INSIDE Radio dreams could be reality
Transcription
INSIDE Radio dreams could be reality
www.unews.com October 19, 2009 Vol. 77, Issue 9 Radio dreams could be reality Photo illustration by NATHAN LANG Putting a grade on higher learning The University of Kansas has KJHK 90.1 FM. The University of Missouri has KCOU 88.1 FM. UMKC may soon have KROO. M Tyler Allen Assistant News Editor “ y goal is to have the st udent-r u n radio station within the next year,” said Derek Greer, construction liaison for the new Student Union and UMKC senior. Though nothing is finalized, Greer has been working hard since last semester to create a student radio station on campus. The idea was formed last year with a group of students in a radio class taught by the director and manager of KCUR, Patty Cahill. “A team of students wrote up a report and this is the report that I’ve been using for the project,” Greer said. “I’ve discussed it further with Patty Cahill and it’s actually something that could be done and utilized.” Using the report as a backbone for the project, Greer tapped into additional resources to further research the project. To begin, he talked to faculty and numerous student organizations to get an idea of how they might help. “From there, I took a tour of the KCUR radio station where Patty Cahill gave me a couple INSIDE more ideas and her stance on the student-run radio station,” Greer said. “She offered quite a bit of help.” He also toured KJHK 90.1 to see what a long-standing student radio station was like. “They gave me a lot of valuable information on exactly what is needed and how to keep a radio station going because theirs has been going for like 75 years,” he said. “My goal is to have the student-run radio station within the next year.” DEREK GREER Construction liaison for the new Student Union and UMKC senior The two hurdles Greer has left to clear are the location and funding for the radio station. The original idea was to put the station in the new Student Union, but that has not been finalized. “I’m not sure how feasible that is at the moment because, from discussions and stuff going on in the meetings, they wanted to do more retail in (the new Student Union),” Greer said. “So it’s still up in the air at the moment of exactly where it’s going because everybody on campus is trying to get into the new Student Union and there’s only so much space.” Greer plans to talk with Student Life and the Student Government Association about funding the station. He also plans to start the station online instead of on FM airwaves to cut costs. “It’s a lot cheaper and it’s easier to start with internet broadcasting and step up to airwave broadcasting,” he said. “It’s just a lot cheaper overall starting from scratch doing internet broadcasting.” Greer would also like to integrate the radio station into the Communications department’s curriculum. “It can be worked into the Communications depar tment so students can work with radio broadcasting and hopefully open some doors for UMKC students,” he said. Greer envisions the station as student run and hopes it can become a staple of campus life. “It’s something that should become permanent, not something that dies off after a few years,” Greer said. “I think it should become part of UMKC’s daily life.” [email protected] BASKETBALL page 12 Alexia Stout-Lang News Editor Each year, thousands of tests are administered by the university. This year, it’s the university’s turn to undergo evaluation. Officials from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association, an accrediting agency, spent last week at UMKC to determine if the university is eligible for reaccreditation. Jim Larson, a representative from the HLC, said the accreditation process is important for everyone connected to the university. “We have a charge that is quite comprehensive in the sense that it looks at all the ingredients that go into whether the University of Missouri – Kansas City can deliver the programs for learning to you that it says it will deliver,” Larson said. Universities go through the regional accreditation process every 10 years if they receive full accreditation. Only in cases where the accrediting agency has some concerns about an educational institution, short-term accreditation is granted. Last week, officials from the HLC toured campus and met with administrators, faculty and students. In one of two meetings held exclusively with students, Larson explained why students should take a GUN DEBATE page 4 personal interest in the process. “It has some very significant implications for those who are going here,” he said. “It is also a way that the North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission [shows it] is very concerned about the quality of learning you receive.” He added the HLC understands students have a lot on their plates, which is why the accreditation process is important. “It is also an indication the training you receive here will enable you to develop your skills so that you can go forth in a comprehensive way, although most of you are just saying, ‘I just want a job,’” Larson said. Students were given about an hour to express concerns about the university as well as things done right. They praised the Bloch School of Business and Administration, the Conservatory of Music and Dance, Roo Camp, dorm life and some professors. Concerns included parking, the advising departments, the Financial Aid office and the number of professors who are only available to students during class, among other issues. Larson said he would record all of the students’ comments and include I See ACCREDITATION page 16 KATRINA page 5 2 News October 19, 2009 www.unews.com International talent convenes in Pierson Photo KEVIN BRYCE Performers in the Culture Night talent show wait for the winner to be announced. Kevin Bryce Photo Editor More than 300 international students gathered Saturday night in Pierson Auditorium for talent, fashion and food. The 10th annual Culture Night represents a long-standing tradition of celebrating cultures from around the world at UMKC. This is the second year the International Student Council (ISC) has hosted the event. Student Coordinator Gina Brenne said the ISC worked to make the event something for all students. “We’re really looking to revive the Culture Night,” Brenne said. The event began with students getting the chance to enjoy foods from several countries. After students had their share of food, the talent show started. Performers were from a number of countries including dancers from Mexico and Saudi Arabia, and singers and musicians from China, India and Taiwan. Then a fashion show was held, letting students show off traditional garb from their home countries. Highlights from the night included a dance by Mexico’s Veronica and Amalia Pizano, who danced in traditional dresses, and also a performance by Yihong Huang, who sang a pop song from China. The winner of the talent show was Huanxian Liu who played a Chinese Koto, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument. “I’ve been playing since I was 10,” Lui said, “and now I’m 25.” Throughout the night, a raff le was held and the revenues were donated to the United Nations’ Children’s Fund. Many students said they look forward to Culture Night each year because it is a good way to bring the various cultures on campus together for fun and entertainment. [email protected] Photo KEVIN BRYCE Huanxian Lui, talent show winner, plays the Koto. Make clean energy work for Missouri Kelley Kates Staff Writer A clean energy forum co-sponsored by several non-profits under Clean Energy Works for Missouri set up shop last Tuesday evening at the Discovery Center. The purpose of the forum was to spread the word about different ways Missouri can become less dependent on oil and focus more on the usage of alternative methods for energy. The night began with four separate presentations. Hathmore Technologies, LLC and Accurate Rater Network began by discussing how Missourians can be more energy efficient, and what kinds of energy efficient incentives are available. For example, Kansas City Power & Light offers a number of incentives including the Cool Homes Residential Rebate, which offers an incentive to those who replace inefficient furnaces and air conditioning units. State and federal incentives were discussed as well. Ken Riead, a certified energy and environment instructor with Hathmore, presented tips for energy efficiency such as doing an energy audit to find out where a home may be losing energy and how adding insulation and sealing air leaks can reduce that loss. Susan Brown, from the Energy Savings Store, discussed how photovoltaic solar power can be a great alternative energy. Brown explained how solar power can be used to heat air and water and make electricity. Brown also said Missouri is a good region for solar power since the state receives, on average, five sun hours per day. Solar power can replace approximately 50 percent of household water heating costs. PJ Wilson, of Renew Missouri, spoke on how to move Missouri forward. Wilson said although Missouri has plenty of sunlight, biomass, wind and other alternative energy sources, we still rank 48th in renewable en- ergy usage. Therefore, it is Renew Missouri’s mission to educate people about renewable and efficient energy policies. Wilson already feels that Missourians have taken an interest in clean and renewable energy by passing Proposition C in 2008, which requires utility companies to receive 15 percent of their electricity from clean energy sources by 2021. Two percent must be from solar. That bill is predicted to save Missourians $331 million in the next 20 years. It will also develop thousands of new “green” jobs for Missourians. Wilson said Missouri currently imports all of its coal at a cost of $9 bil- lion per year. The state depends on that coal for 83 percent of its electricity. Unfortunately, the excessive use of coal harms air quality, the environment and climate and can cause mercury contamination, Wilson said. Renew Missouri is pushing for a statewide energy code which requires new construction to meet a minimum of energy efficiency. This code, if adopted, would save Missourians $108 billion on energy bills by 2020, Wilson said. Other non-profits who presented at the event included the Sierra Club, Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition and Repower America. [email protected] 3 News www.unews.com October 19, 2009 Students get direction for life after college Tyler Allen other career inquiries. “We wanted to get on campus and do a career Not everyone knows what they want to be screening to find out if students could benefit from an individual career counseling session,” when they grow up. Many students come to college with no ma- Nicholas Debernard, representative for CS, said. Debernard said student situations vary. jor in mind and are labeled “undecided.” “Some people come in who have difficulty That’s why some students took advantage getting past the interview,” of the Career Screening ofhe said. “Some people don’t fered by Career Services (CS) have a good enough resume Friday afternoon in Scofield “We wanted to get on to get to the interview.” Hall. campus and do a career After students filled out “I need a little more direc- screening to find out if the questionnaire, a CS repretion as far as what to do after sentative assessed their needs college and I got an e-mail students could benefit and offered advice. about the career screening,” from an individual career Many times, the next step student Elizabeth Mowry counseling session.” for a student was to schedule said. “So I thought it couldn’t an individual counseling seshurt to drop by and see what NICHOLAS DEBERNARD sion. they were doing.” Representative for Career Services Mowry said she was planMowry, a junior majorning to schedule an appointing in Communications with ment with CS after having her a minor in History, decided she needed more direction toward a career after questionnaire assessed. For students interested in utilizing