Tuesday, April 4, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Pete Hunter, first-year law student, Lawrence, is running for the Kansas House of Representatives. The 24-year old Republican recently filed to challenge State Rep.Troy Findley, D-Lawrence, for the 46th District seat Contributed Photo
Student runs for seat
Platform includes freeze on tuition
By Katrina Hull writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Pete Hunter followed his heart back to Kansas. Now, the first-year law student says his heart is leading him into Kansas politics.
Hunter is running for the 46th District seat — a constituency that includes the University of Kansas — in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Hunter was born in Olathe but raised in upstate New York. He returned to Kansas last summer for law school. Although new to the state, the idea of public service is not new to him.
"I always grew up with a passion for others and serving others," Hunter said. "I intend to get into politics and make it my life's work."
The 24-year-old Republican is getting an early start on his political career, challenging State Rep. Troy Findley, D-Lawrence. Hunter fled Feb. 14 to run, and he plans to announce his candidacy officially in early May.
Hunter said Findley had not taken an active stand for the University. He said the explosion at Strong Hall was an example of an instance when Findley should have requested money to upgrade an outdated, dangerous electrical system.
Hunter and Findley share concerns about tuition increases.
The poor student with talent and energy shouldn't be priced out of the market by the politician." Hunter said.
Findley has made two proposals to keep state financial aid on pace with tuition increases. One proposal was denied a hearing. The other failed in a close vote on the House floor Wednesday.
But Hunter said that Findley's efforts came after the fact and that Findley needed foresight to know that when the state budget fell short, tuition increases were likely. Hunter's platform includes a three-year freeze on
PETE HUNTER
■ KU law school student running for a Lawrence seat in the Kansas House
Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University, English major
Age: 24
Political experience: Intern for U.S. Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del. Worked for Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C.
Issues: Better public education system, elimination of the food tax and three-year tuition freeze
tuition.
"The student isn't a cow to be milked by a politician whose budgetary bucket has run dry," he said.
Hunter said that students should know that the tuition increases were not going to increase faculty salaries or improve campus buildings. Instead, the increases ensure that the University is able to make ends meet.
Hunter's campaign strategy includes tapping into the KU vote. He has plans to register student voters himself when they return to school in the fall.
If Hunter is elected, he will take the spring semester off from law school.
He is dependent upon the generosity of others to finance his campaign, but he said that he was not worried. Students and professors at the law school already have been supportive.
"I plan on asking a lot of nice people for help." Hunter said.
Indeed, he has named his campaign fund "A lot of nice people who want to see Pete Hunter as our Representative."
College passions renewed
Hunter may be a Kansan at heart, but Findley said that he was the true local.
Findley welcomes the challenge "I'm a believer that elections are a great thing." he said.
"I'm the only Lawrence representative born and raised here." Findley said. "I have spent my entire life in Lawrence. I love my community."
Former KU student hits campaign trail
By Katrina Hull
writer @kanson.com
Kansas staff writer
Former Student Union Activities president Dean Newton discovered romance and politics at the University of Kansas
experiences that now will follow him along the campaign trail.
Newton, a 29-year-old Kansas City area attorney and Republican, is running for the Prairie Village 21st District seat in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Less than 10 years ago, however, Newton was recruiting comedians Jim Carrey and George Carlin and alternative rock bands Pearl Jam and Nirvana to perform at the University.
"It was my first taste of really being able to work hard with a lot of people to make a difference." Newton said.
SUA changed Newton's life in other ways, too. Before becoming president, Newton served as SUA vice president under his future wife, Anita.
"That happens now and then," said David Ambler, vice chancellor of student affairs. "We have love and marriage and politics going on around here."
Anita and Dean went on their first date on his 20th birthday. The couple's running joke is who asked whom out first.
"I always told him that he was seduced by my power," Anita said.
During the next eight years, the couple often was separated by distance and career choices. He attended law school at New York University, and she worked and then attended Harvard Business School.
Finally, both returned to Kansas and married in the summer of 1998.
"The novelty of living in the same zip code is wonderful." Anita said.
She said that her main contribution to the campaign was moral support. Dean is running for the seat occupied by State Rep. Barbara Allen, R-Prairie Village, who will run for Senate. So far he has one Democratic challenger.
Anita said that the campaign had revitalized Dean's college passion and vitality.
"Seeing him run this campaign reminds me of what he was like in college." she said.
Ambler, who worked with Dean during his SUA days, agreed.
"I don't think he's lost that fervor at all." Ambler said. "I think that Dean would have become bored just being an attorney."
Dean knows about keeping busy. He paid for 100 percent of his college education through part-time jobs and scholarships. He said the experience made equal access to higher education an important issue to him.
Dean said he always knew he would attend the University of Kansas. His grandfather played basketball for Phog Allen and took him to watch the Jayhawks play as a child.
Holes found in portrait could carry felony charge
By Sara Shepherd
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Deane E. Ackers' eyes won't be following passersby anymore.
Vandals gouged out the eyes on the portrait, which hangs on the fourth floor in Learned Hall, last week. Police said damages to the painting were estimated at $3,500.
