Monday, April 5, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Petition aiming for KU policy on hate crimes
By Nadia Mustafa
nmustafa@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Students gathering signatures in support of a zero-tolerance policy for hate crimes and sexual assault at the University of Kansas encountered concerns about freedom of speech last weekend.
Matt Caldwell,
1998
KU graduate
a n d
Lawrence activist,
is heading an unofficial group.
Student s
A g a i n s s
Hate, which will submit
a 1,000-siq
nature-peti-
Caldwell: Head of Students Against Hate.
elections commission today
Caldwell said a wide variety of students had signed the petition.
"You couldn't pin down who would sign the petition," he said. "We got as many signatures off the YOU table as we did off the Delta Force table, from the most conservative to the most liberal."
After the commission counts the signatures, the policy proposal will be placed on the ballot for a student body referendum during Student Senate elections April 14 and 15.
The proposal calls for mandatory and permanent expulsion of students who are convicted in a court of law of violent hate crimes or sexual assault.
If students vote in favor of the policy, Student Senate and the administration would approve it before it becomes law.
cardwell said he hoped the policy would be implemented
within a year.
He said the policy did not inhibit freedom of speech and was not aimed at hate speech, but at incidents of violence or continual threats with the potential of violent behavior.
For example, Caldwell said, the student who burned a swastika into the carpet at Oliver Hall would not be expelled under the policy, because it was an isolated incident which could be considered a case of freedom of speech. He said the culprit would only be convicted of property damage.
Caldwell said that if the proposal were passed and approved, a board composed of students and faculty members could review cases of hate crimes and sexual assault.
"The wording is intentionally open as to how it will come to fruition," he said. "We wanted to leave some room for Senate or the administration to hash it out."
Caldwell said some administrators were concerned about the policy's constitutionality in light of the lack of federal policy regarding hate crimes. But, he said, the policy would be constitutional because the University reserved the right to expel students for certain types of behavior.
"It's something that will be shocking to the administration at first, but they could get used to it," Caldwell said. "Student votes carry a lot of power."
Chris Keary, assistant director of the KU Public Safety Office, said the Office would support a policy that would combat hate crimes.
"The general policy is that we're against any crime, and hate crimes would certainly be among those." he said.
Edited by Juan H. Heath
Salary increases remain uncertain
State, House pass differing budgets, may compromise
By Kristi Reiner
kreimer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
observe and see where we end up." Chancellor Robert Hemenway said.
Both houses of the Legislature passed differing versions of a $9 billion state budget Friday, leaving a raise for Board of Regents institution faculty to an uncertain fate.
The house and campus own a lot
the budget a 3.5 percent raise for faculty recommended in January by Gov.
Bill Graves. But they took opposite
approaches to a fund designed to
retain outstanding faculty who might
seek better-paving jobs elsewhere.
"We're just going to wait, watch and
Graves' budget allocated $2.5 million for a meritorious faculty fund. In February the House Appropriations Committee cut that amount to $1 million, but in March the Senate Ways and Means Committee added $800,000, bringing the fund to $3.4 million.
State university funding and other differences in the House and Senate
Hemenway said that although the House budget contained far less money for faculty salaries than the Senate version, he was optimistic about what the conference committee would produce.
budgets mean a conference committee will work this week to iron out conflicts and reach a compromise.
"We've heard that in the House there are strong supporters of faculty salaries," he said. "I think there's a good chance we'll come out of conference with close to a 5 percent increase."
The University of Kansas and the Board of Regents have been pushing for a 7.6 percent increase in faculty
salaries at the six Regents universities.
Officials have voiced concern about average salaries falling behind those at universities nationwide, which they fear will spark an exodus of faculty to other states and an inability to attract new faculty.
"Our priority has been the same from day one," Hemenway said. "But if we can't get the 7.6 percent we'll get as close to that as possible."
Marvin Burris, director of governmental relations for the Board of Regents, said the conference committee was scheduled to begin work on the budget today. The regular session of the Legislature adjourns Friday.
