KU South African investments questioned
By JOHN WHITESIDES
Staff Writer
Viewed from one's television set, the horrors of South Africa's apartheid system seem distant and remote. Prison deaths and street riots are just more grisly images on the screen.
Vet hundreds of colleges and universities across the country have become major forces in the political struggle in South Africa. By investing billions of dollars in corporations there, U.S. colleges and universities have assumed pivotal roles in South Africa's electoral system. But racial segregation, better known as apartheid
The University of Kansas is an exception. Many of the more than 200 companies KU invests in operate in South Africa, including IBM, General Motors, Exxon and Honewell.
Investments at KU are made by the Kansas University Endowment Association, a charitable, tax-exempt organization that handles all private gifts to the University.
As of June 1977, the Endowment Association reported total assets of $6.1 million. Of that, $2.4 million was invested in common stock, $7.1 million in corporate bonds and $1.6 million in preferred stock.
OF COURSE, THE PURPOSE of these investments is to make money—as much money as possible. However, universities are being asked more and more to consider political and moral factors in their investments.
In the past few years U.S. universities have been called on to examine and justify their investments in companies doing business with countries that lack strong economic policies, particularly the government of South Africa.
Although the issue has not really surfaced at KU, there is growing sentiment on campus that the staff should be held accountable.
"I think it is important that we begin to consider the social responsibility a university has in its instruction."
"Specifically, I think KU should look at its investments in corporations that support the present practice of apartheid in South Africa. They defend those investments, but the fact is their presence still supports that government and its policies, and I see that as very questionable."
welfare, and recently. "We're supposed to be concerned with values here, and we should be concerned with values there."
HOWEVER, Richard Porto, Endowment Association treasurer, said that investments had to be made using financial considerations and that politics did not play a role in investment.
"The Endowment Association has tried to stay neutral in political questions," Porto said. "The people that make donations to the University do so without knowing whether to understrike the gifts in the most productive way possible."
"Our only responsibility is the sound management of the funds given to us."
The Endowment Association's Board of Trustees
establishes policy and sets guidelines for the investment of KU funds. The Endowment Association's Finance Committee then acts upon the recommendation of the investment counsel in making the actual stock purchases.
Porto said the committee was aware of sentiment against South Africa investments and had discussed it.
"The committee discussed the purpose of the association," he said. "It was decided that we were responsible to the University for the maximization of our investments and we should make our investments accordingly."
What that means is that KU does not take political or moral factors into consideration in its investments. However, at least one KU student organization is looking for ways to change that.
KU-Y HAS ORGANIZED a meeting today between
members of Geoyou, a native of South Africa and local
leaders in China.
Association to discuss the impact of American investments in South Africa.
According to Bill Wise, KU-V board member, the meeting is designed "to make sure that Lawrence investors are aware of what may be happening with some of the money involved in South Africa."
Eleanor Burchill, KU-Y coordinator, said the first step in changing KU's investment policies was making the University aware of the political and social consequences of its investments.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
"Once you become aware you have to make some kind of response," Burchill said. "I think eventually we need to let people know where the money is and what it supports. I may be idealistic, but I can't imagine people knowing choosing to support the racial policies and oppression of South Africa."
The issue of South African apartheid has become an explosive one, both in Africa and the United States. It is more relevant now than ever.
Vol.88.No.136
KANSAN
See APARTHEID page eight
Wednesday April 26,1978
Bennett to rule on Laetrile sale and liquor bill
By TIMSHEEHY
Staff Writer
The Kansas Legislature gave its final approval yesterday to a bill that would allow the use of Lactrete as a treatment for cancer and increase the number of liquor by the drink in Kansas restaurants.
The Laatre bill, which had been hung in conference committee for several weeks, provides for the manufacture and adoption of Laatre in the state of Kansas.
If the bill becomes law, Laetrile could be prescribed only after the patient has signed a release form. Reasonable prices and services may be provided by the secretary of health and environment.
The release that patients must sign virtually absolves doctors of any liability for prescribing the drug. In addition, the release form states that there is no evidence that Laetrile is an effective treatment for certain serious or organized medicine is imposed on its use.
State Sen. Wes Sowers, R-Wichita, said that doubt still existed as when Lactrile mentions that a woman was pregnant.
See LEGISLATURE page three
Kansan jobs now available
Completed applications must be returned by 5 p.m. Friday to 105 Flint.
