CAMPUS/AREA UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, November 18, 1993
3A
Professor suggests solution to signs on 23rd
Advertising signs on 23rd Street have been the subject of criticism because of the automobile accidents they may cause. A KU professor feels a 10-syllable restriction on signs would cut down on the problem.
Signs could not have more than 10 syllables
By Carlos Tejada Kansan staff writer
In most instances, advertising doesn't physically hurt anybody.
But business signs along 23rd Street might be an exception. For the past year, city officials have worried about the mass of colors and confusion that has popped up along the roadway. Besides being unattractive to some, sign proliferation may cause motorists to slow down to look for particular businesses among the signs, thus causing auto accidents.
Richard Branham, KU professor of industrial design, thinks he has an answer. He proposes a sign ordinance that would call for a maximum size limit and a 10-syllable restriction.
The system, Branham said, would
cut down on the sensory overload many drivers on streets such as 23rd Street experience.
"A human can only process so much information so fast," he said. "It's information overload. It interferes with the driving process."
Branham's proposed solution, which is based on a model established by city planning experts, would attempt to bring uniformity to the signs. Ordinances based on this model would restrict a business to using 10 total syllables or symbols on all its outside advertising.
For instance, the national shopping chain Target uses its name and a bull's eye symbol on its signs. Under Branham's model, the bull's eye and the store's name would take up three of its 10 allowed syllables. It could use the rest of its allotment for signs in its windows or any form of outside advertising.
Branham said the 10-syllable rule would apply only to characters larger than three inches.
Such restrictions would keep sign clutter from bothering drivers while still protecting merchants' right to put what they will on signs, Branham
said.
"We're not telling the designer or merchant what to say," he said. "This protects their freedom of speech."
Branham also said his proposal was simply a model. The city could modify the size restrictions and the number of syllables allowed. They also could change them for different parts of the area, making them more lenient in heavily commercial areas.
But the Lawrence City Commission, which looked at the model at a study session Wednesday, was left confused. Members asked whether the proposal would affect old signs or signs erected in the future. They also questioned whether businesses would accept the syllable restrictions and whether the city could legally enforce it.
In the end, they left the study session to mull over the idea. They decided to set a future date for public comment on the issue.
"I'm anticipating what's going to happen if we pull this out," said Bob Schulte, the city commissioner who brought the issue to the commission's attention. "It would be a barrage."
Sign language
Should the Lawrence City Commission adopt a model for a sign ordinance system, signs would look the way they do below. Depending on the number of lanes, other streets would be different from 23rd Street, which falls under a five-lane category.
Group to give kisses
By Nathan Olson Kansan staff writer
A kiss may be just a kiss,but for the next few days it also may signify help for the poor.
source: Prof. Richard Branham Micah Lanker/KANSAN
Yesterday, five members of the Black Student Union began a drive for clothes and nonperishable food for the Salvation Army. The members are giving away Hershey's Kisses for clothes or food. Students who donate also will have their names put in a drawing for a portable radio to be given away Dec. 2.
Students will receive one kiss per item.
The collection booths will be at several residence halls and the Kansas Union today. Monday and Tuesday.
The food and the clothing will be given to the Salvation Army, which will distribute the items to the needy during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Ira Wright, Kansas City, Kan., junior, said that the purpose of the drive was to help those most in need.
The drive is being conducted by the Dreams Committee of the group. The committee is normally in charge of the group's long-range goals, such as the recruitment and retention of minority students. This is the first year the committee is doing the drive.
"It seems that, especially during winter, a lot of activities are going on, and some people get neglected," she
Kisses for a cause
Black Student Union will have boots set on up campus to take donations of food and clothes to be given to the Salvation Army. The boots will be open at the following times and places:
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Monday, Kansas Union.
6-10 p.m. Monday, Lewis and Templin halls.
6-10 tonight, Lewis and McColum halls.
6-10 p.m. Tuesday, Jayhawker Towers.
said. "Some of those people need things."
There is another reason for the drive.
Wright said she would be donating pants, gloves and perhaps a sweater.
"We want to get the BSU name out," said Naeemah Coleman, Kansas City, Kan., junior. "And we want people to know that BSU is helping the community.
"We felt we needed to do some community service. Most students have enough that they can afford to give something back."
Coleman said she was personally donating nonperishable food items to the drive.
Show displays various cultures
"And I won't take any kisses in return," she said.
Kansan staff report
This year's show will focus on the cultures of North and South America. Music and dances from Venezuela, Panama, Belize, Paraguay and Brazil will be performed, as well as bluegrass and line dancing from North America.
University of Kansas students can experience the cultures of many countries Saturday without leaving Lawrence at the International Student Association's 14th annual International Night Culture Show. The show will be from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Lied Center. The event is free.
"Some people mainly divide the world into sections, each with a single culture," said Gloria Kessler, the association's vice president. "International Night is an opportunity to learn about a variety of cultures that can be found in a certain part of the world."
Kessler said many of the performers were KU students.
Every fall, the association does a show that focuses on a specific geographic region, said the association's president, Girish Balloil. This year, the group included North America to show that the association is not just a group for international students.
"We try to stress ISA is for everyone." Ballolla said.
Jason Crawford, the association's treasurer, said Saturday's show offered a variety of entertainment.
"If you go to a bar, you may get one type of entertainment," he said. "This is educational, and it's free."