Marijuana Issue Re-Examined by Officials and Public
BY RICHARD COOLEY
Kansan Staff Writer
The Student Senate's passage last week of a resolution recommending the legalization of marijuana won't change legislative attitudes overnight, but there is some evidence that the issue is undergoing re-examination by public officials and the general public.
S. Arden Booth, R-Lawrence, said Tuesday that legislative support for legalization of marijuana was very slim at this time, but admitted that some legislators were "bringing a lot of soul-searching" on it.
"Most people over 25 or 30 have used alcohol," Booth said, "but few have had any experience with marijuana. There is a natural tendency for people to react negatively to what they have not experienced personally and I think it will be some time there is broad public acceptance of marijuana."
AT ANY RATE, Booth said, it is an 'interesting issue'; the development of which 'will have to be discussed' at a later time.
Booth's uncertainty is not unusual. Nationally,
attitudes toward marijuana seem to have entered a period of ambivalence. Once damned by the establishment as a fatal first step toward drug addiction, marijuana usage today has attained a tenuous respectability. Scientific research so far has failed to establish any harmful effects and the theory that pot smoking inevitably leads to harder drugs has been convincingly leached to
Still, there is an official reluctance to remove the harmless penalties for its use. The ambivalence toward the issue was demonstrated recently when a Presidential commission, after exhaustive research, recommended the removal of penalties for the drug but voted to retain penalties for its sale.
SOME POLITICIANS who fell safe in opposing any liberalization of marijuana laws fund the issue is no longer that simple. The enfranchisement of the student population, plus the lack of scientific evidence that marijuana is harming some politicians to re-examine their positions.
According to Booth, however, there is little
legislative support for legalization in Kansas at the present time.
"There must be a handful of votes in the House or Representatives," he said, "but I think it will be some time before a majority of the population favors such a move."
IN ORDER TO learn more about student attitude, the resolution proposed that a student opinion poll be held this spring "over the issue of whether or not marjana should be legalized."
Booth said that he did not think such a poll would change the legislative situation even if it demonstrated overwhelming student support for legalization.
Furthermore, there is some question as to what percentage of the KU student body favors legalization. The Student Senate resolution passed by a vote of 64 to 37, certainly not an overwhelming mandate, and the resolution produced heated debate.
"I doubt if the governor would put it in his program and if he did I don't think there would be a problem."
Rep. Morris Kay, R-Lawrence, said that members of the legislature would be more interested in scientific evidence of the effects of marjjuuna than in student opinion polls.
"I legislators are going to want scientific evidence as to whether marijuana leads to the destruction of moral character and whether it use is a prudence to do so," said I. "I think there are conflating reports on it."
KAY POINTED OUT that legislators must consider the feelings of the entire population, not just those of students. But he said that the Student Senate's resolution would not be ignored.
"The student conduitivity is just as meaningful in any other," he said. "Being a student does not mean that you are doing something wrong."
Administrative reaction to the resolution has been guarded. Donald K. Alderson, Dean of Men, said he would not have voted for the resolution but defended the Student Senate's right to deal with topics of interest. The senator, said he thought there should be more discussion on the resolution before a vote was taken.
ALDESSOR SAID that he would prefer to obtain more "export opinion" on the effects of marijuana
"I would not like to see anything that would
courage others to use marijuana." Alce-
charter educators to use marriages that would enable our children to use mariages that envisioned. Emily Taylor, Dean of Women, said when the reaction to the resolution had reached her office. She said that she was not familiar with the wording of the resolution and therefore could not evaluate it properly. She said, however, that she would favor pointing out that she would point to point on genuine problems connected with marriages laws and to stimulate constructive discussion.
"But if it's simply a way of stirring up a raging controversy where everyone is convinced that his opinion is right and any other viewpoint is wrong, you must think anything worthwhile will come of it," she said.
In regard to the student opinion poll, Taylor said it might be helpful if it were done scientifically.
"But if it is one of these polls where everyone can fill out a questionnaire and drop it in a box somewhere, then I don't think it would be of much value," she said.
Wednesday, April 12, 1972
Nitcher OK's New System For Traffic
Students Say Good Apartments Hard to Find
Major traffic reforms proposed for the University of Kansas were approved Monday by Keith L. Nitcher, vice-chancelor for business affairs.
The reforms, which will cost $300,000,
will include changing Memorial Drive and
Jayhawk Boulevard to one-way streets
of some parking meters on campus.
The approval of the proposals has allowed the KU Parking and Traffic Board to move ahead with plans for a public hearing early next week, according to Robert Malinowski, assistant director of the KU libraries and chairman of the board. Malinowski said the hearings were scheduled for Monday, April 17, in the Kansas Union. He said Tuesday night that no room for the hearings had yet been decided on.
Money to cover the $300,000 cost of the proposals will come from campus parking permits, fines and from money received through the use of the parking meters. Of the needed money, $80,000 to $100,000 would come from the fines, $111,100 to $112,000 from the sale of permits and about $40,000 from meters.
