UNIVERSITY NEWS UMKC’s Independent Student Newspaper
Volume 81, Issue 23
Monday March 10, 2014
College of Arts and Sciences plans for budget cuts:
Tenure track professors lessened priority retirements have not been refilled. Most of the losses experienced are among teachers on the tenure track. The College of Arts and Sciences is looking to hire non-tenure or adjunct professors to fill these positions.
Where will future cuts be made?
Future cuts will continue to be made through attrition. According to Chancellor Leo E. Morton, the University will start initiating shared service initiatives, which are services that allocate multiple jobs or assignments to a person or a single department. This will make the University more efficient and cut back on excess and unnecessary spending.
How is the College of Arts & Sciences or the university making amends for these cuts?
Dean Wayne Vaught Morayo Bakare Staff Writer
are responsible for saving a certain amount and adding to the fund.
In Sept. 2013, the University Budget Committee revisited ongoing concerns about expense budgeting for FY 2014. A report from the committee stated that “UMKC needs to work toward having a minimum Operating Fund balance equal to at least 60 business days of its operating expense.” This goal stemmed from pressing concerns from the System about UMKC’s ability to move toward an increase rather than a decrease in the Operating Fund balance. Due to state-wide budget cuts and a need to replenish the University’s Operating Expense fund, the College of Arts and Sciences has been tasked with making extensive budget cuts. Wayne Vaught, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, discussed the College’s strategies to meet this challenge. The school hopes to advance efficiency and streamline expenses while fostering diversity and increasing the school’s enrollment.
How much does UMKC ultimately want to save?
The University spends approximately $1 million each day in operating costs. Since the campus needs to be able to sustain itself for a recommended maximum of 130 days, $130 million is the ultimate goal. According to the Days Operating Expense by Campus, however, UMKC’s savings decreased from $43 million to $36 million in 2013. Many actions contributed to the deficit experienced last year. Tuition and government funding freezes along with rising costs made it difficult for the University to save money. Additionally, different academic units spent more money than they generated and this added to the deficit.
Where have the most cuts been made?
Most cuts have been made through attrition, [the gradual reduction of the size of a workforce by not replacing personnel lost through retirement or resignation]. As a result, there is a slight hiring freeze. Most professors that have gone have not been replaced. There has been a 10 percent reduction in teaching staff. In the College of Arts and Sciences, about 10 positions that have opened up due to
What is the Operating Expense Fund?
The Operating Expense Fund holds the University’s cash reserves and is meant to have enough money to sustain the campus for 65-130 days, in case the University loses its state funding. There are 12 units in the entire university that
The important classes where teachers have gone or retired are dispersed to the other teaching staff. In addition, the focus has turned to making the administrative sector more efficient in order to protect the positions of the faculty. Cuts will be made in this sector to prevent large slashings in just one aspect of the University. The major issue has been that there have been large state cuts to the college budget so the University has been trying to increase student enrollment. Capacity is not an issue, as the school has the capacity to grow to about 20,000 students. UMKC is looking to expand its student population beyond just Kansas City. We are trying to increase the international student population. In fact, the freshmen that entered in 2013 had a significant increase Dean Wayne Vaught in international students. We are also trying to help create diversity in salaries, so naturally, there have on campus and the Chancellor and been some concerns from faculty and staff. The salary increases were I are large supporters of this. a result of the increase in healthcare How will students be prices instead of the workload. Neither reductions in salaries nor affected? Students will have fewer electives furloughs have been made, however. and teacher selections for required Can students access this classes. In the future, however, an attempt will be made to hire information online? adjunct or non-tenured professors UMKC’s financial progress can who can teach extra electives. be reached by anyone. Visit either the provost’s website or go to the search tab and enter “Operating Has any staff or faculty Expense Fund.” The second protested? Additional work has been created and third links on the page will and distributed without many raises download PowerPoints that can
Courtesy // UMKC bring any student up to speed on the University’s progress toward its fiscal well-being. For information about each department’s specific budget, the respective dean can be asked, as I don’t know what happens in the other schools on campus. The financial PowerPoints, though, compare our progress with that of other universities such as University of Missouri in Colombia, Missouri Science and Technology, and University of Missouri in St. Louis. mbakare@unews.com
Academic misconduct on the rise Patrick Quick Staff Writer Administrators at UMKC have recently seen a dramatic rise in academic misconduct, particularly among graduate students. Some students, however, may be oblivious to the fact that they’re even committing these acts of dishonesty. Dr. Denis M. Medeiros, dean of the School of Graduate Studies at UMKC, sent out an email Friday expressing concerns about several recent acts of academic misconduct, particularly plagiarism. “Incidents of academic dishonesty involving UMKC graduate students have increased dramatically over the past several semesters, and I’m very alarmed by this increase,” Medeiros said. Modern technology may be one reason that academic dishonesty
has become a problem. “Faculty at UMKC are using more electronic means, like Turnitin and Google, where they are now able to better detect these types of incidents,” Medeiros said. However, Medeiros is quick to point out that these cases should not be viewed as examples of students actually cheating more frequently but rather, because of modern technological advancements, teachers and faculty members are becoming more aware of it and reporting it more often. In some cases, he said students may not even be aware they’re committing academic dishonesty. “I was accused of plagiarism once and didn’t even realize it,” said Molly Beuke, a graduate student working on a master’s degree in counseling. Beuke is one of several students accused of plagiarism in the last few
years. However, she claims that it was purely accidental. “During one of my first semesters, I hadn’t cited one of my sources properly, which brought up a ‘red flag’ in the grading system,” Beuke said. “It wasn’t intentional. I was just confused on how to cite it.” For Beuke, her academic dishonesty turned out to be purely accidental and after correcting her work she received no punishment. According to Medeiros, the rise in academic misconduct, particularly plagiarism, may also be a reflection of cultural differences among students living in the modern age. “Some international students who I’ve talked to have admitted that, culturally, they claim that they’ve been brought up in an environment where that [plagiarism] is a tolerated practice,” Medeiros said. “In some cultures, copying is considered flattery.”
