Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
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The Union Programming www.unews.com Board hosts ‘Rep Your Flag’
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WOMEN’S CENTER SPREADS AWARENESS ON RAINN DAY
Students create flags out of various materials. Hiral Patel
Photo // Hiral Patel
Contributing Writer
“I’m a member of a fraternity, Sophomore Sharan Nagra made a Kappa Alpha Psi, the new Epsilon flag to represent her high school and The Union Programming Board chapter here at UMKC,” student her best friend. (UPB) hosted Rep Your Flag Sept. 24 Reggie Simmons said. “I put the “When I was a freshman in high to promote cultural diversity across Greek letters on my flag. I’ll take it school I took a class called Fitness campus. back to the fraternity to see if they for Life, and that is where I met my Social Justice Chair Brittney like it.” best friend,” Nagra said. “We were Wright coordinated the event. Arianna Jackson Students made flags out of paper, had many different paint, sand and other materials. symbols on her flag According to Wright, the event was to representing what held to promote cultural diversity brings her pride. and bring different cultures together. “This [rainbow] is It was also an opportunity for for gay pride, then it’s students to get involved with UPB. the African colors and Students created flags representing I am also adding stripes their own countries, and also for the American flag,” made flags with other symbolic Jackson said. importance. Participating in her “In 1948, Palestine stopped own event, Wright also Students choose materials. Photo // Hiral Patel existing, and it became Israel. And made a flag. now we’re in an occupied territory,” “I’m having a baby boy, so always on a team together. We were Hadeel said. I’m making a personal banner to usually last or second to last in every She created a flag of Palestine with welcome him,” Wright said. “I tournament we had, but we still the name written in Arabic. think underneath it I’m going to called ourselves Team Invincible.” Students also made flags that put the LGBTQIA colors just for UPB provided pizza and symbolizing personal affiliations. kicks and giggles and to show my refreshments for attendees. Many appreciation.” members of UPB were present, as Freshman Katie well as students of various cultures. Lacombe participated Wright’s position on UPB is in the event to be more required to host diversity-related involved with student events twice every month. life at UMKC. The next UPB event is Sept. 30, “It’s for a door with “Monsters University” at 12 decoration for [my p.m. and at 7 p.m. in the Student friend’s] dorm,” Union Theater. Lacombe said. She made a sea hpatel@unews.com turtle in water, which Many flags represented countires. depicted her friend’s Photo // Hiral Patel favorite animal.
UMKC makes Safe Space training accessible Hope Austin
Contributing Writer
The Office of Student Involvement offers Safe Space training twice each semester for students interested in learning about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and asexual students and how to be an ally. “It’s a program designed to train and establish allies on our campus, to create visible markers of individuals who are supportive of the LGBTQIA community,” said Jonathan Pryor, coordinator of LGBTQIA Programs and Services. The three-hour program “focuses on educating the community about the broader LGBTQIA community.” McKensie Callahan, a UMKC student and resident assistant, described the training sessions as “exhaustive.” “We’re taught how to respond to issues that residents may have, who belong to the LGBTQIA community and who to refer them to if they need a resource for support,” Callahan said. While the Safe Space Training program is intended to better educate participants about issues
facing the LGBTQIA community, Pryor is aware of its limitations. “It’s not intended to be a training where people walk away as experts,” Pryor said. “People [who are trained in] safe spaces aren’t experts on LGBTQIA. They are not counselors. They are simply a support system that people can hopefully go to if they need to know about resources and can be directed to support services.” Despite these limitations, students like Callahan still found the program useful. “I think that Safe Space training helps to expunge ignorance that could lead to discrimination against the LGBTQIA community,” Callahan said. “In the past, I’ve found the training to be very informative, very objective and very helpful.” UMKC’s LGBTQIA Programs and Services is also planning a special session for staff members. Student organizations may also request a Safe Space Training session. The next session open to all students will be from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in room 302 of the Student Union. haustin@unews.com
Staff Writer
To help combat sexual violence at UMKC, the Women’s Center hosted a booth in observance of RAINN Day on Sept. 26. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network sponsors this annual event to raise awareness about sexual assault problems on college campuses. This year marked its 10th anniversary. Students and volunteers nationwide gathered to provide information and support. “Part of our mission is to prevent sexual violence, and prevent violence against women,” said Katie Birkenfield, graduate student volunteer with the Women’s Center. “We are out here having people sign umbrellas to pledge that they are against sexual violence.” According to the RAINN website, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted every two minutes. Approximately 54 percent of these sexual assaults go unreported, and 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. College students face the highest risk for sexual assault, especially by their peers. Women are not the only victims of sexual violence, with men comprising 10 percent of total reported incidents. “We want to get the message out that violence against women isn’t okay, that any violence isn’t okay,” Birkenfield said. More information is available in the Women’s Center. The center also encourages students who may be experiencing sexual violence to contact the confidential 24-hour National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. vlampton@unews.com
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
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The Bloch School: creating entrepreneurs for products of tomorrow Elizabeth Golden Co-Editor-In-Chief Growing up in Minnesota, Kendra Williams watched her father start his own business. Her mother worked in accounting and helped with marketing. From the start, Williams knew entrepreneurship would play a huge role in her own life. “Are you born an entrepreneur or are you created?” said Williams, senior business administration major with an emphasis in entrepreneurship, said. “I believe it’s a little of both. I was born an entrepreneur, but my dad sculpted my passion.” Williams is in the process of creating her own venture. “DNA bands are the next fad,” she said. “I’m working on combining mood jewelry with meaningful representations of people’s personalities.” Using her own genetic defect as an example, Williams said people are interested in recognizing disabilities, but also strengths. She believes adding a color code to her jewelry will reflect the children’s personalities. “I was known as the girl with 12 toes,” Williams said. “I wasn’t known as the fun girl, so I want to work with kids who are sick and give them a bracelet that says, ‘You overcame this. You are strong. You are fighting through asthma or autism or a learning difficulty.’” Williams moved to Kansas City to be closer to her fiancé, who works in the city. She said she chose UMKC because of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management. “I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, so the Bloch school was the school to go to,” Williams said. She started with an idea to create a photography database. “I quickly learned I did not have the skill set to follow through
in the top 20 Entrepreneurship Colleges and Business Schools by the 2013 Princeton Review. The undergraduate program ranked 11th in the country, while the graduate program ranked 20th, beating out schools such as The George Washington University and New York University as well as others. In December 2011, UMKC was ranked the world’s No. 1 university in innovation management research by the Journal of Product Innovation Management. Individual UMKC professors also ranked high. Dr. Michael Song, executive director and founder of the Regnier Institute, was ranked No. 1 innovation management scholar in the world. “We’re going to keep on getting better,” Song said. “We will double enrollment in the next two years and keep getting higher in the rankings.” Song was recruited from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business by Henry Bloch to spearhead changes. This is his first year at UMKC. “Creating an institute is like creating a company,” Song said. Song has created three companies, starting with a book rental business in third grade. “I wanted to generate my own money,” Song said. “I didn’t want to just rely on my allowance from my parents.” To increase its ranking and attract more students, the institute has undergone a complete transformation including new classes and the new building. “The building is a real game changer,” said John Norton, institute managing director and visiting professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation said. “Students are learning through doing. The previous building was a well-defined form, like classical music. Entrepreneurship
The entrepreneur track teaches students to be their own boss, while the innovation management track is for students who want to work for an existing company. “Both tracks teach road maps to create companies and instill confidence in students,” Song said. “Students can go to school to create their own job or graduate already having experience managing a company.” The courses offered include introduction to entrepreneurship, creating the new venture and
We’re going to keep on getting better. We will double enrollment in the next two years and keep getting higer in the rankings. - Dr. Michael Song
with my idea,” Williams said. “After a couple ideas I had to BS my way through, I finally found something I can produce, and this product has been really fun for me.” Williams has kept her budget low and applied for the Entrepreneur of the Year and UMKC Ambassador program to provide a greater sum of finances. “My goal is to make $524 from my product,” Williams said. “That will cover my rent for one month.” So far, she has spent $5 on crayons and plans to spend $30 on silicon to make the bands. “I want to encourage people who are starting on a venture to start with a little financial investment and just see progress,” Williams said. “I’m excited to lose $35.”
Entrepreneurship Program Puts Rankings Where Its Mouth Is
The Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Bloch School was ranked
is more like jazz — a little messy, freeform, young, experimental and never a straight line.” Song agreed with the positivity the new building has brought to the program. “The new building is a new beginning,” Song said. The building focuses on experiential learning and is designed with moveable furniture for reorganization, empty spaces for quick meetings and white boards for sudden ideas. Resembling the headquarters of IDEO and Google, the original idea came from former dean of Washington University in St. Louis’s Olin Business School Robert Virgil. “Several faculty members spent months touring different headquarters and combining ideas to create our Institute,” Norton said. With the changes, the university has sculpted two undergraduate tracks to aid students with future endeavors.
managing the new venture. Students also have access to more than 100 mentors who are experienced in the field. “I came in specifically to start to my own business,” said Eric Griffin, political science major and entrepreneurship minor. “I created a cheaper way to make calls while out of the country or on a cruise ship.” Griffin sold his invention, CruiseMate, to a company in London that specializes in travel and hospitality. “Tourism isn’t big here, so it’s difficult to approach clients and create standing relationships,” Griffin said. “So I sold the product and now I’m well positioned to move forward.” The Entrepreneur Scholars program is geared toward students or non-students who have business ideas and need help moving forward. The mission of the program is the “formation of scalable, sustainable ventures.”
“I’d like to make my venture a real venture and grow it,” said Bryan Boots, MBA student and member of E-Scholars. “Being in E-Scholars, I get to see others’ excitement. These students aren’t just studying business – they are passionate about an idea and want to help it grow.” According to Griffin, who took E-Scholars classes in conjunction with his existing program, the quality of a venture depends on the amount of time a person has to spend. “I spent more than 500 hours over a 12-month period on my venture,” Griffin said.
