THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Vol. 49 No.83
KANSAN
10 cents off campus
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Jayhawks meet new Cyclones
free on campus
Friday, February 1, 1980
See story page six
Campus cruisers
It may not be the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., but that didn't stop this skiing duo from enjoying a cross country jaint around the campus. Cross country skiing, however, has yet to achieve the popularity of its Alpine counterpart. See related story on page seven.
Violations of building codes cause hazards for tenants. ONA says
3y TOM TEDESCHI Staff Reporter
Bv TOM TEDESCHI
About a month ago, a woman living on the ground floor of an old Lawrence house noticed that waste from a toilet in an upstairs room atment was leaving into her kitchen kitchen.
She spoke to her landlord, who sent someone out to look at it. The landlord, for one reason or another, refused to fix it.
Because the leak was a health hazard, the woman contacted the city Minimum Structures Code inspector, who looked at it and inspected the handrail. He agreed to fix it within a month.
the New York City Nancy Harper of the Oread Neighborhood Association, said yesterday she had a long list of building code violation stories.
She moved out.
A couple had moved into the first floor of another old Lawrence house, she said. They were aware of the open wiring, the lone exit, the upstairs toilet coming through their front door.
They figured they could get together with the landlord to get the repairs done. They were wrong.
THE LANDLORD was preparing to sell the house and had no intention of spending
The couple discussed their options with the landlord, who has a small clause court case and the possible retribution it might bring from the landlord or risking an inspection and possible closing of the property.
his money on what soon would be someone else's property.
These cases illustrate one of the major problems with enforcement of the code. By creating a barrier between the reaction from an angry landlord or a city order to vacate the house or apartment until they were satisfied,
The 1976 Minimum Structures Code seeks to prevent *conditions* which are dangerous to the occupants or safety of the occupants of the building, or which have a blighting effect on properties
THE CODE sets health and safety standards for heating, lighting, ventilation, plumbing, electricity, fire exits and garbage disposal.
Although the proposed "self-shelf" amendment to the Kansas Landlord-Tenant Act would provide a legal means for tenants to obtain land from landlords, it cannot justify retribution from landlords, it cannot justify
According to Margaree Swartz, the city code inspector, a tenant may, under the code, request that an inspection of his house be made. If not, the landlord any health or safety hazards are present. If so, the landlord is notified and asked to "make a commitment" to fixing the roof.
There is no provision in the code itself for protecting the tenant from landlord retribution.
IF THIS is not done, the inspector will request a hearing into the matter. If at the hearing the house is declared to be unfit, the landlord has 45 days to begin repair work. If the landlord are not started, the house will be declared unfit and closed until the repairs are completed.
With a landlord in opposition, it is not a quick process. The tenant can be stack with his problem for months before action is taken.
Susie Hanna of the Lawrence Consumer Affairs Association said that tenants often are afraid to use their code rights for fear of landlord retribution.
many major repairs which would come under the Minimum Structures Code.
"The tenants want to have repairs made," she said. "They don't want to move."
If the tenant chooses not to request a code for the tenant placement Act for taking action, she said. This route generally is used only when there is a real health problem or major injury.
THE TENANT can not notify the landlord in writing that if 13 days the repairs are not made, the lease will be voided in 30 days, or he can take his case to small claims court.
Either way, the tenant comes out behind, she said. In the first case the tenant must move, and in the second the landlord could raise the rent or even evict him.
Harper agreed.
"It's a hassle to get a new tenant, but it's far cheaper than having the house closed down," she said. "It's a haver's market."
The Oread Neighborhood Association has become actively involved with the issue of code breaches in Swartz. The arrangement for Swarts to be at the association is meeting next week to answer
Dean attacks Marvin renovation
The meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Monday in the South Park Recreation Center.
By GRANT OVERSTAKE
Estimates by KU administrators that it will take 18 to 24 months to renovate Marvine Hall have been criticized by Charles Kahn. The School of Architecture and Urban Design.
