KU honors scholars in multicultural program

Kansas University honored the 60 members of its Multicultural Scholars Program on Wednesday with a reception and tickets to the KU-Nebraska women’s basketball game.

KU freshman Alexis Borom, Overland Park, above, was among students introduced Wednesday who were selected for the program.

The program was started in the KU School of Business in 1992 to recruit and retain minority students, and it now is being used as a model in other academic units.

The program offers comprehensive mentoring and scholarship support to students. Students in the program have had an 85 percent retention rate, which is about 5 percent above the universitywide average for minority students.

Kansas University

Gloria Steinem to speak Feb. 10 at Lied Center

World-renowned feminist, journalist and human rights activist Gloria Steinem is set to speak at Kansas University next month.

The Student Lecture Series will offer the free event at 8 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Lied Center. Vouchers will be available only to KU ID holders between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and they will be available to the general public Wednesday in the Student Union Activities Office in the Kansas Union.

Steinem is considered one of the most influential feminists of her time. She wrote for New York magazine and co-founded Ms. Magazine.

For more information, call 864-SHOW.

Education

KU simplifies process for military withdrawals

Because more Kansas University students who are in the military are being called up for active duty, KU officials have devised a plan to help them withdraw from school more easily.

Richard C. Morrell, university registrar, said the program helped students avoid criss-crossing the campus to tie up loose ends. It also makes it easier for them to resume their education when they return home.

Under the plan, contacts are made for the students to get refunds in tuition, parking or bus passes and various fees. The plan also helps students withdraw from classes, make adjustments to financial aid and move out of housing, Morrell said.

Activism

KU student organization to protest sodomy laws

A student group at Kansas University has plans to be at the state Capitol next month to protest the state’s criminal sodomy laws.

The Womyn’s Empowerment Action Coalition will be in Topeka on Feb. 15 to protest the state laws that criminalize consenting adult sexual relations between members of the same sex and those that impose harsher sentences for same-sex sexual activity under the “Romeo and Juliet” law.

Speakers from across the state are scheduled to appear at the event. Lawrence groups sponsoring the protest include Delta Force and Queers and Allies at KU, LesBiGayTrans Services of Kansas and the Black Cat Collective.