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UNIVERSITY THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWS OF UMKC
March 21, 2011Vol. 78, Issue 26
11The luck of the Irish comes to Kansas City
2 Japan ravaged by natural disaster
9 Pauly D brings party to Power and Light
13 Player of the week: Gustavo Guerin
Photo by Mark Linville
2 Vol. 78, Issue 26NEWS
Kasim Hardaway Asst. News Editor
Hundreds of bodies have appeared on the shores of northeastern Japan after the devastating events that occurred March 11.
An earthquake burst through the earth’s crust stretching 150 miles long and 50 miles across, which in turn spawned a massive tsunami.
Initially, the earthquake was determined to have a magnitude of 8.9.
However, on March 15, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) revised the magnitude to a 9.0 through additional research.
The combined destructive force of the earthquake and the tsunami left Japan in a state of instability.
Approximately 350,000 people are reportedly relocated or without a home.
Many have found housing accommodations in shelters, eagerly awaiting news of friends and relatives’ well-being.
Thousands of individuals have been unaccounted for.According to the New York Times, the last update of
missing persons was released by the national police on March 8.
At that time more than 15,000 individuals were missing, although just 2,414 deaths had been confirmed since the earthquake.
Police officials have estimated 10,000 people may have been swept away by the sea in one town alone, Minamisanriku, north of Natori. The death toll is expected to rise.
Natori was the locale for some of the first photographs taken of the tsunami.
Early photographs depicted an immense initial wave making impact with a cluster of trees. Those photographs not only displayed the extent of the shattering natural disasters that had occurred on the island but also the magnitude of relief assistance that will be needed to reconstruct what has been lost.
Along the coast of Natori all that remains is a field of black mud.
Officials from different government departments searched the coast for survivors: police in navy blue, the
handlers of sniffer dogs in orange and the military squads in camouflage.
Officials made their way around stranded boats and buckled houses, finding toys, ragged bedding, tangled fishing nets, car parts, pottery shards and all the ordinary pieces of daily life, now fragmented along the coast of the town.
Occasionally, a body was found, sometimes already covered by a tarp.
Natori still has awful living conditions: water and power are still unavailable.
At Natori City Hall, survivors lined up at a truck providing large containers of water.
Locations providing gasoline had lines that stretched nearly a mile.
At City Hall, residents could find a list of 8,340 individuals who had arrived safely to one of the 41 temporary shelters.
Crowds of people squeezed into the hall’s lobby to review the lists in hope that their loved ones may have been listed.
Unfortunately, many people did not see their loved ones’ names.
They left messages on pieces of paper and taped them to the entrance just in case their loved ones eventually appear.
Hundreds of small notes hung along the entrance.The mother of Mikako Watanabe, 26, and Yumiko
Watanabe, 24, was one of the individuals not listed. The Watanabe sisters were both working when the
tsunami struck, but their mother was resting at home in the Yuriage neighborhood after her night shift as a nurse, a typical day for their mom.
“I hope she woke up with the earthquake and got to safety in time,” Mikako said. “We have no way to contact her.”
By Monday March 14, three days after the tsunami, there was still no word of her.
Their message simply stated, “Yurika Watanabe, we’re looking for you. Contact us if you see this.”
In the city of Fukushima, located farther south in Japan, stores and restaurants were closed, and convenience stores had nothing but cigarettes.
Red Cross dispensed clean drinking water to Fukushima residents who waited in lengthy, orderly lines.
Continued on page 5
TroublesJapan
plagueJapan disasters
March 11A 9.0 magniute earthquake strikes the east coast of Japan near the city of Sendai. The earthquake triggers a massive sunami, which engulfs Japan’s east coast.
March 13An explosion hits the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Seawater in the plant’s generator prevented the reactors from shutting down, causing nuclear radiation.
March 15Radiation levels increase fourfold after an explosion at Fukushima’s No. 2 reactor. Radiation levels in Tokyo are as much as 10 times normal.
timeline
Top: Damage caused by the tsunami in Natori, JapanBottom: Photo of wreckage at the Sendai Airport in northeast Japan, taken on March 14. Sendai was particularly hard-hit by the earthquakes and tsunami, although much of Japan has been affected by flooding and nuclear radiation. Photos courtesy Google Images
March 21, 2011 3NEWS
Nathan Zoschke Copy Editor/Production Assistant
For more than 10 years, Activities and Programming Council (APC) has been one of UMKC’s more prominent student organizations.
Over time, its role on campus has expanded, with attendance for this semester’s APC-sponsored events totaling more than 5,000 students.
On March 11 alone, 567 students attended the B.o.B. and OneRepublic concert at Swinney Recreation Center, which also drew 689 non-students, for a total of 1,267 attendees, exceeding APC’s goal of 1,000.
While many students have seen ads and promotions for APC events, many do not realize their membership in APC is automatic, as it is for every UMKC student.
APC’s diverse activity offerings are part of the group’s effort to provide quality social, educational and entertainment-based activities and programs to the UMKC student body and community, as stated on the group’s website.
Part of APC’s mission is to provide students with opportunities in leadership and management, which it does through a number of board and volunteer positions.
Students who volunteer at three or more events and attend three or more meetings, held 7 p.m. every Thursday in the SGA Senate Chamber, become members of MOB, the group’s volunteer base.
“We call our volunteers a MOB,” President Chelsia Potts said, “because that is the definition of a group of Kangaroos.”
Potts said events are planned at least one month in advance of the following semester.
Events are planned by the executive board, which oversees several different planning committees.
To accommodate student interests, the planning process is open to student input, although MOB members are the most influential contributors, Potts said.
Planning events, such as the B.o.B. and OneRepublic concert, is a multi-stage process.
“We talk to the students, concert committee, APC executive board to get suggestions,” Potts said. “From there we check the availability of the artist and their cost to make sure they are accepting college dates and in our budget.”
After that, Potts said, a middle agent between the university and the artist’s management is contacted, and logistical details are worked out.
A concert committee was also developed to give students access to the planning of spring concerts.
To receive allocations for individual concerts, APC presents to the Student Activity Fee Committee (SAFC).
A special allocation of $100,000 was made toward the B.o.B. and OneRepublic concert.
According to Potts and APC adviser
Lashaundra Randolph, ticket sales serve as placeholder fees for the concert and any remaining balance after the concert goes back to SAFC.
APC’s leadership roles include nine executive board members, who are chosen each spring.
They include President of Operations, Vice President of Operations, Educational Development Coordinator, Graphic Art-ist, Marketing/Advertising, Roo Traditions and Spirit Coordinator, Social Justice Co-ordinator, Special Events Coordinator and Webmaster.
The board is overseen by two advisers, who oversee the group’s operations and work with Risk Management to ensure safety at APC events.
Potts said Fall 2011 executive board applications are due April 1 and are open for all UMKC students to apply.
Once the new executive board is chosen, APC will begin planning events for the Fall 2011 semester.
