Thursday
February 6, 2003
Vol. 113. Issue No.91
Today's weather
27°
Tonight: 3°
KANSAN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Tell us your news
Contact Kristi Henderson, Jenna Goepfert or Justin Henning at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
Get the vital information on Lawrence's music scene in Jayplay
Swindling of sorority suspected
By Erin Ohm
eohm@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Lawrence police say a former treasurer of the corporation board for the Xi chapter of Sigma Kappa sorority at the University of Kansas is suspected of embezzling as much as $61,110 from the board's bank account.
Lt. David Cobb of the Lawrence Police Department said unexplained expenses were found in the chapter's records, and personal items such as phone bills and credit
card bills had been paid out of the chapter account. The purchases were made during a two-year period, from Nov 5, 2000, through Nov 11, 2002. Investigators were still compiling a list of items that were purchased without authorization, Cobb said.
The 33-year-old Lawrence woman was asked by the Sigma Kappa Corporation Board to turn in the chapter's financial records for an accountant to review at a board meeting Nov. 11, Cobb said, and the woman did not hand over the books immediately. She told board members that there might be some accounts
that were not properly taken care of.
The woman said she might owe the chapter some money, Cobb said.
The president of the corporation board filed a report with the Lawrence Police Department on Jan. 31. Someone at the president's home said she was unavailable for comment.
Corporation board treasurer Ruth Rader said she was unsure whether the board looked over its financial records each year, but it would probably become routine in the future.
Rader said the corporation board of Xi
chapter was responsible for maintaining the physical structure of the sorority house. She said sorority members paid the corporation board for rent and meals, and any losses would not affect women living in the house.
"We have already sent out contracts for next year and the rent was not raised," Rader said.
The board has seven alumnae members, who are elected to two-year terms by the women of the chapter.
Police are following up with an investigation and expect to conduct an interview with the suspect, Cobb said.
Rader was unsure when the investigation would be complete.
"There are a few more things they need to look into, and we are trying to do that in a timely manner," she said.
Amy Potter, Xi chapter president and Kansan staff writer, said it was inappropriate to discuss an unfinished investigation.
"Our priority is to safeguard the women of the chapter, which we are doing." Potter said.
Throwing snowballs
Jared Soares/Kansan
The KU men's baseball team practiced yesterday despite the afternoon snowfall.The Jayhawks will play three away games at University of Arkansas-Little Rock Feb. 7 to 9.
Race in admissions
KU students evaluate affirmative action in college admissions
By Henry C. Jackson
cjackson@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
Current events have caused student groups at the University of Kansas to evaluate the issue of affirmative action and race as a factor for admissions.
In January the Bush administration filed a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court that opposed race as a factor in college admissions. Bush's brief addressed two cases filed by three former applicants to the University of Michigan and its law school that dispute the legality of race as a factor in college admissions.
At last week's Black Student Union meeting,BSU president Mark Dupree called for members to consider their opinions on the issue of race in admissions in anticipation of an open forum at the group's next meeting. Other groups, such as the KU chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the College Republicans have addressed the issue of race and affirmative action as factors in admissions. Divisive Tonic
Opinions on the often contentious topic have differed. College Republicans said they opposed affirmative action and race as playing a factor in admissions because it put too little emphasis on merit and because efforts to diversify were too contrived.
"I think it's hard to engineer diversity," said Erin Blocher, Colorado Springs, Colo., senior and the College Republicans' president. She said she thought diversity by its nature should be something that naturally happens and that if one constructs or engineers it, the essence of people coming together naturally is taken away.
Blocher said she thought college admissions should be based solely on merit - test scores, activities and, most importantly, academic performance in high school.
Other groups, such as KU's NAACP chapter, support race being a factor in admissions. Tish Merritt, Liberty senior and the NAACP's social chair, said often times complaints about race being a factor in admissions confuse the real issue.
"What they forget to tell you is that many of the people complaining the loudest are underqualified." Merrit said.
Merrit cited the recent Michigan Law School case as an example of underqualified students leading the charge against race as a factor in enrollment. Kristin Lambert, KU NAACP president and Kansas City, Kan., junior, echoed Merrit's sentiment.
"People only care about it when it comes to something they want," said Lambert. Will the Supreme Court really affect the University?
Although campus groups debate the relative merits of affirmative action and race as a factor in admissions, a Supreme Court ruling would likely have little impact on KU admissions policies.
