friday, february 27, 2004
news
the university daily kansan $ ^{5} \Delta$
Speaker enjoys college audience
By Jodie Kraftf
jkraftf@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Annie Bernethy/Kansan
Pearl Rovaris-MacDonald, University alumna, works both as a motivational speaker and a stand-up comedian. She comes from a family of Kansas alumni.
Editor's note: This is the last in a series of profiles for black history month.
As a motivational speaker, Pearl Rovaris-MacDonald's message to students is simple: to focus, learn and enjoy. And as a improvisational comedian, she also wants them to laugh.
Rovaris-MacDonald graduated from the University of Kansas in 1991 with a degree in psychology but took a different career path with communications and comedy.
She works independently as a motivational or keynote speaker for companies around the United States and performs at ComedyCity in Kansas City, Mo.
She said her presentations differed from other speakers because of her delivery and spontaneous nature.
"You can't knock me off script because I don't have one," Rovaris-MacDonald said. "I have a very short memory span."
Rovaris-MacDonald said she typically came to the University three times each year to speak to students. Her most recent trip was Feb. 9 when she spoke to Black Student Union members. Rovaris-MacDonald said she enjoyed speaking to high school and college students, unlike most speakers.
"Colleges are dodged like bullets towards a speaker's head because college students are very real." she said.
"She puts humor into her speeches, and she understands the issue of inclusion and the issues that all students face."
Robert Page Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs
Rovaris-MacDonald's humor and choice of material makes her a popular choice for organizations, said Robert Page, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
"She puts humor into her speeches, and she understands the issue of inclusion and the issues that all students face," Page said.
Rovaris-MacDonald said she also spoke to students on the necessity of balancing school and fun, using herself as an example.
"I'm a Johnson County suburban mom, a comedian and a keynote speaker for major corporations," she said. "You don't have to pick."
Elora Gregory, Kansas City junior, attended Rovaris-MacDonald's speech Feb. 9 and said she related to the message.
"She reassured me that I can graduate and still kept me entertained," Gregory said.
Rovaris-MacDonald said the
University helped her get a degree, husband and jobs. Rovaris-MacDonald's husband, Richard, is a University graduate. While here she worked in the Office of Admissions and Scholarships and the Adams Alumni Center.
She said she enjoyed what she called the "KU connection"
through her travels as a speaker for the last 10 years.
"Traveling the country, a Jayhawk will always walk up to me," Royaris-MacDonald said. "The connection goes much further than people give it credit for."
Edited by Nikki Nugent
Peterson jury will not be sequestered
The Associated Press
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — The jury in Scott Peterson's murder trial will not be sequestered, a judge ruled yesterday, brushing aside defense warnings that the jurors will be bombarded by sensational news coverage of the case.
Judge Alfred A. Deluccchi said he would admonish the jurors before they go home each night not to discuss the case, "and we'll see what happens."
Peterson, 31, is accused of killing his pregnant wife, Laci, and unborn child in December 2002 and could die the death
penalty, Jury selection is set to begin next Thursday, with an initial 200 prospective jurors.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos called it "a childlike belief" that jurors could shield themselves from a public that is fascinated by the case and has in many instances concluded Peterson is guilty.
Jurors "are going to be assaulted by the fringe elements of the media." Geragos warned.
"I can't control the whole world." the judge replied.
"You can barely control what's in this courtroom," Geragos retorted, prompting a collective gasp in the courtroom.
Iraq: Geographies of Reconstruction
Today 3:30 PM 317 Lindley Hall
Special Guest Lecturer Dr. William B. Wood
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U. S. Department of State
Sponsored by: The KU Department of Geography For more information contact Jerry Dobson 864-5536 http://www.geog.ku.edu/docs/news/Wood.pdf This event is free and open to the entire KU community
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