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NEWS / MONDAY. AUGUST 16, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
LOCAL
Volunteering offers new experiences
BY CAROLINE
BLEDOWSKI
cbledowsk@akansan.com
When Kelly Unger, a junior from Overland Park, decided to attend the University of Kansas, classes weren't the only thing on her mind. She also wanted to get involved in extracurricular activities.
"I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to get to know a whole bunch of other people," she said.
Today, Unger hasn't just met other people, she is the chapter president of her sorority, Kappa Delta.
Unger is just one of many students who decide to be involved at the University beyond the classroom. More than 600 groups and organizations on campus give students the opportunity to develop skills and interests that classes cannot or do not offer.
Most of these groups are run entirely by students. While professionals and faculty often give advice and help out with problems, students bear the main responsibilities, including managing finances, delegating responsibilities and communicating with people outside of the organization.
Being part of an organization means investing time and energy, but it also results in new experiences, new friends and new opportunities that will help after graduation. Greek life, for example, gives students and alumni the opportunity
to network with other people and be successful in the job market, said Amy Long, associate director of the Student Involvement a n d Leadership Center.
them focused on class work, which helps them graduate," Quisenberry said.
Being part of the community is the key word. Fraternities and sororites, as well as other organizations, invest a lot of time in working with non-profit organizations and fundraising. They are not only part of
"It's always important to get yourself out there, push your comfort zone,try something new."
KELLY UNGER Kappa Delta president
ot only part of
Besides helping in building a resume and networking, being active in extracurricular activities helps develop a new skill set and try out leadership roles, said Aaron Quisenberry. Associate Director of the Student Involvement and Leadership Center.
"It helps students make connections and helps them feel a part of the University community, which keeps them engaged, which keeps
the University, but also part of Lawrence. Being an active member in any organization can be time-consuming, especially when students have both classes and a job. Yet, activities range from only one hour to 40 hours per week.
"What you put in is what you get out of it," said Long.
Paige Blevins, a junior from Great Bend, is freshman/sophomore student senator for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and has learned to manage her time accordingly in order to fulfill her duty as a student and a senator. She said she needed to put her priorities in line
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10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday in the fourth-floor lobby of the Kansas Union
and finish class work earlier to focus on her role as a senator.
Blevins joined the Student Senate committee in her freshman year and ran as senator in her sophomore year. Her position includes writing bills, attending Senate and committee meetings and reviewing policies.
"It almost like having a class and then having to do homework for it. It's a little less intense. You're not going to be graded on it." Blevins said.
Although there are no grades, extracurricular activities can be a challenge, but they offer experiences that prepare students for life after college.
"It's always important to get yourself out there, push your comfort zone, try something new," Unger said.
Edited by Dana Meredith
Squad car stolen thief later caught
ODD NEWS
ORANGE, Calif. — A parole jumped into a Southern California police squad car and drove away with overhead emergency lights flashing while the officer was nearby investigating traffic issues.
Orange Police Sgt. Dan Adams says the patrol officer had stopped his squad car Wednesday evening to investigate malfunctioning railroad crossing arms. The officer left the Ford Crown Victoria running with its emergency lights on.
Moments later, 35-year-old Jon Anthony Tolden jumped in and drove away.
Adams says Tolden abandoned the black-and-white about a half-mile away and jumped a wall. He was arrested a short time later and booked for investigation of theft of a police vehicle.
He's being held without bail and faces a Friday court hearing.
The police car wasn't damaged.
Man faked seizures to avoid paying tab
BALTIMORE — A Baltimore man has been sentenced to a year and a half in jail for faking seizures to get out of paying restaurant bills. City prosecutors said 43-year-old Andrew Palmer pleaded guilty last week to one count of theft scheme, and a judge agreed to impose an 18-month sentence — the maximum Palmer could have received.
Prosecutors said Palmer ate and drank at several restaurants between April and July, and when he couldn't pay, he would feign a seizure that required medical personnel to respond. The maximum penalty for each individual offense was 90 days in jail because the value of each meal was less than $100.
Court records show Palmer has a long criminal record that includes 40 convictions for theft and dozens more arrests.
Associated Press
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