UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, February 25, 1997
3
New Chinese leadership may signify change
Transfer of power not likely to cause major policy shifts
By Sean Demory Kansan staff writer
The recent death of Deng Xiaoping, senior leader of the People's Republic of China, could bring broad yet subtle changes to China's foreign policy.
Deng, who died last Wednesday
and whose memorial service is scheduled for today, moved China to a system combining authoritarian government, state-run industry and extreme free enterprise.
Whether Deng's successor, President Jiang Zemin, will be able to keep those factors balanced is not totally assured.
"Deng has had an astonishing impact until the last couple of years," said Terry Weidner, associate director of international programs. "He'd been ill for so long, though, that the transition
Weidner said that "apocalyptic" change in China wasn't too likely upon Deng's death but that the difference between Deng and Jiang was significant.
had really already occurred. The leadership has done a good job of consolidating control."
"In the long run, Jiang doesn't have the charisma or the military power base of Deng," Weidner said. "Jiang started out as the Dan Quayle of China, though, so he's really come a long way.
"Ijiang's insecurity has shown itself in his foreign policy. He
One of the areas in which China has been moving carefully is in acquiring former territories.
feels that he can't be too bold in either direction. There is a united belief that things have to be taken carefully." Weidner said.
The Chinese government, which has had a desire to regain Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao for decades, will obtain Hong Kong this summer and is scheduled to regain Macao in 1999, both under a "one country, two systems" plan.
Chang Li-Chen, Pittsburg sophomore and president of the Chinese Student Association, which is made up entirely of Taiwanese students, said she doubted China would attempt to take an overly belligerent stance toward Taiwan.
"China's got a lot of problems of their own," Chang said. "I don't think they'll fight to reunify with us."
Fei Lok, Lawrence senior and president of the Hong Kong and Macao student association, said he believed that China had been prepared for Deng's death for some time.
"I honestly think things won't change too much," Lok said. "People started to realize that a change had to happen after [Deng] got sick a few years ago."
Fei said he didn't believe that Deng's death would change the policy of China toward Hong Kong.
"His death can only symbolize that an old generation of Chinese leaders has faded away," Lok said. "The Chinese people are mourning the death of a great leader, but they are also prepared for the future."
Heather Clark / KANSAN
Dain Kloner, De Pere, Wis., senior, and Lawrence residents Ed Goodman and Matt Reiss, all members of the Hypothetical 7, perform their improvisational comedy on KJHK.
Hypothetical 7 uses comedy to start station's weekends
By Paul Eakins
Kansan staff writer
While kicking back on Friday night, KJHK listeners can relieve the week's tension with a little laughter, thanks to a new and slightly unorthodox show.
The Hypothetical 7 began airing this semester at 7 p.m. Fridays on the University's station, 90.7 FM, with a lineup of improvisational and sketch comedy.
Since its formation in 1993, the group has performed at local clubs, theaters, fraternities, sororities and Rock Chalk Revue. The group found that performing on the radio is much different than on stage.
"On radio, you have to trust yourself that it's funny," said Matt Reiss, Hypothetical 7 member and KU graduate. "You have no idea what the listeners are saying — if they're saying 'wow' or 'let's see what's on 92.'"
On the first airing of the show, Reiss said that the group did not know what to expect and found that they were unprepared.
"We dramatically underestimated the amount of time sketches would take," he
said. "We ran out of sketches about halfway through. We're just learning as we go."
Luckily, the group had taken extra sketches along, Reiss said, and had to frantically assign roles to each actor.
Although the group has learned to fill its shows, the activity and disorganization of the first show still exists to a degree. The actors are constantly switching microphones, moving around each other, finding needed papers or props for sound effects, and generally keeping much busier than the audience is aware.
When performing onstage, the group's energy often is what makes the audience enjoy the performance, Hypothetical 7 member Ed Goodman said.
"If it doesn't look like we're having a good time, then it doesn't matter how good we are," he said.
The audience also enjoys the shows because it can get involved. For example, the group has asked for a noun from the audience and then done a whole sketch about that noun.
Audience involvement also is integrated into the radio show. Often listeners can call and suggest a subject for a
particular sketch, poem or song
The radio show seems to be popular, judging from the call-ins received, said KJHK station manager Blake Hodges, Winnetka, ill., senior.
