Friday, April 30. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
Partisan KU groups clash
Hate crime laws, Kosovo top issues at SLAB debate
By Chris Hopkins chopkins@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The KU Young Democrats and College Republicans debated last night, and, believe it or not, some consensus was reached.
Four students from each of the groups debated five issues ranging from concealed weapons to public transportation in front of 15 audience members.
Despite partisan barriers, the groups managed to reach a consensus right away. Both groups said that saving Social Security should be a Congressional priority, although both groups said their respective parties thought of saving surpluses from the program first.
The next topic, spurred by the recent tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., caused a more hotly contested debate.
The debate was heated on most topics, but was put on by the Student Legislative Awareness Board mostly to open a free exchange of ideas and to have fun.
While Theryn Spomer, KU Young Democrats member, said that a gun owner was two-thirds more likely to be killed by a firearm, Tara Kelly of College Republicans said that crimes against people had been halved in communities with concealed weapons laws.
Tim Burger, College Republicans member, said that because the guns
were purchased illegally, gun laws would have had no impact upon the massacre.
The groups found common ground again in saying that ground troops needed to be sent to Kosovo quickly to end the conflict.
"A secure Europe is a key to United States national security," said Michael Young, KU Young Democrats member.
The Republicans said the situation was closer to that of Vietnam than the Democrats would admit.
"I am sure Slobodian Milosevic just shakes in his boots at the approach of the Dutch," said Tom Moore, former SLAB campus director and moderator of the debate.
Both groups again agreed when discussing whether public transportation in Lawrence was a good idea. While both thought it was, College Republicans said that it just wasn't feasible because of the start-up costs, including bringing current buses up to code.
Young said that thanks to a grandfathering system, which would allow old buses to be used, and the fact that the federal government would match University expenditures four times over, public transportation was possible.
The final topic discussed was hate crime legislation, which the Democrats supported and the Republicans were against.
"It's prepositional for anyone to say that hate is a right." Young said.
say that hate is a right. Young soldier Kelly said that hate crimes were too difficult to prove and that absolute motive was impossible to determine without being able to read defendants' minds.
Burger said that such measures could be taken too far against lesser offenses, such as an instance last
Michael Young, Lawrence sophomore, argues on behalf of the KU Young Democrats for the United States' involvement in the Kosovo conflict. The KU Young Democrats and the College Republicans held a debate about five major issues last night at the Centennial Room in the Kansas Union. Photo by Brad Leoony/KANSAN
year, when someone wrote "fag" on a Queers and Allies poster.
"Yes, that's in poor taste," he said. "Should they be expelled for that? No."
John Teeple, Overland Park graduate student and Young Democrats member, said that he didn't always tow the party line.
"I don't really agree with either side on some issues," he said.
He said that, for instance, he wasn't sure if ground troops in Yugoslavia was such a good idea.
- Edited by Chris Fickett
Regents director faces job changes
Legislature to decide restructuring of board
By Katrina Hull Special to the Kansan
The Kansas Board of Regents, which governs the state's six public universities, hired a national search firm last June to find a new executive director. Depending on the fate of higher education, the position could change drastically in the next few months.
In the wrap-up of the 1999 legislative session, Kansas lawmakers finally will decide if higher education will be overhauled, abolishing the current board and creating a new system of governance and a new job description for the executive director.
A House-Senate conference committee unanimously agreed Tuesday on a restructuring compromise that is awaiting final approval by both legislative chambers. Gov. Bill Graves has said he would sign the proposal.
"There is a desire to wait and see what is going to happen with restructuring," said Barbara Conant, director of communications for the Regents. "Under normal circumstances it
"The success of it is based on the people involved in making it work. It's vitally important that all people communicate."
Thomas Bryant Regents interim executive director
would not take so long to fill the position, but there are so many what-ifs.
In the proposed redesign of the system, governance of community colleges and vocational technical schools will be assigned to the new board, increasing the number of institutions the executive director will be responsible for by more than 30.
The changed board will still consist of nine members. However, it will be divided equally in three parts: a division to supervise the universities, a division to supervise the community colleges and a division to coordinate the other two divisions.
Bill Docking, chairman of the board, said that the reason for waiting to continue the search was that qualifications and criteria for executive director would be somewhat different if
reconstruction would take place.
If the restructuring bill becomes a law, all nine members' terms will expire June 30. It is up to the governor to appoint or reappoint members. Conant predicted some different members would receive appointments to accommodate the addition of the community colleges.
Representation may shift away from the University of Kansas as well. Included in the new higher-education package is a provision that limits number of board members with KU undergraduates degrees to three.
Adding to the new sense of urgency to fill the position, Thomas Bryant, current Regents interim executive director, accepted the presidency at Pittsburg State University and announced his intentions to step down as executive director Saturday.
Bryant said the biggest challenge for a new director would be managing the work between the governance and coordinating functions created by reconstruction.
"The success of it is based on the people involved in making it work," Bryant said. "It's vitally important that all people communicate."
- Edited by Julie Sachs
Council approves code changes at last meeting
Members commend year's achievements
By Kristi Reimer
kreimer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
"If you've ever wondered how the chancellor, the provost and the rest of us make decisions, here you go," said outgoing President Bob Basow as he handed a magic eight ball to next year's president, librarian Marv Hawkins.
University Council members combined seriousness with fun yesterday as they wrapped up their work from this year and organized next year's leadership.
The message Hawkins got after consulting the ball, a fortune-telling toy, was, "Outlook not good."
