University News // September 3 // Issue Three

Feature

Opinion

Irish Fest, p. 6

Local Shopping, p.

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2013 Irish Fest brings in large crowd for food, live music and Irish traditions.

An inside look at Kansas City’s vast array of local businesses.

UNIVERSITY NEWS UMKC’s Independent Student Newspaper

Volume 81, Issue 3

Tuesday September 3, 2013

THE NEW KID IN TOWN:

Kraske takes on more responsibilities at UMKC Kate Baxendale

Copy Editor

Steve Kraske of the Kansas City Star has been named an associate professor in the communication studies department at UMKC. Kraske, host of “Up to Date” on KCUR-FM, will teach journalism classes beginning this semester.

“I saw it as an opportunity to go toward something rather than I am fleeing something,” Kraske said. “I just saw a terrific opportunity to do something different at this point in my career. I’m 55 now, so I thought if I’m going to make a jump I’d better do it.”

The university approached

The Art of the Interview for a few semesters and decided teaching was something he could do.

“I really enjoyed seeing my students improve and to see them grasp some of the ideas of what journalism is really about,” Kraske said. “I just thought that was terrific fun.”

Kraske will continue to write his political blog and weekly column at the Star, in addition to contributing to occasional projects.

The Star asked Kraske if he was still interested in “keeping his foot in the door” and Kraske said, “Absolutely.”

“I’m a political junkie, I’m a news junkie by nature, and I’m going

Kraske hosts KCUR-FM’s radio show “Up to Date.”

Photo Courtesy // KCUR Kraske about an opportunity to teach about five years ago, but to be reading the blogs anyway,” Kraske wanted to make sure he Kraske said. “And obviously I form was right for the job. Kraske taught thoughts, and there are things I’d

like to convey about our politics in Missouri and Kansas and locally that I’ve been following so closely. It’s just something I would like to continue anyway.”

Kraske said the Star is home to him in so many ways.

“Those folks are my brothers and sisters,” Kraske said. “I’ve been in the trenches with some of them for 15 years. I respect so greatly those people who are so committed to the craft and committed to the cause and want to keep the flag up in the air. I admire that in people so much that they still find the importance of journalism and its place in society.”

Kraske begins teaching journalism classes at UMKC during the fall 2013 semester.

Kraske is taking Photo Courtesy // KCUR over for Dr. Robert Unger, a journalism and he will bring great strength to the journalism program,” me about what I wanted to do with former reporter for the Kansas City Star and a longtime member of the Unger said. “He is a great guy with my career. My father is an author UMKC communication studies the clout and courage to speak of children’s books and a magazine department. Kraske said he has his mind on all things journalism, editor. My mother was very active some huge shoes to fill since he and, if the past is indeed prologue, in fair housing issues in Detroit that can be very important to the when I was a little kid. I think her accepted the position.

“Bob [Unger] was one of the great University News, to journalism, and activism and my dad’s writing sort writers that the Star had going to the students’ right to know what of just produced someone who back a few decades,” Kraske said. is going on at their own university.” wanted to be a journalist and be Kraske said his schedule is a bit someone to help shape the dialogue, “He is a superlative writer, and he crazy right now as he is transitioning someone who ended up going into grasped things in such a powerful from political correspondent to politics in a sense, being a political way. I admired Bob when I was a associate professor. journalist.” young reporter and he was a veteran “Since I’ve been in college, I have Kraske said there is an important reporter at the newspaper.”

Kraske said Unger has been been someone who gets off on place in society for journalism, but helpful during his transition period, juggling balls,” Kraske said. “I like he questions how the information is even offering Kraske old syllabi for to be very heavily engaged, and the going to be delivered in the future. idea of doing more than one thing is “I see the need for, in my career his courses.

“We went to lunch and chatted something I sort of embrace. That’s more than ever, good, solid journalism based on the foundations about how we’re going to do this, just how I roll.”

Kraske knew since he was in that have been around for decades,” and I’ve taken to heart a lot of what he said to me,” Kraske said. “Bob is, middle school he wanted to pursue Kraske said. “So the idea of training and I think he would say this, he’s a career in journalism. Kraske young people to go out and do the just an old-school journalist. I love said he never waivered from this work that needs to be done is really that about Bob, and I think we are path. He wrote sports for the city appealing to me.” newspaper in Stillwater, Minn., as a similar in a lot of ways.”

Unger said he is pleased and junior in high school and he wrote excited to hear that Kraske will be for the student newspaper at the kbaxendale@unews.com University of Wisconsin – Madison. joining the UMKC faculty.

“I was really lucky,” Kraske said.

“He has impeccable credentials and experience in all areas of “There was never a struggle with

SGA Senators get down to business

Kate Baxendale

Copy Editor

The Student Government Association held its Inaugural Orientation and Training Banquet at the Student Union Aug. 26.

President Benjamin Campero of the RooSERVE slate along with Executive Vice President Parker Webb, Administrative Vice President Kate Corwin and Comptroller Makayla Maslanka regulated the evening’s proceedings.

Mel Tyler, vice chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, stressed his opendoor policy.

“I’m always going to be transparent in what I do,” Tyler said. “There are no hidden agendas.”

Student Government Advisor and Director of the Office of Student Involvement Angie Cottrell said it is

a “fail” when there is no business to discuss at the SGA meetings.

Cottrell introduced members of the UMKC staff and administration, who each explained their role on campus. The staff and administration reminded the student senators of the responsibility the role entails.

After dinner was provided, the SGA representatives listed the expectations for the student senators. Senators must provide reports at every meeting from each of their respective council.

Attending meetings without the reports constitutes as an absence.

Senators are expected to dress in business casual attire for SGA meetings and events.

As outlined in the UMKC Student Government Handbook,

senators must attend all meetings, be involved with the council they represent, follow Robert’s Rules of Order, be professional and understand the SGA constitution.

Cottrell explained to new senators how Robert’s Rules of Order works, reviewing key terminology and presenting an example resolution for the senators to practice. According to Robert’s Rules of Order, it is a recognized guide to running meetings and conferences effectively and fairly.

Student Activity Fee Committee representatives are required to wear the official SGA polo distributed at the orientation. SAFC has a set of bylaws representatives must follow. The committee meets twice each month to make allocation recommendations to the chancellor.

Campero announced the need to improve the SGA brand, solve campus textbook issues and increase the professionalism of SGA. Campero mentioned the TobaccoFree Campus Policy and the Gender Neutral Housing Resolution, which both passed in the Senate last year.

Working on the SGA brand includes sending representatives to student organization meetings and increasing collaboration between student organizations and the appropriate academic unit, Campero said.

The Student Senate consists of Webb, Corwin, Maslanka and two representatives from each divisional council: the College of Arts & Sciences, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, School of Education, School of Nursing, School of

Medicine, School of Law, School of Computing and Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, the Conservatory of Music and Dance, School of Dentistry, School of Graduate Studies and the School of Pharmacy.

“We [senators] are basically the voice for our particular school,” Student Senator Miller Bogart of the School of Pharmacy said. “We attend the SGA meetings and we go back and report about what is going on, then we get people’s opinions.”

SGA’s new policies regarding professionalism and responsibility were at the forefront of the agenda, and the RooSERVE slate plans to continue the strict enforcement of these policies throughout the year. kbaxendale@unews.com

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

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UMKC’s newest faculty appointment brings experience and perspective Erik Gandara

Beat Writer

Former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, City Commissioner of Tallahassee, Fla., Democratic National Committee member and alumnus of the UMKC class of 1969 Allan J. Katz will begin his official appointment as a distinguished professor on Sept. 1.

Katz brings a lifetime of experience to UMKC’s department of public affairs at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management and the department of political science in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Katz moved to Washington, D.C., shortly after graduation and finished his law degree at American University.

After working on Capitol Hill for a few years, he returned to Kansas City in the late ‘70s, eventually taking a position as Chief of Staff for Florida’s state commissioner and later starting an Orlando-based law firm.

It was in Florida that Katz found himself involved in a heated controversy over the construction of a coal power plant. At a public hearing in Tallahassee, Fla., a woman from the nearby community accepting the new power station expressed her reservations.

“She said, ‘If you wouldn’t build it here, why would you build it in our backyard?’” Katz said. “And they’re right of course. I had no answer for her.”

The woman’s argument started Katz thoughts on the issue, and he decided more information was needed to vote on the bill. On closer scrutiny, the power plant deal was an economic and environmental scam.

“In end it cost the city millions and it took two years, but we killed it,” Katz said.

Communiversity to host sign-up and party event Jessica Turner Senior Beat Writer

Former U.S. Ambassador Allan J. Katz.

Photo // Google After a referendum, the coal plant was eventually built, but Katz brought neighbors to each other’s noticed the importance of the public throats. Katz, however, remains debate around its construction. optimistic.

“People were talking past each “People would rather have a other,” Katz said. “No one was really conversation than sit around and dealing with the facts.” bloviate,” KIatz said.

With the remaining money left With Washington politics behind over from his re-election campaign, him, Katz is pleased to make Kansas he founded To the Village Square, City home again. a public forum where people of “It’s great to be back at UMKC,” opposing political persuasions could Katz said. “I remember fondly, when peaceably debate policy.

I ran for student body president, the It had to be bipartisan, so Katz University News enthusiastically went to the president of the local supported me.” community college, who was a Katz encourages students with Republican. an interest in politics to know the “There had to be two of us,” Katz issues and to find something they said. “If was just a Democratic thing, care about. it wouldn’t have mattered.”

Katz will be teaching Money and Bridging the partisan divide has Power: Incivility and Gridlock in been a catchphrase in recent years, Washington, 1960-Present, offered as Washington politicians have through the department of public grown entrenched and indignant in administration. an ideological tug-of-war that has egandara@unews.com

UMKC students are invited to attend Communiversity’s SignUp & Party event 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sept. 10 at The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania.

Communiversity, a non-profit community education program that operates out of the UMKC Office of Student Involvement, offers more than 300 classes in a diverse range of topics to the Kansas City area. Class fees are waived for UMKC students, but a fee for materials will still apply.

Subjects this semester include astronomy, fly fishing, painting, photography, Spanish, tarot, bookbinding, yoga, car smarts, dance, career journaling, the study of fossils, meditation, guitar, leather crafting, tai chi and many more.

Some Communiversity classes happen on campus, some take place at the Kansas City Public Library and some are held in the homes or businesses of the conveners.

The fall 2013 course catalog was distributed throughout the Kansas City area last week and can be found in several central locations on campus. Communiversity’s website includes a searchable database of all available classes, and participants can register online at www.umkc. edu/commu.