It's a great show for introducing our weekend lineup," Hodges said. "It does a great job of getting listeners."
The onstage performances are popular with those who attend Rock Chalk Revue, said Danny Cohn, Omaha, Neb., sophomore and director of in-between acts. Cohn has been asked whether the Hypothetical 7 would perform in this year's Revue, he said. The group performed at the Revue in 1994 and in 1996, and they will perform this year.
"Rock Chalk strives for originality. Everything they have is original," Cohn said. "Everything is always fresh with them. I've never seen the same skit twice."
To keep this originality, the Hypothetical 7 recruited three new members in October, bringing the number to 10, and hopes to recruit more after an audition in April.
"What I really want is a legacy for Hypothetical 7," Reiss said.
Workshops teach students how to get data by Internet
Library classes can help with information-gathering
By Gwen Olson Special to the Kansan
Students struggling with term papers on AIDS, Black history or any other topic can get help at Watson Library by attending its spring workshop series.
The series includes a number of classes that show students and faculty how to use the library and its computer resources. Topics range from finding information on the World Wide Web to getting access to government information.
"We began the workshops in 1993, and they were specifically designed for faculty in order to help them use new resources and technology in their classes and research," said Cindy Pierard, instructions coordinator for the library. "This is the first year we have opened the series up to anyone who wants to participate."
Most workshops have two or three sessions each semester, depending on their popularity.
Pierard said since the teaching areas were small the most popular workshop had waiting lists.
"If the waiting list has many people on it, another session may be added to accommodate them." Pierard said.
Some of the most popular workshops are Finding Information on the World Wide Web and Theatrical Web.
Theatrical Web focuses on theater Internet sites.
KU UnCover is another popular workshop that allows users to explore a database of 17,000 journals. And information requested from the database can be delivered by fax in 24 hours. The section is open only to faculty, staff and graduate students.
Although the classes usually consist of faculty and graduate students, undergraduates are encouraged to attend. In-depth computer knowledge is not necessary.
"I expect people with different levels of skill," said Pierard, who also co-teaches Finding Information on the World Wide Web. "I try to move down the middle for everyone and then have time after the class for questions."
Pierard said learning to use the web was similar to many of the resources students and faculty used for library searches.
Mary Miller, library assistant and co-teacher for the web workshop, said the classes moved at the participants' pace.
"We'll do a little of orienting people to Netscape and different kinds of search
Workshop Schedule
Collections of the Clendening History of Medicine Library—1 to 2 p.m., Monday, April 14, Watson Conference Room A
Electronic Access to Government Information — 1 to 3 p.m., Thursday, April 10,
Clark Lab
Exploring Multicultural Resources — 1 to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 20, Watson Reference
Finding information on the World Wide Web — 9 to 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 28, Clark Lab; 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, March 4, Clark Lab; 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 5, Clark Lab
■ Introduction to Electronic Resources for the Study of Music — 1 to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 26, ClarkLab; 1 to 3
p.m., Friday, March 14, ClarkLab
■ KU UnCover —3:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday,
March 11, Clark Lab
■ Maps: Paper and Electronic — 1 to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, Map Collection
■ Theatrical Web — 9 to 11 a.m., Thursday,
Feb. 27, Clark Lab
engines," she said. "This shows them how to formulate their searches."
The first of the workshops, Electronic Success to Government Information was held Jan. 28.
Kendall Simmons, automation specialist for the libraries and instructor of the workshop, said she was pleased with the turnout.
"We only had one person who didn't show up," she said. "In my class, we deal with state, local and federal resources, including the government's CD-ROM databases."
Simmons said she had received positive feedback from people who attended the workshops.
"They like the information that we give them," she said. "We try to get people to tell us what they are looking for specifically so we can help them find it."
Miwa Kitamura, Tokyo, Japan, graduate student, said she was pleased with the government information workshop.
"I wanted to find a document on HIV, and I don't know anything about computers," she said. "I think it will help when I try to search again."
Information on the workshop series can be picked up at the reference desk at Watson Library.
Students and faculty can sign up by calling 864-3601 or e-mail workshop@ukans.edu Registration is required and recommended at least one week in advance.