Monday, December 6, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
ACLU to take look at harassment policy
Student Senate's proposed changes may spark debate
By Clav McCuistion
by Cary McCullisson
writer @ kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The KU chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is preparing for a possible battle against administrators about the University of Kansas' racial and ethnic harassment policy.
After an unusually visible fall semester, the KU ACLU may provoke more debate in the spring. The group voted unanimously in its November meeting to pursue an inquiry into the constitutionality of the University-wide policy barring harassment based on race, religion, ethnicity or national origin.
On Dec. 11, he governing board of the Kansas-Western Missouri ACLU will consider further action on the issue.
"The goal is to get a change, not just ask questions," said Buddy Lloyd, media director of the KU chapter. "Everyone's pretty much for looking into this issue."
Lloyd said the regional affiliate of the ACLU could begin its investigation at the beginning of next semester.
J. D. Jenkins, advocacy chair for the KU ACLU and senior holdover student senator, brought the matter to the group's attention in early November. A bill introduced in Student Senate would have expanded the definition of racial and ethnic harassment to include degrading comments and jokes based on race, as well as actions harmful to working living and academic settings.
"We started looking at the proposed changes, and it became pretty clear that those changes were unconstitutional." Jenkins said.
The University of Kansas student handbook defines racial and ethnic harassment as:
THE POLICY
The revisions were tabled for the time being, but Jenkins said that when he showed the existing policy to lawyers, the consensus was that it had problems as well.
nicity or national origin, or
Behavior or conduct addressed directly to an individual(s) and that threatens violence or property damage, or incites imminent lawless action and that is made with the specific intent to harass or intimidate the victim because of race, religion, eth-
"Fighting words," such as racial and ethnic epithets, stirs and insults, directed at an individual(s) with intent to inflict harm or injury or that would reasonably tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace, or
should be the place, or ■ Slander, libel or obscene speech that advocates racial, ethnic or religious discrimination, hatred or persecution.
"The current policy is still probably unconstitutional," Jenkins said.
He based his objections on R.A.V. vs. St. Paul, a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court case that ruled against selectively restricting free speech.
"The University as an arm of government can't favor some viewpoints over others," Jenkins said.
Kevin Sivits, president of the KU ACLU, was reluctant to discuss details of the potential inquiry but said he was looking forward to working on the issue.
Sivits and his group have been at the forefront of several issues this
semester, ranging from questioning the University seal to passing out sidewalk chalk. They also screened the evolution-themed film, Inherit the Wind, and offered aid to students in free-speech disputes with the University.
"I would say that as students have become more aware of the KU ACLU, they've been willing to make a phone call," Sivits said. "One of the things we're working toward is making students aware of their rights."
Lloyd, who helped revive the dormant KU chapter three years ago, agreed.
"We've had a stunningly successful semester," he said. "We've taken on both the popular and unpopular issues and all the while stood up for the Bill of Rights."
Alexis Vanasse, executive director of the KU ACLU, said in a September meeting that she hoped to see the group expand its activities in the University community.
"We definitely achieved our goal this year," Vanasse said on Saturday. "We had several issues that we were able to concentrate on."
Although she temporarily resigned her post in disagreement with the group's questioning of the University seal, Vanasse came back when the chapter dropped the issue. She said she looked forward to working with the ACLU in the future.
"I was really happy to get back," she said. "We've been really active on campus."
The chapter has not yet contacted the administration about its concerns.
Man with Down Syndrome allegedly attacked
Edited by Kelly Clasen
By Michael Terrv
Artie Tillman hands out copies of the THE Hawk SHEET to KU students Wednesday afternoon in front of Wescoe Hall. About a month ago, an unidentified man allegedly grabbed Tillman and insulted him. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
Kansan staff writer
He's out in front of Wescoe Hall in his bright red Kansas City Chiefs coat every Wednesday morning.
Most students walk by, say hi, take a copy of THE HEA SHETE and head to class.
Since Aug. 1 this has been the routine for Artie Tillman, a Lawrence resident, who helps pass out THE Hawk SHEET at the University of Kansas.
One month ago, all that changed when an unidentified man allegedly approached Tillman, grabbed him and began to call him names making light of his disability.
Tillman was has Down syndrome
Vicki Williams, administration assistant for Residential Alternatives, said Tillman had lived with her for 18 years, and this was the first time Tillman had ever had a problem on campus.
Residential Alternatives is a company that takes care of adult males with developmental disabilities.
"I drop Artie off at 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday, and that it's. He's pretty much on his own after that." Williams said. "I thought students would be a lot more receptive, and I never thought something like this would happen on the KU campus. I'm just glad there was someone there to help Artie out."
Frank Cherrito, co-owner of THE Hawk SHEET said that he just heard about what happened to Artie on Tuesday.
"It's very disrespectful for anyone to make
fun of Artie's disabilities," Cherrito said. "He's a good man, a dependable employee, and he does a great job."
In addition to handing out THE Hawk
SHEET, he also works four days a week for Cottonwood Incorporated and periodically at the Burge Union.
Tillman said he enjoyed being outside and handing out THE Hawk SHEET.
"It's my job, and I enjoy the people," Tillman said.
Brian Clark, a work enrichment rover for Cottonwood Incorporated, said he had known Tillman for more than five years, and he was upset when he found out what had happened.
"Artie is a great worker and a genuinely nice person that we all enjoy being around." Clark said. "It's almost the year 2000 and especially with KU having such a diverse campus, it bothers me to see things like this still happening today."