Kahn said recent statements by Allen Wiechert, director of facilities planning; and William Hogan, associate executive vice chancellor, that it would take two years to complete the million renovation were "disruptive" to the millions of relocating the school's 650 students.
Debate format rejected by KJHK
Kahn said it was important that the project take no longer than one academic year. He said it would be "difficult if construction lasted more than 15 months."
"Private opinions like those which have been given by members of the administration are disruptive. They ought to know better."
"Hell, there only $2.2 million to renovate with," Kahn said. "In two years I could build a whole building. They must know how to create an experience as an architect I tought me."
Staff Reporter
Rv SUSAN SCHOFNMAKER
The show will go on, but KJHK listeners won't be there. Plans for KJHK coverage of the summer camp are in the works; student body president candidates were scuttled this week after a disagreement over the committee.
KJHK, a student run radio station, now plans to receive news debate Fohrmwahr 3.
Leatherman said he would prefer to avoid the publicity.
However, Mitchelson speculated that personal factors may have crept into the decision process. It had been the moderator of the debate last year, and that he had expected the same outcome with his former information director, was asked by Mitchelton to be the moderator of this year's debate.
"If you try to broadcast a program with that many speakers it is difficult to keep straight who is speaking," Leatherman said yesterday.
plans to sponsor its own debate February 10. The Senate debate format calls for a moderator, three panelists, the four presidential candidates and the four vice-presidents. The KJHR manager, said he had asked John Mitchellson, senate elections committee chairman, to include only the presidential candidates in the debate to avoid confusing voters.
"Sure I'm upset," Mitchelson said. "I
The appointment of James W. Pickert, Emporia, to the Kansas Board of Regents was announced yesterday by Carlin after his weekly news conference.
Pickert, 45, succeeds Dr. James Basham, Fort Scott, whose term ended Dec. 31.
Governor selects Regents member
Chancellor Archie R. Dykes said he was pleased the vacancy had been filled and was confident Pickert would do the job well.
"I'm not overly thrilled with getting up there behind a microphone," Leatherman
"I'm sure that Mr. Pickert will serve with distinction," Dykes said.
know JKHJ can cover the oceane because they did it last year. They are not going to make me change my mind."
Pickert, a Hoisington native, is a 1961 graduate of Emporia State University and a former mayor of Emporia.
Mall plan draws criticism
Debates over the radio can be tedious and confusing to listeners, according to Ed McKernan, manager of KUOE radio in Ireland. KUOE has aired several political discussions.
"You know anything works, but the debate gets really cumbersome when you have all those candidates," McKerman said. "Everyone has to perform the task and answer the question—and the ones with the answer answers are the most long-winded."
Mckern recommended limiting the number of debate participants and including panelists to generate more interest.
BUT DEBATE panelist Steve Leben, Student Legal Service board chairman, said the moderator was capable of keeping the debate focused. The debates had been adapted well to radio.
Keith Sevede, J.K.H news director, said journalists could handle the debate with more avvy, because of their neutrality. He said journalists' journalistic balance would help the debate.
said. "We just couldn't do anything with their format."
"What we didn't want was a completely political debate," Sevede said. "And face it, journalists run debates. Look at the Kennedy debates."
Sevede said he had asked the University See K HK, nage three
Representatives of the East Lawrence Improvement Association said yesterday they would be "very much surprised" if Action 80, a local citizens' group promoting an ordinance to stop shopping mail, could come up with a plan that would agree to the residents of East Lawrence.
See KJHK page three
Staff Reporter
Steve Treadler, an ELIA board member, said he wondered how Rhodes could be sure there was no opposition, because EAST could have been kept uninformed of the team's plans.
ByLYNN ANDERSON
position to the mall proposal from East Lawrence residents.
