Spring Issue Jan 27, 2011

• Yoga Mama PAGE 6 • Arts Council PAGE 7

The students’ voice since 1901 • Vol. 110 No. 15 • Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 • Emporia State University

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ESU ‘willing to put its money where its mouth is’ K enzie T empleton news@esubulletin.com Earlier this month, Emporia State President Michael Lane announced the university’s launch of a new marketing campaign.

The campaign, which came as a result of ESU having the lowest enrollment figures of the Regents universities, among other factors, aims to link all university communication together with the message

“Empowered by E.” Bill Noblitt, the newly-hired director of marketing and media relations, said that when he interviewed for the position, Lane told him that there had been no overall marketing campaign, so the new strategy seeks to tie everything together in a consistent way.

According to an Open Records request by The Bulletin, the fiscal year 2010-2011 annual operating budget for all orga-

nizations associated with ESU marketing and media relations is $2,429,704, a $103,550 increase from last year’s $2,326,154.

Although the budget was already set before Noblitt was hired in August 2010, he said the increase is significant, but that “the university is serious about marketing and it’s willing to put its money where its mouth is.”

A billboard designed by John Decker, graphic artist in ESU’s marketing and media The Open Records request also relations department, is one of several erected around the state as part of the new See MARKETING..Page 3 ‘Empowered by E’ campaign. Courtesy Photo.

Welcome, Freshmen

PART 3 in a series FOLLOWING ESU FRESHMEN DURING THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR

2011 budget stays consistent for now C harlie H eptas heptas@esubulletin.com

Freshmen biology majors Caroline Murray and Meghan Murray stand in the dorm room they have shared for the past five months.

Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin.

A lex P edersen pedersen@esubulletin.com The spring semester is well under way and the fresh beginnings of fall are nothing but a distant memory now. Some students are preparing to graduate, but for freshmen, it is a time of settling into what is now the more familiar experience of going to college.

There are many things running through the minds of freshmen at this time. They wonder if this is the school for them, what

they are going to do after graduation and some are praying that they will make it through the semester. Whatever the case may be, it is a certainty that much has changed since they first came to ESU. Yet again, we take a look at the lives of four freshmen, Meghan Murray, Caroline Murray, Will Smith and Lei Zhang, as they trudge forward toward the end of their freshman year.

...

Caroline and Meghan Murray, twin sisters from Olpe, are still working hard to

pursue biology degrees. Caroline seems confident in this semester, but Meghan is nervous because she is taking difficult classes.

“It will be harder than last semester,” Meghan said. “I’ve got (chemistry), biology and zoology. It’s awesome, but I just have to study, study, study.”

For winter break, they spent time with family and friends they hadn’t seen in a while and visited Grandby Ranch at Sol Vista Basin, Colo., where they went snow-

See FRESHMEN..Page 7

Policies in place in case of campus emergencies S mantha J ones jones@esubulletin.com After the recent shooting in Tucson, Ariz., people across the country have pondered the practices and emergency plans of public institutions in case of an emergency at that level, and Emporia State students were no exception.

“Today’s best practices may not be tomorrow’s best practices,” said Chris Hoover, captain of Police and Safety. “(ESU’s emergency policy) is an ongoing thing that can change, or must change, over a certain period of time.”

Emporia State’s officers practice what Hoover calls “table-top exercises,” which are simulations of emergencies that could happen on campus.

These situations could include fires or shootings.

However, Police and Safety could not and would not take care of such an issue entirely on its own, since at most there are six on-duty of-

WEEKLY

Q&A

ficers, which is typically limited to big events like football games.

“Police and Safety always responds really quickly, like when there is a fire alarm or whatever… but we don’t really know procedures,” said Rita Edmonds, junior social science and English major.

Edmonds said that a situation like what happened in Arizona would be difficult to handle because most students do not know what to do, especially while classes are in session.

“It’d be kind of crazy,” Edmonds said.

According to ESU’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), which is available on ESU’s website, “the University will coordinate with local, county and state agencies as appropriate under the circumstances of a given emergency.”

The EOP also lays out the Consultation, Assessment, Referral, Education Team (CARE), an

See POLICIES...Page 2

Graphic by Ellen Weiss

How do you feel about the marketing campaign, “Empowed by E”? ‘“I think they need to advertise it better.”

“ At least we have a marketing champaign, maybe this will help enrollment.”

James Haetton, junior English major

Luke Chiddix, junior political science major

The budget for the 2011 fiscal year has been maintained to this point.

“The State’s revenues appear to be holding at a level which will keep the 2011 budget (current year) fully funded,” LANE according to a budget update e-mail from ESU President Michael Lane.

The hiring freeze that went into effect last year is still in effect, but new hires have been made through the opening of positions after the hiring freeze, so they were not affected and some positions were filled with re-managed funds discovered by deans. These positions are also taken care of by specifically targeted funds and can’t be used to fill positions from other departments.

“Whatever was being searched on that date, we shut down the searches for those positions,” Lane said in an interview.

The searches for new hires either replaced previously frozen positions if the need was greater or the funding could be found in a specific area. The restricted funds must stay in the departments in which the area found. Some funding was migrated from one portion to the other.

Two departments were “held harmless” by the president, which means that even as new positions arose they could continue their search for candidates to fill them.

Those two departments were Marketing and Media and Admissions, because they draw in students and are integral to the continuing of the university, Lane said.

“There are still 18 faculty positions and 20 staff positions that are frozen, if the manager can find the money within their budget to fill a position we have filled that when the petition comes forward,” Lane said.

The tuition increase which created about $1.03 million in revenue was put to different uses around campus including health benefits and other benefits for faculty members and personnel increases.

“It is an appropriate use for the tuition increase. I don’t think we could survive without that tuition budget, most of the increase is used consistently with the universities mission,” said Rob Catlett, professor of economics.

Some students felt that using the tuition increase for faculty and staff hires as well as benefits was worth the extra money.

“Our faculty and staff do so much for the students, and they focus more individually,” said April Brewer, sophomore elementary education major.

Another need the university has is in maintenance backlog. This issue is currently faced by all Kansas universities and the deficit is increasing. The Kansas Board of Regents addressed this issue and discovered that the state’s back log is at $876 million, a $51 million increase since 2008.

ESU’s own maintenance backlog represents $57.1 million of this.

According to the Kansas Board of Regents website, despite the fact that this issue has received aid from state funds and federal stimulus, the backlog continues to grow. The estimated amount of money needed to stop the increasing issue would be $92 million but last fiscal year only $52 million was available to the backlog.

Page 2

Briefs

Film to answer the ‘Kansas Problem’ Filmmaker Joe Winston will answer what has been on Emporia’s mind since William Allen White asked the question in 1896: “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”

In the film documentary that Roger Ebert calls “One of the 10 best documentaries of 2009,” Winston works to uncover how Kansas grew from a Democratic state to, as said in his film, “a stronghold for Republicans.”

The screening of “What’s the Matter with Kansas” will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Granada Theater and is free to the public. A Q&A session hosted by Winston will follow.

Audience members are encouraged to prepare for the session by attending the Emporia Public Library’s discussion over Thomas Frank’s book, “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”

The discussion will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 2 at the Emporia Public Library.

UAC to show Hughes Double Feature The Union Activities Council will host a Hughes movie marathon showing of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” and “Breakfast Club” from 2-6 p.m. on Feb. 9 in Visser Hall Room 330.

This movie marathon comes with drinks and games, as well as an ‘80s costume contest.

Police Reports Reports given to The Bulletin from ESU Police and Safety Department

Jan. 19

Suspicious subject reported in the vicinity of ESU Apt.-1201 Triplet Dr. Officer made no contact.