In addition to Communiversity conveners and members, Sign-Up & Party will have a live band featuring jazz guitarist and Communiversity Program Coordinator Rick Mareske.

The biannual Wholistic Health Fair, also hosted by Communiversity, will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Nov. 10 in the Student Union Multipurpose Room 401. jturner@unews.com

Jackson County Legislature votes to aid medical research Kate Baxendale

Copy Editor

The Jackson County Legislature has approved a half-cent sales tax to fund the world-class medical research institute in Kansas City.

The proposal will be placed on the ballot for voters to decide on Nov. 5.

Legislators voted Aug. 26, splitting 7-2 along party lines.

UMKC announced on Aug. 8 its collaboration with St. Luke’s Health Systems, Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics and the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute to form an institute in Jackson County that will focus on translational research. If voters approve the proposal, the tax would raise an estimated $40 million a year and would end in 20 years.

Additionally, the tax would raise $8 million a year for the university.

According to an Aug. 26 article in The Kansas City Star, all seven Democrats on the Jackson County Legislature said the measure holds great promise for improving healthcare and helping the local economy. Republicans Bob Spence and Chairman Greg Grounds both voted “no” for various reasons, including the question of whether medical research such be a county government operation.

The funds raised for the institute are expected to attract professional researchers and to provide them with the facilities, equipment and staff needed to conduct translational research. Civic and scientific leaders

clarified the use of funds raised through the proposed tax would be controlled strictly by the university and the two hospitals, not politicians.

The funds will not be used for any other purpose than to foster development Chancellor Leo E. Morton speaks to the media. of the translational Photo // Janet Rogers research institute. internationally recognized research “Voters have a rare opportunity strengths to change the lives of so to greatly improve their health, many people.” the health of their parents and the kbaxendale@unews.com health of their children,” Chancellor Leo Morton said. “With this initiative, UMKC can build on its

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

Ida P. Montgomery educates on women in black history

Elaborating on the quote, she Morayo Bakare informed the audience that in Contributing Writer addition to celebrating important Women’s Equality Week was black women in history, she was observed last week from Aug. 25 to giving a face and name to leaders Aug. 31 all around the Kansas City not usually discussed in history community. Numerous events were textbooks. Her presentation also held to bring attention to the plight highlighted other quotes from of women and discuss their role in powerful women from early in the society.

Civil Rights movement.

Ida P. Montgomery presented on “If women want rights more than Black Women of the Civil Rights they got, why don’t they just take Movement on Aug. 27 at the Culture them, and not be talking about it?”

House. said Sojourner Truth, as quoted by In the reception hall, books Montgomery’s presentation. geared toward black women were Popular women such as Ida displayed openly for browsing. Some B. Wells, Sojourner Truth and books from Montgomery’s miniature Mary Jane McLeod Bethune were library were “Working While Black” presented next to quotes while

by Michelle T. Johnson, “Sister CEO” Montgomery talked about their

by Cheryl D. Broussard and Maya achievements and battles they Angelou’s “Wouldn’t Take Nothing had faced. Lesser known black for My Journey Now” setting the tone women were also discussed, women for the presentation.. Montgomery’s Montgomery believes are influential presentation aimed to celebrate the black women in education. These achievements of various women women included Constance Motley from the 1800s to late 1980s.

Baker, Vivian Malone Jones and According to Montgomery, young Autherine Lucy. Montgomery also females, especially those in their talked about prominent Civil Rights 20s, felt that the age of inequality organizations with a focus on the was in the past and they were now Southern Christian Leadership treated as equally as men. However, Conference, NAACP and the she addressed this incorrect notion Student Nonviolent Coordinating by discussing the importance of Committee. Montgomery addressed remembering history’s figures in that even though the organizations order to remind ourselves that, were led by men, it was women who though much has been done, there is organized the groups. Voter literary still more to be done. tests, voter disenfranchisement and “The names and lives of black many other topics were discussed in women leaders are all but unknown the rest of the presentation. in American society,” she said.

Though these words were spoken mbakare@unews.com generations ago, Montgomery believes they still ring true today.

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State of civil rights tepid 50 MOVEMENT years after MLK’s dream 1963 CIVIL RIGHTS Civil rights leader Medgar Evers is killed by sniper.

Erik Gandara

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech to hundreds of thousands at the March on Washington, D.C.

President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Attorney General Eric Holder, Al Sharpton, former Presidents Clinton and Carter gathered to address the justice system 50 years after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

“It’s a real step to honor the progress we’ve already made, but it’s a good reminder to show us that the struggle isn’t over,” said Alexandra Alpough, president of the Black Law Students Association. “Four hundred years of struggle can’t be Martin Luther King Jr. gives his “I have a dream” erased in 50 years.” speech.

Alpough raised the Photo // Google Treyvon Martin case of 1965, some fear King’s legacy is in as a problem of perception, “to be danger. intimidated just by a boy in a hoodie, Rashad Lartey , the community with some tea and some skittles— service chair of UMKC’s Men of that’s not the America King was Color Campus Initiative, advocates looking forward to 50 years down progress toward human rights, and the line.” not viewing civil rights exclusively Incidents such as the 2005 as a black issue.

Danziger Bridge shootings, the “The civil rights struggle today death of Chavis Carter and the on- has extended to same-sex marriage, camera shooting of Oscar Grant in an and to personal privacy that’s being Oakland, Calif. subway station are all challenged by new laws as long as we reminiscent of incidents that caused are divided and not recognizing each heated controversies, leaving many other’s Humanity, as long as we’re skeptical of America’s progress. seeing black and white and rich Beyond police shootings, racism and poor, we’ll have injustice. Social in America has become subtle and organizations change governments nuanced . and legislation. Without the people “The overt landscape of racial organizing themselves, very little discrimination has been eliminated will change. I’m very much about a but institutional structures of bottom-up approach.” inequality persist,” said Dr. Clovis Despite criticism of America’s Semmes of UMKC’s Black Studies progress on these difficult issues, Department. “Currently the legal young people are optimistically system is inadequate to deal with viewed as game-changers for these structures of inequality, and American civil rights. few leaders have the will or vision to “Young people, including students tackle them.” at UMKC, are America’s hope Semmes responded to what King to pay off its ‘promissory note’ of called the tranquilizing drug of freedom and justice, but they must gradualism saying, “Excruciatingly achieve an education that raises their slow movement toward racial understanding and consciousness equality is the name of the game, of America’s great struggle with with frequent periods of stagnation realizing its stated creed,” Semmes where the masses are sacrificed for said. the few who help to maintain the egandara@unews.com status quo.”

With the passage of Voter ID laws

1964 Congress passes the Civil Rights Act, making discrimination based on race illegal.

The 24th Amendment abolishes the poll tax, which originally had been established after Reconstruction to make it difficult for poor blacks to vote.

1965 Malcolm X is assassinated.

A new Voting Rights Act is signed making it illegal which made it illegal to force would-be voters to pass literacy tests in order to vote.

1967

Thurgood Marshall becomes the first black to be named to the Supreme Court.

1968

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray pleaded guilty of the crime in March 1969 and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing.

1976

Negro History Week becomes Black History Month.

1983 The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday is established.

1988

The Democratically controlled Congress overrides a presidential veto to pass the Civil Rights Restoration Act.

1995

The Supreme Court rules that the consideration of race in creating congressional districts is unconstitutional.

2005

Rosa Parks dies at the age of 92.

2006

Coretta Scott King, widow of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., dies at the age of 78 of a stroke.

SOURCE: http://www.cnn.com

Beat Writer

in many states in the past couple of years, a trend that specifically reduces votes in black neighborhoods and among the poor and elderly, combined with the removal of key provisions of the Voting Rights Act

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

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Downtown Kansas City Streetcar ACM off to a good Anna Lerner Contributing Writer The downtown starter line for the streetcar expansion project has officially been approved and is currently in the early planning stages. The route will span from the River Market to Crown Center and will become operational in 2015.

Vincent Gauthier, the director of planning at Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell Inc. and UMKC adjunct professor. The Kansas City- based BNIM was hired as a sub-consultant for the execution of the project.

The planning team is researching eight different corridors, but none have been finalized. The proposed corridors include Independence Avenue, 12th Street, 18th Street, Southwest Boulevard, Main Street, Linwood/31st Street and the starter line, which connects to Main Street.

They will narrow those options to three or four and begin studying traffic patterns, neighborhoods, job Proposed corridors for the downtown Kansas City streetcar expansion. generators, institutions and retailers surrounding the smaller list. This frequent different popular locales Graphic // Joshua Boeh process will take some time due to in the city. The same goes for development, which maximizes many factors including each route commuters, dependent upon where access to public transportation needing to be evaluated by the city they live, given that the streetcar will and brings a community together council. run east and west in Kansas City, by interconnecting people and The streetcar will supplement except for the Main Street route neighborhoods. All of the lines the Kansas City Transportation which will connect to the starter being considered were once historic Authority bus system with additional line. Commuters who live on the streetcar lines ranging all the way routes to reach more people and corridors marked on the map will back to 1913. The new streetcars have locations It is also intended to be not have to deal with traffic or paying the capacity to bring back to Kansas faster than the bus. The streetcar will for on-campus parking. For now, the City a small piece of history. be handicap accessible and provide project is still in the planning phase The streetcar expansion project storage for bicycles. With this system until spring 2014, so there is no is in need of more advocates. To people won’t have to spend so much projected date for ground breaking get involved and contribute, visit money on cars, since approximately at this time. nextrailkc.com and click on the one-third of an individual’s income The most important reason for Share Your Ideas link at the bottom is spent on auto-related costs like fixed rail, according to Gauthier, of the page to join in the Next Rail KC gas and maintenance. The new is essentially what it can do to MindMixer online forum discussion. streetcar will eliminate some of these transform neighborhoods. Streetcars expenses. are infrastructures that set the tone alerner@unews.com For students who live on or near for future development and people campus, it will make it much easier can depend on them to do that. It to get around, go shopping and has the power for transit-oriented

start this semester

number of students and hope the Sumanth Koushik Kalli momentum continues, ” said Wu. Beat Writer ACM primarily focuses on The Association for Computing preparing students for coding Machinery is a scientific society created in 2006 at UMKC for researchers, professionals and students to have a dialogue and to share resources to address challenges in the field of computer science.