CS, concollege. Mowry was among a number of students tact 816-235-1636 or visit www.career.umkc. who filled out questionnaires pertaining to work edu. [email protected] experience, resume experience and a number of Assistant News Editor Photo TYLER ALLEN Career Services manager Sandi Dale (left) advises student Elizabeth Mowry on possible career paths. Community celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Nila Hall Staff Writer Members from the UMKC community came together last Thursday to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The Cultural Celebration Committee hosted the event. Over pastries and coffee, a group of students, staff and faculty gathered around a table and discussed the efforts being made to encourage more Latino students to attend UMKC. The guest speaker invited to the event was recruiter Alex Lopez. He is the first to hold the title of Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment at UMKC. Lopez discussed his life and why he decided to pursue this career. “I’d always thought I’d be a CEO, where I would make lots of money and have a secretary,” Lopez said. Lopez was born in the United States, but he spent nine years in Mexico. Upon his return to the United States, he described facing cultural barriers. Although he is fluent in both English and Spanish, because he encountered barriers his fellow classmates weren’t interested in school. He also described facing peer Photo ALEXIA STOUT-LANG Max Pacina enjoys a pastry and coffee. pressures from students. He was one of the few students in his class to graduate from high school and attend college. After the discussion about his life, he gave a presentation titled “Putting the Accent on UMKC Student Recruitment.” The presentation focused on the schools in the Kansas City, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo. School Districts, where he recruits. Lopez visits each of the schools four times a year. The standard is twice a year. Lopez highlighted some statistics about the graduation rates within the school districts, but also discussed the discrepancies in them. “We mostly want to target sophomores,” he said. A student’s sophomore year is when they’re most likely to drop out. “One of the biggest obstacles are undocumented students,” Lopez said. Lopez indicated a law passed in Kansas called the DREAM (Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act, which allows undocumented students to go to college. A similar law does not exist in Missouri. Lopez said he will continue to strive for all kids to have a chance to go to college. “Education is the solution to most of the problems we have,” he said. Hispanic Heritage Month was celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. [email protected] Standing against oppression Community activist discusses militarism and paramilitarism Nila Hall Staff Writer Filmmaker and community activist Simon Sedillo visited UMKC on Oct. 14 to present his film, “La Familia Races.” The UMKC chapter of MECHA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán) hosted the event. It was co-sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Access and Equity and the Economics club. The main focus was the issue of militarism to paramilitarism, and how it specifically impacts the people in southern Mexico. Paramilitarism is the community fighting back against injustice. “Paramilitarism can be defined in many ways,” Sedillo said. Paramilitarism influences aspects of life in Mexico, such as college campuses and labor unions. The workshop also focused on neoliberalism, which is for economic growth and against big business, and its effects on indigenous populations. Sedillo shattered myths about United States military intervention indigenous communities of Mexico, past and present. Sedillo began by telling his life story and why he became a filmmaker and community activist. He also gave a brief overview of the history of the uprisings. The events began in May 2006 when police responded to a teacher strike and opened fired on a non-violent protest. The conflict lasted until Nov. 25 but had a lasting impact on the residents of Oaxaca, Mexico. Growing up, Sedillo witnessed police brutality and became involved in crime, but made the decision to turn away from crime. “I’ve always been political,” he said. After seeing a news report about the uprisings taking place in Oaxaca, he decided to become involved by making films. He believes putting cameras in the hands of regular people is the best way to document unjust situations. During the second half of the workshop, he discussed the role of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and its impact on Mexico’s constitution. Sidello criticized NAFTA as well as the economic policies that are supposed to help Mexico, but ended up causing more harm than good. He also discussed the role of the Zapatista, a guerilla army that has played a significant role in the uprisings. During the last part of the workshop he presented his latest film, which showed a family who used their music talent to express their political views. The family filmed also participated in the uprising along with other protestors. “La Familia Races” is different from the films he normally makes, which focus on torture and murder. By the end of the workshop, participants had the opportunity to purchase the film, and were left with an understanding of militarism and paramilitarism. [email protected] 4 News Tr e a s u r e s a r c h i v e d f o r d i s c o v e r y October 19, 2009 CAPTURING THE LIFE OF CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER by ALEXIA STOUT-LANG Some men and women are history makers. Leon M. Jordan and his wife certainly fall into that category. Jordan was born in Kansas City in 1905, attended Lincoln High School and graduated from Wilberforce University in Ohio in 1933. Five years later, he joined the Kansas City Police Department. He served 16 years and became the first AfricanAmerican to become a Lieutenant. In 1947, he was granted a leave of absence and lived eight years in Liberia, training its police force while his wife, Orchid, played a vital role in establishing the records bureau of the Liberian police department. The couple was frequently invited as guests of Liberian President William V. S. Tubman. In the mid-1950s, Jordan and his wife returned to the states and he decided to pursue a political career. In 1962, Jordan and political colleague Bruce Watkins founded Freedom, Inc., a local organization that promoted voter awareness in the black community and groomed AfricanAmerican candidates for political of- fice. In 1964, Jordan won a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives. On July 15, 1970, Jordan was shot and killed in the early morning hours as he left the Green Duck Tavern, a business operated at 2548 Prospect Ave. At the time, he was seeking his fourth term in the Missouri General Assembly. His wife took up the campaign, won the seat and served 16 years in the state legislature. The LaBudde Special Collections Department at the Miller Nichols Library houses the Leon M. Jordan Collection, which is comprised of photos, documents and other items belonging to the couple. The content ranges in date from the 1910s to the 1980s. A large portion of the collection is photos from Liberia like the one featured here of Africans in native costume. For more information about the collection, visit the LaBudde Special Collections Department or go online to http://library.umkc.edu/spec-col-collections/ jordan. [email protected] Photo courtesy LABUDDE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS www.unews.com Gun talks unravel issues Guns were the center of attention at the School of Law Tuesday solely provide a right to bear arms for the militia,” Levy responded. “It existed as a right for the purpose of defense against tyrannical government.” Having defined the Second Amendment’s purpose, Levy explained, in Matthew Hicks Contributing Writer the words of Alexander Hamilton in Federalist Paper Number 78, “The The free food and open seats went judicial branch must bind the execufast in the packed Law School student tive and legislature in the chains of the lounge during a gun control debat Constitution.” hosted by the Federalist Society and Thus, repealing the Second UMKC School of Law. Amendment was the only ConstituRobert Levy, chairman of the Cato tional way to put a ban on guns. Institute, Libertarian think-tank, and Rostron, now with his first opporcoauthor of “The Dirty Dozen,” de- tunity to speak, identified himself as bated gun control with Allen Rostron, a moderate. UMKC professor of Law. Although he did not advocate gun Levy is known for being the co- rights, he agreed with Levy’s argucounsel of Dick Heller in the land- ment for the Constitutional applicamark Second Amendment Supreme tion of the Second Amendment. Court case last year, District of CoRostron went on to criticize Scalumbia v. Heller. lia’s opinion and judicial ideology, Levy was given the opportunity saying it was “hypocritical.” to first introduce the Scalia is a posterfacts of the case and boy for originalism, a how it was present- “The Second method of interpreting ed to the Supreme Amendment didn’t the Constitution strictCourt. ly as it was written and solely provide a right He began by sayintended by the origiing the Supreme to bear arms for the nal writers. Court had not heard militia. It existed as a Rostron also got a case concerning the crowd laughing at the Second Amend- right for the purpose some of Scalia’s sidement since 1939 dur- of defense against bar commentary on the ing United States v. tyrannical government.” Heller case, which RosMiller. tron said might have With the growing ROBERT LEVY been appropriate in an concerns of many Chairman of the Cato Institute article of some type but Americans about not in a Supreme Court their Constitutional opinion. right to bear arms, Levy and his felThe next question was, “What is a low litigants decided to proactively fundamental right?” deal with the issue. Levy’s response was “nobody They filed a suit in Washington, knows.” D.C. and interviewed several potential He mentioned the Lawrence v. Texplaintiffs. as case in which the Supreme Court Eventually, they settled on six. ruled one has a reasonable right to priThree of them were men; three were vacy for consensual gay sex in one’s women; two of them were African- home. American; the other four were white By contrast, an elderly woman preand their ages ranged from 20-60 scribed medical marijuana and arrestyears. ed by the Drug Enforcement AdminSeveral years later after dealing istration for possession of an illegal with complications with the National substance (which Levy said the fedRif le Association, Heller, the sole re- eral government has no Constitutional maining plaintiff, finally made it to authority to regulate), does not have the Supreme Court and won in a 5-4 the right to live a less painful life. decision given by Justice Antonin Thus, from reading the cases, there Scalia. is no consistent principle in deciding The ruling affirmed Heller’s Sec- what is or is not a fundamental right. ond Amendment right to possess a Roston added to the dialogue, but firearm. there was little debate. The first question asked by the He even conceded in his final remoderator, Ben McMillen, president marks that he had learned a few things of the UMKC Federalist Society, was and would “have to change his lecture if the case was decided correctly. notes.” “The Second Amendment didn’t [email protected] Get turned on ... Become a fan on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! @UNewsScoop Visit www.unews.com to the U-News! 5 News www.unews.com October 19, 2009 New Orleans brings hope for Kansas City Photo KEVIN BRYCE An expert panel discusses how the effort to rebuild New Orleans applies to Kansas City. Kevin Bryce Photo Editor Hurricane Katrina brought a clean slate to New Orleans for planners, politicians and the public alike. The 2005 hurricane, though a tragedy, gave the city a chance to rebuild itself, eliminating