MONDAY.FEB.25.2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Committee plans to sue over ordinance
By Lauren Beatty
Kansan staff writer
The city of Lawrence could face a legal challenge from the Citizens' Rights Committee if the city doesn't revoke its rental property licensing ordinance.
The ordinance requires owners of rental homes in single family residential zoning districts to register their properties with the city for inspection. The inspectors check the homes to make sure they comply with all safety codes. The ordinance went into effect Feb. 1.
Bob Ebey, spokesman for the committee, said that it was formed by people concerned about the city's rental ordinances and that more than 100 people were
involved. On Wednesday, Feb. 13, the committee told the city of its intention to sue if the ordinance wasn't revoked. The city has to respond within 120 days.
Ebey said the ordinance violates the fourth amendment—a citizen's right to privacy. Tenants have the right to restrict who enters their property, said Ebey.
City Manager Mike Wildgen said the city had no plans to revoke the ordinance.
Wildgen said the ordinance passed last year with community support. He said the inspectors made sure single family rental homes complied with all city codes, including the ordinance restricting more than three unrelated people living together.
renters only if all renters were inspected.
Ebey said the ordinance would protect
"If they inspected every rental property, then yes, it does protect renters, but they've only limited it to a few," Ebey said.
Wildgen said he was confident the courts would back the city if the committee sued.
Ebey said he was trying to get more students involved with the group because they made up most of the tenants in Lawrence.
"It's our goal to enforce the codes and deal with individual problems. We will defend it to the utmost," he said.
Contact Beauty at ibetty@kansan.com. This story was edited by Sarah Warren.
AARON SHOWALTER/KANSAN
'Vagina Monologues' draws a crowd
Betsy Storm (left) of Chicago, Amanda Stever, of Kansas City, Mo., and Heather La Bash, Lawrence graduate student, make paper vaginas Saturday night at the V-day festival at the Kansas Union.
By Lauren Beatty
Kansan staff writer
Listening to women speak about their vaginas for about 90 minutes energized Sarah Johnson.
"I feel like a feminist!" the Topeka senior said.
Johnson attended "The Vagina Monologues," a play written by Eve Ensler based on interviews she conducted with women about their vaginas. It played to three packed houses Thursday at the Burge Union, and Friday and Saturday nights at the Kansas Union. More than 1,000 people attended the three performances.
against women.
The monologues covered topics from birth to menstruation to sexual abuse. The actresses were all volunteers and the proceeds from the show were donated to women's organizations, such as Rape Victim-Survivor Services. Tickets to the show cost $6.
The play was presented as part of the February Sisters Forum, which is part of V-Day, a national campaign geared toward stopping violence
"It creates a different image than what we're bombarded with everyday on television and in the movies." Sullivan said.
Sharon Sullivan, president of the February Sisters Association at the University of Kansas, said the play discussed women's bodies in a positive way.
Meagan Foster, Hutchinson freshman, said she had always heard good things about the show and wanted to see it in person. She said she was impressed with the abilities of the actors.
E. J. Reedy, Lawrence resident and KU graduate, said he learned a lot about women from the play. He said both men and women were touchy about the subject of vaginas.
"It's not talked about. It's hard to see the vagina as anything but sexual." Reedy said.
"Women's issues are important for men," Sullivan said. "We all live here together. What affects one affects the other."
Sullivan said more men came to see the show this year than in previous years.
Sullivan said she would like to continue producing the show as long as people were interested in seeing it. She said there were other programs to work on as well, including cell phone donations to victims of domestic violence and an upcoming speech by Robin Morgan, former editor of Ms. magazine
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the February Sisters, a group that protested
the way women were treated at the University. Results of the protest included the Hilltop Child Development Center on campus and the women's studies program. The February Sister's Association named itself in honor of the original February Sisters.
Contact Beaty at
lbeaty@kansan.com. This story
was edited by Eve Lamborn.
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