Hawkins is taking over council, a representative governing body of 61 faculty, students and staff, after being voted president-elect last spring. To assist her in her duties, Bassow also gave her a pencil with a huge eraser, "for all the changes you'll have to make," an aromatherapy candle to ease headaches and a rubber sledgehammer to use as a gavel and to motivate colleagues.
Faculty members elected Jim Carothers, professor of English, as next year's president-elect, which will make him president in 2000-2001. Student members chose R.J. Woodring, Nunemaker senator, as council vice president.
Carothers was the only nominee for president elect.
"It's really great to triumph over that kind of
omission," he said.
Carothers was also elected chairman of next year's Senate Executive Committee, which approves committee proposals before sending
them on to University Council. He will replace Robert Hohn, professor of education.
Hohn gave members a report on major actions taken by SenEx and council during the year. The actions included:
Revised calendar — The University approved a calendar that adds a fall break and intersession and will recommend that the Board of Regents accord it.
Faculty compensation - Governance members were part of the University's push for higher salaries from the state Legislature, which has budgeted a 4.9 percent increase in funding for salaries.
Commercial contracts - Governance stressed the need to be involved in future decisions involving corporate contracts such as those the University has signed with Coca Cola and Commerce Bank.
Intellectual property — Governance will oversee the implementation of a policy adopted by the Board of Regents about who has the right to profit from faculty research.
Carothers commended Hohn and Basow for their roles as public advocates for the University, especially their attempts to make legislators see higher education as a priority.
"I think the glacier moved a little bit, and it's directly to the credit of Bob and Bob," Carothers said to applause by other members.
In their final action of the year, University Council approved two changes to the University Senate code. One would require the chancellor, when he rejects governance-approved proposals, to explain that rejection to council.
The other code change would abolish the Financial Aid to Students Committee. Carothers, a previous chairman, said that no one showed up to the meetings and that its duties were carried out by other groups on campus.
Edited by Chris Fickett
Lawrence police to hold auction of unclaimed items
By Kate Burford
kburford@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Bv Katie Burford
An auction of unclaimed property will be held by the Lawrence Police Department at 10 a.m. tomorrow in a city building at Fifth and Mississippi streets.
The department will sell about 250 items that have been turned into police or found by officers in the field for which they have been unable to find original owners.
"We don't have room to store these things," said Sgt. George Wheeler of the Lawrence Police Department.
Everything from electric razors to mountains bikes — and even a yo-yo — will be sold at the auction. Wheeler said that they held most of the bicycles until spring because they sold better them.
Limited storage space forces the department to hold auctions every six months. All of the property in the spring auction was found. However, the fall auction includes property that once served as evidence in court, but, for various reasons, could not be returned to the original owner.
"Some things may need a little repair work," he said.
Proceeds from the auction go toward a general fund for the city of Lawrence, which funnels into departments such as Parks and Recreation and Public Works.
Nonetheless, he said that he had seen people get non-quality purchases for rock-bottom prices.
SOME ITEMS FOR SALE AT THE AUCTION
118 Bicycles (both street and mountain
styles, men's, women's and children's)
Jewelry
Jewellery Tools
■ Electronic equipment (cameras, compact disc players, cellular phones, etc.)
■ Landscaping equipment (lawn movers, weed trimmers, etc.)
Wheeler said that the auctions usually raised several thousand dollars for the fund, although the exact amount could vary widely from one auction to the next.
The building will be open for viewing the items up for sale starting at 9 a.m. Bidders can purchase as few or as many items as they choose and there is no minimum bid.
A representative from klston Auction Co. 528 E. 550 Road, said that purchases must be paid for with cash or check and that the amount must be paid in full.
Wheeler said that a typical turn-out for the auction was about 100 people. It will last until all of the items are sold.
"Even if we only give a dime for it," Wheeler said. "We'll sell everything."
For questions about the auction, call Eliston Auction Co. at 749-9648.
— Edited by Darrin Peschka
Informal Notes
Graduation Announcements $1.19 each
Jayhawk Tissue Insert
(When you order 25 or more, 72 hour delivery.)
Thank You Notes $6.95 box/10
only at the top of Naismith Hill!
$6.95 box/10
Jayhawk Bookstore
1420 Cresent Road·Lawrence,KS 66044
843-3826
The Etc.
Shop
Great Drink Specials EVERYDAY Sports Page
928 Mass. 843-0611
A Great Place To Eat
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
- $4.00 Pitchers
Saturday
- $1.00 Pint Draft Beer
- $1.00 Pint Draft Beer
- $1.50 Wells
- $1.50 Bud, Bud Light & Coors Light
Sunday
- $3.00 Long Islands
$2.25 Gusto Drafts
- $2.00 Bloody Marv
- $2.00 Bloody Mary
    $2.00 Margaritas
Great Food!
Great Food!
Pool tables are free from 11am to 5pm Daily
Located at Clinton Parkway & Kasold
Open Daily at 11:00am • Group Functions Welcome
832-9600
Delta Delta Delta Spring Philanthropy
1st Annual Walk This Way
5K Walk to Benefit Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Sunday, May 2nd 11:00a.m.
at Clinton Lake
$15 Entry fee includes T-shirt and snack
To register or more information see the information table at Wescoe Wed., Thurs, and Fri, or call Elizabeth Coxon at 832-6126
AASU SPRING PICNIC & SOFTBALL GAME (If weather permits)
Free to all KU Students Potluck - Free BBQI Saturday May 1st 11:30 am-3 pm at Hotcom Park
Student Union
For more information
www.ukans.edu/~aasu
aasu@raven-cc.ukans.edu
or call 864-3576
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