Perspectives: Greens plan discussions on global, local issues

Kansas University Greens are planning “Cultivate Your Garden,” a week of events aimed at residents’ need to cultivate connections by growing more aware of global and local issues.

Events scheduled include:

• “Iraq: Liberation?” discussion by Phil Schrodt, professor of political science, and Scott Harding, assistant professor of social welfare, 4 p.m. Monday, Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union.
• “Paving Lawrence” discussion, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Lawrence Public Library.
• “Paving America,” speech by author James Howard Kunstler, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union.
• “Perspectives of Free and Fair Trade,” lecture by Mohamed El-Hodiri, professor of economics, 6 p.m. Thursday, Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave.
• “Women and Economics,” lecture by Stephanie Harsin, Kaw Valley Living Wage Alliance, 4 p.m. Friday, Ecumenical Christian Ministries.
• “A Day in the Park,” discussion by Tibetan monk Palden Gyatso, 2 p.m. Saturday, South Park.

Leavenworth: Judge finds defendant competent for trial

A judge ruled Friday that a Leavenworth man charged with raping and killing a girl nearly eight years ago is competent to stand trial.

No trial date has been set for Marshall Tillman, who is accused of rape and felony first-degree murder in the death of 12-year-old Jasmine Watkins. Jasmine was found dead at her home on Jan. 14, 1995. Tillman, 51, has pleaded innocent to the charges.

Tillman’s trial had been delayed by mental competency concerns.

Free performance: Play offers perspective on relationship abuse

A one-woman play that focuses on dating violence and sexual assault will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday in Alderson Auditorium at the Kansas Union.

“The Yellow Dress” tells of a young woman’s relationship, which begins as love and full of passion and promise, but ends in tragedy.

The play and follow-up discussion are designed to raise awareness about relationship abuse, said Lea Burgess-Carland, outreach coordinator for Women’s Transitional Care Services.

The free performance is part of a continuing effort to prevent relationship violence and assault by Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center at Kansas University and Women’s Transitional Care Services.

Kansas University: Book-collecting contest winners to be named

Winners of this year’s Snyder Book Collecting Contest at Kansas University will be honored in a ceremony at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Oread Books in the Kansas Union.

Four finalists have been identified in each of two divisions. Undergraduate finalists are Sarah Lafferty, a Lawrence junior; Amy Miller, a Lawrence senior; Jason Sachse, a Leavenworth sophomore; and Jennifer Sweeton, a Parkville, Mo., senior.

Graduate student finalists are Adrienne Harris Boggess of Lawrence, Joel Boggess of Lawrence, Stylianos Chatzimanolis of Greece and Amy Fowler of Shawnee.

Winners in each division win a $600 prize and a $100 gift certificate from the KU Bookstore. Second-place winners receive $400 and a $50 gift certificate, and honorable mentions win $100 and a $25 gift certificate.

Elizabeth Snyder of Kansas City, Mo., created the awards through a gift to the KU Endowment Association.