Officer assisted Emporia Police Dept. with a non-injury accident north of I-35.

Officers investigated a vehicle with possible drugs and drug paraphernalia visible through the windows in Sector 6.

Officers received warrant to enter vehicle and confiscate possible drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Jan. 20

Officer stopped KS 492BPX in 1400 Merchant. Citation for driving with expired tags.

Officer admitted Elizabeth King into Visser Hall Room 118.

Officer provided lock out assistance for a vehicle at ESU Apt.1201 Triplet Dr.

Jan. 21

Officer took a report of a non-injury accident involving KS 306AOS and KS 815CBP at 100 W 15th.

Subject was taken into custody for driving while suspended and transported to Lyon Co. jail.

Ambulance responded to King Hall Room 3 for an unconscious student.

A female student was transported by ambulance to Newman Regional Health.

Student reported an injured animal in Wilson Park. Physical Plant employees removed the animal.

Officer took report of a non-injury accident involving KS 630BJP and KS TLY786 in Sector 1.

Resident of ESU Apt.-1201 Triplett Dr. reported a noise complaint. Officer contacted resident and advised to lower music volume.

Officer took report of a non-injury accident involving KS 580BPW and KS WTB462 in Sector 4.

Officer provided jump start assistance to KS 870DBG on Kellogg Circle.

Student reported a suspicious odor coming from a vehicle in Twin Tower Complex metered parking. Officer made no contact.

Jan. 22

Officer contacted subjects on King Lake and advised of campus policy.

Officer assisted Emporia Police Dept. with car stop in 1200 Cottonwood.

Officer assisted Emporia Police Dept. with a disturbance at 627 Commercial-Natasha’s.

Jan. 23

Officer captured injured bird in Student Recreation Center gym and released it north of I-35.

Officer admitted Ryan Wash into King Hall Room 210.

Morse Dr. lights 45 and 46 are out and lights 42 and 50 are always on.

King Hall zone 28 Fire Trouble-Smoke Detector west basement hallway. Unknown error.

Jan. 24

Officer assisted the Emporia Police Dept. with a warrant arrest at 2831 W 18th.

A toilet is overflowing on ground floor girls restroom in Singular Hall.

Officer provided lock out assistance for KS XKJ797 in Sector 2.

Resident of ESU Apt.-1201 Triplett Dr. reported a suspicious male on balcony of building ‘B’ knocking on doors. Subject left the area prior to officer’s arrival.

King Hall zone 28 Fire Trouble-Smoke Detector west basement hallway. Recurring problem.

news

POLICIES... from page 1

organization to help preemptively prevent mentally distressed or unstable people from inciting violence of any sort on the campus.

Hoover said that faculty members who notice “abnormal” behavior of students can fill out a form on Buzz In describing the individual’s behavior.

Jared Lee Loughner, the man suspected of killing six people and badly injuring Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords earlier this month, was a disturbed young man, according to the Associated Press.

He repeatedly caused disorder in his college classes, was prohibited

The Bulletin | January 27, 2011

from joining the military and frequently talked about how much he enjoyed doing illegal drugs. He was also said to not care about what anyone thought of him as well as having an opinion on everything, as was sure to make it known.

In 2007, he was dismissed from his community college in Arizona for being in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Prior to the shooting, he released a message on his MySpace which said “Goodbye, friends. Please don’t be mad at me.”

In case of an emergency on campus, the Rave Alert System is in place at ESU, which students can sign up for

House panel endorses cuts to Kansas budget TOPEKA (AP) — A legislative spending panel backed cuts to the state budget Tuesday that are even deeper than those proposed by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, an effort conservatives say would provide a much-needed financial cushion.

The House Appropriations Committee approved the measure by a voice vote, sending it to the full House. The bill would reduce state employee salaries and wages, including elected officials and judges, by 7.5 percent through June 30. It also ends a pay program that sought to raise the wages of some state employees to that of their private sector counterparts.

“The state is bleeding and we have to start making some tough cuts,” said Rep. Anthony Brown, a Republican from Eudora.

Conservative Republicans make up the majority of the members of the budget-writing committee. In backing the spending cuts, they said it was important for Kansas government to realize as much savings as possible.

“The goal here is to move money to the bottom line,” said Rep. Pete DeGraaf, a Mulvane Republican.

As written, the bill would leave Kansas government with an ending balance of about $45 million as of June 30.

Kansas faces a projected budget shortfall of $550 million in the next fiscal year.

Jane Carter, spokeswoman for the Kansas Organization of State Employees, said the cut in state employee pay and eliminating the planned increases in the current and future years sends the wrong message.

“To cut their pay is a disgrace to the services that state employees provide,” Carter said.

She said the cuts would end a bipartisan agreement reached in previous years to raise state employee wages comparable to the private sector jobs. Carter predicted some state employees would leave government work if the cuts weren’t restored.

The 7.5 percent cut in wages would save state government more than $16 million, but half of that money would

be retained by the Kansas Board of Regents to be used to fund deferred maintenance projects on college campuses.

It is unclear how quickly the House will debate the spending bill. Senators are working on their own version in committee. Both bills would have to reconciled and approved by both chambers before going to Brownback. The Republican governor has asked that the cuts be on his desk by the end of the month, if possible.

The plan also cuts aid to the 289 public school districts by $75 per pupil this year, reducing the amount from $4,012 to $3,937, or approximately $86 million.

The committee rejected an effort to increase funding by more than $16 million for the current year to avoid possible loss of federal funding for special education in 2013.

Democrats said Kansas could lose as much as $70 million in future budget years if it didn’t maintain its funding levels for education as required by the federal stimulus act.

The act required states to maintain its education budgets at 2006 levels in exchange for receiving federal stimulus dollars over the past two years.

“I think the governor should be concerned that members of his side of the aisle don’t have faith in him being able to bring a rescission bill that he worked on to pass,” said Rep. Bill Feuerborn, a Garnett Democrat and ranking minority member on the appropriations committee. “Why take a chance of losing almost $70 million in education funding?”

Landon Fulmer, Brownback’s policy director, said it was unclear if Kansas would be penalized for not spending more on education, adding that the state did receive a waiver in previous years from the federal government when state spending levels dropped.

One cut would eliminate state tax dollars for publications and membership dues for agencies, including membership in the National Council of State Legislatures. Committee members suggested the fees be paid from other sources. Senate President Steve Morris, a Hugoton Republican, is scheduled to become president of NCSL in August.

Corrections In the January 13 issue of The Bulletin the Grammar Hotline/ Writing Center hours were listed incorrectly. The times available are Monday – Thursday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesday-Thursday 7-9 p.m and it is closed Friday-Sunday.

An ESU women’s basketball player in the Jan. 20 issue was misidentified. The identification should read “sophomore Rachel Hanf.”

The Bulletin is commited to accuracy and regrets all errors. If you spot an error call us at 620-341-5201 or email us at editor@esubulletin.com.

Classifieds SUMMER JOBS & INTERNSHIPS WITH SALARY, ON-SITE HOUSING AND ALL MEALS PROVIDED! Rock Springs 4-H Center, a nationally recognized Camp and Conference Center, is seeking 45-50 Summer Staff employees for the coming summer. Must be energetic, enjoy working with youth and spending time outdoors. Most positions are for recreation instructors in areas including teambuilding, horses, environmental education, rifles, trap, archery, canoes, crafts, disc golf, and lifeguards. Positions are also available in foodservice, maintenance and custodial departments.

Located south of Junction City, Kansas on the edge of the Flint Hills. Rock Springs, in addition to salary, housing and meals, provides staff with free wireless internet, free laundry services, use of the activities when groups are not in session, friendships to last a lifetime and the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of youth that will last beyond your lifetime.

