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NIVERSITY NEWS Cover article UMKC’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER Vol. 79, Issue 12 Nov. 7, 2011 10 A&E The Mainstreet at 14th and Main streets is one of four important historic downtown theaters. 3 NEWS Green jobs have become a focus for one Kansas City company. Photo by Johanna Poppel 7 SPORTS Senior Dustin Dibble dribbles past his opponent with expertise during the exhibition game. Photo courtesy of UMKC Athletics Photo by Nathan Zoschke 2|News Vol. 79, Issue 12 campus news French Club to host soirée and guided tour Starr Symposium Event brings movers and shakers to campus This is a crepe. Blueberries accent this French cuisine style. Photo courtesy of Google Images Michelle Heiman Copy Editor The French club, known as Le Cercle Français, will host a soirée de crêpes on Nov. 7th at the home of President Margot Gibson. Crêpes, thin pancakes, are a staple of French cuisine. The soirée is meant to give participants a taste of French culture. Although it was established at least 20 years ago, Le Cercle Français has been active on and off during the past several years on campus, according to Gibson. She hopes this year the club can become more permanent, with a stronger base of student participants. Treasurer Lara Schanzer said everyone is welcome to join the club, regardless of French-speaking skills. “Of course the language is important, but we just want to bring together a community of people who appreciate French culture and who would like to learn more about it,” she said. Schanzer is a French major, and one of her professors, Dr. Gayle Levy, got her interested in the club. “I have always been interested and inspired by French culture. My parents owned Napoleon Bakery, and it was there where I received exposure to the French culture and its people,” Schanzer said. “I took on the position of treasurer, so my main role is creating budget proposals and figuring out ways to support the club, but I am also taking on the position of media officer, making posters and getting the word out about our events.” Gibson, a junior now, was first involved with Le Cercle Français as treasurer during her freshman year. “Now I’m president and I’m ready to see more changes in the club, such as a greater level of student participation and fundraising ideas,” she said. “I want to get UMKC students passionate about French culture so that it isn’t just something that they learn in the classroom.” The club’s next event following the soirée de crêpes will be a French/English guided tour through the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art on Dec. 3. For more information about the club, or for those interested in joining, email Schanzer at lesyq9@mail.umkc.edu. mheiman@unews.com Women’s activitst Gloria Steinem discussed the aspects of aging during her keynote speech. Teresa Sheffield for the luncheon and workshops were sold out. The four different workshops The Starr Symposium brought included “The older woman as art women’s activists Gloria Steinem and and artist,” “Advocacy: changing the Dolores Huerta to the UMKC campus community,” “Financial literacy for this weekend. The symposium took the boomers and beyond” and a class place in the University Center and on leadership for women. Many women came just to see the included a luncheon, four different workshops, and lectures and book speakers, with the approximate 500 available seats nearly selling out. signing by the famous ladies. “I came to see Gloria. She’s my The symposium is endowed by Martha Jane Starr, and has been hero,” symposium attendee Kim an annual event since 1992. It is Westhusing said. “I read her book on organized in part by the Women’s self-esteem when it was published in 1992 and it helped me have the confidence to go back to On Monday, do one outrageous school. She is awesome.” thing in the cause of age justice Steinem was the keynote and I promise I will do one thing speaker in the morning too, and I guarantee you two results, and Huerta the one in the and by Tuesday, the world will be more afternoon. Both women spoke linked. And you’ll have such a good time and answered questions for you’ll never get up in the morning without about 60 minutes with warm saying, ‘what am I going to do today? reception from the audience -Gloria Steinem, Starr Symposium speaker with many women yelling, and women’s rights activist “Don’t stop talking!” when their lecture time was up. Steinem was a pioneer voice in the Council and the Women’s Center at women’s rights movement in the ‘70s, UMKC. “The Starr Symposium brings to and has written books, articles and the forefront issues that affect the lectured on the subject for decades. lives of girls, women and or families,” Her lecture included thoughts on Starr Symposium Chair Kelli Wright fear of aging, the culture surrounding age, mentoring young people, men’s said. The workshops and lectures relationship with aging, and lying revolved around this year’s theme of about getting older. “It’s interesting it’s the one thing; “Age becomes us.” Wright said the 250 available seats it’s an economical, cultural and Staff Writer “ ” Photo by Teresa Sheffield physical event, in which we all go through, if we’re lucky. And it’s the one thing in which we are most likely to lie,” Steinem said. She ended her speech with an exhortation to the audience. “On Monday, do one outrageous thing in the cause of age justice and I promise I will do one thing too, and I guarantee you two results,” Steinem said. “And by Tuesday, the world will be more linked. And you’ll have such a good time you’ll never get up in the morning without saying, ‘what am I going to do today?’” Huerta is a prominent voice and organizer for the Latino community. She co-founded the United Farm Workers of America and is an outspoken voice in the area of women’s rights. She spoke about how aging is viewed by the Latino culture and by America as a whole, and gave personal anecdotes about her life. Wright said Huerta and the rest of the Starr Symposium benefit the community by giving a voice to issues that aren’t regularly discussed. “It allows us to explore topics that often don’t get much attention. The idea is to inspire and give our community the advantage of that cutting edge thinking,” she said. tsheffield@unews.com News|3 Nov. 7, 2011 Green jobs tour comes to Kansas City Johanna Poppel briefly mentioned Volunteer awarded for tireless contribution Mary Kay McPhee has helped raise more than $5 million for two UMKC scholarships for numerous programs. Photo courtesy of Google Images Photo Editor “The population growth is crazy; within 10 years, Africa will be a new China,” said Eric Krichbaum, COO/ Senior Vice-President of Operations at Milbank Manufacturing. Missouri voters passed Proposition C in November 2008, requiring utilities to generate 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy by 2021. The General Assembly stripped the requirement that the renewable energy be delivered to Missouri, undercutting the job-creating potential of Proposition C, according to a press release. With the population of our world increasing, many feel the need for environmentally sustainable actions is a must for better communities and better quality of life. On Wednesday, Nov. 2, 30 Sierra Club members, students and other community members took part in a Green Jobs Tour to view a business in northeast Kansas City that makes supply parts for wind turbines, solar generators and electric car plug-ins. The plant, Milbank Manufacturing, expects to hire 57 new employees to support its expanded clean-energy products. “Milbank Manufacturing proves the potential for renewable energy to create jobs in Missouri,” said John Hickey, Sierra Club Chapter Director. “It is time for the state of Missouri to expand our use of renewable energy. We know that renewable energy means cleaner air and healthier communities. Now we are showing that it also means good-paying, clean energy jobs.” “We incorporate green in what we do,” said Krichbaum. He started the Green Jobs tour with a presentation of Milbank Manufacturing and its products and philosophies that encourage environmentally friendly and efficient business. “A lot of people talk Louis Trigg Top: Milbank employees assemble sheet metal into grid boxes. Above: Eric Krichbaum leads tour through the Milbank factory. about green products but we have green plans,” Krichbaum said. Along with making parts and products that promote renewable energy, the company also offers consulting for individuals who look to make positive changes in their energy consumptions and who want change their increasing energy bill costs. “We offer renewable energy based solutions; we want to provide guidance to customers to help people with changing to renewable energy,” Krichbaum said. “We are not ready to conquer the U.S., but individually people may want it in their homes,” Krichbaum said in response to an audience member’s question about his opinion on the future of renewable energy in our country. As well as the comparison of other renewable energy, dominant countries, such as Germany which solely runs on solar and wind power, were discussed in Krichbaum’s presentation. They compared government incentives of other countries to the ones in the U.S. He discussed how Milbank Manufacturing, besides making green projects, is also changing the way it does business by new business policy deployment, waste elimination, culture transformation and altered management. “We [Milbank] think green jobs are everybody’s jobs,” Krichbaum said. Photos by Johanna Poppel Renewable energy is not just important for a sustainable planet - it is also vital in improving environmental health. “We have the importance of fighting the health effects of dirty coal,” Hickey said in regard to America moving toward renewable energy. After the presentation, a tour was given of the plant that makes the parts for the pieces used to make meter cases and grid boxes. This gave community members a closer look at what Milbank does. USW District 11 Sub-Director Emil Ramirez said, “Our members understand that investing in clean energy technology means more good jobs right here in Kansas City. That is why the USW, along with other groups including the Sierra Club, are part of the BlueGreen Alliance. This tour will give a chance for more local citizens to see this potential with their own eyes.” The event gave students and community members encouragement that