UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, December 7, 1995
5A
KU professor's designs are way out
Galileo satellite holds locally grown parts
A NASA satellite will make its closest approach to Jupiter today carrying $15 million research instruments co-designed by a KU professor.
By Brenden Sager
Kansan staff writer
Tom Armstrong, professor of physics, helped design the Energetic Particles Detector for the Galileo satellite. The instrument will measure highly accelerated particles of radiation in the magnetic field of Jupiter's atmosphere.
"This mission is different," he said.
"This time we're going to park there."
Armstrong will be using radiation information from Galileo as the satellite orbits the planet.
Knight-Ridder Tribune
This six-year, 2.3 billion-mile mission is unique because it is the first time a satellite will drop a probe into the planet's atmosphere and study its composition.
Galileo will orbit the planet for two years. Armstrong said that his detector will monitor particles of radiation in Jupiter's atmosphere as it orbits to find out where they are coming from and where they are going.
Particles of radiation that are unique to Jupiter's atmosphere can be found at great distances from the planet, he said. Part of his work is to find out how they got there.
12/6/95
Armstrong said that he had been working on the project since 1980. During that time, NASA provided him with about $250,000 for his research and a $1.3 billion satellite.
Armstrong has been working on the designs for the Energetic Particles Detector with Johns Hopkins University and AT&T communications laboratories as well as German companies.
But Armstrong and his team have to wait.
Village graduate student, is designing software to calculate the information once it arrives. He has been working with Armstrong on the project since Fall 1991.
He said the raw data from the satellite won't be available until March. In the meantime, Chris Brull, Prairie
The software has needed changing because of technical difficulties with the satellite. Brull said a high-speed communications device has malfunctioned, causing the satellite to have to relay the information at a lower speed.
"I do the grunt work," Brull said. "A lot of what I do is just computer programming, and someone's got to put in the lines of code."
Organization creates fund for children
By Tara Trenary
Kansan staff writer
Underprivileged Lawrence children soon will have a chance for a better life.
The Lawrence city commission heard a presentation from the Lawrence St. Patrick's Day Parade committee at last night's commission meeting that introduced the 1996 "Wee Folks" scholarship fund project. This project's aim is to create ascholarship fund that can be supplemented and that will keep Lawrence youths off the streets.
The scholarship fund will be used to pay fees for underprivileged children who wish to participate in parks and
recreation programs such as soccer, gymnastics and swimming.
"Our goal is to work with any youth needing a scholarship," said Fred DeVictor, director of parks and recreation. "We're happy to start this working relationship with the committee."
He said that this fund would provide a resource for the future of children and a focal point for future donations.
Roger Browning, executive director of the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, said that Lawrence's Department of Parks and Recreation already had assisted children with about $18,000 a year for the past few years, and he challenged the city to match that.
raising for the committee, said in a letter to the city manager's office that the Lawrence St. Patrick's Day Parade committee would plan a St. Patrick's day parade to raise funds for children's charities in Douglas County.
Debra Drummet, chairwoman of fund
In the past eight years, the committee has given more than $80,000 to such organizations as the Boys and Girls Club, the Ryan Gray Playground for All Children and Therapeutic Horse Riding Instruction of Lawrence. Drummet said.
Mayor Bob Moody praised the committee and said he felt the program was a meritorious one.
In other business, the commission approved a cereal malt beverage license for the Kansas Union.
Student employees take temporary hiatus
By Megan Jordan Special to the Kansan
For many KU students, Dec. 18 signals the beginning of four glorious weeks of sleep and relaxation. For Lawrence businesses, winter break means a temporary loss of employees.
"Our workers are all students," said Allen Griffith, manager of BarbWire Steak House. 2412 Iowa St
Despite student vacation, Griffith does not anticipate hiring holiday help. He said about half of the students would return to work shortly after Christmas. Griffith asks prospective employees about their vacation plans before hiring them.
"We didn't want to be left with just two managers standing around," he said.
Jennifer Laughlin,
Topeka junior, said
she would continue to
"We need at least two weeks' advance notice, but nobody will lose their job," Gabrick said.
Gabrick said there was a chance Super-Target would hire holiday help for its overnight team. Overnight team employees, who generally earn $6.50 an hour, would unload trucks, stock shelves and straighten displavs.
Students who choose not to work over vacation would not lose their jobs, Griffith said.
work at BarbWire's for most of the break. Her job description will change slightly during that time.
"If (students) work with us on a professional basis, we won't terminate them," Griffith said. "We understand that's how Lawrence is."
"I'm a cocktail waitress at the bar, and I'm sure it won't be quite as busy," Laughlin said. "They are going to have me waitress in the main restaurant, too. Over break. I'll do it all."
Griffith said the restaurant would not hesitate to hire temporary help if necessary.
Brenda Gabrick, team relations leader at SuperTarget, 3201 Iowa St., said many people chose to work during vacation.
"People like to work in restaurants because the job is easy and has flexible hours." Griffith said.
"It's fairly simple to get people to work here just during the holiday," he said.
"Especially around the holiday season, people need money," she said. "Besides, it's not a chore to work here. It's fun."
Smaller local businesses, like Bloom Bath & Body, 704 Massachusetts St., also
Students who take all four weeks off won't lose their jobs, Gabrick said.
might hire temporary help.
"The Christmas rush is really big," said Margo Wells, Bloom's owner.
Wells said her store was customer-oriented because of a fragrance bar that allows customers to sample bath products, and she does not want to be understaffed.
Although the University's winter break may affect
the Lawrence work force, store owners do not think students going home will affect their business drastically.
"Locals tend to shop more when students leave," Wells said. "(Lawrence) just takes on a different rhythm."
"We notice the older generation comes out when students leave." Griffith said.
He said BarbWire's witnessed a slight decrease in business when students returned from summer vacation.
Gabrick said she thought people returning to Lawrence from other colleges also will contribute to sales.
For stores like The Gap at Oak Park Mall, 95th Street and Quivira Road in Overland Park, returning students generate an increase in business, and more business means the need for more employees.
"We like to hire people who will stay on after the holidays," said Shiela Kinter, one of seven Gap managers.
Kinter said the store did hire college students for temporary positions.
"We love college students. They have great availability for us. They're flexible and have a mature sense about them," Kinter said. "The majority of the people who work here are between the ages of 18 and 24, but we don't want to limit it to that."