Medeiros said it’s not just international students who are being accused of academic misconduct, however. “I’ve had to dismiss some doctorals who plagiarized their dissertation, and they were domestic students,” Medeiros said. Academic dishonesty is nothing new to the educational community. According to a recent 2013 article published by the Public Library of Science, plagiarism occurs at all levels of scholarship which includes established researchers as well as postgraduate students. “I’ve had cases where students were found to have plagiarized portions of their work after they’ve graduated and moved on from UMKC,” Medeiros said. As of today, no postgraduate degree has been revoked as a result of academic misconduct at UMKC. However, cases are currently
pending that may result in a revoked doctoral degree. Medeiros said students should avoid plagiarism not just because it’s the right thing to do academically but because those kinds of acts can show up on a student’s transcript as well. “It’s something that’s very high on the list of priorities at the federal agencies that fund research, and a student’s future career may be on the line,” Medeiros said. As technology and culture continue to evolve, the best way for students to avoid plagiarism, Medeiros said, is to “do your own work, every assignment all the time.” pquick@unews.com
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Monday March 10, 2014 | Issue 23
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A&E Editor
On Friday, Feb. 28, the Henry W. Bloch School of Management welcomed its new dean, David Donnelly. This week, I had a chance to sit down with Donnelly and get to know him a little better, as well as ask him about the changes at UMKC’s expanding business school.
Tell me a little about your background.
I grew up in southeast Kansas, in Parsons, Kan., and got my undergraduate degree at K-State [Kansas State University.] After going to K-State I worked in public accounting. At the time the company was Lester Witty. It was a national CPA firm. Now that group has become CBIZ here in town. I was working with them for several years, then went back to get my master’s degree at K-State really because I’d always wanted to teach. I absolutely love accounting. I really wanted to get into some role as a university professor teaching in the accounting area, so I got my master’s degree and taught at K-State as an instructor for a couple of years and decided to get my Ph.D. I went to the University of Illinois, got my Ph.D. and went back to teach at K-State for 25-28 years.
How did you get involved with administration here at UMKC?
As a faculty member, I had served as the department chair in accounting at K-State and that’s when I first started getting into an administrative role. Then I began working as the associate dean at K-State and I was actually the interim dean for 2 and a half years before we hired somebody and I went back into the department chair position. So I had a lot of different administrative responsibilities at K-State during that 25-28-year period. Then, the dean at UNLV in Las Vegas called and said, ‘David, you’ve got a lot of administrative experience. I’d love to get you to come to UNLV and serve as the department chair here.’ I talked to my wife. Our kids had all grown and were at the university level or out of the house, so we decided on a whim: ‘Let’s go and try this in another place.’ We went to Las Vegas for two years and I loved the university, but we didn’t really match up with the Las Vegas community. We’re Midwesterners. I knew some faculty here at UMKC and was talking to them. They told me about a department chair position here in the accounting department. Homer Erekson was the dean at the time and we talked and it seemed like a good fit, so I came to UMKC and I’ve been here for 10 years now.
From left: Dean David Donnelly, Terry and Peggy Dunn, Chancellor Leo Morton. Courtesy // UMKC I think that has really done a lot for I came in as the department chair in enrollments. We’ve been able to the accounting department, did that us to take claim to an identity of a increase enrollment at a dramatic for several years, and went back to true school of management. pace and it got to a point where we In Kansas City, 50 percent of the were going to have to cap enrollment a faculty position. When Dean Tan came on board, he asked me to serve employees are in government or not- if we didn’t have new facilities for as his associate dean. That’s how all for-profit. Well, if you’re going to teaching because we just simply of this evolved. When his situation serve the Kansas City community, could not accommodate the students came up and he had to leave for it’s a great identity to be able to that were coming into the program. health treatment, I served as the provide entrepreneurs and leaders That’s when Henry Bloch stepped in both areas. That’s really helped up and said, ‘You know what? You’re acting dean and now, the dean. us as a school to clearly understand right. We need a new facility for The Bloch School has what we’re about and how we our students.’ He was generous changed a lot since you’ve can contribute. The other thing I enough to provide the $32 million been here. What have you think we’ve done very well is we’ve necessary to build this building. The the fact that we want to be unique thing about this building worked on with previous captured Kansas City’s school of management. is it was designed from the very deans? Our focus is very much to be a partner When I first came here and was with Kansas City, to provide the beginning to truly be an innovative meeting with Dean Erekson, he told kinds of programs that the employers educational facility. It was designed me even at that time that the plans in Kansas City need. [We also want] to accommodate new pedagogies for the Bloch School were for it to to be a partner with Kansas City’s that are being used in education become nationally preeminent. That big five initiatives, especially in the and they can be used to prepare was one of the things that excited area of entrepreneurship. We have the next generation of students. me ... I came to UMKC always with a nationally recognized strength in It’s an extremely innovative highthe understanding that the Bloch entrepreneurship and innovation. tech facility and any school in the School had a very clear vision that That allows us to be really important country that is trying to design a new they wanted to get a lot better and partners with Kansas City by building is interested in what we’ve they really wanted to make some preparing the next generation of done and we’re always providing improvements in their programs, entrepreneurs. We can be a very tours to other universities as they’re increase student population, etc. important part of what Kansas City’s designing their facilities to come in and look at this and see what’s going When Tang-Kee came on board, he view of itself is. on. I think that’s a real compliment worked very well with the faculty to to the vision that we have and to the establish a true strategic plan that kind of space that we have right now. What other changes have identified the initiatives that were So it’s really been an exciting time. you seen? necessary to get to the vision of being You know, there’s been some really a preeminent school of business What is your vision for and to become Kansas City’s school good things happening. Through our strategic initiatives, we’ve the school? of business. Tang-Kee also did recognized that student growth It’s a continuation. We’ve had a a great job of pulling the school together. We had always been a is important. Our goal has always very good strategy for the school school of business and a school of been to have a student population and a vision for becoming a truly public administration. Tang-Kee of about 3,000. Right now we’re at preeminent school of management said we’re a school of management, over 1,800 students. We’ve had 70 and I don’t think that’s going to and management means providing percent student growth since 2007. change. Our goal is to continue leadership and developing our That’s phenomenal growth during moving towards that. students to be leaders in business, a period when other universities jnewstrom@unews.com whether its for-profit, not-for-profit and other business schools were or government. I really liked that and really challenged by changing demographics and decreasing
Bloch School says farewell Former dean of the Bloch School of Management Dr. Tang-Kee Tan invited faculty and friends to an afternoon of tea this past Thursday during his visit to Kansas City. The social hour took place in the Mag conference room located in the old mansion portion of the Block Heritage Hall.
