CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, November 13, 1995
3A
Structural shift rifts engineering school
Mechanical and aerospace will be one department
By David Teska Kansan staff writer
Whether called a merger, a consolidation or simply a new department, the School of Engineering will have one department for both aerospace and mechanical engineering next fall.
On Friday, aerospace and mechanical engineering students and faculty met with David Shulenburger, vice chancellor for academic affairs, to discuss the administration's plans to reduce the number of departments at KU from 69 to 62. From the start, Shulenburger made one point clear — the merge would go forward. Shulenburger said the administration had to honor its 1992 commitment to the Board of Regents to reduce KU by 10 departments by 1998.
"We are doing what we can to gain control of our future," Shulenburger said.
ing the department was clear.
He said the purpose behind creat-
"The objective is to improve efficiency in the school," he said.
Funding for KU has been cut $7 million by the Legislature from last year's level and isn't expected to improve.
"The funding situation has deteriorated, and it looks like it will deteriorate further." Shulenburger said.
When told it had to develop a plan to reduce departments from seven to six, the School of Engineering came up with two options: move architectural engineering to the School of Architecture or consolidate aerospace and mechanical engineering. The administration said the architectural option was unacceptable because it didn't reduce the number of departments. That left only the aerospace and mechanical engineering merger, Shulenburd said.
Many attending the meeting were against the merger and voiced concerns regarding the value of an aerospace engineering degree from KU. Another concern was how recruitment of students would be affected.
"I feel cheated here," said Pangyen Kang, Zibu, Malaysia senior.
would do when the departments merge.
"I will leave," said Jan Roskam, distinguished professor of aerospace engineering. Roskam has a long association with the department and was its chairman from 1973 to 1976.
Students at the meeting said that the value of KU's aerospace program would suffer with the resignation of Roskam.
"I'd never heard of Kansas but had heard of Jan Roskam," said Joseba Gorbea-Isvi, Basque junior.
The students' concerns have been heard before, said David Downing, professor of aerospace engineering and department chairman. A major concern among both faculty, students and alumni in aerospace is the loss of identity, Downing said. He has received numerous calls concerning the merger, and none has been positive, he said.
Created as a separate department in 1941 from within the department of mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering changed its name to aerospace engineering in 1961. In 1962, aerospace briefly joined with mechanical engineering into one department. It has been a separate department since 1967.
mechanical engineering department, received his bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from KU in 1968.
He said that the merger would not save money and would make raising endowment funds more difficult, but the plan would go ahead.
Terry Faddis, co-director of the
"All we doing is adding a layer of bureaucracy." Paddis said.
But Faddis said that the faculty must remain neutral and not influence students' opinions.
"We'll try to do what's best for our students and best for the school," he said.
Both departments have seen drops in the number of undergraduate students. From 1989 to 1995, aerospace enrollment went from 315 to 105. Enrollment in mechanical engineering went from 257 in 1989 to 197 in 1995. Undergraduate degrees earned ir. aerospace have fluctuated since 1989, going from a low of 34 in 1989 to a high of 43 in 1992. The number of mechanical engineering degrees dropped from 56 in 1989 to 39 in 1995.
For aerospace engineering, the drop in enrollment is due to a tightening of admission standards and industry trends, said Thomas Mullanzi, associate dean of engineering.
Engineering trends prompt merger
Source: School of Engineering
Aerospace engineering has eight faculty members. When Howard Smith retired in May 1995, his position was not filled because of the
Jodie Chester / KANSAN
hiring freeze, Downing said. Mechanical engineering has remained constant with 14 faculty members.
New 'Ace Ventura' sequel calls for premiere party in Lawrence
Suits, dresses donned for KU students' gala
Steve Puppe / KANSAN
By Craig Lang Kansan staff writer
Beau Wehrle, Denver senior, Megan Daly, St. Louis senior, and Andrew Bassen, Minneapolis senior, celebrate the opening of "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls" Hollywood-style on Friday night.
Two Jim Carrey fans rolled out the red carpet for 42 guests invited to the "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls" premiere party.
Couples arrived fashionably late, with the men dressed in suits and ties, and the women wearing formal evening gowns. It was the perfect Hollywood party with valet parking and an open bar.
But this party wasn't in Hollywood. It was in Lawrence, at the home of Steve Gulick, Littleton, Colo., senior, and Brian Rodeno, Castle Rock, Colo., senior.
"We don't get much of a chance to do that in Lawrence," Rodeno said. "I think everyone wants a reason to dress up in a suit."
Guilick and Rodeno wanted to throw a formal party before they graduated next month. Because they are big Carrey fans, they thought the opening of the "Ace Ventura" sequel was the perfect opportunity to throw a Hollywood-style gala.
Mandy Norwood, Littleton Junior, agreed with Rodeno. She said students didn't get enough chances to dress up and look good.
