University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, February 1, 1989
Campus/Area
3
Steve Traynor/KANSAN
Steve Traynor/KANSAN
A little night music
LEFT: Although he hasn't played for more than a year, Shaun Lang,
Lawrence resident, practices his saxophone in front of Wescole
Hall. ABOVE: Lang wore gloves Monday night to protect his fingers
from the wind.
Students who lack basic math abilities up at college level
by John P. Milburn
Kansan staff writer
A federal report released last week proclaimed the story of ill-prepared high school graduates.
According to the study, three out of four college freshmen are deficient in basic mathematical ability.
Evidence of students lacking math competency at the University of Kansas can be found in the numbers of students enrolled in remedial math courses, said Charles Himmelberg, chairman of mathematics.
More than 1,200 students enrolled in Math 002, or Intermediate Mathematics, during the 1988-89 school year. Another 2,600 enrolled in Math 101, some of whom belonged in Math 002. Himmelberg said.
He said that students in the two courses would have difficulty keeping up with their high school graduating class because of poor math skills. Some may not graduate from college.
He said that as long as KU maintained an open admissions policy, the school would have the problem of students with poor math skills.
"Not being prepared in math for college has a terrible effect on the attrition rate." Himmelberg said.
To combat the problem, Himmelberg suggested that high schools be mandated to teach students a math course each year. He said math courses were taught yearly in elementary grades, and this practice
The University is required by state law to accept any graduate from an accredited Kansas high school, but the student is ready to enroll in college, he said.
should be continued in high school.
Himelberg said high schools should consider guiding students toward appropriate math classes, depending on whether a student was a vocational technician or immediately entering the job market.
"If every student took four years of high school math, few of them would be in remedial math in college," he said.
Kansas law mandates that students take a minimum of two units of math during high school.
He said most students entering KU had three years of high school math, but even that was marginal preparation for college.
Mike Browning, supervisor of student services at Lawrence High School, said students from the school actually had performed better than the state or national average on math competency exams.
He said that students averaged 21.7 on the ACT composite score, and that the math score was between 22 and 23, if not higher. The success is a tribute to the number of classes offered at the school, and faculty that stresses the importance of math skills. Browning said.
A Lawrence High survey conducted in 1984 showed that 85 percent of the graduating seniors had taken two or more math classes when fewer were required, Browning said. Since that time, the school district has increased the number of required math courses. Students now must take three math courses at Lawrence ...
Two boys find needles, vials in office dumpster Dentist advised of proper disposal
by a Kansan reporter
Two boys, aged 12 and 13, discovered used needles, vials, rubber gloves and various other medical items in an office complex trash dumpster Saturday, Lawrence police reported.
The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department conducted an investigation yesterday and made recommendations to a dentist, who has an office in the complex, about how to properly dispose of medical items, said Barbara Schnitker, a nurse at the health department.
Two boys were looking for aluminum cans in a dumpster at 2711 W. Sixth St., when they discovered rubber gloves, cotton balls, needles and vals scattered in the dumpster.
Lawrence police took samples of the waste to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, but he had been in the vials. The health department then was notified.
like that— that could have public health implications—we check it out." Schnitker said.
oil? She said that if infected blood were in the needles, a child could get infected if he were stuck with them.
The health department recommended to the dentist that he dispose of medical supplies in a special container, an assistant container, Schnitker said.
She said that an environmental sanitarian, who was responsible for conducting the investigation, would check to make sure he was adhering to the regulations.
Museum offers unique floor design
"A 12-year-old should be able to play and not be exposed to dangerous objects." Muvenlaon said.
to the regulations
Chris Mulvenon, Lawrence police
spokesman, expressed concern
about the incident.
A similar incident occurred in September 1987 when two boys discovered needles in a dumper outside Lawrence Memorial Hospital
department then was notified.
"When we are notified of issues
by Mary Neubauer Kansan staff writer
There is a place on campus where dinosaurus, man, birds, frogs, alligators, fish and amphibians all lie together.
The place is the foyer of the Museum of Natural History in Dyche Hall. In 1937, a KU zoology graduate designed the floor with stylized versions of animal groups throughout evolution.
At the bottom of the design, near the museum's main entrance, are various ancient fish, the earliest known animals with backbones. Above these are amphibians that evolved from fish.
The amphibians give way to the next level of the design, reptiles, which in turn yield to the next order, birds and mammals.
Cathy Dwigans, associate director for membership and public relations at the museum, said the placement of the different evolutionary groups in the design was based on the scientific views of the time it was designed.
"A lot of people enjoy seeing the design," she said. "It is unusual for
an entry area."
Dwigsian said the museum's staff had taken great care through the years to see that the design was well preserved.
The floor's design is one-of-a-kind, Dwigans said, and is included in the museum's guide. She said the design had historic interest for visitors and was put in the museum when major remodeling was done in the 1930s.
"At one time, we had a hostess desk near the main entrance on the design," she said. "But we took it out because water got under the desk when the floor was waxed and was leaving permanent marks, like furniture does on a rug."
Dwigans said there had never been any controversy between evolutionists and creationists about the design because most people appreciated the design artistically.
The design in the floor of the main entrance of the Museum of Natural History depicts the process of evolution from ancient fish, at bottom, to man.
Myra E. Wildish Rising, the KU zoology student who designed the floor, lives in Kansas City, Mo. She said she was asked in 1936 to do the design by Henry Higgins Lane, then chairman of the department of zoology, from whom she had just received her master's degree. She began work on the design in 1897.
"I got one month's leave of absence from work at St. Joseph's Hospital to
complete the design." Rising said. "I really wasn't finished with it at the end of the month, but I had to go back to work. I got it all done but the inking."
Black history is subject for teleconference panel
Student Senate retains KJHK's revenue status
bv a Kansan reporter
A two-hour live teleconference will be shown at noon today at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
"Beyond the Dream. A Celebration of Black History." will be shown
in Sudler and Wahl Hall West auditoriums on the Med Center campus.
by a Kansan reporter
Melvin Williams, director of affirmative action at the Med Center, said experts from various fields would be represented.
tion by the University Daily Kansan.
ship slightly
The Federal Communication Commission's current investigation of KJHK did not play a major role in hearings last night as the Student Senate Finance Committee renewed the station's revenue code status.
station to be financed in two-year blocks and use the money it receives from Student Senate without being restricted to line-item allocations.
The committee's vote to retain KJHK's revenue status allows the
by the University Daily Kansan.
Instead of asking questions about
the investigation, the committee
on recent formal charges
KUHK.
The only question asked by the finance committee concerning the FCC investigation was in reference to how Mike Uln, station manager, felt about coverage of the investiga-
Lin said that, according to a December survey, last year's controversy about the format changes actually had served to increase listener-
The criteria a group must meet to obtain revenue code status include providing a broad, tangible benefit to the University, demonstrating continuous viability, showing a need for two-year financing and having Senate financing for three years before its request.
Start your morning off light at the Fruit & Pastry Bar in The Prairie Room
Enjoy fresh and frozen fruits,
assorted fruit rolls, homemade blueberry,
banana, and orange muffins,
flaky croissants and delicious
doughnuts and bagels.
Served with orange & lemon fruit dip,
cinnamon apple cream cheese
and orange & tomato juices.
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