For an application please visit our website at www.rocksprings.net or for more information you can contact Megan Page at mpage@rocksprings.net or 785-257-3221.

EmporiaSubways

A representative from Rock Springs will be in the Union on January 31st – February 2nd, 2011.

2/9/11

Jan. 25

Officer admitted Erica Cassella into King Hall Room 7.

Officer admitted Om Shrestha into Science Hall Room 16.

Officer assisted Emporia Police Dept. wtih a call at 1112 Merchant.

on Buzz-In. This will send a text message, e-mail or both to alert those that sign up in the event of an emergency on campus.

“I don’t think that we are really that prepared but I think we do have…the Rave System,” said Doricka Menefee, freshman secondary education major. “I guess we have some defense against something, but if someone doesn’t sign up for it, then they’re likely to get shot or something random. I think that if it (Rave) was mandatory, and it was with all of the other forms the university makes us fill out, then that would be a better system and we’d be better prepared for a situation.”

02/9/11

news

The Bulletin | January 27, 2011

FACULTY PROFILE: Marcus Childress expresses love of travel, IDT B eth E dmonds

edmonds@esubulletin.com After having been a high school band director for eight years, the age of computers opened a new door for Marcus Childress, chair of the Instructional Design and Technology Department, and he has embraced it.

“I really like surfing the web, especially YouTube. The Auto-Tune the News guys are just brilliant,” Childress said.

Childress enjoys all technology, and he really likes his HDTV and playing with new technologies – he loves his new iPad. “I charted out band choreography on an Apple 2 computer. It probably took longer that way,” Childress said.

Believing there to be a strong relationship between music and Instructional Design and Technology, Childress said that this belief might just be because they are all “geeks.”

“I would say that IDT is about using technology and systematic design of instruction to improve teaching and learning in all forms, not just in K-12, but in the private sector as well,” Childress said.

IDT is making a big mark in their field and has even won PacifiCorp.

Childress said that the graduate program is not just for those interested in teaching in schools but that companies like Sprint hire people with an IDT background to train their employees.

“Foundations of IDT looks at theories that influence the field, the history of the field, and what people can do in our field: K-12, higher education, business, health care, even the military,” Childress said.

But Childress’ world does not only revolve around his work. His wife is from Taiwan, and he loves to travel. He has been to Japan, China, Taiwan and the Czech Republic.

“I went to Beijing for six days, DaLian for three days, and then to Taiwan for three weeks – we were visiting with the in-laws,” Childress said.

While in Beijing, Childress traveled outside the city and climbed the Great Wall of China.

CHILDRESS “There’s an old Chinese saying that is ‘you’re not a man until you’ve climbed the Great Wall.’ Although that’s a bit sexist,” Childress said.

Childress is working on creating a dual program with IDT and a Chinese university. Though he loves to travel, Childress’ main focus is the IDT department and his colleagues.

“The faculty in the department are really amazing. They are dedicated and nurturing. They make my job easy,” Childress said.

The variety of knowledge the IDT faculty has stems from their diverse backgrounds, and the students themselves have something to offer because they come from all over the world.

“I enjoy the students that are motivated and willing to go the extra mile. Graduate students tend to be more motivated,” Childress said.

Childress said he loves the IDT department, the outstanding faculty and the tremendous students.

“He’s a good guy to work with. He has a willingness to help anybody out… he has the team player mentality and treats us all the same,” said Janet Schneider, administrative assistant for the IDT department.

New coalition pushing to change Kansas liquor laws TOPEKA (AP) — A new coalition that includes chains such as Walmart, Hy-Vee and QuikTrip is pushing to change Kansas laws regulating where beer and hard liquor are sold in the state, but opponents are already gearing up to fight the effort.

Supporters of the proposed changes, called Coalition for Jobs and Consumer Choice, on Tuesday contended that a bill in the Kansas Senate that would allow grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength alcoholic beverages would generate more than 12,000 new jobs, as well as $216 million in wages and $72 million in new taxes per year.

But an association of liquor stores immediately challenged those claims, saying the numbers are exaggerated and the bill’s main goal is to move lucrative liquor sales from small businesses to the large chains.

Currently, grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations in Kansas are allowed to sell only wine coolers and cereal-malt beverages, sometimes called “weak” or “3.2” beer and wine coolers. The bill introduced Tuesday would allow those stores to sell liquor and full-strength beer and wine. It also would allow liquor stores, which are limited to selling only alcoholic beverages, to begin selling other products such as food, gas or other items.

The state currently has 766 liquor stores, said Tom Gorneman, director of the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Department.

Art Hall, director of the Center for Applied Economics at The University of Kansas, said a study he conducted for the coalition

found that about 341 liquor stores would go out of business, and 1,154 jobs would be lost if other retailers could sell full-strength alcoholic beverages, The Wichita Eagle reported.

But he said those losses would be more than offset because the state would likely add 116 grocery stores, with 3,987 jobs.

And another 449 new convenience stores would employee 9,349 people.

Spencer Duncan, representing the liquor-store alliance called Keep Kansans in Business, predicted that the bill would be rejected by the Legislature, which has turned back similar attempts on the past.

“Those who want to change Kansas liquor laws are primarily out-of-state entities focused on profit, not the Kansas economy or the safety of its citizens and its communities,” said Duncan, who contended that pawn shops, adult gift stores and smoke shops would be able to sell wine, beer and spirits under the bill.

“This is not a tweak in the system,” Duncan told The Topeka Capital-Journal. “This is a reckless and seismic shift in how Kansas views and handles retail alcohol sales.”

The bill would freeze the number of liquor licenses allowed in the state for three years to allow liquor stores to adjust to the new competition. Grocery or convenience store operators who want to get in the business during those three years would most likely have to buy a license from a current store operator in the same county.

Page 3 MARKETING... from page 1 showed that student wages for organizations associated with marketing and media relations decreased $28,980 from $62,419 for the 2009-2010 fiscal year to $33,439 for the 20102011 fiscal year.

Despite the loss, Noblitt said that the opportunity for student employment is going to increase before it decreases.

“We can’t operate this office without students, and it’s our obligation to give them real world experience,” Noblitt said.

So far, a launch video that was unveiled at the spring General Assembly has been created and there are billboards located in Wichita, Topeka and Johnson County. Noblitt said that the campaign in “the baby stages,” but the university is planning on airing TV commercials soon as well as advertising on Facebook.

The university also had aerial photos footage taken on October 2010, which cost $2,135, according to the Open Records request, but Noblitt said that these were not specifically taken for ‘Empowered by E.’ “In many ways, it’s taking what ESU has always done but making sure people understand it… but getting that message out, reminding either people that know ESU but didn’t realize all that was happening here or the prospective students, their parents, the people that are looking at ESU and telling them the things they didn’t know,” said Gwen Larson, assistant director of marketing and media relations.

In addition, individual departments on campus that want to make changes to their own marketing efforts must now be approved through the marketing and media relations office.

“By coordinating it down here (the marketing and media relations office) we can make sure the message is consistent…so by having all of us in one office, when someone brings a project to us, Bill and I can help write the copy… we can do a little tweaking to it to add some ‘Empowerment’ message to it, (the graphic artist) can design the product for them (and) get the ‘Empowered by E logo’ in (there) in the correct way… so when it leaves this campus, it says what the university is wanting to say,” Larson said.

Hutchinson hospital reveals Medicare probe HUTCHINSON (AP) — A federal investigation has begun into billing practices at a Hutchinson hopital.

Officials at Promise Regional Medical Center said Tuesday that the investigation involves the hospital’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy services.

