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The weekend's weather
Tomorrow: partly sunny
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
K
KS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PD BOX 3585
TOPEKA, KS 66601-3585
Sunday: P sunshine.
Kansan Weekend Edition
Friday January 16,1998 Section:
A
Vol. 108 . No.81 Saturday & Sunday
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
(USPS 650-640)
It's not too cold for Ice's singing
By Tamara Miller
tmiller@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Stop, collaborate and listen.
Vanilla Ice is back and will be performing in Lawrence on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St.
Tickets go on sale at 4 p.m. tomorrow
Vanilla ice: He's back! And he will be in Lawrence.
at the Granada for $10, said Marissa Byrne, Topea sophomore and Granada employee. Tickets can also be bought through Ticketmaster.
Byrne said she had already received calls about the show.
"I think people just want to see what's come of him," she said "it's."
going to sell out fast.
Some students are proud of their Vanilla Ice fannish. Steve Devine, Olathe junior, said he was not surprised to hear the upcoming concert would sell out.
"Not since M. C. Hammer has there been someone so cool," he said. "Ice is a rap legend, you know."
Other students think Vanilla ice is not only a legend, but he is also a memento from their childhoods. Cory Silverman, Atlanta freshman, said she listened to Vanilla ice when she was in junior high school.
"I did my first cheerleading exercise to Ice, Baby," she said.
"I hope he still has his sliced eyebrow," she said. "I hope he plays 'Having a Ron'"
Kyleen Hamill, Overland Park freshman, said she planned to go to the concert and hoped the singer's style was still the same.
Hamill and Silverman have even put Vanilla Ice's song 'Having a Roni' on their answering machine. Although both are planning to attend the concert, Silverman said she thought Vanilla Ice would be unsuccessful in the '90s.
...
CONCERT CALENDAR
Tonight
Bambino's Italian Cafe: Mike Roberts
The Bottleneck: Virginia Keen, Jupiter Hollow
Brown Bear Brewing Co.: Zoe and the Mo Foes
Free State Brewery: Free State Jazz Quartet
Milton's: Key West Jazz Quartet
■ The Jazzzahs: Tim Mahoney and the Meenies
TOMORROW
Rambingo's Italian Cafe: Alonge
Bambino's Italian Cafe: Alonzo
The Bottleneck: Panel Donor, The What Gives, Mark Henning
Brown Bear Brewing Co.: Woody Davis Blues Band
Hi-Jinx Lounge: Key West Jazz Quartet
Milton's: Marvin Hunt
The Bottleneck: Swing Set Anniversary Party
Sundav
The Granada: MU 380, Norman 360,
Ruskabank. The Decepticonz
Replay Lounge: House of Large Sizes
Monday The Bottleneck: Open Mike
Monday
Index
News ...2A
Features ...8A
Sports ...1B
Game times ...2B
Horoscopes ...2B
Television ...2B
Poster ...4-5B
Opinion page ...4A
The University Daily Kansas is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents.
Same-sex ceremonies are held at Danforth Chapel. Although same-sex recognitions are permitted on campus, they are not recognized by the state of Kansas. Photo illustration by Tara Bradley/KANSAN
Same-sex commitment ceremonies held on campus to celebrate all relationships
By Deanna Engel Special to the Kansan
Forrest Swall never thought he would see his daughter's wedding day.
Swall, assistant professor emeritus of social welfare, and his wife had been told by their daughter, Tara, who was 23 at the time, that she was a lesbian.
Tara was in her 30's before she and her partner decided that they wanted to formalize their commitment to each other.
"They exchanged vows, and they exchanged rings." Swall said.
Same-sex commitment ceremonies like the one Tara Swall and her partner had are becoming more common in society. They also have become more common at the University of Kansas' nondenominational Danforth Chapel.
The University does not have a policy that would prevent homosexual couples from using the chapel for a wedding. The one guideline that does exist requires that the focus of the event be religious in nature, said Anna Kraxner, Danforth Chapel reservation clerk.
"I know of at least one or two bookings for gay couple recognitions," Kraxner said. "It is something that is certainly permissible. We welcome any religious ceremony that allows people to celebrate their lives."
No one can say how many same-sex ceremonies have been performed at Danforth. Reports compiled and submitted to the Department of Student Life each year do not distinguish same-sex marriages from other ceremonies.
