129 participants attend mini college

By Stephanie Schneider

Saturday, June 6, 2009

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recognized 129 participants from 17 states Thursday night at a graduation ceremony for its first ever Mini College, a four-day retreat in which adults had the student college experience.

Mini College participants had the choice to room in the KU residence halls or to stay in local accommodations. The $175 registration fee included lectures, some meals and extracurricular activities.

“I wanted to see where my husband’s passion for chemistry and KU came from,” Merry Gray, a Mini College participant from Florence, Ark., said.

More than 55 professors volunteered to lecture and handle discussions throughout the week. Participants attended up to nine classes from four different areas of study: biology, art, books and films.

“It was a great experience as a presenter,” Ruth Atchley, associate professor of psychology, said.

Forty-four people attended Atchley’s lecture, Brain and Cognitive (Dys)function in Depression. The age range was broad, but Atchley said mostly older KU Alumni attended. She said the conversations in her lecture were engaging.

“Everyone really came out learning something,” Atchley said. “I had someone even say, ‘They better keep this for next year.’”

Popular courses included Use it or Lose it, a course on slowing down aging; Money Makes the World Go ’Round: Geographies of Global Finance; and Six degrees of Separation: How Everything in Nature (and Your Mind) is Connected.

KU alumnus Steven Gray came to Mini College with his wife, Merry Gray, to see the changes that had been made on campus, as well as to show his wife Allen Fieldhouse.

“She wanted to get the full KU college campus feel,” Gray said. “It was a wonderful experience. I am proud I was a part of it.”

Extracurricular activities offered participants the chance to learn about the University’s traditions and institutions. Activities included a production from the department of theatre and film, a bell demonstration at the campanile, trips to museums and a campus tour.

Although she had the chance to tour the campus, Merry Gray was unable to get inside Allen Fieldhouse.

“I guess we will just have to come back again next year to see it,” Gray said.

— — Edited by Brandy Entsminger

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