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

Gary Ayers, a lawyer hired by the hospital to conduct an internal investigation, says the oxygen services were performed under an agreement with Shared Health Services, based in Tennessee. He told The Hutchinson News that the hospital will hire an auditor to review charges related to the services.

opinion

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STAFF EDITORIAL

State of the Union Address President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night covered many topics of interest to Emporia State students. Perhaps the most directly applicable to ESU students are the points Obama made about the education system in the U.S. and the route the government will take to ensure that America’s children receive a good education.

Obama discussed education extensively. He focused on bringing the education level of American children up by raising the level of standards the education system is held to. This means that the standards of excellence teachers are held to will rise as well.

As primarily a teacher’s college, ESU is affected by this pledge directly. Current ESU students who graduate from the teacher’s college will be held to these higher standards when they go into the work force to teach children. It is the responsibility of current ESU students who will teach to ensure that these higher standards are met.

For most studying the subject, teaching is about passion – passion to impact the lives of children and impart some wisdom and knowledge to them. The most effective way to be a successful teacher comes out of this passion to educate. Obama’s goal of raising the level of American education is not solely his or the governments burden to bear. It is a group effort. Government, schools and individual teachers must work together to bring the American education system to an elite level while still maintaining the passion that led them to become teachers.

Obama’s “Race to the Top” initiative, a project aimed at allowing individual teachers and schools to develop programs to improve education, is one way this group effort mentality is being put into action. Obama called the initiative “the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation.” Race to the Top is an opportunity for individual teachers and schools to have a say in how we re-shape the country’s public school system.

Having a say in how we educate children is also part of Obama’s call to treat teachers with the level of respect they deserve. Teachers ensure that our future is bright by allowing children to learn. No one knows this better than those at ESU. Obama also encouraged current students to choose teaching as a career. His words are true and uplifting to those who are following this career path-- “to every young person listening tonight who’s contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child — become a teacher. Your country needs you.”

Cartoon by Ellen Weiss Though most at ESU understand how important teachers are to our nation, it does not hurt to be reminded from time to time.

Effective teaching is essential if this nation is to thrive in the future.

As one of the leading teacher’s colleges in the country, ESU and its students can lead the way to ensure that the future of the American education system shines bright.

The responsibility starts with ESU students. It is a large responsibility to bear, but the government and education system can help carry the burden. If we all work together – public officials, teachers and current students – we can achieve the kind of education system American children deserve.

Kansas Arts in Trouble I am a student of the liberal arts. I have never been adept at math or science and I never really considered pursuing either subject at the college level. For me, it was arts all the way.

For this reason, Gov. Sam Brownback’s recent proposition to phase out funding to the Kansas Arts Commission by this summer is weighing heavily on my heart.

The KAC was founded in 1966 and supports arts in Kansas through grant-funding and other fiscal support of Kansas’ artists.

Brownback’s proposal would eliminate state funding to the KAC and force the organization to become privatized. This cannot happen.

It is natural in tough economic times to attempt to tighten the budget and cut costs. So in this regard, Brownback’s proposal seems like an okay idea. But when you look at the actual numbers, his theory that cutting funding to the KAC saves the state money does not work out.

According to the KAC website, if the organization loses funding, the state of Kansas will lose over $1 million in direct federal funding and regional grants each year. State and local governments would lose approximately $15 million in revenue that is generated from the Kansas non-profit arts and cultural section.

So really, the budget sheet out of the state house may look a bit better if the KAC loses funding, but local governments around the state will be gravely affected by this proposition.

The main reason for Brownback’s proposal is the loss of federal stimulus dollars that will occur at the end of this fiscal year. The state is also facing unemployment issues with approximately 100,000 residents out of work.

Cutting funding to the KAC will put a strain on every arts organization in the state. Some of them, it is unfortunate to say, will not survive the loss of funding. People who work in these ill-fated organizations will lose their jobs. For all the talk Brownback has initiated in terms of getting the unemployment rate under control, he does not seem to be conscious on the effect this new proposition will have on those employed by arts organizations in the state.

E ric H emphill , Hemphill@esubulletin.com The arts are intertwined in the fabric of our society. They represent the heart and soul of Kansas. Throughout the history of our state, the arts have been a constant outlet for Kansans. In times of hardship or triumph, the arts have given us a medium to express our emotions – a way of commiserating and connecting on a personal level. If something as sacred and honest as art is allowed to fall to the wayside for the purpose of finding a quick fix for the budget issues the state is facing, I shudder to think of what Kansas could become.

I urge everyone to take action to ensure that Brownback is not allowed to follow through with this mistake. Contact your representative in Topeka to let him or her know that Kansans do not take this issue lightly.

To overlook art is to overlook what makes us human. Anyone who has ever picked up a pen, brush or guitar knows this to be true.

If Brownback doesn’t see it this way, then it is the artist’s job to show him.

Go to http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/ alert/?alertid=22477501 to send a letter opposing Brownback’s proposition.

E-Reading: The Future of Textbooks Because of the advancement of technology, people are using paper-bound books less and less and starting to use electronic e-readers to read their favorite novels, magazines and newspapers. As more and more forms of literature turn paperless, the battle between paper or virtual books rages on.

Recently I was given a Nook Color as a gift and I am rolling in the opportunity to fill it with as many books as possible. I like the fact that now all of my favorite books are just a finger’s touch away. Yes, I am still a fan of paper books because I like the option of having something I can hold with more substance and bendable pages. But E-readers are a cheaper, easier way to read anything I want, when I want.

Barnes and Noble owns the Memorial Union Bookstore, so I went and asked if they thought that schoolbooks had a life in the e-reader future. And it turns out that a majority of the books in the Bookstore’s collection are already available on any e-reader.

Students should skip the heavy paperback books and head straight for the electronic version. You get all the same information, just in a different format.

If all students had an e-reader and could download their required text for classes, it would not only cut paper waste, but it would be so much easier to keep all of your work organized. You could highlight certain sections with a touch of your finger, and keep it stored safe and sound wherever you went.

You would never have to worry about losing your books,

E mma D e P riest , depriest@esubulletin.com because they’d all be in one place. There could of course be uproar from some publishers, but the companies would still earn money, just a smaller percentage. But, even then, students may feel more inclined to buy a cheaper copy of a book if offered to them.

I’m tired of paying $300 or $400 every semester to buy books I have to carry around with me everywhere. It is much easier for me to have one e-reader that holds all of the books I’ll need for my classes.

If more people on campus used electronic books to do schoolwork, they would have more money to use and more knowledge on how to use it all. More students should consider joining the new wave of online textbooks. It’s the future and it’s available now.

The Bulletin | January 27, 2011

Letter to the Editor When international students come to ESU, they need to have the English placement tests if they don’t have any certificates in English. If they failed in IEP tests, they should take IEP classes, which is short for Intensive English Program and focuses on improving the English of English learners. To our surprise, we can’t receive any credit for IEP classes. Compared to IEP students, American students can receive credits when they learn second languages. For instance, when they take Spanish or French, they will receive five credits. As a result, we think it’s unfair to IEP students and we think that IEP students should receive credits for IEP classes.

Before international students enroll, they need to pay money for IEP classes. For example, Denghao, who has four IEP classes this semester, paid three thousand and three hundred dollars for these classes. Although he paid so much money and had difficult classes, he still can’t receive credit for IEP classes. That really makes him feel frustrated.

There is another unfair situation for IEP students who can’t receive credit for classes. Ai Date, who is an exchange student in ESU, will just stay here for one year. Because she has to take some IEP classes, she doesn’t have enough time to take academic classes. But she should bring credits she can to her Japan college after one year. There are fierce competitions in Japan so Ai feels stressed when she can’t receive credit for IEP classes.