positive jobs were going to be in Kansas City. “I went to the event to get an idea of what kind of jobs would be out there for me when I graduate,” said Deanna Johnson Sapp, senior environmental science major. jpoppel@unews.com Asst. News Editor Mary Kay McPhee already set an indelible impression on UMKC throughout the past four decades, particularly through her tireless dedication and volunteering efforts. Her support is credited for generating more than $5 million in fundraising for various programs in the university, including the Women’s Council/Graduate Assistance Fund and the Herman Johnson African American Scholarship. In 2008, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) presented her as one of five recipients of the national Distinguished Service Awards for invaluable contributions to UMKC as a non-alumna. On Tuesday, Nov. 1, she was rewarded with one of the area’s top honors, as the recipient of the ATHENA Award, at the 11th annual Kansas City ATHENA Awards Reception sponsored by the Chamber, KPMG, Kansas City Power & Light and MRIGlobal. “She is the consummate volunteer and a great source of inspiration to me and all those who shared in - and observed - her efforts. This award is well deserved,” said Vice Chancellor of University Advancement Curt Crespino. McPhee joins the company of some of the region’s most celebrated women in leadership and mentoring. Past recipients of the award include: Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation Chairwoman Julia Irene Kauffman, and former Interim President of United Way of Greater Kansas City Susan Stanton. “I am humbled by this recognition, particularly given the company of women who have received it before me,” McPhee said. The ATHENA award is named for the Greek goddess of wisdom, warfare and women’s arts. Since 2001, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce has given the award to women who exhibit excellent leadership and professionalism, in support of the development and mentorship of women across multiple professional fields. ltrigg@unews.com 4|News Vol. 79, Issue 12 Police Blotter Lindsay Adams News Editor Oct. 28 3:37 p.m.Information A resident at Oak Place was harassed by someone with whom he had an intimate encounter. 4:24 p.m. Larceny At Oak Street Residence Hall, a student reported a video game missing. 11:28 p.m. Common Assault A couple was having a physical altercation on the sidewalk at 54th Street and Rockhill Road. Oct. 29 9:56 p.m. Harassment A faculty member reported harassing emails from a suspect at the Education building. Oct. 30 1:16 a.m. Noise Disturbance Officers had to remove people refusing to leave a party at 54th and Harrison streets. 1:12 p.m. Larceny At 54th and Harrison streets, a student’s laptop was stolen during a party the night before. 4:56 p.m. Common Assault A student forced another student’s head down and threatened him because he didn’t clean the microwave at Oak Place Apartments. Oct. 31 9:30 a.m. Larceny A student left his laptop in the restroom at Swinney Recreation Center and found it missing. 10:21 p.m. Disturbance Officers took a report of a group of female students at Johnson Hall calling each other names and provoking each other to fight. Nov. 1 1:21 p.m. ‘Lucerna’ Undergraduate research journal is six years strong additional times until we have our essays Nathan Zoschke Production Manager/Copy Editor Since its 2005 inception by the Honors Program, Lucerna has remained UMKC’s lone undergraduate research journal. Lucerna is also unique in that entries are selected in a blind reviewing process and edited by a select group of honors students and faculty who work with the organization. Students from any discipline are allowed to submit entries in the areas of business, science, social science, humanities and the arts. Lucerna Editor-in-Chief Taylor Barton said essays range from 2,000 to 6,000 words in length and are evaluated in the blind reviewing process based on originality, clarity, organization and argumentative qualities. Photographs of student works of art are also included in the reviewing process. “Each essay is reviewed three times in the initial [blind] reviewing process,” Barton said. “After the pool of essays has been narrowed down, they are reviewed knowledge, like light, must have its source. The hope suggested by the journal’s title is that UMKC student research should by this source of knowledge - this light.” So far, Barton said several promising entries have been submitted. The team of nearly 15 honors students who work on Lucerna is preparing to kick into high gear. As editor-in-chief, Barton oversees the production of Lucerna, and must coordinate all efforts with the rest of her staff from start to finish, from designing the journal to reviewing its content. Barton said she hopes to continue the tradition. “My goal this year is to maintain the high standards that have been set for this journal over the past six years,” Barton said. “We’re looking to attract submissions from a wide variety of disciplines. We’re looking for fresh ideas and thought-provoking arguments in this year’s submission pool.” A complete list of submission rules and forms can be found at www.cas.umkc.edu/ honors/lucerna.asp. nzoschke@unews.com Other News| GOP leans on Bloch alumnus ahead of 2012 vote Disturbance Female residents of Johnson Hall provoked students in the University Center. Louis Trigg Nov. 3 10:35 a.m. Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) held a full-time job at a local grocery store and served on active duty in the United States Navy while enrolled in the Bloch School of Management. That ability to perform with versatility allowed him to succeed in the business world following graduation. Ahead of the 2012 presidential election, an October report in the Miami Herald noted the Republican Party’s current reliance on Scott, the incumbent leader of the country’s largest swing state, to deliver a crucial electoral victory against Larceny A student returned to their vehicle to find the front license plate missing at the Rockhill Parking Garage. ladams@unews.com to publish.” Barton said the goal is to receive 50 submissions each year six of which will appear in the journal. Submissions for the 2012 journal opened Oct. 24 and will be cut off March 4. Barton stressed the benefits of having one’s work published in an academic journal. “When Lucerna was founded, the honors program was looking to create a new opportunity for students to share their original research and to recognize students who provide outstanding and unique insight into a wide range of fields,” she said. “It was also intended to provide students with a great opportunity to make their résumé or CV really stand out. Being published as an undergraduate looks great to future employers, graduate schools or professional schools.” A preface by the editors to the first edition in 2005 explained the meaning of Lucerna, the Latin word for “lamp,” as the publication title: “Light has often been used as a metaphor for knowledge. But Asst. News Editor President Barack Obama (D). “In the three years this president has been in office, we’ve elected nine governors in battleground states that Barack Obama won in 2008,” Rick Wiley, the Republican National Committee’s political director, said in the report. “The infrastructure from those governors represents 131 electoral votes -- Florida and Virginia being two of those. The infrastructure from those governors helps the party up and down the ticket.” Obama only won Florida by 2.8 percentage points in 2008, and has visited the state multiple times in recent months, referencing the state’s vulnerability. However, Scott has a long Governor Rick Scott has increased efforts to improve his image for the 2012 election. Photo courtesy of Google Images way to go to assist his party and influence a Republican victory for the state in 2012. According to the New York Times, his approval rating was the lowest of any governor in the country in the first half of the year. “I think Gov. Scott’s got a long time to build in Florida, and he already is bouncing back,” said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus in a separate Miami Herald article. “His numbers have improved over the last several months and I think they’re going to continue to improve. Rick Scott’s not on the ballot, Obama is, and I think that’s what matters.” ltrigg@unews.com News|5 Nov. 7, 2011 Truman Center lecture hosts UN Deputy Secretary-General $IFE financial corner Subsidized vs. unsubsidized college loans Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, took questions from the audience. Those in attendance included students, faculty and members of the community from across the Kansas City region. Photo by Nathan Zoschke to Truman Center director Dale Neuman. Nathan Zoschke Production Manager/Copy Editor A special visit to campus last Tuesday by Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, attracted more than 50 attendees from across the region. The lecture, hosted by UMKC’s Harry S. Truman Center for Governmental Affairs and political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha, included a brief introduction and question-and-answer session. Migiro’s visit included an introduction focusing on her work with the UN in the areas of global poverty, inequality and justice. As part of its mission to honor its namesake, who received an honorary UMKC diploma shortly after attending the UN charter signing, the Truman Center hosts a UN speaker every year in conjunction with the Kansas City Mayor’s UN Dinner. Last year’s speaker was B. Lynn Pascoe, a Missouri native and Under-SecretaryGeneral for Political Affairs. The topic of his visit focused on the structure and organization of the UN. Migiro, on the other hand, is a native of Tanzania, and holds a more ministerial role. She also holds the highest position of any UN speaker to visit campus, according Her visit took a different tone than Pascoe’s, focusing specifically on issues of global policy and international relations. Prior to her current position, Migiro held various ministerial posts in Tanzania, including the distinction of being the first female Foreign Minister, a title she held from 2006 until her appointment to the UN in 2007. “You don’t get to be the first female Minister of Foreign Affairs in countries where there are strong traditions of male leadership unless you are very confident and persuasive and have strong leadership,” Neuman said. “She