Wednesday, April 11.2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
One last step to The Real World
By Sarah Smarsh
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas students might find themselves watching one of their peers on MTV's 11th season of The Real World.
Christopher Mefford, Chanute freshman, received a call Monday night saying he had been chosen as one of 20 finalists for the popular reality show, on which seven strangers live and work together for five months. Tens of thousands of young people across the country have auditioned for the opportunity.
Real World producers will fly Mafford to Los Angeles on Monday, and he will be interviewed extensively on Tuesday.
Feb. 10, when Bunim/Murray Productions held an open casting call at Abe & Jake's Landing, 8 E.
Mefford began vying for a spot
6th St. Casting
6th St. Casting directors picked Mefford and 14 others from the Lawrence hopefuls.
After completing an application and being interviewed, Mefford made the cut for the semifinals. He
Mefford
drove to St. Louis for another interview: now he's on the home stretch.
"It could really happen now." Mefford said, adding he wouldn't have even attended the casting call
without the prodding of friends.
Meford, 24, said his appeal for the show might lay in his status as a non-traditional student. Meford was a rescue swimmer in the Navy for four years, most of which found him stationed in Guam.
Meford's history combines worldly experience with a small-town. Midwestern upbringing. He said his experiences, combined with an outgoing and "goofy" personality, made him a good candidate for The Real World.
"I've been around the world and met a lot of people," he said.
Meford lives with his brother,
Nicholas, who is also a freshman.
Nicholas, 19, said he had high hopes
for his brother.
"I don't think anybody's quite like him."
"I think I've known all along he was gonna make it." Nicholas said.
Nicholas said he and the entire town of Chanute — even the Meffords' father, who had never heard of the hit show — would love to watch Chris become famous.
The possibility of being selected now seems more of a reality, Chris said, causing him to consider the "daunting" task of living on camera 24 hours a day in a yet-to-be-disclosed location.
"Since he's my brother, I've taught him everything he knows," Nicholas said, laughing.
But Chris said he doubted one could ever regret taking such an opportunity.
"Who knows where it could lead?" he said.
Edited by Jay Pilgreen
No short circuits
Stephen Pun, Macau senior, operates "Peruvian Nightmare," the robot he created with three other teammates for an engineering class project. Six teams, made up of 31 students, have worked on the robots since fall, and entered their robots in a competition yesterday in Learned Hall. Photo by Katie Moore/KANSAN
Provost reduces energy bills, prevents further budget cuts
By Cássio Furtado
By Cassio Furtado
writer@kansas.com
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas saved $355,000 in electrical and natural gas bills last year, Provost David Shulenburger announced last week.
The money saved in utility bills is a result of conservation policies instituted by Shulenburger last summer.
At the time, he set thermostats at 75 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter. Previously, the administration had set thermostats in campus buildings to 74 degrees year round. The University's Facilities Operations department also manually adjusted heating and cooling systems and reduced hours of operation to save more energy.
Shulenburger's measures came because of the drastic increases in utility costs.
The Office of University Relations said in a press release the average price of oil purchased by the University from July 1999 to February 2000 averaged $3.52 per metric cubic foot. From July 2000 to February 2001, the office said, the average price climbed to $5.86 MCF.
The new prices increased the University's utility bills in more than $1 million, which caused Chancellor Robert Hemenway to
announce budget cuts in all administrative units, schools and departments in February.
The cuts, totaling $1.15 million, reduced budgets by less than 1 percent — 0.5674 percent — in fiscal year 2001, causing a loss of positions and a halt on hiring faculty and staff.
At the same time, the University added 225,000 feet to its utility systems with the opening of Joseph R. Pearson Hall, Murphy Hall addition and the new child-care facility.
Lindy Eakin, associate provost, said the money saved in utility bills would avoid further budget cuts. He said if the University hadn't saved the $335,000, further cuts would have been needed.
He said the saving measures would continue because gas prices hadn't been reduced.
"It would have been worse," Eakin said.
"We don't know what will happen next year," he said. "But we will do whatever we can to minimize the impact."
Cindy Strecker, assistant director for utility management, said the University was working to implement measures that would save more energy.
Strecker said facilities operations would work to insulate steam lines, to replace some campus light bulbs with more efficient ones and to replace the economizers in boilers in campus buildings.
— Edited by Melinda Weaver
WANTED:
A STUDENT FOR THE POSITION OF
TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR
APPLY:
STUDENT SENATE OFFICE
(410 KANSAS UNION)
DUE: APRIL 13, 2001 BY 5 P.M.
DUE: APRIL13. 2001BY5 P.M.
- Position begins April 30, 2001
- *20 hours per week @ $5.50-$7.00/hr.
- Job Duties: Responsible for daily operations of the KU on Wheels bus service, Lift Van, and Safe Ride. This includes providing information for riders, distributing bus passes, planning of route changes, handling complaints and bus pass refunds, and serving on transportation committees.
QUESTIONS: HOLLY KREBS 864-4644
fresh mint
KU Pre-dental Meeting Tomorrow night 7:00 p.m. 1005 Haworth
We will have UMKC dental students and Johnson County Community College dental hygiene students as our guest speakers.
If you have any questions,please call:
Chris Leiszler 312-7009
Hope to see you there!
TRADITION KEEPERS Check it out Check it off
Now is the Time...
To Consider a KU MBA Degree.
- The KU MBA adds value to your undergraduate major pointing you towards professional success.
- 91% had jobs within 6 weeks of graduation.
- $57,690 was the average starting salary for last year's graduates.
- Our program offers study-abroad opportunities in Italy, France, and Mexico.
- Don't let time run out. Applications are due by May 1.
Stop by the MBA Office in 206 Summerfield Hall now or call 864-3050 ext.5
The KU MBA www.bschool.ukans.edu
---