“It’s a full-time job to attain meaningful success.” Currently, 76 candidates are enrolled in the E-Scholars program. In 2012, 76 candidates completed the program and launched 42 ventures, all of which are still operational. “Seventy-five percent of the E-Scholar graduates of the past three years are a CEO or founder of a company,” Norton said. The active companies include Tappecue by Innovating Solutions, a device created to remotely test the temperature of barbecue with a mobile application alert system; Build-A-Beer, a retail store and workshop that gives home brewers the resources to create quality beer; and The Recycled Exchange, an online marketplace of high-end used furnishings and a resource for socially conscious consumers. “The program helps people think creatively and develop their business skills,” Boots said, “whether the person wants to be in business or be a doctor starting his or her own
Photo // Bryan Boots practice. There is something for everyone.” Norton said the program is like the expression “teaching a person to fish is better than giving him or her a fish.” “Giving someone a fish lasts a meal — teaching someone to fish lasts a lifetime,” Norton said. But even with the necessary skill set, Norton said he believes failing is inevitable. Much like Henry Bloch, he knows students will fail, but will eventually succeed if they don’t give up. “If you’re going to fail, fail early when it’s cheap,” Norton said. “But many of these students will get rich from their ideas. Students come in with the idea of creating a rowboat and leave with a battleship.” Although UMKC provides students with a foundation to succeed with their ventures, the institute doesn’t take any equity. Students own all ideas and inventions. “We joke around with students saying, ‘We’ll help make you rich. The first two million is for you, the third is for the Institute,’” Norton said. “Students take this seriously. It’s not a contract, it’s an expectation.”
The Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation will hold special “First Wednesday” events at 4 p.m. on Oct. 2 in Bloch Executive Hall, room 330. The events will allow students to meet and network with fellow students and professionals. Harry Campbell, president of two Fortune 500 companies and award-winning small business owner, will speak at the event. egolden@unews.com
Founders’ Week highlights old and new traditions
Roze Brooks Co-Editor-In-Chief
The UMKC Alumni Association put a spin on homecoming this year, deeming the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 5 as Founders’ Week. This array of events will celebrate UMKC’s 80th anniversary as a recognized university. “We put together what we
thought would be the most broad, appealing events for the masses,” said Shannee Steinmeier, coordinator for alumni constituents and relations. A Founders’ Week committee was created last year, and has been meeting since January in preparation for the celebratory week. The homecoming committee last year felt that such an event wasn’t an appropriate fit for a school without a
football team and decided to rebrand the week. Throughout the week, UMKC will be combining many favorites from past homecomings with several new and commemorative events unique to the school’s birthday celebration. Students, faculty, staff and alumni will have numerous opportunities to either display, renew or gain school spirit.
The kick-off took place Saturday with The Planets: An HD Odyssey, a wind symphony concert cocollaborated by the conservatory and astronomy departments. The following day, UMKC’s inaugural Regalia Run and Kangaroo Hop took place. This atypical 5k started in the Volker Campus quad, toured through the entire campus and ended
in a graduation block party. The after-party included bounce houses, blood pressure assessments courtesy of the School of Nursing and Health Studies Alumni Association, and a school supply drive for MPACT by the UMKC Staff Council. Ironically, the Kangaroo Hop used to be the name of a dance hosted for UMKC students as far back as Continued on page 5
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
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Isaac and Google-iath:
How a KC Native Takes on the Internet’s Biggest Giant company’s vision. The concern is over “net neutrality,” an idea that internet should be a neutral system of sharing information. Within this neutral system, internet service providers and governments would not control access to information or make various unauthorized uses of information. The fear is that internet could one day turn into a platform resembling cable TV, in which customers pay for access to websites. This is similar to service tiers currently used in premium cable packages. Even though Google has made no indication it will charge for such services. Concerns remain that this could be a future reality as Google becomes an internet service provider. “If you end net neutrality, you prioritize the signals from the big corporations on the net,” said Dr. Marc Garcelon, UMKC associate sociology professor. “It would change very fundamentally how your access to internet would work.” What Wilder and FNF are building contrasts greatly with Google’s network. “Google is the far right of the political spectrum and we’re the far left,” Wilder said. On Wilder’s network, the users own the technology that connects them to the internet and to each other. They can use their connection however they choose. Much of what Google promises will become more evident once the fiberhoods are
If we are to make a better society, we have to be able to communicate autonomously - with one another and we have to be able to do it on our own terms. - Isaac Wilder
active, but the trend and growing concern with large media companies is one of greater control of information. “What you see across the board is a greater concentration of power and focus on particular narrative that fits with the overarching narrative of our society and reinforces capitalist ideology,” Wilder said. “It’s a little bit of a dark situation.” Garcelon expressed a similar
said.
23-year-old Isaac Wilder.
Photo // darkclothdiaries.com
“There is an attempt to come through with a sort of softcorporate control over information in the United States that is eerily reminiscent of authoritarian regimes,” Garcelon said. “The U.S. government is almost fused with powerful corporations.” City Hall has made Kansas City a bargain for Google. The company is not required to serve the entire city and has been given free access to city assets and infrastructure. While Google promises a new highspeed future, Garcelon cautions that awareness of these issues is a problem. “The problem is that if people don’t have the information, they don’t understand until much later, and what I’m afraid of is that with the internet, people won’t realize what they had until its gone,” Garcelon
Wilder and his friends continue to expand the scope of the Free Network Foundation’s reach, but have a long way to go. Compared to past ambitions, Kansas City is a challenge its members have met with enthusiasm. “In the very early days, we threw around a lot of ideas like, ‘Let’s get a boat and let’s park it off the coast of Cuba and beam free internet into Cuba,’” Wilder said. There are currently two spots in the world to try out FNF’s connection any time, free of charge: the bus stop at 31st and Troost or outside of the Mutual Musicians Foundation at 18th Street and Highland Avenue. egandara@unews.com
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FNF has made an impact in the Kansas City area. It brought virtually free internet access to Posada Del Sol, a 60-unit senior’s community on the city’s west side, to a 200-family housing project in Rosedale and recently, to the Mutual Musicians Foundation, a state historic site in the 18th and Vine jazz district. Along with partner non-profit Connecting for Good, this group
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Kansas City native Isaac Wilder is fighting to put control of the internet into the hands of the people it connects. All the while, megacorporation Google connects Kansas City to its information empire. Wilder spoke at this year’s Honors Colloquium offered through the honors program, which featured UMKC faculty and outside guests. Wilder stood before a crowded auditorium and explained the urgency of his mission. “If we are to make a better society, we have to be able to communicate autonomously — with one another — and we have to be able to do it on our own terms,” Wilder said. Wilder is a 23-year-old Occupy Wall Street veteran and the founder of the Free Network Foundation. FNF is a Kansas City-based nonprofit organization committed to building what it calls “resilient, responsive and accessible networks” that are “resistant to censorship and breakdown.” The organization consists of Wilder and compatriots Tyrone Greenfield, James Yox, Charles Wyble and additional volunteers. Briefly browsing its website, thefnf.org, reveals the beliefs that characterize the group. “We are an organization committed to the tenets of free information, free culture and free society,” it says. In only two years,
of cyber visionaries sees internet access as an essential human right. However, the partners are careful to distinguish what they mean by free internet. “We think of it as free as in freedom, not as in beer,” FNF says. Even though access isn’t completely free, it is currently the cheapest way to connect in the city. “It’s a little bit case-specific — but for someone just joining the network, it would be five bucks a month,” Wilder said. FNF uses microwave dishes to beam signals across the city. The challenge of connecting to its network is line-of-sight. “It depends on where you live. From this window right here, we could definitely set up a connection,” Wilder said, pointing out through the auditorium window at the Miller Nichols Library toward downtown Kansas City . “The way it works is basically if you can see a place that’s already on the network, you can join it,” Wilder said. Oak Tower is 28-story office building in downtown Kansas City, built in 1913 for Bell Telephone Company. Now it has FNF’s microwave dish in one of its windows. It is currently beaming the FNF signal to other microwave dishes to buildings around the city, called “FreedomLinks” that serve as the backbone of the network. Just as FNF begins to grow, Google
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NOT PICTURED ON MAP: September 20, Time unknown — A homeless guest stole a wallet form a Man’s apartment. September 22, 1:32 am — A suspicious person was asked to leave the Health Science Building after yelling and bothering students. September, Time and date unknown — A staff member found that her laptop and toner cartridges were stolen from her office.