— Edited by Katrina Hull
City Commission elections tomorrow
Art Center relocation issue important for candidates
By Heather Woodward
woodward@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Candidates for the Lawrence City Commission are dealing with the last day of pre-election jitters before gearing up for tomorrow's general election.
Six candidates are running for three seats on the commission, which are being vacated by Bonnie Augustine, Bob Moody and John Nalbandian, who are not seeking re-election.
David Dunfield, who came in fourth out of nine candidates in the March 2 primary election, said he felt surprisingly calm about the nearing election.
"I think my chances are very good. I do expect to win a seat on the city commission. I think it is possible to go from fourth to first place from the primary to the general election." Dunfield said.
Denise Gibson, who came in fifth in the primary,
said she was a little bit nervous about what will
happen tomorrow night.
"I think it is one of those things that you are excited to get here and get over with," Gibson said. O. Scott Henderson, who came in sixth in the primary, said he was not very optimistic about his chances of winning.
said he was not concerned about winning votes tomorrow night.
chauses I really doubt that I will win a seat on the commission," Henderson said. "I got half as many votes as the person who came in first in the primary election. It is really unfortunate, but I think it is going to come down to money winning this election. Going into the campaign, the commissioners' salary was $6,000 and there are people who have spent twice that much to get a seat."
Jim Henry, who came in second in the primary.
"I really am confident because everywhere I have gone, people say you have my vote," Henry said.
Brenda McFadden, who came in first in the primary, said she was not nervous about the election but also was not certain of her chance to win a seat.
"I am not confident about the election," McFadden said. "It is not in my nature. I am pretty hard on myself. I still think I am going to come in fourth."
Mike Rundle, who came in third in the primary, said he felt secure as the election approaches.
"But I'm fairly confident. I have been doing a lot to make sure that people are informed and take advantage of their right to vote," Rundle said.
Some of the candidates said that since the beginning of their campaigns, they had developed strong feelings about certain issues, such as the possible addition of a Lawrence Arts Center, 200 W. Ninth St., to the Downtown 2000 project.
David Dunfield, who is 46 and an architect at Glenn Livinggood Penzler Architects,1001 New Hampshire St., said he would not be able to vote on any action taken regarding the Downtown 2000 project or the possibility of the Arts Center moving there.
"I do not think that my voting on it would be appropriate. But I still do think that it is important for the Arts Center to stay downtown, and this project has strong community backing," he said.
Dumfield said he wanted to address rental housing issues upon taking office.
Dense Gibson, who is 37 and a professional development manager for The Farm Inc., a nonprofit organization, said she thought New Hampshire Street was not the only option for a downtown Arts Center.
"I think that is an option, but there are a lot of
otter ones that have not been looked at," Gibson said.
Gibson also said that if elected, she wanted to work closely with the county commissioners and school board to address issues such as traffic and neighborhood safety.
O. Scott Henderson, who is 58 and a retired supervisor with Hallmark Cards, Inc., 101 McDonald Dr., said he wanted to see North Lawrence addressed by the commission.
"There is no grocery store or doctor's office or sit-down restaurant in North Lawrence," Henderson said. "There are dollar bills going right past Lawrence on the turnip. If we had put a sit-down restaurant at Tanger Mall, then a lot of people might venture off the Interstate and down into Lawrence."
Henry, who is 64 and a retired associate placement director at the University of Kansas, said he was in favor of the Arts Center moving to New Hampshire Street.
"I think it would be a real plus if it works out that way," Henry said. "They have had so many problems with the historic resource commission at their present location."
McFadden, who is 35 and owns McFadden & Associates, an accounting firm at 825 Vermont St., said she thought moving the Arts Center into the New Hampshire Street development was a good idea.
"This way they will not be confined by the space that have now. It is a win-win situation," McFadden said.
Rundle, who is 45 and is a membership services coordinator and newsletter editor for Community Mercantile, 901 Mississippi St., said he supported a public transportation system.
"I want to emphasize my support for a fixed-route transportation system in Lawrence." Rundle said.
Edited by Juan H. Heath