The hearing will be used to explain the controversial parking and traffic proposal, Malinowsky, Keith Lawton, director of facilities and planning, and Mike Thomas, director of traffic and security, will attend the hearing.
See page 7
Bomb Charges Against Gould Dropped at Hearing
Randy Gould and attorney Ron Clark await decision
the request was denied since a continuance had been granted previously.
"I just hope that whatever it's called is cleared up and things get back to normal."
Mrs. Alan Gould, Randy Gould's mother, said Tuesday that she was pleased with the results of her study.
Charges Against Gould Dropped
Gould still faces charges in connection with other bombings in the Kansas City area.
Randy Gould, 22-year-old Overland Park resident and former University of Kansas student, was discharged at the preliminary hearing in Douglas County as the state failed to show probable cause for the murder of the crime with which he was charged.
with the May 14, 1970 bombing of the Lawrence home of Daniel Young, then-Douglas County attorney. Those charges were: criminal destruction of property, possession of an explosive device, and possession of a weapon weapon with the intent to kill or maim.
Gould was arraigned March 22 in Douglas County Court and on criminal charges.
The state asked for a continuance, but
The principal witness of the state failed to testify for the state Tuesday.
Maternity Insurance Plan To Face Senate Tonight
By CATHY SHERMAN Kansan Staff Writer
A $100 deductible maternity benefits provision for hospital and doctor bill coverage will be one option included in the Blue Cross-Blue Shield student insurance plan to be recommended by the Senate Student Services insurance plan subcommittee to the Student Senate for approval tonight.
The insurance plan subcommittee made the decision after meeting with Dr. Raymond Schwegler, director of Watkins Hospital, and Bill Sellen, a representative from the U.S. Office Shield to talk with interested students at an open hearing at the Union Tuesdays.
Kathy Allen, Topeka sophomore and chairman of the subcommittee, said the premiums on the lower deductible maternity benefits option were too expensive to be feasible for the majority of University students.
"I HAVE BEEN getting feedback both at the Senate office and by telephone that many of those policies can not afford the maternity benefits option." Allen said.
Gene Morris, Stillwater, Okla., graduate student and Graduate School senator, said he favored a full coverage or a low deductible maternity benefits option.
"I strongly urge the subcommittee to give the graduate students and married students an option for maternity benefits," Dorris said.
"Two or three years ago when I was a graduate school senator and the maternity benefits option was dropped from the program, the constituent们 were very upset," Dorris said.
He said he be thought a large number of his constituents still favored a maternity hospital.
RANDY WRIGHT, Wichita junior and a member of the subcommittee, said he had been on the committee.
Bus Service Support To Be Recommended
By SCOTT EATON
Kenan Staff Writer
The University of Kansas Student Transportation Commission plans to recommend that the Student Senate submit a proposal to the student body calling for an increase of $2 in the campus budget and support extended bus service on campus.
Other recommendations the commission plans to make at the meeting tonight include placing the supervision of the KU transportation system under control of the KU transportation system in order to make an alternative proposal for control of the KU transportation system in the event the
The basic Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan, which is to be recommended to the Senate for approval Wednesday along with the mayor, would mean a coverage than the current plan, Allen said.
The outpatient diagnostic laboratory and the inclusion of contraceptive devices are two options also to be recommended by the committee to the Senate for approval.
Housing Committee is unable to properly supervise it; a proposal that the responsibilities of the Student Senate should cover the student and all its powers be given to the Housing Committee, and that the Student Senate not buy the bus service but that the ownership of the Lawrence Bus Company owns the hands of Dunne Ogle, its present owner.
Alen said the subcommittee would recommend the $600 deductible option because it is an inexpensive option and will also provide students with education students desiring maternity benefits.
UNDER THE CURRENT plan, drugs are covered up to $100. Under the proposed plan, there is full drug coverage with an alcohol pill and insulin also be covered.
S. Viets Repel Attack from North
THE TRANSPORTATION Commission report states that mass transit is the best mode of transportation available to students. The report says that although "a sound and effective mass transit system is within our grasp, it will only be attained by some real commitment on the part of the senate."
SAIGON (AP)—The Saigon command said today that it had repulsed a heavy assault by North Vietnamese forces in southern Cambodia that could signal the opening of a new front in the 13-day-old enemy offensive.
A spokesman said the enemy rained 600 rockets and mortar rounds Tuesday on the Kampong Trach, a Cambodian position in Kompong Trach, a Cambodian position in Kampong Trach, a Cambodian position in Ko
The command said 251 enemies were killed with the aid of air and artillery strikes. Government losses were put at seven killed and 29 wounded. Despite the high number of enemy casualties, the Saigon communique reported only two weapons captured and three antiaircraft machine gun sites destroyed.
students, none of whom were in favor of the option.
THE BATTLE was thought to involve elements of the North Vietnamese 1st Division, possibly poised for a strike into South Vietnam's delta now that Hanoi's forces appear stalked in the far north below. The attack was grounded around An Loc, 60 miles north of Saigon.
