Campus fire protection presents problems
By DAVID LINK
Staff Writer
The extraordinary problems involved in providing fire service to an institution as heavily populated and spread out as the University of Kansas can be staggering.
Lawrence's new fire chief, Jim McWain, said yesterday that KU's residence halls contained the highest potential for loss of life in a major fire of any building in the city.
building it up to be a concern of ours," McWain said. "It's one of those things that is the last thing you think of before you go to bed at night and the first thing you think of when you get up in the morning.
"Unfortunately, wolf" has been yelled so many times that it is just human nature to become less and less resilient.
The false alarm rate for campus buildings rose greatly in the first six months of this year, compared with the same period a year ago, according to Lawrence fire department records.
THE FIGURES ARE for the periods from Jan. 1 to June 30 in 1977 and 1978. Fraternity and sorority houses, which are privately owned, are included in the total budget they come under the jurisdiction of the board. They are marshals.
In the first six months of last year, the fire department made 11 runs to the KU campus, six of which proved to be alarm alarms. During the same period, the company moved to the campus of which 21 proved to be alarm alarms.
The city as a whole recorded 328 air alarms during the first six months of each year, including 40 false alarms for the period in 1977, compared with 69 false alarms during the period in 1978.
KU accounted for 3 percent of all alarms for the period in 1977 but 15 percent of the false alarms. For the same period in 1978, KU was responsible for 10 percent of calls, and its share of false alarms grew to 30 percent.
McBain said his biggest concern about the rising rate of fire alarms at KU was the tendency of people to disregard fire alarms, particularly in residence balls, after a certain number of false ones.
"We have no way of knowing how many times alarms go off and we don't get called because people choose to investigate the alarms themselves," McSwain said.
OTHER DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS of false alarms that McSwan mentioned were the unnecessary diversion of men and equipment from what they were using, and the unnecessary exposure of personnel to city traffic.
"Fifteen percent of all firefighters who are killed in the line of duty die in traffic accidents going to or from the scene of a fire or false alarm," McSwain said.
ine city of Lawrence has implemented an ordinance that requires users of automatic alarm systems to pay for any false alarm after the first set of alarms or rate for false fire runs has been set at $1.20 a minute.
However, according to Brent McFall, an administrative assistant to the city manager, the ordinance applies only to automatic alarm system that tie in directly to the city's emergency dispatch
2014 school district our campus buildings have automatic alarms and they tie in directly to the city's emergency services.
Only four campus buildings have automatic alarms and they tie in to the KU police dispatcher in Hoch Auditorium, which means the University is not liable under the city's false alarm ordinance.
In fact, as a tax-exempt state institution, KU enjoys free fire protection from the city of Lawrence.
M*FALL SAID it was not unheard of for a university to pay something in lieu of taxes to the university.
A check of other Big Eight universities showed that four of them contribute in some way to their own fire protection and two of the universities make cash payments annually in support of the local fire
Iowa State University provides 25 percent of the Ames, Iowa, fire department's annual budget. Wayne Moore, ISU vice president for business and finance, said the figure came to $180,000 for the fiscal year
More also said IHU had paid for 50 percent of the town's metal fire truck and 50 percent of the cost of the bus.
"WE ALSO have a fire station here on campus, built by the university and manned by local firefighters, which provides classroom space for our fire service training program," Giles said.
University, said OSU had a contractual arrangement with the city of Stilwater, which requires that the city pay for the university's education.
Richard Giles, director of safety at Oklahoma State
The University of Missouri at Columbia does not make any direct payments to the city for its fire protection. However, the university owns a fire station on campus that is operated by the city, according to Kee Grushong, assistant business operations officer.
Kansas State University is unique among Buj Eight schools in that its campus is outside the city limits, according to Paul Young, vice president for university facilities.
K-State does not compensate the city of Manhattan for fire protection, but Young said the city's fire department is well equipped.
"We also maintain a student fire station for immediate response that is as well trained and equipped."
The University of Oklahoma, the University of Colorado and the University of Nebraska are similar to KU in that they do not pay for fire protection from their local municipality.
the university has agreed to support a request before the state legislature this summer for compensation to the city for fire services provided to CU.' Potter said.
Apparently no such request will be made of KU in
their future, according to Jack Rose,
Lawrence et al.
"There's been talk of that off and on over the past few years, but there's never been any formal request for it."
City Manager Buford Watson said that he was aware of the financial arrangements for fire service in such university towns as Ames, Iowa, and Stilwell, where he计划 to pursue a similar arrangement in Lawrence.
situated
"The University is the largest employer in the city and therefore one of the city's largest revenue generators." Watson said. "They collect our .5 percent sales tax, which goes to the police and fire departments and I see no reason to ask them to pay for fire protection."
"RU is just like the city's churches in this respect and they don't pay anything to the fire department
Chief McSwain did not consider the financial issue as important in informing people of the appropriate action.
"Unfortunately, there's been so many cries of wolf recently that people are starting to check out an alarm first and then calls us if they decide it's real."