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Monday March 10, 2014 | Issue 23
Alumna makes her mark in radio How did UMKC prepare you for this industry?
I took several of Peter Morello’s courses, including radio and television performance. During the course he gave me feedback on my strengths and weaknesses to improve on. He also coached me about what to expect during my internship at KMBC since he had a background in television news.
Tell me about the jobs you’ve had at Cumulus?
As a street team member I would contact club owners and arrange for 95.7 The Vibe to visit their establishment. It allowed the community Ivani Bing now works for 95.7 The Vibe. to see our station’s Eppie O’Neal presence and that we know where Staff Writer all the hottest places are in Kansas City, Mo. I mingled with the crowd, Ivani Bing was born in Worcester, took pictures and uploaded them to Mass., as an only child to Brazilian our Facebook page. For Sweet Jack, parents before re-locating to Kansas. I attended Chiefs football games She graduated from UMKC in and informed people about Sweet 2011 with a B.A. in communication Jack’s benefits in the hopes they studies with a journalism and mass would sign up for the discounts. As communication emphasis. a social media coordinator, I provide Internships propelled her career. captivating content to drive traffic In 2009 she started at Cumulus to our social media pages. I also Media, a radio station, followed give audiences backstage access by KMBC-TV News in 2010. Bing to our shows by posting images of returned to Cumulus Media in 2011 backstage interviews. because reporting hard news did not appeal to her. What are the highlights of Bing spent two and a half years working in radio? as an intern at Cumulus before she There’s never a dull moment and secured a position as a 95.7 The Vibe I’m always busy. I’ve met really cool street team member. Then she was people that share similar interests a representative for Sweet Jack, a daily deal service. Now Bing is the as me. I’m still friends with people
We’re responsible for thinking of new ideas to be vibrant in an effort to keep the public’s interest, which is a difficult task. Our job is to appeal to the audience and captivate them to listen to our station. We want them to care about what we’re doing and where we’re going as a station.
What are some of the challenges of being on the air?
I have to pretend I’m talking to someone in the studio. There’s so many people who think they know how a radio personality should talk but it’s actually much harder than what they think. I have to be conversational and there’s so many things people think I should say but it sounds awkward on [the] air. It’s better to talk to someone directly rather than to address them as a group. For example, instead of saying ‘Hey guys what’s going on? It’s Ivani!’ I should say ‘Hey guess what!’ If someone is driving they should feel like I’m sitting in the passenger seat talking to them. It’s a way to connect with the audience.
Have you ever been star struck?
I’ve never been star struck but I was nervous to meet the comedian Paul Mooney for the first time. I was hosting a show at the Improv Comedy Club and a waitress came to me and said he wanted to speak to me in the green room. I was terrified because he doesn’t hold back. If he doesn’t like you, he doesn’t like you. I thought he was going to be mean and make fun of me but instead he wanted to discuss my career and goals. He was nice but the second time I saw him he was mean and acted like I thought he would the first time. He said, ‘Look at her. She’s the devil. Look at her shoes.’ I had a skirt on with nice shoes from BCBG. I think he was trying to make a joke but it didn’t come off as funny. I was slightly offended but reminded myself that he’s a co-median and just smiled. Sometimes when someone is rude to you, you just have to smile and be polite because you never know who they are. He’s still a cool guy and I respect him.
Ivani Bing transitioned to television. I submitted a YouTube audition video for “106 & Park” when they were casting VJs. I wasn’t chosen, but that’s OK, there’s other opportunities. If I were on television I’d want to continue working in radio like Ryan Seacrest, Wendy Williams and Rocsi Diaz.
What advice would you give to others pursuing a career in journalism?
What caused you to shift away from a career in television?
KMBC was not what I expected. We covered stories at murder scenes and I would leave de-pressed. I wondered how reporters didn’t start crying. I guess they had to become immune to it just like I would if I were in that field. I like to know what celebrities are doing so I would much rather cover entertainment news. My radio internship was so handson. I got to host events and talk in front of audiences, which is why I returned for a second internship and made it my focus.
What has been greatest experience?
Ivani Bing social media coordinator for all seven Cumulus Media radio stations that broad-cast rock, classical soul, pop, R&B, oldies and sports.
