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campus today Lost Boy of Sudan Survives War, Crocodiles, Finds Welcoming Home at Central Missouri Orphaned by a brutal civil war when he was only nine years old, Daniel Lazaro has overcome extraordinary strife on his way to finding a new home in the United States. From the slaughter of people in his small Sudanese village to a life-threatening 1,000-mile trek, barefoot and often alone though jungle and desert, he is one of thousands of young men known worldwide as the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” Lazaro came to Central Missouri State University from Kansas City this fall to begin studying toward a degree in either computer science or aviation technology. He hopes to return eventually to southern Sudan as an American citizen to provide a helping hand for people he says continue to face political unrest, severe poverty and disease. “There is peace, but it is not like people think it is,” he said, still struggling with his English speaking skills. “There are no jobs. They need clean water and medical clinics.” This is despite a historic peace treaty signed earlier this year between the Sudanese government and a rebel army in the south. The treaty ended a long-standing war that began in 1983, pitting the country’s Arab and Muslim northern government largely against Christians and black tribes in the south. Lazaro’s exodus from Sudan came in 1987 as northern soldiers began to move out of the larger communities and into places like Duk, a small rural village where he and his family lived. The soldiers shot and killed men and older boys and took away the young girls and women. Lazaro fled for his life. His extraordinary journey across Africa took him on foot to a refugee camp in Ethiopia, back to Sudan, then to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. His From Warrensburg to Washington, D.C., is 1,045 miles — that’s roughly the distance Daniel Lazaro walked as a nine-year-old boy, barefoot, with no water or food, through jungles and deserts. formal education began there in 1992 while living amongst some 65,000 refugees from seven African nations. He’s one of an estimated 11,000 young men who became known as the “lost boys” because of the way they had to fend for themselves without assistance from their parents or elders, many of whom were killed. Lazaro shares his story of determination and how he banded together with other lost boys in an essay he wrote as a TRIO program student in CMSU’s Department of Academic Enrichment. In that work he recalls his first encounter with five other young orphans he saw hiding in trees after he spent the first three weeks alone traveling at night to avoid gunfire and wild animals. All of the boys were on the way to Ethiopia. “Even though I did not know their names, we started introducing ourselves to each other as brothers. We joined and walked together for one month, taking care of each other until two guys had passed away.” One boy died of a snake bite, another of hunger. Those who remained forged ahead in search of a safe haven. “We did not have any food, water, or even clothes and shoes,” he adds. “We just ate the leaves of trees or mud and drank urine to keep us alive. We started finding the dead bodies of other boys for many reasons: scorpion stings, poisonous trees, and no water, not even wet mud in the area. The place was desert with few trees.” Although he found refuge in Ethiopia after three months, he and other Sudanese lost boys were forced to flee this country three years later when civil war broke out. Chased out by rebel troops, thousands of young men died at the River Gilo on their way back to Sudan. Many drowned in the (continued to page 7) After surviving a harrowing trek across hundreds of miles of desert, an estimated 11,000 “Lost Boys” found the protection of the United Nations. They crossed the Sudan border into Kenya and were taken to a Kakuma refugee camp, where they spent the next nine years waiting for an end to their country’s civil war. — Photo by B. Press/UNHCR One of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” Daniel Lazaro has conquered life’s toughest hurdles enroute to becoming a student at CMSU this fall. page 6 central today winter 2005
campus today Today’s Gen. Y about Technology, Speed, Family Generation Y are thought to be the troublemakers of society and out of control, but has anyone sat down and asked Generation Y what they think? A survey conducted by CMSU, through online interactive sessions with teens from Missouri and across the U.S., shows that Gen. Y — people born between 1977 and 1994 — do not like the idea of “labeling.” They are a goal-oriented, independent, optimistic, skeptical, confident, expressive group of young adults. Technology, speed and authenticity truly define Generation Y. They see the world in shades of gray instead of only black and white. They believe education is important in taking the first step toward “making it big.” Studies have shown 75 percent of Generation Y have an optimistic and hopeful outlook for their future. Generation Y believe in self-expression over self-control and speed over patience. They live in a fast-paced technology driven world and they need the skills to keep up. They expect 24/7 Internet access. Cell phones are a big part of Lost Boy of Sudan (continued from page 6) swift current. Others