Similarly, Ayumi has the same opinion. She wants to get a bachelor degree in ESU. As usual, it takes American students four years to graduate from ESU. But international students who enter this university at 18 years old and take some IEP classes would graduate when they are older than 22. Ayumi thought that if IEP students can’t receive credit for classes, it prevents them from advancing to society early as workers.

IEP students have a busy day. Nobu, who has four IEP classes, has a very busy day. “It takes me four hours to take IEP classes every day. In addition, I have to read a difficult text book in my reading class, taken a lot of tests and tutoring for my structure class, write a lot of essays in my writing class and had a presentation and three reaction reports in my speaking class.” Because he should finish lots of assignments, he said, “I have studied a lot of things in IEP classes.”

After finishing lots of tasks in IEP classes, each student gains a lot.

Based on this argument, we want to list what IEP students have done in advanced writing class. Our writing instructor gives us some assignments every day. In his class, we have learned how to make our essays formats more professional, including how to change them into APA/MLA formats. In addition, we have learned how to plan a big project, such as how to work with your teammates and publish prefect newsletters. “The newsletters that we have made have given much useful information to international students,” said Dahao Yu. Some reactions of IEP students reflect that IEP classes can improve our English with many kinds of activities. Some of the tasks took IEP students much more time than homework in our academic classes.

Above all, we think that IEP students endeavored to learn English in IEP classes, and most of them made big progress in improving their English. They should receive credit for classes, because it is effective to encourage them to study English better and make them feel fair.

- Ai Date, Ayumi Kawasaki, Dahao Yu, Hao Deng, Nobuhiko Shiono, Yang Hui

The Bulletin Phone: 620-341-5201 • Fax: 620-341-5865 Email: editor@esubulletin.com or advertising@esubulletin.com Published weekly on Thursdays by the staff of The Bulletin. Offices are located on the third floor of the Memorial Union on the campus of Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan. One free copy per ESU student. Additional copies are $1.50 per issue or $30 for a yearly subscription.

EDITORIAL STAFF Kelsey Ryan Editor-in-Chief Kenzie Templeton Managing Editor Kellen Jenkins Convergence Editor Eric Hemphill Opinion Editor Brandon Schneeberger Sports Editor Kimber Mitchell Design Editor Lauren Walbridge Audience Editor

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a&e

The Bulletin | January 27, 2011

DKU teams up with comic, MC

Page 5

Movie Review

A lex P edersen , pedersen@esubulletin.com

“No Strings Attatched” No, it’s not a tampon commercial Topeka hip-hop group DreamKillerUniversity performs Saturday night in the Red Room at Beer:30. Erica Casella/The Bulletin.

C harlie H eptas heptas@esubulletin.com When Topeka’s DreamKillerUniversity take the stage, they aren’t a typical hip-hop/rap group.

“You could call it rap if it was 1997, because that was rap, everybody came out differently, nowadays it’s reminiscent of another time when everybody could consume the music,” said Anthemous, MC and music producer for the group.

DKU feels that it brings a different sound to the audience than the other groups that frequent the radio currently. The five member band based out of Topeka describes themselves as the “crown jewels” of Kansas, according to their MySpace page.

The group played at Beer:30 on Saturday night for the second time since October, and owner Josh Olsen was glad to have them back.

“We don’t get a lot of chances to have live hip-hop and bringing the comedian brings a different feel to the show,” Olsen said.

The show also featured Austin Wright, a comedian from Topeka and a competitor on Last Comic Standing in 2008, who met with DKU’s manager, Mike Cushinberry, and gladly opened the show as well as Strider, an MC from Lawrence. Getting everyone laughing and feeling good up front was an important thing to Anthemous, and he said he was glad that Wright set the tone for the show.

While there was not a large crowd, the group played energeti-

cally and the audience enjoyed the show. As the night progressed the crowd got into the music and rhythm of DKU. “I love doing stand-up, so I’ll make five people laugh,” Wright said.

The addition of a guitarist and live drummer give the group a more complete sound and separate them from the other groups to come out of Topeka. Anthemous said that the music is a hip-hop rock elitist sound that hasn’t been around in recent years.

DKU’s name is based on the current hip-hop landscape in Kansas and the struggle to be heard. They want people to understand the difficulties of producing music in Kansas and making it into something worthwhile and not just something that doesn’t stand apart. They believe that they can help people understand how difficult it is to make hip-hop in this part of the country.

“Everything that can go wrong will go wrong if you try to do hiphop in Kansas,” Anthemous said.

The group is working on an album that was initially completed but was put on hold so the instrumental members of the band could be added to the songs. The group felt that without adding the other sounds, the music was less complete and they wanted to give their best effort to the album before releasing it.

“We want to make sure we got it right for the fans, and I really want this album to say something about our diversity, how we can switch it up and still make it hot,” said Spoken Thought, another music producer and MC for the group.

Horoscopes

Aries Pick up the next heads-up penny you see. You will be the luckiest creature on the face of the Earth for a brief period of time. Then back to normal.

Cancer Get chemo. Just kidding! You’ll have a fantastic week, just don’t worry so much.

Libra This is a great day! There is an open door to create some extra money for you. Fun times are ahead, whether you are married or committed to a special loved one.

Capricorn This is your week to get all caught up on work… and play. Remember, eye of the tiger!

Taurus Like the Ford sedan, your week will be a smooth side. Look out for Libras.

Leo Love is in the air! That person who held your gaze an extra second may be the love of your life.

Scorpio Reconnect with old friends, they miss you. They have probably also lost your number and address.

Aquarius It’s birthday time! Expect some surprises. not all birthday shots can be rufie-free.

Gemini A sudden departure is in your future. Could be good, could be bad. Build up your good Karma and be positive.

Virgo For a virgin, you’re going to have quite the debaucheryfilled week. Careful not to go too far, horoscopes won’t keep you out of jail.

Sagittarius Good news, the sickness on your face will clear up just in time. Don’t pick at it.

Pisces Financial problems ahead. It’s better to save now and have some funds stored for a rainy day. Don’t shoot the messenger here, just reading the stars.

Too True

Walking into the movie theater to see “No Strings Attached,” I was full of dread. I’ve never been a fan of romantic comedies or Ashton Kutcher, so I wasn’t looking forward to it. Judging from the trailers, the plot seemed extremely predictable and shallow, and the comedy seemed bland. The only saving grace of this film, I thought, was that I would get to see Natalie Portman in a sex scene.

Luckily, I was not entirely correct in my prediction. The film, although it is nothing special, is enjoyable to watch.

To sum up the movie, Adam (Kutcher), is longtime friends with Emma (Portman), who start having casual sex after Adam learns his ex-girlfriend is now with his dad, played by Kevin Kline. They start falling for each other, but Emma fights it because she is complicated, they end up realizing that they do love one another, big surprise there.

The plot leaves a lot to be desired, there was not a single thing that took me by surprise. The saving graces of this film lie in its bold sexual one-liners and in its identification with our young generation.

In fact, that is the thing I enjoyed most about the film. Texting plays an important factor in the movie, which is something that many of us can relate to. In fact, this is the first movie I’ve ever seen in which the phenomena of texting is actually explored.

For example, in one scene, Emma texts Adam, “Where are you?” His friends tell him that it is essentially code for, “I want sex,” and then they have a debate as to exactly what he should say in response.

Also, the entire idea of casual sex partners is something that certainly speaks to our generation.

Throughout the film, Adam is told that being “sex friends” will not work, as a physical relationship leads to an emotional relationship. Or that’s what the movie implies, at least.

Of course, 50 percent of a romantic comedy is the comedy and Elizabeth Meriwether, writer of the script, does a fine job of keeping the jokes contemporary and clever, although they are rather raunchy. A middle-aged couple actually left the theater during a scene heavily laden with filthy jokes.

