CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3
Monday, November 22, 1993
Callers say fall break would relieve stress
But students do not want longer semester
By Christoph Fuhrmans Kansan staff writer
KU students want a fall break.
But the students do not want to extend the fall semester any longer than necessary.
Those were the most common responses of the 30 calls to the Oread Forum's topic of whether KU should have a fall break.
Students said relieving stress and catching up on homework were the best reasons for having a fall break.
The main reason students were against a fall break was that students did not want to have a longer semester. If they did not have to make up the missed days of class, the students said a fall break would be great.
Some said KU should have the entire week off before Thanksgiving because many students left early and did not go to classes on Monday or Tuesday.
Others said they should not have to make up the missed class time because the Board of Regents had lengthened the semesters. In 1992, the finals period was shortened from two weeks to one week.
Several students said the only problem with Thanksgiving vacation was that the break was too late in the semester. After Labor Day, there are 11 weeks of classes before Thanksgiving. Students said the best time for a fall break would be during the middle or toward the end of October, either on Columbus Day or Halloween.
The break did not have to be a full week, students said, only a day or two. A three-day or four-day weekend would be the best way.
Look for the Oread Forum and your chance to discuss issues affecting KU students and the University.
Instead of having the weekend begin on a Thursday
or Friday, some students said there should be no classes on Monday and Tuesday. This way, classes that were held one or two times during a week would not be canceled.
But for many students, the current academic schedule is fine.
If KU were to have a fall break, some said it would hurt them academically because during vacations students tend to forget what they had learned, but others said they would have to study during a break to catch up on homework.
Time was the biggest problem mentioned by students who did not want the break. Although they did not want to cut into their summer vacation, they also did not want to shorten their Christmas vacation any more than necessary.
A small number of students said KU did not need a fall break at all because Thanksgiving vacation was long enough.
University governance's calendar committee creates the University's academic schedule for approval by University Council. Students who are interested in discussing a fall break further should contact the University governance office in 308 StrongHall.
Melissa Lacey / KANSAN
Gospel voice
Shawn Derritt, Kansas City, Kan., senior, belts out a song during the Inspirational Gospel Voices fall concert. The group and two others sang gospel songs Saturday night in the Kansas Union Ballroom.
Planning can prevent stressful family holiday
By Shan Schwartz
Kansan staff writer
Most KU students are heading home this week for Thanksgiving break.
For many freshmen, it will be the first trip home since leaving in August, but their stay at home may not be as pleasant as they or their parents expect.
Changes in the students and in the rest of the family can lead to conflicts and stress at home during the holidays.
Frank Desalvo, director of Counseling and Psychological Services, said students often changed in many ways after attending college and living away from home.
"Usually the student has developed different attitudes or feelings," Desalvo said. "Or perhaps they've engaged in behaviors they
couldn't do before, or have gotten away from things they previously had to do, like going to church every week."
The students are not necessarily the only ones who change after they leave for college.
"The families change, too, while the student is away," Desalvo said. "Maybe a younger sibling has moved into the student's bedroom, or Mom doesn't cook the same favorite meal like she used to."
Desalvo said students could preempt some conflicts if they prepared in advance.
door."
"They know what their parents are going to say or ask," he said. "They can practice what they're going to say, so they're ready to handle themselves in a mature, responsible way instead of pounding on the table or slamming the
Communication and openness are the keys to keeping conflicts under control, Desalvo said. Both parents and students need to identify the problems or disagreements and be willing to discuss them.
"It's not something that will go away after the weekend," Desalvo said. "It's the beginning of a long period of adjustment."
Desalvo said that students may try to avoid the conflicts by not going home during other vacations, but avoidance would not alleviate the conflicts.
And the students should not feel that they are the only ones under stress, Desalvo said. Parents feel stress, too.
"They see that the students are grown up and taking care of themselves, and that's what can make the parents stressful. It's a big transition for them."
"It's hard for parents to resign their job as caretakers," he said.
Kathryn Kretschmer, director of New Student Orientation, said she encouraged students to call home to discuss their visit ahead of time.
"We encourage them to discuss issues related to curfew, using the car, money, things that have changed since high school," Kretschmer said.
Kretschmer said students still may have to live under their parents' rules, but with advance discussion the students might reach a compromise.
"And the students should plan some time for themselves if they don't want to be with their family 24 hours a day," Kretschmer said.
Alex Freij, Taylonville, Ill., freshman, packs his belongings in his McColum Hall room. Freij is going home today for Thanksgiving break.
William Alix / KANSAN
Regents choose executive director
By Christoph Fuhrmans
Kansan staff writer
The Board of Regents announce on Friday that Stephan Jordan, deputy director for finance and planning for the Arizona Board of Regents, had been selected as executive director of the Kansas Board of Regents.
Jordan, 45, will take over as executive director Jan. 10. He will replace interim executive director Warren Corman, who took over for Stanley Koplik when Koplik left in September to become the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts system.
Jordan was one of three finalists who were interviewed Thursday and Friday by the board. The other two finalists were Richard Crofts, assistant to the chancellor at Mankato State University in Minnesota, and Edward Jakubauskas, a higher education consultant.
Regents member Shirley Harman said choosing Jordan was difficult because all three finalists were exceptional.
Jordan said he was looking forward to working on Regents issues such as open admissions for Regents universities and whether Washburn University should be admitted to the Regents system.
"He had the more all around agenda we needed," she said. "He'll be a great asset to the Kansas system."
"I certainly hope I can make a contribution to those," he said.
Jordan said the quality of the Regents system was what drew him to consider the job after being approached by the Regents search committee.
As executive director of the board, Jordan will oversee the Regents staff and help regulate and formulate policies concerning the Regents system.
"I was looking for an opportunity where there would be a group of dedicated people," he said. "And it looks as if I found them here."
Regents member Rick Harman said Jordan's experience in the Arizona Regents system and as vice chancellor for budgets and facilities at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center made him the clear unanimous choice.
"He just came across as a very capable young man," he said. "I think he's a very fine choice."