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Weekend weather
The University Daily Kansan
Partly cloudy, highs around 76, lows around 50. Isolated thunderstorms on Sunday.
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Sports: Maurice Greene headlines the Kansas Relays, which will continue this weekend.
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2000
SEE PAGE 1B
Inside: Thousands remember those killed at Columbine High a year ago yesterday.
(USPS 650-640) • VOL.110 NO.137
SEE PAGE 6A
WWW.KNSAN.COM
Earth Day event caters to children
By Erinn R. Barcomb
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Children will be the focus of this year's Earth Day celebration sponsored by KU Environments.
But all people, young and old, are welcome to participate in the activities from noon to 4 p.m. tomorrow at Watson Park, Sixth and Vermont streets, said Kristy Schill, KU Environis coordinator.
"We're keeping it pretty low-key this year, focusing on what Earth Day is rather than people selling food and clothes." Schill said.
In addition to information tables from nonprofit groups, such as Wild Care and The Monarch Watch, tables will feature activities such as making bird feeders from recycled bottles. Schill said many people had expressed interest in setting up tables and having displays.
An all-species parade will end tomorrow's events. Participants will be encouraged to make animal costumes
and signs out of recycled materials Traditionally, Schill said, participants dressed as endangered species.
The music festivities continue with a festival starting at 2 p.m. tomorrow and continuing until 3 a.m. Sunday. The Environmental Studies Student Association will present Earth Our Oasis Campout/Concert featuring area bands and a band from Wichita, said Summer Brown, Lawrence senior and ESSA member. Tickets will be about $5, Brown said, and they can be purchased at Love Garden Sounds, 936 1/2 Massachusetts St., Alley Cat Records, 717 Massachusetts St., and at the concert.
Entertainment will include a drum circle and acoustic musicians.
Brown said a tour of energy-efficient homes in Lawrence would be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow.
The activities will continue Monday at the Kansas Union. ESSA will have a table with Victoria Silva, resource conservation manager, who will provide information about local and campus recycling.
Battle of the bands
The lead singer of Electronico gets fired up at the KJHK Farmer's Ball Wednesday night. The battle of the bands continues tomorrow at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Photo Jamie Raper/KANSAN
Stick to chocolate bunnies Health officials, animal lovers warn against giving animals as Easter gifts
By Katrina Hull
By Katrina Hull
write@lansar.com
Kansas staff writer
Chicks, ducklings and bunnies may look cute, but they don't usually make good Easter gifts.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is warning that chicks and ducklings may carry diseases.
Although cute and fuzzy, live poultry frequently carry salmonella bacteria, which can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.
"Chicks and ducklings simply are not appropriate gifts for young children," Gail Hansen, state public health veterinarian, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, it's not always possible to tell if an animal is infected with salmonella."
At least 35 children in Kansas and Missouri contracted salmonella from handling live chicks and ducklings after the Easter holiday last year, according to the health department.
Barbara Tuckel, an employee at Lawrence Feed and Farm Supply. 545 Wisconsin St., said the store tried to discourage people from ordering chicks and ducklings just for Easter.
Chicks and ducklings aren't the holiday's only targets — the bunny rabbit also is a popular Easter gift.
Although Sarah Otto-Combs, an employee at Pet World. 711 W. 23rd St., said she had not noticed an increase in bunny sales yet, she said she expected that might change this weekend.
Otto-Combs said that she also discouraged people from purchasing bunnies just for the holiday.
"We make sure to warn people if they sound like they're just going to get it for Easter," Otto-Combs said.
Caring for a bunny involves cleaning the cage every day because bunnies defecate frequently including in their food dish, Otto-Combs said.
"I don't think anyone wants to live in feces," she said.
She said that people were more likely to let bunnies go rather than return them to the store when they wanted to get rid of them.
And letting a bunny go in the backyard is likely to result in its death.
"There's no way they can make it," Otto-Combs said.
Kyle Browning, Lawrence junior and animal rights activist, said students buying pets that they weren't prepared to care for was a year-round concern.
"People should think first before buying a pet like that," Browning said. "Stuff like that I think happens too much."
Rabbits, such as this one, are often purchased impulsively near Easter before an owner fully thinks about the ramifications of a pet. Employees at Pet World, 711 W. 23rd St., say that making sure a pet is well fed and that its cage is cleaned is just the beginning to successful ownership of an animal such as a rabbit. Photo by Craig Braennet/KANSAN
New harassment policy would define clearer terms
By Erin R. Barcomb
writer@kansan.com
*kansan writer*
The proposal, passed by Student Senate, seeks to make the policy more specific, said Marlon Marshall, Senate executive chairman and student body vice president-elect.
