Tomorrow's weather
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO BOX 3585
TOPEKA, KS 66601-3585
ansan
Thursday will continue to be warm and rainy.
Wednesday
February 25,1998
Section:
A
Vol. 108 • No. 108
Online today
Haven't heard enough about El Niño? This site tells all about the hottest weather pattern to hit the continent.
Sports today
http://www.elnino.com
As the season nears to an end, both Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz are two of the top contenders for Big 12 Player of the Year.
SEE PAGE 1B
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Course content questioned
State studies gay, bisexual class material
By Gerry Doyle and Brandon Copple
gdoyle@kansan.com
bcopple@kansan.com
Kansan staff writers
A request from the Kansas Legislature is targeting classes with homosexual or bisexual content.
(USPS 650-640)
The request, which requires all Regents schools to report any classes with content directly
related to homosexuality or bisexuality, came through the Board of Regents, said Provost David Shulenburer.
The request came from the Legislative Research Department in Topeka and was unaccompanied by an explanation or the name of the legislator behind it, he said.
Leah Robinson of Legislative Research said that the agency could not identify which legislators initiated research requests.
The University must respond to the inquiry because it is a public institution, Shulenburger said. Although the reason for the inquiry is unclear, an attempt to change course content would be unacceptable, he said.
"There isn't any basis for imputing motives right now," he said. "But I think our courses are appropriate given what we're training students to do. If we are required to change them, it becomes an academic freedom issue."
Shulenburger said the provost's office used the terms "homosexuality" and "bisexuality" in a search of University course descriptions. Two courses turned up, he said; JOUR 605, Media Ethics and HPMD 911, a medical ethics class at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
The request did not bode well for students or for community diversity, said Christine Robinson, Lawrence graduate student and sociology teaching assistant.
Robinson said nothing good could come from the request, despite the lack of information about its origins.
"I don't think its intent is benign," she said. "This sends a message to people who are teaching that they are being watched. It's social control."
Limiting the academic atmosphere with legislation would almost certainly hurt students, said Terry Huerter, Lake Quivira senior.
Keeping students from taking classes in an area labeled offensive by some would hinder learning as a whole, he said.
KANSAS LEGISLATURE
QUEST: The Legislative request requires all Regents schools to report any classes with content directly related to homosexuality or bisexuality.
Origin of request: The request came without explanation from the Legislative Research Department in Topeka. The origin of the request was not identified.
"It makes me wonder what the legislature wants it for," he said. "If something bad comes of this, it's the next round of civil rights not being upheld."
Gone Fishin'
John Colby Miller, Muleshoe, Texas, junior, casts a call at Potter Lake. Miller, who spent yesterday afternoon relaxing after track and field practice, will compete in the pole-vault event during the Big 12 Conference track and field meet this weekend. Photo by Augustus Anthony Piazza/KANSAN
Three students arrested during drug investigation
The investigation of a heroin distribution organization, which has led to the arrests of three University of Kansas students, continued yesterday.
Karen Hanneman, McLouth junior, Kristine Midyett, Lawrence sophomore, and Melissa Anne Schultz, Winnetka, Ill., sophomore, were arrested last weekend in Lawrence by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for their involvement in the operation, said Scott Teeselink, special agent for the KHI in Toneka.
"This is a case that we've been working on for five months, and we felt this was the best time to move in and make the arrests." Teeselink said.
The arrests were prompted by the KBI's seizure of about 25 grams of heroin, valued at between $4,500 and $5,000.
"The individuals we have arrested will be turned over to the usual charging process, but we believe more arrests can be made," Teeselink said.
Information on when and where the seizure occurred was not available.
"Our agents are still out there operating, so we can't release any of those details yet." Teeselink said.
He said the KBI had been working with a group of law enforcement agencies, including the Overland Park police department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Unit.
Hanneman and Midyett each were charged with one count of distribution of heroin with intent to sell and one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Both were released on $6,000 bonds.
Schultz was arrested in Lawrence on one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. She was released on a $3,000 bond.
Liberal Arts, Engineering enrollments up
— Ronnie Wachter
By Gerry Doyle
gdayle@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering posted enrollment gains from Spring 1997.
The increase could be attributed to attracting and keeping students, said Provost David Shulenburger. The increased tuition funds will help defray the costs of a larger student body. Shulenburger said.
The enrollment increase this semester at the University of Kansas largely has been engineered by two schools, according to the University's Official Lawrence Headcount Summary.
students this spring than in Spring 1997. The school had been experiencing drops in enrollment before 1996, said Carl Locke, dean of engineering. A perceived lack of jobs was keeping students away, Locke said.
