Spring Break
First Fridays is quickly becoming a Kansas City institution not to be missed. Each month, the Crossroads district comes alive with local art, showcasing Kansas City's finest to the welcoming community, and UMKC students are clamoring to get involved. This weekend, UMKC Conservatory's own Jerad Tomasino performed at Mildred's Coffee Shop to a lively crowd.
Dearest Readers, There were so many parties on campus and around town this week it was difficult to choose between them. So, I tried to attend them all. Generally, my social life is pretty full and I somehow try to work my classes in between dates, dinners, parties and nightclubs.
John Nichols, co-founder of Free Press, held a talk about the issues surrounding media policy at the event "Our Media, Not Theirs" at the downtown branch of the Kansas City Public Library. Concerned about the direction of an advertisement-driven business, he described the current state of the media as nothing more than an entertainment vehicle driven by clowns and crooks.
The UMKC Web site presents a variety of design styles varying from school to school and department to department. Information Services (IS) Chief Information Officer Dr. Mary Lou Hines-Fritts invited U-News to sit in on a board meeting as a way to understand the difficulties her department faces in creating a uniform look and ease of usability.
Homecoming officially began last week and the fever spread rapidly across the entire campus, and one of the most popular events, the Roo Decorating Contest. Blank wooden cut-outs of UMKC's famous mascot, the fighting kangaroo, were painted, dressed and displayed by the various groups participating for the chance to win prizes.
The UMKC LGBT department continued its open forum series last Thursday with "G" Conversations. The discussion was facilitated by David Greene, the department's head, and focused on gay men and the issues surrounding the "coming out" experience. The event brought together three panelists from different backgrounds including an former soldier, a current UMKC student and a religious leader.
Last Thursday, the Folly Theater had the opening concert for their Folly Jazz Series. The storied venue was ideal for the renowned act it hosted, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. The act was supremely talented and led by legendary pianist, Dave Brubeck. Brubeck has been one of the most pivotal figures in the jazz world for nearly 60 years, and at 87, he is still touring nationally.
This weekend, UMKC's Conservatory of Music and Dance kicked off their musical season with a wonderfully dark production of Dale Wasserman's "Man of La Mancha". The play examines truth and madness, as the line between the two becomes increasingly blurred and, by the end of the play, completely erased.
"Flash of Genius" is, simply put, a great movie. It chronicles the story of Dr. Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear), along with his wife Phyllis (Lauren Graham) and friend and business partner Gil Privick (Dermot Mulroney). Dr. Kearns is a college professor who is best known for inventing the intermittent windshield wiper.
One lucky UMKC student just might strike it rich Oct. 10 on "Deal or No Deal." The recently married Layna Dugan, president of the Mercury Association and U-News' very own ad manager, will go for a million this week wearing her wedding dress. Keeping with the spirit, the models will appear in 26 different bridesmaids' dresses.
Monday, Oct. 6 Latin Coffee To Go: Multicultural Student Affairs will be handing out coffee from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day this week in the University Center, room 160, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Academy Recital: Musical event starting at 5 p.