The worst thing about the film was the terrible level of character development. The only characters who actually developed were the two main characters, who simply allowed themselves to fall in love with each other.

The rest of the characters were stereotypical and static, which was sad considering that they were played by people like Kevin Kline, Lake Bell and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. A final montage of the supporting characters during the credits showed that most of them at least had a happy ending, but they were still boring stereotypes.

But even though it had its weaknesses, “No Strings Attached” is not a bad film, even if it has an extremely forgettable title.

By Ellen Weiss

features

Page 6

January 27, 2011

Yoga Mama gets bendy ‘You’re as young as your spine is supple’ C harlie H eptas

heptas@esubulletin.com

K enzie T empleton

news@esubulletin.com At age 70, Patty Jo Thompson, or ‘Yoga Mama,’ no longer has a heart murmur, a condition that runs in her family which she has suffered from her whole life.

“When you do yoga, you just kind of have a healing wisdom that goes on inside of you, and you don’t know what it’s going to do for you – I didn’t do yoga to heal my heart murmur,” Thompson said.

Although Thompson began doing yoga for different reasons, after practicing the discipline for 11 years, becoming the director of the Ancient Yoga Institute and giving up sugar, she is healthier now than she has ever been.

“I haven’t had any sugar in my body (since 2000)… I don’t miss it, and I actually used to be a gourmet dessert maker,” Thompson said.

Thompson said that today she is doing everything that she can to “feel good,” which includes practicing yoga and drinking plenty of water.

“When you do yoga you detoxify and purify all your nerves, so when you have all that happen, you don’t want those (toxins) to stay in your body, you want to get it out, so you want to drink water,” Thompson said.

As the director of the Ancient Yoga Institute, Thompson is able to certify others to teach yoga. Thompson was certified in Texas to teach ancient yoga.

Thompson said there are many different forms of yoga, but all styles are essentially ancient yoga, the very first form, with specific additions like props and aerobics. Ancient yoga is the most basic.

“I really like this (ancient yoga) because it’s just really gentle stretched just like the animals do – it’s pure,” Thompson said.

Thompson has been teaching ancient yoga

in Emporia for about seven and a half years. She began teaching at the Emporia Recreation Center in 2003, and then K-4 grade school students along with ESU. Her grade school students dubbed her “Yoga Mama” about four years ago.

“Age doesn’t matter,” Thompson said.

“You’re as young as your spine is supple.”

Thompson said the benefits of yoga include an increase in flexibility and strength, lubrication of one’s joints, ligaments and tendons, an increase in coordination and ability to balance and yoga massages the internal organs and strengthens the immune system.

The overall aim of yoga is “to be bendy and flexible and have a flexible spine, so that when you’re spine is flexible… you don’t get old and stiff,” Thompson said.

Joshua East, senior music education major, plays the piano, violin and sings. He said that yoga has both toned his muscles to aid in his playing and improved his breathing techniques.

“The class itself helps me relax after a long day… it’s nice to unwind and let go for an hour,” East said.

Myles Louderback, graduate student in psychology, has been in Thompson’s class since the spring semester of his freshman year. For five years, he has stayed behind after his evening classes to help Thompson gather up her equipment and escort her to her car. Louderback said that he and Thompson have developed a good friendship.

“Out of all of the wonderful professors that I have, she has been the one that will go above and beyond to do anything she possibly can to help you with any problem. If you are sick or you have problems at home, she will listen to you or give you advice, and she will always be there for you if you want her,” Louderback said.

rd a w n Downg Dog Faci

To see a 15 minute video of Yoga Mama’s routine, check out this story at www.esubulletin.com

Warrior

ose P s ’ d l i Ch

ra b o C Photos by Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin.

news EAC Gallery Opens with ‘Iconic Kansas’ The Bulletin | January 27, 2011

Page 7

B rianne S imon

simon@esubulletin.com Last Wednesday, Jim Richardson, a Kansas native from Lindsborg, spoke at the Gallery Opening of the Emporia Arts Center.

“He talked about back in his day… as a young adolescent driving around Kansas, going on vacation with his family, they’d stop at a restaurant or gas station and there would be calendars and photos all over the walls. And those images would be of the Colorado Rocky Mountains… as we approach these 150 years (of Kansas statehood) this year, that these works are somewhat of a beginning of Kansans recognizing that we’ve got something too… we no longer have to hang the Rocky Mountains in our restaurants,” said Susan Brinkman, assistant director of the Center for Great Plains Studies.

The Center for Great Plains Studies has been working on a photo project of the Great Plains region for the past four years. They applied for a grant to move the online photo gallery into a tangible space. The ESU Endowment Office granted them financial aid through the Katherine K. White Faculty Incentive Grant Program.

The Center for Great Plains Studies approached the Emporia Arts Council with the idea to open a show in their new gallery space, allowing local artists to be represented without emphasizing a specific one. The show offered versatility by featuring photos of Kansas by photographers from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota and Ohio.

Jim Hoy, professor of English, found it appealing that “the photographers ranged from professionals to amateurs.”

Melissa Windsor, executive director of the Emporia Arts Council, was “thrilled” with the idea.

“The quality of work was fabulous,” Windsor said.

Jim Richardson was the juror for the show “Iconic Kansas.” Hoy said he has been in contact with him “off and on” for the past six years for

Left: Jim Richardson talks about the importance of taking pride in the Kansas landscape Jan. 19, at the Emporia Arts Center. Right: Guests and photographers gather for the opening of “Iconic Kansas.” Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin. resources of two articles he wrote for National Geographic in 2003 and again in 2007.

The grant issued to the Center for Great Plains Studies was not only to move the online project into a real space and to celebrate the sesquicentennial of Kansas’ statehood, but also to bring a renowned photographer into the process.

Everyone involved in the process felt that it ran very smoothly and was an evening to be proud of. The transformation of the space and the excitement of the 100 plus turnout was overwhelming for the staff of the Emporia Arts Center, as well as Hoy and Brinkman.

The Grand Opening of the Emporia Arts Center will take place at 5 p.m. on Jan. 28. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple.

FRESHMEN... from page 1 boarding. It was Caroline’s first time.

“It was fun,” Caroline said. “By the second day, I was fine. The first day, I was trying to figure it out, but then it was fun. It was a blast... we actually drove back on the 24th, Christmas Eve. I didn’t want to do that, but we celebrated Christmas the next day.”

The sisters are still a part of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and plan to move into the house next year. This semester, they have also taken up the responsibility of being ESU Ambassadors.

“I think the more involved you are, the more fun you have,” Meghan said. “It can be stressful sometimes, but overall it’s fun because you can meet a lot of new people.”

The sisters also said that they are excited for spring break, when they may go to Florida, and for summer, when they will travel to Arizona with their best friend and Meghan will get her Certified Nurse’s Assistant license.

...

Although Will Smith, criminology major from Wylie, Texas, had a good time last semester, it was more difficult than he expected.

“It was a lot tougher school-wise and with time management,” Smith said. “I’ve enjoyed living in the dorms. I can’t wait to have my own apartment though, more privacy. But I get along with pretty much everyone in the dorms.”

Smith has continued to practice middle-distance with the cross country team, even throughout the cold of winter. He practices every day, except for the weekends, and has been going to morning practices on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. For winter break, he went back home to Texas.

“My break was really good,” Smith said. “I hung out with family a lot, hung out with some friends I haven’t seen in a while, of course hung out with my girlfriend and I worked a little bit, trying to get a little money be-

Visit esubulletin.com to see a video from the gallery opening.