"It used to be we would get more students but not benefit too much from it," he said. "It was just more water in the soup. But with tuition retention, I don't think it will fundamentally affect students too much."
The school sponsors activities like High School Day and the Engineering Expo to attract potential engineering students. The school also spent $800,000 on scholarships last year, he said.
Engineering enrolled 152 more
"We're working hard in recruiting," he said. "It's helped draw more attention to what we're doing. Will this continue into the future? I have no clue."
Students might be choosing engineering because of better job opportunities, said Ethan Good, Marlon sophomore and an engineering student.
Locke said that it was hard to determine a specific cause for the engineering increase.
The promise of an engineering
career probably created the increased enrollment. Good said.
"It's about money," he said. "You can get a lot of it. There might be more competition for jobs now with more students, but hopefully we can get better facilities with increased interest."
Pam Houston, director of the college undergraduate center said that new programs such as the Mount Oread Scholars program and improved retention of the large freshman class were responsible for the spring increase. The jump, while not necessarily expected, probably will not affect students one way or the other, she said.
Enrollment in the college increased from 11,788 in Spring 1997 to 12,038 this spring, a jump of 250 students. About half of the University's students are enrolled in the college.
"One of the worst things that can happen is a drastic increase or decrease in enrollment," she said.
Regents' universities. The Lawrence campus gained 543 of the 1,115 more students enrolled on Regents' campuses this spring. Emory State University and the University of Kansas Medical Center were the only Regents campuses to report enrollment drops.
"But 250 new students isn't necessarily a large number when you've got 13,000 undergraduates in the college. I don't think students will notice too many changes."
The University's Lawrence campus accounted for nearly half of the enrollment growth at the six
Repentance and renewal mark Ash Wednesday
By Sara Anderson
sanderson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Ash Wednesday is today, and some University of Kansas students are preparing to repent and renew their spirituality.
The Christian holiday signifies the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period of repentance and renewal before the Easter holiday.
The name evolved from the ancient custom of burning the blessed palm fronds from the previous year's Palm Sunday. The ashes were placed on worshipers' foreheads in the form of a cross, representing an outward and visible sign of inward repentance.
Christine Oxler. Leawood sophomore, said Ash Wednesday was a serious religious holiday.
"You don't want to let down the church or your own promise to God," she said.
Services will be held at Danforth Chapel today in observance of Ash Wednesday. Four half-hour services will be held at 8 a.m.,11:30 a.m.,12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Religious leaders from Canterbury House, Ecumenical Christian Ministries, Lutheran Campus Ministries and United Methodist Campus Ministry will perform the services.
Thad Holcombe, campus minister, for Ecumenical Christian Ministries, said that this was the fifth year services were offered at the chapel. He said that last year about 50 students, faculty and staff attended. Holcombe said he encouraged people to attend.
"it's open to everyone and is one of the services for someone who wants to just observe and learn." he said.
"It's an important Christian holiday and we're doing it ecumenically to show that we all have something in common," Mitchell said.
Clark Mitchell, Arkadelphia, Ark., senior, and Episcopal Lutheran administrator for Canterbury House, 1116 Louisiana St., said Ash Wednesday was a part of celebrating life.
Shawn Norris, a Lutheran Campus Ministry pastor, agreed. She said Ash Wednesday helped remind people about the true meaning of Lent.
"We're all told we're going to die, but we don't think about it, we try not to think about it," he said. "Part of Ash Wednesday is that it's a strong reminder that we will die. For me, it's not a morbid idea, but one that tells you to live life more clearly."
"It's more of a time of cleaning out our spiritual lives, not giving up something like caffeine," he said.
Holcombe said that while most people focused on giving up things like certain foods for the observance, the main point of the holiday was reflection.
Norris said the day also forced people to think about their own mortality.
Yesterday, the campus was littered with colored pancakes.
Sue Elkins, member of the University Events Committee and director of KU info, said she thought that a religious group had distributed the pancakes, and that the pancakes were probably related to Fat Tuesday
Mitchell said it was a tradition to make pancakes on Fat Tuesday because it was necessary to up foods such as eggs and butter before Lent.
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
Today at Danforth Chapel
8:8-30 a.m. — performed by the Rev.
Albert Allard, Centenary House
11.30 a.m.-12 p.m. — performed by Jay
Jayne, United Methodist Campus
12. 30-1 p.m. — performed by Shawn
Norris, Lutheran Campus Ministry
4. 30-5p.m. — performed by Thad Hol-
All services are free and open to the public
4:30-5p.m. - performed by had Holcom-
鼓舞 Christian Ministries
Explanation:
Because of mechanical difficulties, the University Daily Kansan is printed without color today. The staff of the Kansan hopes to have color capabilities returned by the end of the week.