were eaten by crocodiles or shot by rebel forces, according to Lazaro. “Those who survived the river crossing walked for more than a year from Sudan to Kenya,” he says. In 2001, the U.S. government allowed nearly 4,000 of the lost boys to come to America. Lazaro arrived in Kansas City in 2001 and was placed with three other roommates while spending a year at Penn Valley Community College. Today, at approximately 28 years old (there are no records of his birth), he has begun a new life as a student at CMSU. He still fends for himself, trying to overcome a language barrier, and surviving on college grants and student loans. His remarkable story, along with his quiet, unassuming nature, and resilience have already touched the hearts of some of his Generation Y — people born between the years of 1977 and 1994 — are known for their abilities to multitask and find their cell phone an essential element of everyday life. Generation Y’s life. Lori Smith, a CMSU sophomore, said, “I feel lost without my cell phone.” Over half of them use cell phones for text-messaging, email or Internet access, in addition to traditional calls. Smith says she uses text messaging at least 15 to 20 times a day. Compared to Baby Boomers, Generation Y are more familyoriented. Although they are used to nontraditional families, 90 percent said they are very close to their parents, and 44 percent faculty members. One of them is Barbara Rhodes, an educational adviser for TRIO Student Support Services, who said it’s unfortunate that most people are not aware of what is going on in Sudan. She said, “We all live such a protected life. Daniel’s life story gives us all an opportunity to recognize that for most of us, our world view is somewhat naïve and extremely limited and that we are sadly ignorant of what is happening in the rest of the world.” Meanwhile, Lazaro keeps looking optimistically toward the day when he can return home. “I have never forgotten my people, nor will I ever forget about my country. Whoever is still there continues to suffer from hunger, disease, dehydrations and war. We cannot let Sudan down.” — Jeff Murphy ’76 hs, ’80, ’95 consider their parents to be role models. Generation Y live by, “work less, enjoy life more, and put family above all else.” Generation Y work more than previous generations, about 17 hours a week. And their work habits are vastly different, says Teresa Alewel, director of CMSU’s Office of Career Services. Alewel made national news this fall being quoted on the subject. Gen. Y enjoy multitasking and a casual work environment. In their rubber flip-flops, they instant message and listen to their iPods. These attitudes often challenge employers, Alewel said. “These students have been logged on since grade school and are a different breed,” said Alewel. “It’s not a negative thing. They are more in tune with the competitors in their industry and can use their problem-solving skills to come up with new products that can actually benefit companies.” Because they blend work into their personal lives seamlessly and wirelessly, Gen. Y can balk at a rigid office structure. “If they are told jeans or nightclub-friendly attire isn’t acceptable at the office, they’ll ask why they have to dress up,” Alewel explained. Gen. Y also believe in using their debit and credit cards, preferring the fast service they provide at gas stations and fast food restaurants. The study showed about one-third of high school seniors and about three-fourths of college students have at least one credit card. When asked, Generation Y said the number one thing they are saving their money for is college. About 90 percent of high school seniors said they expect to attend college and about 88 percent of teens said college is either critical or very important to success. Generation Y have been misunderstood but when studied and asked how they feel about what they are doing, its members may not be as bad as everyone believes. — Emily Hackman ’06 Members of the CMSU Board of Governors are back row, from left: Jennifer Hill Nixon of Warson Woods, MO; Michelle Patterson Wimes of Kansas City, MO; Delores Hudson of Warrensburg; and Matthew J. Landstra of O’Fallon, MO, the student representative. Front row, from left are: Richard Phillips of Lake Tapawingo, MO: Lawrence Fick, vice president, Columbia, MO; Palmer R. Nichols II, president, Jefferson City, MO; and Deleta Parmley Williams, secretary, Warrensburg. winter 2005 central today page 7
Page 1 and 2: winter 2005, vol. 5 no. 3 a publica
Page 3 and 4: campus today campus today IN THIS S
Page 5: campus today Archives Named for McC
Page 9 and 10: athletics today Immortal Moments (c
Page 11 and 12: World Record Belongs to CMSU Grad A
Page 13 and 14: development today IN THIS SECTION:
Page 15 and 16: development today Presidents Societ
Page 17 and 18: homecoming 2005 Thousands of CMSU a
Page 19 and 20: her doctoral adviser at the Univers
Page 21 and 22: Now Is a Very Exciting Time for CMS
Page 23 and 24: alumni today Sanders Hits the Blues
Page 25 and 26: alumni today What a great day to be
Page 27 and 28: alumni today Arizona Alumni Reconne
Page 29 and 30: Patrick Sehorn ’70, ’74 and his
Page 31 and 32: class notes Midwestern Theological
Page 33 and 34: Seongnsm City, Kyounggi-Do, Korea,
Page 35 and 36: alumni today CMSU’s alumni trip t

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