JordanKruse
Spain
Fall 2010
This past fall I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain to study Spanish language and culture. Up until then, I had never lived outside of Kansas much less in a city as big as Madrid. My time there, in a place so different than home, completely pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me the chance to experience new things every day.
My first couple weeks were great. I spent every day walking around the city, eating churrros con chocolate, visiting Retiro Park, and planning trips for upcoming breaks, but I still felt like a visitor. The city was not home yet, and despite my efforts to pull myself off the beaten path, every bar or cafe I went to seemed to be filled with American tourists and I couldn't help but see myself as one of them. It took a lot of patience and effort, but at some point during my time abroad I was able to shake the feeling that I was a stranger in the city that I lived in. I became best friends with my roommates, improved my language skills immensely, interacted with local Spaniards and other students from around the world, mastered the public transportation system, and even found a café where I became a regular.
I lived with a host mom who cooked authentic Spanish meals for us every day. She was an incredibly interesting woman who, despite her seventy years was very sassy. She wore leopard print and fur coats, she put on bright red lipstick for special occasions, and she never drank anything except coffee or vermouth. She introduced us to her family and friends, and thanks to her I was able to feel a strong sense of community. Most of all, she
DENT VOICE SINCE 1904
was patient in helping me with my language skills. She spoke no English, and upon my arrival my knowledge of the Spanish language barely exceeded "Donde esta la biblioteca?" But the homestay situation forced me to speak Spanish frequently and was an irreplaceable tool in learning a new language.
My time living in Madrid also presented me with tons of opportunities to travel throughout Spain and all over Europe. I visited fourteen different cities within Spain as well as England, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, and Vienna. Every place I traveled to presented me with new things to see, foods to try, cultural insights and experiences, and people to meet.
At first Madrid felt like a place I was visiting, but during my study abroad experience, Madrid became a second home. I learned a new language, traveled to places I never imagined I would see, navigated the metro systems of several major cities, met tons of other travelers from all over the world, and started friendships that will last for years.
DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
BY ANGELIQUE
MCNAUGHTON
amcnaughton@kansan.com
Michelle Compton, student development advisor of Union
For Student Union Activities, the event-planning organization on campus, it's been a record-breaking kind of year.
programs, said more students than ever before, especially incoming students, were participating in organizations like SUA.
"Because of that, we've allowed ourselves to take on more committee members than usual," Compton said.
At 96 students, including leadership roles, membership is at an all-time high for SUA.
Molly Iler, the vice president of SUA and a senior from Summit, N.J. said the organization was ecstatic about the number of applications this year and for the first time had to stop accepting new ones.
Chad Buffington, a senior and committee member from Kingwood, Texas, said hed always known about SUA when he decided to join. "I've been familiar with
it and my two roommates were in it anyway," Buffington said.
Rachel Anderson, president of SUA and a senior from Manhattan, said the increased applicants and diversity of the members enabled the organization to reach more students.
"The more perspectives we have
SEE SUA ON PAGE 3A
CLUBS
Jiu Jitsu Club brings in MMA fighter
BY KELSEY RICHARDSON krichardson@kansan.com
The KU Jiu Jitsu Club recently hired professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter and Kansas native Tyler Stinson, also known as "The
Evolution, to teach boxing and MMA.
Stinson, a 25-year-old from Winfield, began his professional MMA career in 2006, according to the site wiki.cagepotato.com.
"His stand-up and boxing is just amazing," club president Shawn Kaylor said. "We're paying him to come in and teach boxing and MMA because he is one of the best in Kansas." Stinson has a 16-6 winning record and was invited to the Bellator welterweight tournament.
— it is open to both students and non-students.
Different types of jiu jitsu, such as Brazilian and Japanese, are practiced on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Mixed Martial Arts room at the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. The MMA and boxing portion with Stinson meets every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.
"We had a couple of girls come in last semester, so girls are welcome," Kaylor said. "You don't have to be a student to join, as long as you can get an ID for the rec."
Members of the KU Jiu Jitsu Club met Stinson through training with him in different gyms in Kansas.
"It's great for any kind of self-defense."
Chris Clemmons, Lansing senior, started the club in November of 2008, and it currently has close to 45 members. Anyone can join
The KU jiu Jitsu Club teaches members life skills that are necessary for self-defense, and it also provides an alternative workout option.
SHAWN KAYLOR club president
The club will host a tournament at the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center on April 2. Students can contact Shawn Kaylor at skaylor@ku.edu if they are interested in joining the club.
“It's great for any kind of self-defense. If you get put in any situation where you need it, it's definitely good to have it,” Taylor said. “It helps a little bit with self-confidence, because you know you can handle yourself if you need to.”
Edited by Brittany Nelson
VOLUME 123 ISSUE 96
Aaron Harris/KANSAN
Shawn Pieschl, a freshman from Overland Park, and Edirin Aghaghovbia, a sophmore from Lagos, Nigeria, practice techniques during Jiu Jitsu practice Monday afternoon.
LAWRENCE
Heavy fog canvased Lawrence Wednesday
BY CHRIS HONG chong@kansan.com
Despite heavy fog in Lawrence this morning, there was no increase in reported accidents in the area.
"Not anything super heavy like what we relate to ice storms and snowstorms," Qualls said.
Douglas County dispatch had no reported accidents as of 1:30 p.m. today. Kimberly Qualls, public affairs manager for northeast Kansas department of transportation, said that a few accidents were reported on nearby highways, but she did not consider that unusual.
- Reduce your speed - and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding.
- Avoid crossing lanes.
- Travel with the driver's window partially open. Listen for traffic.
Quals said she estimated the visibility on the highways to be no more than a quarter mile. But Quals said that she observed only half the drivers using their lights while she was on the highway.
She added that southwest Kansas experienced much worse fog and traffic incidents. Douglas County is no longer under a weather advisory.
第
- If your car is disabled or you can't continue, pull well onto the shoulder and turn off lights. Move away from your vehicle.
- Consider postponing your trip until the fog lifts.
- Drive with lights on LOW beam. High beams will reflect off the fog, creating a "white wall" effect.
TIPS TO STAY
SAFE ON THE ROAD
-Source: California Highway Patrol
Law students required to make up missed classes
CAMPUS | 3A
Regardless of a snow day,law students must take 700 minutes per credit hour, which requires them to make up any missed classes.
B
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Classifieds...8A
Crossword...4A
Cryptoquips...4A
Opinion...5A
Sports...10A
Sudoku...4A
心
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WEATHER
TODAY 7037
Mostly Sunny
FRIDAY 5933
SATURDAY
Cloudy
SATURDAY
6349
Partly Cloudy weather.com
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