University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, April 8, 1992
CAMPUS / AREA
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Construction on Union to decrease lobby space
By Erik Bauer
Kansan staff writer
In a preconstruction meeting yesterday, Kansas Union officials learned that a dust barrier that will be erected Monday would close off the south side of the Union fourth floor main lobby until October.
Jim Long, director of the Union, said that a construction fence would run from the south entrance of the Union to the edge of Dyche Hall and that Baumgartner Drive, the road behind the Union, would close to accommodate construction materials and offices.
The south entry in the main lobby will be blocked off and the side south of the lobby, which includes the nonsmoking section, the former SUA office and gallery space, also will be closed to the public.
"Lobbies during this period will be reduced," Long said. "We will accommodate."
modate smokers in this area right off to the south right as you enter through the north doors."
The size of the smoking lobby will be reduced, he said, but other smoking areas in the Union will remain intact.
The candy counter and automated-teller machines will remain in their temporary spaces until the progress of the renovation allows for more space.
"The ATMs will move back outside as soon as there's enough space for them."
He said the first stage of the renovation, which is currently in progress, was projected to be completed by October 1992. Then, construction will begin on the north side of the lobby.
"We think it's going to be done the last week in September," Long said.
"It could be earlier, hopefully not later."
Long said Union customers were confused after the candy counter was
"It disoriented people initially." Long said. "We hope the University community will support us as they did during the Phase I renovation as we work together to build a more perfect Union."
moved during Spring Break.
Amy Cymons, who works at the candy counter, said complaints were frequent when the counter first was set up in front of the west side lobby window.
"When we moved, we used to keep a little timer because we got about one complaint a minute because we are blocking the window," said Cymons, Lawrence resident.
Mimi Thebo, Lawrence graduate student who also works at the candy counter, said she was upset that students complained to them.
"No one would go into the business office and complain to the people who made the decisions," Thebo said.
Schulte selected as new mayor
KnutenPetty/KANSAN
Former mayor Bob Walters relinquishes his gavel to Bob Schulte.
Bv Andy Taylor
Kansan staff writer
The Lawrence City Commission unanimously chose Commissioner Bob Schulte at last night's meeting to serve as Lawrence's mayor for a one-year term. Schulte replaces outgoing mayor Bob Walters, whose term ended yesterday.
Schulte said he that did not have a personal agenda but that he supported the objectives of the commission.
"I don't have a set of my own goals," he said. "The commission as a whole decides the goals, and we'll have a meeting in May to create more goals for the coming year."
Schulte, a 1974 KU graduate who was elected to the commission in 1991, said city government appealed to him for a new law that would bring between citizens and lawmakers.
"This allows the public to have its say," said Schulte, manager of Fritzel Construction Co., 624 Vermont St. "This form of government is the purest form for the citizenry. It drops off at the state level and even more at the national level. Public input is what helps us form our policies."
Commissioner John Nalbandian, a KU professor of public administration, was chosen vice mayor.
he property
Compton had signed a contract with the home's owner, Robert Endacott of Plaza del Ray, Calif., to buy the property if the commission gave him the demolition permit. He said he planned on constructing a housing complex on
In other city business, the commission approved a request by Doug Compton, a Lawrence builder, to remodel condemned house at 1425 Kentucky ST.
The decision, which was delayed from last week's meeting, was controversial because the house sits within 1,000 feet of two structures listed on the National Register of Historical Places: the Beta Theta Ti fraternity, 1425 Tennessee St., and a private home at 1505 Kentucky St.
In January, the state historic preservation officer said demolition of the house would harm the area. Due to that opinion, the city commission was required by state preservation law to see if there was not an alternative to demolition, so that the project would
not harm any historic property
Compton appealed the decision, saying the condition of the house was too weak.
But Nancy Shontz, 3224 Saddlehorn Drive, said the unique architecture of the house, a 1930s-era bungalow, demonstrated the need for historic preservation. She and Sonda McCoy, 3213 Saddlehorn Drive, unsuccessfully tried to purchase the home last week.
"It is not a mansion or a painting, but this house has a particular architecture," Shontz said.
Budig finishes book on higher-education topics
Bv Jenny Martin
Kansan staff writer
Chancellor Gene Budig has been busy putting together what he considers some of the most pertinent discussions in higher education today.
A new book, "A Higher Education Map for the 1990s," is the final result of a two-year project headed by Budig. The project is funded by the American Council on Education.
Budig edited the book, wrote the final chapter and worked with the 13 contributing authors in developing their chapter outlines, which cover a variety of topics in higher education.
"It covers a lot of ground and points
the way on a number of important educational fronts. "Budig said."
Topics covered in Budig's higher educational guide for the 1990s include:
- How universities can strengthen their ties with state governments and influence federal policy.
Establishing a rapport between the public and institutions of higher learning and looking at the significance of community colleges.
Encouraging student and faculty diversity.
Balancing a research university's teaching and scholarship responsibility
"It does not attempt to cover all
the 100-page-plus volume was written by respected leaders from different influential universities, colleges and foundations throughout the country, including Stanford University, Cornell University, Princeton University and the University of Texas, Austin.
areas in higher education," Budig said. "You can only cover so much in a volume of this size. It was designed to create discussion and was not intended to answer every relevant question."
Bill Getz, assistant manager of the Kansas Union Bookstore, said that the book was on order and would be available in a couple of weeks.
Knsten Petty/KANSAN
Gay pride
Showing their support for openness in the gay and lesbian community, Christian Fastrup, left, Topeka sophomore, and Robert Taylor, Missoula, Mont., senior, walk hand-in-hand down Jayhawk Boulevard. A promenade along the boulevard yesterday was an event honoring Gav and Lesbian Awareness Week.
Gay African-American shares poetry
By Shelly Solon Kansan staff writer
As he walked through the door, a 10-year-old African-American boy yelled, "Look everybody, there's a fagot in the store!"
In his neighborhood in Washington, D.C., Essex Hemphill walked into a supermarket wearing a red shirt with the large, screaming words, "FAG CLUB" on it.
Hemphill looked behind him to see who the "faggot" was, for forgetting that the shirt he bought in San Francisco told everyone that he was the "faggot."
Hemmilh found the boy standing beside him.
He was unsure of the boy's identity.
Poet Essex Hemphill talks about his experiences as a gay African American to about 80 people at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
"I have a cousin like you," the boy said. "Where did you get your shirt?" I know my cousin would like one of those."
It is unpredictable experiences such as these—the experiences of being a gay African-American — that Hempill addressed in a poetry presentation and speech last night to about 80 people at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
the poet, playwright and author's presentation was part of Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week.
At the beginning of the program,
Hemphill read poems about AIDS.
He told the audience that recently he tested HIV-positive and that seven of the artists featured in his anthology of
African-American gay men, "Brother to Brother," already had died from AIDS-related complications.
Hemphill focused on being honest and open about homosexuality to families and to the African-American community.
"It up to me to go into Black homes, churches and community." Hemphill said. "We don't want our folks endorsing gay gassing in big or little ways."
Lauri Conner, president of Black Poets Society, said the fact that Hemphil was gay was no basis for a heterosexual group not to bring him to the University. The society was one of the sponsors of the event.
"It does not matter that he's a gay poet," Conner says. "He's a poet who's Black and who is gay. It's like Lauri Conner is a KU student who is Black. Labeling can only be damaging."
In front of the Kansas and Burge Unions, April 7th and 8th,9 a.m.-4 p.m.