social divides such as race and class. But this great task is ongoing. Last Wednesday, experts from across the country gathered in a panel discussion of how this effort can be applied to Kansas City. Leading the discussion in a packed lecture hall was Director of Black Studies Clovis Semmes, who spoke about the problems faced in rebuilding New Orleans. “Neglect is most easily applied to the least powerful,” Semmes said. He talked about how easily the increase in consumption can cause the neglect of public welfare. If planners are reckless, then environmental racism and classism Kelley Kates are practiced and waste sites end up in the poorest areas of town. Raymond Rast, professor at California State University, is beginning to study the history of Kansas City. He talked about the flood of 1951 and how it broke through the levees of the lower west side, deeply impacting Kansas City’s MexicanAmerican community. “Within minutes, a torrent of water broke through, destroying 3,000 homes,” Rast said. Though the flood caused $840 million in damages, it brought the Mexican-American community together. Many more Mexican-Americans moved back into flooded areas than were originally there. But at that time, Kansas City saw urban development as more important than this strong, thriving community. “Where the flood pulled the Mexican-American community together, the freeways pulled them apart,” Rast said. Highway 31 drove right through the community, demolishing homes sues east of Troost Avenue are less and causing noise pollution. important. By 1970, the population of Mex“There is an attitude that if you ican-Americans in the areas of Ar- are east of Troost, anything goes, gentine and Southwest Trafficway that is until you meet me,” said Carol dropped from 22,000 to 7,000. Grimaldi, executive director of the By 1972, these areas were Brush Creek Community Partners. deemed as dead and no loans could Grimaldi talked about neglect in be given to those social welfare. looking to buy Even in re“How can we, as a nation, homes. cent years, the “How can allow someone to suffer not f a i le d K a n s a s we, as a nation, City sewage allow someone just of the storm but also at system contribto suffer not just the hands of other human uted to the flash of the storm but beings?” flood at East also at the hands Brush Creek of other human PELLOM MCDANIELS in 1998, which beings?” Pel- UMKC professor of History killed 11 people. lom McDaniels, “Psychic UMKC professor walls are just as of History, asked. hard to break down as brick walls,” Neglect is a driving theme in Grimaldi said. Kansas City’s history and with influGrimaldi was excited about the ence from the reconstruction of New Green Zone development in the Orleans, this issue ought to now be Ivanhoe district of Kansas City. addressed, according to the panel. Weatherizing homes and imWhen it comes to urban planning proving the transit system in the and construction, lately it seems is- area are good starts to breaking this Katrina revealed racial divides Staff Writer The vision of racial contention in America became all too clear last Monday night at Swinney Recreation Center. “Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster,” a book by Michael Eric Dyson, was the subject of the presentation for the evening. Dyson, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, attempts to address racial inequalities and pretense throughout history and during the Katrina disaster in his book. His visit to UMKC was for the same purpose. His main focus for the evening was the disaster in New Orleans during and after Katrina made landfall. However, he did stray into various areas of racial inequality throughout the discussion. Dyson noted a large problem in America is slavery and its lasting impressions have been profoundly inserted into America. He said it largely has to do with land ownership. Dyson stated landowning white men have always had the upper hand and that position has not changed because land is passed on from generation to generation. He said the inequalities are not just among race but gender and class as well. Dyson often urged all races including middle class and “poor white trash” to join in the fight against the inequalities. He also urged white women to speak up on Affirmative Action. “Affirmative Action ain’t taken nothing that white people would have gotten anyway,” he said. “White middle class are being manipulated by deep-pocket conservatives … that’s why poor white folk need to join with poor black folk and poor red folk need to join forces and we can turn this thing out,” Dyson said. Dyson said when Hurricane Katrina hit, it hit everybody in that region, but not everyone was hit the same. For example, he said, if you’ve got another ‘crib’ up on the hill, you can go to your other ‘crib.’ Dyson added that if you were the people living in poverty, in the Ninth Ward for instance, you may not even have a car, a ride, gas or a credit card to be able to leave. Dyson said those people living in the impoverished areas were stuck and were the most profoundly affect- ed. He said they weren’t “stubborn or stupid,” they just didn’t want to lose what little they did have. Dyson spoke about “racial institutionalism,” the notion of the built-in belief one race deserves more than others. He said this is what happened in the disaster. “They didn’t consciously decide not to help,” Dyson stated. He said it was a built-in reaction. Dyson referred to and addressed some of the random statements that reflect the built-in notion made by Americans, mainly conservative whites and Bill Cosby, after the hurricane struck. For example, statements made that insisted those who could not leave should have been working harder so they weren’t so impoverished could look only to their selves to blame. Dyson reiterated that those peo- racial divide. But the problems Kansas City faces with its urban development are still many, she said. Jacob Wagner, assistant professor of Architecture, Urban Planning & Design at UMKC, talked about the Kansas City sprawl and how it is unique from that of New Orleans. Where New Orleans is surrounded by a river and the ocean, Kansas City just has land. Wagner said when a city is as sprawled as Kansas City it has a great amount of vulnerability due to its dependency on highways and transit. Also, when everyone is so spread out, limitations are placed on dialogue when considering future development plans. “Sprawl shapes our ability and our inability to talk to one another,” Wagner said. But with the evidence of New Orleans, Wagner said change and improvement is possible. “If you love your city and want to rebuild it, you can,” he said. [email protected] ple would not have been affected so harshly had they not been residing in more vulnerable areas due to racial inequality. Regarding the statements made by some that Katrina happened because God wanted to wipe out all the black people in New Orleans because of all of the crime and as well as all of the gays, Dyson responded by asking if anyone had ever seen Detroit or San Francisco. Dyson said the racial separation and economic bigotry was revealed during Hurricane Katrina. The people who rested in those communities, he said, “were victimized twice, once by the storm itself.” “The historic legacy of inequality has to be acknowledged and addressed,” Dyson said. [email protected] 6 News October 19, 2009 www.unews.com Day in the life: NBA reporter Tyler Allen Assistant News Editor Some people who get up in the morning may tweet about the contents of their breakfast. Michael Wallace tweets the latest news about the Miami Heat. As journalism heads into the era of social media, Wallace’s career is much different than when he started 12 years ago. “I’m such a traditionalist when it comes to journalism,” Wallace said. “I either had one of two choices: you could evolve with the times or you are out of a job.” As the NBA beat reporter for The Miami Herald, his work revolves around the Miami Heat during the season. “It’s non-stop basketball from basically late September through June,” he said. “You’re really always on the clock for nine months.” Wallace begins his work day by reading various newspapers online to get an idea of the days biggest sports stories. After that, he’s off to the Heat’s practice to conduct interviews and generate stories. If it’s game day, there’s much more involved. After submitting his pregame story, Wallace gets a chance to talk with the team. “There’s a period called the pregame media availability where, about an hour and a half before the start of each game, the head coach makes himself available for the media,” he said. “After we talk to the head coach for about five to 10 minutes, the locker rooms are opened, so we go in and talk to the players as they get prepared for the game.” Photo TYLER ALLEN NBA reporter Michael Wallace discusses journalism with UMKC students. During the game, Wallace has to juggle writing his game story and actually watching the action. “The whole time I’m working,” he said. “And it’s amazing because it’s hard to watch a game as you’re actually working. But you sort of learn how to look up every few minutes and watch a few minutes and then peep down and write during time outs and things like that.” After he sends his story in, Wallace hits his blog. Wallace said a lot has changed since his early days as a journalist. “Ten years ago, all you did was write your story, try to be as accurate as you can, try to be entertaining and then you push send,” he said. “Now, your story is just one component of everything else you have to do.” Wallace emphasized the impact social media has had on his profession. “The day where you think you have a scoop all to yourself — that’s long gone,” he said. “In this day and age with all the media and all the ways to get access to what happens instantly, you want to be able to put your paper in a position where somebody can pick up that paper the next morning and see something and read something that they weren’t able to get immediately after the game.” Wallace always gives aspiring journalists two pieces of advice. First is be able to listen. “The first thing is soak up, be a sponge, listen to every piece of information, every piece of advice that you can get,” he said. The second is be flexible. “You’re going to have to be versatile, your going to have to be able to go anywhere,” Wallace said. “It’s not necessarily as important where you start off; it’s where you end up.” [email protected] Mock Trial aims for nationals Kelley Kates Visit www.unews.com Staff Writer The UMKC College Mock Trial team is competing under new leadership and striving to reach the national competition. After a lengthy reign as Pre-Law advisor, Derek Moorehead resigned from the position last year to seek other career aspirations. Since his departure, Sybil (Briann) Wyatt, the new Pre-Law advisor, has taken over the reins and is leading the UMKC Mock Trial team. “It’s a big transition for us,” team member Irene Downs said. Downs said the guidance on the team seems to be working. Recently, the team had two of their competing squads at the Fifth Annual Billiken Barrister Tournament in St. Louis, Mo. and one received 10th place recognition. Helping to guide the team is Jessica Bernard, a Blue Springs, Mo. lawyer, Washington University graduate and seven-year mock trial coach who recently joined the UMKC Mock Trial organi- zation. Downs said the team is working toward nationals but must do well at regionals in the spring first. “The goal absolutely is to make it to nationals,” Downs said. The Mock Trial team receives plenty of practice for the tournaments they attend one or two times every month. “A lot of time, a lot of dedication is put into time to practice with your team,” Downs said. She said they generally practice on Tuesdays and Sundays for three hours each night, and about five additional hours during the week within their individual squads, which are made up of 6-10 students. Downs said it can be challenging to practice so often because everyone on the team is a full-time student and trying to maintain scholarships as well as the team. Many of the teammates are studying for their Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), which takes up quite a bit of their time too. Downs noted the key to surviving all of it is organization. “We all carry planners,” she said. “We try to coordinate our schedules and keep them as best as we can.” This year, Downs said, competitors in the mock trial competition get to argue a criminal case. The case alternates every year between civil and criminal. The American Mock Trial Association sets the rules for the teams and competitions but the coach assigns what role each team member plays, whether it be attorney or witness. Each squad member gets a chance to play both the role of the attorney and the witness. She said it’s a good experience, but most of all, it is fun. Downs said they all have a great time traveling and staying in hotels together like some huge, fun, dysfunctional family. That’s what makes mock trial so great, Downs said. “We really are family.” [email protected] 7 News www.unews.com Police Blotter Oct. 9 2:36 p.m. Vehicular – While backing out of a parking space, a student’s car was struck by a car already in the lane. Oct. 10 2:08 a.m. Disturbance – A group of people yelling in the hallway at Oak Place Apartments were asked to keep the noise down and complied. Oct. 11 7:58 p.m. Injury – A staff member was taking apart a set in the Performing Arts Center when a piece fell on his foot. Oct. 12 1:37 p.m. Harassment – A staff member in Haag Hall reported threats from a suspect to get her fired. 