*SAVE FIRE ENERGY.*
KANSAN
Partly cloudy High near 90
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
See FIRE page six
The University of Kansas
Peace talks end; Vance promises another effort
LEEDS CASTLE, England (AP)—A two-day Egyptian and Israeli foreign ministers' meeting ended yesterday without any apparent progress toward peace with Israel East but with progress from LS. Secretary of the Cyrus R. Vance to follow through with more negotiations.
"I think Egypt and Israel remain fully committed to establishing a genuine peace and we will continue to help them in that effort." Vance said in a statement issued at the 13th-century castle in which the meeting was held.
Vance mediated the talks, which focused on the future of the Israel-occupied West Bank of the Jordan River and the Gaza Strip.
Controversy over the law has been sparked by a dispute involving Tellico, a $110 million Tennessee Valley Authority fish stock. The agency's small darter, an endangered fish species.
WHILE THE talks were ending in England Egyptian President Anwar Sadat declared in Khartoum, Sudan, that Israel was still dreaming of expansion and that this dream could cause "grave damage" to the Mideast.
Israeli sources referred to the Leeds meeting, held in a sitting room once favored by King Henry VIII, as a seminar rather than a negotiating session. One delegate, however, said that it was the first time he had thoroughly understood Egypt's position and that he thought Egypt understood Israel.
Thursday July 20,1978
Despite the U.S. failure to break the deadlock, Mohammed Dirahim Kamel, the Egyptian foreign minister, said his government's proposals for the West Bank and the Palestinian states, did not violate international acceptability, would not be reconsidered in Jerusalem.
Vance also said the Egyptians were increasingly aware of the security measures that Israel would if it gave up the West Bank.
Sen. John Culver, D-lowa, the leading supporter of the proposal, said it was designed to provide flexibility for the law. Critics said the law was too rigid to permit a balance between "obscure" endangered species and huge construction projects.
Kamel said Israeli Foreign Minister Isheri Malkin would take back the Eastern Kingdom proposal and rejoin it.
"I THINK WHAT was said would give confidence to Israel that this problem is being seriously and thoroughly discussed." Vance said.
The only detail of Vance's travels that was announced was that besides steps in Cairo and Jerusalem, Vance is likely to visit Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Vance said he could not guarantee that his trip to the Middle East would produce another foreign ministers meeting or a breakthrough toward a settlement of the
WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate voted yesterday to permit exemptions under the Endangered Species Act, a law that led to a new multimillion dollar dam remaining unused because it threatened the survival of a fish species.
Senate modifies rare species act
Sens. Gaylord Nelson and William Proxmire, both Wisconsin Democrats, and Sen. William Llyod Scott, R-Va., voted against the legislation in a 94- vote.
Reggie Robinson
Robinson shuns politics after being Dole's intern
By TAMMY TIERNEY
A congressional internship in a U.S. senator's office is often a springboard to a career in politics, but for Beggia Manning, it meant, it was simply a learning experience.
"The staff writes the senator's speeches and statements and drafts his bills and amendments. Every time you hear a debate, you know he didn't-his staff did."
Robinson worked from June 19 to July 14 as a congressional intern to Kansas Sen. Bob Dole in Washington, D.C.
Staff Writer
"When I was a little kid, I used to want to be a senator," Robinson said. "I really thought I wanted to run for office. Since I've been at KU, I've more or less left up politics as a career goal and my trip to Washington confirmed that decision."
"So much happens there and yet the people seem removed from the events that take place," he said. "I've heard many stories about 85 square miles surrounded by reality."
"I'd rather be on a senator's staff doing the real work," he said. "What's expected from a politician is phenomenal. It's impossible for one man to know as much as a senator needs to know of his why his staff is so important."
Robinson said he would prefer working on a senator's staff to running for office.
However, Robinson said that Washington residents seemed detached from the events in the city.
"The staff does everything because the senator doesn't have the time," he said. "I've heard it said that they don't back the man up--they prop the man up."
Robinson said that spending a month behind the scenes in Washington had given him a better idea of how a senator's office operated.
Discrimination complaint prompts Title IX study
BY MARGARET SCHEIRMAN
Staff Writer
As a result of a complaint filed with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare by a University of Kansas student, KU will be investigated to determine possible issues related to higher education of the office of civil rights of HEW, said yesterday.
Anne Levinson, Winchester, Mass., junior, said she filed a complaint at the beginning of the summer saying that inequities existed between the men's and women's soccer teams. A committee of salaries, team cuts, facilitation training, scholarships and travel funds.
The complaint also expressed concern about the administrative cut of field hockey in May, which resulted in the loss of a job for Diana Beeche, field hockey coach.
Levinson said that last week Thomas sent her a reply saying that because of limited resources and the number of previously scheduled investigations, HEW would not be able to investigate her complaint for two months.
However, Thomas said, "That's just the standard procedure. It doesn't mean that I should be careful."