To the north of Saigon, air attacks were said to have inflicted serious losses on the three North Vietnamese divisions that besieged the elements of the South Vietnamese 5th
WITH THE northern front stabilized at least for now and the area north of Saigon apparently less dangerous, renewed attention was focused on the central highlands where intelligence long has held back, but would unleash perhaps his major blow.
Division in An Loc. The 10,000 troops in the town earlier seemed in danger of being wiped out, but a 2,000-man force and supplies were lifted by helicopter into the town Tuesday. A 20,000-man force headed an Army convoy miles south of An Loc coming to its relief.
South Vietnamese sources reported that fresh enemy troops and tanks were moving toward An Loe from the border area. And six Air strikes knocked out five of the tanks.
Because of its remoteness and tangled jungle, which heavily favor the enemy, the highlands have been one of the worst areas in Indochina, far back as the French war in Indochina.
BS2s have been being the highlands as well as targets in trouble spots throughout the country.
The Communist-led forces intensified their shelling attacks in the region 200 miles north of Saigon after a week-long hull, hitting several government bases.
NO NORTH Vietnamese regulars have been committed in the delta since the end of 2015.
upsure in action there has been attributed to local Viet Conz units.
Fighting was reported continuing on the major fronts, but the relative positions of the armed forces remain unclear.
Communist-led forces shellied the big U.S. military installation at Bien Hea 15 miles northeast of Saigon Wednesday, wounding two Americans. Three U.S. marines were reported wounded in a shelling attack on Vietnamese unit 41 miles north of Saigon.
One American helicopter was dined in the central highlands and another was hit by ground fire in coastal Binh Dinh Two crewmen were reported wounded.
The new casualties raised the U.S. toll in the two-week enemy offensive to at least 11 dead, 24 missing and 5 wounded. At least 19 American aircraft have been shot down either enemies damaged, according to U.S. forces daily battlefield communiques.
Indochina Crisis Causes Kissinger to Delay Trip
WASHINGTON (AP)—The White House announced Tuesday night that because of the latest Indochina crisis presidential health officials is postponing a planned visit to Japan.
Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler said Kissinger, who was to have left for Japan Saturday, would delay his journey "until probably the first part of May."
Ziegler said Kissinger, President Nixon's assistant for national-security affairs, was chairman of the Washington Department. He has been holding almost daily meetings
since North Vietnam and the Viet Cong
multifront offensive in South
Vietnam.
Ziegler said Kissinger's decision to postpone his Japan trip "does not reflect any change in attitudes we have seen and about developments in South Vietnam."
The press secretary in the past had said the administration viewed the enemy offensive with concern but had confidence in the government could meet the challenge.
The recommendation involving the $2 increase in the campus privilege fee is accompanied by a list of new routes and to begin next fall if the funding is approved.
THE COMMISSION report suggests that certain aspects of mass transportation be studied immediately if supervision of KU personnel is under control of the Housing Committee.
Among these are service four to six times hourly from major buildings and parking lots at KU; hourly service to the University of Kansas; money-saving long-term bus passes; special service for concerts, games and movies; experimentation with night service on campus and to outlying areas, and hourly service to the Ridge Court area.
The report suggests that the housing committee look into advertising as a method of curbing the losses of the KU transportation system and that research into transportation development be instigated immediately.
The repert also suggests that the Housing Committee look into the area of student attitude and fare and route experimentation.
The Transportation Commission report also suggests that if the Housing commission overseees their properly controlling the KU transportation the Senate should consider funding a position on the Lawrence Bus Company, under the supervision of its owner, to run on campus through advertising and the communication housing groups.
Under the current plan, hospital coverage pays up to $30 a day for a semi-private room and the average semi-private room. The proposed plan pays full coverage for a semi-private room and pays the average semi-private room charge for a private room. The policy charges outside Watkins Hospital.
There are provisions for accidental injury and emergency medical home and office calls, which are not in the current plan.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE also decided to recommend an option that would change prescription drug coverage for nonstudent patients. The study found that per cent in two-party and family policies.
The basic cost of the insurance plan without options is $68.40 for the single student policy, $127.20 for the two-party and $191.16 for the family policy.
The addition of all the options to the basic plan will raise the cost of the single student policy to $71.52 for one year, or $49.65 for the policy and $215.88 for the family policy.
Panel Adopts 1973 Budget For Athletics
The University Daily Kansan learned Tuesday that the University of Kansas Athletic Board approved a new athletic policy for Monday afternoon Tuesday afternoon in the Kansas Union.
Wade Stinson, director of athletics, said "nothing earthshaking" was resolved at the meeting. He declined further comment until 9 a.m. today.
A reliable source, however, said the major part of the meeting was spent discussing next year's athletic budget, which had a projected deficit of approximately $60,000. According to the source, no action had been taken to balance the budget by the time he left the meeting.
Another source, though, said the board agreed with the report for next year and that it was balanced.
Another item scheduled to be discussed by the board was whether the Kansas City Chiefs professional football team would be allowed to use Memorial Stadium for games.
The meeting was closed to the press and the public.