THE UNIVERSITY DAILY HANSAN
SATURDAY JANUARY 30, 2007
5DAY, JANUARY 30, 2007
NEWS
3A
>> ARTIFACT
Library displays rare historical book
BY TYLER HARBERT
The Spencer Research Library appropriately celebrated Kansas 146th birthday on Monday by showcasing one of its newest acquisitions
The library held a reception for donors who helped attain the book, "Kanzas and Nebraska: the History, Geographical and Physical Characteristics, and Political Position of Those Territories," which is believed to be the first book written about Kansas.
"It's our responsibility to provide this kind of access to scholars of Kansas history," Lorraine Harcombe, dean of libraries, said.
Haricombe said the book, published in 1854, the same year Kansas became a territory, will be on display for the public until Feb. 16 and will then be added to the library's collection of historical Kansas documents.
Written by Edward Everett Hale, the book is of great significance because it was inscribed by Hale to Elt Thayer, the founder of the New England Emigrant Aid Society, which worked to make sure Kansas didn't institute slavery.
"He continued to pour in money until Kansas was a free state," Karl Gridley, donor and local historian, said.
Gridley said that without Thayer's impact, Kansas could have become a slave state.
He said he initially wondered why the price of the book was so high when he found it from a dealer in San Francisco, because the book was not rare. After reading the unusual inscription, Gridley realized why the book was so important. He then raised funds in conjunction with the
Historic Mount Oread Fund to bring the book to the University.
Rebecca Smith, director of public relations and advancement for the University Libraries, said Gridley and his parents Marilyn and Roy, along with Katie and Kenneth Armitage and Jeffrey Thomas, also donated to the purchase of the book.
Smith said that because the book was attained through private donors and because the final price may not yet be decided, she didn't know the exact cost of the book.
But Smith said the book will be one of the preeminent resources in the Spencer Research Library.
"Based on the inscription, it's an incredible artifact and were fortunate to have it in our collection," she said.
Haricom said the libraries don't typically give special attention to
Kansas' anniversary each year, but the dedication on Monday could prompt future state-centered initiatives.
"The Spencer is open to scholars and researchers from all over the world." Haricombe said. "This is where we have probably the most comprehensive Kansas collection."
Virgil W. Dean, editor of the journal "Kansas History," said that the inscription dedicated to Thayer makes the book significant to Kansas and adds to the extensive records at the Spencer Research Library.
"It ites flesh out the collection of materials." Dean said.
Kansan staff writer Tyler Harbert can be contacted at tharbert@ kansan.com.
Edited by Joe Caponio
UNDERGROUND
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hurt. If there was a fire, I don't even want to think about it."
Graduate student Nathan Cox has an office adjacent to the main hallway and said the problem had existed for more than two years. He said the noise was occasionally a problem, but that his main concern was for students who had to sit on the floor to eat.
"I feel bad that they have nowhere to go." Cox said. "I often have people sitting out here in the hallway, and I think I have a student waiting for me, but they're just eating."
Arnett's attempts to investigate any possible fire code violations have gone unreturned, he said. The building is not due for a remodel until 2014, so Arnett said he'll just have to work around the problem.
"I want students to be happy, and I want them to be safe," Arnett said. "Sometimes happiness and safety don't go hand in-hand."
Kansan staff writer Erick R. Schmidt can be contacted at eschmidt@kansan.com.
Edited by Darla Slipke
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Julie Bergene, Gardner freshman. Slipping from its trap, the mouse scurried behind Bergenes dresser.
The area behind the dresser is thought to be the problem for the infestation, Bergene said. Each room contains two dressers, and behind each is a small hole through which wires are routed. The hole leaves enough space for the mice to travel room to room throughout the hall.
"I saw a couple of them running around on the wires, like they were playing a game," Bergene said. "It's unsanitary. They carry disease. The problem needs to be taken care of."
The women of Oliver expressed concern not only for the sanitation of their living areas, but the cost of replacing food, cleaning personal items and buying traps when they felt the problem was not being resolved.
Mouse feces were found in dresser drawers of the intested rooms. Food bags were chewed into and wrappers ripped to
shreds. Baumchen was one resident who had to dispose of tainted food, sighing as she said the mouse "ate all my Riccola."
Diana Robertson, interim director of housing, said they try to be responsive.