expressed those qualities delightfully well in her speech to the students and at the mayor’s dinner.” One student’s question was how the UN balances the foreign policy objectives of the U.S., its most influential member state, with those of other member states, some of which have conflicting policies. A key example is the recent addition of Palestine as a member state of UNESCO, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which resulted in automatic funding cuts to UNESCO from the U.S. and Canada. Israel responded by allowing settlement of the West Bank, which will likely increase violence in the region. “She did a good job contextualizing the issues and pointing out that the U.S. responded in the only way that it can respond because of laws passed by Congress,” Neuman said. “The Secretary General was urging folks to stop posturing and start negotiating on the Arab-Israeli question.” Another question dealt with the UN’s progress in reaching its eight Millennium Development Goals, which focus on reducing poverty, disease and inequality. Migiro acknowledged that although it is improbable all of the approaching 2015 benchmarks will be met, significant progress has been made. She also encouraged students to embrace a more active role in global affairs. “Your generation is typically referred to as the leaders of tomorrow, yet indeed you are also the leaders of today,” she said. Pi Sigma Alpha member Maja Kotlaja said the lecture was thought-provoking. “The lecture allowed me to walk away thinking about the need of my generation to begin considering our communities, our country and the world at large in a pursuit of bringing a positive contribution to the whole of society,” Kotlaja said. “Hopefully, my generation will start making decisions which foresee the consequences of 50 years and not simply four.” For more information on the Truman Center’s upcoming events and scholarship opportunities, visit www.cas.umkc.edu/ trumancenter/. nzoschke@unews.com For the month of November, we are going to cover topics on financial aid. As college students, we all know that financial aid and student loan processes can be pretty rough throughout your college experience. So, we will talk about loans, the FAFSA, funding for graduate school, and tips for the Financial Aid Office. Starting this week with student loans, lets give you the basics on two types of loans most students apply for: subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans. Interest Payments Subsidized loans do not require you to pay interest until you graduate. The federal government pays the interest during the time you are still in school. For unsubsidized loans, the interest starts accumulating when your loan is first disbursed during your time in school. You need to start paying off both of these types of loans and interest six months after graduation for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Qualification In order to qualify for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and indicate that you would like to receive student loans. Subsidized loans are based on the financial financial need of the student. Conversely, all students are eligible for unsubsidized loans no matter what your FAFSA says. Loan Limits Subsidized loans have a tight limit on how much you can borrow, even though your financial status is big determining factor on how much money you get. It also depends what type of program you are in and if you are a graduate or undergraduate student. For unsubsidized loans, you can borrow up to $5,000 more than subsidized loans per year. The SIFE Financial Corner is created by members of UMKC Students in Free Enterprise. For more information, find us on Facebook and Twitter, or attend our weekly 7 p.m. Tuesday meetings in the Brookside Room of the Administrative Center. 6|News Vol. 79, Issue 12 briefly mentioned| School of Law unveils new library addition Louis Trigg Asst. News Editor The School of Law will host an opening ceremony for the new Tom and Vina Hyde Collaborative Instruction and Technology Library 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the School of Law. Last year, the school decided to renovate the space on the building’s lower level into an area that can provide more space for students and visitors interested in law. Construction of the $1.33 million renovation took place from February through August. School of Law Dean Ellen Suni said the facility, part of the Leon E. Bloch Law Library, is expected to be a focal point of the school and attract more students into the library. Compliant with standards by the American Bar Association, it includes a laptop clinic, academic strategies library and the Courtney Turner Trust Collaborative Instruction and Technology Classroom. Although students have been able to use the facility since August, Wednesday’s ceremony is intended to showcase the school’s reverence for legal scholarship, while fostering camaraderie among its students and visitors. “The improvements convey a sense of pride and passion for the law, not only to our internal constituents, but to visiting faculty, government officials, members of the judiciary and prospective students as well,” Suni said. In addition, the new facility is named in honor of Tom and Vina Hyde, who have spent years helping to development UMKC into a world-class facility. As an alumnus of the School of Law, Tom Hyde received the UMKC Alumni Achievement Award in 2004 for an outstanding career in law, including a position from 2003-05 as executive vice president of Legal Ethics and Corporate Secretary at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Mr. Hyde was also named to the UMKC Board of Trustees last year. Tom and Vina Hyde also contributed $300,000 to the project. “We are very grateful to Tom and Vina Hyde, as well as to other donors for their generous support of this project,” Suni said. ltrigg@unews.com ‘Fast Food Nation’ author comes to campus Eric Schlosser discusses eating trends in America Teresa Sheffield Staff Writer Investigative journalist and author Eric Schlosser came to UMKC last to talk about his book, Fast Food Nation. Schlosser’s book was a two-year New York Times bestseller, and talks about the origins of fast food in the 1950’s in southern California, the manufacturing of fast food, its global popularity, and the questionable targeted marketing to people of color, those in poverty and to very young children. Schlosser’s visit was a part of the fifth annual Social Justice Book and Lecture Program which showcases books that highlight social struggles and problems. “This lecture is about more than fast food, it’s about low-income families who have few choices and the limited unhealthy food options available to them,” Kristi Ryujin UMKC Assistant Vice Chancellor, Diversity Initiatives said. “It also is about the unsafe, hazardous conditions to which food workers are exposed and the issue of fast food being marketed to the underprivileged and people of color.” Schlosser specializes in authoring books that delve deep into topics that aren’t usually discussed. He’s written other books on marijuana, migrant workers, the American pornography industry, and is currently writing books on nuclear weapons and the American prison system. Schlosser has also written two historical plays, co-wrote the screenplay of the movie version of Fast Food Nation and Food Inc., and was the executive producer for the film There Will Be Blood. “It’s an honor that [Fast Food Nation] is being taught at a university like this, especially as a part of the social justice program,” Scholsser said. In his approximately hour-long remarks, Schlosser spoke in-depth about book. “When I wrote it, I had no idea anyone would want to read it,” he said. “Right here in the United States we have a deeply perverse relationship with food. The success of this system is based on our being ignorant of how it works.” One of the main areas Schlosser focused on was his perceived corruption of the fast food industry. He compared it to the tobacco industry, and said that it has pervasively taken over our culture. “This isn’t just about food, it’s about how companies are profiting at the expense of the public,” he said. “It’s an enormous profit and it’s hurting people.” Schlosser also talked about the health effects that the culture of fast food has had on the United States. He said that outside of tobacco-related deaths, obesity is the top cause of preventable deaths, and is well on its way to overtaking smoking as the top killer. Schlosser said the answer to this epidemic is government intervention and legislation, as well as educating the public on the hazards of fast food and letting them know what other options they have for a healthy lifestyle. “Of course this can be changed, of course the system can be different,” Schlosser said. “I have seen astonishing changed in my lifetime, and I’m not that old.” tsheffield@unews.com Events Calendar Monday Saturday UMKC Theatre Presents: The Diversity Project (7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, Grant Hall 306) Contact Carla Noack at 816-235-2858. Tuesday ArtSounds: Where is My American Dream? (7 p.m. Nov. 8 at the KC Art Institute 4415 Warwick Blvd.) Stories of Secrets, Liberty and Luck Wednesday APC Presents: Coffee House Sessions, featuring Rudy Currence (1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 9, Jazzman’s Coffeehouse). Contact Zachariah Hinton at apc@umkc.edu Linda Hall Library Presents: Second Saturdays (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 12, Linda Hall Library) Exhibition halls at the Linda Hall Library will be open the second Saturday of each month to allow patrons an opportunity to view the current exhibition. The William N. Deramus III Cosmology Theater will also be open to the public. Normal reference services will not be available during these Saturdays. www.lindahall.org. The Vagina Monologues auditions (12-3 p.m. Nov. 12, Women’s Center, Haag Hall 105) All skill levels welcome – no memorization required! Performances will be held in February 2012. To reserve your audition time, contact us at 816-235-1638 or umkc-womens-center@umkc.edu. Thursday Sunday MAZE (7 -9 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Student Union Theater) is an experience that escapes the boundaries of any single definition. In stark contrast to the typical “magic show,” MAZE presents a unique blend of illusion, intuition, psychology, humor, mystery and danger. Contact Ryan Dahm at