"We've seen things in the past like the swastika (at) Oliver Hall," said Marshall, who planned to send copies to administrators. "It was a racial incident, but he only got charged for vandalism."
Swastikas displayed in residence halls have prompted proposed changes in the University's racial and ethnic harassment policy.
A student who burned a swastika into the carpet at Oliver was convicted of arson in 1999. Another student, who drew swastikas on a marker board at McCollum Hall, was not found guilty of harassment by the department of student housing later that year.
The proposal, which Marshall said would be worked on during the summer, describes specific actions, such as pranks, vandalism and written conduct, that would violate the policy if directed at individuals because of their race or ethnicity. James Kitchen, dean of students, still would be responsible for the punishment, Marshall said.
Tanisha Jones, Nunemaker senator, agreed that changes needed to be made in the policy.
Other legal precautions were taken to protect free speech, said Shyra McGee, nontraditional senator.
"We just wanted to define what was considered to be inappropriate," she said. "It doesn't say using signs or creating symbols."
"You can't just piss me off." McGee said. "There has to be a pattern of conduct."
The new policy says these things are deemed inappropriate. Jones said.
"What you're looking at in a policy is that you want to promote good conduct and civility," Marino said. "At the same time, you have to be careful you are not at the same time regulating speech on the basis of which opinions are offensive."
counsel, said although there were no statutes in terms of free speech and policies, creating such a policy was a balancing act.
Rose Marino, associate general
The proposed policy also includes specific targets of harassment, including but not limited to Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, Jews and Native Americans. Supporters said these groups were visible minorities.
"These certain groups have been recognized as targets, so they are generally put in policies," said Ashley Udden, law senator.
The proposal charges next year's rights committee with trying to get more protection for students in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Tornados tear through southeast Kansas
PARSONS — Residents and downtown merchants spent yesterday assessing tornado damage that turned numerous homes and businesses into rubble.
The Associated Press
For new Mayor Tommy McLarty, it was a rough start to his post.
"I've had better days," McLarty said. "But we're lucky. The warnings were adequate."
The storm blew into town shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, damaging homes, businesses, the Parsons police and fire buildings, and the new Parsons Theatre, which opened just last month.
Parsons Fire Chief Tim Hay said the twister entered the southwest side of town, staying above ground for much of its path, but flattening buildings and sucking roofs off others as it moved through the downtown Parsons Plaza district.
The twister, one of four to hit southeast Kansas, sent 27 people to the hospital for treatment of mostly minor injuries. A spokeswoman at the Labette County Medical Center said one woman required surgery for a broken leg.
Gov. Bill Graves declared a state of emergency for Labette, Neosho, Montgomery and Crawford counties
Parsons twister, one of four to hit Southeast Kansas, sent 27 people to the hospital for treatment of mostly minor injuries.
Jason Williams/KANSAN
yesterday, according to his spokesman Don Brown. Tornados also caused damage in Walnut, Erie and Cherryvale.
Also caught in the path was a carnival operated in the plaza by Toby's
In Parsons, hundreds of cars sustained damage, including most of the vehicles at two auto dealerships. Just north of the plaza, the Eagles lodge lost its second floor as a group met below.
"One man was injured when he was hit by a beam or other debris that fell into the first floor," said Dwayne Kelsey, who viewed the damage. "I tried to get everybody into a smaller room, but they didn't all go."
Amusements of Arma. People were coming off the rides just moments before the storm hit.
Fred Mitchell, a Toby's employee, said the damage was extensive to the rides, and would be in the millions of dollars. Two employees were unharmed when they rode out the storm next to a large truck.
Western Resources crews from throughout the region worked through yesterday to restore power. Only a few blocks of the city had power immediately after the storm. Most was restored by 4 a.m.
"This is nothing like we've ever seen in Parsons," said Martha Walters, a city administrative assistant. "We've never had damage like this."
The state activated its Emergency Operations Center to take reports of the damage and direct state efforts to provide relief in the damaged areas, said Joy Moser of the Adjunct General's Department. She said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was notified.
Moser said 22 Kansas Army National Guard personnel were in Parsons to block entry to the town and protect against looting.
City Manager Glen Welden said that it could be more than a week before a damage assessment was complete.
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