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
If the shoe fits:
Alex Dapp delivers to children in need Kate Baxendale
Copy Editor
Junior Alex Dapp experienced the trip of a lifetime this September when she traveled to Peru with Toms Shoes. Toms is a for-profit company that promises to give a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of shoes sold. Five months ago, Dapp entered an international contest in which she created an entry on the Toms website. “In a hundred words or less, I had to say why I should be one of the chosen ones to travel with the company and deliver shoes,” Dapp said. “After I created the entry, I had a month to collect as many votes as possible. It was actually the hardest work I think I’ve ever done.” Dapp said she lost many social media follows throughout her campaign because of her persistence in using the internet to collect votes. “It was all worth it because I ended up getting over 1,700 votes, and out of 10,000 entries I was one of the 50 who was chosen to go on the trip with Toms,” Dapp said. Before her trip, Toms flew Dapp and the other 49 winners to its headquarters in Los Angeles for one weekend in June. The winners went on a tour of the facility and had a happy hour with Toms employees where everyone introduced themselves and networked with the employees. “We even had a sit-down with the owner of Toms, and that was probably one of the most thrilling moments of my life,” Dapp said. Dapp described the group of winners as “eclectic,” with ages ranging from 16-48. “It was awesome because I got to spend three days surrounded by like-minded individuals talking about how this contest is the trip of a lifetime,” Dapp said. Dapp went to Peru with 12 other winners, traveling to public schools to fit children for their new pairs of Toms. “It was easily the most amazing week of my life, but it was also the most physically demanding week,” Dapp said. “We woke up at 6 a.m. each morning and we spent the majority of our days traveling and delivering shoes.” Dapp and her group brought in boxes of Toms to size each child for
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Founders’ Week
Alex Dapp tours Toms headquarters. their new pair. They served between 200 and 800 children each day at public schools, depending on the day, she said. “Often times, this was a child’s first brand-new pair of shoes ever, so they would take them off their feet and wrap them up to save them for a special occasion,” Dapp said. “They knew they wouldn’t get another new pair until Toms comes back in six months to give them another pair.” Shoes are a required part of the children’s uniform, so shoes are a crucial basic for Peruvians in order to receive an education, Dapp said. She said she enjoyed playing and interacting with the children, partaking in soccer games and face painting. “We got to actually connect with the kids instead of just coming in, dropping off the shoes and leaving,” Dapp said. Dapp said the language barrier did not interfere with her understanding of the children’s hopes and dreams. “As long as you smile, that’s really the only language that you need to speak,” Dapp said. Dapp has been a believer in the mission of Toms shoes since she bought her first pair in 2007. Now
Photo // Alex Dapp she owns 10 pairs and is still a strong supporter. “I’ve believed in Toms ever since I heard of them almost five years ago now,” Dapp said. “They are a company that stands behind what they believe in. They are a for-profit company that is still making a difference in the world.” Toms is able to donate shoes in more than 60 countries with the help of giving partners, local organizations that research the levels of poverty in each area and assess which locations are most in need of shoes. “It’s amazing to see the major shift in the poverty level even just 30 minutes outside of Lima,” Dapp said. “Their daily wage is about 3 Nuevo Sol, which is about $1.20. That’s a drink for me at the gas station, but that’s a whole day’s worth of pay for them.” In her entry of 100 words or less, Dapp explained how she had been called to give back, and the opportunity to travel with Toms fulfilled her desire to help. “I feel like I have wanderlust — I’m never content with just staying in one place,” Dapp said. kbaxendale@unews.com
the ‘30s. Attendees would dress in their finest attire after participating in the tradition, Hobo Day. A dance contest was held and the Kangaroo Queen was crowned, often by local or national celebrities. The Kangaroo Hop is coming back this year with a whole new meaning, presented as the children’s portion of the Regalia Run. All proceeds of the event will go toward student scholarships. Though there isn’t a specified location for the funds from this year’s Regalia Run, Steinmeier said administrators will consider groups participating in the event as potential recipients. The Ron MacQuarrie graduate fund is also on the priority list to receive a portion this year’s proceeds. Leading up the event, at least 200 people were pre-registered for the run and 50 volunteers were committed to executing the event. Tuesday, Oct. 1, has been named Commemoration Day. A ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Swinney Recreation Center in which numerous UMKC administrators will participate in a ribbon cutting in honor of the two newest additions to the Volker Campus: the Miller Nichols Learning Center and the Bloch Executive Hall for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Just as the founders did in 1929, a new charter will be signed as an honorary nod to the creation of UMKC, known as the University of Kansas City at the time. One year after the original charter, Kansas City businessman and philanthropist William Volker donated 40.8 acres to the university. Within a year, the Dickey mansion was donated by Walter S. Dickey, serving as the first building to provide essential space for a library, classrooms, cafeteria and administrative offices. This building is now Scofield Hall. Classes finally started in 1933 — the starting point for which 80 years of UMKC is based — and the first graduating class of 80 students sported their mortar boards in 1936. “When the university was first founded, it was a group of business and religious leaders and community members that came together,” said Chris Wolff, general merchandise manager and Founders’ Week committee member. “They’re going to reenact that with current administrators. All the alumni have been invited numerous times.” Other campus organizations have also bought into the spirit of Founders’ Week. The Union Programming Board will be offering breakfast during Good Morning Roos starting at 7 a.m. Sept. 30 at various campus locations. UPB will be screening “Monster’s University” from 7-9 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre, and its Unplugged Series event will be 4:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at Jazzman’s Cafe in the Student Union. UPD’s annual talent show will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 3, showcasing various acts by participating students. Other returning homecoming staples will include the sketchbook project, with entrepreneurial speaker Steven Peterman at 10 a.m. Oct. 3 in the IX Theatre, bringing national attention to the event. On Oct. 3 and 4, students are invited to have lunch with Chancellor Leo Morton as he personally dishes up food from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Health Sciences Building courtyard and the quad near Royall Hall, respectively.
Following the Chancellor’s Lunch, students can turn their attention to the golf cart parade 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday around Volker Campus, featuring carts decorated by various organizations and departments on campus. A retiree reception and exhibit launch will be featured 4-6 p.m. on Oct. 1 in the Miller Nichols Library. The exhibit will display UMKC memorabilia, courtesy of the UMKC Retirees Association, and will be available for viewing until Oct. 5. Due to scheduled renovations to the library, this will be the last exhibit held in the current Dean’s Gallery before it is relocated elsewhere in the building. Many retiree and alumni specific events will bring former students back to their blue and gold roots. A retiree breakfast will be held Oct. 1 in preparation for the Commemoration Ceremony. The School of Education is hosting a Graduate Programs Fair and Alumni Reception 4-7 p.m. on Oct. 1. An invite-only Lifetime Members Luncheon, honoring those who have made significant contributions to their alma mater through donations to the alumni fund, will take place 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. on Oct. 2. Also that evening, a Cerner UMKC Alumni Reception will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m at the Cerner headquarters. “We have about 500 UMKC alumni that work at Cerner, which is crazy,” Steinmeier said. “It’s kinda cool to say we really are in the community and we’re making an impact in that one company.” The UMKC Alumni Association is also encouraging both current and former students, faculty and staff to participate in Blue Roo Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The bookstore is currently selling blue T-shirts featuring the many Kasey the Kangaroo logos used throughout the years. The idea is to visibly spread the spirit of UMKC by adorning the university’s colors. Founders’ Week will focus on alumni even more through a set of master’s classes. “Sino-U.S. Relations: Why is this so hard?” will be presented by Dr. Cynthia Watson, 1978 graduate and associate dean for research and outreach at the National War College, at 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Diastole on Hospital Hill. “Who Will Be the Watchdog? The Future of Investigative Reporting in America” will be presented by Jim Steele, 1967 and 2004 graduate and two-time Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Jeannette Nichols Forum. “Speechless: Lessons Learned from Caring for My Autism Patients” will be presented by Dr. Timothy Buie, 1984 graduate and pediatric gastroenterologist for the Lurie Center for Autism in Massachusetts, at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Bloch Executive Hall room 414. “Reflections on 38 Years in Professional Sports” will be presented by Donald Fehr, 1973 graduate and executive director of the National Hockey League’s Player’s Association, at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 in room 401 of the Student Union. For more information and a list of other events going on during Founders’ Week, check out www. info.umkc.edu/foundersweek. rbrooks@unews.com
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
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Player Profile:
Bryce Miller ’Running is a science which I’m trying to master.’
Bryce Miller Dan Moreno Senior Beat Writer Freshman cross country runner Bryce Miller will compete in his first season for the Roos after his successful high school running career. Miller led the men’s team last weekend at Lincoln, Neb., crossing the line in 12th place with a time of 25:56.50. Before making the big jump to NCAA Division I, Miller ran for Ashland High School in Ashland, Wis., where he won a state championship in the two-mile as a senior, earning all-conference, all-
Photo // Dan Moreno state, team captain and MVP honors. After a short time as a Kangaroo, Miller has gotten more than he expected from UMKC. “It has been a whole new experience. I am definitively enjoying all the resources here,” Miller said. “Being able to ice-bath after practice, eating healthier than ever and having Coach [James] Butler’s training philosophy is really benefiting me.” Kansas City seemed like the right fit for Miller, who had the final decision on which university to attend. “Towards the end of my school
search it came down to East Michigan and UMKC,” Miller said. “I decided I really wanted to go Division I, so I am really glad I ended up here.” Miller said leaving home and the weather in Kansas City have been two challenges so far. “I knew I had to get used to the humidity – I found that after the first week,” Miller said. “Every day I feel better and better though, and I am really enjoying it here. Being away from home has been hard also, but with the team and coaches around me I have felt really comfortable.” Running is an everyday activity for Miller, who has been running since fifth grade. “Right now I am at about 70 to 75 miles a week,” Miller said. “Back in high school I was only running 50 miles per week, so this transition has been a big jump for me and I can only feel the benefits of it.” As a freshman, Miller is living one day at a time. However, he dreams about going professional after graduation. “After graduating, going to the Olympics is my ultimate goal,” Miller said. “Another goal is to get sponsored by a running company, but for now I am only focusing on working hard.” Cross country is just one example of Miller’s love for the outdoors. “I have always been an outdoorsy person,” Miller said. “I really like camping, fishing and hunting, activities I can combine with my running.” As the cross country team heads to South Bend, Ind., for the Adidas Notre Dame Invitational this weekend, Miller aims to improve from last weekend’s time. “This weekend at Notre Dame I want to break 25 [minutes] in the 8K,” Miller said. “At the end of the season I would like to be the top freshman in the conference. As for the team, I hope we can stay up at the top.”
Bryce Miller has been running since fifth grade. Photo // Bryce Miller
dmoreno@unews.com
Health Journal:
Health Recipe:
Lighten up your Load Cherry Compote with Goat Cheese
According to the U.S. Consumer Lindsay Adams Product Safety Commission, in 2011, Senior Beat Writer nearly 14,000 students ages 5-18 Carrying a backpack or bag to and were hospitalized for backpackfrom school can be a heavy pain in related injuries — and that’s without the neck — and, of course, the back. counting college students. There is The U.S. Department of Human ongoing talk about children carrying Health and Services reports more too much, but adults are just as than 19 million doctor visits per year susceptible to back problems from are due to back pain. Sometimes a carrying heavy loads. student’s book load can’t be changed, Having a klutzy moment? Blame but changing how the backpack is it on the backpack. Carrying too carried and how it is packed can much weight in your backpack can make a difference. seriously impede ability to perform “Research suggests that wearing basic movements such as using stairs a backpack incorrectly, wearing one and opening doors. that is too heavy, the amount of time If a backpack leaves red marks on one carries a backpack, the distance the shoulders or causes tingling or walked, inadequate distribution of numbness, it is probably too heavy. If weight in the backpack and poor students are unable to cut down on placement of items in the backpack books, they should opt for a rolling can be contributing risk factors for backpack instead. discomfort, fatigue, muscle soreness, Carrying a backpack over musculoskeletal pain (especially one shoulder can cause postural in the lower back), respiratory misalignments: vertebrae can be problems and other issues,” Karen pushed out of alignment, which Jacobs, a Sargent College of Health restricts movement and can lead & Rehabilitation Sciences clinical to back and neck pain, as well as professor and nationally recognized headaches. Carry a backpack over expert on backpack safety, told BU both shoulders, using both straps. Today. Using the strap across the stomach
can also help spread the weight correctly. When packing a backpack, make sure that the heaviest items are closer to the back of the backpack, which is nearer to the body. Or if packing bottom to top, place heavy items such as large textbooks and tablets at the bottom, and keep water bottles in the side compartments. The goal should be to distribute the weight evenly to avoid postural stress. A backpack shouldn’t hang too low, but should be at the shoulders. Carrying a bag closer to the body will reduce the amount of postural sway. The more torque and tension, the more stress is placed on the spinal muscles. Students should make sure their backpacks weigh less than 15 percent of their body weight to help alleviate chances of spinal problems and pain. The recommended limit is 10 percent the carrier’s total bodyweight.