Potts and Randolph said more concerts like B.o.B. and OneRepublic are likely.
“So far we’ve heard great review and ideas for next year,” APC wrote in an email response to the U-News. “Students have told us they like when we mix different genres, and we would like to continue doing that.”
For more information and upcoming events, visit www.apcactivities.com and www.facebook.com/pages/UMKC-Activity-and-Program-Council/66144102967.
Campus organization profile:Activities and Programming Council
APC offers students a diverse selection of events and programs
Troy Frink Contributing Writer
Many students enter higher education to make themselves more marketable.
UMKC’s Career Services aims to help students be successful in a competitive job market.
Career Services teamed with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) to create the MSA Career 101 sessions hosted on March 16.
“We’re basically holding these events to cater to students’ needs,” graduate assistant Veronica Castro said. “We want to help in many different ways, such as with interview skills and helping students look for jobs after they graduate.”
According to administrative intern for Career Services Young Song, partnering with MSA was an easy decision. The workshop covered the
etiquette of an interview.“For example, if interviewers say, ‘Tell me about
yourself,’ you want to keep your answers related to the position,” said Coordinator of Undergraduate Career Advising with Career Services, Melissa Scholten.
“You don’t want to say ‘I’m from Kansas City,’ like you would in a social situation. It’s tough because we’re so used to saying things like that,” Scholten said.
Song stressed the importance of volunteering and community service on a résumé along with education and work experience.
“Engage in organizations,” Song said. “It looks great on your résumé if you volunteer at a Boys and Girls Club, for example.”
The workshop also covered what a résumé
should look like.“Your résumé should be concise, no longer
than a page, and use action verbs like trained or assisted,” Song said. “Don’t use cursive fonts. Stick to Arial or Times New Roman and be sure to save it as a .pdf format. Most computers can read those now.
Scholten offered her experience in hiring new employees.
“Formatting is key,” Scholten said. “I look at formatting before I look at content if I have a giant stack of résumés. If it’s not visually appealing, I don’t even look at it. Most other employers will do the same thing.”
Career Services also sponsors the Etiquette Luncheon that will take place April 6, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. in Pierson Auditorium.
Reservations for the luncheon are required and have a $10 ticket price.
“You’ll get fed, we won’t leave you hungry,” Song said. “Not only will you get a five-course meal, you’ll learn the skills needed for work-related meals and interviews.”
Students who might not know what they want to do after college, Career Services offers a free service called SIGI3, a website designed to help with career exploration, planning and assessment, Song said. For more information, visit www.career.umkc.edu and click the SIGI3 Career Assessment tab.
For more information about Career Services and upcoming events, call 816-235-5427 or go to 4825 Troost Ave.
MSA hosts career fair
Since 2007, APC has hosted concerts for Ben Folds, N.E.R.D., Drake, and most recently, B.o.B. and OneRepublic.
Photos courtesy of Google ImagesIllustration by Mark Linville
4 NEWS Vol. 78, Issue 26
Police BlotterMark Linville News Editor
March 121:07 a.m. Noise DisturbanceOfficers responded to complaints of a loud party at 54th and Harrison Street.5:13 p.m. BurglaryA resident of the Oak Street Residence Hall reported cash stolen from his room between the hours of 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.5:33 p.m. BurglaryA resident of the Oak Street Residence Hall reported cash stolen from his room between the hours of 7:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. on March 11.11:40 p.m. Suspicious PartyIndividuals at the Performing Arts Center were complaining about the behavior of a homeless person.
March 1511:52 a.m. Property DamageA university employee reported damages to a university vehicle parked in the Oak Street parking lot.1:55 p.m. Violation of
University Rules and RegulationsOfficer confiscated a fake parking hang tag in the Biological Sciences parking lot.4:30 p.m. LarcenyA resident of the Oak Place Apartments reported her Wii console and controller stolen between the dates of Feb. 25 and March 15.5:14 p.m. Misdemeanor WarrantOfficers arrested a party with an outstanding warrant in the Oak Street parking lot.8:02 p.m. BurglaryA staff member at Cockefair Hall returned to his office to find a university laptop stolen.12:28 p.m. BurglaryA resident of Johnson Residence Hall found their hair straightener stolen.
March 171:33 p.m. Property DamageA resident of the Oak Place Apartments discovered a hole in the wall after a disagreement over cheesecake.5:13 p.m. Common AssaultResidents of the Oak Place Apartments fought over kitchen cleanliness.8:01 p.m. Possession of
a Controlled Substance Officers discovered a controlled substance in a room of the Oak Place Apartments.
Briefly Mentioned
Have you said this before? “I drink all the time - I know my limits, and I can
handle my booze.” Don’t kid yourself. Alcohol affects people in
different ways and it’s impossible for you to judge your limit. There are many factors that will affect how quickly you reach the limit, such as age, sex, weight, whether you’ve just eaten, and the type of drink you are drinking. Fizzy drinks (carbonated ones like beer or drinks mixed with soda) pass into the bloodstream more quickly.How about this?
“I can drive... I’ve only had a couple.” Bad move! Even a single drink will affect your driving performance. Just “a couple of drinks” could put you over the legal limit. At twice the legal limit, you’re at least fifty times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident.Or this?
“I haven’t had a drink for an hour or so - I’ll be okay to drive by now. “
Don’t risk it! The body burns up alcohol very slowly. It takes at least eight hours to get rid of the alcohol from four pints of beer. After a night’s drinking you could still be over the limit when you drive to work in the morning!
Do You Know the Legal consequences of a DWI or DUI?
First Offense DWI or DUI:Conviction of a first DWI is a Class B
misdemeanor.JAIL: Up to a maximum of six months FINE: Up to $500. Court costs may also be
between $10 and $100.Suspension of driving privileges:A criminal conviction of a first-time DUI
results in a 30-day suspension of driving privileges followed by a 60-day restriction to driving only to and from work or to alcohol treatment.
This suspension becomes a permanent part of your driving record.
A conviction will result in 8 points being assessed against the driver’s license.Get home safely
If you are planning to drink, then plan not to drive. Plan ahead and arrange overnight
accommodation or alternative transport:• Share a taxi with friends. • Catch public transport. • Ride with a driver who hasn’t been drinking or
taking drugs. • Arrange for a friend or relative to give you a lift. • Use a campus or community designated driver
program.Nearly three in every 10 Americans will be
involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
Every injury, accident and death caused by drunk driving is completely preventable.
Although the number of crashes that are alcohol related have decreased in the past decade, there are still far too many of these preventable accidents occurring.
Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and injure someone every two minutes.
Don’t take a chance on ruining the bright futures you all have in front of you by becoming one of these statistics.
If you see one of your friends, classmates, fraternity or sorority brothers or sisters abusing alcohol or drugs please watch out for that person and, at the very least, don’t let them get behind the wheel of a car.
As always, let’s look out for one another and be safe. If you have any questions or concerns pertaining to crime prevention or safety I can be reached at 816-235-1719 or by email at [email protected].