Because race is not a factor in admissions, a ruling would not directly impact minority enrollment, said Lisa Pinamonti, director of admissions and scholarships.
While opinions on the Bush administration's position on college admissions and the issue of affirmative action have differed, the result of a Supreme Court
ruling on the University's current undergraduate admission policy would be minimal. Pinamonti said.
"If you meet the requirements set by the Kansas Board of Regents, you get in," Pinamonti said.
Steven McAllister, dean of the school of law, said that a Supreme Court ruling would only affect the University's undergraduate admissions and law school admissions if the Supreme Court said schools could take race into account "in no shape or form" during the admissions process. McAllister said such a ruling would be unlikely.
"I would guess that the court will say the way the University of Michigan does it is not good," McAllister said, referring to the points-based system the University of Michigan uses in admissions. "It's hard for me to think it would have a dramatic effect on KU."
Still An Issue
Despite the fact that a Supreme Court ruling against race as a factor in admissions would likely have a minimal effect on the University, students and faculty still see it as a big issue because of its national ramifications.
"I do believe it would have an impact on those with different enrollment policies." Pinamonti said.
Anthony Daniels, assistant director in multicultural affairs, said he thought a ruling would certainly set a precedent and stressed the need for caution in reaching a decision on race in admissions.
"The resource goes away if the law's not behind it," Daniels said. "It's important that people understand why we have the current law in the first place."
Edited by Julie Jantzer
Property owners react to ordinance
By Cate Batchelder
cbatchelder@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Graffiti stretches across Lawrence, and the city ordinance regarding graffiti stretches to encompass all types.
In Article 10 of Chapter 14 of Lawrence city codes states that any writing, printing, marks, signs, symbols, figures, designs, inscriptions or other drawings that are scratched, scrawled, painted, drawn or etched qualify as graffiti. These marks are illegal if they appear on any structural component of any building, wall, fence, sidewalk, curb, structure or other facility, public or private, without the consent of the owner, regardless of the nature of the material used in its application.
Frank Reeb, city clerk and administrative services director, said graffiti didn't seem to be a problem in Lawrence. In his 16 months at the job, the code hasn't brought any attention. But residents said they saw graffiti citywide.
a graffiti case in early October tested Lawrence and its citizens. The clearly
In tomorrow's paper, part five of the five-part series explains graffiti's place in hip-hop culture.
A CAMPAIGN OF RAGE
readable graffiti accused a man of sexual assault. It appeared all over Lawrence on the sidewalks by Stauffer-Flint Hall, in front of the courthouse, on a wall of the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St., and the side of Teller's, 746 Massachusetts St.
Dorothy Pogge, manager of Sunflower Travel Service of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, 800 Massachusetts St., works at a desk with a perfect view of the graffiti. She said it had startled her at first, but when it was painted over, she didn't even notice.
"It was probably done three days ago.
SEE GRAFFITI ON PAGE 6A
Photo illustration by Eric Braun/Kansan
Graffiti on business walls and doors, such as this one at 10th and Massachusetts streets, can be deemed a public nuisance by public officers. If a store received a Notice to Remove Graffiti and failed to paint over it within two weeks, it could face fines of $250 or more.
Students respond to shuttle tragedy
By Kevin Wiggs
kwiggs@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Americans weren't the only ones watching.
When the space shuttle Columbia broke apart over the Texas sky Saturday, the Israeli and Indian people also lost astronauts from their nations. But they had been following the shuttle mission long before it became a tragedy.
"It was the biggest thing there," Payal Kapur, Overland Park junior, said. "American news only made it popular after the crash."
Kapur, a member of the India Association of Kansas City, said she was surprised by the lack of shuttle coverage in America prior to Saturday. Kalpana Chawla, an American-educated astronaut, was the first Indian
woman in space in 1997. This was Chawla's second trip into space and big news in India.
"My parents do a good job of keeping me involved with my Indian culture, and they frequently send me all kinds of Indian publications," she said.
Dalia Rosenstein, Tel-Aviv, Israel freshman, said she looked at updates of the crew, and its Israeli member Ilan Ramon, every night even before the crash. Ramon was the first Israeli in space.
"He was an important person for our country," she said. "He symbolized our survival and success."
Seeing so many Americans go into space might have made Americans complacent when it comes to space travel, Rosenstein said.
SEE SHUTTLE ON PAGE 6A
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