• 1/4 teaspoon minced fresh Lindsay Adams thyme Senior Beat Writer • 4 ounces goat cheese Adding tart cherries to a diet can help relieve muscle aches and pains. Directions Athletes or individuals who exercise Cook the cherries and sugar in a can experience muscle pain, but it pan over medium-high heat, stirring can also occur from sittinng for long occasionally, for about five minutes. periods of time. In David Grotto’s Slowly add vinegar and thyme to book “101 Optimal Life Foods,” the cherry mixture and cook an he talks about a study in which additional minute. college students drank 12 ounces Slice goat cheese into four pieces. of a cherry juice blend twice a day Place cheese on a plate and drizzle and experienced reduced muscle compote over the cheese. pain after exercise. For a quick meal The compote can be eaten warm in only 10 minutes that includes or chilled. The compote lasts for up cherries, try this recipe. to three days if covered and stored in Ingredients the refrigerator. • 1 pound sweet cherries, pitted The recipe makes four servings of (about 3 cups), preferably 1/2 cup each, with 168 calories and 6 Bing grams of protein per serving. • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar ladams@unews.com • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
ladams@unews.com
Illustration // Joey Hill
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
Check out the U-News broadcast channel for exclusive video content at: www.youtube.com/user/UMKCUnewsBroadcast
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Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
8
Celebrating
Rajiv Dr. Joe Seabrooks: Chilakalapudi: Most likely to become president of a college Most likely to excel in Computing and Engineering
Sumanth Koushik Kalli Beat Writer UMKC’s School of Computing and Engineering recently presented an alumni award to Rajiv Chilakalapudi, the founder and managing director of Green Gold Animation, which produces many of India’s top children shows and movies. For the past five years, Chilakalapudi has been the producer of made-for-television movies and a leading director of animation studio with more than 350 episodes of animation content, which remains unique Photo // UMKC among all other Indian Rajiv Chilakalapudi. animation studios. Green Gold is trying to emulate Chilakalapudi realized expanding what Walt Disney has done and the brand beyond TV would allow achieve at least one tenth of what the studio to become a serious player Walt Disney’s success. in the Indian animation market. “My biggest dream is to take Green “We ventured into feature film Gold to the level where Disney and production and have launched our Pixar are today,” Chilakalapudi said. first animated theatrical in summer “So far Green Gold has been India’s 2012 which was a runaway hit in Disney, but I would like to take it to the international level.” “While working at Miller Nichols Library on UMKC campus, I chanced upon few books about Walt Disney,” Chilakalapudi said. “After work, I spent a lot of time studying these books and other art books, including some on animation and film making. In my first semester itself, I was greatly tempted to quit my master’s program in computer science and take up fine arts or film making. But I realized that my fine art skills were pretty primitive, and I stood no chance of graduating from the fine arts program.” His renewed focus on the technical allowed him to excel in the artistic. “I have learned a great deal of things from Dr. Deep Medhi, who is now a curators’ professor,” Chilakalapudi said. “I liked the way he looked at things and made tough topics in computer science look simple. I have learned to keep things simple from here.” Chilakalapudi also recognized the importance of networking and leadership skills from his education at UMKC. He recognizes the India,” Chilakalapudi said. importance of social, educational and Chilakalapudi’s most popular cultural meetings organized by the series, “Chhota Bheem,” is a hit in the International Student Council. animation field, totalling more than “I was actively involved with 34 million viewers. He also created ISC,” Chilakalapudi said. “Being the animated films such as “Krishna: The vice president of Indian Students Birth” and “Krishna: The Makhan Association gave me good exposure Chor,” and the animated television to meet and learn about other shows “Krishna Balram” and international student bodies and “Mighty Raju,” which is broadcast their cultures. I also developed my on Cartoon Network India and Pogo. organizational, public speaking The company also has retail stores, and decision-making skills by my which feature products based on association with ISC and the Indian Green Gold’s animated characters. Students Association.” “I believe that the new age kids Chilakalapudi supports programs should grow up thinking positively to expose young people to his craft, and with self-belief. They need to having enrolled 30 underprivileged believe that they are the best in the teenagers in a training program at world,” Chilakalapudi said. “Over no charge, and eventually hired 20 the last 12 years, I have taken the step of them to work for Green Gold. from being a software engineer to He also established 10 animation being the founder and CEO of India’s scholarships for economically leading animation company. I have disadvantaged students in India. created the character Chhota Bheem, with great feeling and connection to the Indian culture.” skalli@unews.com Chhota Bheem is followed by 73 percent of India’s children, becoming one of India’s most popular characters, which some call the Mickey Mouse of India.
Roze Brooks Co-Editor-in-Chief Starting off as a first-generation college student, Dr. Joe Seabrooks found his path to higher education purely on accident. With aspirations to become a high school counselor turned principal, he entered UMKC with one life plan and came out with something unexpected. “I can honestly say and look you in the eye, and tell you I am afraid to know what my life would be if I hadn’t chose UMKC,” he said. Current president of Metropolitan Community College- Penn Valley, Seabrooks hasn’t strayed far from his alma mater. He enrolled in UMKC in 1989, joining the first Division 1 basketball team under the coaching of Lee Hunt. Growing up in Atlanta, Ga., Seabrooks attended Benjamin E. Bannecker High School, with a predominantly black student body.
Dr. Joe Seabrooks
Of the many prospective choices on his university wish list, UMKC became the starting point for his passion for higher education. “UMKC appealed to me because it was in an urban community and I needed, for my own personal growth, to get away from my hometown,” he said. Seabrooks had a stress fracture during what would have been his first basketball season. He took this as an opportunity to focus on his academics. “I was the first of my generation to graduate after four years, which wasn’t typical of student athletes,” he said, “but for me, I was so naive that not graduating after four years was the equivalent of being kept back, so I was very serious and adamant.” In addition to athletics, Seabrooks found comfort in other student organizations on campus. He was an active member of the African American Student Union and Student Government Association. He also held a spot on the appropriations committee of SGA, now known as SAFC, the allocating body of funds to student organizations. It was TAASU that offered Seabrooks one of the most motivating experiences during his student years. “The interesting thing about being on the basketball team back then, particularly the men’s basketball team did not have a good reputation as far as being students,” he said. “Quite honestly, I needed to disassociate myself with some of that reputation because I was a very serious student. The African American Student Union gave me that opportunity.
According to Seabrooks, the general membership of TAASU was one that supported each other in their endeavors to graduate. “All of the things we did as a student union centered around us graduating,” he said. “At the end of the day, it made no sense for you to be involved if you weren’t planning on graduating.” Seabrooks received his B.A. in psychology and wanted to immediately pursue his master’s in counseling and guidance. After his first year with that program, staffing limitations caused the program to go defunct. Though his game plan had been negotiated, some advice from an unexpected source pointed
Seabrooks in a new direction. A roommate from his freshman year suggested to Seabrooks that he should consider trying a course in higher education-administration. With financial support from the athletics department, Seabrooks decided to experiment. “I’ll never forget Professor Richard Palm,” he said. “My first question to him was, ‘What is administration? What does that mean?’ That’s how basic of a level I was at, it threw him actually.” Seabrooks completed the program, had a graduate internship through the university and found himself working full-time for the first five years of his career. Through each phase of UMKC, Seabrooks found many colleagues and mentors. “I had some of the most amazing professors,” he said. “Amazing people who really took care of us, but really challenged us. In my professional life, it’s those foundational experiences that gave me the confidence to do what’s right for the right reasons.” His first job on campus was in university advancement as the coordinator for alumni and constituent relations. With this role, he gained valuable fundraising experience through efforts to raise money for minority scholarships. “So I got some experience fundraising, working with affinity groups,” Seabrooks said,” and during that time I was just so energetic that I saw there were some gaps in
Photo // UMKC advising of student organizations.” Seabrooks soon found himself advising several student organizations, which he didn’t realize was rather unheard of at the time. He served as an adviser to TAASU, the Association of Latin American Students, the International Student Organization and the National PanHellenic Council. He was even able to point out a framed photo on his office wall of himself and one of his advised organizations at an SGA awards ceremony. “We had a clean sweep-- every award,” he said. “I think I won adviser of the year, student organization of the year, program of the year, all of the groups I advised won one of those awards.” Seabrooks also had the fortune to serve as interim director of Multicultural Student Affairs, where he feels his career genuinely begun. Before settling down at MCC, Seabrooks spent some time as assistant vice chancellor of students at University of ArkansasFayetteville. He said the atmosphere was different from his alma mater. “What they have at Arkansas that I’m starting to see us build here at UMKC is a respect and appreciation for tradition,” he said. “Some of their traditions you just can’t opt out of. I see we’re going that way really quickly at UMKC. That makes me proud.” Seabrooks said he is proud of the new facilities on campus including the Atterbury Student Success Center, the Student Union and the continual addition of new residential buildings on both campuses. He is equally excited for the addition of Coach Kareem Richardson to the athletics department. “I’m extremely excited about Coach Richardson’s arrival,” he said. “Coming from a national championship program tells me we are serious about being extraordinarily competitive and I’m looking forward to his leadership and how he helps those young men grow and develop.” Seabrooks said alumni need to recognize that the knowledge they possess is courtesy of their alma mater. “My life, the experiences that I have, are beyond my wildest imagination,” he said. “I never dreamt in a million years that I would be talking about my time at UMKC and what that meant to me. I owe a great deal to my institution.” rbrooks@unews.com
