Who Wants to Be a Doctor? ■ KU’S Ice Researchers Med School Programs Steer Young People ■ Novelist Laura Moriarty to Health Careers
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No. 1 ■ 2010 Who Wants To Be A Doctor? ■ KU’s ice researchers Med school programs steer young people ■ Novelist Laura Moriarty to health careers 34 Contents Established in 1902 as The Graduate Magazine FEATURES Antarctic Ice 28 A unique radar developed by the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets can penetrate the world’s thickest ice formations and gather data that could help researchers answer urgent questions about sea-level rise and climate change. Learn how NASA has tapped this KU expertise to fill an important gap in global climate research. BY JILL HUMMELS Sense of Place 34 With three published novels and an appearance on the New York Times best-seller list, creative writing professor Laura Moriarty is making her mark on the American literary scene. Discover why her muse and her life COVER remain deeply rooted in Kansas. Medicinal Purpose BY WHITNEY ERIKSEN 22 By offering academic challenges to kids from kindergarten through college, the School of Medicine hopes to prepare more minority students for careers in math and science—and expand health care knowledge in underserved communities. BY MELISSA BERG HARMON Cover: Doctoral candidate Fernando Estrada and students in the Saturday Science and Math Academy. Photograph by Steve Puppe. Volume 108, No. 1, 2010 28 talk hoops at work. When Durango- based KU fans met at our regular bar Lift the Chorus to watch the 2003 championship game between KU and Syracuse, I invited Larry and beamed when he showed A credit to his profession up with a Jayhawk pinned to his “No, I was chancellor of the blazer. “Hey everybody,” I said, “meet Reading your cover story on Richard University.” my friend the chancellor!” Schiefelbusch [“The Particular Genius of I was impressed. As Larry gave me his I also had the great pleasure of being Richard Schiefelbusch,” issue No. 6], I history at KU during the turbulent Viet- first to inform Larry that a movement turned to page 30 and nam War era, I vaguely recol- was under way to name a building for found myself, a young lected his name, probably from him on campus. He was especially Topeka Randolph Ele- UDK articles that referenced the moved to learn it was a student-based mentary student with a past and maybe from a plaque or initiative from kids who weren’t even speech problem, in the two on campus. Larry fell under born when he was chancellor. picture with three other my official but extremely loose Knowing Larry was a great experi- children and Mr. supervision at the monument ence. He shared his brilliant intellect Schiefelbusch. Fast for- and I used to say, “Hey, Larry, I humbly and treated people with genuine ward 15 years and I was bet you never thought a lowly compassion. He was “high-minded” but a student of his col- undergrad would be bossing you not the least bit snobby. Larry touched league Bruce Linton at around!” many people’s lives through his work at KU, still learning Larry was professorial in his Aztec Ruins. When he died, the National speech along with jour- role as volunteer park ranger. He Park Service lost a dear friend and nalism. delighted in explaining Anasazi cultural invaluable employee. Recently named Oregon’s 2009 history and archeology to visitors. He Frank Hayde, c’93 Broadcaster of the Year, I now realize my also undertook an ambitious “stone Grand Junction, Colo. indebtedness to Mr. Schiefelbusch. I counting” project, dividing the ruins into Holiday e-mail appreciated retain a similar picture that was on the plots and counting individual stones to cover of the Educational Platform for the create a database he hoped would shed I attended KU from fall ’88 to summer State of Public Instruction in the late ’40s light on how many man hours were ’91. I lived in Sellards Scholarship Hall that I now understand was a result of the required to complete the ruins. He wore and majored in psychology. Now I teach work of this “particular genius.” his volunteer ranger uniform with pride, at a Catholic American school in Rio de I think I can safely credit this fine man accessorized with his bow ties, and Janeiro called Our Lady of Mercy. for a great part of the joy of my education always looked sharp. I have great memories from KU and and business life. Larry considered himself “a reason- the friends I made there. I dream of the Van Moe, j’65 ably good Episcopalian” and was proud day I will return to visit, but the salary of Tillamook, Ore. of his Scottish heritage, which he cred- a teacher in Brazil is low and I cannot Chalmers remembered ited for his thrift. We both loved sardines afford to travel abroad. and Larry used to buy the cheap oval- Thank you so much for the lovely hol- My friend Larry Chalmers died