monday, february 2, 2004
news
the university daily kansan
3A
Events honor Black History Month
Black Student Union aims for more sponsors, awareness
By Marc Ingber
minger@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Throughout February, the University of Kansas will be celebrating Black History Month. This year's theme is "Bringing Our Future Into Focus."
Among the events, there will be guest speakers, gospel choirs, comedy shows, trivia contests, music battles, a basketball game and fundraisers. The festivities will kick off with a Black History Month trivia contest at 7:30 tonight in Ellsworth Hall.
Tomorrow night, Sigma Lambda Gamma, a Latina-based sorority, and the Black Student Union will host "Luscious Latinas and Bootylicious Black Women," in the Kansas Union at the International room. It is a program for women designed to eliminate the stereotypes that Latina and black females face.
Mark Dupree, Kansas City Kan., senior, president of the Big 12 Conference Black Student Union, said the program would be a welcome edition to Black History Month.
"You can tell by the title that no one has ever tried anything like that before." he said.
Kriston Guillot, Shawnee sophomore and co-programs chair for the Black Student Union, said one of this year's goals was to have a higher number of sponsors for the events. He said the group did not want to be
Black History Month events at the University of Kansas
Monday, Feb. 2 — Black History Month Trivia Contest, 7:30 p.m. in Ellsworth Hall
Tuesday, Feb. 3 — "Luscious Latines and Bacitious Black Women," 7 p.m. in the International Room, Kansai H.
International Room, Kansas Uni
Wednesday, Feb. 4 — Alpha
Academics "How Was Your Fall
Semester," 7 p.m. in the Kansas
Union
Thursday, Feb. 5 — "Special Treatment For Special Mis-treatment—Is There Really a Need For Affirmative Action?", 7 p.m. in the Kansas Room, Kansas Union
Monday, Feb. 9. — The Black Student Union presents, "A Night of Comedy," I Mean History," 7:30 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
Wednesday, Feb. 11 — "Why Some Black Folks Came to Kansas" Featuring Ms. April Bradshaw, 12:15 p.m. at the
the only organization sponsoring events. Fraternities, sororites and the Office of Multicultural Affairs are among the other groups participating.
Multicultural Resource Center
Wednesday, Feb. 11 — "King and Chavez's Dreams," 7 p.m. at the Multicultural Resource Center
Friday, Feb. 13 — "Night of Inspiration" by international Gospel Voices, 7 p.m., in the Kansas Union Ballroom
Guillot said he was looking forward to a comedy show on Feb. 9. It will feature Steve Birdine, CEO of Affirmation in Action, and comedy with a positive message.Dupree said he was looking forward to the "Night of Inspiration" by Inspirational Gospel Voices.
Monday, Feb. 16 — "African Americans in the Media," 6 p.m. in the Walnut Room, Kansas Union
Monday, Feb. 16 — "A Walk Through History," 8 p.m. in Ellsworth Hall
■ Tuesday, Feb. 17 — "When Blacks and Browns Throw Down Part 2," 7:30 p.m. at the Multicultural Resource Center
Wednesday, Feb. 18 — "What is Black Poetry to Me?" Readings of Black Literature, 7 p.m. in the Burge Union
B February 19-21 — Big 12 Conference on Black Student Leadership, hosted by Kansas State University
Monday, Feb. 23 — "Spades and
Spaghetti" with the Black Student Uniting 8 p.m. location TBA
Tuesday Feb. 24 — "Fashions of
Finer Womanhood," 7:30 p.m. in
the Kansas Union Ballroom.
The service will be held in the Kansas Union on Feb. 13.Renita Norman, Topeka sophomore and Big 12 delegate for the Black Student Union, said the organization was trying new types of programs this year, such as the gospel service.
■ Wednesday, Feb. 25 — Zeta Phi Beta Sorochity, Inc., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in Kansas Union Lobby
Wednesday, Feb. 25 — Chips and Dip Social/ Informational, 6 p.m. in the Multicultural Resource Center
■ Wednesday, Feb. 25 — "Battle of the Ages: Old School Music vs. New School," 7 p.m. in the Relays Room, Burge Union
Thursday, Feb. 28 — Zeta Groove, 6 p.m. in the Robinson Center Dance Studio
■ Friday, Feb. 27 — Spoken Word Night, 9 p.m. at the Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
Saturday, Feb. 28 — Leap Day Party sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta, location and time TBA
"It's important to honor traditional things like Martin Luther King Jr., but we're trying to incorporate new things as well," she said. She said the most important
Saturday, Feb. 28 — Annual
"Hoop It Up!" Black Faculty/Staff
vs. Students Basketball Game,
location and time TBA.
aspect of Black History Month was calling attention to the struggles that black Americans faced, both past and present.