“We mainly concentrate on promoting computer science as creativity and making programming fun,” said Victoria Wu, Students interested in joining ACM pose for a photo. chair of ACM. Photo // Sumanth Koushik Kalli The first meeting for this semester was held Aug. 28. competitions and builds problem “This time we have [a] good solving skills, team spirit and communication among students under stress. Last year, ACM ranked in national computing competitions, including ninth place out of 49 teams in a perceptive software code rush.

Faculty Adviser Brian Hare helps the group set up conferences, advertise and he teaches dynamic programming.

ACM organizes programming practices every Friday. It is also planning to arrange a 24-hour marathon programming contest, IEEE Extreme, in October. There will also be guest lecturers this semester and mock technical interviews for graduating students.

Last year, ACM arranged a guest lecture on globalization and coding standards in the industry. It has also Victoria Wu, chair of the Association conducted video game events, social for Computing Machinery. networking and NERD Night.

Photo // Sumanth Koushik Kalli skalli@unews.com

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

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Faces of fellowships: What can a study abroad fellowship do for you?

Marlee Newman

Staff Writer

The first Study Abroad Fellowship workshop of the year took place on Aug. 28 and included a diverse panel of three previous and current students who had experiences studying abroad. The fellowship, although sparsely attended, provided a wealth of information on the different options UMKC students have when considering studying, teaching or researching in another country.

Linna Place, director of International Academic Programs, introduced the panel which included students from different disciplines.

The students included Julia Bates, a German history major with an art history minor. She was one of the two student speakers that received a Fulbright Fellowship, the most prominent national fellowship. Bates utilized her fellowship in order to teach English in a German high school. Although she discussed the vital hands-on experience that a teaching assistantship in Germany offered, Bates also pointed out the life lessons that can be learned through venturing abroad.

“I gained a sense of independence dealing with things like how to find a hostel,” Bates said.

Bates also spoke about the special friendships that can be gained through living and working in a different country. She built a strong bond with another Fulbright student while in Germany. Together, they formed a bluegrass band, The Matchsellers, which will be performing at 7 p.m. Monday at the

Riot Room.

Another Fulbright Fellowship recipient, Sa Shea Gaston , realized her interest in Mexico during a university trip to Xalapa in 2010. She used her fellowship to travel back to Mexico and teach, exploring her passion for the Spanish language as well as her goal of teaching.

“It is so important to get different perspectives on teaching, especially for someone like me who is looking to go into English as a second language,” Gaston said.

Gaston also talked about how it is helpful to leave behind comfort zones.

“I learned to adapt and work with what I had,” Gaston said. “I learned to appreciate the little things more, like running water.”

Elliott Goff, a junior mechanical engineering major, showed that it is not impossible for someone with an often strenuous and timeconsuming major to take part in performing research abroad. He is the first UMKC student to receive the German Academic Exchange Service Research Internships in Science and Engineering scholarship which took him to Berlin during the summer of 2012. Goff spoke about how the majority of his research was performed in a laboratory setting, which gave him immense experience within the bio-medical engineering field, the same field he aspires to make into a future career.

The laboratory experience was the most useful to Goff simply because it introduced him to the “tools of the trade”.

“I spent a lot of my time learning

how to use new technology in the lab,” Goff said.

Although laboratory experience was essential, Goff also mentioned time outside of research spent exploring the city as the most meaningful to him.

“Go do it, go apply, [studying abroad was] by far the best experience I’ve had in college or my life so far,” Goff said.

The stories that the panel had to offer would not have been possible without the help of the staff on campus. Place emphasized how the intricate application process for the fellowships are not only for the purpose of applying, but also give students experience in useful skills, such as personal statement writing and obtaining letters of recommendation. When speaking about the process and the importance of professor-student relationships, Place spoke about the advantage UMKC students have in this arena.

“This is a very student-focused university – people that write these letters of recommendation actually care,” Place said.

To find out more about study abroad fellowships and scholarships, watch for two more workshops on Sept. 10-11, discussing the Boren Fellowship, which focuses on language majors, and the Fulbright Fellowship. On Sept. 12, the Study Abroad Fair will be held for anyone interested in exploring other ways to make studying abroad a priority within his or her college experience. mnewman@unews.com

Dr. Rao lifts up SCE with award Sumanth Koushik Kalli Beat Writer Dr. Praveen Rao, assiociate professor in the School of Computing and Engineering received the International Business Machines Corporation’s 2013 Big Data and Analytics Faculty Award for the course he designed on Big Data, the term used for a collection of data too large for hands-on processing tools.

“I am very excited that IBM has selected my proposal. The fact that UMKC will be one of the few schools to prepare a Big Data curriculum thrills me. I am happy for the School of Computing and Engineering and UMKC,” Rao said.

Rao explained that companies which primarily used Relational Database Management Systems are now seeing the need for other systems that can handle larger amounts of data.

The new course on Big Data and analytics will help students to gain insights for driving business and deals with structured and unstructured data. The course mainly concentrates on gaining technical skills, projects, analysis of data and interpreting data.

Rao said he designed the course by using his past experiences teaching Operating systems and Database Management systems. He also discovered new tools from IBM’s Academic Initiative program.

After completing the course, Rao said a student should have the required skill set to solve real world problems.

Rao’s background is in database management and his research focuses on developing new data structures and algorithms for the Extensive Markup Language and Resource Description Framework models. Both languages are used for encoding documents into a readable forms.

The large number of RDF datasets available on the web and the emerging Cloud Computing technology pushed Rao towards developing a new RDF store using

INDUS welcomes freshmen Prannoy Kirran Contributing Writer

representatives, preparing younger students for future leadership roles in the organization. During the board INDUS conducted a freshman introduction, everyone stated their meeting on Aug. 27, where new name, major and their favorite dish. students were invited to discuss A list of events for the academic plans for the academic year. year were presented, including INDUS is an organization in INDUS’s formal on Sept. 20. After which people from India get together this, INDUS moves to a festive and participate in different cultural, season where a Diwali/Eid dinner educational and informational will be organized in November. Holi, programs. This organization focuses a festival celebrating the colors of life, on Indian immigrants studying at is being conducted by Lakshmi for UMKC, examining the population March. One of the most prestigious size, cultures and customs. It events, the INDUS talent show, is provides a large platform, extending scheduled for early 2014. In addition to these, there are future plans for a movie night and henna night.

To become a member of INDUS, a membership fee costs $50 for six years and includes t-shirts every year, discounts at events and Students participate in an INDUS meeting Tuesday Aug. 27. other perks. The Photo // Prannoy Kirran m e m b e r s h i p its services and events deadline to students. is Sept. 10. Responsibilities of a The meeting opened with a representative include publicizing welcome drink of mango lassi and an events, attending board meetings introduction of the executive board. and reaching out to students.

Meghna Singh, president of INDUS, The INDUS formal will take Slesha Patel and Ravali Gummi, place at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20, at the facilitated the meeting.

Masquerade Hall, 3027 Walnut St. Nilbhi Patel, INDUS secretary, Tickets are $7 for members and $12 provides updates and takes minutes for non-members. at the meetings. Samantha Dodda, treasurer, takes care of the group’s pkirran@unews.com expenses. Rahul Maheshwari, publicity manager, handles events and the advertising broadcast, while keeping in touch with students and publicizing INDUS’s events.

While Lakshmi Katta, Vaidehi Trivedi, Lexi Vollmar work as social chairs, Anchana Dominic, Mrigank Gupta, Riddhi Ishanapara serve as members at large.

Any students who Mango Lassi, a popular beverage amongst come to the meeting INDUS members.

Photo // Prannoy Kirran can be freshman

Dr. Rao receives IBM’s 2013 Big Data and Analytics Faculty Award. a cloud computing Photo // Sumanth Koushik Kalli platform. There are “It was really amazing and best part many challenging problems in of my computer science education. I indexing and query processing of gained deep knowledge in computer RDF data which Rao and his team systems and was successful in are attempting to solve. This project becoming an independent researcher has been funded by the National under the guidance of Professor Science Foundation.

Bongki Moon,” Dr. Rao said.

Rao also received an Amazon Web Rao obtained his Bachelor’s degree Services Education research grant for in Computer Engineering from the his research which provides $10,000 University of Pune. credit to use Amazon’s cloud. He has Rao has also worked for Amazon completed projects supported by as a software engineer.

Intel Labs to study performance of “I realized the importance of RDF query processing on Intel Single developing high quality code in chip cloud computer, a prototype Amazon,” he said. manycore processor with 48 cores on He has worked with great one single chip. Rao’s team showed engineers at Amazon and was part of that task parallelism is a better the Search engine team. Rao’s model than data parallelism to speed advice to the new computer up the RDF query processing. science comes out short and straight.

Apart from the customary research “While in school try to learn projects, Rao was also involved in an as much as possible, build a solid outreach project sponsored by KCPL foundation in computer science which focuses on educating high and learn to develop high quality school students in Kansas City about software systems,” Rao said.. solar energy.

Rao feels elated in describing his Master’s and Ph.D. study experience skalli@unews.com at the University of Arizona.

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Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

6

Food truck sells Scotch Eggs, fish and chips, hot coffee and deep fried Mars bars.

IRISH

Vendors line the streets selling traditional Irish decorations.

Cottage: Irish thatched cottages are the norm and Irish Fest 2013 showed of the real estate during this year’s festivities. This cottage-style architecture became exceedingly popular around the 1700s, seemingly popping out of the landscape that surrounded them. Floors tended to be made out of mud or clay and fireplaces were formed from stone. Thatcher’s were reputable tradesmen, necessary for repairing major damage, though some tasks such as repairing the roof were deemed the cottage owner’s responsibility.

As the picture shows, most cottages only extended one room deep, though the apparent size usually varied. Antiquated cottages are likely to contain very few windows, or existing windows will be quite small. This could be due to a window tax that occurred between 1799-1851 called a typhus tax.

Erin Melrose Broadcast Assistant Green fountains, kilts and Crown Center lined up with food trucks kicked off the 11th annual Irish Festival.

Since 2003, the Kansas City Irish Fest and Crown Center have partnered up, bringing culture, live music and authentic Celtic merchandise to the streets of downtown Kansas City.

The festival featured performances from more than 30 bands on seven stages. With a range of performances from The Elders, Damian Dempsey and the Step Crew, more than 100,000 spectators gathered to absorb the culture of the festival. According to the 2011 annual report, consumers spent over $300,000 on alcoholic beverages. The amount spent in 2013 is likely to have increased.

The Irish festival also housed a Culture Cafe complete with inhouse geology experts.

“It’s great because we feature music, food, and most importantly, culture, with the culture cafe,” Follis said, “which includes live Skyping to Ireland.”

