THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
referer uni-erkins would think uri as as a
WWW.KANSAN.COM
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005
muing mascu-
mage, that any
that city to
of oth-
ered
sts and Muck
and I
ang the
kids."
the pur-
nion isn't to
o gen-
nished stating
spon-
of the
pres-
Border
ed by
amborn
ng
m the killing in cGwire y deny write the with a siencing and is ro" to
comment
ads and
iversity
re said
k about
but the "I want I wish weave me rooids. I just shut tee I did
VOL.115 ISSUE 124
J. Moore
RELIGION
Nick Weiser, Dighton freshman, bows his head in prayer for Pope John Paul II during a special service held Friday night at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, 1631 Crescent Road. A group of students from the center, including Weiser, traveled to Rome during spring break when they saw the Pope as he waved to the crowd.
Catholics mourn
Rachel Seymour/KANSAN
STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Lawrence residents hold vigil in memory of pope
Nick Weiser knelt down in the front pew of the chapel at the St. Lawrence Catholic Center Friday night.
The Dighton freshman hung his head low as he drapped his rosary over the side of the pew in the front row.
His prayers were for Pope John Paul II, who died Saturday in his Vatican apartment, ending a long, public struggle against debilitating illness. He was 84.
Kasonia Kisangani, December 2004 graduate from Manhattan, sajd more students could have shown up to the center's vigil, 1631 Crescent Road, had they
known about it, but he was happy with the turnout.
"It was necessary to pray for the pope because it's an opportunity for everyone to come together in prayer," he said.
More than 50 students joined Weiser Friday night for a prayer vigil for Pope John Paul II.
The vigil was a time for people to mourn, but it was also a time to celebrate the pope's life, the Rev. James Sanchez said.
"We're here to recognize the great legacy our Holy Father is leaving us," Sanchez said in a sermon. "His legacy is that he embodied, he witnessed and he inspired hope." Sanchez said the pope did that when he lived and
he would continue doing that in death.
The Rev. Vince Krische was impressed by the general concern of the Catholic leader.
Krische said people had stopped him in Lawrence Friday to ask him about the pope's condition.
"I just think it's really interesting. It's the big word on the street and everyone — not just Catholics — is talking about it," he said.
Weiser and others at the gathering said they felt a personal connection to the Holy Father. Weiser heard the pope speak when he attended a spring break pilgrimage to Rome less
than two weeks ago.
"It feels like a connection having been at one of his last celebrations he appeared," he said.
obrations he appeared.
The pope's final public appearance was Wednesday when, looking gaunt and unable to speak, he briefly appeared at his window.
His health sharply deteriorated the next day after he suffered a urinary tract infection.
In John Paul's 26-year reign he helped topple communism in Europe and left a deeply conservative stamp on the church.
He reaffirmed the church's ban on artificial birth control and denounced in vitrofertilization
STATE POLITICS
SEE MOURN ON PAGE 2A
Marriage ban on ballot tomorrow
BY JASON SHAAD
jshaad@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Kansas will be the first of four states in 2005 to decide whether to amend its state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. The proposed amendment will be on ballots across the state tomorrow.
South Dakota, Tennessee and Alabama will follow Kansas and vote on state constitutional amendments later this year.
While 17 states already have constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex marriage, 23 others have pending amendments, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a national organization working for equal rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered persons.
Kansas, like many other states, already has a state statute that prohibits same-sex marriage and defines marriage as a contract between two people of the opposite sex. The proposed amendment would take this statute a step further.
The first part of the amendment defines marriage as a civil contract between one man and one woman. By this definition, all other marriages would be declared void.
The second part says the state will not recognize any relationship, other than marriage, as having the rights or incidents of marriage.
This would deny some tax breaks and benefits to people in civil unions who are not married, Aaron Paden, Lawrence senior, said. And that takes things too far, Paden said. He has helped organize a rally against the amendment at 12:20 today at Wescoe Beach.
"Our constitution should be there to protect citizens," Paden said. "For the constitution to be
used to take away rights from people is bad. It seems almost evil."
Daniel Rea, St. Louis freshman and activism chairman for Queens and Allies, said the amendment was too specific.
"It's not just defining marriage," Rea said. "It's denying rights to any partners or couples outside of marriage."
Student Senate voted last month to oppose the amendment. The amendment conflicts with the University of Kansas Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, which protects students from harassment based on sexual orientation.
