2A
Tuesday, February 6, 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Senate decides it's time for rhyme
By John Collar
Kansan staff writer
TOPEKA — Although state senators did not recite the poetry of Langston Hughes or William Shakespeare, they did agree yesterday to invoke the poetic muses of Kansas.
In a unanimous vote, the Senate passed a bill that would create the position of poet laureate for the state.
"Computers have driven our kids away from reading and writing," said State Sen. Paul Feleciano Jr., D-Wichita, who introduced the bill in the Senate. "I think it's time we create an importance for the written word."
Feleciano said 12 states and the United States currently have a poet laureate.
Under the bill, the governor would appoint the poet laureate from a list of three candidates selected by the Kansas Arts Commission. The poet laureate, who must be a Kansas resident, would receive an honorarium of $2,500 per year and serve a two-year term.
The bill now will be considered in the House.
The Joint Committee on Arts and Cultural Resources passed the proposal last year. State Rep. David Adkins, R-Leawood, a former KU student body president, served as chairman of the committee.
Adkins said that even though the bill had been subjected to hallway snickering and ridicule, it should be taken seriously.
"The position of poet laureate would be a significant professional honor." Adkins said.
He said that the poet laureate's job would be to provide a role model for young Kansans and would provide an outlet for literary ability.
"Kansans are a talented lot," he said.
KU professors said establishing the position would be a windfall for poets and students.
"Having a poet laureate will do wonders for educating people about poetry," said Luci Tapahonso, associate professor of English. Chancellor Robert Hemenway commissioned Tapahonso to recite an original poem during his inauguration Sunday.
Tapahonso said the poet laureate should be an ambassador to promote poetry in the state.
"It's important to let young people know that people are writing poetry," she said.
Tapahonso contends that Lawrence is a vital area for poetry, but many students are not aware of this activity.
"Students are very surprised and pleased when they are introduced to poets from this area," she said.
Tapahonso has published several books of poetry, such as The Women Are Singing, A Breeze Swept Through and Seasonal Woman.
Michael Johnson, professor and chairman of the department of English, said the ideal candidate for poet laureate needed to be grounded in the culture of the Midwest.
"Their poetry ought to deal with the Midwest experience and typically the region," Johnson said.
He said Kansas poetry typically covers such topics as rural life, the landscape, flora and fauna, the political temper of Kansas and even sunflowers.
"We should realize that poetry is so important that we make time for it," Johnson said.
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ON CAMPUS
Office of Study Abroad will sponsor Great Britain Direct Exchange Program at 4 p.m. today at 4045 Wescoc Hall. For more information, call Nancy Mitchell at 864-3742.
KU Fencing Club will meet at 5:30 p.m. today for 215 Robinson Center. For more information, call John Hendrix at 864-1529.
Minority Business Student Council will sponsor a career planning meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at 425 Summerfield Hall. For more information, call Jacinta Carter at 749-3083.
Student Senate will sponsor a Multicultural Affairs committee meeting at 6 p.m.today at the Centennial Room in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Cesar Millan at 865-3538
AIESEC will meet at 7:15 tonight at 2032 Worthah Hall. For more information, call Brian Bucklev at 841-7675.
AASU will meet at 7:30 tonight
KCBT Student Ministries will sponsor a Bible study at 7:30 tonight at the Regionalist Room in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Adam Decatur at 841-1683.
at the Multicultural Resource Center. For more information, call Julia at 864-2088.
Office of Study Abroad will sponsor Semester at Sea starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow at the fourth floor in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Nancy Mitchell at 864-3742.
Office of Study Abroad will sponsor an informational meeting on study in Spanish-speaking countries at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at 4045 Wescoe Hall. For more information, call Ellen Strubert at 864-3742
Le Cercle Francais will meet at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at 2058 Wesco Hall. For more information, call Sarah Pethan at 865-0696.
ON THE RECORD
A KU student's television was stolen Jan. 28 between 12:01 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the fourth floor of Oliver Hall. The television was valued at $550. KU police reported
A KU student's parking permit was stolen Jan. 25 between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the S.E. Memorial Stadium parking lot. The permit was valued at $53, KU police reported.
A VCR was stolen from the Multicultural Resource Center between Jan. 25 and Jan. 29. The VCR was valued at $478, KU police reported.
A KU student's parking permit was stolen Jan. 26 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the Sunnyside Avenue parking lot. The permit was valued at $53. KU police reported.
A KU student's CD player was stolen and car was damaged Friday between 8:35 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. in the S.E. Memorial Stadium parking lot. The compact disc player was valued at $350, and the damage was estimated at $600, KU police reported.
A KU student's CD player and discs were stolen and car was damaged Saturday between 6 and 10 p.m. in W. Lewis Hall parking lot. The items were valued at $330, and the damage was estimated at $150, KU police reported.
A KU student's car was damaged between Friday at 11:30 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. in the McColllum Hall parking lot. The damage was estimated at $70, KU police reported.
Michael Burt was arrested on a charge of operating under the influence on Saturday at 1:51 a.m. by Strong Hall. His bail was set at $500, KU police reported.
Lance Rahden was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated Saturday at 2:22 a.m. in West Campus. His bail was set at $500, KU police reported.
Weather
Source: Kim Friedrichsen, KU Weather Service
Heat arrives—for now
By Jason Strait
Kansan staff writer
With record-breaking warm weather on the horizon, Lawrence residents comfortably can shelve their long underwear and replace them with shorts, at least for a week.
Weekend temperatures are expected to reach highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s, and with the warmer temperatures KU students are making plans to come out of their winter hibernation.
Scott Diergan, meteorologist from the National Weather Service office in Topeka, said temperatures will approach record highs this weekend, which is unusual after a week of record low temperatures.
"We'll come within a few degrees of them this weekend, but I don't know for sure if we'll break them," he said.
Diergan said arctic air from the northern jet stream was responsible for the flesh-freezing lows last week.
And now that the stream has moved northward, warm southern air has made its way to Kansas.
The moderate conditions will bring a pleasant, though temporary, change for most students.
Janel Harting, Derby freshman,
said the warm weather would give
her a chance to shake the cold she's
had for a week.
"I'm very happy with the change," she said. "Maybe if I get better and get my homework done, I'll be able to go outside."
Diergan warned students not to get too comfortable with the warm weather, because regardless of whether the groundhog saw his shadow, winter is not over.
"Mother Nature has a way of evening things out," Diergan said. "I think we'll have another couple of snowfalls before the winter is out. Early March is usually a typical time for wet snowfall. But at least it will be good snowball snow."
Artists - Illustrators - Designers
WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR $500?
CASH CONTEST FOR CURRENTLY ENROLLED KU STUDENTS
Create a KU-theme design that can be used on T-shirts, advertisements, and banners directed toward the student market.
Pick up rules and entry form at the Kansas Alumni Association Adams Alumni Center, 1266 Oread Ave., 3rd floor.
Deadline for entries is March 15.1996.
INTRUST
Bank
Sponsored by Intrust Bank and the Kansas Alumni Association
KANSAS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION