CAMPUS/AREA UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, February 16, 1996
3A
Students labor on campaigns
By Heather Kirkwood Kansan staff writer
Andy Obermüller, Liberal sophomore, won't be in his campaigns and elections class today. Instead he will be on his way to New Hampshire to work on Sen. Bob Dole's presidential campaign.
Obermueller is one of several students on campus who are participating in presidential primaries as a way to learn about the political process and make a difference.
Obermueler will be focusing on getting college students out to vote for Dole.
But the job won't be easy.
Obermueller, who is chairman of the Student Legislative Awareness Board, has tried before to get students out to vote.
"It's like pulling teeth," he said.
To make matters worse, politicians know that students generally are apathetic.
"Students don't vote in numbers that mean anything to politicians," Obermueller said.
Ken Collier, professor of political science, agreed with Obermuelter's observations.
"If you look at their participation, students vote much less than other age groups," he said.
One reason students don't get more involved in politics is that they don't have much experience in the political process and have not been socialized to vote, Collier said.
"It used to be drilled into your head that voting was what a good citizen did," he said.
Political parties used to have a stake in getting citizens out to vote, but these days they don't want to waste resources on people who might not vote for their party. Collier said. Young people don't have much attachment to a certain political party, and that makes them a dangerous investment.
"They are interested in students who are willing to get involved, but they are not going to waste a bunch of time on students in general." Collier said.
But that is not to say that students such as Obermueller shouldn't jump into the political process.
Collier said that while issues such as taxes and home mortgages may seem distant to the average college student, social issues have a more immediate effect.
For example, college students are more likely to be faced with an unwanted pregnancy and may consider abortion.
Susan Malone, Linwood senior, discovered last week end while participating in the Iowa caucus that students do have power.
"Voters seemed to think that if there was a reason for this student not to be apathetic about this candidate, then maybe they had better take some notice," she said.
Malone spent the Iowa caucus calling registered voters for Dole's campaign and hopes to organize a trip to the South Carolina or Georgia primary for Super Tuesday on March 5th.
James Grau / KANSAN
Joe McComb, Lawrence graduate student, defends against Scott Millbern, Eudora sore, as Mill伯n lungs in for the touch. McComb and Mill伯n fenced sabre style
Catholic forum will discuss sex
Center aims to address society, church conflict
Catholic students who are looking for love can prepare themselves by attending the Human Sexuality Forum tomorrow at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, 1631 Crescent Road.
En garde!
By R. Adam Ward Kansan staff writer
The forum, which is free and runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a break at noon for a free lunch, will examine the Catholic Church's position on human sexuality issues and will encourage participants to incorporate these values into their lives.
The center is trying to address issues that students are concerned about, said Vince Krische, chaplain at the center.
planning at the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Krische said he would start out with a theological speech.
Human sexuality forum
Because Santner is single and Catholic, she is in a good position to talk to young people about balancing relationship choices with the church's message, said Mitchel Zimmerman, Houxie senior and outreach minister
Then Santner would speak about the more practical parts of relationships, he said.
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
tomorrow.
WHERE: St. Lawrence Catholic Center, 1631 Crescent Road The forum is free to University students, faculty and staff. A free lunch will be served at noon.
Krische will speak along with Christine Santner, director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Wichita, and Diane Daly, Archbishop's Designate for natural family
"Students are confused about the message they get from society and the message they get from the church," he said.
WHY: The forum will examine the Catholic Church's position on human sexuality issues.
for the center.
Daly, who is a licensed natural family planner, will talk about understanding fertility, Krische said.
Zimmerman said he started planning the conference last summer.
And he said student interest was high, judging by the 50 people who had preregistered for the event.
olic students because they usually didn't give much thought to the church's teachings when they were in relationships.
"It's something the Catholic Church would like them to think about more," he said. "Catholics are no less likely to be sexually active than any other denominations."
He said he thought the conference was important for Cath-
Chinese students ring in the new year
Kansan staff writer
By Susanna Löof
Kansas staff writer
For more than 600 Asian students at the University of Kansas, the Chinese New Year holiday, which begins this weekend, is like Christmas and Thanksgiving combined.
To celebrate, the Hong Kong and Macau Students Association is inviting the Lawrence community to a dinner party at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. Tickets are $8.50 at the SUA box office or $9.50 at the door.
Leo Chang, Hong Kong senior, said he planned to attend the party.
If he were in Hong Kong, however, the
celebrations would have been more extensive.
"It's like Thanksgiving dinner," Chang said. "You get together with your family and put out whatever you accumulated during the last year. It's a lot of good food."
People in Hong Kong prepare for New Year's celebrations by buying new clothes, Chang said. Then they wear the new clothes on the first day to symbolize the fresh start of the new year
On Sunday, which is the Chinese New Year's Eve, families eat a big reunion dinner at the name of the most important family member.
A typical reunion dinner includes at least eight or nine dishes.
"The whole idea is that you carry the wealth into the new year," Chang said.
The gift, called laisee, varies in amount depending on how rich and how close the relatives are.
Giving laisee is considered a privilege in the Chinese culture, and only married people are entitled to do it. Chang said.
"Giving a laissez is telling somebody that I have the ability to make this kind of money and that I can share my fortune with you." Chang said.
Relatives who are older and married also give red envelopes containing money.
Shengli Feng, assistant professor of East Asian Languages and Culture, said people in China received at least three or
four days off from work at the beginning of the new year because according to tradition, they should visit family and friends.
In farming villages, the celebration can go on for two weeks, said Feng, who came to the United States from Beijing 10 years ago.
The Chinese New Year holiday has ancient roots. It has been celebrated since 500 B.C. Feng said.
The year of the pig will end Sunday, and the year of the rat will begin Monday. The year of the rat is special because it begins a new zodiac, said Helen Lo, Hong Kong senior and president of the Hong Kong and Macau Association.
The Student Group for those who own their own businesses, those who want to someday own their own businesses, and those who simply appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit.
Organizational Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 20 7:00 p.m.
International Room Kansas Union
For more information call 841-1475
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