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
9
UMKC Alumni
Steve Paul:
Peggy Dunn:
Most likely to become a scholar
Most likely to become Mayor
Erin Melrose Broadcast Assistant
Elizabeth Golden Co-Editor-in-Chief Peggy Dunn is dressed in a bright pink suit. Her fingernails are painted a vivid shade of orange and her dark brown eyes move with every expression. Trinkets and pictures sit on her desk as her computer constantly beeps with incoming emails. Dunn, UMKC alumna, is the current mayor of Leawood, Kan. An avid piano player with an interest in helping others, Dunn graduated in 1972 with a degree in sociology and several years of work in the Conservatory. “I had been playing piano since third grade,” Dunn said. “I loved it, but I wanted to go into liberal arts so I would have a broader base.” She originally began her college education at the University of Kansas, working on a degree in psychology. “My boyfriend – now husband – went to Rockhurst University,” she said. “It was difficult because I spent every weekend on the road. I felt like being closer to him would be better for me.” They met her senior year in high school after being introduced by their parents. “Our mothers went to high school together,” she said. “We were set up on a blind date. It was such a blind date that he didn’t even know what I looked like. My sister opened the door and he thought it was me. We’ve been together ever since.” After transferring to UMKC, she decided to focus on sociology instead of psychology because she believed there would be more opportunities. “In order to get a good job in psychology, I would have needed to get my PhD,” she said. Dunn was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Mortar Board, working part time as a bookkeeper and helping her boyfriend organize fraternity parties. Dunn graduated with honors. She married in December 1971, only a few months before graduating. Following graduation, she said she realized it was one of the worst times to graduate with a degree in sociology. “There were very few jobs available,” she said. “Even those with master’s degrees were struggling to find work.” She took a job working as an administrative assistant for Folgers Coffee and taught piano on the side. After two years, Dunn left Folgers to start a family, but continued to teach piano for the next 10 years while she stayed home to raise her children. Seven years and four kids later, she
transferred her love of social work to volunteer work and began to become actively engaged in the Leawood community. “I started working on some boards and with many nonprofit organizations,” she said. She was the board chairman of the United Way of Greater Kansas City and currently serves on several boards, including the
Peggy Dunn Johnson County Community College Foundation, the Salvation Army, Starlight Theatre, Children’s Mercy Hospital, the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, the Kauffman Center for the Performing
Arts and Union Station. Dunn is extensively involved with the university and the Bloch School. In 2009, she began working as a senior fellow for the Bloch School’s Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership. She is also co-chairing UMKC’s 80th anniversary with class of 1967 graduate and two-time Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Jim Steele. “I feel fulfillment through community involvement,” she said. “It makes me feel worthwhile for helping out.” Through her volunteer work, she started to work alongside elected officials who encouraged her to run for city council in 1993. After two terms – four years – on city council, she was encouraged to run for mayor. She ran in 1997 and has held the position ever since. “I really enjoy it,” she said. “I love working with people.” She said she feels the community has greatly improved since taking over the position. “We used to be a bedroom community, but we’ve grown into a diversified tax base,” she said. “The community has experienced such rapid growth.” In 1997, Leawood landmarks such as Town Center Plaza weren’t even
Photo // UMKC in the planning stages. “There was nothing here,” she said. In 2000, Leawood’s population was approximately 27,000. According to the 2012 census, the population was estimated to be more than 32,000, a 15 percent increase. She has overseen the development of Town Center, Park Place and the recent move of the AMC Entertainment corporate headquarters. The increase in population and buildings wouldn’t be possible without the city’s volunteers, she said. “We have 300 paid staff members as well as 300 volunteers,” she said. “We couldn’t do it all without the volunteers. Volunteering really is such a great way to leave a handprint on the community.” She believes her personal and professional accomplishments wouldn’t be possible without her own volunteer experiences. “Volunteering has truly enriched my life and given me a broad circle of friends,” she said. “I’ve definitely gained more than I’ve given. My advice for others is to grow, learn and take time to give back. You’ll never be sorry.” Dunn said UMKC had a big impact on her future, and credits the university for many of her accomplishments. “UMKC was an excellent choice for me,” she said. “Students were so serious about academics and professors truly cared.” Living in the greater Kansas City area also attributed to her passion for volunteering and community involvement. “A great city needs a great university,” she said. egolden@unews.com
Senior editor for the Kansas City Star, Steve Paul graduated in 1974 as a communications major in radio, television and film. Though he calls Kansas City home, Paul encourages future journalists to explore. “People who want to be reporters should have a wide curiosity about the world outside their own head,” Paul said. “Spend some time in other departments: English, history, the Steve Paul sciences. Learn a foreign language or two, be curious, read widely and well, pay attention to what’s happening in the world, find a mentor.” While a helpful mentor can be hard to find, Paul said he believes his advice on Twitter is useful (@ sbpaul). Followers can stay up to date with occasional public talks on Hemingway, architecture and other topics. Paul posts a plethora of Royals, restaurant and jazz links and articles related to all things Kansas City, which, according to Paul, is “a vibrant cultural scene, including the arts and writers.” With a self-proclaimed Ernest Hemingway fascination, he studied the author’s work since 1998 and is considered a Hemingway scholar. “I hesitate to use the word scholar since I’m not attached to an academic institution, but I have written scholarly papers, participated in the biennial international conferences of the Ernest Hemingway society and I was also published in the Hemingway Review,” Paul said.
The scholarly journal is published twice each year and showcases the work of many authors. “What it means to be a scholar, I
Photo // Steve Paul think, is a deep interest in the details and discoveries that remain possible by studying a subject intensively and with a certain passion,” Paul said. “I have had some great experiences at UMKC.” After Henry W. Bloch gifted UMKC with $32 million toward the UMKC Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Paul immersed himself in the project.
“[I spent] an extended period watching and reporting on the construction of the Bloch building at the Nelson-Atkins, resulting in a three-part series and contributing to my self-education in architecture,” Paul said. Paul’s experience includes many projects, one of his favorites involving the artwork of Georgia O’Keeffe. “[It was] a year-long investigation into the art world, involving deception, fakery and the legacy of Georgia O’Keeffe,” Paul said. In this series, Paul, along with fellow reporter Mike McGraw, discovered the lack of authenticity behind the $5 million phony Georgia O’Keeffe paintings hanging in Kansas City’s Kemper Museum. Between Hemingway readings and investigations, Paul said he immerses himself in the harmonic tranquility of legends such as John Coltrane and Charles Mingus. The self-proclaimed “jazz hound” was a classical DJ at KCUR-FM. “That’s where I got some of my education in music,” Paul said. emelrose@unews.com
Illustrations // Joey Hill
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
UMKC’S “SEVEN GUITARS” IS A DISAPPOINTMENT for aggression starts small, with Lindsay Adams bickering and comparing their Senior Beat Writer switchblades and guns, but slowly “Seven Guitars,” while filled with grows. Their anecdotal onetalented actors and boasting fantastic upmanship escalates into violence. production value, ended up being a Playwright August Wilson’s focus visually beautiful disappointment. on the men leaves female characters No amount of design could solve underwritten, passive and used. problems with the script. The However, Wilson doesn’t actually play goes nowhere, circling around make any clear statement about the and around issues it never directly issues of racial discrimination and handles. fatalism he brings up in the play. Is Blues singer Floyd “Schoolboy” Floyd’s tragic end supposed to be Barton (Antonio Glass), just out of martyrdom or a warning? The show a 90-day stint in a Chicago prison, is starts out as a character dramedy and offered a record deal after a song he ends up a violent film noir. It cannot recorded becomes a hit. He returns figure out its themes, direction or the to the woman he hasn’t seen in over impression it wishes to leave. a year, Vera (Janaé Mitchell), to Harvey as Louise is amazing convince her to go to Chicago with and sassy. She is believable and him. She is uncertain, and is advised entertaining even in her smallest by her friend Louise (Aishah Harvey) moments and reactions. From that he won’t change his ways for lighting a cigarette with her perfectly her. He meets up with his old band manicured nails to her comedic members, Canewell (Gavin King) line delivery, she commands the and Red Carter (Petey McGee). They audience’s attention. hang out outside of the apartment Tucker as Hedley was great. He building where Louise, Vera and was completely committed to the their strange neighbor Hedley character, delivering a perfect mix of (Thomas Tucker) live. Floyd wants sympathy and disturbance. to right the past wrongs in his life, Glass was sleazily charming as but goes about the wrong way. the philandering Floyd, who just Floyd’s complex figure is can’t get his act together. Mitchell as supposedly at the heart of the story, Vera was good, but in several pivotal but his character is overshadowed moments the character was lost and by Louise and Hedley in the second she seemed too conscious of the act. Louise’s niece Ruby (Alisha audience. Espinosa) shows up at the end of The dialogue is realistic, lyrical and the first act, but serves little purpose trivial. It moved from a monologue on in the show. The characters and how to really make good greens into subplots are disconnected from each arguments over whether Jesus was other, and fail to feed into the main right to resurrect Lazarus, and later plot or purpose, and instead branch to monologues over losing parents. out every which way. Romantic The dialogue gave the feeling of being triangles are hinted at but not dropped into the group and hanging mentioned again until the end, at out with them, but ultimately the which point the subplot has lost audience gets lost in the repetition. most of its emotional gravitas. Slow pacing is one of the play’s The men of the show are restless biggest issues. “Seven Guitars” is a and trapped. In an attempt to prove three-hour show and the audience their masculinity, all try to outdo feels every minute of it. each other. The men’s propensity Hedley’s monologue about his