Applications for the summer and fall Kansan news and business staff are available in the School of Journalism office, 105 Flint Hall; the Student Senate office, 349 Flint Hall; the Dean of Men's office, 288 Strong; and the Dean of Men's office, 289 Strong.
On stage
Lisa LaMonte, a dancer at the Avanti theatre, puts on the final touches before you go to face the crowd. The last thing she does is dance.
is so light," it says. "It feels so good after dancing on the hot stage to finally take it All off." See STRIPPERS, page six for details.
Athletes' role is part politician
Bv MARY HOENK
Staff Writer
This is the second part of a three-part series dealing with women's athletics at the NCAA.
Inadequate funding in the women's athletic program has affected more than scholarships, travel and facilities for women athletes at the University of Kansas.
It has led to involvement of athletes in the politics of funding, it may have been behind past staff turnovers and it threatens to future of the women's athletic program.
Despite an increase of total funds during the four-year history of the department, Marian Washington, director of women's athletics, said recently that the main problem that continued to plague the program was inadequate funding.
REALIZING A NEED for increased state funding, women athletes have played an active role in trying to secure more state aid.
In an effort to bring women's athletics to the attention of the Kansas Legislature this spring, the athletes conducted a letter writing campaign, a phone campaign, direct lobbying and ran a relay to the state house in Topeka.
The women's athletic program missed out on an $85,115 increase by only one vote but will receive an increase of $2,100 more than last year's allocation of $157,546.
She said that occurred because the program was growing faster than its sup-
Anne Lewison, president of the Council of Woman Athletes, said that although the athletes were disappointed with not being offered a test, it was good for athletes to get involved.
However, Levinson she was more disappointed to see how little the ad campaign for her had done.
KANSAN Analysis
department was involved in the fight for increased state aid.
MAUREEN SHEEHEN, a member of the swimming team who was involved in the legislative push for funding, said the whole funding question had become discouraging.
Turnovers in staffing were at a peak a year and a half ago when seven staff members either left or had been fired from Washington's staff.
Washington said, "With salaries so low, I had to go in the past to some people who were immature and some people who didn't know how to work. I couldn't cope with a very new program."
"WE DO NEED the athletes' support," he said, "but there is a limit to what they can do."
Washington said the athletes' efforts in the campaign for state funds were positive and contributed to our success.
In addition to athlete involvement, lack of tundung also has affected the turnover rate.
She said she thought she should not have to be involved in fighting for funding.
"Certain athletes are so hump up on it that they spend more time concerning themselves with funding than with their sports," she said.
She said she thought that when she was athletic trainer, the staff was more concerned with growing with the program than with money.
Irene Malesy was a former athletic trainer for the department and one of the staff members.
NOW, MALEY SAID, she thought some of the current staff was more concerned with mental health.
Washington said she had "begun to find her own people to work with" and was now able to pay them better than she had two years ago.
Maley stated in a letter to the administration that her reasons for resignation were not based only on a low salary considering her qualifications, but on the "incompetence and inconsistency of administrative policies."
"I think now I have a staff that is very supportive of me," she said. "I think the big difference is that we now have experienced teachers, and we have coaches who have coaches that believe in the program."
Both Beebe and BIL Schroader, women's golf coach, said inadequate funding had put them in a situation in which they did not match their teams would be funded next year.
"UNTIL SOME ATTITUDES start to change with the people who pull the purse strings, and they realize that we are talented and have a desire to play at KU, then it doesn't look like much will change for the better."
Field hockey was ousted from the department last year but obtained funds from the Student Senate last fall which allowed the team to commit.
Dana Beebe, field hockey coach, said she thought there was no official support from her team.
Levinson said that women already were going elsewhere to participate in collegiate athletics and that the KU had received only their letters of intent for athletes for next year.
"That makes it very difficult to recruit for
that year when you can't assist players
like you did last season."
However, there still remains some dissatisfaction with a part of the program.
She said the funding crisis definitely was
creating an adverse effect on the total women's athletic program.
Nancy Sanbhoucer, a former KU women athlete and now a high school teacher and coach, said that athletes and coaches outwardly aware of the problems the department faced.
"I would not recommend KU for women's athletes," she said. "I hate to see people leaving KU and I hate to see them leaving with negative attitudes."
However, negative feelings toward women's athletics have had to be dealt with.
In the beginning, Washington said, the program had to meet the challenge of generating respect before it could even begin to grow.