I interned with at Cumulus Media. Some of my closest friends are through radio. I also get to attend concerts and other entertainment events.
When did you realize that you wanted to pursue radio?
What are some hurdles that you’ve encountered in During my junior year of high the industry? school I took introduction to television and radio and fell in love with it. I asked my teacher what I should study in college to pursue a career in this field and she told me journalism so that’s what I did. I also hosted pep assemblies in high school and loved speaking to an audience.
What prompted you to attend UMKC? I considered attending the University of Missouri-Columbia or North Carolina A&T State University but decided to stay local to be close to my parents. I’ve had fantastic opportunities and internships so I don’t regret attending UMKC. I believe everything happens for a reason.
It’s a male dominated industry. People kind of doubt that women are here for the right reasons. They think you want to be a groupie and go backstage so you have to prove that you’re here to advance your career and that you want to go places. You can’t get discouraged because there will be so many doors that close in your face and so many people that tell you that you can’t do it. Here I am today thriving and this is only the beginning. I see so many things for me in the future and I’m not going to stop just because someone told me ‘no.’ You just have to keep going and keep pursing it.
What are some of the challenges of working in promotions?
your
Being the social media coordinator and hosting on-air every Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. are my greatest experiences. My dream was to always be an on-air personality and as an intern everyone would tell me that it would never happen. My entire life people have made fun of my monotone voice and told me I would never be on-air. I proved them wrong.
What are your short-term goals?
I currently rank number eight in my Sunday time slot and I want to move up to number one. I also want to polish my skills and be the best radio personality I can be.
What’s your career goal?
ultimate
I would love to be a VJ on MTV. I hope “TRL” [Total Request Live] comes back on television somehow. I love music and with my radio background that would be great. Most of the MTV hosts, including La La Anthony, got their start in radio. Ryan Seacrest, Rocsi and Terrance J from “106 & Park” launched their careers through radio and
Ivani Bing with Selena Gomez
Photos Courtesy // Ivani Bing Intern at as many places as possible. You should ask a lot of questions and network, network, network. Don’t let what others say discourage you or get you down. If you want it, own it! It’s yours. eoneal@unews.com
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Monday March 10, 2014 | Issue 23
Winter storm burys Kansas City’s budget: Public Works Department usues contingency funds to thaw city
Kansas City locals assist Kynslie Otte Production Manager
Winter storm crew clears snow on the plaza. Kansas City, Mo., also contributes to the efficiency of snow plow efforts. Crews are expected to create “passable lanes” in residential areas, which means lanes may still be snow-packed but drivable. A 2,000-mile centerline is plowed at the beginning of a winter storm in residential areas, and crews work to clear the remaining 2,000 miles and widen passable lanes as much as possible. In the aftermath of a winter storm in Kansas City, Mo., emergency
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repairs to pavement are made, equipment is prepared for future storms, chemicals are cleaned from bridges and materials are replenished as needed. For additional information about snow removal in Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., visit www. wycokck.org and www.kcmo.gov/ publicworks. kotte@unews.com
The Kansas City Public Works Department is responsible for clearing 6,400 lane miles during winter storms. Photos // Matt Cook
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Heavy snowfall this winter has taken a major toll on Kansas Citians and the budget of the city’s Public Works Department. Snow removal has been budgeted at $2.75 million for the fiscal year, and the city has surpassed that limit by an estimated $1.1 million as of March 2, according to the department. The city has $4 million allotted in contingency funds in the event further snow removal is needed in the upcoming months. The budget for this fiscal year ends April 30. “We budget with enough flexibility to be able to deal with the
changes in weather,” said department spokesman Sean Demory to KCTV5. In Kansas City, Kan., snow removal may seem more effective because the city has a smaller area to clear, making the commute to Missouri difficult for some residents. “Driving on residential side streets in Missouri even two days after it’s snowed is typically very difficult because I drive a sedan,” said Mal Hartigan, a UMKC student who commutes to Overland Park for work. “Johnson County’s side streets usually seem to be cleared in a more timely fashion, so I’ve never had an issue where my car has been stuck or found driving particularly dangerous.”
Snow removal incongruence between counties is largely due to difference in funding and general land mass. The Public Works Department in Kansas City, Mo., is responsible for clearing approximately 6,400 lane miles of pavement service, whereas the Unified Government Public Works Department in Kansas City, Kan., is only responsible for about 1,700 lane miles. KCMO’s Public Works Department works in tandem with the Parks and Recreation and Water Service Departments, as well as the Aviation Department to ensure the city is cleared in a timely manner. It takes approximately four hours to salt and eight hours to plow one cycle of the city’s arterial street system, and 12 hours for one cycle of the residential street system, according to the Public Works Department of Kansas City, Mo. The arterial street system is comprised of the city’s busiest streets that carry major traffic and connect to most residential areas, such as Main Street, North Oak Trafficway, Holmes Street, Wornall Road and Barry Road. The Unified Government Public Works Department of Kansas City, Kan., has 65 trucks on the road around the clock during winter storms, with crews working in 16-hour shifts. Missouri has approximately 200 properly equipped vehicles, but crews only work in 12-hour shifts. Kansas City, Kan., also runs more trucks during the day to maximize efficiency, and crews remain in contact with police dispatchers to direct them to additional emergency areas during winter storms. Kansas City, Mo., responds to calls about slick spots in the aftermath of a storm. Of the 6,400 lane miles the Public Works Department of Kansas City, Mo., is responsible for clearing, approximately 4,000 lane miles are in residential areas. The city has only 65 properly equipped pickup trucks assigned to residential areas, which could account for the incongruence in clearance between Kansas and Missouri. The high volume of lane miles to be cleared in residential areas in
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OFF THE MAP: March 4, 2:38 p.m. — The victim reported being continually harassed for nearly a year by the suspect to the UMKC Police Headquarters.
