Friday, March 13. 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Outburst interrupts Rock Chalk
By Carl Kaminski
ckaminski@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
As protesters gathered outside the Lied Center last night, the 49th Annual Rock Chalk Revue opened.
"We cannot control what goes on outside, but inside we are going to give everyone a really great show," said John Laing, Rock Chalk Revue promotions coordinator.
And that was the case, until the end of the first show, the controversial production, "Don't Drink the Water," put on by Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Before the group's final dance, Michael Linde, Lawrence resident, stood up in the balcony and shouted to the crowd the show was racist and degraded Hawaiian culture. He asked students to walk out.
After he would not leave, he was arrested for disorderly conduct, said University of Kansas Police Capt. Vic Sternad.
Shortly after that, two more women stood up from the balcony and shouted the show was racist and sexist. They left on their own and were not arrested. Sterndal said.
There was a mixed reaction to the outburst inside. Many students yelled for the protesters to be quiet. Others applauded.
Jeff Coleman, Salina junior, said although he did not think the show was racist, he could understand why people found it insensitive.
Although he was not offended, Coleman did not find the skit amusing.
"It was sort of a Disney take on the whole thing." he said.
Another student had a different take on the show. Alexa Wolf, "Tuscon, Ariz., sophomore, said she did not understand why the first skit was considered offensive.
"I really thought that guy was out of line," she said, referring to the outburst. "This was my first Rock Chalk, and I didn't know what to expect, but I thought it was really great."
During the Revue's intermission, awards were given to several living organizations for the community service hours they donated to the United Way and other Douglas County non-profit organizations.
Gold, silver, and bronze awards were given to organizations based on the number of service hours per person. Gold awards were presented to groups who had 13 hours or more, silver to groups with 11 hours, and bronze for 9 hours. Groups with less than 9 hours received honorable mentions.
Rob Hagman, Rock Chalk community service director, said this year's total community service hours were slightly less than last year's because of strict restrictions on what counted as community service.
This year, participating living groups had to benefit a specific group or organization. They could not just spend an hour cleaning up Potter's Lake, Haagman said.
"We're trying to run a tight ship," he said.
Official totals will be announced during tomorrow's performance, and Hagman said this year's Rock Chalk has earned more than $40.000.
"This has been a big year," Hagman said. "I'm not exactly sure what we did right."
He said the business managers did a great job this year.
Tomorrow's show has sold out and sales for the last night's show were better than usual, said Kristin Moore, Rock Chalk business manager. She also said there are only 50 tickets left for tonight's show.
Above: Members of the Alpha Delta Pi-Lambda Chi Alpha cast perform a scene from their show "Don't Drink the Water." The performance was interrupted last night by protesters angry about the portrayal of people.
Trish Doud, Topeka junior and Delta Delta Delta-Sigma Phi Epsilon cast member, prepares for a Rock Chalk Revue performance. The show opened at 7 last night at the Lied Center. Photo by Corie Waters/KANSAN
Dole Institute proposal postponed
Legislators want more information
By Brandon Copple
bcopple@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Kansas legislators want to know more about the Robert J. Dole Institute for Public Service and Public Policy, and until they do, the institute will not receive any state money.
A House subcommittee last Friday postponed decision on Gov. Bill Graves' recommended appropriation of $3 million for the Dole Institute.
Rep. Mike Farmer, R-Wichita, subcommittee chairman, said yesterday the subcommittee's intent was to include the Dole Institute in the omnibus spending bill — legislation that includes all financing for state operations — toward the end of the session.
"Our intent was to hold off until we could take a better look at the funding mechanisms," he said. "We just don't have enough information at this point."
The institute will be financed by private donations in addition to any state money approved by the Legislature.
Burdett Loomis, professor of political science and the Dole Institute's interim director, said the KU Endowment Association already had raised about $2.5 million in private funds. Building cost is estimated at $6 million.
One subcommittee member, Rep. John Edmonds, R-Great Bend, said the institute should be financed entirely by private donations.
"Everybody is in agreement that something appropriate should be done for Bob Dole and his papers," Edmonds said. "He is a very popular figure, so they ought to be able to raise the money easier than with most projects."
Edmonds also said using state funds for the institute would set a
bad precedent.
"When Sen. Brownback retires, are we going to ask the taxpayers to set up a library for him?" he said.
At a subcommittee meeting last month, Edmonds questioned Chancellor Robert Hemenway about the University's use of public funds in urging citizens to write legislators in support of a bill to reorganize the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Yesterday, Edmonds said he was satisfied no public funds had been used in lobbying for the Med Center bill. He said his concerns about the Med Center bill were not related to the withholding of funds for the Dole Institute.
"Bob Dole has given us a historic set of documents and other material," Loomis said. "It strikes me that it would be a perfectly appropriate expenditure of state funds, for the library and especially for the institute and the programs, which could be a real asset for the state of Kansas."
Loomis said he and other University officials would be willing to answer any questions legislators had about the institute.
Dole's books
M. D. Bradshaw/KANSAN
Once completed, the Dole Institute will house documents from Dole's 27 years in Congress. The institute will sponsor forums for national, state and local policy discussions and will conduct programs to educate elected officials and the public about policy issues.
Construction of the institute should begin in spring 1999. The institute will be just west of the Lied Center.
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