‘Seldom is heard a discouraging word’ “Iconic Kansas” marked the opening of the gallery of the Emporia Arts Center Jan. 19. However, with the suggestion of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback to cut federal art funding programs such as the Kansas Arts Commission, the question of “How iconic can Kansas really be?” is raised among Emporia artists.

“It sucks…. for fellow students that are here and future students who are wanting to come to this area, it will discourage them – it’s very discouraging to even want to come to school here in Kansas for art,” said Christa Westbrook, senior glass and sculpture major.

A Facebook event swept through last week entitled “Protest Phasing Out of KS Funding for the ARTS!” and many students are fighting back by writing letters to their local representatives.

Melissa Windsor also voiced concerns for the new and growing Emporia Arts Center. She said nearly $30,000 is given annually to the Arts Council, making a new arts center available. If these funds are cut, a cut in services (personnel and programs) is sure to follow.

fore I came back,” Smith said.

Smith’s classes are divided fairly equally between general education courses and major courses. Some classes he is taking are Psychology, Intimate Relationships, Community Corrections and Anthropology.

“I feel great about this semester,” Smith said. “I’ve got good classes and I feel like I can do a lot better this semester, grade-wise and practicing, you know... I enjoy all of my classes, it’s a lot better than last semester. They seem pretty interesting. I would say Community Corrections is probably my favorite one overall,” Smith said.

...

Although Smith may be from Texas, Lei Zhang, accounting major, has him beat when it comes to distance away from home. Zhang is a Chinese student who is planning to go to school here for four years before graduation.

“At summer, I will go back to China for three months, then come back to ESU,” Zhang said. “Just like the American students, I will stay until we graduate, then I will go back to China.”

Zhang explained that she wishes to live in China because there is more job availability there. For winter break, Zhang stayed at a friend’s apartment and she visited Chicago for Thanksgiving.

“Someone told me that Chicago was the second biggest city in America, so I wanted to go there,” Zhang said.

“When I went there, it rained and was very cold, so the first and second day weren’t that good, but the last day was good. It was very big and the buildings were tall, it’s just like Shanghai in China – it’s very lovely.”

Last semester, she only took three Intensive English Program courses and Composition I, and she is feeling anxious about this semester because she is taking a larger variety of classes – 17 hours total. On top of that, Zhang still feels the difficulties of living so far from home.

“I think it’s very hard because it’s a different life,” Zhang said. “The biggest difficulty is language and customs...I think the biggest difficulty is that I’m homesick. I miss my parents.”

Arts Commission states case against proposed cuts WICHITA (AP) — Supporters of The Kansas Arts Commission contend that Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal to eliminate funding for the commission and prompt it to become a nonprofit organization will hurt the state’s economy and cost people jobs — a contention that the governor strongly rejects.

The Republican governor said eliminating the commission would save the state $574,000 in the next fiscal year. He proposed giving the commission $200,000 in the next fiscal year to aid its transition to a nonprofit corporation supported by private funds. He said the state cannot afford to fund the commission while it faces a $550 million budget shortfall in the next fiscal year.

The Arts Commission believes the move would cost the state $778,300 in funding from the National Endowment for the Art, and $437,767 in partnership money from the Mid-America Arts Alliance.

And it would cost jobs and tax revenue, as well as making it more difficult for Kansas businesses to attract employees when the economy improves, commission executive director Llewellyn Crain told The Wichita Eagle on Wednesday.

But Brownback told House Republicans during a Wednesday caucus meeting that his proposal won’t cost the Arts Commission its federal funding. What will change is that the state will no longer be hiring and paying the Arts Council’s employees.

“We’re still going to get the federal match,” he said.

“We’re just not going to have our cost structure internally.”

The commission gives money, mostly in small amounts, to arts organizations across the state. The grants are used for such things as museum exhibits and fine-arts performances, as well as to cover operating expenses for many organizations.

Kansas tightens late-term abortion reporting rules TOPEKA (AP) — Kansas’ top public health official said Monday that his office will require abortion providers to give the state more details about late-term procedures they perform, a change long sought by anti-abortion activists and one seen by abortion rights backers as a move to further limit such procedures.

Health and Environment Secretary Robert Moser told The Associated Press that his department’s interpretation of a law requiring physicians to file reports on each late-term abortion after they are performed is different than how the law has been enforced in the past.

Moser said doctors must spell out the medical reasons for aborting a viable fetus after the 21st week of pregnancy. The law permits those abortions only when the mother’s life is in danger or she faces major, permanent harm to her physical or mental health.

Moser said that interpretation is in line with the intent of a 1998 law restricting lateterm abortions. He said the Department of Health and Environment will enforce the re-

porting requirements as providers file their documents with the agency, without changing any state regulations.

“It’s pretty straightforward,” he said.

“We’re not looking at changing the forms at all. They’re adequate. It’s just the information that needs to be provided in there needs to be accurate, just like any other reporting form.

That’s all we’re looking for — accuracy.”

The change was welcomed by abortion opponents, who’ve complained for years that the reporting law hasn’t been properly enforced.

Mary Kay Culp, executive director of the antiabortion group Kansans for Life, called it “a long time overdue.”

But abortion rights supporters questioned whether Moser can enforce the law differently than in the past without a change in the statute or new administrative regulations. They saw his comments as another change in the political climate after Gov. Sam Brownback, an anti-abortion Republican, took office two weeks ago.

“It sounds like the new KDHE secretary is

using his own magic wand,” said state Rep. Annie Kuether, a Topeka Democrat who strongly supports abortion rights, adding that she’ll be talking to fellow legislators about the change.

Moser said the Department of Health and Environment will work with providers to make sure they understand what information must be reported. The agency will be seeking a specific diagnosis of the problem that will occur as pregnancy continues, identified with the standard medical code for that condition.

“It’s a common-sense reading of the law,” Culp said. “What he’s doing here is what ought to be common practice.”

Abortion rights supporters could see the change as a veiled threat to any doctor who might consider performing a late-term abortion. Should the state determine a doctor performed such a procedure without a valid reason, the doctor could be charged with performing an illegal late-term abortion, a misdemeanor that could land the physician in jail for a year.

Yet, neither side is sure how often the

change in enforcement will come into play, because neither knows of any physician in Kansas performing abortions past the 21st week of pregnancy since the May 2009 murder of Dr. George Tiller, of Wichita, by an antiabortion zealot.

“It’s a political decision that’s been made by somebody,” said Peter Brownlie, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, which operates an Overland Park clinic.

The 1998 law restricts when abortions can be performed after the 21st week of pregnancy when the fetus is viable, or capable of “sustained survival” outside the womb without “extraordinary medical means.”

The law says that abortions can be performed in such cases only if the life of the pregnant woman or girl is in danger or if she faces “a substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.” State officials have interpreted the last phrase — in keeping, they’ve said with past court decisions — as including mental health.

January 27, 2011

Page 8

Balcom gives ESU a fresh sting C hris D vorak

dvorak@esubulletin.com Kelsey Balcom, forward for the women’s basketball team, was named MIAA player of the week for Jan. 10-15 for her fantastic offensive play.

“It’s a cool little thing,” Balcom said. “I’m just focusing on the next game.”

Despite being a freshman, Balcom has found her place within the team and is giving depth that the Hornets need to continue their success. “(Balcom) had a good week and was voted the best (MIAA) player of the week,” said Head Coach Jory Collins. “She has done great. She fits in really well, she works extremely well and she is very coachable.”

Balcom, who has twice led the team in scoring, shoots 44.1 percent from the field and averages six rebounds per game.

“She is averaging 11 (points) and six (rebounds)… I have to believe she is probably the frontrunner for freshman of the year in our conference,” Collins said. “No other freshman is putting up numbers like that.”