Kasim Hardaway Asst. News Editor
Phi Kappa Phi, “the nation’s oldest, most selective, and most prestigious all-discipline honor society,” according to the national website, has a Chapter on the UMKC campus.
The Phi Kappa Phi Chapter of UMKC will be hosting its annual initiation of new members on Sunday, April 10, at 2 p.m. in the E. E. Thompson Courtroom in the School of Law.
In order to be qualified for membership within Phi Kappa Phi, students must currently be seniors, graduate students, or professional students in the top 10 percent of their class, or second semester juniors in the top 7.5 percent. Those eligible to be initiated into the honor society will receive invitations by mail for the week of March 7. Faculty members are nominated by peers; those nominated received letters of invitation by campus mail.
Phi Kappa Phi members have gone on to serve at distinguished locales including the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court of the
United States. Notable members of Phi Kappa Phi include:
• Former President Jimmy Carter• Historian and founder of the D-Day museum Stephen Ambrose• Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry George Olah
These members have made great strides and garnered various honors for their progress in their fields.
Membership within Phi Kappa Phi has its benefits, those include:• One-year subscription to Phi Kappa Phi Forum magazine • Access to members-only online resources and benefits • Networking opportunities for job seekers• Plus members-only discounts for the following companies: Dell, Apple, and Enterprise Rent-a-Car, as well as on The Princeton Review’s graduate and professional school test-preparation courses
In addition to the benefits listed, students may apply for scholarships, fellowships and grants ranging in value from $500 to $15,000.
The UMKC’s Phi Kappa Phi Chapter has been a prominent Chapter in the past three years.
According to UMKC’s Phi Kappa Phi Chapter, five members have been selected for the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship, Love of Learning Award and Study Abroad Grant, and last year the Chapter was acknowledged as one of only 12 Phi Kappa Phi chapters, out of a total of 314 chapters, to receive a Chapter of Excellence Award.
A formal commemoration of scholarly achievement and induction will be held for all current Phi Kappa Phi members followed by an afternoon tea. Please RSVP with President Charles Wurrey, [email protected], if you plan to attend.
For more information on UMKC’s Phi Kappa Phi honor society contact President Charles Wurrey or Student Vice President Katharine Wright.
For more information about Phi Kappa Phi honor society, visit www.phikappaphi.org.
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society initiates new members
from Officer Patrick Tedesco
The dangers of drunk driving
March 21, 2011 5NEWS
Financial CornerEach week, the Students in the Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team from the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, with assistance from a group of respected business people, will answer your financial questions.
What are employers looking for when hiring college graduates?
E-mail your questions to the Student in Free Enterprise Team at [email protected].
With graduation around the corner, this is an important question for all of us to review. Employers look for many things, but here are few that stand out.
Education plus application is necessary in this competitive job market. Students who join career-related organizations, volunteer their time using skills that are applicable to their field and take on internship opportunities will be at a competitive advantage compared to those who only took the necessary courses to graduate.
Having a global perspective is another important skill. As business turns more international, employers are looking for employees that have an understanding of multiple cultures. Studying abroad is a great opportunity to get desirable experience of new and exciting countries. Being bilingual is also valued in many fields.
Passion is an essential trait that employers look for in prospective employees. They want somebody with a drive to excel. They are looking for a ship with sail, someone who knows what they want and how they plan on getting there. Be a person on a mission and always have a positive attitude.
To put it simply, employers are looking for candidates who have the right degree and skill sets to thrive in the position they are trying to fill. By knowing what employers want, you can prepare for a successful career.
Johanna Poppel Staff Writer
The Division of Diversity, Access and Equity (DDAE) held its third annual Agapito Mendoza scholarship breakfast on Friday, March 18 in the
Pierson Auditorium. “While assisting Latino/Latina stu-
dents through awarding of the Mendoza Scholarships, DDAE also is able to help
retain the students through their gradua-tion,” said deputy DDAE chancellor Karen
Dace. “Support of the breakfast [helps] us carry
on Dr. Mendoza’s tradition of support for each and every student in their particular academic dream.”
Mendoza was born in El Paso, Texas on Sept. 20, 1946.
He served in the U.S Air Force for four years to pay for college.
After graduating from the University of Texas, he went on to teach middle school, while working on his Masters Degree and then earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration at the University of Oklahoma.
He served as the Assistant Director of Student Services and Director of the Latino Cultural House at the University of Illinois.
In 1986, he arrived at UMKC and served as Vice Provost for Affirmative Action from 1986 to 2002.
Mendoza’s impact on campus was noticed immediately.
He established many of UMKC’s policies and procedures involving Affirmative Action, academic hiring and was an active voice in local Latino issues.
He was involved in many organizations and committees in Kansas City, such as the Greater Kansas City Committee on Latino Concerns and the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations.
Most importantly, Mendoza impacted students in a positive way by committing to them and making them feel valued.
He taught others about the Hispanic culture and tradition.
“I encountered him as a high school student before coming to UMKC,” stated a Missouri Valley Special Collections article by José Faus, Mendoza’s student. “He was so inspirational, so motivational, and he knew so much about the tradition and the culture. He challenged us as young Latino students to really know that knowledge and arm ourselves with that knowledge; because whatever we would accomplish in life, that knowledge and history that was our heritage that would just take us to another level. He also instilled the importance of sharing that knowledge with everybody.”
I can just imagine how many other lives he impacted, because I am just one of many.”
Efforts to highlight the traditions and history of the Hispanic culture and the history and significance of the Chicano movement made him noticed.
The Federal Court in Kansas City appointed him to serve on the Desegregation Monitoring committee monitoring the Kansas City Public School District.
In 1995, The Mayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities presented Mendoza with the Bruce Scott Award because of Mendoza’s ability and motivation to increase public awareness of the needs of the disabled in Kansas City.
In 1999, he received the Del Corazon Award, presented by AZTECA de Greater Kansas City, for promoting and preserving the Hispanic culture in the Greater Kansas City area.
Due to a long battle with diabetes, Mendoza passed away in his home in 2003.
It is through the Agapito Mendoza minority scholarship that UMKC continues his legacy.
The man behind the scholarship
Since Fukushima nuclear plants are being lost to the national power network, The Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the nuclear plants, plans to create blackouts across the region in an effort to conserve power.
According to the New York Times, this was the first controlled blackout in Japan in 60 years.
These controlled blackouts began on the morning of Tuesday, March 15, in four prefectures outside Tokyo.
The utility, which delivers service to 45 million people in the area, said the cuts could continue for up to six weeks.
With the anticipation of more power cuts many people have resorted to stocking up on candles, water, instant noodles and batteries for radios.
Tokyo felt the effects of the disasters as well. Employed residents struggled to get to work
Monday due to a number of important commuter rail lines running on restricted schedules.
A total of six lines, including Japan’s famous shinkansen, or bullet trains, did not run.
Also, six major department stores closed for the day because employees were unable to travel into the city.
