Monday
March 24, 2003
Vol.113. Issue No.118
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Kansas soars into Sweet 16 with rout of Arizona State p. 1B Keith Langford
Contact Kristi Henderson, Jenna Goepfert or Justin Henning at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
KU faculty, students called to active duty
Chancellor pledges support for troops involved in conflict
The University of Kansas announced on Friday it knew of 27 students and 19 staff members who have been called to serve as active reserves in the armed forces.
By JJ Hensley
jhensley@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
Five of the University employees work at the Med Center, and the 14 remaining staff members and all of the students are from the Lawrence campus, said Kevin Boatright, associate executive vice chancellor for university relations.
"We got the staff information from human resources and that was updated as of the end of January." Boatright said.
Kellev Weiss/Kansan
Boatright acknowledged that there may have been more staff members called to duty since then.
The student numbers were provided by the registrar's office and reflected students who reported leaving school to serve in the military as of last week, Boatright said.
"The registrar had even more recent numbers,
At the University of Kansas, 27 students and 19 staff members have been called to serve as active reserves.213,000 reserve and guard troops have been called to duty nationwide.
but there may be more students who have left school and didn't bother to tell us why." he said.
The students and staff are actively serving in the military and could be stationed anywhere from Fort Riley to Umm Qasar. The University is not at liberty to release the names of these servicemen and women, or where they might be engaged, Boatright said.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, these 46 students and staff members are among 2,494 Kansas members of national guard and reserve units mobilized as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nationwide, 213,000 reserve and guard troops have been called to duty.
On Thursday, following the United States-led invasion of Iraq, Chancellor Robert Hemenway released a statement that reiterated the University's commitment to academic freedom and offered support for the troops.
"With the outbreak of war in Iraq, our thoughts are with the coalition military forces—some of whom are KU students, staff or alumni—as well as the innocent civilians affected by this conflict," the statement read.
"Compared with their sacrifices at this time, any inconveniences we may suffer due to heightened security precautions are insignificant."
Boatright said vacant staff positions would likely be considered a temporary absence with co-workers doing extra work to fill in for colleagues in the military.
To help students, staff and family members stay current on the status of KU during the war, the University created a Web site (http://www.ku.edu/emergency/) containing useful information about the nation's emergency alert status, campus emergency procedures and related news releases.
Edited by Ryan Wood
Meagan Foster, Hutchinson sophomore, attended a candlelight vigil to show her opposition to the war Thursday night at the Douglas County Courthouse. The Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice had planned the vigil for the day war began in Iraq, and the people there sang peace songs during the hour-long meeting.
Reactions to war
Long-awaited conflict brings mixed opinions from students, faculty
By Henry C. Jackson
cjackson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
In basketball-crazy Lawrence, even March Madness played a small role last week, as the University of Kansas community reacted to the news that the United States' long-awaited war with Iraq had begun.
As a CBS News alert briefly interrupted coverage of Kansas' first round NCAA tournament game against Utah State on Thursday night, Dan Rather's presence was initially greeted with boos at Buffalo Wild Wings. The crowd of approximately 150 people gathered to watch the game quieted quickly, however, when they realized Rather was on
screen announcing some of the first U.S. casualties of the war.
"This is a preemptive attack against another country who has not aggressed against us." Hanson said. "This is a country who does not even pose a threat to us."
"Initially I don't think they knew what the interruption was for," said Zarif Hague, Manhattan senior, who bartended at Buffalo Wild Wings on Thursday. "Once they realized what was going on, the crowd was pretty respectful."
Allan Hanson, professor in anthropology, who has been coordinating antiwar protests in Lawrence, said protesting the war was a patriotic duty.
Elsewhere in Lawrence, a predictable war was met with predictable responses. Mimicking larger protests in New York and Washington, D.C., anti-war demonstrators gathered in front of the Lawrence court house Thursday night. The protest plan had been in place since the war with Iraq became imminent.
Pro-war groups also rallied in front of the Lawrence court house on Wednesday night as word of the war's start became widespread. Their demonstration was marked by an anti-war counter protest across the street.
Though he did not attend any of the pro-war rallies held over spring break, Chris Cullinan, Olathe junior, said he was relieved the war had finally started.