Hailing from Olathe, Balcom came to Emporia because of the small town atmosphere and her own love for the game.

“I’ve always played basketball and loved it. I probably couldn’t give it up. I just wanted to keep playing,” Balcom said. “I liked the coaches and the girls,

the school and the small town atmosphere where I get to know people better.”

Due to injuries on the team, Balcom’s role has increased beyond that of the average freshman as her scoring ability has allowed her to fill specific roles.

“She is a scorer. She came in and knew her role on the team, and it has been increased with injuries (on the team). She has responded well to it,” said Senior Forward Ali Volkens. “At the beginning of the season, we knew that she was going to be a great player. She is a big part of the team. She has picked it up and done well.”

Balcom’s skills are much appreciated by her teammates, and she is preparing to not just fill the shoes of the injured players, but become a leader.

“She is a freshman. She is always willing learn and know what she can do to improve,” Volkens said. “She is doing really well.”

In light of her achievements, Collins knows she has room to improve and become a better player and an even better asset.

“Like a freshman, she thinks too much and isn’t playing really free… She is sometimes timid… but she is really talented,” Collins said. “The defensive end of the floor is where she could improve the most… (but) she has already made a ton of improvement…. and she is just going to grow every year.”

B randon S chneeberger sports@esubulletin.com

BALCOM

ESU benefits from addition of longtime friends B randon S chneeberger where he was the second lead-

sports@esubulletin.com

When Jarvis Nichols and Robert Moores decided to come to Emporia, they both had an inkling of what they were getting into.

“I’ve (known) Rob Moores since I was like 14 years old,” Nichols said. “We’re both from Chicago, and we played AAU ball together. So he told me about an opportunity here.

I had to go DII anyway, so I looked on the website, and Emporia looked like a great place to be.”

For Moores and Nichols, the transition to Emporia has been smooth and each has followed a similar path. After graduating from high schools just outside of Chicago, Ill., they decided to come to Kansas and play basketball at Pratt Community College where Moores averaged 13.9 points per game and Nichols averaged 11.8.

The two then decided to part ways as Nichols transferred to play at Division I Northern Illinois University

ing scorer. Moores went to play at the University of Albany in Albany, N.Y. The similarities don’t stop there as the two decided to return to Kansas for their senior season. However, both players were sidelined by injury last year as they redshirted.

“I had a stress fracture in my right leg,” Moores said. “It’s been a struggle actually coming back. I didn’t realize how slow it’d actually take to get back into shape and actually playing well. I mean confident playing.”

Nichols, likewise, tore his ACL the summer before heading to Emporia only to tear it again the first day of practice after his red-shirt season.

“The knee’s 100 percent,” Nichols said. “But you know when… you have a major injury you start hurting other parts. So I’ve been having a lot of trouble within this leg in general. The knee’s fine, but my foot aches.”

Despite the injuries, the two have been assets for this year’s men’s team, each recog-

Perfectly Imperfect

NICHOLS

MOORES

nizing the other’s abilities.

“Just for him being a confidence booster playing at a higher…

DI level and then coming in actually being a senior,” Moores said.

“Also his athleticism. He has great energy coming off the bench. Athletically he’s probably one the most athletic in the league.”

Nichols says that Moores’ intensity and fire is key to what he adds on the team. He credits Moores for adding toughness to the team as well as bringing a strong three-point presence

(Moores led the nation in threepoint percentage during the 20082009 season).

The abilities of the two haven’t gone unnoticed by the rest of the team.

“They’re both great shooters, great teammates and they’ve been a big part of our success this season,” said Matt Boswell, a senior forward for the Hornets. “We definitely, this back half of the season, need them to play well along with our other guys to make something happen.”

Perfection for most of us and in most areas of life is but an illusion. A perfect score on a test, the perfect car or the perfect person are unrealistic. The problem arises when we begin to expect perfection. Whatever the case may be, each person inevitably expects perfection at some point or another in their life.

This pining for perfection spills over to sports.

The expectation can – though perhaps not explicitly stated – be found for the women’s basketball team this season. Though probably not fair, expectations for a defending national champion are always high. We look at the schedule and inevitably see nothing but wins. I’d like to propose that a team will actually profit from a couple of loses throughout the season.

I recently finished reading a book that proposed the idea that pain in itself is not a bad thing, but something more like a tool used to perfect us. Translate this idea of pain (losing) to the college basketball season, and you begin to see that a few loses can help a team gain perspective on the season.

Certainly, the Hornets don’t plan loses, but when the occasional loss does occur, it gives the team perspective. The Hornets have lost two of their last three (not counting last night’s game). A pessimist worries, wondering how they’ll bounce back. Another approach is to see how the team will learn from the setback.

Loses do something that wins cannot: They prepare a team, showing them where they need to improve. Loses humble a team whereas an undefeated season may produce pride – what is sometimes the biggest impediment for a team to overcome.

It’s good for a team to have a few loses on the season, gaining insight on where they are weakest. Ask any athlete. When a coach refers to a game that ended in a loss, the first thing that comes to the player’s minds is the loss.

Losses grab the attention. They add power to the problem addressed by the coach.

In February 2006, the Florida Gators men’s basketball team lost three games in a row to three teams they had no business losing to. Talking heads essentially wrote them off, purposing they wouldn’t last long come March. Low and behold, it was the Gators who bounced back to win the National Championship that year. (Ironically about the same thing happened the following year).

Women’s basketball may win out this conference season. They may lose a game or two more. The purpose is to not get preoccupied and let the losses pile up, but to learn from them, and become better prepared for the postseason. To see the forest for the trees if you will. Perhaps like this particular column, the Hornets will hopefully, by season’s end, be perfectly imperfect.

Sports Shorts Women’s basketball comes up short in second half

Hornets use three-point line in win

Hornet hoists record as men place first

The #11 Emporia State women’s basketball team suffered a big 86-67 loss Saturday against Northwest Missouri State University. For the first time this season, the Hornets were outrebounded and outshot in free throws 30 to 14. The Hornets held a slight 39-35 advantage entering the halftime break, but in the second half, Northwest Missouri went on a 15-2 scoring drive that the Hornets could not recover from. Alli Volkens led the team with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Rachel Hanf put up a team-high 18 points for the Hornets. Emporia State drops to 12-4 on the season and 9-3 in the MIAA, placing them a game behind Northwest Missouri and Washburn.

The three-point line and a big second half helped the men at Northwest Missouri State University in a 74-62 win.

The Hornets showed good team cohesion by shooting 56.5 percent from behind the arc and made a season high 13 three-pointers. The Hornets were down going into the second half 34-31 and had the momentum against them as Northwest Missouri used a 7-0 run to end the half.

ESU came out motivated in the second half, however, after a 9-2 run gave them the lead for good. Scoring big for the Hornets were Robert Moores with 16, Xavier Burnette and Michael Tyler with 15 a piece, and Taylor Euler who scored 11. The Hornets are now 10-8 on the season and 7-5 in the MIAA.

Kevin Roulhac, the twelfth ranked weight thrower in the nation, set an Emporia State school-record on Friday at the UCM Invitational. Roulhac’s throw of 60-08.75 beat the former Hornet best of 60-07.50 by Eric Hoffman in 2005.

The women were able to place second overall behind host Central Missouri. Katie Mona led the way in the mile run with a time of 5:02.88 which is currently the second best time in the nation. Marqueita Marisette finished third in the 60m dash and won the 200m for the Hornets. Mona was also able to finish first in the 3000m for the women.

Other first place finishes for the men were Derwin Hall in the 60m dash, Josh Schuler in the 200m, Adam McGovern in the mile, Briar Ploude in high jump and Zach Rosenberger in pole vault.