Thursday, February 24, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
People question police motives
Speaker discusses racial attitudes
Reggie Robinson, counselor to the chancellor and former special assistant to Attorney General Janet Reno, spoke yesterday to a small group at the Partors Room in the Kansas Union about the relationship between African Americans and the police. Two important topics that Robinson addressed were community policing and racial profiling. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
By Ryan Blethen writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
A lack of trust is the main cause of the gulf between police departments and the African-American community, said Reggie Robinson, counselor to the chancellor, yesterday.
Robinson, who is the former special assistant to Attorney General Janet Reno, spoke to a crowd of 18 at the Parlors Room in the Kansas Union about the sour relationship between the police and the African-American community. The event was part of activities associated with African-American History Month.
Since 1993, violent crime has decreased, Robinson said, primarily because of community policing.
Even though community policing is on the rise, African Americans still are finding it hard to trust the police, Robinson said.
"In one sense, you might expect African Americans could be advocates for community policing," he said, "But we all know the reality of the relationship between Blacks and police is a very different reality."
Robinson said an example of the distrust was how many African Americans reacted when minorities were harmed by police.
"I think that reaction, the immediacy of it, the force of it, undermines the trust issue," Robinson said.
Another issue that Robinson said kept the two groups at odds was the practice of racial profili
ing — the police practice of pulling over African Americans solely on the basis of their race.
"Clearly, when that kind of experience is happening, it's going to fuel distrust of the police department," he said.
Bill Tuttle, professor of history and American studies who attended the lecture, agreed that laws allowing police officers to pull people over for minor violations, such as not wearing a seat belt, could be used to target minorities.
"People are ordered to stop, but they are afraid," he said.
Chico Herbison, assistant pro
fessor of African-American studies, asked Robinson if minority police officers improved relations between the two groups.
Robinson said it was an institutional problem and not confined to Caucasian officers.
"It's a blue issue," he said, referring to the color of police uniforms.
Other issues have played a part in the lack of trust, Robinson said, including past incidents involving the police and members of the African-American community.
"I didn't talk about history, but it's a big part of what is there," Robinson said.
"In one sense, you might expect African Americans could be advocates for community policing. But we all know the reality of the relationship between Blacks and police is a very different reality."
Reggie Robinson counselor to the chancellor
Senate committee OKs blood drive campaign
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
By Erinn R. Barcomb
A controversial bill to finance Red Cross blood drive advertising in the University Daily Kansan was passed without discussion in University Affairs last night.
But the Finance Committee was another story.
A new version of the bill passed 11-4, but not without objection and debate.
The bill was ruled out of order two weeks ago because blood drive volunteers ask questions that some committee members thought unfairly targeted homosexual men.
Aravind Muthukrishnan, committee chairman, was asked again last night to rule the bill out of order. Muthukrishnan said that after learning more about the origin of the question, he did not think it deliberately discriminated against a group of people, and justification to rule it out of order didn't exist.
But others, such as Chris Hess, social welfare senator, disagreed. Hess cited a presentation at last week's Student Senate meeting where a Red Cross representative said some of the questions asked were intended to make recipients feel safe.
"When you base this on public perceptions, not science, that is the foundation of discrimination." Hess said.
Erin Simpson, liberal arts and sciences senator, also objected to supplying money for the ads. But she said posters still could be placed around campus.
"You're weighing lives against discrimination, and that's a hard decision to make." Simpson said.
Andrew Bailey, Lenexa freshman, said advertising was essen-
rival to the drive's success.
"I only see the ads," Bailey said. "They're pretty decent size. You don't miss them."
But last night's version included an addendum that also would demand that the Student Legislative Awareness Board lobby the Food and Drug Administration, which writes the questions. Lobbying was a recommendation of a Student Rights subcommittee that examined the blood drive.
Ben Walker, legislative director, said lobbying could include writing letters and making phone calls. Also, the student body president and vice president could lobby Dan Glickman, secretary of agriculture and a native of Kansas, when they visit Washington, D.C. later this semester.
The bill will go before Senate next Wednesday.
In other Senate news;
■ University Affairs and Finance Committee passed a bill to finance a design contest for bus shelters that would involve students from the University of Kansas and other area universities. Some committee members thought the $1,000 reward should be made available only to KU students.
University Affairs passed a bill to add another nontraditional seat to Senate. Supporters said nontraditional students did not get the cross-representation from other seats, such as residential and school seats.
A bill to finance a speaker on religion and science under the auspices of a nonreligious organization, the KU Choral Society, was tabled to include an amendment requiring the speaker to not include denominational religious arguments in his speech.
KU students empty wallets, paint bowls to benefit community center
By John Audlehelm
writer@kansan.com
The Center for Community Outreach and Sunfire Ceramics are joining forces to raise money for a local community center.
The project, named Empty Bowls, will raise funds for the Pelathe Community Resource Center, 1423 Haskell Ave., by selling bowls decorated by volunteers.
University of Kansas students and Lawrence residents can make the bowls through March 17.
Interested volunteers can pay $8 at Sunfire, 1002 New Hampshire St. The fee covers the price to glaze, decorate and fire the bowls. The bowls then will be sold for $8 on campus April 5 as part of CCO's into the Streets Week, a program aimed at getting students involved in the community.
Rebecca Sutherland, Andover senior and University Relations director for CCO, said between 60 and 75 bowls were sold last year
during the first Empty Bowls program. The project raised $400 to $500, she said.
This year, she said she hoped the project would sell more than 100 bowls and make between $800 and $900.
Some students already have contributed to the project. Yesterday, Amanda Surber, Fredonia sophomore, went to Sunfire with her friends.
Katie Whitenight Senecal, manager of Sunfire, said about 25 volunteers had been in since last week.
"I love to be involved in community stuff," Senecal said. "The turnout has been fabulous. I feel like we're making a major effort."
Senecal said Sunfire charged $6 per hour for customers who wanted to make bowls for themselves.
Normally, people spend an hour and a half to two hours making a bowl. Therefore, by supplying its services, Sunfire is donating $9 to $12 worth of service per bowl, she said.
E. J. Reedy, Topeka junior and co-
"I love to be involved in community stuff. The turnout has been fabulous.I feel like we're making a major effort."
Katie Whitenight Senecal
Sunfire Ceramics manager
director of the CCO, said last year's participants produced high-quality bowls.
"They're just gorgeous once they're fired," he said. "It was really neat just to see them all out there."
Along with selling the bowls, the volunteers also will sell soup on April 5. However, the soup will be served in Stvrofoam bowls.
Reedy said Into the Streets Week, April 2-8, would feature two or three events a day including direct service activities, speakers on homelessness and other discussions.
Jennifer Bacani, Fredonia sophomore, paints a bow yesterday at Sunfire Ceramics. Her bowl and other bowls decorated by volunteers will be sold on campus in April to raise money for the Pelathe Community Resource Center, 1423 Haskell Ave. Photo by J.M. Dailey/KANSAN
Finding Knowledge
Come to KU Hillel (940 Miss.) tonight at 7 pm to hear our guest, Israeli Rabbi Tzvi Gluckin, speak on rational approaches to faith and the
lessons of Purim. Questions? Call 749-5397 for information
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