While denying the recognition of other civil unions is a bold step, it is necessary to ensure that the amendment is more than just theory, Lee Bickerstaff, Emporia senior, said.
"If there are no real world effects, then you're just arguing semantics." Bickerstaff said.
If the amendment does not pass, the legislature could still amend the state's statute prohibiting same-sex marriage, which would function similarly to the constitutional amendment.
But that is unlikely, Allan Cigler, professor of political science, said. Governor Kathleen Sebelius can veto any new statutes.
"My guess would be that she doesn't support the amendment," Cigler said. "I think it's the amendment or nothing."
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow. Registered voters can contact The Douglas County Clerk's office for voting locations at 832-5267. A majority vote is needed for the amendment to pass.
Rock the Kansas vote
Cigler said he doubted the house and the senate could get the two-third vote required to override a governor's veto.
- Edited by Nikola Rowe
Other issues: The following are items that will appear on tomorrow's ballot:
City Commission elections
There are three open seats on the commission. Five candidates are running:
Tom Bracciano
Sue Hack
Mike Amyx
Mike Amyx David Schauer
Jim Carpenter
For more information about the candidates go to:
http://www.kansan.com
School bond issues
This item involves a $54 million bond to demolish and rebuild South Junior High school, as well as making other improvements to the existing junior high and high school.
Bond issue 1:
Marriage amendment
What it says:
Bond issue 2:
This item involves an $8.9 million bond to buy new and upgraded computer equipment for the Douglas County school district.
Marriage (a) The marriage contract is to be considered in law as a civil contract. Marriage shall be constituted by one man and one woman only. All other marriages are declared to be contrary to the public policy of this state and are void. (b) No relationship,other than a marriage, shall be recognized by the state as entitling the parties to the rights or incidents of marriage.
School board elections
There are three open seats on the board. Three candidates are running:
Craig Grant
John Mitchell
Linda Robinson
Source: Douglas County Clerk's office
BUSINESS
Bar owners feel sting of loss
Empty seats line the bar at Jefferson's Restaurant. 743 Massachusetts St., yesterday afternoon. These seats, along with many others, likely would have been filled during the March Madness games if the Jayhawks gone more than one game in the tournament.
BY ADAM LAND
aland@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The second game of the Final Four between North Carolina and Michigan State rallied only enough people to fill two-thirds of JB Stout's Sports Bar and Grill, 721 Wakarusa Drive, Saturday night.
Dustin Holiday, former KU student, said he expected more people to come out to watch the Final Four.
Rachel Seymour/KANSAN
"After about 15 minutes the place cleared out," he said. "I was really surprised."
Nearly every section had empty tables
Bucknell thwarted tournament hopes for fans, as well as for bar owners and managers who anticipated tournament revenue, with its stunning
SEE STING ON PAGE 3A
National group revokes charter
PHI KAPPA THETA
BY ERIK SORRENTINO
escorrentino@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Phi Kappa Theta's national fraternity will not recognize the KU chapter as a fraternity after it had an unregistered party on Feb. 19, fraternity members said yesterday.
The national fraternity in Carmel, Ind., revoked Phi Kappa Theta's charter Saturday, said Michael Pilshaw, Lawrence junior and member of Phi Kappa Theta. This happened two days after the executive
board of the Interfraternity Council upheld the decision to expel the chapter from the University of Kansas. As a
result, Phi Kappa Theta will no longer be recognized locally or nationally as a fraternity, he said.
Matt Moreno, president of the fraternity and Wichita sophomore, said the fraternity was
Today's weather
8055 Warm and windy
SEE CHARTER ON PAGE 3A
TOMORROW
75 45
Chance of storms
All contents, unless stated otherwise,
© 2005 The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday
56 40
Rainy
Tough loss Even though the Kansas softball team played hard, it continued its downward spiral losing two games to Texas A&M on Saturday. The players aim to turn things around at 3 p.m. tomorrow against UMKC. PAGE 1B
Same-sex marriage ban
Galindo may transfer
Tomorrow's ballots will include a ban on same-sex marriages. The state already has a statute defining marriage as between a man and a woman. PAGE 3A
---
Kansas coach Bill Self announced Friday that freshman forward Alex Galindo may transfer to a school closer to home. Galindo will make his decision when Self returns from the Final Four. PAGE 1B
Student Senate
Student Senate KUnited was fined for door to door campaigning in residence halls.' Campaign policy signs were posted in Templin and Lewis hall lobbies to prevent more campaigning in the halls. PAGE 5A