Guillot said support was an important part of this month.
"One of our main goals is that we get support from the complete student body, not just the African American student body," he said
—Edited by Amanda Kim Stairrett
By Anna Clovis aclovis@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Lynette Woodard, interim women's basketball coach, was not the only person giving a pregame pep talk before the women's basketball game on Saturday.
Using recognizable characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Reginald Robinson, president and CEO of the Board of Regents, spoke to students in the Multicultural Scholars Program.
Students needed to be ready for their changing role in society. Robinson said.
"The world is shrinking," Robinson said, "and we've got to figure out how we play in a world that's shrunk and what it means to be a citizen of the globe."
Robinson said even Sponge-Bob SquarePants could illustrate a global community.
He said he realized this while watching television coverage of the war in Iraq and seeing a little Iraqi boy wearing a shirt with the cartoon character on it.
"If SpongeBob clothing is in Iraq, what other evidence do we need that the world is connected?" Robinson said.
A University graduate and former faculty and staff member, Robinson said the students' experiences at the University could
prepare them for life. He said he relied on what he learned from the University throughout his career.
Robinson also said students needed to depart from the text, an idea he found in Goodnight Opus, a parody of the children's book Goodnight Moon.
He said departing from the text is what taking risks is all about, and taking risks is part of being a global citizen and knowing people different from ourselves.
"It's inspiring that people come out of Kansas and do well," said Gina Ford, Washington freshman.
Robinson was invited to speak because of his ties to the University and his success, said Renate Mai-Dalton, director of the Multicultural Scholars Program.
Robinson said multiculturalism was very important to the Regents.
"So much of the success of the state depends on the ability to engage internationally," Robinson said.
"The state is getting more diverse and we need to share that perspective."
More than 50 students attended the presentation before the group was recognized during halftime of the women's game.
— Edited by Nikki Nugent
The Associated Press
Bargaining ends Arizona prison standoff; no severe injuries
BUCKEYE, Ariz. — The longest United States prison hostage standoff in decades ended yesterday when a corrections officer was released from the guard tower where a pair of
inmates had held her for two weeks, a Corrections Department spokeswoman said.
Cam Hunter, corrections spokeswomen, said the one guard, whose name was not released, received medical care.
Dora Schriro Corrections Department Director said the
guard's spirit and voice were exceptionally strong.
Janet Napolitano, governor of Arizona, who went to meet the medical helicopter that transported the female guard, said the officer told the director. "Thank you for not leaving me, thank you for not rushing the
tower. They would have killed me."
Negotiators had regular contact with inmates throughout the standoff, and at times had seen the guard or talked to her by telephone.
Prison officials released few details during the standoff, but
Information on what led to the
yesterday identified the hostage-takers as Ricky Wassenaar, 40, and Steven Coy, 39, and released information on how they took over the tower, which was stocked with weapons and designed to be impenetrable.
surrender was not given, although one of the inmates was allowed to give an interview to a radio station.
The station, which broadcast the interview after the standoff ended, said prison officials had allowed an interview in exchange for the woman's release.
There are those who have respect for our campus. Unfortunately, others seem to have forgotten its worth.
BEDS • DESKS • BOOK CASES CHEST OF DRAWERS 936 Mass.
MONSTER (m) 4:30 7:00 9:40
IN AMERICA (p/c/b)
4:40 7:10 9:30
"Telling Stories Through Documentary Film"
*Madison Davis Lacy Emmy award-winning filmmaker,
and the Langston Hughes Visiting Professor at KU
"How to Collect Folklife as Part of Community History
* Peggy Buiger Director, American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress
"Reconstructing Territorial Kansas through Personal Narrative & Testimony"
*Rita Nauber History, KU*
"Tell Me Your Life Story and Sign This Form; Methods and Ethics of Oral History"
* Sherrie Tucker & Allieda Ruscin American Studies, KU*
"Quilting Stories"
• Marie Jackson Black W
History Group
"Genealogy FOR THE HUMANITY Mary Hawkins Spencer Research Library
"Ford Motor Company Research Institute for Women In HER STORY"
• Geneva Price American Jazz Museum, Kansas City