TODAY'S WEATHER: Thunderstorms with highs in the lower 70s. SEE PAGE 4B FOR MORE INSIDE: Athletes score big at NCAA championships. SEE PAGE 4A FOR MORE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
TALK TO US: Contact Emily Hughey or Kyle Ramsey at (785) 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WEDNESDAY JUNE 20, 2001
WWW.KANSAN.COM
ISSUE 138 VOLUME 111
HAWK Link nests new with the old
Student program to make significant strides in second year
By Dawn North
Kansan staff writer
The second official year for HAWK Link is off and running, and coordinators of the program are excited. The program, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, is a University-wide effort to increase the retention rate of freshman students of color.
Included under the students-ofcolor umbrella are African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans. However, anyone who would like to be a part of the program is welcome, said Robert Page, OMA director.
"Results thus far have been impressive," said Season Titus, HAWK Link Student Coordinator. Last year 85 students were involved in the program, and this year 84 percent of those freshmen are returning. That number exceeds the total University retention rate of 80 percent and the average retention rate for students of color, which is 68 percent.
So far this year, about 110 students have signed up for the program, but program coordinators are hoping for 200 by the end of the summer.
The University's retention committee has been so impressed with the program that it is considering using it as a model to develop a University retention plan. Titus said.
MARK HANSEN/KANSAN
The program is designed to help students academically by connecting them with tutors, faculty mentors, financial aid advice and academic advising, Titus said. But, she added, the social aspect is also important. She said making friends is another important factor in students' decision whether to return to college.
"The whole essence of how HAWK Link works is having that one primary contact that will help you navigate the system," she said.
Renee Gregory, OMA program assistant and HAWK Link coordinator, said the personal connection made a big difference.
Five guides add new dimension to the program. The student guides have been assigned to 20 incoming freshmen who have expressed interest in the program. Guides will keep in contact through e-mail, attend orientation sessions, answer questions and provide mentoring to the new students.
One of the program's unique facets is that it utilizes existing programs at the University instead of creating new services like other colleges.
She said students could call the HAWK Link office and ask for tutoring or other help and someone in the office could tell them who to call or walk them to the office personally.
Jamie Jones, St. Louis junior who is a guide, met Phil Conway, one of her group members, yesterday at orientation. Conway, who is from Kansas City, Mo., said he hoped HAWK Link would help him find a niche. Jones said that she wanted to help him find whatever he needed to get information and to be involved.
Anissa Vitale is a guide for the program because she sees a lack of minorities on campus. The Shawnee senior said she had a yearning drive to improve their numbers.
Page said that coming to a university can be intimidating. He said it was a tremendous help to have someone saying, "You're going to be OK."
$42 MILLION ENDOWMENT DONATION BREAKS RECORD
Donald Hall, chairman of the Hall Family Foundation, at podium, recieves applause during the announcement of the foundation's record-setting pledge to the University. He presented a $42 million donation to the KUEA.
contact North at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com
Money to aid Med Center
By Mark Hansen Kansan staff writer
The Hall Family Foundation anteced a record-breaking $42 million pledge for the next five years, marking the largest higher education donation in Kansas history. With the donation, the University of Kansas aims to be included in the top 25 public universities in the country, specifically in the area of life sciences.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway, Forrest Hoglund, president of the KU Endowment Association, and Donald Hall, chairman of the foundation, made the donation at 2 p.m. yesterday during a ceremony at the University of Kansas Medical Center School of Nursing atrium. A crowd filled the atrium and balconies of four floors. The program also was web cast on the KU Endowment Web site.
The pledge will become part of the University's third major fund-raising campaign since 1891, which will be announced formally in the fall.
Diane Silver, news editor for the endowment association, said the pledge
surpassed the previous record donation — $15 million from the Kansas Health Foundation in 1995.
The pledge is also the largest cash donation in the foundation's history and
will be distributed among the life sciences and humanities departments, the
SEE DONATION ON PAGE 6A
PLEDGE BREAK-DOWN
The $2 million pledge will be distributed in four areas:
LIFE SCIENCES—$29.5 MILLION
$1.5 million for the International Pilot and Bridging Research Program which helps researchers prepare proposals for external grants.
$27 million for a new research building at the
University of Kansas Medical Center.
$1 million for two professorships in life sciences.
HUMANITIES—$7 MILLION
$3 million to remodel or build a new Hall Center for the Humanities building.
$2.5 million to fund endowed chairs in the humanities.
$1 million to help to meet a National Endowment for the Arts challenge grant.