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relationship with his father and the questions one asks as a child without realizing how much it could hurt your parents is well-written and delivered with penitence and intensity by Thomas Tucker. There is a propensity for monologues in the show, and the audience tires of them long before it stops using them. Most of them drag on and are done no favors by lighting, which tried to add gravitas by dimming the rest of the stage and blue-lighting the character, instead making them more cartoonish. The lighting and sound was a bit over-the-top in some of the violent or dramatic moments, but lighting was more functional during realistic moments. The blue fragments of lighting punctuate important moments and help to speed through set adaptions, providing clearer movement and building to a finish. The sound design was integral to the show and, for the most part, also worked. The excessive hyper-realism of Wilson’s play, where a sprout is planted into the set during the action and everything attempts to mimic real life, often doesn’t work well theatrically, and is especially jarring coupled with very theatrical moments in the lighting and sound design. The set created some nice angles and the blocking was dynamic. The costumes by Tyler Wilson were detailed, accurate and are representative of the characters’ journeys. Acting and design elements in “Seven Guitars” are forceful. Unfortunately, no amount of production values or acting talent can save the muddled plot. ladams@unews.com
Screenland’s Shocktober Sure to Delight, Frighten
Chole Robbins-Anderson more per drink.” Movies this Copy Editor month include “The Screenland Armour Theatre is Shining,” “Seven,” jumpstarting its month of scary “The Blair Witch movies and pumpkin beer with a Project,” “The Craft,” pumpkin carving contest 7 p.m. on “The Exorcist,” Oct. 1. Similar events will continue “Rocky Horror for the month-long celebration of Picture Show” and Shocktober. “Trick ‘r Treat.” The $10 ticket includes a screening The Screenland of “Night of the Living Dead,” a also offers a movie pumpkin, carving tools and one pass for $50, which free New Belgium Pumpkick Beer. includes all films The winner of the pumpkin carving plus $1 off the first contest wins a New Belgium bike and drink at each event. free passes for all of the Screenland’s The pass also covers scary movies in October. The winner the brunch movie will be chosen by Screenland Armour for October and co-operators Adam Roberts and the second annual Brent Miller, Kansas/Missouri ranger Halloween party for New Belgium Brewing, Adam and movie roast. Satz and beer representative for the Roberts said the pass Kansas City Beverage Company will save viewers Inc. Josh Colombo. Pumpkins must $30-$35 if they take be carved on-site, but carvers are advantage of every welcome to bring their own tools. offering. According to Roberts, this is the Screenland offers second year for Shocktober, but the the brunch every first year for the pumpkin carving month, which contest. features a buffet of Screenland Armour is introducing their month “If you aren’t wanting to carve 15 or more breakfast of Shocktober with a first-ever pumpkin carving pumpkins, our friend Erin Pearce items for $16. This contest, a scary movie and pumpkin beer samplings. hosts an event at the same time called month’s movie is a Photo // Screenland Dare to Dabble,” Roberts said. “It’s an mystery to be announced later. awesome event where you will walk “American Horror Story: Coven,” the As far as the Halloween party, away with a kick butt painting.” Roberts said to expect some fun, but third season’s premier, starting at 9 This first night will also offer $6 the majority of the event will be a p.m. Oct. 9. flights of four pumpkin beers and surprise. Movies for the month were sampling of different ingredients “Lots of details are under chosen via Facebook suggestions such as chocolate with the pumpkin wraps, but expect lots of unique throughout September. Screenland beers. There will be specials on all showing,” Roberts said. “Last year gave a few suggestions and fans New Belgium beer varieties and we showcased episodes of “Are you voted for these and added their own. many other brands of pumpkin beer Afraid of the Dark?,” “Goosebumps,” Roberts said this Shocktober has throughout October. classic Halloween commercials and a about double the events compared to “New Belgium and us sat down and horror movie mashup.” last year. wanted to do an event or ‘Presents’ There are only 25 tickets available There will also be a free movie series together and this seemed like at 9 p.m. every Tuesday. “Night of for the first night of Shocktober. For a perfect place to start,” Roberts said. the Living Dead,” “White Zombie,” more information and tickets, visit “All month we will have cheap New “Carnival of Souls,” “Nosferatu” http://screenland.com/pumpkin. Belgium beers, most of which you and “House on Haunted Hill” will would find here or other bars $1-3 be shown. Screenland will show crobbins@unews.com
“RED BADGE VARIATIONS” A COURAGEOUS SHOW COTERIE’S WORLD PREMIERE A HIT
The ensemble of actors in Red Badge Variations (from left): Jacob Aaron Cullum, Matt Leonard, Matthew Joseph, Jake Walker and Francisco Javier Villegas. Photo // Coterie Lindsay Adams rock mix Doc has created. The quiet, Senior Beat Writer contemplative moment that comes The World Premiere of “Red Badge from this explosion of energy is an Variations” is a brilliant start to the honest piece of theatre. They bicker 35th season of the Coterie Theatre. and harass each other, but they The show is compelling, from its slowly form connections and bond talented and energetic cast to the over details of their past. Fleming functions as the audience’s tight direction by Kyle Hatley and entry into the world of these soldiers. wonderful script by Melissa Cooper. “Red Badge Variations” is a It was the small background details gripping, touching and frequently that illuminated the characters’ hilarious story of five young soldiers dreams and pasts, like JC’s history of who have to adapt to a brutal new living on a turkey farm, Tat’s family world without losing themselves and Wilson’s survivor guilt. The acting of all five cast members completely. The play spans one year, depicting is commendable. Even those with the lives of the soldiers in Afghanistan. less scripting pull out the most in It tells the story of Henry Fleming’s their characters. All five promising (Jacob Aaron Cullum) arrival to talents live in their characters for the a unit in Afghanistan, replacing a hour-and-15-minute show. The show reconfigured The member who recently died. The new recruit, known as an FNG, or a Coterie’s performance space so that Friggin’ New Guy, has a rocky start the audience surrounds the actors with the group, but slowly finds his and stage on all four sides, which place among them and wins their mimics the statement in the show that there is no front line in the war, respect. The other members are a motley and the enemy is all around. The crew, with the hot-headed Wilson paranoia and constant fear mingled (Matt Leonard), religious and quiet with boredom is shown through the Tat (Francisco Javier Villegas), goofy set. Doc Bird says, “Everything that and loud JC (Matthew Joseph) and Doc Bird (Jake Walker), erstwhile lives is broken.” The experiences and the fighting can slowly break them, bird-watcher, DJ and philosopher. The play is an update of the classic if not physically, then emotionally. Civil War novel “The Red Badge of It is through relationships with one Courage,” with the timeless story of another and camaraderie that they can stay human. “Break and mend” the war overseas. Music plays a central role in the becomes the mantra of the group, characters’ lives. As Doc points who strive to make it home. The show builds a sense of out, “Soldiers gotta sing.” The fatalistic dread for the audience as incorporation of music and rhythm into moments of the soldier’s lives the soldiers grow closer to the end is a brilliant choice that pays off of deployment. The show’s final well, from a simple stomping beat moments are chilling and beautiful. The show runs through Oct. 5 to renditions of “Black and Yellow” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” This at the Coterie Theatre in Crown success is also thanks to the musical Center. For more information or tickets, go to http://thecoterie.org/. talents of the acting ensemble. Some of the most honest parts of the play are during musical ladams@unews.com interludes. When the soldiers are hyped up after a skirmish, they work out their energy with a hip hop/
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
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Buzz Beach Ball rocks Kansas City Dan Moreno Senior Beat Writer Kate Baxendale Copy Editor
AWOLNATION lead singer Aaron Bruno.
Photo // Matt Cook
Alt-J Photo // Matt Cook
Fourteen bands from all over the world rocked Berkley Riverfront Park Sept. 27 for more than nine hours of non-stop music. More than 16,000 fans gathered for the annual Buzz Beach Ball music festival hosted by radio station 96.5 The Buzz. The band selection covered different styles and genres, from indie rock and roll to mellow and soft pop, sharing two stages throughout the sunny afternoon and into the starry night. The synthpop alternative rock band Phoenix served as the festival’s main event. The French group has created quite a following in the U.S., with its catchy melodies and outstanding percussion. Lead singer Thomas Mars impressed concertgoers with his spot-on vocal delivery, belting out fan favorites like “If I Ever Feel Better,” “1901” and “Lisztomania.” Mars even crowd surfed his way to the top of the lighting booth, taking advantage of his fans’ diehard admiration for him. Alt-J, an indie rock quartet based in England, shared the headlining title as its bizarre yet mesmerizing music was one of the night’s most expected acts. The band thrilled the crowd with familiar hits like “Breezeblocks” and “Fitzpleasure.” Many fans old and young sported T-shirts with a delta symbol on them, which alluded to the band’s alternative title. When L.A.-based band Awolnation set foot on stage, the crowd went wild. Lead singer Aaron Bruno pumped up the crowd, especially when the chords of the top hit “Sail” reverberated through the air. The variety of synthesizers, electro beats and smooth rock by Kitten was without a doubt the best band of the night. Lead singer Chloe Chaidez acted as if she had been locked up for a long time and let out just before the show. Bursting with energy, Chaidez changed outfits, climbed the scaffoldings, and surfed the crowd. She expressed her appreciation to Kansas City’s fans, shouting, “We are from L.A. and you are extremely better than our fans over there,” as it played its hit “G#.” At approximately 5 p.m., English indie pop band Daughter stormed the main stage and played mellow, soft tunes. Elena Tonra’s voice captivated the audience with the lyrics of “Youth” and “Landfill.” The Australian alternative rock trio Atlas Genius and the Texas-based rock band Saints of Valory were less fortunate to engage with the smaller crowd that decided to arrive early in the day, scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively. Around 8:30 p.m., the curly green hair and long legs of Lizzy Plapinger, vocalist of the New York duo MS MR appeared on stage for fans who had been patiently waiting to hear “Bones” and “Hurricane.” Little Green Cars, Cage the Elephant, Hanni El Khatib, Wavves, Coheed and Cambria and the St. Joseph band Radkey concluded the festival’s lineup. Concertgoers enjoyed perfect weather on Friday, but the excessively long lines for beverages, food, tickets and restrooms were a mild drawback to the overall experience. dmoreno@unews.com
Atlas Genius Photo // Matt Cook
Atlas Genius Photo // Matt Cook
Kitten lead singer Chloe Chaidaz. Photo // Matt Cook
kbaxendale@unews.com
Daughter singer Elena Tonra. Above: Cage the Elephant lead singer. Right: Cage the Elephant lead guitarist.
