THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011
WWW.KANSAN.COM
MEN'S BASKETBALL|10A
VOLUME 123 ISSUE 100
Markieff Morris takes lead after loss
The Jayhawks look to a new leader after falling to K-State.
RESEARCH 3A
Cellphones could be useful on long drives
A study shows that talking on the phone near the end of a long drive can improve focus and performance.
INDEX
Classifieds...6A
Crossword...4A
Cryptoquips...4A
Opinion...5A
Sports...10A
Sudoku...4A
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© 2011 The University Daily Kansan
CARE TO...
DANCE?
If you're looking for a chance to unwind with some fun and a little bit of excercise, dance.
Dancing is a fun and upbeat way to connect with people, have a good time and get in shape. In a study done at the Mayo Clinic, researchers found that social dancing helps to reduce stress, increase energy, improve strength and increase muscle tone and coordination.
BY CAROLINE ATKINSON editor@kansan.com
A few groups in Lawrence offer free or discounted dance lessons and open practice sessions, which makes it easy to let loose from the stress of school.
The KU Swing Society invites students every Tuesday night from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. to enjoy a free night of swing dancing in the Kansas Room on level six of the Kansas Union. The club encourages everyone to come, regardless of skill level or previous experience.
"It's based on improvisation mostly, and it's a lot more fun and appropriate than club dancing," said Alix Augustine, a senior from Shawnee and president of KU Swing Society.
Inspired by previous dance experience with friends at the college, Doug Nickel, adviser in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, helped start the university-sponsored Lawrence Tango Dancers with a few of his colleagues. The group meets every Monday in the art gallery on the second level of Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts St., for a free "practica"
On occasion, the Lawrence Tango Dancers hold a special dance night at the Camelot II Ballroom on 1117 Massachusetts St., where they bring in a special guest and open their doors to the community. Camelot II also teaches ballroom, swing and Latin-influenced dance lessons. Wade Qandil, owner and director of Camelot Ballrooms, thinks of his profession as more of a hobby.
Professional local dancers invite University of Kansas students and members of the community to come and get informal instruction.
"It's a great way to meet people," Nickel said. "It's a way of getting to know people that's sort of outside the ordinary. You can learn a lot about people just through their dance."
"For me, it's not a job," Qandil said. "Eight hours of
teaching and performing, and I've never worked a minute in my life"
The Camelot II Ballroom does not offer free classes, but if this article is mentioned, university students will get a discount of 2-for-1 dance lessons. Regular rates are $35 for a four-week course or $10 per class. Qandil is busy helping university "stars," such as the chancelor's husband — Shade Little — get ready for KU's version of "Dancing with the Stars," which will be showcased at the Kansas Union on Thursday.
— Edited by Corey Thibodeaux
"For me, it's not a job.Eight hours of teaching and performing,and I've never worked a day in my life."
WADE QANDIL
Owner and
director of Camelot
Ballrooms
Sebastian Beshk, a junior from Mission Viejo, Calif., spins around his dancing partner Shauna Paden, a Lenexa resident, during the KU Swing Club meeting Tuesday evening. Approximately thirty students and local residents participated in the free weekly lesson at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Amber Otto, a 2017 Spring Hill graduate, demonstrates a spin with her partner Geoff Crawford, a Kansas City resident, during Tuesday's night Swing Club Meeting. Mention this article at the Gamelet Ibombo Ballroom and receive a 2-for-1 discount.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
FINANCE
Graduate students offering free tax help
BY SHAUNA BLACKMON
sblackmon@kansan.com
"People find taxes intimidating," said Tim Schaefer, a third-year graduate student from Overland Park. "People don't want to do it themselves, they would rather have someone who has the experience."
According to a popular saying, nothing is guaranteed in life except death and taxes. For students who have never had to do their own taxes, both can be rather scary.
Thanks to the School of Business and the School of Law, students and Douglas Country residents can count on someone with experience to decode tax document jargon.
For the past few years, graduate students in accounting and tax law have volunteered to assist students and Douglas County
residents struggling with their taxes. People who make less than $49,000 a year and who don't itemize their taxes can have certified students prepare and file their taxes.
Michael Gaudreau, a first-year graduate student from Olathe, is one of about 30 students working on the project this year. Gaudreau said he joined the program because he thought it would be a good opportunity to gain experience.
"It's great because you get to work with clients and work with issues that come up for students," Gaudreau said. "And it's good for the community. The service is obviously something that most people need and the university can provide that for certain citizens."
This is the second year Schaefer
SEE TAXES ON PAGE 3A
ORGANIZATIONS
KU debate off to a good start has two teams in tournament
Howard Ting/KANSAN
Mark Wilkins, a senior from Topeka, rehearses a speed drill during a debate meeting Tuesday night in the basement of Bailey Hall. The University has qualified two teams to this year's national debate tournament.
BY SHAUNA BLACKMON
sblackmon@kansan.com
The debate team does not have cheerleaders or a fan base as big as the basketball team. However, for the 44th year in a row, it has not only one, but two teams qualify for the National Debate Tournament. The only other university that had two teams automatically qualify this year is Northwestern University.
The team is sending four students, Dylan Quigley, Sean Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy and Matthew Petersen, to Dallas for the tournament, which is held from March 25-28. Quigley and Peterson are both seniors from Wichita and the Kennedy brothers are both juniors from Leawood.
"This is one of the most successful years we have had in a while," assistant coach Brett Brinker said. "We have a really hardworking squad. We're kind of like a family."
Scott Harris, the debate team's coach for the past 20 years, said that while it is a huge achievement to have two teams qualify, he is pretty sure that by the time the Nationals come around, the University will
have three teams able to compete.
"We have teams this year that we think have the chance to do very well," Harris said. "We are pretty
SEE DEBATE ON PAGE 3A