Friday, May 1, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 7
Banquet set for minority graduates
By Sara Anderson
By Sara Anderson
sanderson@kansan.com
Kansan ste. writer
Kansan staff writer
Lots of parties will go on after commencement, but the Office of Minority Affairs wants to congratulate some graduates early.
The 22nd Annual Minority Graduation Banquet will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. May 16, at the ballroom in the Kansas Union. The banquet will honor and recognize the achievements of minority students at the
University of Kansas. A reception will precede the banquet at 5 p.m. at the Malott Room in the Kansas Union.
The focus of this year's banquet is African-American heritage and will include music, dinner and a keynote speaker. The speaker will be James Renick.
Renick: Michigan
Dearborn chancellor to speak
chancellor of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a KU alumnus. The banquet is free for graduating seniors. Tickets for non-seniors cost $12.50 per person and are available at the Office of Minority Affairs and the Student Union Activities box office.
Jae Lee, Blue Springs, Mo., senior said the banquet was a good idea, and he would be interested in going.
"I think it's good," he said. "It's important to recognize achievements of minorities in the University because it's easy to overlook what's happened or the achievements of peers that aren't as high profile like minorities."
Renick said he wanted to focus his speech on the value of higher learping.
"I also want to tell them how KU was important to me personally," he said. "I want them to know that the education I received from KU has been very beneficial."
Renick said it was critical for students to see minority graduates in the real world.
"It shows that minorities are going on and achieving high goals," he said.
Fraternities pledge ban on alcohol by year 2000
By Carl Kaminski
akcaminski@kansan.com
Kanson stuff writer
If the current trend continues, alcohol no longer may be a part of fraternity living.
Several fraternities with chapters on the KU campus such as Sigma Nu, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta and Delta Chi have pledged to go to alcohol-free housing by the year 2000. The move toward alcohol-free housing is one that has benefits such as reduced liability and likely will be picking up steam this summer.
Walker Gray, Interfraternity Council vice president for risk management and Wakarua junior, said he believed all fraternity houses would either be alcohol free or be taking steps toward going alcohol free by the year 2000.
"Overall, national organizations thought this may help teach members to learn to drink responsibly." Gray said.
He said making living environments alcohol free may help some members differentiate between their social and academic lives.
David Glassman, assistant director of the national chapter of Sigma Nu, said part of the decision to remove alcohol involved high insurance rates. He said National Panhellenic Council sororities, which are all alcohol free have liability insurance rates of roughly $20 to $30 per person per year. The lowest rate of any Sigma Nu chapter was $75.
Wes Simons, assistant director of greek programs, also said he thought all fraternities would be alcohol free in the next couple of years. He said several would be discussing the issue this summer, and he expected about 12 more to make the decision to go alcohol free in the next year.
"It's not a question of if but a question of when," he said.
He said chapters that had gone alcohol free have seen increases in the numbers of students they have been able to recruit and the type of people they recruit.
"They can promise a cleaner and quieter living and study area," he said.
Kevin Raymer, vice president of Sigma Nu and Russell sophomore, said that by going alcohol free, the fraternity was helping to dispel the image of fraternity life revolving around alcohol.
Alcohol free housing does not mean, however, that fraternities cannot have functions with alcohol, Raymer said. The functions just cannot be held in the house.
One of the possible drawbacks of alcohol free fraternity houses that has come up has been the possibility of more drunk driving as members drive to bars and parties.
To combat possible problems, fraternities and sororites are planning on improving education programs and their Brothers Against Drunk Driving and Sisters Against Drunk Driving programs, he said. BADD and SADD are programs that provide designated drivers for fraternity and sorority members during the weekends.
Man gets 5 year term for rape
By Ronnie Wachter
rwachter@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Tyrone Edwards, the man convicted of raping a 13-year-old Lawrence girl in 1997, was given five years in prison yesterday in Douglas County District Court.
Douglas County District Attorney Christine Tonkovich said she was not happy with yesterday's decision.
"I would like to have seen a stiffer sentence," Tonkovich said. "I have to say that I'm surprised. This is a Level One offense, the equivalent of attempted murder."
Edwards was charged with rape on May 9 and was convicted on Sept. 25.
Judge Paula Martin said Edwards had a history of prior offenses, which by Kansas law would make the minimum sentence for his rape conviction 27 years.
However, Martin chose to take a departure from state's rape sentencing guidelines because of the unusual nature of the case, she said.
Tonkovich said Martin had informed her office of 15 reasons explaining why she departed from sentencing guidelines. Those reasons included the victim inviting the defendant to her home and consenting to intercourse. Edwards not using any force in the rape and the prosecution having no evidence showing Edwards to be a pedophile.
"In '93, the Legislature made a new criminal code that said that anyone under 14 is incapable of giving consent," Tonkovich said. "Any sex in this case is rare."
Sarah Jane Russell, executive director of Douglas County Rape Victim Survivor Services, said she was satisfied with the sentence handed down.
"It was a very minimal sentence," Russell said.
Bartam poussea that ne d'a receivé time in prison:
Members of the victim's family declined comment
Martin also ruled that, when Edwards is released from prison, he must register as a sex offender anywhere he lives in Kansas.
Russell said she was concerned with the fact Martin had been considering giving Edwards a sentence that would not put him in prison.
"What kind of message are we sending?" she said. "Rape cannot be a crime sometimes, and not be a crime other times."
Remember to pick up your Commencement LUNCH TICKETS
at the Alumni Association's headquarters on the third floor of the Adams Alumni Center anytime during the week of May 11-15 between 8 a.m and 5 p.m.
A short program at 11:30 a.m. will include the presentation of the Class of 1908 gift and banner.
You must present your ticket(s)
for your box lunch(cs) at the
Charceller's residence. The Outlook
on Sunday, May 17, between 10:30
a.m. and 1 p.m.
Questions? Call 864-4760
Cash For Books
Top Dollar Now Available!
KU Bookstores
Kansas and Burge Unions
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4 Locations starting May 6th.
KU Bookstore, Kansas Union, level two
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Kansas Union Plaza (weekdays)
McCollum Hall, 1st floor 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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