redtd4@mail.umkc.edu. Friday Last day to withdraw with “W” (second 8-week session). Last day to withdraw with assessment (W or WF) (undergrad) (regular 16-week session). “Wholistic” Health Fair (11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 13, Student Union) Where can you learn how to give a massage, make paper from plants, bake kolache and sample wine or/and tea? Communiversity, of course. Sports|7 Nov. 7, 2011 Cross country impresses at Summit League Championships Tyren Rushing Staff Writer The men’s and women’s cross country teams wrapped up the conference with 4th and 3rd place finishes respectively in the Summit League Championships on Oct. 29 in Tulsa, Okla. in an event sponsored by Oral Roberts. The men’s team scored 110 points and had an average time of 26:46:40 in the 8K race, which helped the team to its best finish since the 1999 season. The women’s team had similar success and scored 99 points and averaged 21:27:75 in the 6K race. Junior Cosmas Ayabei had the best finish for the men’s team and finished 2nd overall with a time of 26:46:40. Ayabei won the race last year and guided the Roos to a 6th place finish. With 73 runners in the men’s field the Roos had three top-25 finishes. Junior Zach Mathias finished 8th overall and had a time of 25:19:50. Senior Brandon Leibold finished 25th with a time of 26:29:00. Ayabei received first team All-Conference honors for his performance and Mathias received second team honors. A 5th-place finish in the 6K from junior Sarah Meiners helped propel the women’s team to a 3rd-place finish. Meiners time of 22:08:45 wasn’t far off the mark of Southern Utah’s Diana Medina, who finished the race with a time of 21:21:75. Senior Jylian Jaloma finished in 9th place with a time of 22:28:69. Meiners also received All-Conference first team honors and Jaloma received second team honors. Southern Utah won the men’s race, winning their 10th championship in the 30 year history of the Summit League, while the North Dakota State women’s team won its first title. Head Coach Shameika Fields has improved the team’s conference standings in every season she has been in charge of UMKC’s cross country program. In only her third year, Fields will prepare to lead the team to the NCAA Midwest Regional’s on Nov. 12 in DeKalb, Ill. trushing@unews.com Men’s basketball back in action with mixed results Darryl Washington Staff Writer The men’s basketball team bounced back from its shock exhibition opener defeat to Benedictine on Nov. 1 with a resounding 90-67 victory against the Tabor College Bluejays at Swinney Recreation Center on Saturday night. The Roos hit 14 threepointers, taking 26 points from senior guard Reggie Chamberlain and 21 points from redshirt sophomore Kirk Korver in the contest. Tuesday night’s exhibition game with Benedictine was the first opportunity for the team to showcase its skills on campus, after a pre-season tour in August which saw it compete in Italy. The Roos eventually fell 74-67 in overtime to the Ravens, but showed some signs of promise and the gelling together of new recruits. After losing starters Jay Couisnard, Spencer Johnson and The men’s basketball team’s exhibition Bakari Lewis, the team is reloaded with new performances show their determination for faces in the starting rotation. success this season. Chamberlain led with a team-high 20 Photo courtesy of UMKC Athletics points, while Korver drained 18. The loss came off the back of a bad shooting night which saw the Roos shoot only 33.8 percent from the field, while the Ravens shot 51.8. The Roos showed flashes of what might be to come this season as redshirt transfer Nate Rogers, now in the starting rotation, tallied nine points on the night. Chamberlain proved to be a marksman from the arc, swooshing four three-pointers from four attempts, and he also directed the traffic throughout the game. In the contest, the Ravens jumped out to an early 19-10 lead, starting hot from beyond the arc. The home side, however, stayed calm and continued to run its offense and chip away at the lead until they got it down to just two points, coming off a Korver layup with 9:37 left in the first half. The Roos gained some momentum right before the half ended, with two threepointers by Chamberlain and they took a 27-26 lead at the 3:19 minute mark in the half. After end-to-end attacks, Raven guard Quarnan Johnson netted a three-point buzzer-beater to give his side a halftime lead of 33-32. The second half proved to be a tight affair; no team led by more than four points throughout. Freshman guard Estan Tyler was impressive, while junior forward Thomas Staton hit double figures with 10 as both played significant minutes down the stretch, making nice contributions on both ends of the floor. Tyler tied the game at 6161 with just over a minute left in regulation, and after another Raven score, Tyler came right back with a key assist to Korver to knot it back up at 63-63 to send the contest into overtime. Korver opened the extra period with a three-point score, but the Roos couldn’t record another bucket from the floor. The Ravens answered with a three of their own, followed by a layup, to secure a five-point lead and a hard-fought victory. The Roos will now battle Northwest Missouri State in their regular season opener at Swinney Recreation Center on Friday, Nov. 11 before a road game on Nov. 13 at Bradley in Peoria, Ill. dwashington@unews.com Women’s soccer’s remarkable season comes to a close in Championship semifinals Darryl Washington Staff Writer The women's soccer team’s record-breaking season ended in a 2-1 defeat to the North Dakota State Bison in the semi-finals of the Summit League Conference on Nov. 4 in Rochester, Mich. NDSU got on the scoreboard after a free kick play by Bison forward Anisha Kinnarath in the 21st minute. The free-kick was off-target but teammate midfielder Michelle Gaffney was quickest to react and headed the ball into the Roo net. The Roos were unable to respond and went into the half trailing the Bison 1-0. In the second half, the Roos stuck the equalizing goal when freshman Kaely Tott smashed a freekick goal-bound and sophomore midfielder Ashley Gann converted the goal with a header, bringing the score to 1-1 in the 54th minute. With the goal, Tott recorded her third assist for the season and Gann recorded her third game-tying goal on the year. As the game-clock wound down, it appeared as though the outcome would be the same as when the teams battled to a 1-1 overtime tie in the Summit League Conference earlier in the season. Unfortunately for the Roos, this was not the case as Bison forward Danielle Boldenow gained control of the ball at the edge of the box and snuck a shot past outstretched keeper Jami Finnell for the game-winning goal in the 88th minute. The Roos may have been eliminated but the future is bright as this seasons success has shown what the team is capable of under the guidance of Summit League Coach of the Year Chris Cissell and Assistant Coach Miguel Rodrigues. This season has yielded many milestones for the team and also individual players, as sophomore forward Taylor Bare was named to the All-Summit League First Team while Sarah Todd was named to the second and freshman teams. The team also said goodbye to the first ever senior class of the program as Amanda Casalinuovo and Laura Creason The women’s soccer team had a successful fall season. Photo courtesy of UMKC Athletics finished their Roo careers with the program’s most successful campaign to date. dwashington@unews.com 8|Sports Vol. 79, Issue 12 Volleyball Continues Winning-Run in Last Home Weekend of the Season junior Emily Lucas tallied 13. Junior Ella Caitlin Christopher Contributing Writer The volleyball team (11-15) (5-10 in Summit League play) continued its winning streak as it beat a 2nd-placed IPFW team on Friday night at Swinney Recreation Center. After falling behind 2-0 in the match, the Lady Roos regrouped and won the game after some dominating offensive performances on the night. For the home team, three players finished the game with double-digit kills, as seniors Kelsey Knoche and Elizabeth Beck recorded 17 and 14 kills respectively, while Meier controlled the court with 44 assists, 18 digs, and two kills, as she helped lead her team to another hard-fought victory. The game started off rough as the visiting Mastodons took the first set 25-17, and quickly followed this with a 25-22 second set victory to take the teams to intermission. After the break, a revitalized Roo side punished the Mastodons’ complacency and hope was not lost for the Roos as they won the third set 25-13. In the set, the first five points went to the Roos including four kills from Beck, Knoche, and two from senior Christiana McQuin. On three different occasions during the set, the Roos led by 12 and easily reduced the set margin to one at 2-1. In the fourth, again another quick start gave the Roos early confidence as they rattled off six of the first seven points. As expected, the Mastodons made a comeback toward the end of the set and trailed by two with a score of 22-20 before the Roos finished strongly to tie the contest with a 25-20 set win. In the deciding fifth set, the momentum of the Roo comeback was clear for all to see as they again gained a quick lead with three straight kills to start the set. IPFW reduced the lead to 6-4, which in turn fueled a three- point-streak from the Roos to bring them to a 9-4 lead. Spurred on by the Swinney crowd, the rest of the points belonged to the Lady Roos, as they recorded a 15-4 triumph for their fifth Summit League win in a row. The team will now travel to the Dakotas to face off against South Dakota State on Nov. 11 in Brookings, S.D., before battling North Dakota State on Nov. 12 in Fargo, N.D. to finish out the 2011 Summit League Conference season. cchristopher@unews.com Senior night at Durwood ends the 2011 men’s soccer season Darryl Washington Sports Writer The men’s soccer team ended its season with a 2-1 home defeat against the Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville (SIUE) Cougars on Friday at Durwood Soccer Stadium in a night which honored this year’s senior class. After Summit League results on Saturday didn’t fall in favor of the Roos in their bid to make the post-season tournament, this contest proved to be the last for senior captain Chris Markey, Matt Kopsky, Josh Lind, Luke Harman, Brandon Nilsson, and forward pair Jimmy Simon and Diego Rojas. The Cougars (8-7-4) struck first