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Monday March 10, 2014 | Issue 23
West Bottoms warehouse weekends
Businesses in the West Bottoms participate in First Fridays. Britt Ernst
Staff Writer
The parking lots of the Crossroads District were at capacity Friday, March 7 as spring made its first appearance in Kansas City. Flocks of art enthusiasts swarm Kansas
City’s Crossroads for First Fridays once a month not realizing that the festivities don’t only encompass the art district. During the first weekend of each month, the warehouses of the West Bottoms open for three days offering Kansas Citians a vast
Hickory Dickory Dock is a popular antique store in the West Bottoms.
selection of vintage and antiques. The West Bottoms district of Kansas City houses 15 warehouses packed to the brim with repurposed furniture, clothing, and décor. All but one of the warehouses is open for only one weekend a month, making for a somewhat rare experience and giving the vendors time to reorganize and restock their products. Each of the warehouses has either multiple levels or an indoor and outdoor space like that of crowd favorite Hickory Dickory Dock. Owner Emma Wolfe of Maple Vintage, a store located on the first floor of Hickory Dickory Dock, offered advice for first time visitors to the West Bottoms. “Expect a lot of people. It is a cool place to visit and once you experience it you will always want to come back. There are many, many antique stores down here so be sure to take your time and enjoy - you may not get to all in one day, that’s why we’re open 3 days. And if you really love a piece you should buy it that day because things go fast and it most likely will not be here the following month. Also, there are a lot of food carts that line up so you can get a good meal while you are treasure hunting,” Wolfe said. Maple Vintage is just one of 30 booths located inside Hickory Dickory Dock offering vintage clothing, accessories and home décor, mainly from the ‘50s-‘70s. “We try to select pieces that can easily fit into a modern home or wardrobe and add a unique flair,” Wolfe said. Another favorite warehouse in the West Bottoms is Bella Patina. Although Bella Patina lacks an outdoor flea market style space like their neighbor Hickory Dickory Dock, they make up for it with three floors of antiques and a small restaurant, Vintage Eats & Sweets, located on the top floor. Different oldies tunes greet your ears as you reach each level of the huge warehouse and baked from scratch scents waft through the air, growing stronger as you go further into the building. Of all the warehouses, Bella Patina has the largest selection of vintage clothing. Maria Steele, owner of Adelaide’s Vintage located on Bella Patina’s third floor, is hoping to get the word out about First Friday weekends in the West Bottoms. “I want people to know what is down here. We have vintage clothes now too,” Steele said. Next month’s First Friday weekend is April 4-6. Hickory Dickory Dock will be open 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. - 4p.m. Sunday and is
Maple Vintage, a booth inside Hickory Dickory Dock. located at 1107 Hickory St. Bella Patina will be open 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. - 6p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. - 4 p.m Sunday and is located at 1324 West 12th St. To preview the selection, visit Maple Vintage online at www.etsy.com/shop/
MapleVintage or follow them on instagram @MapleVintage and visit Adelaide’s Vintage at www.etsy. com/shop/AdelaideHomesewn. bernst@unews.com
Jewelry featured in the Maple Vintage booth.
Photos // Britt Ernst
An alternative look for lectures
Paige Olson Staff Writer
Alt. Lecture KC and Charlotte Street Foundation Studio Residency held the fourth Alternative Lecture Series Monday at the UMKC Gallery of Art. Curated by Jessica Borusky, a Charlotte Street resident, the lecture featured poet Leah Silvieus and local artist Judith Levy. Alt. Lecture KC pairs local aesthetic producers with artists outside of Kansas City to cultivate creative dialogue across state lines. Sponsored by the Charlotte Street’s Urban Culture Project Studio Residency Program, Alt. Lecture KC presents an event the last week of each month at different venues. “The lecture happens organically between their conversation and my
facilitation,” Borusky said. Levy, a multidisciplinary artist, and poet and performance artist Silvieus presented a dialogue articulating artifact loss and narrative. Silvieus presented narrative poems that built upon the theme surrounding the lecture while Levy, whose work explored history, culture and identity, continued the dialogue with her readings. “With rotating speaker and locations, Alt. Lecture promotes creative community growth through unique presentations and dialogue among the Kansas City creatives and those who take on creative practices nationally,” Borusky said. Alt. Lectures started at the San Francisco Art Institute where graduate students pioneered a series that allowed professors to give an alternative lecture or artist
talk. It then moved to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University for graduate students and their community. Borusky then initiated the series of dialogue in Kansas City. “I thought it would be interesting to shift the Alt. Lectures for Kansas City so that it could be someone inside of Kansas City collaborating through dialogue with someone outside of the city, not just Kansas City centric,” Borusky said. After presenting her lecture, Kansas City charmed Borusky with its unique and inventive community. “I thought how interesting it would be for other artists to look at the vibrancy of Kansas City,” Borusky said. “To actually see the city when they speak, not just feel like it’s in the middle of nowhere, and to feel the energy of this creative
community. I want to facilitate the expansion of that.” Borusky has a B.A. from New College of Florida, her M.F.A from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and is represented by the Anthony Greaney Gallery in Boston. Borusky’s work showcases body-based feminist art that communicates movement as a location of diverse cultural messages. “Through performance, video, text and more recently, drawing, I address the polemics of such messages and question the body’s ability to surpass them,” Borusky said. “I consider ways in which specific language informs how we think about the body as a process of perfection rather than empowerment.” Drawing from her position as a Pilates and movement instructor, Borusky envisions an alternative
interaction with mainstream fitness that dictates personal bodily awareness. “In my work, I utilize text and image as an index that can showcase an alternative way of thinking about the body as a source for productive opposition and conversation,” Borusky said. “The conversations and work I do with my clients informs how language concerning the ‘perfect’ body is a problem we all face.” Borusky is currently curating the final Alt. Lectures with hopes that next year the series can expand to new locations and allow conversations to grow. For more information, vist www. facebook.com/alternativelecturekc or email altlecturekc@gmail.com polson@unews.com
Monday March 10, 2014 | Issue 23
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Drunk Texts From Last Night: (816) This is your liver speaking...
