Monday, February 7, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Attorney general says women need balance
Attorney General Carla Stovall gestures towards her audience yesterday at the Kansas Union. She spoke at the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center's fifth annual women's leadership conference. Photo by J. Maile/KANSAN
Stovall urges prioritizing
By Katrina Hull
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Learning to play golf may help women become more balanced, Kansas Attorney General Carla Stovall told University of Kansas women yesterday afternoon at the Kansas Union.
Stovall was the keynote speaker for the fifth annual women's leadership conference, "Balancing Life Roles," which was sponsored by the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center.
In addition to acquiring a golf swing, Stovall's advice to about 60 KU women was not to rush into marriage in order to support themselves financially.
"It's OK for women to be financially successful and succeed." Stovall said. "And not to wait for a man with a big bank account that's going to be a knight on a white horse to make you wealthy and financially comfortable."
Stovall said she didn't know how to play golf but suggested the activity as a way for women to relax while equalizing themselves with men in the business world.
Kathy Rose-Mockry, program
director for the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, said this year's theme was timely.
In the '80s and '90s, women talked about doing everything — juggling traditional household duties and a career — Rose-Mockry said. But she said the part that was left out of that discussion was how to do it.
"It seems so critical for the times we are in to begin to talk about balance," Rose-Mocky said. "Women have begun asking, 'What about quality of life? What about living a more rounded lifestyle?'"
Stovall, 42, is Kansas' first female attorney general and has never been married. She said being single had allowed for more flexibility in her life — a life that isn't always balanced.
"Just because I'm attorney general doesn't mean I have balance in my life," she said. "The only thing I'm moderate in is my politics. Everything else is all or nothing."
Katie Glatz, Lawrence sophmore, said she was intrigued with Stovall's life and thought her message was inspiring.
"It was interesting to learn how to keep a good balance," Glatz said. "And it was good to hear that she doesn't always have that much balance."
Stovall also talked about the recent criticism she had faced. A
"Just because I'm attorney general doesn't mean I have balance in my life, The only thing I'm moderate in is my politics. Everything else is all or nothing."
Carla Stovall Kansas' attorney general
law firm Stovall once worked for handled the state's lawsuit against tobacco companies — which was settled recently — and received payment for legal services from the settlement.
Some state lawmakers have criticized her ties to the firm. Stovall said that knowing she did the right thing and having good friends was helping her through this difficult time.
"Nurture relationships with other women, because for the most part they will be your best friends." Stovall said.
In her own life, Stovall said dedication had helped her become a leader.
"Beyond skills, it seems to me that to be a leader and to be successful you have to have passion," Stovall said. "It's not the amount of time, it's how you feel about it and what you put into it."
Famous reporter talks politics, media accuracy
Capacity crowd joins in interactive session
By Ryan Devlin
Kansan staff writer
Famous Watergate reporter and best-selling author Bob Woodward discussed Bill Clinton, the 2000 presidential race and public perceptions of the media on Friday.
Earlier in the day he was awarded the William Allen White Foundation's 2000 national citation award.
Woodward was presented with the award before a capacity crowd at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. The citation was financed by the William Allen White Foundation, which sponsors lectures, institutes and awards to promote the understanding of journalism in Kansas.
Woodward's coverage of the Watergate scandal helped the Washington Post win the Pulitzer Prize in 1973. He also has written or co-written eight best-selling non-fiction books and is the assistant managing editor for the Post.
After receiving the award, Woodward asked the audience questions rather than delivering a formal lecture.
When Woodward asked why Americans often expressed distrust of the news media, one audience member blamed the blurred line between news and entertainment. Another said she thought media members were untrustworthy.
Woodward said it was important for the news media to tell both sides of the story. He said that in the modern news environment, speed often took precedence.
Woodward said he would like to see more emphasis on the kind of in-depth investigation that he and fellow reporter Carl Berstein were able to do when they were reporting on Watergate.
"Speed defeats the truth," Woodward said. "We often say that we'll tell you the latest, but the latest is often wrong and irrelevant."
"You don't understand anything in an afternoon," Woodward said.
He also spent much of his address discussing Bill Clinton.
"Why has Bill Clinton as president been such a successful politician?" Woodward asked.
Several audience members gave responses to the question, including Chancellor Robert Hemenway, whom Woodward singled out for a response.
The chancellor attributed Clinton's success to his effectiveness as a communicator. Woodward agreed and said that Clinton's true strength was his ability to maintain eye contact. He told the audience about an experience he had interviewing Clinton in the Oval Office for his 1994 book, The Agenda.
Clinton was drinking a Coca-Cola, Woodward said, and as he finished it, Woodward noticed through the empty glass Clinton was maintaining eye contact with him.
"I think there is no one in politics, movies, the legitimate theater or anywhere that has those communication skills," Woodward said of Clinton. "That power gives him tremendous edge and is probably the underlying reason why he has succeeded as a politician."
Journalist and author Bob Woodward speaks with audience members Friday at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Woodward was at the University to receive the William Allen White Foundation's 2000 national citation award. Photo by Jamie Roper/KANSAN
'Business as usual' expected at Strong Hall today after explosion
Continued from page 1A
Strong is home to the University's student records and administrative offices. Spencer Research Library
- which stands several hundred feet to the north of Strong - is home to University Archives, the Kansas Collection and the University's other special collections. It includes rare books, manuscripts, records and photos of University history.
All entrances to Strong were locked yesterday except the north-central door being used by facilities employees. A KU Public Safety Officer stood guard inside the door. Signs posted at all other entrances read: "Building closed due to electrical problems."
Jim Long, assistant provost for planning and facilities management, said the building was closed so that power could be restored before people were allowed to come inside.
"We've let people come in to get things they needed to pick up," he said. "But then we've asked them to leave."
Richardson said the University would use a 23,000-pound generator — supplied by a Kansas City, Kan. company called AGGREKO — for about 8 to 10 weeks. The semi truck-sized temporary generator — 12 feet high, 20 feet long and 9 feet wide — will cost $5,395 a month to rent and operate, said Joe Kosser of AGGREKO.
"We'll splice it into the existing system," Long said. "We'll test the fire alarms, and it will be business as usual on Monday."
Kristi Elliott/KANSAN
Fire causes minor damage to fraternity
By Sara Shepherd
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Members of a local fraternity were forced to evacuate their house this weekend when a wood floor in the entryway caught fire.
The Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical Department received a report at 12:38 a.m. Saturday of a fire at the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity, 1941 Stewart Ave.
Battalion chief Bill Stark said the fire probably was started by a carelessly discarded cigarette. The cigarette hit the ground and ignited something, he said, which caused a small fire underneath the floorboards.
"It was not a major fire in any way." Stark said.
"It probably took us 20 minutes to get it under control." Stark said.
Stark said firemen chopped part of the floor to reach the fire, which was extinguished quickly.
Chip Lobeck, Phi Kappa Theta president and Topeka senior, said the chapter practiced fire drills on a regular basis. He said Saturday's evacuation went smoothly and no one was hurt.
"Everyone got out all right," Lobeck said. "It actually went over pretty well."
Aside from some water damage and a hole in the floor large enough for a fire hose, Lobeck said there was little structural damage to the house.
Stark said the damage to the house was estimated at $2,000.
The weekend fire was not the first to occur at Phi Kappa Theta this academic year. On Nov. 10, 1999, a candle placed too close to a mattress in the house started a fire.
Phi Kappa Theta has a partial sprinkler system. They were one of 11 University greek chapters cited last fall because its sprinkler system did not comply with city fire code.
Lobeck said the chapter planned to renovate the system this summer.
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