8:13 p.m. Vehicular – A driver not paying attention at 50th and Oak streets struck another vehicle. Oct. 13 6:09 a.m. Larceny – An unknown party stole several pieces of computer equipment from a room in Haag Hall. 2:44 p.m. Larceny – A staff member returned to her vehicle in the School of briefly mentioned Education parking lot to find her window broken and items missing. 3:50 p.m. Larceny – A student returned to his vehicle in the Oak Street Parking Structure and found a window broken and property missing. 4:25 p.m. Larceny – A student parked in the Oak Street Parking Structure was notified by police that her car window was broken and items were missing. 7:22 p.m. Information – A student left a vehicle that wasn’t his parked at the University Center with the keys in it and returned to find it missing. Oct 14 8:03 a.m. Property Damage – A CCTV camera was damaged on the side of the Medical School building. 3:57 p.m. Larceny – A student left her backpack unattended and returned to find items missing from it. Oct. 15 11:32 a.m. Assist Other Agency – An officer assisted the Kansas City Police Department in the apprehension of a car prowler. 2:50 p.m. Larceny – A student returned to his vehicle in the Oak Place parking lot and discovered property missing. 5:48 p.m. Larceny – A student returned to her vehicle in the Oak Place parking lot and found a window broken and her GPS missing. Campus Crimes as of Oct. 16 CRIMES BURGLARY* ROBBERY MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT* LARCENY AGGRAVATED ASSAULT COMMON ASSAULT FORCIBLE SEX OFFENSES DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS by TYLER ALLEN by ALEXIA STOUT-LANG 2008 YTD 2009 YTD 17 20 1 3 4 3 113 101 1 0 4 7 0 2 8 3 * MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS AND BURGLARIES INCLUDE ATTEMPTS Correction ‘Continuing campus crime poses threat’ (10/12/09) Due to an editor’s error, the article said, “Contrary to common practice, UMKC Police did not send a safety alert to students pertaining to Clark’s robbery.” However, UMKC Police Chief Mike Bongartz confirmed the crime was not something that would normally be sent out campus-wide through e-mail. The robber took property from an empty office and happened to cross paths with Clark on the way out. New Letters awards writers UMKC’s quarterly literary and art magazine New Letters announced the winners its 24th annual literary awards. Heather Bell, of New York, received the $1,500 New Letters Award for Poetry for “Aunt Marjorie” and other selected poems. “The poems I chose spoke to me because they contained some combination of passion, surprise, sensibility and structure,” poetry judge Kim Addonizio said. Rose Bunch, of Florida, received the $1,500 Dorthy C. Cappon Award for her essay “Norman Mailer is Coming to Dinner.” “Humor is so hard to pull off in an essay, especially hard-won humor,” essay judge Robin Hemley said. “And the humor of this piece is certainly hard-won.” Siobhán Fallon, of California, received the $1,500 Alexander Cappon Award for Fiction for “Inside the Break.” “[This story] impressed me with the beauty of its craft, yes, but also its timeliness, its emotional and technical authenticity and the way it bruised my heart,” fiction judge Benjamin Percy said. All of the winner’s works will be published in the winter 2010 issue of New Letters. The next literary awards deadline is May 18, 2010. Visit www.newletters.org for details. Campus 10:27 a.m. Injury – A piece of countertop fell in the Oak Street Residence Hall and hit the victim in the leg. October 19, 2009 UMKC 14th in ‘Best Neighbor’ survey The university’s contributions to the community received recognition Monday when it was named the 14th “Best Neighbor,” according to “Savior of Our Cities: A Survey of Best College and University Civic Partnerships.” According to a press release, the top 25 colleges and universities were selected based “on their positive impact on their urban communities – both commercial and residential activities – such as revitalization, cultural renewal, economics and community service and development.” “An important part of the University’s vision is its active engagement with the city, as well as the region,” UMKC Chancellor Leo E. Morton said. “As a university, we are committed to engaging our community in making this a great urban university – one of which the administration, faculty, students, staff and the community can be proud.” The survey was authored by Dr. Ewan Dobelle, president of Westfield College in Westfield, Mass. Among the top 25 are the University of Southern California, University of Pennsylvania and University of Missouri – St. Louis, another member of the University of Missouri system. Provost appoints interim vice chancellor of Research Dr. Lynda Bonewald, Lee M. and William Lefkowitz professor of Oral Biology and director of UMKC’s Bone Biology research program, was appointed interim vice chancellor of Research. Bonewald began her new role of overseeing UMKC’s Office of Research on Thursday. Bonewald worked at the University of Texas Health Science Center for 15 years before joining the UMKC School of Dentistry in 2001. She has received numerous awards and honors. In 2005 she was named a University of Missouri Curator’s Professor. She also received the Distinguished Scientist Award in Mineralized Tissue from both the International Association of Dental Research and American Association for Dental Research in 2006. For more information on the Office of Research, visit www.med.umkc.edu/research/ default1.html. Celebrate Love Your Body Day with the Women’s Center The Women’s Center (WC) will fight against unrealistic beauty standards and gender stereotypes all week. During various events Tuesday and Wednesday, WC will teach women and girls to love their bodies. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, a “Love Your Body Day Fashion Show” will kick off the week. The show will feature all different types of women in Pierson Auditorium. From noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday will be a workshop in room 161 of the University Center. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., WC will have informational tables at the Health Sciences building. Informational tables will also be available 4-6 p.m. at Oak Street Residence Hall. For more information about the events, visit www.umkc.edu/womenc/. Police tip of the week From Michelle Taylor, UMKC Crime Prevention When driving, keep doors locked and windows rolled up. Maintain at least half a tank of fuel, and keep your vehicle in good repair. If you experience a breakdown, pull as far onto the shoulder as possible and turn your emergency flashers on. If you have a cellular phone, summon assistance from a reputable source or call for law enforcement response. Otherwise, raise your hood or tie a streamer to your antenna and await assistance inside your locked vehicle. If a stranger stops, speak to them through a partially rolled-down window. Ask them to go to a phone and call police or a tow service. Do not exit your vehicle until a law enforcement officer or tow operator is onscene. On longer trips, be sure you have water, food and blankets in the vehicle. If a crime occurs, contact the UMKC Police Department immediately at 816-235-1515, or dial 911. 8 October 19, 2009 Culture www.unews.com ‘Palomino’ exposes human nature Photo courtesy DON IPOCK PHOTOGRAPHY David Cale provides a one-man show in “Palomino,” running through Nov. 15 at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Alexia Stout-Lang I News Editor t’s raw. It’s real. It’s emotional. It’s “Palomino.” Making its world premier at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, “Palomino” was written, performed and self-directed by award-winning author and performer David Cale. Cale completely rewrites the dictionary definition of “one-man show” with his performance. I can tell you right now, you have never experienced anything like “Palomino.” It is the story of an Irish carriage driver in Manhattan, New York named Kieren McGrath, a book worm with dreams of becoming a writer. One fateful day, a woman named Marsha takes a ride in his carriage and presents an interesting proposal. She will give him $1,000 to spend an evening with one of her friends. “Are you pimping me?” McGrath asks. But without much more coercing, he accepts the business deal. One evening turns into many more with several other women. He attends plays, gets whisked off to California and eventually to Malta with the cougars (mostly women whose husbands have passed) who are paying for his company. To the vulnerable women, the tall, dark and handsome McGrath is flawless – almost perfect. He is smart, he is gorgeous, he is great in bed. The problem comes when one woman falls for him and it is revealed that he refuses to fall in love because he can’t stand the way it feels. Through Cale, the audience experiences the emotions of love and love lost right along with the men and women in the play. In some cases, we see the same scene from different perspectives. In addition to Marsha and McGrath, Cale plays the three women he becomes romantic with (Ruby, Trish and Vallie), Edward, a book publisher, and Peter, another Irish carriage driver. Whether playing men or woman, Cale flows seamlessly from asserting masculinity to gushing with femininity. “He shows us the vulgarity of human nature while letting us know it’s OK because, deep down, we are all the same.” It is a provocative story and Cale gets the audience emotionally invested in the characters. He shows us the vulgarity of human nature while letting us know it’s OK because, deep down, we are all the same. The simplicity of the set allows for the com- plexity of the relationships to shine through. A projection screen, two stools and a hat stand are the lone items seen on stage. In all honesty, I did not quite know what to think of the play in the beginning. It’s a slow start. Cale has to set the stage for the entire story. It is a difficult task for one man to introduce the audience to so many characters. But he gets the job done. By the end of the 90 minutes, the tale all comes together in a medley of emotions. Laughter, tears, hate, love – they all have a place. Everyone who goes to see this play will walk away with a deep understanding of raw human nature. It’s ugly, vulgar, beautiful, eternal, temporary and ever-changing. “Palomino” runs through Nov. 15 on the Copaken Stage. Visit www.kcrep.org for tickets. [email protected] 9 Culture www.unews.com October 19, 2009 Pat Green gets back to his roots movie review by CASEY OSBURN ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ In a theatre full of kids dressed in pajamas, everybody wanted to escape to the adventurous world of Max and his imaginary wild things. Hopefully they weren’t as disappointed as I was. The book, by Maurice Sendak, is a masterpiece but the movie adaptation does not deserve the same designation. “Where the Wild Things Are” is the story of Max, a young boy who caused all sorts of mischief one night and was sent to bed without supper. That night, Max’s vivid imagination brought him to a faraway place, where he found the wild things. Director Spike Jonze spent more than eight years working to adapt this book into a film with the help of writer Dave Eggers. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t express the same intensity as Sendak’s Photo courtesy GOOGLE IMAGES words. The opening credits contained Max’s doodles of the wild things over the Warner Bros. logo, which sent me back to fourth grade. Jonze successfully added his own view of Max’s family background, which helped extend the short story into a feature film. It is apparent from the start of the film that Max struggles with anger and lack of attention. After Max builds a big igloo, his older sister and her friends smash it and do nothing to make him feel better. Max then goes to her room, throws things around and breaks some of her stuff. Raised in a single-parent home, Max does not get as much attention as he would like. This is ultimately what causes him to act crazy one night, jumping on the counter and yelling at his mom. Sadly, these scenes are the best in the film. The beginning captures you, and takes you to another place. Then it drops you off wondering what actually happened. In Jonze’s adaptation, Max runs away after he throws his fit at home. This transitions into him sailing away to the land where the wild things are. This part is confusing. It is difficult to determine if the occurrences are a dream. Not once during the movie does it point out that Max was sent to bed without dinner, as it does in the book, nor that he was dreaming. I couldn’t help but continue to question it throughout the entire film. The costumes, however, were very well done. The wild things looked like they jumped straight out of the book and onto the movie screen. The visual aspects were great, and brought the viewer into the world of the wild things. But the excitement and fear just weren’t there. The movie doesn’t move you like it should. It borders on dull and I See MOVIE page 16 Hilary Saskin Culture Editor Many musicians say they have wanted to be a musician their whole life. Pat Green, however, is not one of them. “I guess I started my freshman year in college,” Green said. “That’s when I picked up a guitar and said, ‘I’m gonna learn how to play guitar.’” Though he was already a legal adult before dipping his feet in the music pool, Green, now one of the biggest names in country music, took to it instantly. “It was really very exciting for me,” he said. “I couldn’t get enough of it. It was an addiction immediately.” After his first hit, “Wave on Wave,” released in 2003, the success has been a nonstop road for Green. But there was a significant moment when he knew he had “made it big.” “Hearing my voice on the radio was a huge thing,” he said. “And then realizing (with ‘Wave on Wave’) we had a huge, chart-topping hit that stayed on top of the charts for a month. That was the defining moment.” Although the single never went to number one, Green said it stayed in the top five for well over a month. “That was the biggest thing ever for me,” he said. Now, more than six years later, Green still enjoys hearing his voice on the radio. But it’s for different reasons. “I don’t think it’s as weird now as much as it was then,” he said. “Now I’m just kind of glad because that means I’ve still got a job.” With the release of his latest album, What I’m For, which came out at the beginning of this year, Green hopes to continue making music (and have a job) for a while. What I’m For marks a milestone in Green’s career because it’s “a little bit more back to my roots,” he said. The album also holds a lot of importance to his family – his wife and two kids. “I think this one is a little more based in what it is I’ve done in the past,” he said. “But more than anything this is a lot about my family, a lot about my feelings for my kids and my wife and just the whole family thing.” Over the course of his career, Green’s music has slowly changed. He believes this is something that, for most people, happens naturally. “That’s the only way to make it sound real,” he said. “If I was trying to force the issue it would sound like I was faking it.” A lot of the songs came naturally, but choosing the album title was not an easy feat. Photo courtesy MELANIE WAGES Pat Green will be at Kemper Arena Oct. 23. With two song names in mind, Green had to make some major considerations. “I felt like the song ‘Footsteps of our Father’ was probably my favorite song on the album,” he said. “But the song ‘What I’m For’ – that song said more in three words than ‘Footsteps of our Father’ said in four.” While he is comfortable with co-writing, Green still enjoys writing songs on his own. Although he chooses not to put too many songs he didn’t write on any album, he is especially proud of his most recent one for the number of songs he wrote. “The last album out before this one, I guess I only wrote about six or seven of the songs,” he said. “But this one I wrote all but two.” Green has also done co-writing with other singers, including Rob Thomas and Jewel, which is something he holds close to his heart. “To have the kind of career that will afford you the opportunity to write with those people is what I’m most proud of,” he said. Now on tour for his latest album, Green will stop in Kansas City. He will perform Oct. 23 at Kemper Arena. [email protected] dating 101 by Christian Rose Halloween needs theme music Unquestionably, Halloween is my favorite time of the year. It is not just about the costumes, parties and mini corn kernels of sweet yummy-ness that suddenly flood the free market system every October (which, thanks to the modern miracle of preservatives, last well into February when I can get my fix on cheap chocolate and candy hearts). It has evolved to iconic status celebrated by children, their parents and the girls who feel they can dress as slutty as they want and use the excuse, “It’s just my costume,” and actually think they have somehow fooled everyone into thinking they’re not actually whores. C’mon ladies (and I use that term loosely), maids never wear skirts that short and rarely wear fishnets. In all honesty, Halloween has essentially become a month-long celebration of debauchery and deceitfulness under the good old-fashioned guise of a Hallmark-orchestrated holiday, but this fact does not lessen my enthusiasm one iota. I love watching cheaply made, gratuitously bloody B-movies in the daytime, and shopping for overpriced plastic party gear to wear at night. Some would argue it has lost its original appeal, but to those who parade around in all black with spiky metal necklaces wearing too much black eyeliner and praying to the devil, I would say, “There was no holiday and it certainly had no appeal until mass marketing made it what it is today!” To me, Halloween is like Taco Bell. Taco Bell is not really what Mexicans would think of as authentic, or for that matter even food. It’s more like America’s definition of what Mexican food should taste like — glued together with processed cheese substitutes assembled by under-achieving high school students, neatly packaged and sold by a Chihuahua. This is not necessarily a bad thing. For me and my weak stomach, I can’t digest real Mexican fare without ending up strapped to a toilet seat. I can (and do), however, consume the cheesy bean and rice burrito for 99 cents without so much as a stomach gurgle or the need to swallow a bottle of Pepto. Halloween is a popcorn ball of fun and, though some would argue things got lost once Disney took control of the marketing campaign, one thing not lost is that creepy feeling you get when you walk past a cemetery at night. Your spine shivers when a black cat runs past you in the moonlight or you catch your breath and scream when someone suddenly jumps out from behind a leafless tree and yells “Boo!” I concede that the original festivities of Samhain or the terrors of All Souls Days may have been tempered by hayrides under warm blankets snuggled close to someone important. Even Count Dracula has been re- cast as a teen heart-throb, his dark cape replaced by a pair of True Religion jeans and a tight Abercrombie t-shirt. While Halloween has steadily morphed into commercialism, for me it is better to be held close while clutching the neck of someone I love and pretending to be scared versus clutching a smelly bulb of garlic in an effort to keep demons from invading my soul and dragging me to hell. So, my most trusted friends, enjoy this season with all the wonderment it has become. Cuddle close to your crush and hold on tight during those terrible scary movies. Legend be damned, for me the only thing missing from Halloween is a catchy theme song … maybe by David Archuleta? [email protected] 10 October 19, 2009 Culture www.unews.com The Used heats up the Beaumont Hilary Saskin Culture Editor Concerts can easily be life-changing — sometimes in a good way, sometimes not. The Used was neither. Their performance on Oct. 13 at the Beaumont Club held some surprises and disappointments. But it did not have a life-altering effect. Not on me, at least. The crowd lined outside the Beaumont was full of eager faces and in complete disregard to the pouring rain. Nothing was going to get in the way of these fans. Drive A opened the show, and they were not much to write home about. They were followed by The Almost, a side project for Underoath drummer Aaron Gillespie. Gillespie does lead vocals for The Almost. Unfortunately, he excels more on the drums than with his voice. They ended their set with “Say This Sooner,” which is probably the only song they are actually known for. And it became apparent immediately that this was the only song the crowd was familiar with. Overall, I was not extremely impressed with either of the opening bands. The Used, however, came out with some heat. They opened their set with “Blood on My Hands,” the driving new single from their latest album, Artwork. Then they moved seamlessly into “Empty With You,” another track from Artwork. The sound quality was excellent and lead singer Bert McCracken, haggardlooking as always, sang marvelously. As a side note, this was the first time I had seen The Used live. And based on the Photo courtesy GOOGLE IMAGES From left: Jeph Howard, Bert McCracken, Quinn Allman and Dan Whitesides. opinions of others, I had low expectations – but I was pleasantly surprised. The intensity was consistent throughout their entire set and all the band members were equally involved. It was very obvious the band has played together for several years. Even Dan Whitesides, their new drummer, blended in comfortably, although it would have been great to see the original drummer, Branden Steineckert. Regardless of the drummer, the show was quite impressive. They played a variety of their traditional, well-known songs, including “Buried Myself Alive,” “A Box Full of Sharp Objects,” “Noise and Kisses” and “The Taste of Ink.” Each was performed to perfection, Play it by Ear by TYLER ALLEN Artwork by The Used Follow us on Twitter! @UNewsScoop After seven years and four studio albums, The Used is still the same band — not for better, but for worse. This Utah quartet’s take on the emo genre seemed fresh when they released their self-titled debut in 2002. But in the latter part of the decade, their brand of rock only seems tired. Guitarist Quinn Allman recently told U-News “we’ve changed as people