Thursday, November 4. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 5
Broader hate speech policy sought
By Chris Barniger
writer@kansan.com
Kanson staff writer
Racist speech at the University of Kansas could be a punishable offense if Student Senate passes a petition aimed at restricting racial harassment.
Student Senate committees last night passed the petition to expand the University's racial and ethnic harassment policy, which does not cover academic work and living environments. The petition, if passed by Senate next week and approved by the chancellor, would request that the University condemn racist speech in academic, work and living environments such as residence and scholarship halls. It would also classify racially inflammatory symbols, pictures or drawings as harassment.
The current policy defines harassment as actions made with the intent to harass. The proposed policy also would include the action's effect.
Opportunity Office.
The policy also would require a person who had been harassed to confer with the KU Equal
Tanisha Jones, Nunemaker senator and one of the petition's 13 sponsors, said improvements to the University's existing policy were necessary
"There are incidents hap-
"There are incidents happening here that nothing can be done about," she said.
Incidents such as the recent appearance of swastikas at McCollum Hall would be covered under the policy.
Earlier this semester, the student thought to have been responsible for the swastika incidents was brought before a Department of Student Housing disciplinary board but was not punished. If the proposed policy had been in effect, he could have been punished.
Shyra McGee, non-traditional senator and legislation sponsor, said incidents such as the one at McCollum made a stronger harassment policy necessary. If more people knew harassment wasn't tolerated, she said, such incidents would occur less frequently.
However, Jonathan Sternburg,
Student Rights committee member,
said U.S. Supreme Court cases had set a precedent that a policy similar to the one advocated by the petition would be unconstitutional.
"It blatantly files in the face of the First Amendment," he said. "Hate is not illegal, and it should not be illegal."
He cited R.A.V. vs. St. Paul (1992), under which a juvenile was prosecuted for
burning a cross in the yard of an African-American family. The boy was prosecuted under a city ordinance outlawing burning crosses, but the Supreme Court struck down the decision and ruled that free speech could not be selectively restricted.
Braxton Copley of KU Legal Services for Students said the new policy probably would not withstand a test in the Supreme Court.
McGee said that if the policy passed, University General Counsel would ensure the policy would be legally sound before the chancellor reviewed it. She also
STUDENT SENATE COMMITTEES
In other business, committees
Approved a bill to require student senators to be enrolled at least one credit hour on either the University's Insurance or Edwards colleges
Failed a bill to give speaking rights in Senate to Student Legislative Awareness Board coordinators and committee vice chairs
Approved a bill to end the Alternative Media subcommittee.
Tabled a bill to allocate $166.55 to the Course Content subcommittee. Committees also approved legislation to allocate:
$467 to Alternative Breaks
$153 to the Architecture Student Council.
$2,000 to the Council of Negro Women.
$ 208 to the Sports Management Club.
save the ultimate effect would be to make the effort to end discrimination more efficient.
Edited by Allan Davis
Lawrence apartment market overrun
Continued from page 1A
"When I look in the classifieds, there's always so many apartments available that advertise being close to campus," she said. "If I could give a deal like the first month free, I would. But I don't have the money to do that."
She said she initially had expected more response.
"It's always good to have options, but it seems to be a problem," she said.
The plans for additional construction have some concerned,
including Susan Walden, manager and agent of Heatherwood Valley Apartments, 2040 Heatherwood Drive.
"We're usually 100 percent full, but now we're only about 97 percent full," she said.
Walden said she offered a special to attract new tenants. New lease signees can receive a $200 discount on a 12-month lease and $100 on a six-month lease.
Vicki Kauzlarish, manager of Village Square Apartments, 850 Avalon Road, said the complex had experienced more vacancies
this semester than in the past five years.
"I can't see that it's going to cure itself real fast," she said.
Connie Kindsvater, sales associate with Golden Eagle Realty, 132 Pawnee Ave., said complexes with many amenities and a location close to campus would not have as many vacancies.
"It's not necessarily a bad thing," she said. "It's just part of growing."
Maggie Irwin, Lawrence senior,
began looking for someone to sublease
her duplex in September.
Irwin, who planned to graduate at semester and move, was afraid she would be stuck paying the $412 monthly rent bill plus rent in Chicago — a total that could add up to more than $1,000 each month.
She thought students would jump at the opportunity to rent a place in the middle of the year, but that has not been the case.
"I wouldn't think there would be as many places available during this time of year," Irwin said. "Maybe that's just me being naive."
Edited by Katrina Hull
Suicide quilt
Patricia Ford,
Scottsdale,
Ariz., graduate student, looks at the quit dedicated in memory of people who committed. The quit was on display at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries yesterday and will be at the Kansas Union until Saturday. Photo by Tara Kraus/KANSAN
Red Lyon Tavern
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence
944 Mass. 832-8228
Wine & Spirits
Guaranteed Selection 6 Days A Week 9th & Iowa 842-1473
University Career & Employment Services
110 Burge · (785) 864-3624 · www.ukans.edu/~upc
Win $100!!
Could you use an extra hundred dollars? Enter the Rock Chalk Revue's annual poster contest... Your winning design will be featured on everything from sweatshirts to programs to, well, who knows what. Pick up an entry form in 400 Kansas Union. But hurry, the deadline to enter is November 5, 1999 @ 5 p.m. Questions? Call 864-4033, or e-mail ckamm@eagle.cc.ukans.edu.
---
---
The Willis A. Waas Memorial Scholarship is awarded each February to a KU student to assist in obtaining a private pilot license
Flight Instruction Scholarship
Deadline: January 31,2000
To be eligible, a student must:
*be working toward a private pilot licence
*have a current flight medical certificate
*have at least 5 hrs. of dual instruction time logged attach a copy of pages from logbook )
*be enrolled at least 50% time at the Lawrence campus
Applications available at Aerospace Engineering Department 2004 Learned Hall>864-4267
W Hollywood Theaters
SOUTHWIND 12
3433 IOWA
832 0860
BARGAIN MATINEES INDICATED BY ()
STADIUM SEATING - ALL DIGITAL
**Session**
1 Three Kings ***
1.55 4.35,7.20,10.00
2 Tree To Tango ***
1.53 4.20,7.50,9.45
3 The Stiff Sense ***
1.20 4.40,7.10,9.45
4 The Story of Us ***
1.10 4.05,7.10,9.35
5 Music Of The Heart ***
1.15 4.10,7.00,9.55
6 Fight Club ***
1.00 4.00,7.50,9.55
7 House On Haunted Hill ***
1.00 4.45,7.00,10.00
8 Bringing Out The Death ***
1.05 4.15,7.00,10.05
9 American Beauty ***
1.25 4.50,7.10,10.05
10 Bats ***
1.25 4.25,7.50,9.45
11 Superstar ***
1.30 4.50,7.10,9.25
12 Double Jeopardy ***
1.40 4.30,7.20,9.50
**PLAZA 6**
2433 IOWA
841 8600
**Sat & Sun**
1.55 Daily
1 Drive Me Crazy ***
1.55 4.45,7.20,9.35
2 Random Hearts ***
1.30 4.50,7.10,9.45
3 The Best Man ***
1.35 4.30,7.00,9.45
4 Crazy in Alabama ***
1.45 4.40,7.10,9.45
5 Blue Streak ***
1.50 4.50,7.10,9.50
6 Mystery, Alaska ***
1.40 4.35,7.05 —
also - Body Shots — — — 9:30
- NO VIP: PASSES TO SUPERVAIRS*
**SHOW MIES FOR TODAY ONLY**