Originally known as the Heritage stage, the Cafe was renamed and transformed into an activity center with arts and cultural operations.

Spectators are able to receive an authentic taste of Irish lifestyle and a chance to partake in group dancing and Gaelic speaking lessons.

In addition to learning the authentic Irish way of living, the Festival introduced several signature contests, such as a hat knitting contest, baking contest and brewing

Guinness: A quick look into the history of Guinness could turn any skeptic into a beer drinker.

The Irish stout has roots dating all the way back to 1725, with the birth of Arthur Guinness. In 1752, Arthur received a £100 inheritance, which he uses three years later to set up a brewing business just outside of Dublin. Arthur signed a 9,000 year lease on a disused brewery in 1759 equipped with all the necessities to brew porter and ale. Ten years later Guinness exported first shipment of barrels to England. Business was booming, publicity was at an all-time high and Arthur Guinness was able to see the rewards of his success until his death in 1803, willing the brewing mantle to his son Arthur Guinness II. During the reign of the junior Guinness, recipes were solidified, new exporting locations are acquired and the beer becomes a worldwide name. Fast forward through more expansion and changes in ownership mixed with some pitfalls, today Guinness can be found in more than 150 pubs around the world, including Irish Fest 2013.

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

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FEST contest. Several raffles were also drawn, which included a round trip airfare for two to Ireland.

Ed Follis, founding member and part of the board of directors, has been with the festival since the beginning.

“The first year of the Kansas City Irish Fest was down at the river front at Berkley River Park and it got rained out, we had about 11 inches of rain,” Follis said. The next year Crown Center came to us asking if we wanted to come there and it’s been a phenomenal partnership ever since.”

Boulevard Brewery contributed to the festival with an entire stage devoted to classic Irish harmonies, accompanied by a Boulevard original Irish Ale. Vendors cover the streets in green with jewelry, apparel and unusual decorations.

A tribute to the listless members of the Fire Department was featured as a special addition to this year’s Irish fest. With a majority of firefighters accustomed to rough work and intense labor, Kansas City seized the opportunity to praise their Irish ancestors. Vintage fire trucks and buildings were set among a sea of green.

After three days of eating, dancing and drinking, the festival concluded with a traditional Catholic Mass.

According to its website, this is Kansas City’s largest outdoor Catholic Mass. emelrose@unews.com

Live music from more than 30 bands takes place on the Boulevard Stage, and 6 others.

Crown Center lined up with booths, vendors, and food trucks.

Vintage fire truck pays homage to Kansas City’s fire department.

Photos // Erin Melrose Illustration // Joey Hill

Scotch Egg: This interesting delicacy consists of a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat and coated in breadcrumbs. This bundle is then deep-fried and commonly served cold.

According a 2011 article in The Telegraph, the Scotch egg’s origins are obscure. There is a theory it was created as a portable snack for rich coach travelers in 1738, although the size of the eggs would have been reasonably smaller. This also would have entailed a finer variety of meats only available to wealthy pocketbooks, but archivist Dr. Andrea Turner believes the bite-size treat passed its way down the social ladder, and many adaptations could have been formed.

Another theory stems from an Indian dish called Nargisi Kofta made from minced meat and a boiled egg.

Yet another theory points fingers at a spin on the Cornish pastry produced by Scottish smallholders.

No matter the true roots of this savory item, many Irish Fest visitors were able to sink their teeth into this tiny conversation starter.

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

8

Players to Watch

VOLLEYBALL

Emma Hagedorn

Dan Moreno Senior Beat Writer Sophomore middle hitter Emma Hagedorn was named to the preseason All-WAC Team two weeks ago. Hagedorn had an unforgettable season last year where she started 27 matches, registered 235 kills, 29 digs and 94 blocks, which entered in the school history’s record. Hagedorn not only has skills on the court but also in the classroom, which earned her a spot on the Honorable Mention All-Summit League and The Summit League All-Freshman team. The six-foottwo Parkville, Mo., native is a must on Head Coach Christi Posey’s squad and will add many positive things to the team.

Position: Middle Hitter

Height: 6’2” Year: Sophomore Hometown: Parkville, MO

Mellisa Hartsel Position: Middle Hitter Height: 6’2” Year: Junior Hometown: Concordia, KS

MEN’S SOCCER Alioune Gueye: Senior midfielder Alioune Gueye came to UMKC from Rockhurst University in the fall of 2012 in which he practiced with the Roos during his redshirt season.

Gueye was unable to compete due to NCAA regulations.

Gueye will be playing his first and last season under Head Coach Rick Benben. Before the switch, Gueye helped the Hawks go to the NCAA-II Elite Eight in 2011 in which he ranked second on the squad with five assists. Gueye’s main attributes are speed and strength, which is a perfect addition to Benben’s team as they play their first season in the WAC.

Melissa Hartsel: Originally from Concordia, Kan., Melissa Hartsel is one of the new faces of this year’s team. Hartsel is a six-foot-two junior who transferred from the University of Missouri where she saw action in 17 matches and played 37 sets. Hartsel left the Tigers to join the Roos thanks to her experience and ability on the court where she serves as a middle hitter. Hartsel saw action this weekend at the Arkansas Invitational where she notched five blocks and shined on the court in all three matches against New Mexico, Northwestern State and Arkansas.

Alioune Gueye Position: Midfielder Height: 5’10” Year: Senior Hometown: St. Peters, MO

Roberto Albuquerque Position: Midfielder Height: 6’1” Year: Sophomore Hometown: Chicago, IL

Roberto Albuquerque: Sophomore Roberto Albuquerque came back to UMKC motivated after spending the summer in Spain where he tried out with professional teams such as Real Oviedo B, Real Aviles C.F. and Real Sporting de Gijon.

During his stay in Spain, Albuquerque scored one goal on Aug. 4 helping Real Aviles to victory against Colunga in a game that ended 3-0. Last season, the Park Ridge, Ill., native played in 11 contests and started three times in the midfield.

Albuquerque seems to fit in Coach Benben’s starting lineup.

WOMEN’S SOCCER Taylor Bare: Senior Taylor Bare will be playing her last season with the Roos and will try to repeat the year she had last season where she appeared in all 18 games, led the Kangaroos in points (13) and scored six goals throughout the season, which earned her the College Sports Madness First Team All-Summit League honors. Playing in the top of the field, there is no one better than Bare to score goals and add an aggressive style of play to Cissell’s squad.

Taylor Bare Position: Forward Height: 5’7” Year: Senior Hometown: Anoka, MN

Nina Tzianos Position: Goalkeeper Height: 5’9” Year: Sophomore Hometown: St. Louis, MO Photos // Google

Nina Tzianos: Sophomore goalkeeper Nina Tzianos will be playing her second season as a Kangaroo in which the WAC already honored her with a Defensive Player of the Week award for Aug. 19-25. Tzianos started the season on the right foot as she recorded a shutout in the first preseason game against SIUE, recording three saves. Last season Tzianos made 15 appearances and finished with a 4-7-4 record. Leading the Kangaroos with 71 saves, the fourth most in team single-season history, Tzianos adds confidence to the team and has spectacular reflexes, which have gained Head Coach Chris Cissell’s trust to stay as the starting goalie this season. dmoreno@unews.com

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

Health Journal:

Sweet dreams smoothie Lindsay Adams Senior Beat Writer

Oakley and Miller join Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Dan Moreno Senior Beat Writer

Ingredients:

Last month, the Western Athletic Conference named men’s soccer junior Michael Oakley and volleyball sophomore Taryn Miller to the WAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to represent UMKC. The WAC SAAC is a proactive committee, whose main goal is to make a positive impact within the

1 avocado 1 banana 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt 1 1/2 cups orange juice (If juicing oranges at home, it will take about three) 1/4 cup honey 2 1/2 cups ice

Directions

1. In a blender, combine the avocado, banana, yogurt and orange juice. Blend until smooth.

2. Add honey to taste. 1/4 of a cup will make a fairly sweet smoothie.

If the preference is for a less sweet smoothie, add the amount slowly, blend it and then taste.

3. Add the ice and blend until completely smooth. Be sure not to overfill the blender or the ice will not blend well.

4. Serve immediately.

This recipe will make approximately four servings. Each serving contains approximately 147 calories. This is not a full meal. To turn the smoothie into a full meal, use

Photo //Lindsay Adams enough protein powder to equal at least 10 grams of protein per serving.

This will raise the calorie count, but any food with higher protein will have higher calories. ladams@unews.com

Junior Michael Oakley accepts position on the WAC advisory committee.

Photo // Matt Cook Illustration // Joey Hill

Roos on the rise Erin Melrose Broadcast Assistant UMKC recently partnered with Sporting KC and is now known as the team’s only university partner.

“For us as a brand, we’ve got five owners that are all local, from Kansas City, so to be able to partner with a local university I think just made a lot of sense,” said Kurt Austin, Sporting KC’s communications manager.

According to Chancellor Leo Morton, both UMKC and Sporting are in the process of growing and the partnership seemed natural.

“In the coming months, people will have a unique opportunity to celebrate Kansas City’s university and its Major League Soccer team,” Morton said in a University Communications press release. “This partnership pairs two organizations that are achieving goals and gaining fans, and that’s something to cheer about.”

Anne Hartung Spenner, vice chancellor for strategic marketing at UMKC, said she feels this will help UMKC move forward in their plan for a more city-focused university.

“We both appeal to young, diverse audiences. We’re both engaged in the community and care about the future of the metro area,” Spenner said.

In August, fans participated in “Rally with the Roos,” a month-long contest that gave away 10 packages, which included Sporting tickets, food and beverages and a signed soccer ball.

As part of the rally, Sporting KC will be paying homage to UMKC as their partner on their final game of the season on Oct. 18.

“August was the big push,” Austin said.

Fans can bid farewell to another great season with more than 10,000 giveaway items and plenty

9

Illustration // Joey Hill of autographed soccer balls by homegrown SKC favorites Graham Zusi, Kevin Ellis and Mikey Lopez.

“There has been an outpouring of interest from students, student organizations and faculty and staff for Sporting KC tickets,” Spenner said.

“Sporting KC player appearances on campus have also generated a lot of attention.”

After a year in the making, UMKC students can finally start to get involved in the partnership and embrace the school’s new ally.

“For us it’s exciting because it’s our biggest demographic. We’ve seen a lot of success with that 1824 age group, men and women – they’ve really been able to drive the atmosphere of the stadium,” Austin said.

Spenner shares the same positivity.

“This pairing really brings together a university on the rise with a team on the rise,” Spenner said.