"THERE WERE MANY people who thought we were here and would be gone," she said, "but we are here and we are here to stay."
See ATHLETICS page seven
The women's athletic department was created in 1975 after $8,575 was allocated to the program by the Kansas Legislature. The Student Senate supplied an additional
Washington was selected as athletic director for the university department that had hired JP-port sport program.
During the development of the program, allocations from the Legislature and the Treasury will be made.
For fiscal 1978 the program received state funds of $415,246 and a Student Senate apportionment.
But funding crunch became tighter this year when the Student Senate voted not to fund women's athletics beginning fiscal 1979.
One possibility that could help ease the tundting crunch could be the merger of the two groups.
Board opposes statue's moving
By JOHN FISCHER Staff Writer
Reversing an earlier decision that approved the moving of the Jimmy Green statue to new Green Hall, the Kansas Historical Sites Board has now decided that the moving would be in violation of state historic laws.
Joseph Snell, a member of the board, said yesterday that a letter had been mailed Monday to Max Lucas, director of facilities to notify him of the board's decision.
"The Board of Review voted unanimously against the moving of the statue," Snell, director of the Kansas State Historical Society, said.
The Board of Review manages historic property in Kansas and can make recommendations for its disposition. The Board met Thursday.
SNELL SAID KU administrators must decide whether the statue will be moved.
The move of the statue to new Green Hall has been delayed because of questions about its location.
Snel's letter to Lacas is in response to a letter sent to Snell about three weeks ago by KU officials who asked him whether his witness had been involved in the report of a Kansas attorney general's report.
John Martin, assistant Kansas attorney general, issued a report March 28 that said Gov. Robert F. Bennett would have to make the final decision on the moving and that Snell's first decision conflicted with state historical laws.
Snell approved the move of the statue in his first letter to Lucas March 20.
KU ADMINISTRATORS were required to obtain permission from the historical society to move the Jimmy Green statue to comply with the 1977 Kansas State University law, and then to be a National Register of Historical Places, thus bringing it under the protection of the act.
However, the Kansas laws prohibit the move of registered historic objects if destruction of registered historic property would result.
Nell said he based his first decision on the federal laws on historic preservation. He said the federal laws stated that if the moving of a registered historic object was in progress, then it could be moved, even if the move would destroy registered historic property.
Sneal said the reason for his mistake was that he had worked more with the federal lawsuits.
KU administrators then wrote their second letter to Seli, asking him to make a request.
Martin then released his report and said Snell's decision conflicted with state laws.
Martin has said, "Once Joseph Snell determines the moving of the statue will destroy historic property, then the final decision is left up to the governor."
Nail decided to wait until the board meeting Thursday before he made another
Sources within the administration said that in the past if the society decided against the moving, the statue probably would not be moved.
"I guess the alternatives are leaving the statue where it is, appealing the decision to the governor or going to court to seek a different interpretation of the law," he said. Leroy Towns, Bennett's press secretary, said he knew Bennett's position about the moving
DEL SHANKEL, executive vice chancellor, said that he did not know what would happen next until he saw the letter but that there were three probable choices.
"I don't know and I don't think he knows because he hasn't become involved in it," Townsley
He said Bennett had not been asked to become involved.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN-
NIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Capsules From the Associated Press, United Press International
Brezhnev, tax break trouble Carter
WASHINGTON—President Jimmy Carter, faced with opposition within his own party, argued yesterday for the passage of his proposed $25 billion tax reduction for the coming fiscal year. In a nationally televised press conference, Carter also rejected Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev's offer to forego production of the neutron bomb if the United States also would do. See story page two.
Italy won't trade Moro, terrorists
ROME-The Italian Christian Democratic party, the majority party in Italy, yesterday rejected the Red Brigades' offer to swap Aldo More, former Italian premier, for 13 imprisoned terrorists, despite another pleading letter supposedly from the kidnapped political leader. The letter, dated Monday, was the first sign that More may be alive since a communique sent by the Red Brigades was received last week.
Weather...
Some clouds will return to Lawrence skies today, according to the National Weather Service. The high temperature today should be about 70 and the low tonight 50. Cloudy skies tonight and tomorrow will bring a chance of thundershowers. Temperatures should reach the mid-60s tomorrow.
Locally . . .
The Kansas department of economic development says that all Kansas needs is tourist production. Offering some suggestions on how to accomplish this, columnist John Mitchell says one way is to lower the speed limit. See story page four.