Photo // Matt Cook Photos // Matt Cook
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
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A journey across myth and space: UMKC’s Wind Symphony collaborates with the astronomy department to integrate art and science Joey Hill
Senior Beat Writer
and raucous introduction. The work does not trick the listener, but more “This is a big idea. This is what it instills within them the promise of a means to be UMKC proud.” These greater idea existing in this work. were the words said by Peter Witte, Enhanced with the rumbling of dean of the Conservatory of Music the tympani drums, the horn section and Dance, in his speech marking rises as if musically narrating the the beginning of the UMKC Wind maiden voyage of a space shuttle, Symphony’s performance of “The lifting off to the heavens above. The Planets – An HD Odyssey” on Sat., audience is now a passenger on this Sept. 28, at the Kauffman Center for trip to the stars, the woodwind Performing Arts. section creating a high pitched The real enormity of the statement wail that propels the audible craft was not lost on the audience through the atmosphere building to and it was a completely intuitive a powerful crescendo. Finally, with a experience. The event kicked off loud sting from the entire ensemble, Founders’ Week, focusing on the the work suddenly breaks free beauty of the solar system. The entire into the vastness of space with the outside hall as well as the veranda of introduction of the theme, “Twinkle the Kauffman Center were converted Twinkle Little Star” played expertly to condensed astronomical science by Robert Weinrich. fairs with astronomy students and The mood is radically changed by teachers answering questions and this, as if Dohnányi himself imagined giving small informative lectures on the passage into the cosmos the planets. Outside, lined against while composing. It begins with a the skyline of the Crossroads District loud, boisterous, even frightening sat high-powered telescopes aimed introduction illustrating possibly at various celestial bodies including the fear of the unknown or the Venus, which guests were welcome advancement to the final frontier. to peer through at the sky. Regardless, what is created upon the This was a genius application stage is absolute magic as, now far to use as it provided a grounded from home, the music begins to drift connection to the reality of the like a space capsule. Finally detached planets before concertgoers were from the thrusters, the curious Guests are able to scan the skies with telescopes provided by the astronomy department. exposed to a hyper-dramatic, astronauts peer out the windows to just left growing farther and farther can be considered an extremely Photo // Joey Hill idealized presentation of them. This catch a peek at the majestic blanket away. romanticized work of classical changing to a quiet conversation joining of education and performance of enveloping stars. The sound swells in this part, styling. It was in this work that the between the woodwinds and a small as well as different departments of It’s here that the variations begin brimming with energy, and then UMKC Symphony Orchestra hit its section of the brass. Venus’s surface is the university is a revolutionary step as the pianist begins to expand on the slows down as if to marvel at the stride; filling the Kauffman Center impossible to see without the naked in the right direction for UMKC common nursery tune, and the rest of eye because of the dense atmosphere, performances. the symphony joins in. Starting small, length of this journey so far. The with so much sound it was as if the so various images of the surface are The performance was set in the woodwinds gradually rise and mood takes an unexpected turn to a structure could hardly contain it. seen through thermal vision. The two parts, the first was a work the bassoons create pleasant sounds, troubling, hollow piano composition Presented with a large video landscape displayed was a wondrous created in 1914 by composer Ernő which float through the Performing beginning to enter into a conversation presentation, this half of the Dohnányi, “Variation on a Nursery Arts Center’s large open space. with the brass as if to remind the performance conveyed the larger- and detailed place with intertwining Tune” and Gustav Holst’s “The Following now into the variations listener that the world they knew is than-life factor that concertgoers ravines in the ground that from a far Planets.” Together the two works of the piece, the mood drifts onward drifting away and return is uncertain. were hoping for. Using computer appeared like hair delicately draped build something more than a music into a place of wonder. Captured by This is quickly replaced by the return generated footage as well as movie upon the planet surface. At times sounding like a lullaby, the concert. They create a full-blooded the initial amazement of the new of a light and joyful composition, reels and photographs from the piece did not especially fit the planet storyline dramatized through sound environment the music becomes possibly remarking on the hope National Aeronautics and Space physically, ignoring its turbulent and, in the case of “The Planets,” full lively and quick, like a selection for a brought about by the realization that Administration, the performance storms and harsh atmosphere. It did, visualizations. Walt Disney film. the journey is happening at all. offered a sort of galactic ballet for the however, capture the imagination of With conduction by Steven D. Quickly there is a shift to a Dohnányi himself was an audience with breathtaking shots of the beautiful goddess who bears its Davis, UMKC Director of Bands, the Fantasia-esque waltz with the accomplished pianist, excelling at the titanic giants of the sky. name. journey begins with “Variation on a addition of a booming “ohm pa pa” advanced technique, but his talented The realization that Holst, no After Venus came “Mercury, The Nursery Tune,” a series of variations as the piano lightly cascades around work in improvisation was possibly matter how epic and beautiful his Winged Messenger,” the small, of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” The it, painting a picture of the noble most revered. A monumental figure music was, was not describing the meteor-impacted sphere closest piece is split into an introduction, the explorer and surveying for the first in music education, he continued planets themselves but more their to the Sun. In mythology, Mercury theme, the eleven variations and the time a new frontier. Closing one’s to teach in the Americas after mythological namesakes. However was the patron god of many aspects finale. Beginning with a thundering eyes immediately creates a landscape emigrating from Budapest after the that didn’t make the experience of of life, such as financial gain, crash from the percussion enhanced of moving stars drifting across a vast death of both of his sons in World hearing the beginning moments of communication, poetry and travelers. by the brass section, the introduction black expanse as the piano rolls over, War II. the first piece “Mars, The Bringer Thus, Holst creates a daring and is a heart-pounding start. quickening as the ensemble builds, After a short intermission, the of War” any less engaging, while a youthful composition. Though being As shocking as this introduction is, consuming it for an epic crescendo. much shorter than the other six, it works beautifully as it immediately The brass section begins playing a Teachers and astronomers offer educational lectures. Mercury’s is a work brimming with Photo // Joey Hill destroys any assumptions from the more detached version of the theme, audience of witnessing a simple possibly signifying the moments in second half of the performance large photograph of the red planet, jubilance and activity. Almost appearing like a performer ballet jaunt through the cosmos. which the humble explorers look began with Gustav Holst’s “The cracked and scarred with mysterious to announce the arrival of the next There is deep significance to the loud behind to see the home in which they Planets.” In many ways, this work canals and craters slowly drifts over part of the work, Mercury departs the orchestra as they make the sound to make room to the hurried sounds grow into a loud, boisterous war-like of the woodwinds which herald beat. The song of Mars can be best “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity.” described as an epic war anthem. From the very beginning it is clear With full use of both the percussion Holst wrote this piece as an event, and the brass sections, Davis was like the entrance of a mighty king. able conjure a murderous typhoon Taken in a planetary sense, Jupiter of a work with rolling thunder and could be considered the king of the intense high-pitched screams from solar system, excluding the sun. The the woodwinds. The incredible fly- absolutely regal feel that this work over shots of the computer generated exudes inexorably clinches it. planet Mars showing a desolate, Brass comes in playing what is sprawling, craggy landscape with almost a royal anthem as on the deep ravines and towering mountains screen above flow shots of the gas rising along the banks of dried out giants churning skies of amber, rivers were perfectly befitting of the pink and red, culminating in the god for whom it is named intense red storm turning over and The most dramatic connection over eternally. Holst intensifies the came when a film was shown of drama with quickening tempos as an invader from a distant planet the shots shift to perspectives of approaching and landing upon the Jupiter’s many moons, their rough red surface. Rocketing through Mar’s surfaces and cracked ice shelves thin atmosphere, the little capsule appearing like the veins of a colossal broke apart dropping a cushioned biographical structure. object which, when safely on the Easing down from the size of Jupiter ground, opened to reveal NASA’s came the great shift in the sound, Curiosity rover. Included also were “Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age.” photographs and videos it took while There was something particularly on the alien surface. off and almost frightening about this The next piece was “Venus, the piece. The sounds are kept almost Bringer of Peace,” which in many pretentiously low along with the was ways a radical change from pitch giving the sense that Saturn the brooding Mars. The audience may not be brining old age, but is presented with images of a milky really death. Accompanied are shots The interior of the Kauffman Center offered ample room for the many pre-concert lectures. white planet, still and soft and the of Saturn’s great rings, deceptively Photo // Joey Hill music complemented that well, appearing as clean solid structures,
Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
The bones of what you believe the theme for the Matt Melson song that follows. Broadcast Assistant Similar to the The Scottish techno-pop band sound of the single CHVRCHES released its debut “The Mother We album “The Bones of What You Share,” the song Believe” Sept. 23. and ambushed “Tether” pulls alternative artists everywhere with it back a notch. fresh competition. It has a heavier This summer, listeners quickly tone, established fell in love with the band’s first through lyrics single “The Mother We Share.” such as “chasing The song has a transfixing loop of things that we lead vocalist Lauren Mayberry’s should run from.” enchanting, impish voice playing The instrumental in the background. With lyrics like bridge takes the “I’m in misery where you can seem as song to an entirely old as your omens” and “The way is different level. It is long but you can make it easy on me,” this versatility that it is evident these artists are ahead of will continue to their time. set CHVRCHES The band’s love of the synthesizer apart from other pop and indie is prominent in each track on the groups worldwide. album, but its execution is better The best song is the penultimate than other renowned artists. The song on the album entitled “By the third track, “Gun,” is upbeat from Throat.” It almost sounds like a start to finish. The rhythm pops and mix of “Gun” and “The Mother We repeats for five minutes of effortlessly Share.” The beats of the synthesizer enjoyable music. At the same time, are superb. The final song on the words like “Who are you to tell me album, “You Caught the Lights,” how to keep myself afloat?” set up is sung by the man behind the
Photo // Google synthesizer himself, Iain Cook. It is primarily instrumental, but Cook’s charming, gruff voice is a lovely complement to Mayberry. CHVRCHES will be touring across the country in November, with no Kansas City date scheduled. mmelson@unews.com
What a “Rush”
Lindsay Nelson Broadcast Assistant
Ron Howard’s film “Rush” takes audiences through the matchless rivalry between two Formula One Grand Prix racing drivers. The invigorating true story follows James Hunt of Great Britain (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda of Austria (Daniel Brühl) on their journey to two world championships. The movie opens with Lauda narrating a scene of the line-up for the second championship. An impending misfortune for one of the two drivers is presumed when Lauda says, “That was the day I raced Hunt like an asshole.” The rest of the film is a flashback leading up to that day. The audience gets the back story on both Hunt and Lauda: how they got into racing, why they love it and how their rivalry started. Writer Peter Morgan did a seamless job keeping an equal focus on each driver. There was never a time where Hunt or Lauda seemed to be on the screen more than the other when they weren’t together racing. Audiences feel just
as delved into Hunt and his philandering lifestyle as they are into Lauda and his overly methodical approach. Beyond the work of Howard and Morgan, the acting of Hemsworth and Brühl make it truly difficult to root for one character over the other. The racing scenes were raw and intense. Howard didn’t take the usual glamorous approach. When it was raining, there were times the camera was placed in the driver’s perspective, beads of water making visibility close to zero. When a driver spun out of control, it was just as abrupt to the audience as to his opponent. The scenes of Lauda in the hospital vividly illustrated his agonizing situation. In the end, the rivalry between Hunt and Brühl was admirable. It was
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Photo // Google evident that underneath it all, the two appreciated that they made each other the best drivers they could be. They pushed one another to find and prove what mattered most. The film may not have been the ruthless competition that the trailers depict it to be, but it was a brilliant adaptation of a stimulating story that deserved a title on the big screen. lnelson@unews.com
Illustration // Joey Hill
iOS 7 : New Design takes Apple to a Higher Plane
iOS 7 features.