when winger Aaron Lantz assisted Derek Huffman with a cross from the right that was converted inside the box in the 24th minute and this would be the only score of the half. As the second half got underway, it was clear the home side had upped the tempo of the game and created more scoring chances. The Roos found themselves on the scoreboard after sophomore Zach Balthazar’s deflected shot found senior Harman, whose shot from the top of the penalty box rocketed past SIUE goalkeeper Scott Meyer to tie the game at 1-1 in the 73rd minute. Ten minutes later the Cougars answered with a goal from forward Jack Twellman, who found himself one-on-one inside the box and converted his chance for the gamewinning strike. The Roos were outshot on the night 167, with superb performances throughout the game from Kyle Martin and Kevin Corby who both shared time with a half apiece. It has been a season where the exiting seniors made huge contributions to the team’s overall performances on the field and Women’s basketball dominates Harding in opening exhibition game Darryl Washington Sports Writer The women’s basketball team got its first chance to showcase its talent for the upcoming 2011-12 season in a 88-73 victory against the Harding Bison on Oct. 31 at Swinney Recreation Center. The Roos started off strong with most of their early points coming from the “bigs,” who did a solid job protecting the basket and scoring as well. UMKC’s stout defense and active hands forced the Bison into early mistakes and many turnovers. Judging from this performance, the Roos will create problems for opposing offenses due to their frontcourt all season long with their size, strength and scoring ability, not to mention the shot-blocking ability of 6’5” center Ashli Hill in the paint. Hill was the second leading scorer in the game ,recording 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. She even stepped back to knock down a three-pointer, showing her expanded range from her work in the offseason. Not to be overlooked was the backcourt. They played fast all night long, with senior guard LeAndrea Thomas scoring 12 points and playing sticky defense ,harassing Harding all night long and stealing the ball seven times. Senior guard Dayon Hall-Jones led all scorers with 17 points and dished out five assists while slicing through the defense. The Roos jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after a three-point shot from Hills and extended that lead to 12 before a 15-2 Harding run, putting them ahead of the Roos 27-26. The Roos then buckled down and, before the half was up, went on a momentous 14-0 run, conducted by senior guard Brianna Eldridge. In the second half, the Roos remained hot. After Harding scored the first three points of the half, she went on another scoring run, this time 19-6, giving them a 20-point lead with just 10.07 remaining on the clock. The Bison tried to respond and closed the gap to 11 points but couldn’t get any closer. By the game’s end, the Roos tallied 30 turnovers, 17 of which were steals, showing a great improvement on defense and a new attitude to improve on last season’s 6th-place Summit League finish. Top-scorer on the night Hall-Jones had this to say about the upcoming season: “The year’s team is much more experienced. We’re returning five starters and have six seniors on our team so we’ve played a lot of basketball together. We really are focused especially on the defensive end this year and know with that mindset it will help us be more successful. As far as the preseason poll its exactly what it is a preseason poll. During the span of the season anything can happen. We feel that we have something to prove and that fuels our fire. We believe that we can be just as good as we apply ourselves.” The Roos will be hitting the hardwood again in their last preseason exhibition contest against Park at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7 in the Swinney RecreationaCenter. dwashington@unews.com also helped the newly-recruited faces in the team to settle and become comfortable in the soccer program’s set-up. Although the 2011 season is over, the team is now focusing on the next challenge and poised to put in a solid spring season and build toward successful future campaigns under Head Coach Rick Benben and Assistant Coach Fred Schlichting. dwashington@unews.com Coming up next... Luke Harman Sports Editor Men’s Basketball vs. Northwest Missouri State Swinney Rec. Nov. 11 1 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Bradley Peoria, Ill. Nov. 13 4 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Park Swinney Rec. Nov. 7 4 p.m. vs. Northwest Missouri State Swinney Rec. Nov. 11 4 p.m. Volleyball vs. South Dakota State Brookings, S.D. Nov. 11 5 p.m. vs. North Dakota State Fargo, N.D. Nov. 12 7 p.m. Cross Country NCAA Midwest Regionals DeKalb, Ill. TBA TBA lharman@unews.com Arts & Entertainment|9 Nov. 7, 2011 Students sport fall fashion styles Johanna Poppel Photo Editor With the hustle and bustle of the wind blowing and leaves crunching beneath your feet while rushing to class, you notice the unique trends popping up across campus. The temperature is dropping and students are layering clothes and strutting the latest trends for this fall. Here are some fellow students who stick out and are sharing their thoughts on style and bestow some fashion insight. Paige Lockhart, Junior Riley Mortensen, Freshman Stephen Herzig, Junior H erzig keeps it simple by wearing some vintage-inspired jeans, a comfy cotton v-neck and cowboy boots to top it all off. “I love cowboy boots. I have several pairs. It is just what I like to wear,” Herzig said. Clayton Kruger, Freshman K ruger keeps it casual by layering a cardigan over a plaid button-up shirt paired with skinny jeans. “I think sweaters and skinny jeans are pretty damn comfortable,” Kruger said. M ortensen is wearing a threefourth sleeve, silky textured dress with funky geometric designs in some dark autumn hues. She pairs her dress with black suede boots to add comfort and warmth. Her fashion inspiration is Rihanna because “she’s got some sweet duds.” Emilie Svedja, Senior S vedja pairs two interesting blocks of color to create a unique cold–weather look, along with keeping warm with black opaque tights and cowboy boots. She incorporates tan and black and pulls the outfit together with a long necklace with a turquoise pandent. “Whatever works with cowboy boots works with me,” she said. L ockhart keeps it comfy and casual by wearing a t-shirt, zip-up hooded sweatshirt, black skinny pants and finishes the look with vintage-inspired olive green flats. Her style: “Simple outfits with accessories. I really like sequins. I would describe my style as Audrey Hepburn meets Divine from the movie ‘Pink Flamingos.’” Her advice: “Fill your closet with solid color dresses, spicy shoes, vintage broaches and miniature hats.” John Chang, Junior C hang keeps it sleek, wearing dark grey straight-legged pants, a navy pea coat and loafers. His advice: “When I wear clothes, I look at how it fits. It all depends on your size and height.” You will look good if you choose clothes ideal for your body shape. Pay attention to what looks good for your unique height and body type. jpoppel@unews.com 10|Arts & Entertainment Vol. 79, Issue 12 ALL AROUND TOWN Four downtown theaters, Four different stories rate films by the time it was shuttered Nathan Zoschke Production Manager/Copy Editor A flashy 50-year anniversary sign adorns the stately, columned entrance to the Lyric Theatre, commemorating the Lyric Opera. But the luster seems to have left the Lyric Theatre these days. The Lyric has lost its primary tenants, the Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera, to the new, $300 million Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The sleek contemporary architecture and impeccable acoustics of the Modis Safdie-designed Kauffman Center received grand accolades in the national press. Now 85 years old, the Lyric Theatre has seen its glory days come and go. The classical revival-style façade resembles the Temple of Vesta in Rome, with Corinthian capitals and exquisite architectural details, but the streetscape around it isn’t as pleasant. Hailing from across the street is the tall, blank, ivy-covered service entrance brick wall for the downtown Marriott. Currently, no plans to reuse the Lyric have been announced, although the theatre has been speculated as a potential site for a proposed downtown campus for the Conservatory of Music and Dance. The Lyric isn’t the only downtown theater to cycle through. Not too far away, the recentlyrenovated Midland by AMC and AMC Mainstreet have once again reestablished themselves. The façade of the Mainstreet has strong French Empire and Neoclassical influences, boasting an ornate dome and terra cotta architectural embellishments, which have been allowed to deteriorate over the years. Once used to host Vaudeville performances in its 3,200 seat theater, the building was converted to a screen theater in the 1950s, and had declined to a seedy grindhouse showing second- in 1985. By the time renovations began in the mid-2000s, a mature tree was growing out of the roof, and the interior of the theater suffered extensive damage. When plans were announced to revamp the theater, some believed it was beyond repair. The turnaround at the Mainstreet is a 180-degree difference. Once used to host Vaudeville performances, the Mainstreet has been transformed with the infusion of technology. The theater includes AMC’s novelty Cinema Suites concept, which allows patrons to order food and drinks from their seats during the movie. The auditoriums are also smaller in size than most movie theaters and have larger screens, creating a pleasant movie going experience. The Midland, which never experienced the same level of disrepair as the Mainstreet, benefited from a topto-bottom remodel. The original handpainted plaster has been restored, and most of the building’s historic details, from the furniture in the lobby to the bathrooms, have been meticulously preserved. Now one of Kansas City’s premier indoor venues, the Midland is looking more and more like its former self. When the building was completed in 1927, it was the third-largest theater in the U.S., and the first air-conditioned theatre in Kansas City. The Midland’s ornate exterior includes both French and Italian Baroque influences. A four-story window above the marquee welcomes visitors. Engaged pillars and exquisite