Roze Brooks Editor-in-Chief
With Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day falling within a week of each other, it can be assumed that collegeage students are participating in these annually recognized drinking holidays. While education on safe drinking practices is important, knowing the proper channels of selfcare after consuming alcohol is as well. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about four out of five college students drink alcohol. Additionally, about half of college students who drink alcohol binge drink. Binge drinking is the consumption of five or more drinks for men on one occasion and four or more drinks for women on one occasion, usually within about two hours. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “in the U.S., one drink is usually considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1 ½ ounces of hard liquor such as gin or whiskey.” For college-aged students, it can be more difficult to keep track of alcohol consumption over a period of time. The NIAAA says that a standard drink is one that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol. However, it also warns that in a college environment, “a large cup of beer, an over-poured glass of wine or a single mixed drink could contain much more alcohol than a standard drink.” Organizations like NIAAA aim to educate and prevent the major consequences of abusive college drinking such as assault, sexual abuse, drunk driving and more.
The liver can’t tolerate your tolerance Binge drinking can take a major toll on the body. The liver is primarily responsible for dispelling 90 percent of alcohol from the blood, according to the Center for Integrated Healthcare. This organ can only process approximately one drink per hour. The liver works slowly in comparison to the stomach, which can absorb alcohol through the lining in about 10 minutes. The liver is unable to keep up with the stomach, and there is virtually no way to speed up this process. The CIH says this is why hot coffee, cold showers or vomiting doesn’t actually help you sober up. Causing yourself to vomit can also result in complications with the linings of the stomach and esophagus, so this is illadvised under most circumstances. Alcohol works as both an upper and a downer. After a drink or two, the up response causes feelings of stimulation or excitement, according to the CIH. However, when drinking continues, feelings of depression and fatigue follow. Many people then increase their number of drinks
hoping to return to the state of excitement, but this only furthers the downer effects. “The point at which an increase in [blood alcohol level] will not result in elevated mood or energy is known as the point of diminishing returns,” the CIH said. This point is a blood alcohol level of .05 percent, a level that includes impaired judgment and an inability to make rational decisions.
Use the Buddy Systemnot the Bud Light system Let’s be realistic: many parties or special occasions are going to involve a surplus of alcohol. However, being safe about both what goes into your body and what happens outside of your body is more important than sinking the final cup in a game of beer pong. Assault, rape, unsafe sex and sexual abuse are a few of the severely consequential possibilities when people drink alcohol. “Alcohol is one of the most common date rape drugs,” said Stacy Mallicoat, author of “Women and Crime: A Text/Reader.” “Here, victims drink to excess, placing themselves at risk for sexual assault.” Alcohol is considered the most commonly abused drug because it is—generally—legal and easily obtained. However, other substances that are used in cases of drugfacilitated sexual assault such as GHB, ketamine and Rohypnol are considered controlled substances. Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, possession of these drugs is strictly controlled by the Drug Enforcement Agency. As part of the CSA, the DEA places drugs into five schedules of controlled substances based on potential for abuse as well as side effects of each drug. GHB falls under Schedule I of the CSA, which regulates “substances [that] have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.” Ketamine is regulated under Schedule III of the act for drugs that “have a potential for abuse less than substances in Schedules I or II and abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.” Rohypnol is listed on Schedule IV, which covers drugs that “have a low potential for abuse relative to substances in Schedule III.” This is why the CIH says it is important to pay attention to not only how much you’re drinking, but what you’re drinking. Most controlled substances are indiscernible when inserted into a drink, so don’t leave anything unattended. It’s better to get a new drink than to risk drinking from the Solo cup you set down earlier in the night. Make a pact with a friend to look out for each other
while drinking at social gatherings.
Curing a Hangover There are countless myths and home remedies for the day after an evening of drinking endeavors. Besides calling in sick to work and rushing for the toilet every 10 minutes, there are some tips and tricks that do have some merit, and others that should be ignored. The first, and possibly the most obvious, is water. According to Daniel Hall-Flavin of the Mayo Clinic, drinking 16-20 ounces of water before bed will stave off possible dehydration. However, sports drinks like Gatorade do not provide anything more than water does, so it’s best to stick to H2O. It is also advised to consume water with coffee or other caffeinated products because they can alter hangover symptoms. If you’re already a regular coffee drinker, consider what having a caffeine withdrawalinduced headache could feel like on top of a hangover and act accordingly. Several sources say that the “hair of the dog” method is one that may sound like a good idea first thing in the morning, but doesn’t provide any immediate or long-term benefits. This method refers to consuming more alcohol when hangover symptoms hit hard. According to Hall-Flavin, this will only prolong the inevitable, and could also increase the risk of alcohol dependency. If you have a migraine that’s worse than you can bear, be careful about what bottle of pills you reach for. Alka-Seltzer has been known to relieve an upset stomach after a night of drinking, but aspirin and citric acid could actually do the opposite. If taking painkillers, use a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Men’s Health strongly encourages avoiding acetaminophen such as Tylenol. According to Dena Davidson, Ph.D., “while it’s OK for a headache, when combined with a liver that’s working overtime to metabolize alcohol, it can cause liver damage or be deadly.” The Mayo Clinic notes that while time is the only sure cure for a hangover, what you put in your body can help symptoms in the meantime. Aside from water intake, sipping bouillon soup can put lost salt and potassium back into the body. Plain toast and crackers are good choices to settle a stomach, and fructosecontaining foods—think honey or fruit juice—help the body burn alcohol faster. Men’s Health and Health.com both agree that while things like exercise, greasy food and sex have no proven impact on hangover symptoms, there is no proven harm either. If there is any chance of sleeping off a hangover the next day, take advantage of it. rbrooks@unews.com
COLLEGE
DRINKING Drinking in college is an experience any student enrollled in college is going to have to confront, whether they drink or not. Research shows that more than 80 percent of college students drink alcohol. Many students come to college with already established drinking habits, and the college environment can easily exacerbate the problem. Almost half that reported drinking report binge drinking in the past two weeks. Learning safe drinking patterns and educating students about safe drinking is key.