Same-sex are permitted within Danforth, but they are not legally recognized in Kansas, said Michele Kessler, associate director of Legal Services for Students.
"There really isn't something that forbids
them," she said.
Kansas is not alone. No states recognize same-sex marriages, although some legislation has been proposed in Hawaii.Unions that occur in university chapels do not entitle the couple to the same rights as a married heterosexual couple.
Dennis Dailey, professor of social welfare, said that homosexual couples used the chapel because it provided a safer, easier way to have a religious context for the service.
"It's probably a little bit easier to arrange a ceremony at Danforth than it would be to arrange a ceremony at one of the local churches," he said. "There are only a few churches that would even consider that activity."
While many organized religions accept gay couples, only a few actually perform commitment ceremonies. One church in Lawrence that allows the ceremonies is the Unity Church.
"Our church is based on teachings of Jesus Christ," said Sherry Schultz, who leads the Unity Church. "We believe that Jesus taught us to love one another. He did not tell us who to love or who not to love. If there are two people of the same gender who want to make a commitment to one another, that works for us."
Although Schultz has never performed a ceremony, she said that commitment ceremonies such as those performed at Danforth were not that different from traditional heterosexual marriages.
"Obviously you change gender lines in the ceremony," Schultz said. "Sometimes it's appropriate to acknowledge that love comes in many forms and that we're here to honor one of those forms."
See CAMPUS on page 2A
New comptroller to take reins in February
By Gerry Doyle
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas can count on filling its vacant comptroller position by February.
On Feb. 3, Mel Klinkner, former associate vice president of finance at Central Missouri State University, will take the duties of financial management.
The University has been without a comptroller since Sept. 13, when former comptroller Kathe Shinham stepped down to take the job of associate vice president for finance and facilities at Northern Illinois University.
"We conducted a national search and found a number of really good applicants," said Lindy Eakin, associate provost. "Mel understands KU management and the services we operate."
Klinkner has been at Central Missouri State for the last year and a half. His duties CMSU were largely the same as those he will have at the University.
"CMSU is a lot smaller," he said. "It's a
lot different scope. Otherwise, it will be very similar."
Klinkner had worked at the University of Kansas before, serving as accounts receivable manager in the comptroller's office, business manager of computing services and director of Perkins Student Loan Programs from 1987 to 1991. He said he had enjoyed his time at the University of Kansas, but he hadn't planned on returning as comptroller.
"It's really the only job I would have considered," he said. "I have already been there and enjoyed it. Every place is unique, and the University of Kansas has a lot of camaraderie. It's like coming home."
Shinham, the former comptroller, left the University to take a higher administrative position at Northern Illinois University. She said she enjoyed her new job and Klinkner was a great choice as her successor.
"I love it here," Shinham said. "I'm having a blast. The staff at the KU office thought extremely highly of Mel. KU is very fortunate to get someone as terrific
...
as him."
The search for a new comptroller began immediately after Shinham resigned, said Deb Teeter, director of institutional research and planning and head of the search committee.
The committee first developed a job description and an application form. The job opening was advertised in local newspapers as well as nationally in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Applicants filled out a 10-page essay application, answering questions like "What are your management principles and how do you practice them?" and "How would you develop a mission statement for the comptroller's office?" Their responses were reviewed by committee members individually.
Klinkner was offered the job on Dec. 8, and accepted it about a week later.
"It was a very fast search," Teeter said. "There was a strong need to fill the position quickly. Mel Klinkner in his responses and experiences was an incredible match with our needs. I'm personally very excited that we
COMPTROLLER'S DUTIES
- Process the University payroll
- Coordinate bursar's office activities
- Pay University bills
- Manage the University' s funds
Klinkner worked as associate university controller and assistant controller for accounting services at Kansas State University from 1991 to 1996; as a business manager in Church Administration in DeQueen, Ark., from 1982 to 1987; as an assistant business manager, the acting director of student financial assistance and student financial assistance loans officer at Ouachita University from 1974 to 1981 and served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1974.
attracted someone like Mel."
Klinkner has a master's degree from Baker University, and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Economics from Ouachita University in Arkadelphia, Ark.
schedule of events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., see page 6A
...
Easy livin'
More than 700 KU students avoid the costs and roommate hassles of campus living by staying at home with Mom and Dad. See page 8A.
待