CAMPUS/AREA
UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
Friday, February 12, 1993
3
Tribal gaming hidden among casino issues
By Ben Grove
Kansan staff writer
As the Kansas Senate yesterday voted down a resolution that would have paved the way for a colossal $300 million casino and entertainment complex in Kansas City, Kan., American Indians could be to wonder when legislators would get to them.
American-Indian casino gambling advocates in Kansas are in their second year of a legislative struggle to make casino gaming compacts legal between the state and the four tribes in Kansas.
Those advocates say their interests have been slighted by legislators who have focused this session instead on other gambling legislation.
"They view it as a form of discrimination that the Legislature didn't deal with it last year when they had a full session, and now a number of proposals are in to hurt the prospect of Indian gaming," said Lance Burr, a Lawrence attorney who represents the Kickanoon nation.
Burr and American Indians have said that a casino and entertainment complex such as the one proposed for Kansas City, Kan., would have hurt reservation casino businesses if both were permitted by law.
“It’s really popular for legislators to say, ‘We’re not against Indians, we’re just against the issue.’” Burr said. “Well, why would they be willing to support other projects when there aren’t Indians involved?”
Senate yesterday reconsidered its motion and restored the resolution to its debate calendar to be considered again later.
Lori Learned, co-president of the Native American Student Association, said American-Indian reservations in Kansas needed the revenues from the casinos, which would generate funds for health care and education improvements.
Despite the resolution's defeat, the
"It would start a little boom, hopefully," she said.
Last week, members of the the House hurriedly passed a bill on to the Senate in an effort to show the Kansas
Supreme Court that it was serious about addressing reservation casinos.
Recently, American Indians called upon the court to decide whether the Legislature was dealing with the tribes in bad faith.
The court could decide as soon as to take steps to remove all regulatory control from the state's hands — control it possesses despite the fact that the four tribes in Kansas are sovereign nations.
The bill moved through the House so fast it did not define an age limit for gamblers and the word 'casino' was
removed, something House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, said defeated the purpose of the bill.
Donald Stull, professor of anthropology, who sometimes teaches a Native American Affairs class, said he no longer thought the Legislature's foot-dragging was a political power struggle.
"The fact that the state was able to hold off the compact for as long as they did was very detrimental," he said. "People are scurrying around the Legislature to enact something. I think that the issue of discrimination cannot be dismissed."
Administrator opposes bill on Legal Services
By Brett Riggs
Kansan staff writer
Student Senate saw it as a symbolic move to strengthen student advocacy. The administration looked at it as a severing of communication.
Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that pushed for the removal of the administration's representative from the Legal Services for Students advisory board.
Legal Services, financed by Senate,
employs three full-time professional
attorneys who provide free legal
counseling for KU students.
Under the proposal, the board would be made up of four undergraduate students, one law student, one graduate student and one member of the Senate university affairs commit-
tion, which the administration currently does not allow.
Kaiser said the administration based its stance on the fact that the service's attorneys were employees of the state, like members of the faculty and administration.
"I think students need advocates, but I think it would be a conflict of interest," Kaiser said.
John, Altevogt, graduate senator,
sad Senate also wanted to remove
the administrative representative
because the senators thought the
Students' ideas vary about romantic dates
Creativity plays important role in planning for those special nights out
By Lisa Cosmillo Special to the Kansan
"It was one of the best times I've had with her." Bryant said.
The door opens into a room lit only by the soft glow of flowers. The aroma of a favorite food fills the room. An arrangement of roses graces the table, and nearby is a bottle of champagne on ice.
If this sounds like a dream, it's not. Erick Bryant, St. Louis senior, arranged this romantic scene for his girlfriend last Valentine's Day, while a snow storm raged outside.
"She opened the door and said, 'Oh! I love you,'" he said.
For Bryant and others like him, Valentine's Day is a time for sharing between couples.
It is a day for small niceties, giving small gifts and cards to a loved one and springing for a night out.
This Valentine's Day, many couples will take the traditional approach of celebrating by dining out and exchanging notes expressing sentiments from the heart.
Going out to dinner is a favorite way to mark the holiday for Betty Choi, Lawrence senior, and her significant other.
"We go to a really nice restaurant and eat, you know, hang out with no disturbances," she said. "It's a special day when we can be together."
Area restaurant workers expect to see many couples enjoying intimate dinners this Valentine's Day.
"Sometimes people put extra things on the tables, little cakes and gifts," he said.
Matt Cobb, Lawrence junior, an employee at FIFI's, 925 Iowa St., said the restaurant always was crowded on Valentine's Day. And the guests bring their own tokens to add to the festive mood.
Katie Murray, an employee at Molly McGee's, 2429 Iowa St, said, "It's one of our busier nights. A lot of couples show up."
Expressing feelings of affection to that special someone, however, is not always easy.
For Melissa Bulgren, Lawrence
graduate student, there are pressures that mount as Valentines Day approaches.
"When you're dating someone you wonder, 'Do I get the gift?' she said. "If I decide I do, what kind of gift do it get? Is it candy? Or do I go the boxer (shorts) route?"
Chris Spurgin, St. Louis senior,
said men also worried about what
to get their girlfriends.
"I think guys are under a lot of pressure, whether real or imagined, so I got her a cactus," he said.
Margaret Hu, Manhattan senior, said she and her boyfriend usually spent quiet evenings on Valentine's Day watching movies.
Having someone to share the day with makes all the difference, said Donna Kirk, Manhattan graduate student. She said she liked Valentine's Day now, but she didn't when she was single.
As an undergraduate, Kirk said she and her unattached friends created their own fun.
"We had a single-only party on Valentine's Day from which we excluded anyone who was in a relationship. And we wouldn't let them in," she said.
Illustration by Andrew Arnone / KANSAN
Many students have various ideas about what makes a romantic date. From the traditional to the more creative individual is important.
Watch for the Spring Break Tab! Coming in the Daily Kansan
February 12, 1993 * X- gone * VALENTINES DAY EDITION
Renee Knoeber / KANSAN
's Day. The shop had about 100ansas City and from as far away
or city vote
iman said he thought the decision g overdue.
I election, then we would have about ople voting in a place that can barely 1,000. Another factor was that, as of there were 1,165 people registered in cinct."
k it was unfair of them to make stu- to another district to vote," he said. more students will vote now that the use is open to them."
ots who do not live in the precinct,
d on the north by 15th Street, on the
y 19th Street, on the west by Iowa
and on the east by Naismith Drive,
te in their regular precincts.
must register by Feb. 16 in Doug-
tary to be eligible to vote in the prima-