Tuesday, December 12, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Web alleviates shopping woes
Students enjoy online-buying convenience
By Amber Huntzinger and Cassio Furtado
Special to the Kansan
Special to the Kansan
Some KU students are trading in the normal hustle and bustle, crowded parking lots and long lines of holiday shopping for the comfort of their own computer chairs.
Numerous online sites contain catalogs for major department stores and chains as well as small, independently owned shops and retailers.
Many of these merchants are willing to search for, send and even wrap any gift people could possibly want.
Gretchen Gray, Kansas City, Kan., junior, is bypassing the mall to surf the Web this season for gifts.
"I don't have time to do a lot of Christmas shopping this year," she said. "I found that by going online I have access to stores all over the country with a click of my mouse."
Eric Braun, St. Louis sophomore, said he preferred shopping for DVDs, CDs and computer software online at stores such as Amazon.com or Buy.com rather than going to local stores.
"Shopping online is good because you have access to many products and stores you don't
find here in Lawrence," Braun said.
But some Lawrence businesses also are taking part in the online shopping craze. Shop.lawrence.com provides links to local stores as well as gift certificates to restaurants and businesses across town.
Prairie Patches, 821 Massachusetts St., recently launched three Web sites catering to students, parents and alumni.
Cinda Garrison, owner of Prairie Patches, said she started prairiepatches.com, jayhawkheaven.com and sorority-heaven.com to reach out to people wondering what's available and what's new at her store.
Garrison tries to have all the items she sells in her store on the Web sites, too. Prairie Patches offers many specialized and personalized items.
"I try to have things you might not find other places," Garrison said.
Some sites and select department stores provide wish lists to help consumers find the perfect
"Now I can just enter in their email address and find out what is on their Christmas lists," she said.
gifts for their family and friends. Gray had her family register their wish lists.
People can even send Christmas cards via the Internet. Many sites allow Internet users to send colorful, personalized Christmas cards through the e-mail for free.
Katie Williams, Topeka sophomore, uses online Christmas cards for convenient, fast and free delivery.
"I can find Christmas cards for everyone on my list, enter in their e-mail addresses, pick a date for them to arrive and forget about it," she said. "I can do all of this and not pay a cent."
But some students, such as Justin Mills, Lansing senior, do not enjoy shopping online.
"I like to go shopping," he said. "I like to actually go to the mall and buy things."
www.shop.lawrence.com: Find links to area retailers or buy gift certificates for local businesses.
www.amazon.com: A fast and easy search engine provides access to a variety of gift items from books and music to electronics and software.
WEB SITES
www.jayhawkheaven.com: Find gift items for KU students, Jayhawk fans or sorority members.
www.sororityheaven.com Find gift items for sorority members.
- Edited by Amy Randolph
www.hallmark.com: Browse through Hallmark gifts and products such as flowers, ornaments, cards and gift baskets.
www.disney.com: Find any Disney product or send a personalized Disney Gram.
www.hastingsentertainment.com: Search for electronic and entertainment items and view its best seller and new items lists.
Also, try searching for any major department store or retail chain.
ONLINE SHOPPING TIPS
Know who you're dealing with: If you've never heard of the business, check its location and reputation with the Better Business Bureau or the State Attorney General's Office.
Guard your password: Use different passwords when you're making a purchase than you use to log on to your computer or network.
- Protect your privacy. Provide personal information only if you know who's collecting it, why, and how it's going to be used.
Pay the safest way: A credit card offers the most consumer protection.
■ Order only on a secure server: Look for an unbroken key or padlock at the bottom of the browser window to ensure your transmission is protected. Buy only from
Web vendors that protect your financial information when you order online.
- Check shipping and handling fees:
  Don't forget to factor these into the cost of the order, and to choose the delivery option that best meets your needs.
- Track your purchases: Keep printouts for the Web pages with details about the transaction, including return policies if you're not satisfied.
Senate plans book exchange for students
By Kursten Phelps writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Students might squeeze more money from their books this semester if a book-exchange program works like its Student Senate organizers hope.
Michael Roessler, nontraditional senator and Senate academic task force member, said students could benefit by selling their used books to each other and buying them from each other and skipping the local bookstores.
Students who want to sell their books should fill out a form by tomorrow at the Senate office on the fourth-floor of the Kansas Union. Organizers will compile a list and publish it Friday. The list of books for sale will be posted in a Union display case and sent via email on various listservs
Students interested in buying a book would be responsible for making sure the book will be used for the class next semester and would contact the seller about buying the book
and arranging a time for a transaction.
"Ideally this is something that thousands of students could benefit from," Roessler said. "This semester, we're really just trying to get it off the ground and running, so hopefully a few dozen students will take advantage of it."
Virginia Welington Oklahoma City senior, said she thought the book exchanger was a good idea. "I don't know how feasible it is, whether it would work or not." Wellington said. "But I'd probably try it just to save some money."
Katie Holman, journalism senator and academic task force member, said it was appropriate for Senate to provide a forum for students to buy and sell their books.