details cover the glazed terra cotta brick façade. The Folly Theatre, completed in 1900, was one of Kansas City’s first burlesque and Vaudeville halls. Today, it remains one of four noteworthy historic theater venues downtown, and is the smallest with 1,078 seats. A large palladium window is the focal point of the front brick and rusticated limestone façade. Like other downtown theaters, the Folly has had rough times, featuring striptease performances and adult movies until it finally closed in the 1970s. Status on both the National Register of Historic Places and local historic register saved the Folly from demolition; and a complete renovation took place in the early ’80s. nzoschke@unews.com Above: A four-story gilded window above the opulent marquee, with 3,600 lights. Left: The Lyric Theatre has barely been used since the Lyric Opera and Kansas City Symphony relocated. Bottom left: A dome surrounded by circular windows and large reproduction marquee define the AMC Mainstreet. Bottom right: The Folly Theatre remains one of Kansas City’s most active theatre venues. Photos by Nathan Zoschke Arts & Entertainment|11 Nov. 7, 2011 movie review Have ‘A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas’ Mal Hartigan Copy Editor If you’ve seen “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,” the first of the ongoing comedy series, you know it’s riddled with hilarious obscenities, illegal drug use, and a giant slew of ridiculous situations. The third movie of the series, “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,” sets the comical duo up for another adventure. Harold and Kumar, who have been best friends for years, used to be avid potheads. Because of their marijuana use, they often found themselves in hilarious situations with an odd assortment of characters, including Neal Patrick Harris and the deformed “Freakshow,” cleverly played by Chris Meloni. After the crazy events that take place in the first two movies, including Harold’s marriage, the third movie takes place during Christmas time. Harold is happily married and holds a stable job on Wall Street. There is a taste of current events in the movie when Harold looks out the window and sees protestors picketing his building, objecting to his company’s high wages. Harold and Kumar have long parted ways, not speaking to each other for two years, and Harold went on to make another friend I viewed it in 2D. However, it became apparent that most of the movie was centered around showcasing 3D effects rather than solidifying a sufficient plotline. A majority of the characters’ actions were centered around how the visual aspect could be tweaked to appear three-dimensional. The humor in this movie also wasn’t up to par with the previous installments. A 5-year-old girl being Harold and Kumar are back to their usual selves in ‘A Very accidentally exposed to Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas,’ Photo courtesy of Google Images pot smoke and cocaine wasn’t particularly comical, especially when she acted who is hardly comparable to Kumar. He’s even more like an annoying toddler in the straight-laced, drives a mini-van and has a process. Though these events were meant to toddler daughter. His humor is dopey and bring humor to the movie, it seemed more not relatable. like the immature humor you’d find in a Kumar, on the other hand, still sits around sub-par television show. his apartment, smoking weed on a daily A side character that emerged, to my basis. The two end up crossing paths again dismay, was a popular Christmas gift: a robot when a package addressed to Harold arrives that makes waffles. As off-the-wall as that at Kumar’s apartment. sounds, this waffle-making robot eventually This movie prides itself on being in 3D, rescues Harold and Kumar from a sticky capitulating to the current movie craze. The situation where they’re about to be lit on fire theatre I went to didn’t show 3D movies, so with gasoline. The robot was supposed to be movie review ‘City Ball’ Documentary tells heart-wrenching story Darryl Washington Staff Writer “City Ball” is a documentary done by Metro Sports featured at the Union Theater this past Wednesday. The movie is about teen athletes from different schools in Kansas City and reveals the hardships that they’ve faced in a mediocre school system. Not only that, but it chronicled their home lives as well as the struggles they face. Each teenager has a unique story. Graduating high school seems like the typical standard, but these teens from inner Kansas City city had to fight every day just to keep that hope alive. Some of the young adults felt abandoned by parents. A teen even watched as one of his older brothers was shot and killed in a shootout with police, while his remaining two brothers dropped out of school, leaving him to be the sole hope for his siblings to bring home a high school diploma. Ricky Hicks, a senior running back from Central High School, was the only teen in the film that had grown up in a two-parent household and stood out considerably. This isn’t to say he was better than the others, but it was apparent that he was much more fortunate with his family life. Ricky’s values were different: instead of hoping he’d simply make it to high school graduation, college was his standard. While some of the movie focused on the decline in the inner Kansas City district as well as the Interscholastic League of sports, the viewer could understand how these young individuals were affected. The district considered education to be a business and seemed to care more about money and less about the education of the student, with sports programs being a safe haven for many of these young adults. Sports shielded them from a world that was steadily caving in from all angles. The alumni from the city’s rich history of sports programs feel the same history and rivalries from long ago have changed. This documentary is a real David and Goliath story as these young teens demonstrate rough accounts that were painful, but molded these individuals into young adults of good character. They weren’t dealt a fortunate deck of cards, but each had hope and a vision. Watching the stars graduate in the end was emotional since the movie made each viewer expressively involved with the characters. The viewer watched as they clung to any small support figure that they had in their lives in that moment; the emotion could be felt as each teen graduated and received the utmost liberation. “City Ball” showed that although major changes are needed in the districts, the athletics, and the inner city youth as a whole, Kansas City is a place where perseverance helps anyone reach their goals. For more information about the documentary “City Ball,” visit www.kcmetrosports.com. dwashington@unews.com humorous, but in most situations, I hardly uttered a laugh. The humor with the toddler and the robot seemed far too juvenile for my taste. The same obscene humor that’s trademark to the Harold and Kumar franchise was lacking in this film, and the resolution at the end was sloppy. It seems the storyline was thrown together just to highlight the 3D effects and Christmas decorations. As disappointed as I was, there were still a few occasions where I found myself laughing aloud at some of Harold’s remarks. Harold and Kumar are perfect character foils of one another: John Cho plays Harold as a more reserved and levelheaded businessman, while Kumar, played by Kal Penn, is a rule-breaking, destructive pothead. Kumar always lands them in the predicaments that make the movies so entertaining, and Penn sells his character completely with his seamless portrayal of a subtle rebel. If you’re a fan of the rest of the Harold and Kumar franchise, it’s well-advised to see the third movie for the sake of fandom. If you’re new to the obscene humor offered by Harold and Kumar, you might want to move on to the next movie. mhartigan@unews.com 12|Arts & Entertainment Vol. 79, Issue 12 ‘My name is not Kanye’ Rapper gains local following at UMKC Kharissa Parker Staff Writer His name is Wesley Forte, but his fans know him as Undergrad – the 29 year-old charismatic Christian rapper with a sound and style similar to Kanye West. “People have compared me to Kanye West since I first started rapping in 2004,” Undergrad said. Though Undergrad finds the comparison flattering, his new mixtape lets listeners know that his message and character is completly opposite of anything Kanye West represents. The mixtape, “My Name is not Kanye,” released on Sunday, Oct. 30, was introduced to the world with a listening party/ concert in UMKC’s Oak Street Residence Hall lounge. The mix features the instrumentals of some of Kanye West’s most popular songs such as “Power,” “Gold Digger” and “Heartless” and exchanges the secular lyrics for original Christian lines. Undergrad said, “I used Kanye’s beats to grab the listener’s attention. It’s deeper than just being compared to him. I figured people would listen because they recognize the music, then when I come in with completely different lyrics that are talking about Christ, they’ll be even more intrigued.” Undergrad’s goal is to get 10,000 mixtapes out, but not for fame or fortune (the mixtape is free and can be downloaded at Undergrad.Bandcamp.com), his real priority is to give the gospel. Undergrad began his Christian rap career in 2006 shortly after making the decision to live for Christ. After two years of writing and performing, he released his debut album titled “Free,” available on iTunes and Amazon. “Free” reflects how I felt after giving my life to God. With Salvation comes this liberation that’s like a breath of fresh air. That’s what “Free” is all about,” Undergrad said. However, the initial zeal of his newfound faith didn’t last long. After ending a two-year relationship with his fiancée who did not take kindly to Undergrad’s new lifestyle, he realized the romantic affair actually hindered his spiritual growth. “Outside of music, I hadn’t accomplished anything for God,” Undergrad said. “I wasn’t in Bible study or doing anything to build my faith. After I broke up with her, I wondered how many other Christians were letting people or situations hinder their spiritual walk.” This curiosity led to the making of his second album, “Hibernation,” a real world, no-nonsense production encouraging Christians to truly live their lives according to biblical standards. “Hibernation,” also available on iTunes and Amazon, was released in November 2009. Earlier this