shaped cans from the Mexican food aisle iday greeting. I hope you all have a won- recently. He was able to drive himself because he was “too Scottish” to pay the derful 2010 full of joy, peace and down from his mesa-top home to the extra 50 cents for King Oscars. His old achievements. hospital in Durango, where he passed a Buick had almost 300,000 miles on it. Simone De Souza, c’92 short while later. Larry had a boyish mischievousness Rio de Janeiro I met Larry in 2003 when I reported that he shared with his grandsons when to work at Aztec Ruins National Monu- they visited. He would take them to the Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to ment in 2003, where I work as a park edge of the mesa on which he lived, the editor. Our address is Kansas Alumni ranger. The dapper gentleman with the where they would aim Larry’s spud gun magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, bow tie was manning the visitor informa- down onto the Animas River and send KS 66045-3169. E-mail responses may tion desk when I walked in. As we got potatoes splashing into the water, yards be sent to [email protected], acquainted I told him I graduated from downstream from rafters and fishermen. or Associate Editor Chris Lazzarino, KU in 1992. Larry said, in a most under- I take credit for rekindling Larry’s [email protected]. Letters appearing stated way, “I was at KU too.” appreciation for KU basketball. He in the magazine may be edited for space and clarity. “As an undergrad?” I asked. started following the team so we could 2 | KANSAS ALUMNI January 2010 Publisher Kevin J. Corbett, c’88 Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 8 Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 Steven Hill Staff Writers Katie Moyer Coffman, j’06 DEPARTMENTS Terry Rombeck Editorial Assistant Karen Goodell 5 FIRST WORD Photographer Steve Puppe, j’98 The editor’s turn Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 ON THE BOULEVARD Advertising Sales Representative 6 Whitney Eriksen, c’08, j’08 KU & Alumni Association events Editorial and Advertising Office KU Alumni Association 8 JAYHAWK WALK 1266 Oread Ave. A unique flock of Jayhawks, monarchs in space, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 a basketball offer we can refuse and more 785-864-4760 • 800-584-2957 www.kualumni.org HILLTOPICS [email protected] 10 News and notes: HOPE winner selected; downtown path project gains momentum. KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published by the KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, SPORTS May, July, September and November. $55 annual subscription 18 includes membership in the Alumni Association. Office of Gill leads football after Mangino era ends; Publication: 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. highly ranked men roll up big hoops numbers. Periodicals postage paid at Lawrence, KS. ASSOCIATION NEWS POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni 38 Magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045- Jayhawk Generation Scholarship begins second 3169 © 2010 by Kansas Alumni Magazine. Non-member year; new staff join Association. issue price: $7 42 CLASS NOTES Profiles of a productive geneticist, an intelligence officer, an outdoors journalist and more Your opinion 60 IN MEMORY counts! Deaths in the KU family ROCK CHALK REVIEW Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to 64 the editor. Our address is Kansas Alumni Research identifies early signs of Alzheimer’s magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, and the Spencer reclassifies a classic. KS 66045-3169. E-mail responses may be sent to the Alumni Association, 68 GLORIOUS TO VIEW [email protected]. Letters appear- Scene on campus ing in the magazine may be edited for space and clarity. ISSUE 1, 2010 | 3 Loyalty is Timeless. Thank you for being a loyal KU Alumni Association member. Your membership is the best way to strengthen the University and the value of a KU degree, ensuring that future generations of Jayhawks will share your pride and loyalty. Your support helps KU recruit the best and brightest students and preserves KU’s distinctive and nationally known traditions. If you are not already a Jayhawk Society or Life Member, please consider upgrading your membership to increase your level of support for KU. Association memberships also make great gifts. All renewals can be made online at www.kualumni.org or by calling 800-584-2957. Again, thank you and Rock Chalk! Everything we do stengthens KU. BY JENNIFER JACKSON SANNER First Word ven the most resolute poker tion’s statewide legislative advocacy and community colleges.” faces melted during discussion group, helped KU avoid the most devas- Parkinson recommended the restora- one morning last February in tating cuts proposed in early 2009, but tion of $10 million to the higher educa- Strong Hall.