"Everybody's been waiting for so long, you go through resolution after resolution," he said. "I think in a short period of time, we can do so much to rid the region of a lot of conflict."
Despite massive media coverage, some students, such as Chris Cooper, Goodland junior, still haven't formed an opinion on the war.
"I don't think it's right that America has its nose in everybody's business," he
SEE REACTIONS ON PAGE 12A
Delivering a deadly message War journalists risk lives to bring the news of conflict
Editor's note: The following story originally appeared in Jayhawk Journalist, the University of Kansas' journalism alumni magazine.
By Todd Rapp
trapp@kansan.com
kansan senior staff writer
He didn't smoke, but Douglas Farah carried cigarettes whenever he was on assignment overseas.
Farah, a 1985 University of Kansas graduate and a foreign correspondent for The Washington Post, always carried cigarettes and candy with him to serve as a peace offering in case a situation became hostile.
Illustration by Amanda Johnson/Jayhawk Journalist
In the spring and summer of 2000, he was covering the civil war in Sierra Leone. One rainy July day, Farah and his guide had stopped to photograph workers in the diamond fields of Eastern Sierra Leone. Control of the fields
was vital to the Revolutionary United Front; with the diamonds, the RUF could barter for and purchase weapons.
As a Caucasian, western journalist, Farah was noticed and quickly surrounded by members of the RUF. The
rebels escorted Farah and his companion to their local commander, Major Nikols. As they approached Nikols, Farah offered a local, filterless brand of cigarettes to everyone present to help ease the situation. After all, Farah said, the guerrillas all smoked.
The 35-year-old Nikols was sitting under a tree while one of his men held a large, blue and red plaid umbrella over him. Nikols explained that he normally had foreigners taken away and their throats slit; the RUF was fighting United Nations forces at that point. However, holding one of Farah's cigarettes in his large hand, he smiled and laughed.
"Not today." he said:
Farah explained his intentions, and Major Nikols offered him a deal: four pictures for two packs of cigarettes. Farah explained he would like more than four. After some deliberation,
SEE MESSAGE ON PAGE 10A
University remembers professor for 'spark'
By Erin Ohm
eohm@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas graduate Connie May Fowler doesn't think she would be a successful writer if weren't for the influence of Carolyn Doty.
Doty, who was a professor of English at the University, died Thursday at her home. Lawrence police do not suspect foul play.
"Carolyn had a spark and insight I have never seen before or since," said Fowler, who graduated from the University in 1990 and has published five books and produced one screenplay. "I don't think her spirit, joy, grace and intelligence will be easily replaced."
Doty, 61, joined the University faculty in 1986 and had an active role in the University community. She served on the tenure and calendar committees. Doty published four books, including Fly Away Home, and Whisper.
Doty had been teaching two sections of fiction writing. James Hartman, department chairman, said a professor had been assigned to take over the classes.
Doty was known among students and colleagues for her honesty, lively personality and quirky sense of humor.
Hartman said Doty loved to entertain and often held gatherings for faculty at her home. He said one of Doty's most
SEE DOTY ON PAGE 12A
Three charged for murder of KU student in Costa Rica
By Nikki Overfelt
overfelt@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Costa Rican prosecutors on Thursday charged two men and one woman with murder in the death of KU student Shannon Martin.
In a few weeks, a probable cause hearing will be held. The trial will probably begin in about two months in Costa Rica, said Pedro Irigonegaray, Topeka attorney representing Martin's family.
Martin
If convicted, Kattia
Cruz, Rafael Zumbado and Luis Carrillo face between 20 and 35 years in jail.
"We have great confidence in the Costa Rican legal system," Irigonegaray said. "We believe that the most important thing now is a fair trial. It is our sincere hope that the brutal murder of Shannon Martin will be solved with the conviction of those that took her life."
Jeff Weinberg, assistant to the chancellor, and Diana Carlin, dean of international programs, traveled to Costa Rica about three weeks ago for a briefing on the case. Weinberg said the purpose for their trip was fulfilled with the charges.
Martin was killed May 13,2001. Her body was found stabbed near a road in Golfito, Costa Rica, where she was completing biology research.
Edited by Michelle Burhenn
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