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Contact: Margey Frederick, KU Visitor Center, (785) 864-2341.

Activities for all ages: Public invited to KU's first open house on Oct. 6

LAWRENCE -- The public is invited to the University of Kansas' first open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. The open house will feature a multitude of fun and informative events including a parade, tours, lectures, workshops, booths, hands-on activities for children and science demonstrations.

"We want to invite people from Kansas and the region," said Chancellor Robert Hemenway. "We are proud of what KU offers the state and the nation, and this event will give visitors the opportunity to learn more about our campus, our academic programs and our students."

Many academic departments at the university will give tours and display student work.

Parking is free and there will be shuttle buses available on campus.

A list of activites at the Open House is available online at www.openhouse.ku.edu. For more information, call 785-864-2341.

Here is a sampling of the planned activities:
 • The psychology department will demonstrate different psychological phenomena, including brain waves, eye-tracking and visual attention.
 • The School of Engineering will display a Formula One race car, concrete canoes, space hardward and heavy life airplanes.
 • The School of Journalism will give equipment demonstrations and live TV broadcasts and KJHK radio interviews.
 • Physics and Astronomy will offer lab tours and several demonstration shows, including "The Light Fantastic" and "A Shocking Experience" at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
 • The Spencer Museum of Art is sponsoring "Ask the Art Experts." Like "Antique Roadshow," visitors can bring their artwork to have it examined by museum curators.
 •Halloween costume sale at the Inge Theatre from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Other tours include:
 • Memorial Campanile (bell tower) at 10, 10:30 and 11 a.m. and 1:30, 2 and 2:30 p.m.
 • The Spencer Museum of Art will give hourly tours and exhibition tours.
 • Go for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum of Anthropology.

For children, there will be a variety of workshops and hands-on activities.
 • A youth basketball clinic run by former KU player Jerrod Haase will take place at 10 and 10:45 a.m.
 • Youth tumbling at the Robinson Center.
 • Crafts for kids will take place at Watson Library along with a presentation on how books are made.

For adults, lectures on many different subjects may be a way to spend the afternoon.
 • Find out how to "Take Stock in Your Future" from the School of Business.
 • "What it's Like to Live In Cooperative Housing" will be the panel discussion at the Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall at 1 p.m.
 • Professors will share what they would say if they were giving the last lecture of their lives at 1 p.m. at the Kansas Union

Look for demonstrations on:
 •Weeds and wild plants at the McGregor Herbarium.
 • The Highway Patrol's "Rollover Car."
 • Virtual Reality at the University Theatre.

 •The Hispanic Heritage parade will weave its way down Jayhawk Blvd. at 2:30 p.m. to end the open house. The Hispanic American Leadership Organization is sponsoring the parade. Chancellor Robert Hemenway will serve as grand marshal. Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor for university relations, will serve as deputy grand marshal.