$500,000 will supplement a Hall humanities
professorship.
THE EDWARDS CAMPUS-$5 MILLION to construct a new building of classrooms and offices
THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS $500,000 to establish a professorship honoring Maurice Joy,
professor emeritus of finance. Joy was the Joyce C. Hall Distinguished Professor from 1981-2000.
LAURIESISK/KANSAN
From left: Robert Feldmann, key grip, director Alexander Payne, and assistant cameraman Trevor Loomis, all of New Line Cinema, line up a location shot in front of Strong Hall. The crew was on campus Friday to shoot footage for a new Jack Nicholson movie, About Schmidt, which is scheduled to be released in the spring.
Nicholson film to feature KU
Footage of passers-by downtown Lawrence might be in movie
By Laurie Sisk Kansan staff writer
For some KU students, a routine stroll through campus last Friday may result in an appearance in a major motion picture to be released this spring.
Although no extras from the University were hired for parts in the movie, director and co-writer Alexander Payne said shots were filmed of passers-by, and some of those shots might be included in the movie, which also features Kathy
New Line Cinema brought a film crew of about 12 people to the University of Kansas to shoot location shots for Jack Nicholson's new movie. About Schmidt.
Although the majority of the film was shot in Omahda, Neb., KU scenes will be used to establish shots as the lead character, KU alumnus Warren Schmidt, who is played by Nicholson, returns to his alma mater.
Bates, Dermot Mulroney, Howard Hesseman and Hope Davis.
Jim Glennon, director of photography, said the University support staff was very cooperative. He complimented Facilities Operations for speedy reactions to last minute requests.
Production began in early March in Payne's hometown of Omaha, where both of his previous movies, Election and Citizen Ruth, were filmed. Most of the principal filming in Omaha wrapped up in early May. Glennon said the picture was on schedule.
Frank Barthell of KU Media Relations said many people on the film crew were struck by the beauty
of KU's campus.
"These are people that by and large are not Midwesterners, so to get them here and have them say, 'Hey, we've got a nice campus and friendly people' is important," Barthell said.
Many of the scenes were shot in front of Dyche and Strong halls. Water trucks sprayed Jayhawk Boulevard and adjoining sidewalks to give the impression of a recent rain. Scenes were also shot in downtown Lawrence.
About Schmidt centers on Schmidt, a recent widower in his 60s, who struggles with his daughter's (Hope Davis) recent engagement to a man (Dermot Mulroney) he doesn't approve of. Kathy Bates stars as the would-be mother-in-law.
Sisk can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com
Family wants more testing of evidence
By Rob Pazell Kansan staff writer
The U.S. government is taking a new role in the homicide investigation of Shannon Martin, a 23-year-old KU biology student who was murdered last month in Costa Rica.
Sen. Sam Brownback, (R-Kan.), met yesterday afternoon with Jaime Daremblum, Costa Rican ambassador to the United States, to discuss the possibility of having evidence sent to the United States for DNA testing, said Erik Hotmire, a representative for Brownback.
Hotmire declined to comment on the results of the discussion.
Martin was slain while walking to her host family's house May 12 in Golfito. She had returned to Costa Rica with two grants to collect plant samples for additional testing after studying there. Investigators found hair in her grip when they discovered her body May 13. The FBI and the Organization for Judicial Investigation (OIJ), Costa Rica's equivalent of the FBI, refused to cover the expenses of shipping the DNA and hair samples.
INSIDETODAY
Staci Martin, Shannon's sister, wrote a letter to the U.S. government outlining the details of the case and urging it to pay for the shipment of the DNA evidence. She has asked others to appeal to their senators as well.
Jeanette Stauffer, the Martins' mother, has worked extensively with Brownback and with Lineth Saborio. director of the OII.
Sheri Martin, Shannon's other sister, said the letter was necessary to bring attention to the case. Although the investigation revealed nine suspects at the beginning, the suspects were released because the OIJ said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute them.
"It appears that the DNA is the key evidence to detain the suspects." Sheri Martin said. "Staci was trying to get people aware of it."
Sheri Martin said she thought the hair samples wouldn't be tested unless brought to the United States.
Pezell can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com
WORLD NEWS ...6A
HILLTOPICS ...6B
WEATHER ...4B
CROSSWORD ...4B
COMING IN NEXT WEEK'S KANSAN
CAMPUS SAFETY: What the KU Public Safety Office does to keep students safe in the summer.
KU CONSTRUCTION: University takes advantage of summer slowdown to make improvements.
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The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.