Williams said Artie always had received the support of many at the University, from Ray Burge, whom the Burge Union is named after, to men's basketball coach Roy Williams. She said they had all taken the time to say hi and get to know him during the years he has worked at the University.
"I think it's just a matter of students getting to know Artie, and hopefully nothing like this will ever happen again." Williams said. "He loves to talk to people, and although it might take a little while for some people to understand him, he's very patient and doesn't mind repeating himself."
- Edited by Brad Hallier
Cooperative will try to fill vacancies
in about a year ago.
Continued from page 1A
The residents are responsible for cooking, cleaning and repair work. Chores are divided using a point system: each task is worth a certain number of points, and those who do not reach 100 points each week (about five to seven hours of work) must pay 20 cents per point that they are short. There also are $4 fines for residents who do not complete chores for which they had signed up.
Strattman said fines can reach about $25 per week and that many students are willing to pay to avoid the work.
"It's kind of been one of our
problems this semester," he said, adding that the residents approved new rules at their meeting Monday night, which they hope will curb the problem.
Next semester, the fine per point will increase to 25 cents. Those who do not cooperate in the house keeping also will not be eligible to receive a rebate share, a split of the budget money not used each month. Strattman said it usually was about $30.
Kate Hge, Topeka junior, lived at Sunflower for three weeks last fall before she decided it was not for her and moved into an apartment with a friend.
"I just didn't feel comfortable there," she said. "It's a really good
idea, but it just wasn't for me."
Strattman said mid-semester move-outs were not common, but that there usually was one space available. He said the cooperative always attempted to reach full occupancy, 31, since each rent share helps pay for utilities, newspaper subscriptions and cleaning supplies.
Student managers were worried that vacancies would not fill up, Strattman said. He said almost all applicants were accepted.
He said he was expecting about five spaces to open at the end of the semester.
Edited by Jennifer Roush
Continued from page 1A
Nguyen said.
Despite the good, Mehmedovic and Nguyen agreed that one aspect of U.S. life was bothersome — the pace. They say things he move quickly and that people work a lot.
"Americans are living too fast," Mehmedovic said. "People need more fun, more family time."
While Kansas may seem an unlikely place for immigrants to choose to live, it is considered a middle-tier state for refugees. Refugee coordinator Kimsey said about 500 per year settled in the Kansas, and the state received about $1 million in federal funding in the last fiscal year to handle them.
of foreign-born residents, according to the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies. But because certain areas of the Kansas have attracted immigrant workers, the center's Steven Camarota said more immigrants had followed them there.
People coming to the United States normally are attracted to cities with a lot of diversity and large populations
Kimsey said Dodge City, Liberal and Garden City were hot spots because of meat-packing industry jobs. Kansas City and Wichita are popular, too, because of manufacturing and service industries.
About half of the refugees coming to Kansas are from Southeast Asia and former Soviet bloc nations, but that number is declining. The number of refugees from Somalia, the Sudan, and Croatia is increasing, Kimsey said.
—Edited by Katrina Hull
Election rules might include fewer limits on spending
By Chris Borniger writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The rules could change, but to the average onlooker the game should look the same.
The Student Senate task force on elections and referenda completed its work last week with the release of its final report, which recommends several changes to the structure of Senate elections.
Dede Seibel, student body vice president and task force chairwoman, said the most important proposal was to remove spending limits for coalitions, which have governed the past two Senate elections. The University Judicial Board ruled on July 30 that such limits were unconstitutional.
Seibel said coalitions that spent excessive amounts of money would face voter skepticism.
"If you spend
"if you spend an overwhelming amount of money, it's not going to look good," she said.
Nonetheless, the University could regain the right to impose spending limits, depending on the outcome of Southworth v. Grebe, a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Seibel said. Limits are allowed when elections are deemed educational, but Seibel said Senate elections were strictly political.
The task force also considered requiring Senate's approval for each year's elections code. Korb Maxwell, student body president and task force creator, has said the elections commission wrongfully instituted rules, such as a ban on coalition names on ballots.
Ben Walker, legislative director and task force member, said the group declined to limit the elections commission's authority. He said doing so could result in a situation where Senate repeatedly failed to approve the elections code, and the election itself might not occur.
"You could run into a constitutional crisis and that's a big concern," he said. "For Student Senate to micro manage the elections code itself would be to go beyond our bounds."
Seibel and Walker said the proposed changes could take place in the form of legislation in Senate, pending Maxwell's approval of the group's recommendations.
The task force also recommended:
An amendment to Senate rules and regulations making the commission subject to the Kansas Open Meetings Act.
- Allowing the University Judicial Board to handle appeals complaints and fines.
- Increasing the number of signatures needed to put a referendum question on the ballot.
Textbook BUYback CASH FOR BOOKS! PROGRESS
Edited by Katrina Hull
KU Bookstores Thursday, Dec. 9 - Thursday, Dec. 16
KU Bookstore, Level 2, Kansas Union
8:30 am - 5:00 pm weekdays
10:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday
Noon - 3:00 pm Sunday
KU Bookstore, Level 2, Burge Union 8:30 am - 7:00 pm Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 Friday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday closed Sunday
Kansas Union Gallery, Level 4
8:30 am - 5:00 pm weekdays, Dec 9 - 16
McCollum Hall basement (near Laundry Room) 9:00 am - 4:30 pm weekdays, Dec. 9 - 16
Kansas and Burge Unions * 864-4640
www.jayhawks.com