Wednesday
April 23, 2003
Vol. 113. Issue No. 140
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Relive the Jayhawks' emotional month from an NCAA loss to a new coach p.4B
Abortion display draws reactions
Scott Revnolds/Kansan
Zach Carleton, Overland Park junior, discusses the issue of rape with Vicki Kane, Justice For All staff member (second from right), and volunteers Meagan Gilby and Lisa Stenberg (right) of Sterling College. "I'm really impressed with the open mindedness of the students," Kane said.
By Erin Ohm
eohm@kansan.com
Kansan stuff writer
Abrasive. That word describes the feeling of many students who yesterday passed by a lawn display showing graphic pictures of abortion.
The three-sided, two-story high exhibit in front of Stauffer-Flint Hall featured photos of aborted fetuses with text explaining the pictures. Signs warned students that the display was ahead, handouts were available and two free-speech boards were set up for students to write comments on.
Students had mixed reactions to the display.
"Disgusting," said Andre McHugh, Chicago sophomore. "They shouldn't be out there; it's destructive to the learning environment. They're going about it in the wrong way."
Kevin Culp, Lenexa senior and abortion opponent, said although the display could be offensive to some students, it might be the only time they received such a message against abortion.
"Yeah, it is bold," he said. "But what's wrong with getting it out there? I don't think these kids are going to pick up a pamphlet on it."
Justice For All, a student organization that formed last semester, was responsible for bringing the display to Lawrence Members of the student group asked representatives from the national division of Justice For All to bring the display to the University of Kansas to educate students on abortion.
Justice For All is a national nonprofit organization based in Wichita. The stu
dent group at the University has about 15 members. The group did not have to pay to bring the display to the University.
Tammy Cook, administrative director for Justice For All, said the organization's mission centered on bringing the antiabortion message to college campuses to open dialogue about the issue.
"We welcome people who disagree with us," she said. "We want to hear their side, and we want them to hear ours."
Cook said group members received training on how to ask thought-provoking questions to students about abortion and how to defend their positions effectively.
tively. The group also brought the presentation to the University in September 1998, Cook said. She said the display would be on campus again until about 4 p.m. today. About five KU Public Safety Officers monitored the display and the people
who stood around talking or watching. Lt. Schuyler Bailey of the public safety office said the office placed officers by the display because of past problems with people reacting to the presentation.
"When they were here before, there were fights and some of the signs were damaged." he said.
Some students questioned the
SEE DISPLAY ON PAGE 10A
Religious community responds
By Cal Creek
ccreek@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Yesterday's anti-abortion display presented by Justice for All, illicited several responses in the University of Kansas religious community.
While some religious leaders supported the display and others were offended by it,it was a topic discussed by many and ignored by few.
"We support their right to free speech but strongly disagree with their methods," Jay Lewis, director of Hillel said.
The display showed several statistics and pictures of various states of aborted fetuses. One of the panels listed several historical genocides including the Jewish and European genocide, or Holocaust, occurring from 1939 to 1945 and the American Unborn genocide.
Lewis said he didn't think the parallels drawn between the Holocaust and the American Unborn genocide were appropriate.
SEE RESPONSE ON PAGE 10A
Commission doesn't pass, veto Sunday liquor sales
By JJ Hensley
jhensley@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
The Lawrence City Commission didn't pass an ordinance allowing liquor stores to open on Sundays, nor did it permanently put the kibosh on the idea at its meeting last night.
Instead, the commissioners will monitor pending legislation in the Kansas Senate before making a decision.
"We'll wait until the liquor stores unite and come forth with a proposal," said Commissioner Mike Rundle.
Mayor David Dunfield said that in addition to following legislation commissioners should wait to see what sort of responses they got from the community.
Earlier this month the Senate defeated a House bill that would have made liquor laws uniform across the state. For example, some counties don't allow liquor sales by-the-drink, which makes the Kansas liquor control act nonuniform across the state.
A provision in the state constitution called 'home rule' allows communities to adopt a charter ordinance exempting the city from a nonuniform state provision.
Communities such as Kansas City, Kan., and Edwardsville have taken advantage of this provision to allow liquor sales on Sundays.
Kansas City and other communities
The bill could come up again in the Senate when the Legislature reconvenes April 30.
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