The physical condition of the island was not the only thing affected by the disasters. Japan’s financial condition had also started to change for the worse.
According to the New York Times, major disruptions have fallen upon Japan’s $5 trillion economy, the third-largest in the world, and systemic apprehension over the damaged nuclear reactors caused disarray amongst Japanese stock holders that resounded across the area on March 15.
The Japanese stock market lost about 13 percent by the middle of Tuesday. This caused a domino effect amongst other Asian markets.
The Bank of Japan added $183.8 billion into the economy on Monday, March 14 in an attempt to maintain liquidity.
The Bank then emptied tens of billions of dollars more on Tuesday in order to halt the decline.
However, that didn’t end or even pause the financial failure.
With Japan using all of its resources to try to recover from the chaotic events, the U.S. has proposed to take action.
On March 14, President Barack Obama publically announced that the U.S. will use its resources to assist in aid relief for Japan. Obama offered Japan any support that it may need from
the United States after suffering from “multiple disasters.”
Obama, along with many Americans, share a mutual perspective on the dire condition of Japan. According to the Associated Press, Obama said he continues to be heartbroken by seeing the damage that has fell upon Japan, a U.S. ally.
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Navy said it has relocated several U.S. ships away from a distressed Japanese nuclear plant after noticing low-level radiation on 17 helicopter crew members positioned in Japan for relief efforts.
The Prime Minister Naoto Kan described these natural disasters as Japan’s worst crisis since World War II.
Japan: Continued from page 2
Scholarshiprequirements:• Must be an incoming freshman• Checked Hispanic on admission
application• An application is not required• Top 25 percent of high school
graduating class or• ACT score of 23 or above• Maximum amount given is $500
Agapito Mendoza.Photo courtesy Division of Diversity, Access and Equity
6 Vol. 78, Issue 26A&E
Nathan Zoschke Copy Editor/Production Assistant
Here is the second half of my list of top 10 Kansas City landmarks. To see the first half, visit www.unews.com.
6. Art Deco architectureKansas City is known for its art deco architecture, characterized
by its clean, angular lines, functionality and elegance. The 30-story Kansas City Power & Light Building, (1330 Baltimore Ave.), exemplifies the 1920s-1930s art deco style with its limestone façade, simple-yet-elegant detailing and crowning shaft at the top, with prismatic cut-glass panels that emit changing-colored lights at night.
Other buildings downtown with art deco styling include City Hall, the former Jackson County Courthouse and the 909 Walnut Tower, which features two twin spires at the top of the building. These buildings, like most skyscrapers of the time, employ limestone façades and a series of tiered setback,s which give the buildings a unique geometric form.
7. Antebellum architectureSeveral buildings in Kansas City predate the Civil War. Several are in
Westport, which was incorporated in 1857, with a population of 5,000, prior to annexation by Kansas City in 1897.
Several buildings from the 1850s remain standing in Westport today. These include the building that houses Kelly’s Westport Inn, at 500 Westport Road, several buildings along Pennsylvania Avenue and the former John Harris residence at 4000 Baltimore Ave., now the Westport Historical Society.
Other pre-Civil War buildings include the John Wornall House Museum (6115 Wornall Road) and the Alexander Majors House (8145 State Line Road). For more information, visit www.westporthistorical.com, www.wornallhouse.org and www.alexandermajors.com.
8. The Boley BuildingBuilt in 1909, the Boley Building combines elaborate Arts Nouveaux
decorations with bold, visionary design. Its architect, Louis Curtiss, is considered the Frank Lloyd Wright of Kansas City by architectural historians. “Light and plenty of it” was a phrase Curtiss stressed during the planning of the building, which is one of the first in the world to employ a metal and glass “curtain-wall” façade, a style not widely used until after World War II.
9. Liberty MemorialIn 1921, five Allied Forces commanders spoke to a crowd of more
than 100,000 people at the Liberty Memorial’s dedication. The 217-foot limestone and reinforced concrete tower, which is flanked by two exhibit hall wings on either side, is built on top of a deck overlooking the Kansas City skyline. The top of the tower is illuminated by a large gas-fed flame at night. In 1994, the tower was blocked off due to deterioration, but in 1998, a sales tax referendum passed to restore the memorial and construct the on-site National World War I Museum.
10. Janssen PlaceJanssen Place, located off East 36th Street in Hyde Park, is
one of the first examples of a planned residential neighborhood in Kansas City. It is also the first private street in Kansas City, and was home to many wealthy lumber barons at the turn of the century. A decorative, Neo-Classical gateway facing 36th Street marks the neighborhood’s entrance. The homes on Janssen Place are built in a number of styles, including Italianate, Shingle, Queen Anne, Jacobean, Georgian and Beaux Arts.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Your weekly Kansas City neighborhood guideAll Around TownTop 10 Kansas City landmarks: Part 2
The Kansas City Power and Light Building, built in 1931, is a prime example of art deco architecture. The building’s decorative top features cut-glass panels that illuminate at night.
The Harris-Kearney House, at 4000 Baltimore Ave., pre-dates the Civil War. Constructed in 1855, the Greek Revival mansion was the largest in the town of Westport.
The Boley Building is one of the first curtain-glass structures in the world. Built in 1909, the building combines terra cotta, turn-of-the-century Arts Nouveaux detailing and ironwork with a six-story glass facade. It wasn’t until after World War II that curtain-glass construction was widely used. The building’s architect, Louis Curtiss, is considered the ‘Frank Lloyd Wright’ of Kansas City.
The Liberty Memorial, erected in 1921, overlooks the Kansas City skyline from Penn Valley Park. Like many buildings of the time, Liberty Memorial is constructed with limestone, which was abundant in Kansas City’s underground caves at the time.
An elegant pillared gateway announces the entrance to Janssen Place, Kansas City’s first private street, which was home to the city’s wealthy elite at the turn of the century.
Photos by Nathan Zoschke
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Now hiringfor the 2011-2012 school year
Year-long positions:Editor-in-ChiefLooking for a highly organized individual who is creative, open-minded, hard working and resilient. Must be enrolled full-time, and have great time management skills. Requires extensive knowledge of AP style and Sunday availability.Business/Distribution ManagerLooking for someone with money management skills. Responsible for distributing the paper throughout campus and surrounding areas. Must have reliable transportation and be available to distribute copies of U-News on Mondays.Advertising ManagerLooking for an individual interested in advertising and marketing. Must be prepared to accept sales and management responsibilities. Individuals must be driven.
A résumé and letter of intent for any of these positions is due by March 31. Please email [email protected].