"AT ONE TIME, a letter like that would have meant a two year wait, but with this complaint, there is not going to be a long delay."
Thomas said earlier that because of a lack of personnel, only those schools that would be receiving federal aid for the first time or schools for which complaints had been filed would be investigated in the next 1½ years.
Yesterday, however, he said, "We've been very happy about what we've been able to accomplish in getting out of the way."
Marian Washington, women's athletic director, last week that KU was ex-committed to a new program.
She said she and other administrators had submitted letters to HEW earlier this month explaining plans to solve problems that remained with compliance to TIX 1X.
"But the problem is we don't know how HEW will be handling the investigation,"
"We haven't heard from the regional office since we sent out the letters.
"IF THERE are other complaints besides
the one that I understand has been Riled,
that I cannot afford to be told."
One result of the investigation was a proposal that the women's training staff be expanded and trainers' salaries be increased.
The training facilities were proposed in response to an investigation that HEW made in January after receiving a complaint that discrepancies existed between the men's and women's athletic departments in the area of training.
thorough investigation, and it will have to cover more areas."
Jacqueline King, women's athletic trainer, said the staff had been for fall 1978.
Instead of one trainer and two student trainers, she said, there would be four student trainers and one graduate assistant. She said changes in salaries were unrecognized.
William Hogan, associate executive vice chancellor, said the letters from the administration to HEW dealt only with plans for reopening and training facilities in Allen Field House.
certain Washington said she hoped the women would be able to use the new training facilities in the fall.
Athletics funding complex
Staff Writer
The University of Kansas has conducted many studies and initiated many actions to eliminate sex discrimination on campus. The university's law on discrimination varies greatly with the area.
By SANDYHERD
In intercollegiate athletics, the University stated in its 176 self-evaluation that it would "continue to honor its commitment to quality in women's athletics and would work toward greater equity in funding and personnel for the women's athletic program."
The 1975 regulation for the implementation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 says that total expenditures for women's and men's athletics will not necessarily be compared in determining compliance with the law.
Rather, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, which investigates Title IX compliance, said equality of on-
portunity must be provided for members of both sexes.
In taking steps to provide equal opportunity for men and women athletes, KU does not include release-producing sports in its efforts to comply with Title IX.
However, that conflicts with guidelines established by HEW in determining equality of opportunity. In a statement issued by HEW Secretary John Califano Jr. two months ago specifically included the promotion of sports, in evaluating compliance with Title 1X.
Although University administrators say they are committed to providing equal opportunity for male and female athletes, he game against HEW guidelines in deciding which sports
are to be considered in providing equality of opportunity.
The reasons given for excluding such revenue-producing sports as football and men's basketball are financial. Men's basketball is self-supporting and football produces money to fund other sports programs.
"If the survival of athletic programs is really on the survival of football, then football has to be competitive to stay alive, and therefore support the other programs," Del Shankel, executive vice chancellor, said ecterday.
Competing means not only athletically, but also competing with other schools for the best athletes. In providing athletes with housing, scholarships, tutors and language advantages, KU is able compete with other schools in receiving top athlete nationwide.
Without these advantages, KU would not See TITLE IX page three
See TITLE IX page three
Strikes can hurt Union's services
By STEVE RUNDQUIST
Staff Writer
A threatened postal workers' strike and a strike by metal workers on the East Coast could have an effect on some operations of the Kansas Union Bookstore.
Floyd Fraser, director of shipping and receiving for the bookstore, said yesterday that the postal workers' strike could slow some shipments of books from the East Coast.
some shipments or deliveries.
"The way I understand it, the letter carriers may go on strike on boatships," he said. "This shouldn't affect book shipments because they're shipped parcel post. If anything, it might delay them a bit."
Warner Ferguson, associate director of the Union, said. "This is the time when a lot of texts and books are ordered. If they don't get here, time it could cause some problems. If there is a strike, it could affect the delivery of those books that are shipped through the mail. A list of books are shipped through the freight lines but some are shipped through the mail."
Ferguson said he received a call last week from the company that supplies fixtures for the bookstore and was told a strike by metal workers could delay shipment of those fixtures.
The fixtures, used to display merchandise, are part of the remodeling project and would be used in the bookstore to display merchandise.
THE METAL WORKERS' STRIKE is delaying the delivery of the fixtures to Ken White and Associates, Newark, N.J., which will supply fixtures to the bookstore.
"The lack of fixtures shouldn't affect service," Ferguson said. "We can use old fixtures and set up portable shelving and tables to take care of customers."
Ferguson said the postal strike should not affect the delivery of the fixtures because they probably would be shipped through a freight line.
Betty Brock, general manager of the bookstore, said, "I'm really pleased with the progress we're making with the remodeling but the work we've been involved with so far has all been done with local contractors and builders."
Brook's room remodeling could be delayed if the fixtures were not delivered because of a metal workers' strike.
She said fixtures had been ordered from manufacturers and would be installed when they arrived.