The duo has created an exciting outlet for students as well as the rest of Kansas City to get on board with professional soccer.

“It’s just been an all around turn around from where we were three or four years ago,” Austin said.

Visit umkc.edu/sportingkc for a chance to win tickets before the final game. emelrose@unews.com

WAC membership. Every year each institution affiliated with the WAC selects two student-athletes to serve on the committee.

Both Miller and Oakley felt honored when they received the news.

“I love being involved with the school, I love being on the volleyball team, so getting to promote that to our community has me really excited,” Miller said.

Oakley agreed.

“I think that is always important to be a leader on the field but to represent all the student-athletes is a real privilege,” Oakley said.

The committee members’ job is to conduct a community service outreach project within its institution’s local area. The WAC states that past projects have included: sport camps and clinics for underprivileged children, visiting children’s hospitals and homeless shelters in order to promote education, sports and more The WAC SAAC was established in 1998 and since its implementation, the committee has also helped strengthen communication between athletes, campus administrators and coaches.

“We are going to be even more involved with UMKC,” Miller said.

“We will do different fundraisers for the committee, raise awareness of our game and work to promote our athletes.”

Player Profile:

Sophomore Taryn Miller promotes the community with her position.

Photo // Dan Moreno This year’s UMKC SAAC service projects include the UMKC’s Women’s Center Walk-A-Mile in Her Shoes, the Summit Food Fight, Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics and many other events throughout the school year.

Both Miller and Oakley agreed that time management is the key to succeed as a student-athlete and they hope to promote a positive studentathlete image on campus.

“Time management and being well prepared are basic to succeed,” Oakley said. “There are always things you will have to sacrifice.” dmoreno@unews.com

From Brazil to Kansas City

Dan Moreno Senior Beat Writer

Junior forward Tayna “Tato” Chiaparro started at UMKC this season from Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Ill. to play as a forward on the men’s soccer team.

Chiaparro moved to America two years ago from Sao Paulo, Brazil, until he decided to pursue professional soccer.

Last year, Chiaparro was named the Region Forward of the Year and to the First-Team All-Region squad.

He helped the Trailblazers finish with a 13-7-1 record and he scored 14 goals throughout the season.

Chiaparro said he noticed the United State’s style of soccer is different than his home country.

“In the United States, soccer is really physical,” Chiaparro said.

“American players are a lot stronger, different from Brazil where we focus more on technique, ability and speed.”

In Brazil, Chiaparro played high school futsal, a modified version of soccer, and previous to that he was the team captain at Colegio Joao XXIII .

Kansas City has caught Chiaparro’s attention and even though he has been here for no less than two months, Chiaparro said he feels comfortable here.

“It is amazing to be here. Kansas City is beautiful,”he said. “My teammates are great and I am enjoying my experience here.”

Chiaparro said he believes that wearing number 10 on his back is a great responsibility. As a forward, he

CAPTION CAPTION CAPTION CAPTION is expected to not only score goals but also bring a different style of play.

“Creativity is my top skill. I would say I have different things to offer to Coach Benben,” Chiaparro said.

“Everything I do on the field has to do with speed anddribbling, and I do it with lots of passion.”

To win it all is the reason Chiaparro said yes to Benben last spring when he was recruited to play for UMKC.

Photo // Matt Cook “I want to win everything,” he said.

“I hope we can win the conference and head to the nationals. That is a lot of work but everything is possible.

Personally, I will give everything I can to help my team in order to get to the top.” dmoreno@unews.com

Chiefs ready for season opener

With the trade of wide receiver Jon Matt Melson Baldwin and the cuts of 15 players Broadcast Assistant within the last week, the team looks The Kansas City Chiefs look to be to be on a path for a playoff run this in great shape for the season opener year.

The Chiefs were slow to start against Jacksonville next week. In the last game of the preseason, the in the last game of the preseason. team showed off what their number Quarterback Alex Smith watched two and number three quarterbacks the game from the sideline giving could do. Chase Daniel took this Chad Daniel his chance to shine. game to solidify his position as the Daniel marched the offense all over the field in the first quarter but was backup quarterback.

The roster of the team has been unable to finish either drive with a narrowed down slowly over the touchdown.

The improvement by third course of the preseason and is close to being finalized in the coming week. string quarterback Tyler Bray was

impressive in this game. Bray threw three touchdown passes throughout the three quarters he was in, and he seemed to be a natural on the field.

He even threw a 43 yard touchdown pass to Josh Bellamy late in the third quarter.

“Tyler did a nice job for a young guy stepping in,” Chiefs Coach Andy Reid said. “Most series he put us in some form of a scoring position, whether it was a touchdown or a field goal.” mmelson@unews.com

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

World’s End a minty fresh ending to Wright’s trilogy Chloe’ Robbins-Anderson Copy Editor Director Edgar Wright unleashed the final movie of his “Three Flavours Cornetto” trilogy, “The World’s End.” The parodical trilogy, which pays homage to Krzysztof Kielowski’s “Three Color Trilogy,” began with “Shaun of the Dead” as the red strawberry ice cream for its gore and “Hot Fuzz” as the blue Classico ice cream for the law enforcement. “World’s End” features a fleeting green mint ice cream wrapper for its sciencefiction elements. Watch for the Cornetto Ice Cream reference in this one. It essentially slaps the viewer in the face.

The film begins with Simon Pegg’s character, Gary King, telling the tale of the best night of his life, during which he and four friends attempted to conquer the Golden Mile, a pub crawl consisting of 12 pubs ending with the fabled World’s End Tavern.

Members of the group were lost along the way due to various incidents and the final survivors ended up three pubs short by the time the sun rose the next morning.

As Gary tells the story 20 years later, he realizes he must complete the Golden Mile to feel fulfilled, so he dons the same outfit from the fateful night and rallies his four friends, who begrudgingly join him. During the crawl, the group notices something strange about the residents who have stayed in the small town that increases in danger until – you guessed it – The World’s End. Anyone familiar with the first two movies of the trilogy, “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” will find much of the same editing techniques and familiar faces.

Besides Pegg and Nick Frost, who once again play in the rocky friendship, viewers should recognize Julia Deakin, Martin Freeman, Rafe Spall and Bill

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The Spectacular Now Challenges Audience Perception of Life Lindsay Nelson Broadcast Assistant

Photo // Google Nighy - if in voice only - from all three films, plus a host of other actors who join the cast from only one of the other movies.

This script was certainly more mature than the preceding films, but laughs were less surprising and uproarious. The characters were more fully formed and the tenuous relationship between friends was there less for “Odd Couple”-type laughs. As with the preceding films, there is a moment between the two that tugs at the heartstrings, but pulls out on a lighter note in the end.

The dialogue is quick-paced and certainly amusing, especially any suggestion the group tries for naming the beings that have replaced the locals and every time the locals recite the origin of the word “robot” and why that does not apply. The group spends much of the time arguing about whether the imposters are robots or aliens. Without spoiling the surprise, know that some of the suggestions are pretty genius.

Of course, as is a common trait of trilogies, many moments will be familiar for viewers. Aside from the aforementioned friendship, there are quick, dramatic editing cuts that are very similar. A more subtle nod is the game machines in each of the movies, which also play the same tune. This is not to say, of course, that one must watch all three movies before enjoying this one, but loyal fans will be the ones rolling in the aisles more often.

As with most independent filmmakers, Director James Ponsoldt knows how to delve deep into the spectacular moments in life because “The Spectacular Now” is indeed spectacular. Based on the novel by Tim Tharp, screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber have adapted a phenomenal screenplay about life and what to make of it.

Audiences embark on this journey depicted through the lives of two high school seniors, Sutter (Miles Teller) and Aimee (Shailene Woodley). Sutter is the high school hotshot. He knows each of his classmates by first and last name, attends all parties and loves every minute. When his too-cool girlfriend ends the relationship, Sutter shrugs off the break-up with numerous alcoholic beverages. He is awakened on a strange lawn by a girl he slightly recognizes, Aimee—a quiet, naturally pretty, motivated girl.

After assisting Aimee with her paper route, their friendship sparks and the two experience life events together. Sutter is reunited with his father who left when he was a child. Aimee stands up for her future plans, they attend prom and make plans for after graduation.

However, nothing happens exactly as the audience anticipates.

This may seem to be the average coming-of-age film, but something spectacular is still to come.

Teller and Woodley deliver superb performances. Sutter deserves a punch to the face several

Photo // Google times throughout the film, yet at the same time he is so transparent that relating to the character is inevitable.

Woodley gives one of her strongest performances to date. In a scene following a rather awful event, Aimee should have been wildly upset, but she was only concerned about Sutter.

“The Spectacular Now” is a simple story with subtleties powerful enough to make the audience take a second to think about life. Sutter is constantly saying how “living in the now” is all a person can do. Aimee insists on believing in dreams. It poses questions such as, how willing is someone to try to change another person’s life. How willing is a person to allow his or her life to be changed by someone else? lnelson@unews.com

crobbins@unews.com

Illustration // Joey Hill

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Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

What to do in Kansas City Ericka Chatman

Staff Writer

Kansas City has the reputation of being unfriendly to those under 21, but there are a variety of ways to have fun and experience the city for little money. Most of these places are within walking distance from campus or just a short metro bus ride away.

Cinemark Palace At The Plaza

Cinemark Palace is a short walk from campus, located at 526 Nichols Rd. Cinemark has a variety of newly released movies. Newly relased movies can be seen for only $4.25 before 6 p.m. and $6.25 after 6 p.m. Cinemark also has an email club where free weekly concessions coupons are sent out.

The Warkoczewski (Warko) Observatory

The Warko is located on the roof of Royall Hall, and is open to the public on most clear Friday nights starting at dusk. At the Warko, visitors are able to view the moon, Venus, Mars, Saturn, star clusters, Jupiter and other galaxies. The Warko is open from May 1 through Oct.31. Free parking is located in the garage by Royall Hall during the open hours of the observatory. For more information visit cas.umkc. edu/physics/resources. There is no admission fee for the Observatory.

Boulevard Brewing Company Tours

Boulevard

Brewing

Company

Franz Ferdinand is the right addition Lindsay Nelson Broadcast Assistant

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, located at 4525 Oak Street is within walking distance from campus. The museum is known for its extensive collection of Asian art, but the works range from ancient to modern day. Walking tours and mobile-guided tours are also offered.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Visit nelson-atkins. org for hours. There is no admission fee.