Semester-long positions:Production ManagerLooking for individuals with an interest in graphic design. Must be thick-skinned, free on the weekends and know how to use Adobe inDesign and Photoshop. Production AssistantLooking for individuals with an interest in graphic design. Must be thick-skinned, free on the weekends, know how to use Adobe inDesign and Photoshop, be able to take direction, and edit photos. Copy EditorLooking for someone who has experience with AP style, and has exceptional spelling and grammar. Must be detail-oriented. News EditorLooking for individuals who are in the know. Someone who is not scared to present hard facts and current, relevant news. Assistant News EditorLooking for individuals who have a knack for news, can take direction, and are not scared to present hard facts and current, relevant news. Arts & Entertainment EditorLooking for individuals who love art, music, film and anything else cool about UMKC and the Kansas City area. Sports EditorLooking for someone who loves UMKC and community sports and is well-versed in sports terminology. Forum EditorLooking for an individual who is open and accepting of other people’s opinions.
These positions require knowledge of AP style and Sunday availability. A résumé and letter of intent for any of these positions is due by April 23. Please email [email protected]
All positions are paid.
March 21, 2011 9A&E
Mark Linville News Editor
On St. Patrick’s Day, Kansas City got a taste of the Jersey Shore.
At the Power and Light District, DJ Paul DelVecchio, or more commenly known as Pauly D, from MTV’s high-est-rated reality show, “Jersey Shore,” performed alongside local bands and DJs as part of the district’s daylong “Shamrocks & Shenanigans” celebra-tion.
The day began at 11 a.m. with a green breakfast at McFadden’s Sports Saloon and Raglan Road Irish Pub.
Games and contests ran all day as the music pumped from the speakers of the Kansas City Live! stage inside Power and Light.
Pauly D took the stage at 7:30 p.m. just as the sun set and the evening par-ties began.
Aided by the popularity of “Jer-sey Shore,” thousands of fans flocked downtown to see him in action as he spun the beats for partygoers to dance to.
What usually is a lounge at Power and Light was turned into a concert of general admission standing room.
Pauly D’s performance was free and was restricted to those 21 and older.
This was the first time I heard Pauly D’s mix, and I was surprised, to say the least.
He had a great ability to mix almost any current hit song and even some classics such as Bon Jovi.
He mixed with energy, saying “Ahhh yeah!!!” to the crowd as if trying start a new catch phrase.
He was also very engaging with the crowd, talking and allowing female fans to sing the chorus to Rihanna’s “Only Girl (in the world).”
The evening truly was not a letdown for the thousands of green T-shirt wearing, fist-pumping partiers on the cool Friday night on the town.
In addition to his KC Live! perfor-mance, Pauly D was booked by the club Mosaic.
He was scheduled to go on shortly after his first performance but never showed.
“The great Pauly D, ladies and gen-tleman, f*** him,” one of Mosaic’s DJ’s said around 12:30 a.m.
Regardless of whether or not he stood up Mosaic, Pauly D put on a great show.
It’s unfortunate for those who missed out.
GreenT-Shirtsfist pumping
and
Sam Towns Staff Writer
“The Music Never Stopped” is an inspirational new film directed by Jim Kohlberg. This was an official selection of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and features music by Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Crosby, Stills and Nash and Buffalo Springfield.
It’s loosely based on a true story that chronicles one father’s journey toward reconnecting with his estranged son.
A relatively unknown actor, Lou Taylor Pucci, stunningly portrays Gabriel, the son, who, after getting into an argument with his father, runs away from home.
Twenty years pass, and the young man comes into a life all his own. But a crippling blow is dealt when a brain tumor greatly debilitates Gabriel, causing him to lose his ability to create new memories.
The father, superbly portrayed by J. K. Simmons, now runs the risk of losing his son forever. In light of these new circumstances, he vows to make a meaningful connection before it’s too late.
Though we all invariably lose things throughout the course of our lives, our sufferance is not universal.
To the father character in “The Music Never Stopped,” loss means never again having moments where he, his wife and his son are all in the family car having a good time.
Loss to him means losing a son. The father makes a few wrong choices, but, in the end, proves to be a good father.
He sees through the petty differences between himself and his son and does all he can to make up for lost time.
Communication is always a prerequisite for reconciliation. And a common language is required to communicate. That language, which ultimately connects Gabriel with his father, is one that’s universal: music.
Gabriel’s favorite band, The Grateful Dead, or as he simply calls them “The Dead,” becomes a Rosetta stone of sorts that enables father and son to once again communicate. Through the familiarity of the rebellious songs that Gabriel grew up listening to, and through the openness of the father character, the two reestablish their father-son relationship that peaks as Gabriel’s father gets tickets to a show featuring The Grateful Dead.
It will be playing at Tivoli Cinamas (4050 Pennsylvania) through March 24.
“The Music Never Stopped” has moments of pure, unadulterated tragedy. Provided you have a heart that pumps blood throughout your body, it’s impossible to not be affected by the human element in this film. If you intend to go see it, bring a box of tissues along just in case.
‘The Music Never Stopped’ will take you home
Photos by Mark Linville
Photo courtesy of Kansas City Power and Light
10 A&E Vol. 78, Issue 26
Sam Towns Staff Writer
Looking back on who you used to be can be frustrating and pointless, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be hilarious.
An event called Dear Diary is held the second Sunday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Fishtank Performance Studio (1715 Wyandotte St.).
The event is a meeting of artistic individuals who read dated entries from their own personal diaries.
The privacy of diaries brings out the most interesting revelations. Some are touching tales of troubled youth, while others are just silly
teenage antics.Fishtank’s quaint venue is located just around the corner from YJ’s,
a popular coffee shop. The price for Dear Diary is $5, and donations, which helps refund
Fishtank’s future productions, are accepted in exchange for PBR cans and red wine.
On Sunday, March 13, the following writers performed at Dear Diary: Ashlee Fairchild Jones, Sarah Mundy, Holly Beal, Malinda Maddox, Vi Nhan Tran, Audrey Victoria and Jeremy Lillig.
Mundy is in the English graduate program at UMKC, and Victoria is an undergraduate English major at UMKC.
Their writings contrasted who they are today from who they were in their diary entries.
Lillig’s selected reading was a peculiar one. Though undeniably funny, it brimmed with awful humiliation,
detailing a night of horror at Bazooka’s Showgirls on Main Street.His encounter occurred on his 21st birthday, when a group
of friends, who couldn’t have been more misinformed about his sexuality, decided to get him schwasted before taking him to Bazooka’s
for his first experience with a stripper. Lillig’s friends were no more aware of the fact that he preferred men
than they were of his allergic reaction to alcohol. After arriving at Bazooka’s, Lillig’s friends convinced him to get a lap
dance, which he reluctantly agreed to. Suffering from the alcohol-rendered poison by his allergies and the
woman’s thrusting into his gut, Jeremy evacuated the contents of his belly upon the woman. The chunks covered the stripper like a maple glaze from top to bottom.
As Lillig concluded his harrowing tale, laughter erupted in the crowd, much the same way the vomit from his stomach had on that unforgettable night at Bazooka’s.
The ultimate goal of Dear Diary is to incite laughter. Anyone who has gone can tell you the same: it’s hard not to laugh at others’ misfortunes and misadventures, especially when they’re hilarious.
