Kansas Alumni Magazine
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28 Contents Esbise in s The Graduate agazine FEATURES Secure by Design 28 Micah Laaker once warned about the dangers of online data collection for the ACLU, and 26 million people tuned him in. Now at Yahoo! he’s still working to protect privacy—while accommodating Internet users’ desire for easier information sharing. BY JOE MILLER On Hoops 30 As another basketball season tips off in Allen Field House, we asked five literary alumni to share the milestones and memories that have made Kansas COVER basketball their longtime passion. Prescription Filled BY B.H. FAIRCHILD, SARA PARETSKY, KEVIN HELLIKER, 22 The new $50 million School of Pharmacy JAMES GUNN AND LAURA KIRK is just what the doctor ordered: A shot in the arm for communities across the state facing a dire shortage of practicing pharmacists. BY CHRIS LAZZARINO Cover photograph by Steve Puppe 30 Volume 108, No. 6, 2010 year and a fairly confident attitude. I was brought up short my sophomore year by Lift the Chorus courses taught by both Professor Carroll Edwards (early English lit) and Professor Ed Ruhe (Shakespeare). These highly dis- cerning professors [“Solempne,” issue Journalism endures As a 1998 journalism major, I was No. 5] made it very clear I would be earn- eager to read the story about KU’s vener- ing my way and paying my dues if I As the J-school’s ated J-school. Upon graduation, I enthu- wanted an English degree awarded by 1968 valedictorian, siastically started my career as a the University of Kansas. I read with great newspaper copy editor before switching And I did. Thank you, gentlemen, and interest “News gears and entering the advertising indus- godspeed. Judgment” in the try. My degree opened myriad doors for Cynthia Berg Tully, c’80 September Kansas me as I was starting out; the clout of a Santa Clara, Calif. Alumni. I was KU J-school degree landed me more than Jayhawk lifeline angered by critics’ one job interview. My career path ulti- accusations of mately led me to graduate school, an Capt. Alex “Meatloaf” Ramthun, c’00, “fraud” and that MBA and a job in high-tech product man- and I are members of 1st Battalion, 6th “journalism schools agement. In fact, my graduate university— Marine Regiment, and are currently are exploiting students … guaranteeing the University of Colorado-Boulder— deployed to Helmand Province, a large population of out-of-work, debt- recently announced plans to shut- Afghanistan. Capt. addled graduates.” What’s fraudulent ter its journalism program. It’s Ramthun is the is such a criticism. Throughout human clear journalism as a degree and battalion’s Air Offi- history, civilization has been literally profession is in a period of pro- cer and as such he is propelled by persuasive writings— found change. responsible for nam- influenced, nurtured and fulfilled However, one thing remains ing any Landing by journalism. constant: the unassailable skills I Zone (LZ) that we When I left with my B.S. in journal- learned as a KU J-school student. are operating out of. ism, I embarked, following graduate Strong foundations in writing, edit- When our regiment school, on a 40-year business career— ing and communication have con- captured the previ- never darkening the door of any journal- tinued to serve me well throughout ously Taliban-held istic media. my career. In fact, my supervisor city of Marjah, Capt. But, were it not for my journalism remarked just the other day how Ramthun had the Lt. Shipley & Capt. Ramthun education, how else were I to write the rare strong writing and communi- perfect name ready essay to Northwestern University’s Grad- cation skills are in the working world. I for our hard-won new zone: LZ Jayhawk uate School of Management which won directly attribute my proficiency to my serves as the regiment’s lifeline for me an Austin Scholarship—one of only KU journalism degree. supplies, troop movement and casualty two granted each year, which paid in full It is encouraging to see the J-school evacuation. for my MBA? stay abreast of the sea-change occurring The designation is enduring, so it will And, via honed writing skills, how else in journalism and adapt the school and remain a tribute to the University as long would I explain a successful business curriculum as needed. While the pre- as it is in operation. This fact is particu- career—as a chief operating and financial ferred medium may change (newspaper larly galling to the battalion commander, officer in multiple industries—specializ- to Internet, editorial to blog), the need Lt. Col. Calvert Worth, a graduate of the ing in crafting strategic plans to save for news and for journalists to provide University of Missouri. extremely troubled companies? Oh, and that news will not be obviated. 