4 out of 5 college students drink
half of those who drink, binge drink
How much is a drink? In the United States, a standard drink is one that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:
12 ounces of beer, which is usually about 5 percent alcohol
1.5 ounces of 5 ounces of 8-9 ounces of distilled spirits, wine, which is malt liqour typically about which is about 40 percent 12 percent alcohol alcohol
To avoid binge drinking, track the number of drinks you consume over a given period of time.
What is ‘binge drinking’? ‘Binge drinking’ is a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration levels to .08 g/dL. For women this will occur after about 4 drinks in two hours.
For men this will occur after about 5 drinks in two hours.
Monday March 10, 2014 | Issue 23
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Tough start for Sporting Kansas City Dan Moreno Senior Beat Writer
The 2013 Major League Soccer Champions fell short to Seattle Sounders FC Saturday. The season opener came to a close after Chad Barrett’s goal in the 94th minute. With only 30 seconds left on the clock, Kansas City’s goalkeeper Eric Kronberg and captain Matt Besler were unable to deflect a cross from Sean Okoli to Barrett, who put the ball in the back of the net. This is the fifth time the Sounders have beat Sporting KC in stoppage time. Stoppage time is the one to four extra minutes referees add to the end of a game compensating for time lost because of injuries or other interruptions. Head Coach Peter Vermes and his team will face Mexican club Cruz Azul Wednesday at Sporting Park in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. The second leg will be played in Mexico City next Wednesday at the Estadio Azul, where Cruz Azul remains undefeated this season. Midfielder Benny Feilhaber is confident Sporting KC will advance to the semifinals. “Obviously Cruz Azul is the favorite to win the whole tournament but, as long as we play our game and take the lead to Mexico City, I think we will be just fine,” Feilhaber said. “We are the MLS Champions and we are as tough a team as any and we have to prove that to hopefully come out with the result.” Sporting KC will play its MLS home opener this Saturday against FC Dallas as they try to obtain the first victory of the season.
Sporting Fights to defend its MLS Championship Title Last Tuesday the reigning MLS Champions hosted the Sporting
Graham Zusi Takeoff party at the Charles Wheeler Airport. The new secondary jersey was revealed and the new captain was announced. Approximately 3,000 fans filled Hangar 1 for a celebration presented by Ivy Funds and Boulevard Brewing Co. The 2014 secondary jersey features horizontal stripes and a new three dimensional lenticular MLS team crest. The crest sits on the left part of the chest beside a gold star representing last season’s championship. The Adidas jersey is now available for purchase and will be used throughout the season.
Courtesy // Sporting KC U.S. National Team midfielder Graham Zusi along with the rest of the squad, staff and fans shared their thoughts on the new kit. “This is my favorite uniform so far,” Zusi said. “It is a great design and we are going to look great out there. This just shows how we do things around here. It is a ‘go big or go home’ mentality and I think the fans deserve it.” Attendees entered a raffle for a chance to win the MLS Cup trophy for a day. Only one fan was supposed to win but Sporting Club CEO Rob Heineman drew four tickets instead. The trophy was then passed around for every fan to hold and get photos.
“Sporting Kansas City exists because of its fans,” Heineman said. “I am not surprised so many of them showed up tonight.” Vermes and Heineman announced Matt Besler as the 2014 team captain. “He [Besler] is 100 percent committed to the team because this is his hometown,” Vermes said. “Matt has shown all the qualities necessary to help his team.” Entering his sixth season, Besler has played 126 games recording two goals and six assist. These stats have earned him a spot on the U.S. National Team. “I just want to say what an honor it is to be named the team captain,”
Besler said. “I will keep on doing everything to represent the fans and my teammates with the best of my abilities, so let’s go ahead and win another cup.” Sporting KC will be competing for five different titles this year including the MLS Championship, the U.S. Open Cup, the Supporters Shield, the CONCACAF Champions League and even the Club World Cup if the team wins the continental championship. dmoreno@unews.com
Monday March 10, 2014 | Issue 23
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Disclaimer: The views of individual writers expressed below in this section do not represent the official stance of U-News. U-News welcomes participation from all UMKC students. Letters to the editor may be submitted to Editor-in-Chief Roze Brooks, editor@unews.com.
