State Regents endorse breaks for military

The Kansas Board of Regents has endorsed the higher education provisions included in Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ Military Bill of Rights.

The board this week adopted a policy at the six state universities that provides a full tuition refund when a member of the armed services is called to active duty and must leave school. It also is asking boards governing the regents 30 coordinated community colleges, technical schools and colleges and Washburn University to adopt a similar policy.

Regents also endorsed Sebelius’ legislative proposal that would grant tuition waivers for the dependents of Kansas residents who are killed in the line of duty while serving in the national armed services or Kansas National Guard. The Bill of Rights also proposes to preserve in-state tuition rates for dependents of armed service personnel if the service member’s status changes because of reassignment.

Kansas University

Alumnus to be knighted

A Kansas University graduate has been selected for knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II.

Robert Worcester, a 1955 graduate of KU, will be formally knighted during a ceremony later this year. He is expected to return to campus April 15 and April 16 for his 50th reunion.

Worcester, a native of Kansas City, Kan., moved to Britain in 1969 and founded Market and Opinion Research International, which is best known for public opinion polling. He has dual citizenship in Britain and the United States.

Television

KU graduate to appear on NBC’s ‘Today’ show

A Kansas University graduate will be featured Wednesday on NBC’s “Today” show. Patricia J. Krantz, co-director of the Princeton Child Development Institute, will be interviewed as part of the show’s 10-part special on autism.

The segment is scheduled to air at 8:15 a.m.

Krantz graduated from KU in 1974 with a degree in developmental and child psychology.

She and two KU colleagues developed an important educational program for people with autism. Their approach will be compared with other educational programs during Wednesday’s segment.

KU offering event on oral histories

Oral history and tradition will be the topic of a workshop March 18 at Kansas University.

The Hall Center for the Humanities at KU is sponsoring “Learning to Hear the Stories VI: Listening in the Borderlands” from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Kansas Union Ballroom.

To register or for more information, call 864-4798 or e-mail hallcenter@ku.edu.

Deputy injured in crash

A member of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department was injured Friday evening in a car accident on Kansas Highway 10 while trying to respond to another injury accident.

Stacy Simmons, 32, Eudora, was heading west with lights and sirens on about 6:30 p.m. trying to respond to the other accident when the incident occurred.

Michael Erwin, 53, Lawrence, was also headed west on K-10. When Simmons tried to merge lanes to get to the accident, Erwin failed to yield and struck her.

Erwin was not injured. Simmons was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where she was treated Friday night and released.

Simmons and Erwin were wearing their seat belts.

NAACP serving Soul Food Dinner fund-raiser

The Lawrence branch of the NAACP will hold its annual Soul Food Dinner on March 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Drive.

The dinner is held to benefit the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Scholarship Fund.

The menu for the dinner includes smoked brisket, fried chicken, red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese, green beans, corn, sweet potatoes, corn bread, rolls, peach cobbler, sweat tea and coffee.

Tickets for the event cost $7, and can be purchased from any NAACP branch member. For purchase information, contact Bessie Walker at 841-0030.

Politics

Sebelius making trips to Lawrence

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will be a familiar face in Lawrence over the next few days.

Sebelius intends to watch the Kansas University men’s basketball game against Iowa State today and the women’s game against Nebraska on Sunday.

Sebelius, a sports fan, will be back at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday for the building’s 50th anniversary.

Kansas University

Professor named to Chancellor Club

A Kansas University English professor who created the English Alternative Theater has been named the newest Chancellors Club Teaching Professor.

Paul Lim will receive a $5,000 annual stipend for as long as he teaches at KU.

The Chancellors Club, established in 1977 by the KU Endowment Association, is KU’s major-donor organization. The teaching professorships were established in 1981 to recognize and honor teaching excellence among KU faculty members.

Lim, who received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from KU in the 1970s, has taught at the university since 1989.