Dick Dumhawk, president of EJLA, said he was displeased by statements made Wednesday by Warren Rhodes, chairman of Action 80. Rhodes said he expected no one to
Treasurer said ELIA members had approached Action 80 "time and time again", requesting a voice in the group's planning process, but had been turned down.
"Action 80 has not come to us at all except to tell us to get lost," Treater said.
AS A RESULT, he said, residents and some merchants were ignorant about a development that could directly affect their lives and their property.
Dunhaupt stressed ELAI's consensus that additional downtown shopping facilities were needed, but he said two concerns about the proposed mall.
The first, he said, was that the stores in the mall would not meet the needs of East Lawrence residents.
it said an ELIA survey taken in See ELIA back page
Details of the relocation of architecture students will be discussed Feb. 5 at a meeting between school faculty and student council members, who will serve vice chancellor for academic affairs. Kahn said he nepo to get a definite commitment regarding specific space for the relocation.
Dr. Christoffeens has been very superviorate." Kahn said. "But the problem we have is that we have lacked a finite commitment.
"Everyone has been operating in a vacuum and imagining the worst possible."
HOGAN SAID yesterday that all relocation sites under consideration were on the University campus.
"We are looking for the most feasible solution, given the constraints of the move
and the budget constraints of the University," Hogan said. "Before we can solve the relocation problem we must have the needed funds."
But Kahn said, "I am concerned how the school could recover if we are out of Marvin Hall for two years."
A group of administrators that includes Chancellor Arley R. Dykes will meet in the three or four days for a final discussion on the move, Hogan said.
HE SAID things might have been different, if it had not been for the Kansas Legislature.
Kahn said the problems he had encountered in the relocation of his students him wondering how larger renovations would be handled. Walt Disney Library renovation, will be handled.
"Looking at it in a logical way," he said, "the best thing that could have been done would have been to build an addition to Marvin first, then move us there tempestantly. The convention was taking place. But the Legislature has been opposed to new construction."
"It it's not a matter of red tape," he said. "It's a matter of finding the best space available and trying to make it a good two-story building." He said the School of Architecture and Urban Design
"There are a whole series of renovations planned at this University over the next year, and we are space poor. There's no place for any of us to go."
"The Watson project will be more of a problem that ours," he said. "How are we going to operate without a library?"
New signs signal speed limits
By GREG SACKUVICH
Staff Renorter
University of Kansas speed limit signs, which were removed this week because they did not meet design standards, were approved by city and state officials at the time the signs were purchased. Don Jones, director of park, said yesterday.
The KU signs were replaced by black on white speed limit signs after a law enforcement agency campus speeding charge because it was unclear whether the signs met standards.
But before any of the original speed limit and directional signs were erected in 1977, their designs was approved by city officials to avoid problems, Kearns said.
THE SPEED limit signs were originally erected because they fit in with the new signs being erected on campus. Rossi, Rollott and Scott, developed a plan that would use modern, international-style signs. Al Thomas, University landscape
But when the speeding case came before Municipal Judge George Catt last week, he questioned the legitimacy of the case. He was approved almost two years earlier.
"I did not rule the signs illegal; I just questioned their legality." Catt said. "Since the signs were removed, the legal question is moot."
ARLAND TAPPAN, Kansas Depart-
ment sign engineer,
said that in the 1980s only one
allowed only one type of speed limit
standard, white sign with black
lettering.
"The traffic manual says the signs must be 24x30 inches with black lettering on a white background, he said. "I don't understand the international signs fit in with that."
Thomas said the manual called for a standard size sign with the speed limit posted. The lettering was not necessary.
The signs in question are the standard 24x30-inch signs, but have the speed limit set at 15mph. The International Kearnes have been used in other states for a few years.
WES ORZECHOWSKI Kansan staf
First inspection
Old sign or new sign, Digly and Highy, owned by Bob Haney, Ioa senior, didn't mind a bit. This new speed limit was installed earlier this week because a Lawrence sign had been removed recently.