Friday, February 2, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
'Cousins' meet to cross cultures
KU group pairs students abroad with native pals
By Michelle Ward
wrirh @kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Karen Guilleminog started her college career last fall in a private school of 300 students in France, but will end the year at a public university of more than 20,000 in the Midwest.
It was a considerable change for the international student, who enrolled in the University of Kansas this spring. To help with this transition, International Student Services has created the KU Cousins program. This peermentoring program made its debut last night in a matching ceremony, pairing off international and American students.
see the city."
"I am so excited," said Guilleminog, who is from Dijon, France. "I hope that we can go get a drink or see a movie. It would be nice to take a walk and
Melanie Naaz, Witchita junior, left, Justin Shmalberg, Lawrence freshman, and Joua Mupasa, Republic of Congo sophomore, get to know each other at the KU cousins meeting last night. The program introduces international students to American students to help the visitors get settled and feel welcome. Photo by Aaron Shawalter/KANSAN
KU Cousins was established for the benefit of both international and American students, said Mousse Sissoko, coordinator of the program. The international students will meet American peers and participate in their cultural events. As a result of the pairing, the American students will also have the opportunity to learn from the international students before leaving the University.
"International students, without this group, tend to only spend time with others like them," Sissoko said. "They are missing one important aspect of what the KU experience should be. Domestic students will have a chance at an international experience. Both groups will benefit."
The program has recruited more than 65 international students with about 40 American students signed up. During their semester together, International Student Services will provide scheduled meetings for the new cousins. The office has designated a bi-weekly calling pattern for students to keep in touch.
even giving conversation topic ideas.
Kris Dover saw this as an opportunity to meet new people. The Carl Junction, Mo., junior, who works in the international admissions department of International Student Services, said he had
noticed that his international friends didn't have an easy time meeting Americans.
"They will get to know someone that lives here," Dover said. "I think it will be fun. It's an easy way to help somebody."
— Edited by Jenni Valadez
Alternative paper to blow into Lawrence
By Brandon Stinnett writer@kansan.com Kansan stef writer
A new alternative newspaper is striving to give a voice to students who choose not to follow society's norms — those who traditionally go unheard in the mainstream news media.
The Tornado, a start-up alternative weekly newspaper, is set to hit Lawrence newsstands in early April.
Publisher Cate Pfeifer said The Tornado is designed to fill a need in the community for a newspaper that focuses on people not necessarily in the Lawrence spotlight. Pfeifer, who has a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, came to Lawrence from Wisconsin last year and said she was saddened to find no alternative newspaper.
While living in Madison,
Pfeifer fell in love with Th. Isthmus, an alternative newspaper that focused its coverage on a wide variety of issues, from community events and entertainment to alternative lifestyles and sex. She wants to bring that same kind of coverage to Lawrence.
"We want to have a strong presence in the media here," Pfeifer said.
Pfeifer said she wanted *The Tornado* to become something people read to get information they couldn't find anywhere else, much like *Pitch Weekly* has become in Kansas City.
That means doing things such as devoting extensive coverage to Haskell Indian Nations University, an institution Pfeifer feels is often neglected by other Lawrence media outlets.
But Pfeifer doesn't want to give the impression that *The Tornado* is against any of the
other area newspapers. She said people in Lawrence should enjoy a variety of options.
"We're not anti-any of the other newspapers," Pfeifer said. "There's room for all of them."
Pfeifer and Tornado editor Patrick Quinn are busy looking to The University of Kansas and Haskell for students interested in interning with the paper. The Tornado editors hope to eventually offer course credit to students who are willing to devote their time and effort.
"This is a start-up," Pfeifer said. "This is a magnificent opportunity for someone who is willing to put in the sweat equity."
In a city that is defined by its colleges, Quinn said *The*
Tornado had an obligation to cover them extensively, especially life at KU.
"They're the big place in town, and whenever something happens up there, you have to pay attention to it," Quinn said.
Kellie North, Emporia junior in journalism, welcomes the addition of a newspaper that doesn't focus as much on mainstream news. North, who is pursuing a career in public relations, said she would be interested in interning with The Tornado.
"We really don't have anything like that on our campus," North said.
Seung Ahn, Overland Park sophomore, said Lawrence could use a newspaper that goes beyond traditional news stories.
"The Kansan newspaper focuses on stuff that people mostly already know," Ahn said.
- Edited by Matt Daugherty
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KU INVITATIONAL Track & Field
Domestic violence shelter needs a helping hand!
If you are interested in volunteering as an advocate for battered women and children, come to one of our informational meetings. Training starts February 10.
- Saturday, February 3, 2001, 9am-11am United Way Building 2518 Ridge Ct.
- Tuesday, February 6, 2001 9pm-9pm
Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont
For more information, call Meredith at 865-3956
Red Lyon Tavern
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence
944 Massachusetts 832-8228
General admission tickets are on sale in the KU box offices: Murhuv
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Hall, 785-864-3982; Lied Center, 864-AARTS;
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by Edward Mast and Lenore Bensinger Directed and Choreographed by Patrick Carriere-Scenography and Virtual Reality Technology by Mark Reanev
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