The event’s successful mission is sharing, which is crucial for an artist.
Creating something and keeping it to oneself is normal; that’s what most diaries are all about. Not sharing personal experiences because they’re too embarrassing is an excuse that won’t hold up in these modern times where privacy is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
More and more people are subscribing to the notion of a collective consciousness, and Dear Diary is perfect for those wanting to indulge in the collective consciousness of others’ embarrassing moments.
Dear diary...
Sarah Ashlock A&E Editor
Monday, March 21• Karaoke night: 7 p.m., Jazzman’s Coffeehouse.• National Ravioli Day. Celebrate at Brio Tuscan Grille on the Plaza with half-price ravioli. • Grab Bag Cabaret: 8-10 p.m., Missie B’s (805 West 39th St.). Drink specials and fun and games every Monday night.Tuesday, March 22• Tuesday tune-up: 12-1 p.m., University Center Room 161. MindBody Connection’s will be hosting a “fun with origami” ses-sion.• Bagging vs. bumming a job: 6-8 p.m., Student Union Room 402.• Class Actress, Late Night Callers, Motorboat and Millionyoung concert: 9:30 p.m., Crosstown Station (1522 McGee). Class Ac-tress is on the record label of the indie band Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor. Admission is $8 for four great performances.Wednesday, March 23• APCinema: 7-10 p.m., Student Union Theatre. This is a screen-ing of “For Colored Girls,” a film featured on U-News Top Ten films of 2010.• Guest lecture “Gender Discrimination in Classical Music:” 12
p.m., Student Union Room 103. Guest artists Abbie Conant, trom-bone and composer William Osborne discuss gender discrimina-tion in classical music. The event is free.• Disney on Ice, “Toy Story 3”: 7 p.m., The Sprint Center. The show runs through March 27 and tickets are as low as $13.• Women's Legacy Event Women Working Together Writing the Next Chapter of HerStory: 8-11:30 a.m., Kauffman Conference Center. Reflect on the challenges working women have had in the past, discuss our present areas of concern, and build hope for our future. The event is free but you must register by calling (816)285-7236.Thursday, March 24• Safe spring break fiesta: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the Quad. This event will have interactive information tables that address various aspects of spring break safety, i.e. alcohol safety, distracted driving, predatory drugs, travel safety, sun safety, and sexual health.• Know your status: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., University Center Room 161. This is a free service coordinated by Student Health & Well-ness in partnership with the Good Samaritan Project, Kansas City Free Health Clinic, and Kansas City Health Department. It provides UMKC students with the opportunity to receive free testing for HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis.Friday, March 25
• Making Movies Takeover: 10 p.m., the recordBar (1020 West-port Rd.). This is a special coming home show featuring Making Movies, Nova4 and friends Pop Pistol from San Antonio, Texas.• This is an 18+ show and $10 cover. Download Making Movies’ new single "Sirena" for free at http://makingmovies.bandcamp.com/track/sirena. • Study abroad information session: 2 p.m., International Academ-ic Programs Office (5325 Rockhill).• APC Music in the Playhouse Auditions: 3 p.m. • “The Pillowman”: 8 p.m., She & Her Productions (1107 Hickory St.). The play centers on a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a series of child murders. The result is an examination of the very nature and purpose of art. Tickets are $9 for students and can be purchased at http://www.eventsbot.com/events/eb622581203. • “Ready, Set, Bag” Screening: Tivoli Cinemas. See A&E section for a review.Saturday, March 26• Marketplace Art, Craft and Gift Show: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Indepen-dence Events Center. For $5 you can spend all day shopping for trendy and unique gift items from vendors.
Save the date
March 21, 2011 11A&E
St. Patty’s Shenanigans
Fun wreaks havoc on Kansas City
Mark Linville News Editor
Westport continues its famous St. Patricks Day parade which runs from Linwood Blvd. to Broadway and stretches into downtown Kansas City.
Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the parade. Organizations such as area high school marching bands, Sport Clips, Mix 93.3 and the Missouri Gay Rodeo Association.
The parade began around noon and ended shortly after at 2 p.m.In addition to the parade, the bars throughout Westport were open
for business offering kegs and eggs and drink [email protected]
Advertisement
Photos by Mark Linville
12 A&E Vol. 78, Issue 26
Emily Lundberg Contributing Writer
Dr. Regina Grindstaff has a very interesting life inside the classroom and out.
She grew up in Branson, Mo., where she lived on the grounds of Silver Dollar City one summer due to her father’s job.
She completed her undergraduate bachelor’s in biology at Missouri Southern and her Ph.D. in physiology at the University of Missouri- Columbia.
“Physiology is the study of how your body works,” she said. “The cellular and organismal levels of body parts such as the heart are studied.”
For several years, Grindstaff taught seminars on physical therapy while she lived in Nashville, Tenn. with her husband, Ryan, a physician.
The Grindstaffs eventually relocated to Kansas City, Mo., a decision Grindstaff said brought her husband and her closer to their families.
Grindstaff decided to teach at UMKC because she liked the city and thought teaching at UMKC was a great opportunity.
“I enjoy my time off during the summer, which is one benefit to teaching there,” she said.
This is Grindstaff’s third year of teaching physiology at UMKC.
Among other things, she encourages student
engagement. “I expect the students to read, study and
ask questions in class,” Grindstaff said. “It’s important to interact in class. That is how you learn.”
She, in return, will do her best to help students learn the material.
In her free time, Grindstaff enjoys a variety of hobbies.
“In my free time (summer vacation), I like to cook, garden, read, listen to music, walk and exercise,” Grindstaff said. “I actually prefer baking sugar laden things, but I give most of it away.”
Those who like Christmas music will get along fine with Grindstaff, whose iPod is overloaded with it.
In grade school she even played Scrooge in “The Christmas Carol.”
Her students, however, don’t think she is very Scrooge-like.
“She is one of the nicest, most caring and knowledgeable professors I have ever had,” student Jordan Lee said. “Anytime that I had a question or concern about something we were learning, she always made herself available to speak with me.”
Professor profile:Dr. Regina Grindstaff
Sam Towns Staff Writer
A grocery store is an interesting place, and for some, it holds a peculiar importance. It’s an arena of sorts where competitors go head to head in a grueling battle of speed, accuracy and wits.
“Ready, Set, Bag” is a documentary film directed by Alex D. da Silva and Justine Jacob that sheds light on the practically unheard of sport of competitive grocery bagging.
So far, screenings have raised enough funds to provide 18,000 meals to those in need from proceeds.
For those who worry they take their jobs too seriously, this film is certifiable proof they don’t.
Compared to some of the die-hard baggers that compete for the grand-prize at the National Best Bagger competition in Las Vegas, the average person doesn’t even know the meaning of the word serious. The documentary itself isn’t presented in a comical way. But it doesn’t have to be; its subject matter is just so intrinsically hilarious one can’t help but laugh.