and as artists.” I can’t speak for them as people, but their evolution as artists is not evident on their newest album Artwork. You’d think after all the success the band has seen over the years, lead singer and lyricist Bert McCracken would lighten up a bit. Such is not the case on Artwork. McCracken is still an angry little emo kid on songs like the opening track, “Blood On My Hands.” He sings “feel the pain that I never show, and I hope you know it’s never healing.” The self-loathing doesn’t stop when McCracken sings, “sold my life to bring the rain … sold my soul to stop played with the clarity and crispness of a studio recording and the energy and charisma of a live punk show. The Used ended their set with “Maybe Memories,” the first track from their selftitled, debut album. It was a very appropriate way to end the show. There were a lot of people, but I was surprised to find the show had not sold out. And according to the mosh pit that took up a majority of the floor throughout the entire show, the fans seemed to enjoy the show and themselves. All in all, the show was a success. And I would definitely see The Used again. But I would probably skip the opening bands. [email protected] the pain” in “Sold My Soul.” The painfully cheesy “Kissing You Goodbye” is reminiscent of hair-band ballads past. The track starts with McCracken whining about losing his lady over a soft piano riff. When a reverb-laden 80s guitar solo explodes during the bridge, I can’t help but picture Allman bursting through fog-machine smoke with teased hair to deliver it. Through the dark imagery and regurgitated rock riffs, the album does provide some positives. The Used has always had a knack for delivering catchy, anthemic choruses, such as on their break through single “The Taste Of Ink.” They achieve the same with Artwork on songs like “Empty Without You” and “Watered Down.” Even if their music seems old-hat, you might catch yourself singing along. But even a well-constructed chorus can’t save lines like “this spider web of dreams, I’m stuck here as it seems to be breaking.” What made The Used stand out against the wave of emo groups that descended upon the music scene years ago were honest lyrics and a unique sound. On Artwork, honest lyrics are replaced with ambiguous metaphors and their unique sound has become commonplace. If you’re missing the rock music of yesteryear, Artwork could seem nostalgic. But if you’re searching for something different, I suggest looking elsewhere. C [email protected] Culture www.unews.com Recipe – Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars by CHELSEA SOETAERT Grab a little taste of home with each bite of these delicious, made-from-scratch, chocolate chip cookies! October 19, 2009 save the date Compiled by HILARY SASKIN Monday, Oct. 19 Ingredients: The Humor of W.S. Gilbert: Richard Byrum, Lyric Opera Guild speaker, will discuss the career of British humorist W.S. Gilbert. Event takes place at 7 p.m. at the Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch (4801 Main St.). 2 1/4 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Directions: Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Beat together butter, both sugars and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer until creamy. Add eggs and beat well. Combine baking soda and salt with sugar and egg mixture. Gradually add flour and beat well. Stir in chocolate chips. Coat a 9x13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray and spread mixture into pan, making sure to fill to the corners. The mixture in the pan should be about 1-inch thick. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown. PopWreck(oning) celebrates second birthday Melissa Cowan 11 Staff Writer Creating PopWreckoning.com in 2007 turned out to be “a happy accident” for the site’s Managing Editor Joshua Hammond. PopWreck(oning), an online music magazine with reviews, contests, interviews and more, celebrated its second birthday Oct. 12 with a concert at Davey’s Uptown Rambler’s Club, featuring both local and national bands. The Epilogues and The Photo Atlas (both from Denver and touring together) opened the show for The Yellow Walrus and headliner, Life In Jersey (both from Kansas City). PopWreck(oning) began as a blog that made fun of TV shows. Jessica McGinley and Hammond created the site. “The co-owner, Jessica and I … we’d just rip on things and post our text conversations back and forth,” Hammond said. “It was really started just for our friends to read and laugh.” But Hammond wanted more out of the site. “I got the idea to start asking for stuff to review,” Hammond said. “To our surprise, CDs started coming. We also started getting tickets to shows. … We never thought anyone would read it.” Hammond played in the Kansas City music scene for a few years. He was the drummer and pianist for The Waiting List. But after moving to “the middle of nowhere” (Iola, Kan.) to be close to his grandparents, he realized making music was no longer an option. “Basically, [the site] was formed to relieve that empty feeling I had in my stomach I was getting from missing being on stage,” Hammond said. The site has really taken off since its formation two years ago. They went from ranting about TV shows to reviewing major music festivals and interviewing musicians such as Tegan and Sarah, Tori Amos and The Flaming Lips, Hammond said. “Basically, [the site] was formed to relieve that empty feeling I had in my stomach I was getting from missing being on stage.” JOSHUA HAMMOND Managing Editor, PopWreckoning.com But one of Hammond’s main goals is to help local bands get exposure. “We have a lot of pretty talented bands here that are often overlooked,” Hammond said. “They’re never going to have a draw if someone doesn’t give them a start. I’ve seen way too many talented bands quit because they were stuck in first gear by no fault of their own.” Hammond chose The Yellow Walrus to play the birthday show for exactly that reason. He hopes “people will notice them and love them” as much as everyone from the site does. “I really think we’ll see big things from these kids once the ball starts rolling,” he said. Having Life in Jersey play as the headliner “was a no brainer” since the band already has a large local following. He also wants to separate PopWreck(oning) from other music journalism sites that only focus on the negative aspects of music. “You don’t have to get your Web site traffic through shocking and angering people,” Hammond said. “I personally think that most (music) journalists just get a CD on their desk, listen to it and tear it apart. They never really stop to think about the fact that someone made that CD – they put hours and money into creating it.” Hammond is currently working on setting up a free, all-ages Christmas show. “Instead of a ticket, you’d just donate a toy to us, which we’d take to a charity group for underprivileged kids,” Hammond said. There are roughly 25 writers for the site from different cities. But they’re always looking for more. Those interested in writing or taking photos for PopWreckoning.com, may send samples to Hammond at [email protected]. [email protected] Say Anything: The poppunk band is performing with Eisley, Moneen and Moving Mountains. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Beaumont Club. All ages, tickets are $15. Friday, Oct. 23 Sissy Wish: Norway native Siri Walberg (Sissy Wish) is celebrating her first U.S. release, Beauties Never Die. She will perform at 10:45 p.m. at the Record Bar. Tickets are $7, must be 21. Last day for 60 percent refund for fall 2009 second eightweek session. Tuesday, Oct. 20 Date Auction: Take part in a student charity event and possibly get a date out of it. UMKC is hosting a date auction and silent auction at 7 p.m. at Pierson Auditorium in the University Center. All proceeds go to the Children’s Miracle Network. Door prizes, snacks and refreshments will be provided. Event is open to all people associated with the university. Fashion Show: The UMKC Women’s Center is hosting a fashion show to help kick off Love Your Body Day. Cosponsored by the Revisioning Women Project and the Counseling Center, the show will feature models of all ages, sizes and colors. There will also be refreshments and door prizes. Event goes from 7-9 p.m. at Pierson Auditorium in the University Center. David Garrett: Violinist David Garrett unites the world of classical and pop music. Performance begins at 8 p.m. at the Midland Theater. Show is all ages, tickets are $25-$35. Wednesday, Oct. 21 Last day for 100 percent refund for fall 2009 second eightweek session. David Sedaris: Don’t miss author David Sedaris, performing at 8 p.m. at the Midland Theatre. Tickets start at $37.50, show is all ages. Thursday, Oct. 22 Midwest Poets Series: Former U.S. Poet Laureate and “The Simpsons” star Robert Pinsky will join Midwest Poets Series for the 27th year of America’s Premier Reading Series. Sponsored by the Center for Arts and Letters at Rockhurst University, the reading begins at 7 p.m. (with a reception at 6 p.m.) at Rockhurst’s Mabee Theater in Sedwick Hall. Admission is $3. Books will be available for purchase, and a book signing will follow the reading. Study Abroad: Applications for Study Abroad Travel Award due at midnight. Turn them in at 5325 Rockhill Road. Drive Safe Drive Smart: Learn about the effects of drunk driving and have a chance to win prizes. The “Drive Safe Drive Smart” event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the UMKC Quad. Enjoy pizza while being educated on topics such as driving while intoxicated and distracted driving. Try on some “beer goggles” to simulate what it’s like to drive under the influence. Also compete in tricycle and remote control car races. And if you complete a safe driving pledge form, you will be entered to win one of two $25 gift cards to the Country Club Plaza. Saturday, Oct. 24 Food Drive: Enjoy trickor-treating, magic tricks, hay rides, face painting and more for the admission price of a few donated cans of food. Event takes place from 6-8:30 p.m. in Old Shawnee Town (11501 W. 57th St., Merriam, Kan.). For more information, call 913-2482360 or visit www.jocolibrary. com. Sunday, Oct. 25 The Pogues: As part of the Coors Light Live Concert Series, The Pogues will take the stage with The Detroit Cobras. Show begins at 8 p.m. at the Midland Theatre. All ages, tickets are $45. 