Heard on the Hill: KU Cancer Center director touring state; universities across country take sides on Chick-Fil-A issue; KUMC beginning to use new Google Fiber service / LJWorld.com

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• The Pittsburg Morning Sun reported over the weekend on a meeting of members of the Midwest Cancer Alliance and its role in KU’s recent National Cancer Institute designation.

“It’s the best cancer care you can find anywhere in the world,” Boban Mathew of Via Christi Cancer Center told the newspaper. “And you don’t have to go to KU. You can get it here.”

It’s a good reminder that much of the cancer care available to patients will be accessible throughout the state through the Midwest Cancer Alliance, a group of hospitals and other research groups that are partnering with the KU Cancer Center.

Roy Jensen, director of the KU Cancer Center, has been zipping around the state after the KU Cancer Center won its big prize last month, and he is scheduled to speak to the Lawrence Noon Rotary today.

• The online publication Inside Higher Ed took this good look at the Chick-Fil-A issue, and the attention that it’s drawing nationwide, including at KU.

It’s interesting to note how colleges across the country are handling the political firestorm after the company’s CEO made some comments on a radio show expressing his views against gay marriage.

The article notes KU’s competing petitions, with the one to remove Chick-Fil-A from campus with more than 2,150 signatures, and the two supporting Chick-Fil-A with more than 700.

Administrators are getting involved in other colleges. At the University of Louisville, the president and provost sent a statement to the campus LGBT group saying “they won’t be eating at Chick-Fil-A anytime soon.”

Still, they supported the restaurant’s right to remain on campus, citing their commitment to free speech and diversity of ideas, saying students also had the right to spend their money where they wanted.

Meanwhile, Liberty University, founded by pastor and co-founder of the Moral Majority Jerry Falwell, announced it would be opening a second Chick-Fil-A to its campus after the whole flap began. It also has plans to add a third.

• One thing to watch in the coming months will be how KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., finds new ways to capitalize on the new Google Fiber high-speed Internet connections coming to that city.

The medical center is already demonstrating one capability of the new system at the Google Fiber showcase at 43rd and State Line in Kansas City.

KU dietitians conducted 50 one-on-one nutrition consultations using teleconference systems during the first weekend of the showcase.

It will be interesting to watch how the new Internet service will affect KUMC’s efforts in tele-medicine in coming months and years.

• I’m not going to tell you what to eat or where to eat it, but with your help, I will tell you what’s going on at KU if you’ll continue sending me tips at ahyland@ljworld.com.

a34123h9038419 5 years, 8 months ago

Welllll, KUMC has been connected to KanREN, doing teleconferences for years. That's nothing new.

KanREN is a local Lawrence business. Why not give them a little love? What Google is doing for the home consumer is way more interesting than what they are doing for education.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 years, 8 months ago

"Meanwhile, Liberty University, founded by pastor and co-founder of the Moral Majority Jerry Falwell, announced it would be opening a second Chick-Fil-A to its campus after the whole flap began. It also has plans to add a third."

The Phelps Clan and their signs will be in charge of the grand opening.

Mark Elzea 5 years, 8 months ago

Andy, I think you inadvertently left out the explanation of who "Jensen" is; I know he's mentioned in the linked article, but - unless I'm blind - I don't see that you tell your readers who he is (as of 2:20 PM, anyway).

ahyland 5 years, 8 months ago

Good point! He's been mentioned a lot... but certainly not enough to merit one-name status like Pele or Madonna!

Thanks for pointing it out. I'll fix it shortly.

Andy Hyland LJW Reporter

I thought you were too young for Pele to be a one-namer! He was for my generation, for sure. Not sure if he scored more than Madonna, though - both prolific....

Shane Garrett 5 years, 8 months ago

I fully support the civil union of same sex couples. If a church/religion wants to join two same sex couples in some sort of mystic mumble jumble then I support that also. But I do not support a boycott of a business because of a religious belief by the CEO. If i did that then the entire Catholic church would have to be boycotted as they do not offer communion to non-Catholics. And the body and blood of Christ is more meaningful then a stupid chicken sandwich. I would not be able to purchase anything from a Islamic owned business as they believe I am an infidel. If I am not of Hispanic blood can I eat at Taco Bell? Perhaps they have something against gringos. I am just trying to point out that many businesses have many different types of owners, whom all have differing political and ethical beliefs. But, we have troops dying across the ocean to protect everyone's right to free speech. And to a larger extent free enterprise, capitalism and the American Way! (start music).

Archive for Monday, August 6, 2012