year, Undergrad released his first music video, “Salty Light,” featuring Christian singer/songwriter Chris Lee Cobbins. Undergrad’s target audience is students and he is inspired by the Bible verse 2 Timothy 2:15 which reads, “Study to show thyself approved.” He said, “I’m a full-time student for Christ. When I die, heaven is my graduation.” He plans to release an EP next spring and another album Underground’s new album hooks listeners with familiar beats but original lyrics. Photo courtesy of Google Images in 2013. Students can pick up copies of “Hibernation” and “My Name is not Kanya,” at Soul Sundays’ Open Mic Night held at 7 p.m in the Oak Street Residence Hall Lounge on Nov. 13. For more info on Undergrad, visit www.wix.com/ UndergradEnt/SchoolBoyMusic. kparker@unews.com Arts & Entertainment|13 Nov. 7, 2011 Low brass ensemble demonstrates versatility Mal Hartigan Copy Editor On Oct. 25, the White Recital Hall was lit aflame with the energy and expertise of UMKC’s own euphonium and tuba performers. This low brass ensemble consisted of four euphoniums and six tubas, each player severely adept in their musical abilities. Thomas Stein, a much sought-after tuba and euphonium instructor, was the conductor for the ensemble. Stein picked a diverse musical selection to showcase the ensemble’s versatility and ability to adapt to any piece despite potential challenges. Stein told the audience that one of the selections, entitled “Magnificat,” even had time signatures ranging to 22/4. The opening number, “Fanfare No. 1,” was a short piece, introducing the audience to the ensemble’s ability to meld together. There were excellent crescendos by the tubas, startling the listeners, and the slew of staccato 16th notes were double-tongued with proficiency. Though many listeners may originally think tubas and euphoniums are not capable of creating gorgeous blend and harmonies since their sound is so low, the ensemble was quick to negate this assumption. The second piece, “Benediction,” was conducted by David Dimmit, a euphonium player in the ensemble. This song gave the group the ability to harmonize with each other, creating rich chords with complex layering. Long gone are the days of a tuba being the sole foundation of the band and the days of tubas only playing downbeats in a march while euphoniums squeal a countermelody. “Benediction” gave these musicians a chance to demonstrate low brass adaptability. A euphonium solo was featured in this piece, threaded throughout the rest of the song, as well as a tuba solo. “Hauntings,” the next piece, was divided into four different sections (not necessarily movements, Stein informed the audience), each thoroughly chilling. Some sections featured momentary dissonance, and others included forceful crescendos, causing an uproar of eeriness. This piece was the longest and perhaps most captivating, since it included a recording of brisk wind. The tuba players’ fingers moved swiftly and precisely across Tuba and euphonium ensemble performed various pieces at White Recital Hall. the valves, making the audience feel frantic all the while. “Magnificat” was a gorgeous piece, conducted as if it didn’t have a time signature, Stein said. It swapped between time signatures so frequently that it proved to initially be a challenge for the ensemble, but it was quickly perfected and performed for the audience with ease. It was another legato piece with impressive chords and harmonies. The last two pieces of the evening were short but upbeat marches, with “La donna e’ mobile” conducted by fellow tuba player, Matthew Crossley. It was a fun and cheerful piece - much better than a traditional march, since it did not include any woodwind instruments, but instead, was another example of how functional low brass instruments are together. The concluding march, “The Bride Elect,” was just as short and uplifting. UMKC’s low brass ensemble was unquestionably polished and professional in their performance. Their brass events are free to the public and certainly worth attending. For more information regarding upcoming performances, visit www. conservatory.umkc.edu. mhartigan@unews.com Photo by Mal Hartigan 14|Roo Views Vol. 79, Issue 12 DISCLAIMER: 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. Is the liberal media a myth? Nathan Zoschke Production Manager/Copy Editor Dealing with gossip Sarah Vaughn Everyone has heard of the domino effect: knock one down and the rest come crashing down. The same can be said about how we treat people. We like to walk the fine line between right and wrong. People face issues in their lives every day and deal with them in their own ways. I’m surrounded by people who like to talk about their issues. The more they talk, the more twisted the stories become. Girls are chatty and observant, a lethal combination. We feed on judgment and gossip. There is something appealing about being told a really good story and turning around to tell someone new. It’s a cycle that keeps going, but where does it end? How do we know what we should or should not say? Gossiping is a natural habit of which many of us are guilty; we like to talk about someone’s outfit or celebrity news. Lately, gossip has turned into more than a couple of people chatting. Gossip is now going behind people’s backs and talking about their worst traits. How are people supposed to trust one another when someone acts one way to your face and another behind your back? We need to learn the difference between a simple comment and “trash talking.” We should be able to say to the person’s face what is said when they are not around. This might not be the case for everyone, but there are lots of people who suffer from hearing rumors about themselves. Word of mouth is the easiest way to spread gossip, and the further down the line it goes, the more skewed the story becomes. Knowing that others are affected by what you say should make you think twice about repeating the juicy piece of news you heard in the “caf ” that morning. A wise man once told me, “Never trust anyone with your secrets, because you never know where they will end up.” I think he is completely right. You have to be careful what you say and where you say it. People may be more affected by what is said than you realize. svaughn@unews.com It has been said that a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth. Gallup has found that in each of the past 10 years, between 45 and 48 percent of surveyed American adults believed news media was “too liberal,” and between 11 and 19 percent believed the media was “too conservative.” The remaining percent chose another response. While liberal media bias undoubtedly exists, one must take into consideration the sources most people get their news from, few of which are left-wing. A 2009 poll by CBS News and The New York Times found that television is the primary news source for 60 percent of American adults. A separate poll by NBC and The Wall Street Journal found that of the 48 percent of adults whose primary televised news source is one of three cable networks, more respondents chose FOX over CNN and MSNBC combined. To say that FOX isn’t the most blatantly biased mainstream media source is an understatement. The liberal incarnations of Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly would be ruthlessly attacked on any other network, yet all have flourished on FOX. All five have made statements many consider blatantly racist. Beck, without any legitimate basis to make such an assertion, claimed that President Obama is a “racist” with a “deep-seeded hatred of white people.” Coulter, a gloating conservative provocateur, referred to Obama’s memoir, “Dreams from my Father,” as a “dimestore version of Mein Kampf,” and appears frequently on “The O’Reilly Factor” and the “Hannity Show.” O’Reilly himself has admitted to an extent the bias of FOX’s commentary, but justified its necessity to counterbalance the “liberal media.” O’Reilly’s statements, which he later retracted, should be appreciated for their sincerity. FOX and most of its enthusiasts are quick to rebuttal any claim of conservative bias by claiming that despite people like Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly, the news segment programs adhere to standards of neutrality. Unfortunately, not even that is the case. The coverage of two recent events, the Nathan Zoschke Occupy Wall Street protests and News of the World phone-hacking scandal, show a bias in both the amount of coverage and its quality. FOX and News of the World are owned by the same company, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Coincidentally, FOX also had half the level of coverage of the phone hacking scandals as MSNBC and one-third that of CNN, and the coverage tended to downplay Murdoch’s knowledge of the scandals. Murdoch has funneled millions in donations to Republican organizations through News Corp’s general fund, but has donated little to Democratic groups. Other media parent companies have also made political donations, but in much smaller increments than News Corp and to candidates of both parties. But do claims that any conservative slant on FOX is justified because it balances out the liberal bias in the rest of the media carry any validity? Is the mainstream media really liberal? True, The New York Times, MSNBC, Time, CNN and countless other outlets have had liberal media slant accusations mercilessly thrashed against their reputations, deservingly in some cases. In making a judgment, it’s important to contextualize the difference between being liberal and conservative and favoring candidates of one party over another. As a whole, news coverage and political commentary tend to prefer Democratic candidates, but the media is not decisively liberal on a number of issues. FOX was quick to portray the Occupy Wall Street protestors as a fringe group, but other networks have been more reluctant to portray the extremity of certain tea party groups and candidates. A more thorough investigation of the war in Iraq would have revealed claims of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to be a hoax, but few in the media challenged the Bush administration’s claims. It is only in recent years that the media has adopted a more progressive stance on social issues like gay rights, race and gender equality, but the representation of minorities in the news is far from progressive. Media Matters found that in 2008, 67 percent of the guests on prime-time cable news were male and 84 percent were