12 October 19, 2009 Sports www.unews.com Basketball season kicks off I Kevin Bryce Photo Editor t was a show for the whole family Friday night at the College Basketball Experience (CBE) inside Kansas City’s Sprint Center. The UMKC men’s and women’s basketball seasons kicked off with introductions, competitions and no shortage of activities. Assistant Athletics Director for External Relations Jessica Dickson had nothing but good things to say about having the event at the CBE. “The whole facility is open,” Dickson said. “I believe it’s an over 1,400 square foot facility that has numerous interactive games: Three-point shooting contests, free throw shooting contests, beat the clock, dunk exhibits and just tons of different activities for all ages.” Jay Fabing, a long-time fan, brought his three children the past two years. “We’ve been upstairs and downstairs, shooting baskets with the kids,” Fabing said. “They love it here.” The annual event was the first to ever take place at the CBE. This is the third year it was held and it continues to grow each year. “The first year the facility wasn’t open and so we were limited on the number of fans that we could have attend,” Dickson said. “Last year, we had a little over 300 fans attend and RSVP. This year we’re actually close to 600 RSVPs.” The event is not only held to raise support for the teams but also to give fans a chance to be introduced to the team members, not only corporately, but at a personal level. “At the end of the program [the teams] interact and playthe games with our fans,” Dickson said. The program itself consisted of introductions, a skills competition, a three-point contest and a dunk competition, allowing teams to showcase some of their skills. Both the men’s and women’s head coaches, Matt Brown and Candace Whitaker, are entering their third season of play. Both coaches were very enthusiastic for what this season had to offer to fans. The men have 14 home games and the first four will be played on campus. Despite being able to meet the players and do all the activities, the event is really held to get fans ready for UMKC’s basketball season. “It’s to kick off the basketball season,” Dickson said. “This is really the showcase, and to get everybody excited for basketball. This is it, we’re ready to go, it’s basketball season, let’s turn it on.” The men’s first tip off is Nov. 6 and the women’s is Nov. 7. Both games will be at Swinney Recreation Center. [email protected] Photo KEVIN BRYCE Quinn Harper settles in back home Melissa Cowan Staff Writer There’s no place like home. And Quinn Harper, a Kansas native and new Assistant Athletics Trainer at UMKC, is happy to be back. She works mostly with the men’s basketball team and the track and cross-country teams, treating injuries and illnesses under the team physicians. “My day-to-day job is to take care of (athletes), evaluate them, do treatment, rehab and return them to play,” Harper said. Fortunately, there haven’t been any serious injuries since she started in August. Harper received her Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of Kansas (KU) in 1999. She started as a journalism major, but that quickly changed after her first semester. “I wasn’t really loving [journalism],” Harper said. “I obviously didn’t give it much time, but I knew.” Then she toured the Athletic Training Facility at KU for a class. “I was like, ‘this is what I want to do,’” Harper said. Harper was an athlete in high school. She played basketball, tennis and soccer. She was also on the track team. “I always wanted to do something with sports,” Harper said. “I don’t know what else I would do.” Harper considered medical school, but she really wanted to stick with what she loves – sports. “My day-to-day job is to take care of (athletes), evaluate them, do treatment, rehab and return them to play.” QUINN HARPER Assistant Athletics Trainer at UMKC She became a certified athletic trainer after graduating from KU, then moved to Arizona to treat student athletes at Tempe High School. “It’s a three-part exam, and you have to pass everything,” Harper said. “You can’t practice without being certified. ... Someone can’t just come in and say, ‘I want to be an athletic trainer.’” She is also certified in CPR. She renews this certification annually. “It’s a good refresher,” Harper said. “You never know when you’re going to use it, unfortunately. (But) I’ve never had to use it.” She received her Masters degree at the Arizona School of Health Sciences in 2001. After graduating, Harper moved to Rhode Island and was an athletic trainer at Providence College for eight years. Five of those years, she treated men’s hockey players. But she wanted to come home. “All my family lives out here,” Harper said. “I’ve been living out East the last eight years.” And when the opportunity became available at UMKC, Harper accepted. “I really like it here,” Harper said. “The Athletics Department is pretty small, but it’s really close knit, very supportive. Our Athletics Director, Tim Hall, is great. He lends a ton of support. And it’s good to be back home.” [email protected] Photo courtesy UMKC ATHLETICS Quinn Harper. 13 Sports www.unews.com October 19, 2009 Extra Points: Pull it together Chiefs John Pfortmiller Staff Writer The 0-5 record, the horrible mistakes on the field and the 26-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys started to put a dent in the thick skin of Kansas City Chiefs fans. The game against the Cowboys was one huge failure on the part of the Chiefs pass defense. Head coach Todd Haley was probably screaming, “Don’t let the other team’s receivers run past you for a 60yard catch to win the game!” Miles Austin caught the 60-yard, game-winning pass in overtime against the Chiefs. He had 10 catches for 250 yards in that game. Ironically, the Chiefs’ pass defense was one of the few things praised by sports announcers and commentators before the game. Austin singlehandedly shot that notion down. Still, they are making progress – slow, painful and dreary progress. They managed to drive 74 yards in 10 plays and tie the game in the final seconds with Matt Cassel’s 16-yard pass John Pfortmiller to Dwayne Bowe on fourth down. The Chiefs were working well in their no huddle, hurry up setting. But, when the game slowed down, the Cowboys took advantage and played things out strategically. The Chiefs took great advantage of the mistakes the Cowboys made, including a fumble, a muffed punt, 13 penalties, a missed field goal and several receivers who missed catches or just stared into la-la land as they watched the ball pass by. Unfortunately for anyone hoping for a Chiefs win, Austin was not included with the space cadet receivers. Thankfully, on Oct. 18 the Chiefs won against the Washington Redskins, 14-6. The sad part was the win was not because of the Chiefs pulling together their offensive and defensive issues. It was because of a player they picked in the last round of the 2009 NFL draft, kicker Ryan Succop. He was jokingly referred to as “Mr. Irrelevant” because of how little sports commentators thought he could change the fate of the Chiefs. They were wrong. Succop made sports shorts all four field goal attempts in the game against the Redskins, including a pair of 46-yarders. To put it simply, without Succop’s leg and athletic ability the Chiefs, would have lost. Even with a win under their belts, the Chiefs have their work cut out for them during the rest of the season. Perhaps a fast, no huddle offense will help late in games, especially in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. But several problems need to be taken care of before anyone can think of the Chiefs having a successful offense. These include, but are not limited to: poor pass defense on long plays, an offensive line that crumbles when merely touched and a large injured roster. They do have one positive thing going for them this season, which may hopefully prevent them from being shut-out the entire season. They have heart and, of course, Succop’s kicking ability. However, they will need more than those three things to win against the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 25. [email protected] by CASEY OSBURN Cross Country UMKC cross country teams traveled to Fayetteville this weekend for the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival. Sophomore Brett Guemmer finished 152nd out of 242 runners. He was the only men’s runner to compete for UMKC. He ran his personal best with a time of 33:18.01. The women’s team finished with 550 points, placing them 19th out of 34 teams. Four runners finished in the top 150, with Aubrey Frederking leading. She ran a personal best time of 22:59.91. Women’s Soccer Friday night, the women’s soccer team shutout Southern Utah at Durwood Soccer Stadium and Recreational Field. The Roos recorded their first program win. During the first half, sophomore Ariel Rank sent a free kick into the upper right-hand side of the net and put the Roos ahead, 1-0. Freshman Zaina Mayer scored her fourth goal of the season in the 74th minute. UMKC is now 1-13-1 for the season and 1-4 in Summit League play. Roos win two Staff Writer Coming off back-to-back wins, the UMKC women’s volleyball team played the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Oct. 15. They won the match, 3-0. The Roos won their two previous games, both with the score 3-1, against Oral Roberts University (ORU) and Centenary College. The Roos lost the second set of the ORU game and lost the first set of the Centenary game, but managed to win overall. On Oct. 15, the Roos faced off against the Leathernecks with hopes of continuing their winning streak. They not only continued it, but gave up no sets. In the first set, the Roos quickly gained the lead. Minor mistakes, including an instance of poor communication, led to a close set. The Roos pulled it together and managed to win the set, 25-23, after a close set point. The second set was point-for-point with the Leathernecks scoring first. However, a few minutes in the Roos took off on a scoring spree. The Leathernecks managed to slow the playing speed down and started a comeback, but the Roos won the set, 25-22. The final set of the match was completely dominated by the Roos. Their offense was quick and almost flawless. They managed to keep the Leathernecks on almost constant defense, but they were not about to give up. They began a slow comeback that ended in a tense match point, but the Roos managed to win, 25-22. On Oct. 17, the Roos played the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Jaguars. The Roos won the match, 3-2. The Jaguars came out strong and quickly put the Roos on the defensive in the first set. The Roos’ offense and defense were flat and led to a 25-22 loss in the first set to the Jaguars. The second set was dominated by the Jaguars who gained an early lead and held it for a 25-16 win. The score was 2-0 during the break the Roos used to put themselves back into a strong rhythm. The third set saw the Roos return offensively and defensively. They came back into the match and took almost total control, winning 25-8. The Roos were fired up coming out for the fourth set, but the Jaguars wouldn’t back down without a fight. The fourth set was a close one for the Roos, but they managed to win, 25-23. The fifth set was close as well, with the Roos managing to tie up the game 16-16 after a close 16-15 match point in the Jaguars’ favor. The Roos then scored two points in a row, winning the game over, 3-2. [email protected] Men’s Soccer The Kangaroos came home with a loss to the United States Air Force Academy last Monday. They fell 6-3. Senior Bryan Perez tallied one goal and one assist for the game, with sophomore Deigo Rojas tallying one goal as well. The Roos tied Saturday night in Tulsa, Okla. against Oral Roberts University (ORU). Perez scored in the first half during the 26th minute. Perez now leads the team with a total of six goals for the season. ORU Golden Eagles answered back in the 74th minute to tie up the game. Keeper Ken Cooper fought hard and had a total of eight saves for the match. After two overtimes and no goals, the match concluded in a draw. The Roos are now 4-6-2 on the season. Sporting Events Volleyball Date Event Place 10/24 Southern Utah SRC Time 7 p.m. Men’s Soccer 10/19 Central Arkansas Conway, Ark. 2 p.m. 10/24 Centenary DSSRF 1 p.m. Brookings, S.D. Women’s Soccer 10/23 South Dakota State 6 p.m. Men’s Golf 10/19-20 Bill Ross Intercollegiate Blue Hills Country Club Women’s Golf 10/19-20 Shocker Invitational Newton, Kan. All day Men’s Tennis 10/23-25 ITA/Wilson Cent. Reg. Championships Tulsa, Okla. All day Women’s Tennis Photo KEVIN BRYCE Jamie Hagerman spikes the ball over the net. She had a total of 20 kills against IUPUI. 