What no one tells you
Letter to the Editor: Kansas Bill: ‘Religious Liberty’
Alex Dapp Staff Writer
I want to applaud you on your article about religious liberty in the recent U-News. I’ll be honest; I wanted to dislike it at first. I read the title and immediately thought, “Oh great, another liberal perspective.” Then, and put simply, I read it. I’m a strong conservative Christian man with a wife and a son living in this overly sin filled world. Frankly, I’m tired of agendas. Everyone has one. The government, the media, the homosexual community, the religious community, the neighbor who wants to get back at everyone by having his/her dog poop on lawns, etc. I guess for me, growing up in a Catholic home with strong moral views instilled into my life, it’s all about the big picture. I’m 35 years old, I know God has called me to start a college ministry as the Holy Spirit has been stirring in my heart for many months. I have been working in higher education since 2005, mostly in a recruitment capacity in admissions. I’ve seen so many hurting students over the years with so much baggage coming out of high school sadly. My first instinct is the talk to them about Jesus and His love and mercy, but working in a non-ministerial position for a liberal
incredible LDRs can be. No one tells you your fingers will tingle as you text your significant You know that moment when you other first thing in the morning, find yourself in a situation thinking telling them to have a good day. “No one ever told me about this?” No one tells you your heart stops Like when you finally go to that for just a split second once you hang incredible music festival you’ve been up the phone at the end of the night waiting for all spring. No one ever because you realize you no longer get told you how broke and exhausted to hear their voice. you would be once you returned No one tells you that you’ll struggle home. to catch your breath once you finally Or when you’re sitting in your see your significant other for the first cubicle at work and you’re included time in a month. in an email thread you can’t get out I could go on for hours—possibly of? No one ever told you how brutally days— about how incredible long painful that situation would be. distance relationships can make you One thing I’ve recently discovered feel, but that might take away from no one told me about was how being the biggest lesson of all. in a long distance relationship can be Being in a long distance one of the most incredible things you relationship allows for you to be could ever do. just that – you. Being miles away Yes, I did just say that and yes, I from your significant other creates might be crazy, but hear me out. Once opportunities not found in most you tell someone you’re entering a relationships. You are able to discover long distance relationship they are who you are as an individual, while quick—eager almost— to tell you still having someone to rely on. the downsides: the long periods of You quickly realize that you are loneliness, the possible trust issues, capable of doing things by yourself. the longing for another person. Some The truth is, you actually don’t need days all you seem to focus on is the someone by your side to complete negative. Yet, just like everything those mundane errands you hate else in life, no one tells you just how running.
Alex Dapp Weekends can be spent with friends or staying home and binge watching all the shows your significant other doesn’t like. You still get to have the life you had before you were in a relationship, just now you have someone to tell all the stories from the night before. Obviously, if given the choice, I would love to live in the same city as my boyfriend, but I’m thankful for this temporary period of distance that has allowed me to discover who I truly am. adapp@unews.com
Good morning Sam,
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arts college/university doesn’t allow for that platform unfortunately. So, praying for them on my own time is usually the only time I get to spend on their struggles. Your article also gave me a flashback of one of my first years recruiting. I was sitting at a high school, waiting patiently in the counselor’s conference room for eager seniors to learn about the college I was representing. (People who know me, understand my passion and love for the students I serve) So as I eagerly awaited new students, the first two that came through the door were a young lady and a young man, both best friends since a young age, and both of whom I’d met previously on campus for a tour. I greeted them excitedly because I knew that they were still interested. Interestingly, they closed the conference room door, and the young man proceeded to tell me his “good news.” Apparently, they felt comfortable enough for me to hear that he had just “come out” as a gay man. Mind you, I’m a conservative Christian man, a sinner myself, so I know my reaction was probably not as joyous as his. I distinctly remember these words uttered from my mouth, “Uh, wow! That’s some news!” I knew I couldn’t congratulate him, after all, no one ever patted me on the back or gave me kudos for my sins in the past. So, how does one react? He was shy about it, almost anxious when he revealed it to me. But as I look back, I can now take this as a learning moment. This student wanted to share his “good news,” but I wonder if he had time to hear my “Good News.” Since I will be starting a college ministry soon, I’ve looked at my experiences with students, their parents, and even faculty over the last 8 and a half years and I think, “Man, I could write a book!” I find it amazing that as a Christian man who is a sinner, I’m constantly being presented with sinful acts of others that I’m not to judge, but to applaud. I think the Homosexual agenda is a hot button topic right now. After all, athletes, actors and actresses are being praised for their lifestyle. I have never seen such pomp and circumstance for something, other than a graduation ceremony. When the POTUS and FLOTUS tweet about it, it’s big, right? It really makes me put college ministry into perspective. Lots of lost souls. Many people seeking something or anything that will fit their agenda. Jesus Christ, His power, His mercy, His grace, fits everyone’s life, I just think it’s in the presentation of Scripture. There are so many Christian denominations, so many viewpoints on Scripture, so many opinions, I think it becomes muddled. Did God breath His Word so that mankind would distort it? May it never be! I take it literally from Genesis to Revelation. Guess what? I’m a sinner who wants to break down these denominational walls, study Scripture, worship Jesus with prayer and song, and get 18-26 year old sinners to sit down with one another and break down their fears, their misconceptions, and really apply the Word of God to their lives. Surely, Jesus Christ did not suffer and die for mankind’s sins on a cross, rise again, and command His disciples to go out for the Great Commission, only to make it so complicated that mankind couldn’t work side by side. My challenging question for students is, how does one come to Jesus Christ and accept Him as his/ her personal Lord and Savior if they can’t get out of their own way? Love is necessary. How do we glorify God and plant seeds in the minds of non-believers if our own hearts have been hardened by what society says, as opposed to what God is trying to reveal to us in His Word. Thank you again Sam. God bless! Sincerely, Shaun Pfannenstiel