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Tomorrow's weather
Kansan
Warmer tomorrow and mostly sunny with a high near 49 and a low near 32.
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Sports: Women's basketball team will try to avoid a Buffalo stampede tonight.
SEE PAGE 1B
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2000
Inside: A doctor in England was sentenced to 15 life terms for murdering patients.
SEE PAGE 6A
(USPS 650-640) • VOL. 110 NO. 86
WWW.KANSAN.COM
African-American history month to begin tonight with diversity talk
By Ryan Blethen
writer @kansan.com
Kansas stuff writer
An appearance by former U.S. Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders will highlight the celebration of Black History Month at the University of Kansas, which begins at 7 tonight with a lecture about diversity at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union.
Tonight's lecture, "When Stereotypes Kill," is a part of KU's Diversity Dialogue series. Maurice Bryan, director of the Equal Opportunity Office, will lead the program.
A series of events and activities are planned for the month. The events range from an appearance by Elders Thursday night to discussions about race and a basketball game.
"If These Walls Could Talk, African Americans of KU," the name for the month of activities, was developed by a history month committee directed by Robert Page, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, in an attempt to relay the history of African Americans at the University.
"The name demonstrates the rich history African Americans have made at KU," he said.
This year's celebration of Black History Month includes more events than there have been in the past.
Black History Month grew from Negro History Week, which was created in February 1926 by Carter Woodson, a scholar and the second African American to receive his doctorate in history from Harvard University. The week was celebrated in February because it coincided with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. The week was expanded to a month in 1976.
For more information on Black History Month and links to other African-American history Web sites, go to http://headlines.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Yahoo ligans/bhm.
BLACK History Month
■ "When Stereotypes Kill" — Diversity Dialogue Series: 7tonight; at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union
African-American history trivice contest: 7 p.m. tomorrow; at the Multicultural Resource Center
A night with Dr. Jocelyn Elders: 7 p.m. Thursday; at the Kansas Union Ballroom
Black Student Union/National Pan-Hellenic Council annual faculty/staff vs. student basketball challenge: 6 p.m. Saturday; at Robinson Center
Minority freshman forum — "A Town Hall Meeting": 7 p.m. Feb. 9; at the Burge Union
A night with Anna Deavey Smith — "Snapshots, Glimpses of America in Change": 8 p.m. Feb. 10, at the Lied Center
The Watts Prophets; "Discover the Beginning of the Rap Legacy"
Powerful poets and writers: 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 11; Lied Center
Black Student Union Talent Show:
7 p.m. Feb. 12; location to be announced
Inspirational Gospel Voices Concert: Feb. 13; location and time to be announced
"Black Greek Letter Organizations Past and Present": 6:30 p.m. Feb.
14: at the Kansas Union
African-American relationships in the new millennium: 7 p.m. Feb.16; at the Kansas Union
Racism 2000: Program on racism at KU: 7 p.m. Feb. 15; at the Multicultural Resource Center
"If These Walls Could Talk: African Americans of KU": 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 21; Burge Union
"The Relationships Between the Police and the African-American Community": 3:30 p.m. Feb. 23; at the Parkers Room in the Kansas Union
A night with Corey Cokes: 8 p.m. Feb. 23; at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union
Movie night: The Best Mam Feb. 26;
location and time to be announced
National Council of Negro Women annual fashion show: 7 p.m. Feb.
28: at the Kansas Union
Leaders of the New Millennium: 7 p.m. Feb. 29; at the Jayhawk Room in the Kansas Union
The Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa Auf Der Maur, bass, James Iha, lead guitar, Jimmy Chamberlin, drums, and Billy Corgan, vocals and guitar, sign autographs for their fans at Kief's CD's and Tapes, 2429 Iowa St., last night. The signing was scheduled to promote the group's new album Machina/ the machines of God, which will be released Feb. 29. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN.