white. MSNBC had the greatest gender imbalance, while FOX was the whitest network. Latinos, who comprise more than 15 percent of the population, only represented 2.7 percent of cable news guests. When it comes to fiscal policy, the notion that the federal budget deficit and national debt are hampering economic recovery seems to be universally accepted, despite conventional economic wisdom to increase government spending when private sector demand and investment taper off. CNN, MSNBC and other allegedly liberal media outlets have attempted to balance left-wing and right-wing pundits, guests and commentary. FOX, on the other hand, often uses moderates, liberals and straw men to rebuttal stronger conservative political commentary. All paint a picture far different from the widely-held belief in a liberal media. How could this be? Either the media isn’t quite as liberal as people think it is, or it has become too empathetic with its detractors, who shrewdly realized they could sway content with accusations of bias. nzoschke@unews.com Roo Views|15 Nov. 7, 2011 Blue + Gold does not equal brown Mark LinvilleEditor-in-Chief I admire the university’s efforts to keep the campus clean. For years I have seen different aspects of the university improve. UMKC has added new buildings with a more sleek and polished look. No more vintage drywall with a faded paint job and dry cracking wood trim and furniture. The landscaping has always been exceptional. Year round you will be sure to see someone tending to the foliage, blowing leaves, trimming trees and grass, and shoveling snow. This truly is a campus to be proud of. However, there are moments of ill care on the university’s part. No, I am not referring to the UMKC homes and the derelict condition some of them are in. I am talking about the human waste department. I know no one likes to deal Mark Linville with the filthy human by-product, but people don’t want to see or smell it either. What inspired me to comment on the cleanliness of the Volker campus is the presence of the port-o-potties on 51st Street. Since the Homecoming celebrations, and the Oct. 1st block party, two Johnny on the Spots have sat abandoned right in the path of students’ commute to classes for more than month. When heading up the stairs to the quad, one can’t help but notice the capsules of human excrement. When the day is warm enough, or when the wind blows right, you get a nice whiff of what Johnny has to offer. I don’t see a need for the “can” to be there. Students do not use them, nor is there a construction zone in the vicinity. The closest is the Cherry Street Parking Garage. They are surely not the “best seat in the house.” I think this is an issue that should be addressed sooner rather than later. mlinville@unews.com Mozart for the masses Teresa Sheffield Staff Writer In the words of a lyrical genius, “Classical music is tight, yo.” Despite the recommendation from Kanye West, classical music really is tight. And yet for some reason, it has a bad rap. “Classical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune,” Frank McKinney said. To many, classical music is something the esoteric echelon of the very wealthy and educated dress in furs and pay huge amounts of money to see. Many of the people associated with mainstream music have close ties to classical music. Rock star Pat Benatar was accepted to Julliard to study opera, Alicia Keys and Beyoncé were classically trained and Billy Joel now writes instrumental classical music. In other fields of work, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein both played the violin, Harry Truman played the piano and Alan Greenspan studied clarinet at Julliard for more than a year. Jerry Springer and Richard Nixon have both been subjects of operas, and video games such as “Resident Evil,” where you have to learn to play Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” before you can open a trap door, use classical music in their soundtracks. What would the movies you love be like without the classical music scores or the classically-trained orchestra and composer? “Star Wars” wouldn’t be “Star Wars” without Darth Vader’s theme song. We wouldn’t be able to have that suspenseful moment or the jubilant, happy ending without classical music. Other movies take famous compositions and include them in their movie scenes, like Mozart in the “Shawshank Redemption” with Tim Robbins, “The Barber of Seville” in “Bugs Bunny,” and the “Brandenberg Concerto” in “Cruel Intentions,” “Hannibal,” “Die Hard” and “Slaughterhouse Five.” In my opinion, there doesn’t need to be some huge schism of music that is automatically liked and others that are written off. You don’t have to be a connoisseur to enjoy the “Flower Duet” I would like to encourage the creation of a cross-campus coffee pass. The availability of this pass would allow students to essentially prepay for refills in order to unify the multiple coffee shop locations on campus ( Jazzman’s, Einstein Bros’, Robot Café, Starbucks). The Coffee Pass would prevent excessive and redundant purchases, which can now only be avoided by returning to the original location of purchase for a coffee refill. This saves students time, money and substantially curbs the number of paper cups thrown away each year. Since coffee is a highly marked up commodity, refill promotions are fairly common within the coffee industry (source: I have worked at Starbucks for 3 years). The University has an interest in encouraging students to remain on campus during the day and also to save students time and money, which could otherwise be directed at studies. Both of these could be accomplished with the inclusion of the proposed coffee pass. I see no reason why a coffee pass would be an unworkable proposal, as it would only further streamline the already integrated food service offerings on and off campus. This will only improve the UMKC student experience, and I would be happy to see it implemented soon. -Frederick Phillip Wolff Political Science Major letter to the editor Teresa Sheffield from Lakme or Dvorak’s “New World Symphony,” you just need to have ears and an open mind. “Classical music is not boring, it’s not stiff, and it’s not for the elite. It’s done by people like me who love any other kind of music,” violinist Julian Rachlin said. tsheffield@unews.com letter to the editor This semester I have noticed an increase in the amount of risky driver and pedestrian behavior. Today as I was driving to the Rockhill parking structure, I stopped to let a woman cross the street before I turned right. While I was waiting, an oncoming car turned sharply toward the crosswalk and nearly hit the woman crossing the street. I feel this is the result of people not paying attention while A modest proposal driving. I have noticed equally absent-minded behavior by pedestrians. As weather gets fouler as we approach winter, the risk only increases. -Kelsey Leftwich I am a student at the University of Missouri Kansas City and the food prices are not in the budget of a college student. A bagel should not cost $2.49 at the Einstein Bros Cafe. A strawberry cafe (smoothie) should not cost $4.49. The Cafeteria food plan rates are too high. Why does it cost $2,000-$3000 to eat at the cafeteria? Throughout my day, I do not have time to go to the cafeteria. That’s between studying, classes, extra activities and programs that I am involved with on campus. I eat at the cafeteria once a day. That’s for dinner. Chick-fil-A chicken is not in the price range of a college student as well. The Market (Campus store) prices are outrageous. A bottle of Naked Juice, 16 oz. should not cost $5.00. Wal-Mart’s 16 oz. bottle of Naked Juice costs $2.39. We as college students have to accept these prices because it’s convenient. Also due to the lack of transportation for some students, the amount of space in our dorm room mini refrigerators, and money (college is expensive enough). Yes, we have a free bus pass for the metro bus, to be able to get around but we are only allowed so many bags on the bus. These circumstances need to change. word on campus Johanna Poppel Photo Editor sudoku “What is the worst part of being a UMKC student?” Junior Biology “Parking.” Megan Rea Freshman Undecided “The food on campus is expensive. It’s hard to eat lunch here everyday and not go broke.” Eric Markham Senior Chemistry “The bookstore needs to have more solution manuals.” Yasmin Sawyer Sophomore German “It makes me upset that not all my credits transferred.” Todd Saylor Olivia Wamkpah “I don’t like how the meter lots are the closest to the buildings.” “There is not much social stuff. UMKC could improve on spirit.” Junior Biology Sophomore Biology U-News! info@unews.com Poll Results Chris Deffenbaugh How do you feel about the end of the Iraq war? 46% We shouldn’t have been there in the first place. 18% I think it’s too soon. 18% It’s long overdue. 18% The troops need to come home. Answer this week’s poll at www.unews.com. NIVERSITY NEWS Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Advertising Manager Business Manager Production Manager Production Assistant News Editor Asst. News Editor A&E Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Photo Editor Video Editor Online Editor Distribution Faculty Adviser University News 5327 Holmes Kansas City, MO 64110 Mark Linville Phil Bolin Mutsa Majee Nathan Zoschke Rosita Rique-Sanchez Lindsay Adams Louis Trigg Patricia Barra Luke Harman Michelle Heiman Nathan Zoschke Mal Hartigan Johanna Poppel Jeremy Van Ryn Ethan Parker Mutsa Majee Jon Rand 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 University News is printed by The Kansas City Star U-News is an equal opportunity employer. Board of Publishers of the University News: Stephen Dilks, Chair, Robin Hamilton, Wayne Lucas, Allen Rostron, Jon Rand, Mark Linville, Patrick Hilburn, Patty Wolverton, Chad King, Kayla Sosa, Jennifer Kaminski, Alex Karanevick Cartoon by Mario Avila Every Monday, 4,000 free copies of the University News are published by UMKC students and are distributed to Brookside, Country Club Plaza, Westport, Downtown areas and both the Volker and Hospital Campuses. Opinions expressed in Roo Views do not reflect the University or its staff. Letters to the Editor can be submitted by mail or to info@unews.com. Letters should be 350 words or less and are subject to edits for clarity. Additionally, Annual subscriptions to U-News are available for $25.
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