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The back lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. offers daily free tours of their Photo // Kynslie Otte production facility located at 2501 types of artists. Indoor and outdoor Southwest Blvd. The tour is 45 entertainment is provided at the minutes and teaches the history surrounding shops. There is a variety of the company and the brewing of restaurants and bars in the area process.. The tour ends in the that serve burgers, Thai, Italian, Tasting Room where visitors are Mexican, barbeque, seafood, steaks able to sample a variety of Boulevard and more. There is no admission fee beers. Visit boulevard.com to make to First Fridays. a reservation. There is no admission Kansas City Power & Light fee for the Tours, but guests must be District (KCP&L) 21 or older to attend.

The Kansas City Power and Hallmark Visitors Center Light District contains more than The Hallmark Visitors Center, 50 restaurants, bars, and shops. located in Crown Center, is a short The Power and Light district also bus ride from campus. Visitors hosts free concerts throughout the can learn about the history of year. For more information, visit Hallmark cards, view the production powerandlightdistrict.com. process watch interactive videos Admission is free before 11 p.m, and view how the greeting cards though guests must be 21 or older to business evolved over time. The attend after 10 p.m, and some bars Hallmark Visitors Center is open require a cover charge.

Monday through Saturday. Visit Note: UMKC students have $28 hallmarkvisitorscenter.com for added to his or her tuition each hours. There is no admission fee. year for the citywide student bus First Fridays at The program. Therefore, the bus is free to Crossroads District ride for all students.

Every first Friday of the month, For more information about bus rain or shine, the Crossroads district transportation, visit umkc.edu/ offers an eclectic experience of art transportation/metro.asp. culture. Between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., echatman@unews.com view different art galleries from all

Sounding like a mash-up of The Police and The Smiths, Franz Ferdinand continues its modern indie tune-up with the fourth album entitled “Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action.” Listeners may easily identify Franz Ferdinand by its second single from 2003, “Take Me Out,” which reached number three on the U.K. charts.

Following its single, “Right Action,” the next best song on the album is “Stand on the Horizon.”

It is the most reminiscent of their smash “Take Me Out.” The band’s core sound is made up of repetitive rhythms of guitar and cymbals and soft ballads.

Immediately following is a song called “Fresh Strawberries.” Do not be deceived by the title, because it sounds nothing like “Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles, nor do the voices of lead singer Alex Kapranos and John Lennon sound similar. However, the lyrics of the

two songs vaguely depict the same message. Apparently, strawberries hold some sort of key to a hit song .

“Treason! Animals” is a good listen with a great name, but probably won’t sit at the top of any charts.

“The Universe Expanded” takes the album to a different place. It is one of the few slower songs on the album and, as energetic as the band is, Franz Ferdinand does slow down well. It is reminiscent of “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths.

Before the album comes to a close, listeners must hold out for “Goodbye Lovers and Friends.” This song has elements of every track in the album mixed together. With the rhythm and percussion, the song is definitely well made.

Franz Ferdinand will begin touring with “Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions” this fall. They will perform at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the Granada Theatre in Lawrence, Kan. lnelson@unews.com

Useful apps help students stay organized Prannoy Kiran Staff Writer

In a world of using cell phones for entertainment, mobile devices can also be a great study aid. Several apps aimed toward studying can be a great resource.

Dropbox

Dropbox makes sharing files easier.

Others do not need to have this app to send files to your Dropbox.

Even though it is a bit similar to Evernote, it is more concentrated on cloud-based sharing. Presentations can be kept on the device and shared with colleagues and friends instantaneously. A 2 gigabyte cloud memory is allocated to the user, making the service more versatile in syncing data between mobile, desktop and several compatible apps. This app is supported by Android, iPhone, Windows Phone and BlackBerry. The Dropbox team advises users not to keep any identity-sensitive information like bank details in Dropbox for safety purposes.

Evernote

This has become a ubiquitous note-making tool to capture information from websites, store documents, photos and audio, take recordings and perform other tasks.

It offers plenty of useful features and syncs notes across multiple devices, from smartphones to computers.

However the upgraded version allows users to have more features like offline notes when there is no available internet connection. The key point is to have access to notes at all times. Students can save their data in different formats like .pdf and .txt . These formats can be directly saved immediately after recording data. The premium version adds extra space for more of an advantage to users.

Pulse

Pulse is a news-collecting app that helps students bring several blogs together and create sections of publications like business, sports, entertainment, technology, lifestyle, food and others. Interesting stories can be saved and read later.

Tapping on an article gives the user an enhanced view of the story. This is an award-winning application with more than 20 million users. A Highlights feed is provided on Pulse for anyone in a hurry.

Google Play Books

This is an app from Google with which students can rent books online instead of buying them.

People can chose from millions of titles in the Google Play Store, including new releases, New York Times Best Sellers and free books.

It can be rented for 180 days and is supported by both iPhone and Android. It can be easily personalized on a smartphone or tablet, giving users an option of bookmarks to help them pick up from where they left.

Highlighting along with note taking is a new feature added to the app.

Mint

Millions of students manage their finances by keeping a track of how much they spend. The Mint app makes this easier with a well-designed web interface. The best feature of this app is that it has a central repository that feels similar to online banking sites with checking account, savings account and credit cards. This syncs bank details to the repository, showing the same information found on a bank website. Mint automatically sorts transactions into groups, making it visible through charts and graphs.

The app even notifies users via email whenever money decreases in an account. pkirran@unews.com

Photos // Google

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

12

“The Session”

Show has potential,needs some tweaking

Lindsay Adams Senior Beat Writer

by bitterness. Cynthia, a Hispanic woman, is hindered by a language barrier. Beth is self-loathing. The five women learn more about themselves and each other than they ever expected in a two-hour session.

The beginning of the show was a bit slow to start, but once the characters were introduced and started to interact the pace picked up. The differences between the women lead to many interesting interactions and set up many possibilities. Unfortunately many were not realized.

The difficulty in setting a show in an anger management session is the certainty of more banal moments.

there. This can make the play overtly expository and break the rhythm of the show.

“The Session”, a play by new Kansas Writing characters from so City theatre group, MeltingPot KC many varied backgrounds is a huge is extremely ambitious, tackling challenge. They were all interesting difficult issues of race and gender conceptually, but the executions of while also trying to tell five different the different characters were hit-orwomen’s stories, mostly through miss. Unfortunately several of the monologues. characters appear as a personification Each act of the play was preceded of an issue rather than a person who by spoken word artists Mz Angela has had to deal with a larger political Roux and Cheri Woods, who nearly or social issue. This was particularly overshadowed the theatrical piece the case in the character of Cynthia. with their distinctive voices.

Her monologue was not the story of The show is tells of five women a person, but the stereotypical story who are forced to go to a courtof a people. The issue was not made ordered anger management session. personal to her, but was generalized and vague, which made it hard to understand the depth of the character..

The goal of the show is quite clear: to present five characters who seem easy to understand on the surface while trying to show the unexpected layers underneath. Some of them still remained two-dimensional, however, at the end of the show. Only two of the characters gave specific experiences in their lives when telling their own story. One character, Beth, whose story From left to right: Vanessa Harper as Beth, Alexandria Washington as Reatha, Marilyn Lynch as Ms. Hunter, and Nicole Santorella as Cynthia. was unique and Photo // Lindsay Adams authentic explains, Ms. Hunter leads the proceedings There is a mandatory meet and greet “Trailer trash was a step up for us.” and is fought at every turn by the session with the explanation of each She had a fantastic monologue with other four women who do not want woman’s presence, which is not an exceedingly detailed backstory to be there at all. Reatha is aggressive particularly suited to the dramatic. which made the viewer wish each and overcompensating. Mrs. Davis The main way the audience gets to character had been as fleshed out. seems to be the most together know the characters is through long There were a few other fantastic person in the room, but is stunted monologues explaining how they got moments in the dialogue. After one

From left to right: Alexandria Washington as Reatha, Nicole Santorella as Cynthia, Marilyn Lynch as Ms. Hunter, Vanessa Harper as Beth, and Lynn King as Ms. Davis.

Photo // Lindsay Adams character complains about being focused and strong in her portrayal. shoved to the back of the line all her Marilyn Lynch was delightful as a life, another points out, “Sounds like character with a lot of comedic but you’re taking yourself to the back dramatic moments as well. Vanessa of the line.” The twist at the end of Harper and Alexandria Washington the play is clever, but the audience rounded out the cast with nuanced realizes it long before the characters. portrayals of characters who The way the set was positioned could easily have been turned into accentuated some interesting angles. cardboard cutouts instead of people.

The lighting was understated and A lot of the issues, especially it focused on each character as they when it comes to racial stereotyping told their personal story while the and the tensions between different rest of the stage was dimmed. This minorities, were interestingly effect did effectively draw attention, told. These issues are not ones but the transition out of the light that are commonly dealt with, and was a bit distracting. The costumes bringing them to light in the show did a good job of delineating the is admirable and courageous. The characters, but at times they were play has extraordinary potential, but exaggerated. needs some reworking.

The ensemble cast of the show “The Session” runs through Sept. was good. They worked well 8 at the Off Broadway Theatre, 3051 together and in many cases elevated Central. More information can be the material. Nicolle Santorella, found at http://www.kcmeltingpot. especially, was absolutely fantastic com/. while playing the weakest written ladams@unews. com of the characters. Her emotion and expression made her relatable and likable. Lynn King was incredibly

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

13

Art from another world ERICKA SAVE$ UMKC fine arts gallery exhibits sci-fi inspired surrealism Joey Hill

Senior Beat Writer

The UMKC Gallery of Art opened the doors of a new exhibition simply titled “Anomalous: Investigating the Science Fiction Aesthetic,” an odd and surreal visionary trip Aug. 19.

Used to define inconsistencies and the moment in which it seems something has deviated from normalcy, “Anomalous” seems the perfect title for a science fiction themed art show. Featuring a wide collection of work from several artists spanning the city and the country alike, the show provides works that rely on a sense of the unknown and expand from the uncomfortably surreal to the almost captivatingly austere.

This focus on science fiction shouldn’t be taken as evidence that all presented in the show is rendering of robots carrying scantilyclad women to safety from hideous green abominations or still shots from “The Blob.”

“Anomalous” is centered around the aesthetics of science fiction.

The elements linger with the viewer and the reader long after the story is completed, the visions which can create a sort of silent terror or breathe a sense of abstract wonder into the narrative.

It is there that the focuses of artists Jonah Criswell, Matt Borruso, Scott Dickson, Ari Fish and Colin Leipelt lie, standing upon a precipice between the visual natures of horror and mystery which build this collection as something avidly open to interpretation.