Ten fingers isn’t enough to count how many times I was attacked by a fit of uncontrollable laughter as I watched and listened to these strange people talk about their immaculate bagging
techniques.To be the fastest bagger in the United States,
and, perhaps some day the whole world one need to be very conscientious of what they are doing.
Right off the bat comes the probing question of paper or plastic?
Once you’ve weighed your options for a good five or six seconds and left your opportunity cost to rot in its worthlessness, it’s off to even more pressing issues.
Canned goods? Put those in first, they will help create a strong base. What about bread? Or eggs? These are the so-called “crushables” and need to be stacked on top.
The entire process is very exact, and some have it wired down to a science.
One scene gives an intimate look into the backroom of a small-town grocery story, where a practice session is taking place.
The store’s manager, with a whistle draped around his neck, looks on as his star employee stacks cans atop cans, dry boxed goods next and finally bread and eggs on top.
The manager, in the manner of a high school football coach, shouts into the bagger’s ears, while the bagger scurries along, stacking under pressure.
When the groceries have been bagged, the
manager blows his whistle and stops his timer. “Not bad, Billy, but if you want to win at nationals, you’re gonna have to bag faster than that,” he said.
The documentary is well cut, and though repetitive at times, it’s easy to walk away feeling entertained.
The film is only ostensibly about the sport of competitive grocery bagging. We get a more
in-depth and personal connection through the various interviews with the proud parents and the anxious contestants. It’s a slice of life, albeit a strange one, that presents an absurdist take on the American dream.
Catch a screening at Tivoli Cinemas March 25 Proceeds go to Harvesters.
or
Photo courtesy Google ImagesThe competitive world of grocery bagging is the topic of a documentary.
Plastic?Paper
Photo courtesy Google Images
Events Schedule
13SPORTSMarch 21, 2011
Anessa Phillips Staff Writer
At ages 14 and 16, Gustavo Guerin ranked among the top five tennis players in the entire country of Brazil and also ranked among the top 5 at his high school in Sao Paulo.
Now a junior at UMKC, he came to America in fall 2008.
“I chose to come to America so I could have the opportunity to play tennis and attend college at the same time,” Guerin said.
According to Guerin, in Brazil, people aren’t allowed to be athletes while attending college.
While attending UMKC, Guerin has begun to pioneer a program to help other student athletes around the world in his position.
He is launching a website to help students around the world relocate to America. He said because most countries don’t allow students to also be athletes, he would like everyone to have the opportunity.
His company will give students information about America, its culture and the English language. It will also help students choose a university that best suits them.
When Guerin arrived in America, his biggest challenge was learning English.
Guerin spoke Portuguese and had only studied English six months before his coming to America.
“In my classes I had to teach myself because I couldn’t understand the lectures,” he said.
Guerin chose UMKC because it offered a scholarship and a good tennis program. He also enjoys the Midwestern climate.
“I chose to come to Kansas City because it has all four seasons,” Guerin said. “The weather in Brazil is similar to California.”
Guerin fell in love with tennis when he was 10 years old.
“My dog used to play with tennis balls,” he said. “So one day I decided to play tennis.”
Soon after, Guerin took tennis lessons twice a week, and after a couple of years of lessons, he played every day.
His goal this season is to help UMKC win the Summit League Championship.
“I think we have a great team,” Guerin said. “We’re the favorite team [in] the Summit League, in my opinion.”
Last year, the team did not win the championship. This is why Guerin believes the team is more excited this year to win.
“Everyone is excited to play our conference match,” Guerin said. “We want to get the ring.”
When Guerin graduates from college, he plans on staying in America, but he does not plan to pursue a career in his major of engineering immediately after college.
“I want to be a businessman,” Guerin said.
Player of the week:Gustavo Guerin
Kevin Bryce Sports/Photo Editor
Women’s TennisMarch 21 Southwest Baptist Kansas City, Mo. 3 p.m.March 24 NW Missouri State Kansas City, Mo. 1 p.m.March 27 *SIU Edwardsville Edwardsville, Ill. 2 p.m.
Men’s TennisMarch 21 Southwest Baptist Kansas City, Mo 3 p.m.March 25 Creighton Kansas City, Mo 1 p.m.March 27 *SIU Edwardsville Edwardsville, Mo. 2 p.m.
SoftballMarch 26 South Dakota State Lawrence, Kan. 1 p.m.March 26 South Dakota State Lawrence, Kan. 3 p.m.March 27 South Dakota State Lawrence, Kan. Noon*Southern Illinois University
Your résumé and letter of intent are due by March 31. Please e-mail [email protected].
Now staffing for 2011-12 School Year
Advertising Manager
Editor-in-Chief
Business/Distribution Manager
Looking for individuals interested in advertising and marketing. Must be prepared to accept sales and management responsibilities. Individuals must be driven. This is a year-long
paid position.
Looking for a highly organized individual who is creative, open-minded, hard working and resilient. Must be enrolled full-time, and have great time management skills. This is a
year-long paid position.
Looking for someone with money management skills. Responsible for distributing the paper throughout campus and surrounding areas. Must have reliable transportation. This is a
year-long paid position.
Gustavo Guerin Photo courtesy UMKC Athletics
14 SPORTS Vol. 78, Issue 26
Week in review
Luke Harman Staff Writer
The women’s golf team finished in sixth place at the Jackrabbit Invitational, held March 14-15 in Primm, Nev.
The Roos combined to total a team score of 919 with rounds of 309-307 and a final round score of 303, the third lowest in UMKC 54-hole school history.
Sophomore Taylor Fisher led the Roos with a 219 (73-74-72) finish and tied for fourth place in the event, having completed the lowest 54-hole score in UMKC history.
Senior Kati Scholten was next in line, tying for 19th with a score of 227 (79-74-74).
Summit League opponents Oral Roberts took the team title with a total score of 872, while North Dakota State’s Amy Anderson took the individual event with a 213 (71-74-68) tally.
The Lady Roos next event will begin on Monday, March 28 at the University of Arkansas- Little Rock Golf Classic in Hot Springs, Ark.
Luke Harman Staff Writer
The men’s golf team achieved a third place finish amid fierce competition at the Jackrabbit Invitational, held March 14-15 in Primm, Nev.
The Roos finished with a team score of 846, behind eventual winners University of Missouri-Columbia (team score: 827) and runner-up University of Idaho (828).
The Roos had consistent rounds of 284-279 and 283 respectively.
Over the course of the tournament, the Roos were led by sophomore Korbin Kuehn, who eventually tied for seventh place. His combined total of 208 also included a magnificent eight under par final day round of 69.
Importantly, the Roos finished higher than their competing Summit League rivals Oral Roberts, South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Oakland in this invitational.
The golf team will now travel to Little Rock, Ark. March 28 to compete in the University of Arkansas- Little Rock First Tee Intercollegiate event.
Men’s golf
Women’s tennis
Kevin Bryce Sports/Photo Editor
The women traveled to Las Vegas, Nev. last week to pick up two wins and two losses. These matches put the women at 5-11 on the season in total matches and 2-2 in Summit League play.
