THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31 2007
NEWS
3A
STUDENT SENATE ELECTION
United Students join race
BY ASHLEE KIELER
A new coalition joined the race for Student Senate this semester with the formation of United Students, which hoped to bring a new, fresh outlook to the race.
Hannah Love, Dodge City junior, will be running for student body president with Ray Wittlinger. Olathe junior, as her running mate
United Students formed from the need students and friends expressed to Love and Wittlinger for a new student coalition that could offer something more, Love said.
Students believed there was a need to create an energetic coalition that was inclusive to all students, Wittlinger said.
Love, currently a junior/senior college of liberal arts and sciences senator, said United Students' first meeting had a positive showing.
"We have a lot of supporters already, supporters who want to run for senate seats, graduating seniors who offer support." Wittlinger said.
Love and Wittlinger don't have their platforms hammered out yet, but they did know that they wanted United Students to stand for.
"We don't want to be a student council, we want to be a student senate. We want to relate to students and faculty." Love said.
"We want to make sure Student Senate isn't distant from any group on campus," Wittlinger said.
Love believes she will make
a good student body president because of her work ethic and ability to work well with faculty.
"Hannah has a way to articulate what students want to administration." Wittlinger said.
Wittlinger said his ability to relate to senators and what Student Senate does to students will give him an edge come election time.
"If we say we're going to do something we are going to do it and show students how we plan to do it," Wittlinger said.
Kansan staff writer Ashlee Kieler can be contacted at akieler@kan- com
Edited by James Pinick
legislation
Student Senate meets at 6:30 this evening at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
> The following bills will be up for discussion and approval this evening;
> A bill to provide funding to expand wireless Internet access to all of campus.
> A bill to fund Hip-Hop week, an event sponsored by the Black Student Union.
>> INTERNATIONAL CULTURE
Scottish Fest invigorates arts center
BY RICHELLE BUSER
The outside of the Lawrence Arts Center is a dull gray. But through the metal doors the atmosphere transformed into a cultural wonderland. The festival inside filled the building with the sites, sounds and smells of Scotland In its 11th year, the annual Scottish Fest invited people to enjoy the country's traditions on Sunday.
Booths offered visitors a glimpse into the life of Scots. One booth gave interested athletes the opportunity to participate in traditional Scottish games. In 2007, the Kansas City Scottish Highland Games is celebrating its 30th year. There were seven games, most of which involve throwing weights, but these events are not restricted to muscular men.
Men under 190 pounds could participate in the lightweight category. This group, along with groups of men older than forty and female competitors, threw weights that were significantly lighter. Men who
weighed more than 190 pounds challenged themselves and showed their strength with heavier weights.
Others could show off their talents by performing both traditional and national Scottish dances. This art form has been mastered during the last 2,000 years and combines strength, speed and grace.
Each individual dancer performed with two others in front of judges that evaluated them on a number of categories. Whether
popular Celtic bands in the nation will be performing live"
Each year, the Highland Games attract thousands of people and continue to grow in popularity. Scottish snacks gave visitors a taste of heaven. The paradise cake, a mix between gooey butter cake and ripe fruit, was true to its name. Other
Each year, the Highland Games attract thousands of people and continue to grow in popularity.
competing or watching, these high land dances were an exciting event for all.
"There's something for everyone to enjoy, whether athletic or not," said Lori Henderson, the athletic director for the Kansas City Scottish Highland Games. "Vendors at the Games sell Celtic jewelry and this year the Elders, one of the most
foods such as marmalade cake and snack mixes gave visitors many options to choose. The chef, Cordelia Brown, not only
created numerous treats but also performed in one of the bands at Scottish Fest. Along with Brown's band, Forest Green, others including Uncle Dirtytoes and Douglas Phenix performed.
One of the most identifiable representations of Scottish culture was the bagpipes. Both the site and sound of bagpipers is a unique
experience of Scottish music. The Pipers of the Plains, a group of men from Topeka, played while adoried in plaid kills, button-up shirts and coordinating socks, shoes, sweaters and caps. The group has performed throughout the area, including at the inaugurations of Kansas governors and for the Kansas National Guard. At Scottish Fest, the pipers tapped their feet to the music while entertaining audiences with classic Scottish tunes and other popular songs.
The Lawrence Scottish Fest provided a glimpse into another world and was an eye-opening experience. Whether a Scot or just someone curious about the country and its people, this event was an educational yet fun environment for everyone.
Kansan correspondent Richelle Buser can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
— Edited by Will McCullough
>> ALCOHOL AWARENESS
Drunk driver warns of dangers
BY KYLE CARTER
Mark Sterner woke up in a hospital bed after two weeks in a coma with no idea where he was or how he got there. He could spend up to a 45 years in prison and faced the realization that he killed three of his best friends in a drunk-driving accident.
Sterner spoke to more than 200 people at 6:30 and more than 400 people at 8 Tuesday night at the Kansas Union Ballroom about the night that changed his life.
"I relieve the worst night of my life over and over with complete strangers so that nobody else has to go through what I go through," he said during the speech.
That night, recorded by the group of friends on a shaky home video, began with shots of Jagermister and Rumplenizn in a Florida hotel room. Next the group drove to a bar that Sterner said was about 35 minutes away. With the camera still rolling and beers in hand, the group hit 100 mph on a winding road with a speed limit of 35 mph.
"Tonight's gonna be one of those nights," a voice said off camera.
The group danced, yelled and sang off-key at the bar. Upon leaving, Sterner said they argued in the parking lot about who would drive. It was their sixth night on spring break and each of the five took turns staying sober the first five nights. That night they decided that the least drunk would drive home. They decided on Sterner.
Less than 15 minutes later, three were dead.
Sterner was critically injured, and the fifth man, Sterner's roommate for all four years of college, was only slightly injured. Sterner said that his former roommate refused to talk to him since that night.
Photographs of the wreckage
showed a mangled Lincoln Towncar, the front end smashed, one of the front wheels bent sideways and the passenger's side door wide open, crumpled up against the car's body.
Sterner served a reduced sentence of three years in a maximum security prison in the company of rapists, murderers and other violent criminals.
He was charged with three counts of felony second-degree manslaughter. After his release, a judge ordered him to serve 12 years of probation.
Joe Santaudaria, Dallas sophomore, said he thought drunk driving was extremely prevalent on campus. He attended the event with many of his fraternity brothers and said they take turns as sober drivers for B.A.D.D., Brothers Against Drunk Driving.
Sterner said that he doesn't speak to seek forgiveness or as a part of his probation, but rather to prevent others from making a mistake that would cause them to suffer for the rest of their lives.
"I killed my friends and that's my real punishment," he said. "That's my life sentence."
Sterner said he had spoken to more than a million students across the country, but turned down requests to appear on Oprah, Montel and other talk shows so that the families of his deceased friends did not have to relive the tragedy through the national media.
"See, life's all about choices." Sterner said near the end of the program. "I got in that car. I knew I was drunk, but I thought I could get us home. I was wrong."
Kansan staff writer Kyle Carter can be contacted at kcarter@kansan. com.
— Edited by Ryan Schneider
DID YOU WANT ANTIBIOTICS WITH YOUR PORK? WE DIDN'T THINK SO.
That's why we're serving naturally raised pork.
The pork we serve is free of antibiotics and added growth hormones fed a vegetarian diet and raised humanely We think meat raised this way, naturally,tastes better.
Serving naturally raised pork is another step in our ongoing Food With Integrity journey-bringing you the best ingredients from the best sources.
- OUR PORK IS NATURALLY RAISED -
6TH & MONTEREY WAY
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