One such artist to capture this sense of silent ambiguity is Jonah Criswell, who displayed a selection of his work from the series “Unsolved Mysteries,” an austere collection of renderings in graphite which challenges the connection between a two-dimensional drawing and a window into a three-dimensional space. Each are in monochromatic black on white with an extreme overbearing use of black except for the small inlet of white space making up the rendered drawing of a still shot from a movie.

Each image is rendered in a hyper-realist style and there are clear attempts to get as much detail in as possible, but each appears distorted in a way, fuzzy as if the source material used for the drawing was simply a photograph of the movie playing on a television. This immediately shifts the focus of what

the picture is actually of, that it could not actually be a rendering of a scene from a movie but actually a rendering of the film being played in a dark room in some unknown location. It is as though these are records of a bygone era, not of moviemaking, but culture in general, used as markers of an extreme shift in the world’s history.

None of the images are drawn to fit the square plane of the paper.

It’s always drawn at an odd angle, making it all the more physical.

There is so little information given to

that brought enormous questions involving the role of government, technology and free will to the surface of American literature. Many films have been produced based on his stories including, “A Scanner Darkly”, “Minority Report”, “Total Recall” and “The Adjustment Bureau.” Another notable film adaptation, widely regarded as a masterpiece of science fiction cinema, is Ridley Scott’s 1982 film “Blade Runner” based on Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” which questions what it means to be human as well as

Couponing 101 Ericka Chatman

Staff Writer

Couponing can help slash shopping bills by more than 50 percent. Television shows such as “Extreme Couponing” opened up the world of couponing to the general public, and left people in awe of how cast members were able to whittle his or her shopping bills down to a few dollars. These tips are not extreme but will help students save a lot of money. Here is a beginner’s guide to couponing:

Gather Coupons

Manufacturer’s Coupons: Most coupons come in the Sunday edition of The Kansas City Star.

Usually each issue contains one to five booklets of coupon inserts.

Coupon inserts are not printed the Sunday before a major holiday.

Usually the issue contains one Smart Source or Red Plum insert.

Depending on the time of the month there will also be a General Mills insert. A Procter & Gamble insert is included normally at the end of the month.

Print manufacturer’s coupons directly from the company website or websites such as coupons.com, couponnetwork.com, pg.com and smartsource.com.

Store Coupons: Store coupons are coupons generated directly from the store.

Store coupons can be printed from the store’s website, found inside of sales ads, sent by text, loaded to rewards cards and distributed by email. Sometimes they can be found throughout the store.

Other methods of gathering coupons: Search for coupons on Facebook, download coupon apps such as Ibotta, ask family and friends to save their coupon inserts, search recycling bins or get a subscription to “All You” magazine. “All You” magazine has hundreds of money saving tips, and a minimum of $50 in coupons each issue. Subscribe for only $5 per month for the first three months.

Organize Coupons

Illustration // Joey Hill the viewer that the mystery abounds in these works, and is part of their charm, past the initial excitement of seeing a snap shot of the little girl from “Poltergeist” staring into the television. Even with these near perfect representations of these images, the works still have a definite handmade quality. The blackness surrounding the screens is made up of a very fine hatching meticulously scrawled in even columns down the surface of the paper.

Speaking to the literal interest of visual dialogue on the aesthetics of science fiction, there is also a collection of rare Phillip K. Dick paperbacks on display. A monumental figure in the science fiction genre, Dick created stories

society’s treatment of technology as it is allowed to become more sentient with advancements.

The film is also included in the set of free film screenings showing within the next three weeks. The three screenings are all works of almost extreme surrealism in the sense of science fiction tropes. The first being John Boorman’s 1974 film “Zardoz,” a campy romp through a post-apocalyptic Earth inhabited by crazed barbaric humans who worship a giant stone head and are convinced to stop breeding and instead kill. Considered a cult classic, it’s worth a look just to see Sean Connery wearing knee-high leather boots with a braided ponytail.

The second is “Blade Runner” and the final film is an infamous work of captivating surrealism, Stanley Kubrik’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”.

Employing epic imagery, an incredible score and moments of extreme tension and terror, this film tells the story of astronauts on a mission to Jupiter that goes increasingly awry with the aggressive actions of the ships on-board computer.

“Anomalous” is an exhibit of extreme work. It includes works that pose questions, not only about what is being seen, but how. They make the argument that science fiction is not just about laser guns and robots but larger things, like when one looks at a photograph of the earth, a blue marble surrounded by an expansive blackness, what does one feel? Awe? Inspiration? Or maybe crippling loneliness.

“Anomalous” will be open through Oct. 4 at the UMKC Gallery of Art in the Fine Arts Building at 5015 Holmes Street.

The three film screenings are open to the public at the same location with “Zardoz” on Sept.

5, “Blade Runner” Sept. 19, and “2001: A Space Odyssey” at 7 p.m on Oct 3. jhill@unews.com

In order to coupon successfully, coupons need to be organized. Here are a few organizational ideas for coupons.

Filing System Coupon inserts can be organized by date in manila file folders and stored in a basket or file cabinet.

Coupons will be used by need base.

This method saves time, but isn’t beneficial when an unadvertised deal is spotted.

Coupon Binder A coupon binder is a 2-inch binder filled with coupons. Coupons are organized in clear protective sheets and baseball card protectors. A popular way to organize a coupon binder is by store aisle. Coupon binders take more time to organize, but are very beneficial for catching deals on unadvertised sales and clearance items.

Ericka Chatman

Print off and save your store’s coupon policy

Having a copy of the store’s coupon policy on-hand is crucial to successful couponing. Print a copy of each store’s policy and review it.

Reading the coupon policy helps determine what each store allows.

Some stores allow coupons to be doubled, while others don’t. Some stores allow couponing stacking, which is using a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon together to lower the price. Reviewing and having a hard copy of the coupon policy also allows shoppers to find loopholes and maximize their savings. It also helps having the policy present when dealing with cashiers who may not know how to handle coupon usage.

Using coupons to get free and cheap items After gathering coupons, organizing them, and reviewing the store’s coupon policies, it’s time to actually use the coupons to get major savings.

Match coupons with sales ads Search sales ads with the intention of only buying an item if it has a coupon with it. For example, if peanut butter is on sale for $1.49 and there is a $1.00 off coupon, the peanut butter would only cost $0.49 Search coupon blogs and money saving websites Search blogs that post store ad match-ups and deals. Sign up for their emails and alerts. These blogs break down each sales ad and match the coupon with it so all the reader has to do is find the coupon and copy that same scenario.

Take advantage of ‘Buy One Get One Free’ sales BOGO sales are one of the best ways to stock up on an item. With BOGO items a coupon can be used on both items even though one item is free. Remember, each item is considered a purchase, which means a coupon can be used for each item in the transaction. For example, body wash is $4.00 and has a BOGO sale.

There is a $2.00 off coupon for the body wash. Pick up two of the body washes, use two $2.00 coupons (one for each item). The final price would be free.

For specific savings tips, send me an email at echatman@unews.com

COUPON LINGO

B1G1 or BOGO – Buy One, Get One. Blinkies – Small red coupon machine in grocery stores with a small red blinking light that prints coupons.

CAT or Catalina-A group of items when purchased together produce a money off coupon. The machine is usually right next to the register.

ECB – Extra Care Bucks (CVS).

FAR – Free after rebate.

GM - General Mills.

Hang tags -Coupons that hang from a product.

IP – Internet printable.

MC or MQ – Manufacturer’s coupon.

MFR – Manufacturer.

MIR – Mail in rebate.

MM - Money Maker.

OOP – Out of pocket.

OYNO – On your next order.

Peelies – Coupons you find on the product itself and peel off.

PG – Proctor & Gamble PSP – Pre sale price Q – Coupon Rolling- Using store money like CATS or ECB’s to pay for your next order of items.

RP – Red Plum, a Sunday coupon insert.

RR – Register Reward (used at Walgreens) SS – Smart Source, a Sunday coupon insert.

Stack – To stack is to use two coupons together like using a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon together (some stores don’t allow you to stack).

Tear pads – Coupons that are able to be torn off a pad.

Wags- Walgreen’s Wine tag – A coupon that hangs on a bottle of wine. These are mostly used to get money off meat and fresh produce.

WYB – When you buy.

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

14

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 Editors-in-Chief Roze Brooks and Elizabeth Golden, editor@unews.com.

Why I shop Mom-and-Pop: An insider look at Kansas City should go into Prospero’s Uptown Jessica Turner Books at least once because it’s the Senior Beat Writer coziest bookstore on Earth.

I’m in the process of attempting Also, you live in Kansas City now. to kick my Starbucks addiction. We You drink Boulevard beer, and you’re all have our vices. Maybe that makes proud of it. You see movies at the me a hypocrite for tackling this Tivoli on Pennsylvania. If you’re a subject, but I’m doing it regardless, smoker, you go to the Jerusalem to encourage you to be mindful Café’s Hookah Lounge, and you consumers. get your accessories at Cooper’s on Our purchasing decisions can be Broadway. But be careful not to step used as the most effective tool we on the dog when you walk in. have with which to make important Chances are, you’ll get invited to a statements about what we expect night out at Power & Light, The Riot and demand from companies. Room or recordBar. But if you’re not Because we live in a capitalist system, into dress codes or having to doubleour money serves as the loudest voice up on your White Russians because we have. it’s going to be another hour before So when I buy a triple white a bartender pays attention to you, mocha, what I’m really saying is, I’d skip that scene and check out “Dear Starbucks, I don’t really care Davey’s Uptown on Main instead, that other smaller coffee houses took preferably the next time Hearts the initiative to go green long before of Darkness—Kansas City’s own you did—even though they had a Afrobeat ensemble—is scheduled fraction of your resources—and I for a gig. guess you don’t have to buy Fair Beauty Trade coffee all the time.”

As far as soaps, lotions, skincare Like I said, I’m working on it. and cosmetics, you may have to look In my defense, I have managed at the Plaza for small businesses to stay out of Wal-Mart for at least in this category, which could get 8 years. Because you have to draw pricey. But for an amazing shampoo the line somewhere, and aside from experience and hair cut, check out boycotting, what other incentive can Lady Luck Hair Parlour in Westport. we give corporations to discontinue Clothing their unethical business practices? I KC has so many unique shops in can’t possibly list all of Wal-Mart’s this department, but I’ll stick to my bad habits here, but I invite—nay, two favorites in Westport that apply beg—you to look into them. to all genders.

So where do I buy things?