Sophomore Laura Bouet proved valuable for UMKC as she picked up a win in the singles and doubles on Friday against Centenary. Sharing her win in the doubles was sophomore Suzan Lisenby. And on Saturday Bouet picked up one of only two of UMKC's wins.
Next up the women battle Southwest Baptist here at home on Monday.
Softball
Kevin Bryce Sports/Photo Editor
The women had a tough weekend against Indiana University-Purdue University- Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, Ind. Two matches were lost on Friday, March 18 (3-1, 2-0) and another loss occurred Saturday (7-2).
Junior Kelley Fischer made some bold plays for the Roos on Friday's first game. Fischer was walked to first before stealing the next two bases and bringing in the lady's one run on the day.
Fischer led Saturday’s game with two hits and a walk. Junior Anna Sokolik also showed some skill on the day by hitting a double leading to a run for UMKC.
The women will play South Dakota State this weekend in Lawrence, Kan.
Top to bottom:Kaelene CurKorbin KuehnLaura BouetKati ScholtenPhotos courtesy UMKC Athletics
Women’s golf
Softball
U-News is the official newspaper of UMKC, however, we remain an independent student newspaper. The views of individual writers do not represent the publication or university as a whole. All university students are given an opportunity to join and participate in U-News.
Disclaimer
Mark Linville News Editor
In the past week and a half, I have seen a few celebrities.
Last week I saw B.o.B and OneRepublic before the show and this weekend I saw reality star Pauly D at Power and Light.
Of course I don’t feel lucky to have seen these people.
I do appreciate what they do and how they contribute to society, but through it I realized I am unfazed by celebrities.
The first time I realized this was back in 2007 when Chris Brown, yes, Chris Brown, came into the Wendy’s I had worked at during high school.
I was working frontline that day and here comes this big celebrity, coming to a Wendy’s in Wyandotte County, Kan. of all places.
I took his order, and as I did, I realized every girl working behind me completely freaked out and began to scream as if a horde of zombies were coming to eat them.
These employees were completely hysterical because of his presence.
One of them even got fired over her behavior, and, according to her it was worth it.
I am no paparazzi, and it kills me to start name dropping. I am going to do it anyway.
Back in 2007, I attended a film workshop at Bartle Hall where I had the pleasure of being taught acting tips from the great Eric Roberts, brother to Julia Roberts.
In 2008, I attended the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute National Conference in Chicago; I was browsing at H&M when I spotted DJ Qualls, star of “The New Guy.”
At that same conference, I had the pleasure of meeting the great and late Cesar Chavez’s granddaughter Christine Chavez.
There was the time I saw “comedian” Carrot Top in Westport, but I am not sure he counts as a celebrity.
I view these individuals as humans who deserve respect from their fans and followers.
They don’t deserve their autograph to be scanned into a computer to be sold on eBay, nor do they need to be bothered while shopping like any other normal human.
However, I do understand why people get excited around these artistic and public figures.
Somehow it seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity to be in the presence of someone of
their stature, someone who has the respect and attention of thousands if not millions of people worldwide.
I’m not saying I won’t freak out if my favorite band, 311, comes my way because I probably will, just not to the point that I’ll embarrass myself or make them think I am a dumbass.
It’s just out of respect and just plain human decency that people should see celebrities as people and not objects of fame and money.
I’m sure it would upset you if 30 insane journalists with cameras that have gigantic zoom lens extruding the body pointed directly at you with flashing lights in your face.
Okay, let’s leave the paparazzi topic for another forum.
But as I was saying, it’s important to appreciate their presence, not scream like banshees in their face.
If you did that to a normal person, you might get pepper sprayed or put in jail.
Let’s act civil [email protected]
In the face of great ones
New York: The invigorating cityKasim Hardaway Asst. News Editor
“BOOM! Ding. BAM! la la la la… POP.” Piercing sounds accompanied by an assort-
ment of vibrantly colored lights dart at you from everywhere. The combination of the audio and visual stimuli can easily put a person who is unfa-miliar with the place on edge.
This place goes by a number of names: The Capital of the World, “concrete jungle where dreams are made of” from the lyrics of Alicia Keyes, The City that Never Sleeps, The Empire State, and the most common alias The Big Apple, New York City (NYC) is the Energizer bunny on speed.
I am originally from the East Coast, so I did have my fair share of trips to NYC. However, after spending four long years here in the Midwest, I forgot how overwhelming a trip to NYC would be.
Last week, I went on a weeklong trip to New York City, N.Y., specifically I stayed in the borough of Manhattan.
Traveling on subways was one of the most sensory stimulating experiences I have had in my life.
From the train pulling up to your stop to you actually getting on, sitting down, then traveling to
your destination, my mind was boggled.As the train comes down the track you can
feel the vibrations under your feet and see the small white lights slowly growing larger until it is directly in front of you.
During peak hours of subway use, you can look into the train and all you will see are masses of people clumped together.
Every time I boarded the train, I would think
to myself:How the f#*% do they expect more people to
fit?Each time, right after that thought, I
miraculously fit along with another 20 to 25 people, even though it seemed impossible.
As the train travels on the tracks through the tunnels, you can feel every brake and acceleration of the train. It would jerk you like a rag doll if you didn’t have a strong clutch on one of the bars.
Another thing that made my senses run wild was Times Square.
Thousands of people are massed together along the streets of Times Square, entering and leaving the busy locale.
It’s difficult to keep your eyes focused on getting through the masses; they drift to the other distracting things surrounding you.
The buildings are surreal; they stand so high above you.
It was hard to believe that they were real upon first glance.
Some buildings are covered with huge advertisements that are vibrantly colored and plastered with eye-catching lights.
Times Square was full of these types of advertisements, no matter where you looked. I often caught myself bumping into people trying
to read them. There are artists on block corners singing songs
for change, people selling tickets to various events and other vendors with tables set up for their cause.
They yell out to the masses trying to promote what they are doing.
This is where everything becomes overwhelm-ing.
The large buildings paired with the blinding colorful lights and advertisements, along with vendors calling out to get their voices heard creates an audio/visual experience like none other.
I still have yet to decide if the experience is good or bad, but it is an experience, an overwhelming one at that.
After leaving Times Square on the subway, I tried to sit back and reflect on how invigorating the city was.
I couldn’t even get a thought together because the noises on the subway boggled my mind once again.
I think New York can add a new name to its long list of aliases.
New York: The Invigorating [email protected]
15FORUMMarch 21, 2011
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.
Board of Publishers of the University News: David Atkinson (chair), Allen Rostron, Robin Hamilton, Patrick Hilburn, Wayne Lucas, Harris Mirkin, Melissa Oribhabor,
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Mark LinvilleKasim Hardaway
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Kevin BryceJill Schleiden
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Last weeks poll resultsWhat are you doing on St. Patrick’s Day?
31% Studying28% Partying28% Nothing13% Going to the parade
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