Pumpkins kick off tour before capacity crowd
By Mindie Miller
writer@Kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Smashing Pumpkins played to a capacity crowd last night from what lead singer Billy Corgan described as the band's "forcoming-major-labor-take-over-the-world-one-more-time album" MACHINA/ the machines of God.
More than 700 people — many of whom waited nearly 12 hours in freezing temperatures to purchase tickets to the show — packed the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St., to view the spectacle. Doors opened at 9 p.m. and the band took the stage about 45 minutes later.
"Let us crawl inside your ears."
Corgan said, "Let us penetrate you."
"It's pretty good," said Matt Gerber, a Tulsa graduate student who canped out to get tickets. "They're playing
The audience — composed of fans of all ages — bobbed rhythmically to the music with its hands raised high in the air.
mostly new stuff. And the crowd's pretty into it, even though they don't recognize a lot of the new songs."
A glittery green drum set showcased returning drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, and colorful lights added even more glitz to the Pumpkin's powerful stage presence.
Katy Martin, Cherokee, Iowa, sophomore, said she thought the band interacted well with the crowd.
"I think it's good that Billy's been talking to the crowd," she said. "They act like they really want to be here."
Announced just a few days before, the show sold out in 24 minutes Sunday. It was the first show in the band's new world tour.
Before the show, band members signed autographs at Kief's CDs and Tapes. 2429 Iowa St.
Jennifer Berry, Wichita sophomore, was the last person in a line that snaked from behind the store all the way around through the front doors and up to a table where the band members sat. She was not one of the lucky fans who
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r a sample of the first single, "Everlasting Gaze," from the Smashing Pumpkins new CD MACHINA / the machines of God.
had received a wrist band before the signing that guaranteed entry, but she said she wanted to try to get in anyway.
"I just kind of stopped over on the off chance that the line would go fast," she said. "It's not really a priority for me because I'll be at the show."
Brandon McCoy, Hutchinson freshman, said that he and his friends were among the first people allowed into the signing. He said the band members were friendly.
"They just kept saying, 'Did you guys catch a cold out there?' he said.
Karin Stone, from Betten Dorf, Iowa, ran from the building proclaiming she had kissed Corgan on the cheek.
"He said, 'Do I have a little bit of lip stick on my cheek now'?" she said.
Plane crash
Alaska Airlines flight
261 from Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico to San
Francisco crashed 20
northwest of the
Los Angeles airport
because of mechanical
problem. The plane
could have carried as
many as 80 passengers,
none of whom have been
found alive.
site of the crash
--- route of flight 261
Maggie Curry/KANSAN
Rescuers look for survivors after jet crash
The Associated Press
OXNARD, Calif. — An Alaska Airlines jet carrying at least 80 people plummeted into the Pacific Ocean 40 miles northwest of the Los Angeles airport yesterday after reporting mechanical problems. Several bodies were recovered from the chilly water, but there was no sign of survivors.
Flight 261 was heading from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to San Francisco and later to Seattle. It had been diverted to Los Angeles to attempt an emergency landing, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
A large field of debris rolled in big swells about eight miles offshore as aircraft and small boats converged on the site just before sunset. Hours later, the high-power lights of commercial squid boats illuminated the darkness as a cutter and small boats continued the search.
Several bodies were found, Coast Guard Lt. Chuck Diorio said, but he could not give a specific number.
"Every resource is out there to find people," said Coast Guard Capt. George Wright. "We're actively searching for survivors. ... In 58-degree water temperature, people can survive. We're not going to quit until we're positive there's absolutely no chance."
Alaska Airlines spokesman Jack Evans said there were 80 about passengers and five crew members, although the FAA reported fewer people on board.
The jet's crew had reported mechanical difficulties and asked to land at Los Angeles, said Ron Wilson, a representative for the San Francisco airport.
The airline said the pilot reported having problems with the stabilizer trim shortly before the plane crashed.
If a plane lost its horizontal stabilizer, it would have no means to keep the nose pointed at the proper angle up or down, and the plane would begin an uncontrollable dive.
The Coast Guard and Alaska Airlines put the time of the crash at 4:36 p.m.