Boomerang is a vintage clothing If you know where to look, there store and has styles to fit everyone’s are some really great places right tastes. I also like Arizona Trading around the corner that are worth Company—we locals call it ATC— checking out. To my fellow Kansas where you can find gently used, oneCity natives, some on my list may be of-a-kind garments and shoes. obvious. But a few of them are some Dining Out of Kansas City’s best kept secrets.

Pizza 51, of course. But a great These spots may be a little further alternative is Joe’s Pizza on out of your way, and you may wind up Pennsylvania, but you have to try it spending a bit more than you would with honey. Trust me. at Wal-Mart. But the experience and The Westport Flea Market Bar the message your money sends by & Grill really does have the best supporting these small businesses do burger in town, and Grinders in make up for it. Even if you don’t care the Crossroads Arts District has an that your dollar serves as a ballot and amazing BLT. you cast a vote each time you spend Everyone you talk to will one, you can’t argue that keeping the recommend a different barbecue money in Kansas City is an economic joint around here, but my personal benefit to all of us here. favorite is Arthur Bryant’s on Brooklyn in the Jazz District.

Try some of the places on this list For my vegetarian friends, try to become a more conscientious Eden Alley Café in the basement consumer: of Unity Temple on the Plaza, Food & Health and for something sweet, stop by Nature’s Own Health Food Murray’s Ice Creams and Cookies on Market on Main has lots of locally Pennsylvania. grown organic produce, and you can Coffee & Tea find all the fresh groceries from local It was the Crave Café. Then growers you can imagine at City Javanaut. Now it’s called Mud Pie Market on Walnut .

Vegan Bakery Coffeehouse, but Entertainment honestly, it doesn’t really matter. It’s It’s A Beautiful Day on Broadway not this place’s name that makes it is a mixed bag, combining records, special. At Mud Pie on 39th Street, books, clothing, jewelry, décor, bags, it’s about the atmosphere. shoes, accessories and other gifts.

Unlike many cafés, Mud Pie Even if you’re not in the market operates in an actual house. Explore for new reading materials, everyone

its upstairs bedrooms and find a comfy chair in a reading nook, or go with a friend and play a game of chess. They also bake a mean cupcake.

I also love the Broadway Café in Westport, for helping me with my Starbucks problem.

Art & Furniture

Rag and Bone in the West Bottoms is a fun place to get rare antiques, awesomely original home décor and extraordinary furniture. Want that vintage sign or piece of pottery for your dorm room or apartment that no one else has? You’ll find it at Rag and Bone, and it will feel like you’re on American Pickers while you’re looking for it.

Although there are several other spaces in KC to find items in this category, none that I’ve found compare to Rag and Bone, so I’m letting it stand alone on this list.

Be sure to bring cash to It’s A Beautiful Day: the green-friendly shop on Broadway that sells records, clothing, books, jewelry and more.

Fuel

I wish. This is the only category through which, unfortunately, I cannot guide you. The only thing I can recommend is to invest in a bicycle, which will make it easier to discover the little nuggets of commerce my beloved Kansas City has to offer.

It may seem like I’ve compiled this list to serve the trendy ideologies of a hipster generation. But to me, this list is about the senses.

I prefer the sound of a wooden floor creaking beneath my feet to the sound of my shoes squeaking annoyingly on department store tiles.

I prefer the aromas of homemade products to that fresh-off-theconveyor-belt smell.

I love hearing the laughter among shopkeepers who are excited to tell their customers about their products. I like hearing the stories behind how an object was made, or where it came from, while the sound of wooden wind chimes clank together in the background.

I get to taste the love that goes into a Snickerdoodle baked at The Classic Cookie in Waldo. I get to shop with my hands, and touch all of the different materials and fabrics that have gone into making these special belongings, and usually pet a furry friend, too, who eventually feels like part of my own family.

Above all, though, I like the personal atmosphere involved in the mom-and-pop approach to KC far more than walking into some chain I can find anywhere else in the country.

For those of you who know the city just as well—or better—than I do, tell us your recommendations for next week’s “Reader’s Pick,”. I can’t wait for some of you to introduce me to your favorite Kansas City gems, too. jturner@unews.com

Prospero’s Books at West 39th Street and Bell is what a book store should really look like: cozy, diverse, and well…full of books.

Get a relaxing shampoo and cut or color at Lady Luck Hair Parlour at the intersection of Westport Road and Central.

Joe’s Pizza is known as “The Little Pizza Shop in the back of Kelly’s,” and is a great place to grab lunch while checking out the shops in Westport.

Mud Pie Vegan Bakery Coffehouse is the perfect place to meet with friends for cup of coffee and a game of chess, or study in one of its inviting bedrooms.

Photos // Jessica Turner

From the Editor’s desk Roze Brooks Co-Editor-in-Chief

Skimming through last week’s issue, readers maymight hHave encountered quite a Bbit of thesethis.

Though this may look like an obscure language that requires a decoder pen, it’s actually just the result of our copy editors doing their job—making edits. Microsoft Word has equipped us with a nifty tool called “track changes” that essentially does just that—tracks changes.

However, when the text is copied into the software we use to layout your paper each week, those changes must be accepted into the document first. Though we do take responsibility for not ensuring those edits were properly reflected in the

final product, this is a simple error that could have happened to anyone.

We just happened to do it 4000 times in one week.

Our writers and editors have been on top of proper style, obtaining information, checking once, twice and even three times to produce the most fool-proof newspaper we can, but sometimes the time and technology aren’t in our favor.

This common transfer error does not reflect the skills, talent and capabilities of our editing, writing and production teams and we will aim to set a better example of our skill sets moving forward. In the meantime, enjoy the track changes jargon. rbrooks@unews.com

Roze Brooks

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

Gun violence: extreme home edition Matt Melson Broadcast Assistant It is time for us to take a realistic approach to addressing gun violence in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Justice in 2010 19,392 people died from suicide involving a gun, which accounted for 62 percent of gun violence deaths in that year. There were also 1,017 women murdered by their husbands in 2010, which accounted for 6.7 percent of gun violence deaths in that year. Combining these two numbers means that almost 70 percent of gun violence in the United States comes from within the home. The statistics for 2011 and 2012 are eerily similar.

This 70 percent of gun violence gets a rare glimmer of spotlight in the national discourse on gun violence. Much of the media tends to go towards the flashy gang violence side rather than addressing the temperament within the American home, but this side of the equation needs to be addressed as well. What is happening within the homes of this nation that is allowing for over 20,000 people to die by a firearm each year?

Domestic violence and suicide, although two very distinct ends of the gun violence spectrum, share a similar catalyst in this equation.

If you take suicide and look at the number one cause for it, you would see depression at the top of the list.

Take a domestic murder and of course domestic violence would be the precursor for that side. But if you were to look at the main cause for depression and for domestic violence, you would see stress at the top of each list.

The difficult thing about stress for people who suffer from it is defining it. If you were to ask five different people what stress meant, you would

likely get five different answers. The synopsis of what stress is comes from defining the symptoms and feelings that are associated with stress. But it is necessary to have an understanding of the symptoms as well so we can have an understanding of the impact these symptoms can have.

Why is stress the catalyst for 70 percent of gun violence that happens within the walls of the American home? According to the American Institute for Stress the symptoms that can accompany feelings of stress are quite intense. If one is feeling stressed they can have “excessive defensiveness or suspiciousness, problems in communication, social withdraw, depression, racing thoughts, sudden attacks of life threatening panic, suicidal thoughts and difficulty making decisions.”

People who are suffering from these symptoms are clearly more susceptible to depression and domestic issues within the home.

The problem is that stress is on the rise in our nation. The American Institute for Stress reported that 44 percent of the nation said their stress has increased in the last five years and almost one third of children said that in the last month they experienced a stress-like symptom.

With stress gaining such prominence within our society it is no wonder the costs associated with stress have sky-rocketed. Estimates by the American Psychological Association put the annual cost to employers from stress-related health care and missed work at $300 billion each year, and that is just for the cost incurred to businesses. The estimate doesn’t include the cost to families or potential financial gains of students who are cracking under the pressure.

It seems that our nation is at a crucial point in its discourse on gun

15

Music these days Lindsay Nelson Broadcast Assistant

Matt Melson violence. Besides the heated debates centered around gun control and the flashy gang violence side to this issue, we have a serious problem going on within the homes of this nation.

Stress is this nation’s catalyst for gun violence and this problem is far from being solved.

So how do we change the temperament of the environment in which we live? The simple answer is stress management. The American Institute for Stress suggests various ways in which to manage the stress in your life. They suggest exercising, prayer, meditation, taking up a hobby, volunteering or even keeping a journal.

It is time for us to change the conversation of gun violence from the reactionary approach to a proactive approach. We need to stop these scenarios from having a chance to occur, and the only way to do that is to stop them before they start.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts please contact the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-784-2433. If you or anyone you know is in an abusive relationship please contact the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. mmelson@unews.com

The debate between which is more important when it comes to music and lyrics has been deliberated about as much as the age-old question of the chicken and the egg. More and more it is said that the music is all that matters. So is this true? Have listeners finally taken a side?

Indie group Alt-J has nearly reached radio domination over the past year alone. After the release of its first album last September, listeners everywhere became addicted to “Fitzpleasure” and “Breezeblocks” and almost every other song on the album. Those two songs, especially, were on high-rotation on several stations. The best part about the attention the songs received was that no one had any idea what the words were, and no one seemed to care. A year later, unless the time was taken to look them up, people still do not entirely know the lyrics. The lyrics to “Tesselate” are technically easier to understand, but they make little to no sense at all. Yet again, the incomprehension has no affect on the success of the music.

It was starting to look like listeners were in fact straying from the importance and significance of lyrics as long as the music stood out enough. Enter Macklemore. He, too, has conquered the charts in the past year. No one stood a chance against his album “The Heist.” It would be easier to count the people who do not know the words to his first single “Thrift Shop.” Listeners love the

Lindsay Nelson lyrics because they are genuine. All he did was sing about how shopping at a thrift shop is cool. Then there are the lyrics to “Same Love.” The song addresses realities of gay rights in society today. The song has over 950 thousand downloads to date and 54 million views on YouTube.

Just when lyrics seem about as important as the points on “Whose Line is It Anyway?” they take a turn toward serving as rights anthems.

In the end, listeners are wandering around in a musical void from one extreme to the other. We as listeners will never have one preference over the other. Sometimes we need a strong message to sing at the top of our lungs, and other times we just want to jam out to some indie gibberish. Perhaps the real question is why does one have to be more important than the other? lnelson@unews.com

Tuesday September 3, 2013 | Issue 3

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