"Our goal is to work with the students to eliminate food sources." Robertson said. A small crumb can be a meal for a mouse due to its small size. Therefore, students are encouraged to clean and keep their rooms as food-free as possible.
One reason the mice have immigrated to the residence hall might be the ground work being done on the soccer fields near Oliver. Avila said if mice are disturbed, they will try finding another quieter home.
Once the complaints were made, maintenance began treating the infestation with glue traps. This was the first step in the extermination process, and Avila said it was 90% successful for University maintenance. However, as more complaints were made by hall residents,
maintenance moved to the second step, poison. This particular poison does not kill mice immediately, but leaves them thirsty, to entice them into leaving the building to find water. University maintenance no longer uses spring traps.
"All you can do is try to get rid of them." Avila said. "We don't consider it a problem unless we keep catching them."
No complaints of mice have been reported since last Wednesday's raid, Avila said. Bergene agreed that she had not seen or heard any mice since Wednesday, even with her escape possibly still alive. The dining facility in Oliver has not had any rodent problems, but has taken preventative measures to ensure a sanitary kitchen and cafeteria for the students.
Kansan staff writer Katy Blair can be contacted at kblair@ kansan.com.
-Edited by Darla Slipke
Anna Faltermeier/KANSAN
Stephanie Hill, top left, Kyle Hesed, top right, Heather Owen, bottom left, and Laura Stiles, bottom right, are University of Kansas students competing for the Barry M. Goldwater scholarship, a national scholarship awarded to students who plan to do research in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering. The University of Kansas has received more Goldwater scholarships than any other school in the Bio 12.
GOLDWATER (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
chemistry department working on cancer therapeutics.
"Research labs at KU place a lot of value on the undergraduate research experience." Hill said. "At a more exclusive institution, I doubt that I would have had the opportunity to spend so much time doing research at such an early stage of my undergraduate experience."
The four students nominated show potential in areas varying from medical imaging technology research to research and development of space vehicles. Kyle Hesed, who is pursuing his undergraduate degree in biology, hopes to one day contribute to education and conservation through teaching.
"The variety of different kinds of life in the world is pretty amazing to me." Hesed said. "Amphibians and reptiles interest me in particular."
The nominees will be officially announced on Wednesday.
Kansan staff writer Danae DeShazer can be contacted at ddeshazer@ kansan.com.
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
WESLEY KU
WATERDEEP
ADAM HAMILTON
In concert at KU! January 23rd at 8:00 p.m. Woodruff Auditorium
Senior Pastor, Church of the Resurection "Conversations with an Atheist" January 30th Woodruff Auditorium
GET NAKED Redefining Intimacy
A four week look at dating marriage and fig leaves Tuesdays @ 8:00 p.m. February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th www.wesleyku.org
Sexuality Education CommitteePresents:
This non-credit course is designed with the realities of the college aged person in mind, with a focus on how sexual development has occurred thus far in their lives, how it is presently being experienced and expressed, and what might occur in the continuous development of healthy adult sexuality.
Human Sexuality in Everyday Life With Dr. Dennis Dailey KU Professor of Social Welfare
Register at the ECM any day from 10am-4pm
Students $35 and Non-Students $45 ($5 late registration fee
after January 26th)
For more information contact the ECM office at 843-4933.
Students Tutoring for Literacy
Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm Beginning February 1 for 10 sessions at the ECM
January 30,2007
What: Book Drive!!!! When: Everyday until Friday February 9th
Where: Residence Halls & CCO office in the Kansas Union
*All books will be accepted and donations will be distributed to the local tutoring and service organizations.
funded by:
SENATE
PAID FOR BY KU
YOUR AD HERE
Attention Student Groups:
If your student organization is register with the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, you may get
FREE ADVERTISING here in the Kansan through Student Senate!
Email chrisblackstone@ku.edu for more information.
V VOICE
- REDEFINING THE -
in EW every woman
2007 WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE —
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2007 • 1 PM to 5 PM Kansas Room • Kansas Union Level 6
DISCUSSION TOPICS INCLUDE:
• Sisterhood Redefined: Finding Our Voices •
• Professionalism Redefined: Using Our Voices
Completed registrations due by 5 PM Thursday, February 1.
For more information, please contact the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center etwrcolu.edu or 785.864.3552
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