1st Lt. Paul Shipley, c’07 how did I write all those resumés that Kelly Cannon Boeckman j’98 1st Battalion, 6th Marines enabled me to switch industries through- Golden, Colo. Marjah, Afghanistan out my career? Editor’s note: Since we received the letter Not a day goes by when I don’t Special dignity and photo, Shipley and Ramthun have silently thank KU and the wonderful returned home safely from Afghanistan. School of Journalism for the valuable, I graduated KU in 1980 with a B.A. in Shipley is stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. career-enabling education given to me. English, with honors. I entered the pro- Ramthun is an ROTC instructor at the Robert H. Campbell, j’68 gram with a mess of hours accumulated, University of Nebraska in Lincoln. San Diego plus several 300 courses in my freshman 2 | KANSAS ALUMNI November 2010 Publisher Kevin J. Corbett, c’88 Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 16 Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 Steven Hill Staff Writer Terry Rombeck DEPARTMENTS Editoril Assistnts Karen Goodell Photographer Steve Puppe, j’98 LIFT THE CHORUS Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 2 Letters from our readers Advertising Sales Representative Whitney Eriksen, c’08, j’08 FIRST WORD Editorial and Advertising Office 5 The editor’s turn KU Alumni Association 1266 Oread Ave. Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 6 ON THE BOULEVARD 785-864-4760 • 800-584-2957 KU & Alumni Association events www.kualumni.org [email protected] 8 JAYHAWK WALK A Potter Lake time capsule, freshmen perfection, why the chicken crossed the Boulevard and more KNSS N MAGAE SS is ubise by e KU Auni Assciin si ies yer in nury Mrc 10 HILLTOPICS My uy Seeber n eber nnu subscriin News and notes: Regents request $50 million and incues ebersi in e Auni Assciin Oice aerospace engineers claim top prizes. Pubicin Ore Aenue rence KS Periics sge i rence KS 16 SPORTS POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Tyrel Reed keys basketball’s attack. Alumni Magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 © 2010 by Kansas Alumni Magazine. Non-member issue price: $7 40 ASSOCIATION NEWS Kansas Honors Program celebrates 40th year; Homecoming and reunions make for festive fall. 49 CLASS NOTES Profiles of a Tony winner, a steak quester and Your opinion a photography champion. counts! Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to 68 IN MEMORY the editor. Our address is Kansas Alumni Deaths in the KU family magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. E-mail responses may 72 ROCK CHALK REVIEW be sent to the Alumni Association, Biologist’s marmot study offers key climate data; [email protected]. Letters appear- researchers put new spin on semiconductors. ing in the magazine may be edited for space and clarity. For letters GLORIOUS TO VIEW published, we’ll send a free gift of 76 Scene on campus the KU Magnet Game, a $15 value. ISSUE 6, 2010 | 3 BY EER ACKSO SAER First Word ment. “We both had jobs, and we says. More than 50 grads marched to weren’t sure we could come back in the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” May,” Seyfarth recalls. “We figured a thanks to a KLZR broadcast that wafted lot of our classmates would want to down the Hill through a makeshift make sure they got their walk.” sound system ordered by Seyfarth. “I So Seyfarth and Sachs cajoled had just finished my term as president local sponsors, contacted the Uni- of Theta Chi, so I recruited the pledges versity Daily Kansan, and men- to bring boom boxes,” he explains. “We tioned their plan to the staff in the had boxes lining the sidewalks down KU admissions office, where the from the Campanile.” two had worked as orientation Leading the march were Jim Mielke SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY/UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES (2) SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY/UNIVERSITY assistants. Diane Mielke, then and Robinson, the only two in academic assistant director of admissions, regalia, which had been supplied by an says the plot quickly gathered anonymous Strong Hall co-conspirator. momentum. “They absolutely did “There were parents and grandparents not ask permission,” she recalls. and little brothers and sisters,” Mielke “They came in and said, ‘We’re recalls. “And we made formal speeches going to do this.’ You knew right to welcome the families, congratulate then that they were going to the students and confer their degrees. conquer the world the way they It was a serious occasion within a crazy got things done.” atmosphere.” Mielke, g’81, and then admis- Twenty-seven years later, Jim is KU sions director Linda Thompson associate dean of the College and a pro- (now Robinson), d’72, g’76, fessor of anthropology; Diane works part advised Seyfarth and Sachs to time in the University Advising Center.