Prisella Adams, public relations director of the School of Engineering, said Ackers was a successful engineering alumnus who gave money to the Kansas University Endowment Association. The money was used to establish distinguished professorships in his name.
According to a police report, the painting was damaged between 4 p.m. March 28 and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Adams said the damages went unnoticed until the middle of last week, when a student employee saw the holes and reported them.
"It's an oil painting, so it wasn't covered with glass," Adams said. "Holes were poked in the very center of the eyes with what appeared to me to be a very sharp object, like a technical pencil."
Lt. Schuyler Bailey, of the KU Public Safety Office, agreed. He said the painting possibly was punctured with a pen or pencil.
Adams said the holes were about one-eighth of an inch in diameter.
"They're pretty big." Adams said. "I mean somebody really worked at this."
Bailey said if a suspect was apprehended for the crime, he or she could be charged with felony criminal damage because the damages were more than $500.
Adams said the building was open all the time, but there had been few problems with crime in the past.
"We have students working over here 24 hours around the clock," she said. "These things just don't happen over here."
However, Adams said employees received a memo stating there recently had been several thefts in the
A painting of Deane D. Ackers, a wealthy engineering alumnus, was found vandalized in Learned Hall last week. Damages were estimated at $3,500. Photo by J.M.Dailey/KANSAN
building. She said she could not speculate if the vandalism was related.
Ackers graduated from the University in 1917 with a bachelors degree in civil engineering. He was the president of Kansas Power & Light from 1934 to 1956. He was chairman of the board from 1956 until 1966, the year he died.
Adams said the portrait, which is about 30 inches by 48 inches, probably was painted during the 1940s or early 1950s.
Fake prescriptions not a fad
By Warisa Chulindra
Kansan staff writer
More high school and college students are abusing prescription drugs, say drug experts around the United States.
These drugs include painkillers, such as Percodan and Vicodin, and stimulants, such as Ritalin and Dexedrine.
Some people may even try to fill fake prescriptions for tranquilizers, painkillers and narcotics, said Sgt. George Wheeler of the Lawrence Police Department.
He said Lawrence Police responded to several calls a week about fake prescriptions. If a case can be made, they will arrest the person for forgery - a misdemeanor.
But trying to fill fake prescriptions is nothing new. Wheeler said.
"They've always done this," he said. "I haven't noticed any particular increase over the past year, but that doesn't mean it isn't occurring nationwide."
At Watkins Memorial Health Center, doctors prescribe a limited amount of these medications to ensure students don't share medication or abuse it.
Randall Rock, Watkins chief-of-staff, said several students had complained about the limited number of pain medication, especially when they were in a lot of pain, calling it an unnecessary hassle.
He said precautions were taken because the
medications had significant risks, including cardiac arrhythmias, sedation or even death. They also can aggravate high blood pressure and heart disease.
Rock said students must go through the appropriate testing to confirm diagnoses, especially for conditions requiring Ritalin and Dexedrine.
Local pharmacies report seeing few fake prescriptions, but when they do, they usually are for pain medications. And those who try to perpetrate these acts aren't always college students, said Mark Smith, pharmacist at Orchards Drug, 1410 Kasold Drive.
"There are students who might have been in college once but flunked out," he said.
Smith said the most common situation was people from out-of-town who tried to fill fake prescriptions at all of the pharmacies. All local pharmacies, including Watkins, participate in a hotline to alert one another about people trying to fill fake prescriptions. They fax one another until all pharmacies are aware of the situation.
At Walgreen's, 3421 W. Sixth St., pharmacists first contact the physician from whom the prescription allegedly is written, then decide what action to take. For most cases, the phony prescriptions are torn up and not filled. However, if the person is a repeat offender, pharmacies will contact the police.
Walgreen's pharmacy manager Bridget Gillespie said fake prescriptions came along about once every two months and usually were for the narcotic painkiller Lortab.
Grad Fest 2000
Place Orders Now For the Best Selection
Custom Printed Announcement Special
Printed Notes & Thank You Cards
- Traditional $129
• Parchment $139
• Deckle Edge $149
- Deckle Edge $^{149}$
Caps, Gowns & Tassels
"The graduation professionals at the top of the hill." 1420 Crescent Road • 843-3826 www.jayhawkbookstore.com
lavhawk Bookstore
Only available at the
99+ Regular Announcements!
Graduation Special!
with this coupon
If you order before April 30th 2000. You must order 25 or more to receive the discount. Not valid with any other offer or promo.
Jayhawk Bookstore
1420 Crescent Rd. (785) 843-8326
www.jayhawkbookstore.com
STAND UP!
Kansas University Sexism & Racism Victims Coalition
www.seekneace.com/KUSRVC
Empowerment What Does It Mean To You?
Empowerment means different things to different people. Come share your ideas about the concept, what it means,and how it works.
Focus Group on EMPOWERMENT
April 10, 2000
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Refreshments and nominal compensation provided. Spaces are limited. If interested in participating, please call Dr. Suzanne Boyd at (785)864-4720 or email us at suzanneb@ukans.edu
Sponsored by the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare
GET AN EDUCATION IN SCHOLARSHIPS.