10/23-25 KU Invitational Lawrence, Kan. All day 14 October 19, 2009 Forum www.unews.com Don’t pay taxes, get away with it Evan Helmuth cuts. This action would have the effect of raisEvery year, thousands of Americans ing the amount paid by every single income tax payer. cheat on their taxes. It would also cut in half the tax break parWhat makes this particular tax cheat significant is he is also largely in charge of ents get for dependent children and it would raise taxes on investments. writing America’s tax laws. It’s definitely not a bright idea now, when Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-NY, is the chairinvestments are most man of the Ways and Means needed to sustain an Committee – which is re- “Given all of this, it would economic recovery. sponsible for changes to the seem obvious such a person Rangel has also tax code – in the House of should probably not still voiced support for Representatives. taxing the health inHe is about the fourth be the chairman of the tax surance of more than most powerful person in writing committee.” half of all Americans. Congress’ lower house. Now you know In his position as the “tax-writer-in-chief,” Rangel has not been how he feels about your taxes, let’s review shy about wanting to raise taxes. He has how he feels about his own. Yeah, he just doesn’t pay them – at least voiced support for repealing the Bush tax Contributing Writer LISTEN TO ALEXIA’S WEEKLY PODCAST, WIRETAP, AND CHRISTIAN’S PODCAST, DATING 101, ONLINE AT WWW.UNEWS.COM/PODCASTS. SUBSCRIBE TO ALEXIA’S CAST AT HTTP://FEEDS.FEEDBURNER.COM/UNEWSWIRETAP not until he gets a lot of bad press for skipping out on the check. Members of Congress are required to disclose their incomes and assets every year. Rangel fudged his original filings and amended them last month, revealing he had lied to everyone and actually has about twice the assets he reported. Don’t bother asking how he accumulated nearly $2 million on a congressman’s salary of $175,000 a year. He didn’t marry into money, he wasn’t a wealthy man before he was elected to Congress way back in 1970 and he didn’t inherit his fortune. In any case, the amended financial disclosures have prompted many people to look a little more closely into Rangel’s finances. What they have found is a man who wants to raise your taxes but repeatedly blows off paying his own. Among other ethical problems (Rangel is the subject of two separate and ongoing ethics investigations), it appears Rangel did not pay federal income taxes on at least $75,000 in income from a rental property he owns in the Dominican Republic. He also didn’t report two properties he owns in New Jersey on his disclosure forms. By the way, he didn’t pay property taxes on those either. Finally, Rangel has, over the years, claimed as many as three addresses as his primary residence at the same time to get tax breaks and cheaper loans. Given all of this, it would seem obvious such a person should probably not still be the chairman of the tax writing committee. But common sense is in very short supply in Washington, D.C. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has stood by Rangel so far, refusing to remove him from his job as the chief tax writer or to cut him out of highlevel negotiations over health care reform or other bills. This can be partially explained by the fact Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., is next in line to take over as chairman of Ways and Means. Stark is the only member of Congress to admit to being an atheist. Fearing this might provoke uproar from the religious right or some other part of “flyover country” Middle-America, Pelosi is reluctant to replace an old political ally in Rangel with Stark, who might give her an even bigger political headache than the ethical problems of his potential predecessor. It looks like, for the time being, we will be stuck with a tax cheat writing our tax laws, unless, of course, Stark gets religion (literally) or Pelosi gets religion (figuratively) and drops Rangel from the Ways and Means Committee. [email protected] A GRANT SNIDER ILLUSTRATION 15 Forum www.unews.com Long goodbyes don’t delay sorrow Alexia Stout-Lang three months, the doctors were in a daily ritual of telling us that “tonight is the night he will most likely go.” But he held on for a long time. Each day became more of a struggle. With his condition worsening, he was moved to a nursing home, where he routinely woke up in the middle of the night, lost and frightened because he couldn’t remember where he was. And each evening became more heart-wrenching for Grandma Mary as she was forced to say goodbye to the grown man while he cried for her to stay. We all hear the words echoing in our heads, “You are leaving me alone? Why would you leave me alone? I want to go home with you.” Even in the fragile state, Grandpa did not forget the importance of loved ones. I can’t tell you how many times he looked at Grandma and told us about the night they met 60 years ago on New Year’s Eve. “She fell in love with me,” he repeated. “Can you believe it? She fell in love with me.” I have experienced two avenues of loss in my lifetime. I felt the sudden pain of a loved one taken in the night without warning. And now I know how it feels to watch someone slowly fade before my eyes. At one time, I thought there was nothing worse than not having a chance to say goodbye. But now I know extended goodbyes are just extensions of the heartache. It’s a conversation with a loved one as he/she drives swiftly away and you run frantically to catch up. Eventually, the car will disappear from sight and you will realize it’s not coming back. It’s long and painful. And it leaves deeper scars. Tonight, I will say a prayer for all of the families across the world experiencing this devastating type of loss. You are not alone. Grandpa passed away early in the morning last Friday. We will miss him. He was a good man. [email protected] News Editor It’s a slow fade. And we all dim with each passing day. First, it was the memory. Then, it was the tremors. Lastly came the sick cells – the cancer cells – that sucked away life and left behind pain and suffering. It’s happened a million times before and it will happen again. There are no answers, but there are billions of causes. We are victims of our environments. We are victims of ourselves. We are victims of others. We are families living with cancer, with Alzheimer’s disease, with Parkinson’s disease, with any other illness that slowly robs a human being of life while loved ones stand by helplessly watching. For the last six months, I stood by while my grandfather suffered with cancer. In recent years, we dealt with the memory loss attributed to Alzheimer’s. And the slight shake of his hands was easily overlooked. But the news our family received in May was a devastating blow. You see, we were told Grandpa Al had cancer and he would only live three months, unless he underwent treatment that would only temporarily delay the inevitable or would kill him in the process. Hours were spent around the dinner table explaining to Grandpa the diagnosis and his options. Unfortunately, with his short-term memory gone, none of us were able to relay all of the information he needed to make a decision about his own health before his memory would reset. In the end, his children and wife decided it would be better for him to live the rest of his life in peace and with some level of health than to spend the rest of his days sick from the treatment. He surpassed the doctor’s expectations. For the last October 19, 2009 Word on Campus Interviews by MELISSA ORIBHABOR Would you listen to a UMKC radio station? “I would, but only if I were on it.” “Probably not. I’m not very involved with UMKC. It does depend what the content is, though.” KIP RYAN Senior Spanish/Communication Studies ZACK EL-SHERIF Senior Economics “No, I don’t have the time to. I listen to NPR sometimes, but only if it’s an assignment.” “Depends what’s on it. I’d listen to it if it had talk about UMKC sports events. I would listen to it if it had rugby games.” JOHN L. LEWIS Senior Theater DAVID GARCIA Junior Biology “Probably not, I have other radio stations I listen to. I only have time to listen to radio stations in the car.” “Yes. [I would listen] to know what’s happening on campus.” DREW CALVERT Sophomore Secondary Education DARRELL POLLICK Senior Spanish What do you think? What is your favorite part of Halloween? A. Costumes C. Parties B. Candy D. I don’t like Halloween Go to www.unews.com and tell us your answer! Your answers to last week’s question: Did Barack Obama deserve to win the Nobel Peace Prize? A. Yes B. No C. I’m not sure C. 11% A. 29% B. 60% A B C ACCREDITATION from page 1 them in the final report issued by the HLC. Max Skidmore, Curators Professor of Political Science, has played an integral role in preparing UMKC for the reaccreditation process. He took the reins of the HLC/North Central Association of Colleges and Schools coordinating committee in December 2007. Skidmore explained the HLC uses numerous criteria designed to measure the overall quality of the university including the performance of students, qualifications of faculty, efficiency of administration, etc. The organization has five formal criteria. “Criterion one deals with the institution’s mission,” Skidmore said, “criterion two, with the future, and planning for the future; criterion three with stu- dent outcomes, assessment, evaluation, etc; criterion four with such things as research and contribution to knowledge and criterion five with external engagement, community involvement, etc.” To launch the accreditation process, UMKC produced a full self-study, available at www.umkc.edu/accreditation/ introduction_ss.cfm. Skidmore said accreditation is a vital process for UMKC. “Accreditation is one of the most important things for a university to achieve,” he said. “Without it, degrees would be far less valuable, and in many circumstances would be useless (a doctor couldn’t practice if her degree were from an unaccredited medical school, a lawyer couldn’t practice, it might be hard to transfer credits or get into a respected grad school …).” A formal report from the HLC will be available by the end of the year. [email protected] MOVIE from page 9 Monday’s puzzle solved bland. The camera angles and execution were also bothersome. This is not the movie to see if you get even the slightest case of motion sickness. It was as if a nine-year-old was operating the camera, which became annoying after the first five minutes of the wild things romping around. Halfway through the movie, I was ready to leave. I kept telling myself, “maybe it will get better toward the end,” but it didn’t. It was the same disappointment as if waking up from a great dream and realizing it was just that – a dream. I pictured little kids staring at their parents in disbelief, asking, “What happened?” I have to admit the visual aspects and overall adaptation of the book were very well executed, but ultimately it was confusing and plain. Overall, I give this movie a C+. [email protected] Become a fan on Facebook! University News 5327 Holmes Kansas City, MO 64110 Editor’s desk: (816) 235-5402 Newsroom: (816) 235-1393 Advertising: (816) 235-1386 Business: (816) 235-6366 Fax: (816) 235-6514 Tips Hotline: (816) 235-NEWS Editor-in-Chief Hilary Hedges Advertising Manager Stefanie Crabtree Business Manager BJ Allen Production Manager Hilary Hedges Asst. Production Manager Leanna Lippert News Editor Alexia Stout-Lang Asst. News Editor Tyler Allen Culture Editor Hilary Saskin Sports Editor Casey Osburn Copy Editor Sabrina Osborn Photo Editor Kevin Bryce Podcast Editor Ethan Parker Online Editor Ethan Parker Distribution B J Allen Faculty Advisor Fred Wickman Printer Cass County Publishing The University News is published Mondays by students of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 4,000 free copies are distributed to the University, Plaza, Westport, Brookside, Midtown and Downtown areas. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University or staff. Letters to the editor, whether submitted electronically or by mail, should be 350 words or less and must include writer’s phone number for verification. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters may be edited for clarity or space. Subscriptions are available for the cost of postage, $25 a year. The first copy of the University News is free. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each, payable at the University News office in advance. No person may, without prior written permission of the University News, take more than one copy of each week’s issue. The University News is an equal opportunity employer. Board of Publishers of the University News: David Atkinson (chair), Mark Berger, Julie Galloway, Robin Hamilton, Patrick Hilburn, Wayne Lucas, Harris Mirkin, Hilary Hedges, Fred Wickman, Patty Wolverton, Jennifer Kaminsky, Glenn Young Follow us on Twitter! @UNewsScoop
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