thursday,december 11,2003
news
the university daily kansan
3A
Administrators denounce calendar
University officials say Women of KU producer unclear
By Maggie Newcomer
mnewcomer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas officials are studying this year's Women of KU calendar to determine whether the World Company broke any laws producing the calendar.
Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor of University Relations, sent a letter to Ray Davis, chair of the Senate Executive Committee, yesterday in response to SenEx's concerns that the calendar might misrepresent itself as a product of the University.
Murguia said the University had no association with the calendar, any calendar-related merchandise or KUsports.com, a Web site maintained by the
Murguia
Lawrence Journal World. She said because it used Jayhawk logos and University facilities, the calendar gave the impression that the University supported it.
But that is not the case, Murguia said.
The University requires permission to use its facilities and the Jayhawk logo for any commercial ventures by outside parties.
The World Company did not notify the University that it would be taking photographs inside Allen Fieldhouse, Horejsi Family Athletics Center and Memorial Stadium for the calendar. Some of the women pictured are also wearing licensed merchandise with the Jayhawk logo, which also wasn't approved,
But this time the calendar gives a false impression of affiliation with KU."
Janet Murgia
Executive vice chancellor of University Relations
according to Murgia's letter.
"We don't control the letters 'K' and 'U,'" Murgia said. "But this time the calendar gives a false impression of affiliation with KU."
Murguia said she wanted to make it clear that while it was the individual's choice to model for the calendar, the University did not condone the sexually suggestive depiction of anyone for profit. She said her only concern was clarifying that the University received no benefits from the calendar's sales.
Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success, said she shared Murguia's concerns.
"It does look like an official publication of KU because of the title and logos," Roney said.
Roney said even though there were grade point average requirements to participate in the calendar, she thought there were better ways to portray capable KU women.
Ralph Gage, general manager of the Lawrence Journal-World, declined to comment.
In previous The University Daily Kansan articles, Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said the Women of KU calendar would no longer be shot in University athletics facilities.
Murguia said the administration had not decided yet whether to take legal action. She said it just wanted to explore its options.
— Edited by Doyle Murphy
Senate approves distinction calendar
By Paul Kramer
pkramer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The KU Women of Distinction calendar is now a reality, after passing Student Senate last night.
The calendar is sponsored by the Emily Taylor Resource Center, which is not a student group.
The bill did not pass without problems, as a Senate regulation prohibiting the allocation of funds to non-student groups had to be suspended.
The problems continued as many senators questioned whether the calendar, which will be sold in future years, was an entrepreneurial endeavor.
Patrick Quinn, off-campus senator, said Senate was missing an opportunity to have a student group sponsor the calendar.
Emily Taylor Resource Center will print 3,000 calendars to be distributed free of charge.
The calendars will be available in the Center for Community Outreach offices, in the Kansas Union and campus bookstores.
In other Senate news:
Speaking to senators, Provost David Shulenburger said the University of Kansas was involved in increasing student retention rates.
Shulenburger outlined four reasons why he thought the University had improved retention in the last few years and areas that would continue to be strengthened to increase the rates.
1. Increasing the efficiency of the advising center through increased staff and funds.
2. The math department has gotten serious about making intro classes more friendly.
3. The advent and continual improvement of writing centers.
Roommates spread holiday cheer with blazing lights
4. Adding money to minority programs.
— Edited by Abby Sidesinger
By Kevin Kampwirth
kkampwirth@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
As the only man-made object visible from outer space, the Great Wall of China has always held a curious distinction.
A certain Lawrence house, however, seems to be challenging this.
For the second year in a row, the residents of the house at 939 Indiana St. have transferred their Christmas spirit to the 13-bedroom house, decorating it with lights, plastic reindeer and a huge inflatable snowman.
The luminous display was a joint project by all 13 roommates. Each one contributed money to buy the decorations, some giving as much as $400 for the effort.
Brett Gilmore, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, senior, is one of the 13 people that reside at the house.
Gilmore said that decorating the exterior of the house was a full two-day effort.
The idea to decorate the house began last year as a competition between the house on Indiana and some friends of theirs at a house on 1238 Tennessee St.
"I can honestly say that there's not another house in Lawrence that has put as many smiles on people's faces as 939 Indiana," Gilmore said.
"A lot of it was that we had nothing better to do," Gilmore said. "It was either that or study for finals."
There was no tangible prize for the winning display except pride, Gilmore said.
The Tennessee house residents have yet to put up any decorations and said they didn't plan to.
"We were going to do it again, but it just got too late," said Anthony
"If someone opens the refrigerator when the lights are on, it blows a fuse and everything goes out."
Brett Gilmore Calgary, Alberta, Canada senior
"If someone opens the refrigerator when the lights are on, it blows a fuse and everything goes out," he said.
Francisco, Wichita senior and resident at the Tennessee house. "There's really no point now."
Gilmore said that the greatest satisfaction comes when children who were walking with their parents or grandparents stopped and commented on how great it looked.
Despite the hundreds of dollars in energy bills that they faced last year, Gilmore and he and his roommates decided to decorate to excess again.
tions are on.
The amount of power that the light display requires forces the roommates to keep all the lights off in the house when the decora-
At the Tennessee house, Gilmore is waiting for them to decorate.
"Apparently, no one wants to take the initiative over there to spread a little holiday cheer," he said. "It's sad really."
One of Gilmore's roommates, Alex Carr. Topeka senior, walked into the living room with the newest addition to this year's display: a 5-foot-tall dancing Santa Claus.
The residents of 939 Indiana St. spend hundreds of dollars to light up their house this holiday season. This is the second year the roommates have decorated.
As it gyrates its hips maniacally and spouts muffled strings of "ho ho ho's," Gilmore and Carr stand up with a proud look of self satisfaction on their faces, safe, it seems, in the knowledge that this year, the house will dominate
the skyline.
- Edited Doyle Murphy
1