"I just think Student Senate should provide a service like this," Holman said. "I think students definitely feel like they should be getting more money for their books."
Edited by Warisa Chulindra
New position focuses on commercializing University research
By Jason Krall
By Jason Krall
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
A new administrator hopes to make the ideas of some tech-savvy students and faculty profitable, but some faculty are concerned that his efforts could take away from old-fashioned research.
Baxendale's appointment brings the commercialization of faculty and student ideas, papers, designs and inventions under one office for both campuses.
Jim Baxendale has been appointed executive director of technology transfer and intellectual property, a new position at the University. Baxendale had previously supervised those areas for the University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute. Technology and intellectual property matters on the Lawrence campus have been handled by the KU Center for Research.
"We have to teach faculty to think commercialization, to understand the commercialization process and how to participate in it," Baxendale said in a written statement.
David Katzman, professor of American Studies, said the reorganization indicated that University officials wanted to
focus more effort on faculty research that could turn a profit.
"We privilege those things that bring in money, rather than focusing on the research contributions we make to knowledge and to our students," he said. "It does distort our values."
A University Council committee revised the
THE NEW POSITION
What happened: Jim Baxendale has been appointed executive director of technology transfer and intellectual property, a new position at the University. Baxendale previously oversaw those areas for the University of Kansas Medical Center.
What it means: Baxendale's appointment could mean a new emphasis on preparing student and faculty inventions to be commercialized. Some faculty fear that it reflects that technology and biosciences are the University's top priorities for research.
What's next: Baxendale hopes to help researchers at the Med Center and on the Lawrence campus to develop partnerships in overlapping research areas.
Meyen said faculty sometimes were unaware of the commercial applications for their ideas and inventions, and an office such as Baxendale's could help them realize their work's full potential.
special education who was in charge of the committee that revised the policy.
University's intellectual property policy last month to specifically include Web-based teaching tools and other new technologies such as video conferencing that University researchers are developing.
"We have to teach faculty to think commercialization, to understand the commercialization process and how to participate in it."
"Historically, inventions have come out of the sciences and tech-
The policy gives the University the right to a portion of commercial royalties on faculty and student work if the University financed the research or provided equipment or other resources, said Edward Meyen, professor of
ticipate in it."
Jim Baxendale executive director of technology transfer and intellectual property
nology fields." Meyen said. "And those faculty are not as sensitive to the potential value and significance that what they create can have in the commercial sector."
Barnhill said the policy revision and Baxendale's appointment were unrelated, and the reorganization did not reflect a change in priorities.
"This will be adding on to what we're currently doing," he said.
"This does not represent a refocusing in the sense that it could mean a shift in resources."
— Edited by Worisa Chulindra
Bob Barnhill, vice chancellor for research. said Baxendale's office would help coordinate research on the Lawrence campus and at the Med
Center, which could mean specia partnerships in areas such as pharmacy and chemistry.
Fasting for freedom
The blistering cold did not stop, Karen Keith, Tulsa sophomore, from protesting to free Tibet. A group of students fasted for the cause Sunday afternoon in front of Firstar Bank at Ninth and Massachusetts streets. Photo by Amanda Maloney/KANSAN
Fat burners could present health risks
By Melissa Davis writer@kansan.com Kansas staff writer
The holiday season is here, and health and fitness magazines are pushing their "quick fix" to avoid holiday weight gain: fat burners.
Fat-burner supplements that claim to "speed up your metabolism" and "shed unwanted fat" are prevalent in Lawrence at places such as several Dillons locations and General Nutrition Center, 520 W. 23rd St., but some physicians and the Food and Drug Administration warn some fat burners are not safe.
Randall Rock, chief of staff at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said fat burners worked by increasing heart rate, but some fat burners could be dangerous and should be used with caution.
"Individuals should be weary of supplements that will increase metabolism because individuals might be exposed to other risks." Rock said.
The FDA agrees and has proposed all manufacturers have a label recommending limited use of ephedrine-caffeine drugs for a maximum of seven days and stating overuse could result in heart attacks, seizures or death.
But some students don't think they are unsafe; they think they're a rip-off.
Matt Rehder, a Lawrence senior who works at a gym, said he saw many clients who took fat-burning supplements but the pills were not effective.
"I personally think it is all bogus," he said. "I don't think you can lose fat by drinking a beverage or taking a pill."
Rock advised individuals to check the ingredients label on supplement products.
He said weight-loss supplements containing ephedrine or caffeine could burn calories but were potent central nervous system stimulants, meaning they could increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Rock said Watkins had seen many people who were experiencing bad side effects from diet supplements.
"We've seen individuals who are very uncomfortable, anxious or having a difficult time sleeping, which could all be related to these diet pills." Rock said.
The FDA has been notified of more than 800 "adverse events" associated with an ephedrine-caffeine combo, and 17 of those resulted in deaths. The FDA said mixing ephedrine-caffeine with other common medications, such as cold medicines, could result in irregular heartbeat and hypertension.
— Edited by Casey Franklin
Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe New year and come back to KU and The Kansan Next semester