Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, November 8, 1999
Nation/World
Student fees go on trial tomorrow
Wisconsin case to go before Supreme Court
The Associated Press
MADISON, Wis.—A lawsuit by a student who objected to the use of his student fees to support liberal campus groups at the University of Wisconsin could change the way fees are spent on college campuses nationwide.
The U.S. Supreme Court, which will hear the case tomorrow, will decide whether public universities can use mandatory student activity fees to subsidize campus groups that pursue political goals.
"The decision will affect literally every college and university in this country," said Brady Williamson, who teaches constitutional law at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The suit was filed in 1966 by then-law student Scott Southworth. A federal trial judge and the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in
If the high court upholds those rulings, it could bar schools from using student fees to pay for politically active groups, or it could issue a less sweeping remedy allowing students to opt out of giving money to groups they find objectionable.
his favor that the subsidies unlawfully forced some students to subsidize views they found objectionable.
University spokeswoman Sharryn Wisniewski said the school appealed the rulings because the fees helped pay for a system that gave students a forum to discuss and deal with issues that might not exist without support-groups.
The fee in question is $15 per semester for each of the 38,000 students. The money is distributed through student committees elected by the student body.
Southworth and several other law students with conservative political views had challenged the funneling of the fee proceeds to 18 organizations on the Madison campus. Among groups they objected to
were the International Socialist Organization; Campus Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Center; and an AIDS support network.
"We didn't believe that any student should have to pay fees that went to groups that they objected to on a personal, ideological or religious basis," said Southworth, now a lawyer and an aide to a state senator.
"It's inconsequential whether they're liberal or conservative," he said. "We'd support liberal students who object to their fees going to conservative groups."
Conservative students have long been frustrated with the fees, said Daniel Kelly, an attorney for Southworth and the other plaintiffs.
"The funding has generally gone to liberal organizations, and they have been frustrated with their money going to ideas with which they disagree." Kelly said.
The Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that public universities and colleges cannot create a "public forum" for students and then refuse to subsidize some student groups because of their viewpoint. That decision said the University of Virginia wrongly refused to subsidize a student-run Christian magazine.
But not all conservatives agree. Larisa Vanov of the Academic Alliance for Freedom, a conservative group that encourages debate on campuses, said there was no problem with using student fees if they benefited groups open to all students.
"Student fees are a pool, and if students want to start a Star Trek society or a conservative one or a liberal one, they should be able to," said Vanov, whose group receives student fees on campuses where it works.
Based on that ruling, the 7th Circuit said in the Southworth case that it was imperative that students not be forced to pay for political and ideological organizations if the university could not discriminate in the disbursement of funds.
Bush frustrated after foreign policy pop quiz
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—Should a presidential candidate be required to know the heads of Pakistan, India, Taiwan and Chechnya? Maybe so, maybe not. This much should be certain: The way George W. Bush handled his pop quiz on foreign policy suggested he's still not ready for the tests ahead.
anger or frustration.
"Wait. Wait. Is this 50 questions?" a flustered Bush asked the Boston television reporter who posed four surprise questions. The Republican front-runner got one name right, admitted he didn't know the other three and fumbled on the crisis in Pakistan.
And he looked bad doing it. He glared off camera after he dressed down the interviewer with a convoluted rebuke — his jaw clenched in
The episode is unlikely to damage Bush's sky-high numbers in the
Bush's sky-ing polls or leave a long-lasting impact. But it does suggest that the two-term Texas governor has an Achilles' heel: unexpected questions that lead to embarassing answers, fueling charges that he is not ready to be president.
Bush: Could not answer tough questions
"If Bush's rap is going to be that he is weak on foreign policy — not that foreign policy matters to voters — this just adds to the buzz."
Bush should have been prepared for the sneak attack.
The interviewer, Andy Hiller of WHDH-TV, is known for asking aggressive questions and relishes his role of provocateur. Bush was not warned because his aides in Texas didn't know about Hiller's reputation and were not alerted by their Boston team.
Knowing somebody would try to trip him up. Bush was prepared with a reply to any question he couldn't answer. Aides it went something like this: "Americans don't expect their presidential candidates to be trivia experts; they want a leader who has a clear vision for America's future."
said Republican consultant Tony Fabrizio, who worked for Elizabeth Dole's failed presidential campaign.
However, the Austin camp had been preparing for this kind of confrontation since the spring, when a few Bush foreign policy gaffes became fodder for Jay Leno and David Letterman. Bush called Greeks "Grecians," Kosovars "Kosovoians" and mistook Slovakia for Slovenia.
When it came time to deliver, Bush failed.
He let Hiller get under his skin and asked the interviewer to name the foreign minister of Mexico. When Hiller drew a blank, Bush launched into a pale imitation of the well-rehearsed reply.
"What I'm suggesting to you is, if you can't name the foreign minister of Mexico, therefore, you know, you're not capable of what you do. But the truth of the matter is you are, whether you can or not," Bush said.
Police in Israel blame terrorists for explosion
There were no fatalities. Two of the victims suffered moderate injuries and the rest were slightly injured, said Danny Hadad, deputy police commander of Netanya and the surrounding area. Ambulances took 21 victims to hospitals, while others arrived on foot or by car.
Three Palestinian suspects were detained, but two were released after questioning, police spokeswoman Sivan Kedmi said. Army radio said dozens of Palestinians were rounded up because they lacked the necessary permits to be in Netanya.
The Associated Press
NETANYA, Israel—On the eve of final status talks with the Palestinians, police yesterday blamed an explosion in the busy coastal town of Netanya on Islamic militants opposed to the process.
A fourth pipe bomb failed to explode. It was taken to the beach by the police bomb squad and detonated safely.
Three pipe bombs injured 33 Israelis and raised questions about whether Palestinians were able to meet the major Israeli expectation of peace — an end to terror.
Prime Minister Ehud Barak said the government will not capitulate to terrorism.
"There are elements who will try to torpedo the peace process," he said. "They will not succeed. The government and the security services will smash the terrorism."
The pipe bombs, placed close together, exploded outside a large bank in a busy shopping area. The twisted remains of a bicycle and a garbage can blown open by the bomb lay on a charred sidewalk at an intersection.
The area, busy with bomb disposal experts in flak jackets and helmets, was closed off. Forensic experts in white overalls and gloves searched the area for evidence.
Israeli and Palestinian representatives are scheduled to meet Monday in the West Bank town of Ramallah to begin negotiations on a permanent peace agreement.
*Guaranteed Selection*
* 6 Days A Week*
842-1473 * 9th & Iowa*
The cup of kindness.
SEND THE FTD
PICK-ME-UP BOUQUET.
Who wouldn't get a smile from this cheerful arrangement of flowers tucked inside a coffee mug, plus a package of fresh-roasted coffee?
Owens FLOWER SHOP 9th & Indiana·843-6111
The best preparation for the April MCAT starts February 5th.
HyperMCAT
...Over 72 hours of class time
...Over 4000 pages of materials
...Five full length proctered exams
...Average score increase of 8 Points*
PRINCETON
REVIEW
Call 1-800-2REVIEW
or check www.review.com for detail
The Financial Review is not affiliated with Princeton University or AAM*Study conducted by JCR an independent research fin.
when they party.
Wellness campaign
V