CAMPUS/AREA UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, December 8,1993
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Courtesy of the University Archives
Dorothy Pennington, associate professor of communication and African-American studies, dresses with shawl and cane to characterize Solioum Truth. Pennington visits classrooms across Kansas in her portrait. She said she became interested in Truth while teaching two courses at KU.
KU professor portrays historical figure in schools around Kansas
By Brian James Kansan staff writer
When Dorothy Pennington steps into a classroom, history comes alive.
As part of a Kansas Humanities Council educational program, Pennington, associate professor of communication and African-American studies, portrays Sojourner Truth during visits in classrooms across Kansas.
Pennington, dressed like an elderly woman, usually begins her portrayal of Truth by entering the classroom leaning heavily on a cane while humming a hymn. She then lowers herself into a chair and begins to weave the story of Truth, a Black woman born a slave in 1797.
Truth later became a well-known evangelist and public speaker on
civil rights and the feminist movement. Truth perhaps is best-known for her speech, "Ain't I a Woman?" originally given at a women's rights convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851.
Pennington said students were more receptive to realistic portrayals of historical figures than reading about them in books.
"Within the first few minutes, students are generally captivated," she said. "I've had high school teachers tell me that's highly unusual of their students."
When the Kansas Humanities Council was searching for professors to present first-person characterizations of people who left their mark on U.S. history and literature, Pennington jumped at the chance.
Pennington said she became interested in Truth and her life while teaching two courses at KU.
"I don't think I could ever portray anyone else," she said. "She was such a dynamic and spiritual person
— I don't think I could identify with anyone the way I do with her."
Pennington said Truth used her spirituality as a defense against her critics.
"People would try to undermine the basis of her ideas and credibility," Pennington said. "Usually her argument was, 'God gave me the ideas and thoughts.' Prayer was very important to her."
Pennington's spells all presentation into three parts: reciting some of Truth's phrases and speeches and singing a few of her songs; answer-
Pennington's performances are not open to the public and are scheduled by the Kansas Humanities Council.
questions from the audience while portraying Truth, and answering questions outside of Truth's character.
Getting "into" Truth's character -- trying to portray her personality and speaking style as accurately as possible -- was based on Truth's own narrative that was published in 1850 and a few secondary sources, Pennington said.
Marion Cott, executive director of the Kansas Humanities Council, said that Pennington was able to accurately portray Truth because Pennington had a deep respect and admiration for Truth.
"She draws you back in time, immersing you in the character and time period," she said. "It's mesmerizing."
Want to put off a final?
Policy could rule out some exams
By Kathleen Stolle
Kansan staff writer
Students dreading exams scheduled for today or tomorrow may have the perfect excuse to skip them.
Professors cannot give exams the week before finals unless they also have scheduled an exam during the finals period, according to University Senate Rules and Regulations.
The reason for the rule is twofold, said Larry Maxey, professor of music and head of the University Calendar Committee.
"It protects the students from having all of their exams on the last day of class," he said.
Although professors can ask for permission to hold exams the week before finals, they rarely do, Maxev said.
"We have very, very few requests for exceptions," he said.
For students who already have taken exams this week, the point is moot. Maxey said.
"I think the students' options end when they take the exam," he said.
Students whose professors have scheduled exams this week but not next week should notify the
professor's department chair.
If meeting with the head of the department is inappropriate — for example if the chair and the professor are one in the same — students should go to the Student Assistance Center, Maxey said.
Laura Morgan, assistant director of the center, said she encouraged students to notify their professors, department chairs or the center if they thought professors were violating the regulation.
"We assist the students in resolving grievances regarding that issue, although we're by no means the only office," she said. "I think students need to know that they need to come forward as soon as possible. If an exam has been taken, you can't undo it."
She said although she had not received complaints of violations this semester, she had in the past.
"It has been a problem, but I can't estimate the frequency," she said.
Carole Ross, acting associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, said she did not think the regulation was violated often.
"I think when it does happen, the professor just isn't aware of the Senate rules and regulations," she said. "I don't think any professor intentionally schedules exams against the rules."
For professors who do break the rules, the levels of reprimand could range from a warning to suspension. Ross said.
Take-home finals preferred by many
"Normally I think this can be solved with a warning and by working out problems within the department," she said.
By Christoph Fuhrmans
Kansan staff writer
With the holiday season just around the corner, most KU students would prefer to skip finals and head for home.
But because students do have to take finals, some of them would rather have take-home finals instead of the regular classroom finals.
Mike Stalker, Wichita junior, has two take-home finals next week.
He said he preferred take-home finals to classroom finals because he could take more time to work on the final.
"You can make sure you get every idea covered." Stalker said.
