8A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
AY FEBRUARY 8, 2007
STUDY ABROAD
Professor creates South African summer study abroad program
BY RACHEL BOCK
Rich culture, complex history and beautiful landscapes inspired a new summer study abroad program in South Africa.
The new program, "Society Culture and Politics in South Africa", is the first and only program that the University of Kansas offers in an English-speaking African country.
It is a partnership with Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, and is available to undergraduate students with a grade point average of 3.0 or above.
Byron Caminero-Santangelo, associate professor of English and director of graduate studies, created the program after spending about two months in South Africa for conferences and travel. He visited Rhodes University last October.
He said he was impressed by both the program and its location.
"I came across some study abroad options they already had there, and the idea of bringing a group came up." Caminero-Santengo said.
Grahamstown, a town of about 100,000 on the Eastern Cape, contains Afrikaans, British and Xhosa cultures.
The British founded the city as a military outpost in 1812. Its colonial legacy is still visible in its historic buildings.
Its landscape varies from the Karoo desert to beaches and forested mountain ranges
Grahamstown is ideal. Caminoero Sanupolo said, because it's small enough to get an idea of how apartheid was organized in urban space.
"In most cities it is very difficult to see this," he said.
Rhodes University, established in 1904, hosts short term exchange programs with Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. While at Rhodes, KU students would live in university residence halls.
Jessie Funk, Manhattan senior and peer advisor at the Office of Study Abroad, studied and volunteered in a domestic shelter in Cape Town, South Africa.
Last spring she worked on a research project about conceptions of rape and partner violence. This semester, she has helped promote the new program by sharing her story with undergraduate classes.
Funk said what makes South Africa unique is its diversity, both cultural and economical.
It has 11 official languages and contains areas of both extreme wealth and poverty.
"There tends to be a lot of stereotypes about Africa in general," she said. "This is a way to get an experience of what Africa is really like."
Before leaving in July, Cammero-
Santangelo will meet with students
once a week to discuss South
African novels. This will give them
a broad introduction to South
African literature, he said.
in Recent South African Fiction and Topics in African Studies.
What makes the program appealing, Caminero-Santangelo said, is that it both gives students a broad introduction and allows them to focus on a specific area of interest.
The program, which lasts roughly
a month, offers six credit hours
When students arrive in Grahamstown, they would receive a week-long introduction into contemporary South African history.
In the second week, they would have the opportunity to participate in the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, the largest arts festival in Africa.
During the week, they would attend events that promote contemporary poetry, art, music and culture.
In the final two weeks, students could choose one of three areas of interest: HIV/AIDS, development, or the environment.
They would then take excursions related to their chosen tonic.
Carnero Santangelo said that the program is especially beneficial to dedicated, mature students interested in African Studies, development issues, environmental issues or geography.
The application deadline is March 1.
Kansan correspondent Rachel Bock can be contacted at editor@ kansan.com.
Edited by Mark Vierthaler
FOOD TRENDS
Anna Faltermeier/KANSAN
The store front that Qdoba Mexican Grill formerly occupied sits vacant at 10th and Massachusetts streets. The restaurant closed in January, while Chipotle Mexican Grill raised its prices.
Burrito restaurant closes as competitor raises prices
Lawrence burrito butts may have noticed that the Qdoba Mexican Grill, 10th and Massachusetts streets, closed and prices increased at the Chipote Mexican Grill, near 9th and Massachusetts streets, in January.
raised meat comes from animals who are fed vegetarian diets and never gives hormones or antibiotics.
However, Chris Arnold, media relations representative from Chipotle, said the events at the two restaurants that are about a block apart were unrelated, and the price increase occurred in all Kansas City-area Chipotle restaurants.
Prices for different items increased by amounts from 35 to 60 cents. Entrees with chicken increased 55 cents, while meals with steak rose 60 cents and items with pork caritas went up 35 cents.
Arnold said prices increased because restaurants began using only naturally raised chicken, beef and pork. Before, only their pork was naturally raised. He said naturally
Arnold said some competition for customers wasn't a bad thing; but he said the closing of the Qdoba restaurant would likely have some benefits for Chipotle.
"I imagine we'll pick up some Qdoba customers, but we have a very loyal customer base of our own," Arnold said. "If that grows in part because of Qdoba closing, that would be fine with us."
John White, franchisee of the Qdoba restaurant, declined to comment on the specific reasons for Qdoba's closing.
"We just chose to no longer be a franchise of Odobas?" White said.
Jessica Blase, Qdoba guest relations representative, said she hoped Qdoba customers would visit other locations.
"The decision was based on a number of factors but was certainly done with consideration to the impact on our guests," Blase said.
Kansan staff writer Matt Erickson can be contacted at merickson@ kansan.com.
Edited by Jyl Unruh
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