Photo // Google One of the limitations is that AirDrop Prannoy Kiran only works when both devices are Contributing Writer in close proximity to one another Apple’s latest mobile software and must use Bluetooth to scan for brings more than just visual nearby devices. changes to its existing and potential iTunes Radio is a much-hyped customers. The extreme makeover feature of iOS 7, with access to is an aesthetic and design-focused more than 250 DJ-curated and release. genre-focused stations, including Installing the upgraded operating everything from hard rock to doo system takes an estimated 15 minutes wop, all with crystal-clear sound to experience the beauty of iOS 7. The quality. Stations can be customized update can be installed by the newer around artists, songs or genres. generation of iPhone, iPod touch or iOS7 works with iPhone 4, 4S, 5, iPad’s built-in software updater, or 5C and 5S; iPad 2, third- and fourththrough iTunes. generation iPads; the iPad mini and The cleaner user interface offers a the fifth-generation iPod touch. more modern look with flair. iOS 7’s There are a few hiccups with iOS lock screen and navigational buttons, 7. The iPhone 4’s A4 chip does not such as the “Back” button at the support the following features: the top of the display while navigating 3D flyover feature and turn-by-turn through device settings, adopt a navigation in Maps, translucency more simplistic look compared to effects throughout the operating iOS 6. The improved control center system, live wallpapers and some provides easy access to device and visual effects, including the parallax application settings. Smart photo effect on the home screen. organization allows users organize Apple games do not work in full photo libraries in a more systematic action like in iOS 6. Some games way. like Temple Run freeze due to The entire design overhaul added compatibility issues. The phone useful features such as automatic heating up is another downside updates, which makes everyday use customers are worrying about. of applications easier. Control center Mobile apps also crash abruptly. gives quick access to most-used features. AirDrop and iTunes Radio A Brief Call are new and positive additions. Pros: The control center is the base of • A complete new look. the new operating system and adds • Multi-tasking to the ease of use. With a simple • iTunes Radio swipe up from the bottom of the • AirDrop screen, users can control AirDrop file • Fast features sharing settings, screen brightness, • Control Center the camera, the clock app, system Cons: volume and music playback. Control • Battery life goes down center can also enable and disable • Compatibility issues with airplane mode, device data usage iPhone 4 and 4S options, Bluetooth, notifications and • Apps crashing abruptly system profile. • No actionable notifications AirDrop is a robust but simple file sharing feature that has a large Bottom Line: domain of third-party apps. It offers Massive changes make Apple’s iOS file sharing functionality first seen look new again. Future iOS 7 updates in Apple’s operating system mobile will likely be released to rectify any platform, and offers an easy and noticeable glitches and to make the seamless method to transfer digital operating system more user-friendly. assets between compatible devices. pkiran@unews.com
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Continued from page 12:
UMKC’s Wind Symphony
with video footage revealing them to be constructed by minutely smaller celestial objects caught in Saturn’s great gravitational pull. It’s the cold, quiet sound that Davis is able to create that makes Saturn out to be a galactic oddity. Like a dramatic scene change, the entrance of “Uranus, The Magician” starts almost completely silent until suddenly the entire ensemble is brought to life with thunder percussion and a resounding march anthem from the brass and woodwinds. The instruments create a sense of the greatest show on Earth unfolding before the audience’s very eyes. Holst could have gone with this loud and ostentatious angle to speak on the trick the planet performs with its vertical rings. It is in the last minute of the performance there is a connection the earlier Mars piece created where there is a collection of harsh stings from the ensemble. What ends the performance is “Neptune, The Mystic,” a piece that not only displays Holst’s expertise with sound control but also theatrical presentation. Neptune’s is a quiet, mysterious work accompanied with shots of the planet’s deep blue hue and minimal features: a few whispers of clouds which dot its horizon. The
use of the harp comes in best here, building simultaneously a place of beauty, but also harsh mystery. The climax of the piece, and possibly the entire performance comes when suddenly there is the addition of the UMKC Conservatory and University Singers singing only simple arias. Shrouded from view, they sang through a door near the back of the stage creating an echo effect which gave the work a kind of creep factor mixed with an invasion of heaven all led by a ghostly siren song. Dean Witte was not wrong when he states that this was a big idea. This was a colossal, epic idea that not only displayed itself as one of the greatest introductions to Founders’ Week in recent memory, but also displayed once again the immense talents of the conservatory in conjunction with the astronomy department. jhill@unews.com
Attendees gather in the Kauffman Center lobby before the concert begins.
Photo // Joey Hill
Above: Images of planets displayed behind the wind symphony. Right: Astronomy and physics students present projects. Photos // Joey Hill
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Disclaimer: The views of individual writers expressed below in this section do not represent the official stance of U-News. U-News welcomes participation from all UMKC students. Letters to the editor may be submitted to Editors-in-Chief Roze Brooks and Elizabeth Golden, editor@unews.com.
Holy Man A parking says what? lot built Matt Melson Broadcast Assistant
Pope Francis’ recent remarks started the most progressive stance on abortion and homosexuality in the Catholic Church’s history. The pope has taken a more loving stance to these issues and gone back to the roots of the church, the “hate the sin, love the sinner” mentality. This may seem great, but there is a problem with this whole situation. Somehow one man’s opinion was able to reshape hundreds of years of Catholic thinking and hold the opinions of its congregation overnight. To an outsider of the religion, this seems very peculiar. The pope’s new position is quite progressive for Catholicism. “It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time,” Pope Francis said. The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently.” The overall reaction to these remarks has been amazing. Many Catholics around the globe are praising the pope’s remarks and are truly inspired by the church’s new stance. This is a clear shift in the Catholic perspective from Pope Francis’ predecessors. According to the previous pope, Benedict XVI, homosexuality “undermines families, human dignity and the future of humanity itself.” Pope John Paul II took the stance that homosexuality was an “intrinsic evil” and that “living out this orientation of homosexuality is not a morally acceptable option.”
So it seems that the new pope is taking Catholicism to a new area of progression. The problem is, why did it take the word of the pope for Catholics to do what their religion said to do in the first place? If one of the main teachings of your religion is to love your neighbor, then why did it take a regular man – yes, he is a regular man who is elected to the position – to say to that you should practice that teaching for you to do it? This is the main problem that comes about from the tradition of electing a pope. Instead of Catholicism’s participants thinking for themselves and following the teachings of their religion, they rely on one man’s interpretation of the religion. Although the new stance is the most progressive the Catholic Church has to date, it seems hollow, coming out of fear rather than a true acceptance of these issues. The pope warned that the church’s moral foundations will fall “like a house of cards” unless it strikes a “new balance” between preaching gospel and taking stances on divisive issues. Let’s not forget some Catholics who now have to go against their former beliefs and accept the pope’s new position on these issues. Many conservative Catholics who have hounded the pope to address these issues are now left with a sour taste after the religion they followed suddenly changed its mind on some of its biggest issues. The most interesting aspect of the papacy and power of the statements made by the person holding this position is the infallibility that comes along with the position. According to chapter 4.9 of The First Dogmatic
for two Lindsay Nelson Broadcast Assistant
Matt Melson Constitution of the Church of Christ, the pope is preserved from the possibility of error. If the previous popes took the position that homosexuality needed to be abolished because of the threat it posed to mankind, then why is Pope Francis able to say anything otherwise? The reason is because he is just a man like everyone else, only this man finally took a stance that didn’t condemn people for reasons previous popes have. Everyone should praise the pope for taking this stance, but they also need to take a step back and analyze the situation. They need to figure out why it took this man’s opinion on these issues to spark change within Catholicism. This is not intended to mock the Catholic religion, its followers or even the pope, but instead trying to open people’s eyes to the reality behind the situation. Yes, the pope has this incredible new stance on these issues, but others must think about how the opinion of one man shapes this community. mmelson@unews.com
Parking can be problematic when attending a university with a commuter-based student population. Finding a spot is not always an issue, but having permission to park in said spot can pose a dilemma. The Cherry Street parking structure has been full utilized since it opened in fall 2012, and the Rockhill garage remains just as crowded. However, there are several areas around campus that would make more sense as student parking. This is not to imply students should have the right to every single accessible parking space, but rather that revising certain lots would be beneficial. A prime example is the inadequate student parking options outside Miller Nichols Library, the University Center and the Performing Arts Center. Only about a third these areas are permitted for student use. The lot closest to the library is designated for faculty members before 4:15 p.m. It seems that more students occupy the library at one time than professors and faculty. This lot could be shared during the day to give students more parking access without stripping the faculty’s access to convenient parking. The lot closest to the PAC is also designated for faculty only. This permit is reasonable during the day, but quite seems superfluous at night.
Lindsay Nelson Conservatory students dedicate many late hours to practice in this building. Wouldn’t it be rational to adjust the hours in which the lot permits only faculty? Speaking for theater students in particular, it would be marvelous to park in the lot by the stage doors during late-night rehearsals and not get a ticket. We are all adults here. What difference does it make who is parked in which lot, as long as each car has the required permit? If certain faculty lots could allot spaces for student parking without inconveniencing faculty members, students could only benefit from this additional parking. All of us are ultimately using the buildings for the same reasons. If we can share the building, we should be allowed to share the corresponding parking lot, too.
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Monday September 30, 2013 | Issue 7
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