Stalker said he learned and understood information better from take-home finals.
"Most of the time with a test, I end up cramming, but after the final you forget everything," he said.
"Students have the opportunity for more time for thinking and reflection," she said.
It is because of that cramming that Reva Friedman, associate professor of educational psychology and research, said she preferred take-home finals. She said her students learned how to better express what they learned in class on take-home finals.
Friedman said the belief that take-home finals were easier than classroom finals was misleading.
"If the (take-home) final deals with more complex thinking, than
it would not be true." she said.
Although Friedman gives her students a take-home final, she said classroom finals were better than take-home finals for certain courses.
"It depends on the content of the course, the objectives of the course and the purpose of that final assessment," she said.
Because each course has different objectives, Phil McKnight, professor of curriculum and instruction, said he gave a two-part final, both a take-home and a classroom final.
"I want to give a lot of opportunities to students to show what they have learned," he said. McKnight said a two-part final benefited all of his students.
"People have different learning styles and different testing styles," he said.
Amy Newton, Washington, Mo., junior, said a take-home final was difficult because she had more research to do to complete it, but the extra time was welcomed.
“it's going to be harder, but I can take my time on it,” she said.
Even though students have more time to complete a take-home final, they must still hand in the final on the assigned date in the table, according to the University Senate regulations.
Robert Shelton, University
ombudsman, said a student could
hand in a final before the assigned
date in the time table if a professor
allowed it.
CAMPUS BRIEF
Two 'peeping-toms' arrested for looking into sorority window
Kansanstaffreport
Two KU students were arrested early yesterday morning and ordered to appear in court to answer charges of window peeping at the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, 1600 Oxford Ave.
Police were called to the sorority at 2:17 a.m. after a report of a prowler on the fire escape, said Sgt. Rick Nickell. One of the officers who responded saw one person standing on top of another person's shoulders. He was looking into a window that was about 10 feet off the ground. When the officer attempted to talk to the subjects, they ran. Both were apprehended after a brief foot chase.
Mark Hudson, Lenexa senior, and Troy Haynes, Topeka freshman, were arrested in the incident yesterday, Lawrence police reports said. Hudson was released from the Douglas County Jail after paying a $155 bond. Haynes was released after paying a $190 bond. Both were issued notices to appear in Lawrence Municipal Court on Dec. 20, court records said.
Shoemaker says he fulfilled goals
Senator feels he should be more visible, outspoken
Halfway through his term, John Shoemaker, student body president, said he thought he had accomplished much of what he had set out to do.
By Donelia Hearne
Kansan staff writer
The top three goals Shoemaker brought into office with him are close to being reached, he said.
Shoemaker said he thought next semester would bring the completion of plans for expansion of child care and health care services for students. He said he thought his goal to give the Office of Minority Affairs a stronger voice in the University administration had been
"We've managed to keep it accessible to students but still have the ear of the executive vice chancellor," Shoemaker said.
accomplished. Changes in the structure of the minority affairs office have brought it closer to top University administrators, he said.
Also on his list of priorities was to encourage a new attitude in Student Senate, he said.
"I've tried to convey the message that it is time for us to identify those students feel are necessary and make sacrifices to get those done," he said.
Katie Hutchinson, Wichita senior and Liberal Arts and Sciences senator, said it was difficult for any student body president to have a large effect on the University.
"There's only so much Student Senate can do," she said. "John has been involved. He's always in the office."
those who got in touch with him, he needed to try to reach students more.
Hutchinson said she thought that although Shoemaker was accessible to
"I'd like to see a president be more outspoken and visible," she said. "We need more publicizing of Student Senate."
The president also has the responsibility of working with the administration, which Hutchinson said was Shoemaker's strength.
John Shoemaker
"He has a very good working relationship with the administration," she said, "But he's got to work with students too. But
that's hard to do because there is a 1800 degree difference in the goals of students and the goals of the administration."
Chancellor Gene Budig said Shoemaker had participated with campus groups on policy matters and had been open and accessible.
"The amount it costs to go to KU will increase I'm in office," he said. "And some people will say I'm a tax-and-spend president."
"I have high regard for John," Budig said.
"We are better because of his service."
Shoemaker said one of the major issues he would be facing next semester would be tuition and fee increases.
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But he said he thought the cost increases were necessary to provide a high quality education and were worth the budget tightening students will have to do, he said.
"Some people will have to cut $20 they spend at Louise's West or Johnny's," he said. "I don't feel sorry for them."
Shoemaker does not care if people like him as long as they respect what he is doing,he said.
"I hope I've made some people happy and some of them mad," he said. "If everybody is happy or everybody is mad something has gone wrong."