wednesday. february 25, 2004
news
the university daily kansan 3A
School sees drop in male students
ByRupal Gor rgor@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Under most circumstances, Scott Silverman would not be considered a minority at the University of Kansas. But as one of only eight men in the School of Social Welfare, the white male from Overland Park is somewhat of a rarity.
The number of men in the school has decreased each year since 1999.
The few number of men in the school has not been a concern because the field is traditionally composed of women, said Melanie Hepburn, assistant dean of the school.
Silverman, Overland Park senior, said he thought of himself as a minority but enjoyed the challenges of being a man in the school.
His social welfare classes take him out of his normal surroundings in classes with an even ratio of men and women students. Silverman said he was a minority because his opinion was not necessarily the dominant point of view in his classes.
He sees a difference in comments among his female classmates.
"I think to myself, 'Man, I would never have thought of that from a female perspective," he said. "But I feel I am making comments that females might have not thought of either."
He said he thought he had to speak louder although on a personal level he was not very outgoing.
Silverman said that his personality did change when he was in his social welfare classes.
"If you ask my classmates, I am pretty loud," he said. "I try to be interactive, and maybe I do that inadvertently."
Silverman's one other male friend in the school is Brandon Williams, Belleville senior. They have class together and usually stick together. Although William
GENDER STATS
Year Male Female %
1999-2000 14 112 12.5
2000-2001 12 117 10.2
2001-2002 9 112 8
2002-2003 8 100 8
2003-2004 8 113 7
Source: Melanie Hepburn, assistant dean of Social Welfare. Based on undergraduates in the bachelor program of Social Welfare
said he would have become friends with Silverman either way, he shared similarities with Silverman. Both men said all of their social welfare instructors have been women, and they were used to sitting in a classroom full of women.
Williams' female instructors would ask him if he felt they were picking on him because he was the only man.
If they were, he was told to let them know. But he has not felt singled out.
The school teaches students to accept everybody and their opinions, and he said that idea pertains to him as a man in social welfare.
He said he has never felt intimidated or had any problems in class.
Men usually find business and administration careers more attractive, said Alice Lieberman, associate professor of social welfare.
"Historically, social work has been viewed as a woman's profession," she said. "It takes time for professions to shift demographically."
Edited by Kevin Flaherty
University helps bring family close
Classwork, campus life made easier with shared studies
By Rupal Gor rgor@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Family members Liz, Michael and Gary Patrick all attend the University of Kansas. Liz, freshman, and Michael, junior, live in Lawrence, while Gary, first-year law student, commutes from Lenexa. The Patrick family often eats lunch together on campus once a week.
Jeff Brandsted/Kansar
Three University of Kansas students eat lunch together every Thursday. But they're not just students—they're family.
School is a family affair for Michael Patrick, Lenexa junior, and his sister Liz, Lenexa freshman.
Not only do the brother and sister have each other, but also their father Gary, a first-year law student at the University.
The 53-year-old Gary, who commutes from his home in Lenexa, feels comfortable in his classes even though he's more than twice the age of most of his classmates.
It keeps Liz from getting home sick and Michael has his father check out his architecture projects.
He even has a study group with some of them.
Although the other students are young, they don't seem affected by the fact that their classmate is their parents' age, he said.
But there is a downside to having three family members at the University: tuition.
Gary said he and his wife pay
Liz and Michael said their father had a knack for acting like a typical student.
Liz and Michael said they enjoyed having their father at school with them.
The Patricks use their time together to catch up on classes, as well as their mom and dog back at home.
"He's such a big kid," Michael said. "There are definitely a lot of jokes that we tease each other about."
Liz and Michael like joking around with their father when they eat at the Burge Union food court at least once a week.
"How much money do you think we're going to have invested in KU by the time were done? I hope it pays off. KU should give me a quantity discount."
Michael works to help pay for his own tuition and other expenses.
Gary Patrick Lawschool student
To help pay the bills Gary works part-time with computers at Ringside Company, a business that sells boxing equipment.
"How much money do you think we're going to have invested in KU by the time we're done?" Gary said. "I hope it pays off. KU should give me a quantity discount."
He is taking 16 hours at the law school, the rest of the time he reads and studies.
His children said he was the best student of the three because he balanced work and the demands of law school.
Jennifer Andalikiewicz,
Shawnee junior, is in an architecture class with Michael.
"It's funny because we'll be in studio and he'll be on the phone with his dad and say, 'Okay, go and start your paper, Dad,'" Analkiliewicz said.
The last time he took a test was in 1977, when he was a graduate student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Gary said it was difficult to get back on track in school.
But Gary likes being around students more than old people, he said.
"These are students who are looking forward to starting the rest of their lives," he said.
Gary, who wants to be a small-town lawyer, said that going to law school allowed him to invigorate what was left of his brain.
And since he's going to school when he's older, he does not have to worry about partying, which is hard work, he said.
Gary said he was not strict or bothersome, a reason why he and his children got along so well.
Liz agreed. "We are all funny, goofy people," she said. "We're dorks, but everyone laughs at that."
Edited by Danielle Hillix
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