"I think it's great because no one has ever done this before," she said. "It's something new and exciting to do in Lawrence."
Gulick said he and Rodeno had been "Ace Ventura" fans since the summer of 1993, when they spent the entire summer fishing in Sun Valley, Idaho. Because there wasn't much to do in the town, they decided to rent the original "Ace Ventura" one night, and they
never returned the video, Rodeno said.
"For 36 days in a row, we watched it." he said.
Rodeno said he and Gulick wanted to watch the "Ace Ventura" sequel in style. They thought throwing a premiere party was the perfect way to honor their favorite comic.
With Gulick and Rodeno's kitchen counter turned into an open bar, Mike Burgess, Leawood freshman, acted as a bartender. Gulick and Rodeno charged $20 a couple to cover the costs of the movie tickets, drinks and rented champagne glasses.
After the party, the group went to see the movie at the Hillcrest Theatres, at Ninth and Iowa streets. When they arrived, Rodeno said they received funny looks from the movie's audience.
Rodeno said the general consensus about the film was positive, although he enjoyed the first "Ace Ventura" more. Because of the heavy partying before the movie, a lot of the guests they weren't able to pay as close attention to the film as they would have liked to.
"A lot of people said they'll have to see it again because they won't remember it," Rodeno said.
Educator describes motivational tools
By Hannah Naughton Kansan staff writer
Jaimie Escalante's teachers probably never thought their student would be the inspiration for a major motion picture.
But somebody believed that the Bolivian immigrant could learn English and become the inspiring mathematics teacher who is played by Edward James Olmos in the movie "Stand and Deliver."
"Twenty years ago, I went to teach at Garfield High School," Escalante said. "It was a life of graffiti, gangs, teen pregnancy and high-school dropouts. I demanded more. I asked them to do their best. Given the chance, they will be champions."
Escalante, clad in his familiar Gatsby hat and sweater vest, told an audience of more than 300 people that teachers were the constant in the equation of education.
Escalante told the story of how Babe Ruth predicted his home run by pointing past the outfield fence. After the game, when asked by a reporter what he would have done if he had struck out, Babe Ruth said, "Mr. Reporter, it never entered my mind to do anything but hit that home run," Escalante said.
"That's what I expect from my kids — Johnny, hit that home run," said Escalante, with his trademark whispering Latino rasp.
said he had asked parents to help him gain a commitment from his students. He does this by having students, parents, himself and the principal sign a contract when the student starts in Escalante's class.
Escalante, who hangs a formula on his classroom clock that says ("determination) (discipline) (hard work) = the way to success."
He said parents could help him by following one of his equations — T to the third power. The first T stands for talk — tell them you love them. The second T is for touch — when you touch your kids, it shows them that you are concerned. The third T is the hardest, he said, and stands for time — making time for your kids to show them they are important.
"It's your kid; it's your responsi-
as teaching."
The Hispanic American Leadership Organization sponsored the lecture, which was free to the public, with help from different departments, campus groups and local businesses.
Gloria Flores, associate director of the office of minority affairs and HALO adviser, said 50 percent of the money Escalante made through his lectures was used for his students. He buys things such as eyeglasses, school jackets and gifts for incentives, she said.
Ascension Hernandez said he had come through the sleet and snow from Shawnee to see the
James Grau/KANSAN
bility," Escalante said.
Jaime Escalante emphasizes the significance of 'ganas,' or determination, to an audience of students, parents and faculty at the Kansas Union Ballroom. Escalante's experiences as a Los Angeles high school teacher are the basis for the movie "Stand and Deliver."
Heather Schunk, Wichita graduate student, said his motivational techniques would help her as a graduate teaching assistant.
"He has a lot of humor and warmth," Schunk said. "It's true that kids need child rearing as well
Jayhawks play basketball — until he heard Escalante was speaking
"He's scoring more points in the classroom," Hernandez said. "He's a hero in the truest sense. He is able to motivate the unmotivatable. One person can make a difference, and he did it."
CDs/Tapes
913-842-1544
Audio/Video
913-842-1811
Floor Demo Sale
NOW!!
Monday Nov.13 Folk
Lawrence's Low Price Leader
The $10.88 CD*
Wednesday Nov.15 Eaey Lietening
- All single CDs with $15.98 and $16.98 mfg. list price. Other items on sale at 25% off mfg. list. Not valid with other offers.
913-842-1438
Tuesday. Nov. 14 from 5-7pm
Sounds Great Car Audio
Yes...another two hour sale!
25% off mfg. list all CDs*
Expect a new attitude!
46% off mfg. list with purchase of 5 CDs We buy, sell & trade used CDs.
http://www.wvs-inc.com
24th & Iowa·PO Box 2·Lawrence, KS 66046