic advising, financial aid, enrollment and paying a bill.
Sam Shelton, a freshman from Olathe, said he found the information useful.
"It was really helpful because they told me where to go so I wouldn't be wandering around for hours," Shelton said.
Reesor said more effective marketing could also go a long way toward achieving a greater Student Success presence. She said she often heard from seniors that they didn't know about various services and that there seemed to be a disconnect between what Student Success offered and the amount of students who took advantage of those resources.
Edited by Dana Meredith