Primary results to depend on independent voters
Bradley: Looks for the independent vote
By Doug Pacey
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Voters of the state of New Hampshire, particularly independents, will do one of two things in today's primary — add or take away momentum from each party's front runner's campaign.
"The biggest thing with this primary is if the momentum of the front runners can be slowed down," said Allan Cigler, professor of political science.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona led
Republican-favorite Texas Gov. George W. Bush 38 percent to 35 percent in a WMUR-TV poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center on Saturday, The Nashua Telegraph reported yesterday.
"If Bush holds off McCain and as the primaries move to the South," Cigler said, "he'll be in pretty good shape."
The same goes for the race for the democratic nomination between Vice President Al Gore and Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey.
"Bradley has to stop Gore's momentum, Cigler said. "The most likely place for him to do that is in New Hampshire. If he doesn't, once it moves to the South, Gore will have an advantage."
Gore, who was a Tennessee senator before becoming Vice President, leads Bradley 53 percent to 42 percent in the WMUR poll.
Momentum or not, Burdett Loomis, professor of political science, said this primary was more important for the Democrats than the Republicans.
"I honestly think that the New Hampshire Primary may not mean all that much, particularly to the Republicans," he said.
See INDEPENDENT on page 5A
McCain: Leads Bush in some polls
Committee looking to form comprehensive campus safety plan
By Erinn R. Barcomb
Kansan staff writer
The dark walkway along Irving Hill Road between the Lied Center and Daisy Hill may be a little lighter someday.
— including lighting — from the campus safety committee. The committee is looking at campus crime statistics from the past several years to determine which areas to target for future improvements and to form a comprehensive safety plan for the campus, said Dede Seibel, student body vice president.
The area, which connects much-needed parking at the center with Daisy Hill residents, could receive safety improvements
The campus lighting fee, which goes into effect in July, ends in fiscal year 2001. Seibel said. Therefore, the fee review committee wants to see the fee broadened to a campus safety fee that would include other safety projects besides lighting, she said.
The proposal would have to be taken to Student Senate and to the fee review committee. Although the current $2 per student per semester fee could be reduced to $1, Seibel said the committee would institute the fee only if the University could match the funds.
Other areas for potential improvement include parking lots near the Computer Center, the Continuing Education Building and the 1300 block of Louisiana Street, home to three of the University's scholarship halls.
Seibel said parking lots at the University's residence halls also would be under consideration. Despite the designation of lot 60 near Grace Sellars Pearson-Corbin Hall as the rape lot, only two incidents of crime — neither of them rapes — were reported last year.
"You can't just look at the numbers." Seibel said. "It's what KU emanates in terms of safety. You rely on numbers quite a bit, but you have to consider the feelings
of students. Then you have to help those areas out."
Jessica Bankston, a Nunenaker senator the committee.
Jessica Bankston, a on the committee, said she was concerned about safety in the new parking garage by the Union because of what she heard about the garage that used to be near Jayhawker Towers.
Seibel: Wants to begin a plan to improve campus safety
"It's dark with multiple exits."
Bankston said. "I want to invest money now to prevent anything from happening. We put a
Bankston said she would like to see new
lot of money in getting blue phones, and I think the perception of feeling safe is important."
Seibel said the installation of safety cameras could be one option to make campus parking lots more safe from property damage.
campus phones installed in the garage as well. While blue phones only ring the KU Public Safety Office, Bankston said the campus phones could be used to call a friend or Saferide if someone needed help or a ride home.
Bankston said she liked the idea of putting cameras in the garage.
"Personally, I think it's a good idea," she said. "We don't have a lot of person-to-person crime. It's mostly property crime. I don't see them as being installed to monitor anyone's day-to-day activity."
However, the idea does not sit so well with some of the committee's other members.
J. D. Jenkins, holdover senator, joked at Friday's meeting that some vandalism occurs in residence halls and, therefore, maybe cameras should be installed in students' rooms.
4.