IS OUR GENERATION LOST?
The hopes and fears of twentysomethings at KU in SECTION 2
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
VOL.103.NO.147
KANSAS STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TOPEKA KS 66121
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1994
ADVERTISING:864-4358
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NEWS:864-4810
Flood of'93 continues to leave its mark
By Roberta Johnson Kansan staff writer
A new pond sits on what used to be a field near U.S. Highways 24-40 north of town, and if the rains continue, it could expand across the road and possibly throughout parts of Lawrence.
Because last summer's floodwaters never completely dried out. Lawrence may again face flooding.
The 90-day outlook from May through July predicted that temperatures would be below average and that precipitation would be higher than normal, said Philip Bills, a forecaster for the National Weather Service in Topeka.
"It's fairly unlikely that major rains occur two years in a row," Bills said. "But most every year we experience some flooding."
During the summer, water typically evaporates at a rate of.5 centimeters each day, said David Braaten, assistant professor of meteorology.
However, he said, in cases of heavy rains, the ground would soak up as much as it could. The rest of the water "runs off" and forms lakes or adds water to nearby streams. If the streams or lakes are higher than ground level, flooding occurs.
When the water soaks into the ground, it evaporates at an even slower rate.
Braaten said the amount of evaporation also depended upon the temperature and humidity.
"If we have low humidity and high temperatures, it dries out fairly quickly," he said. "But if it's humid and/or cool, then the water will sit for a while."
The water table, which measures how much water is in the ground, was sitting just a few feet from the surface, said Albert Rowell, professor of geology. The water table is the boundary between the rocks with air between them and the rocks with water filling the cracks.
"It's like when a basement floods," Rowell said. "The water table is high enough that water runs through the cracks in the basement.
"Some fields last week flooded over. But whether we'll get uncontrollable floods again is unlikely, I think," he said. "But I don't know for sure."
The Kansas Geological Survey had no readings for the water table after January of 1993, said Anna Kraxner, secretary for the geohydrologic department.
If parts of Lawrence do flood, Douglas County has a plan. Paula Phillips, director of emergency preparedness for Douglas County, said some changes had been made to the county emergency plan after last year's floods. The reforms included using less paid employees and more volunteers for some work and identifying victims who need more than the readily available assistance, she said.
Phillips said the county would continue to work with the cities to provide information to citizens, plan for anticipated flooding, assess damage, monitor roads and sand-bag during the flood as it did last summer.
"There's always a plan in place," she said.
Recycling program begins
Kansan staff report
The office of the Environmental Ombudsman is teaming up with the Omega Psi Phi fraternity to promote environmentally-conscious moving.
Recycling boxes will be placed in the lobbies of residence and scholarship halls beginning tomorrow and lasting throughout the end of finals, said Sandra Mori, environmental education coordinator. The boxes are intended for commonly-discarded items that can be reused, such as carpets, clothes hanger, laundry baskets, full-length mirrors, milk crates and cinder blocks, she said.
Other agencies that accept items for recycling are:
* Salvation Army 749.4208
Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store, 749-4900
Social Service League Store, 843-5414
Plymouth Thrift Shop, 842-1408
The Kansas men's and women's tennis teams celebrated their Big Eight Conference tournament titles at a banquet Sunday night, and they now are preparing for the NCAA tournament. Page 11.
Causing a racket
Nelson Mandela claims victory
Leader chosen in South Africa's first open vote
The Associated Press
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Nelson Mandela proclaimed victory yesterday in his lifetime crusade for a nonracial democracy in South Africa. As his supporters let loose in ecstatic celebration, the nation's first Black president declared, "Free at last!"
"This is indeed a joyous night for the human spirit. This is your victory too," said the 75-year-old leader, his eyes glistening.
Supporters shrieked with joy in a hotel ballroom draped in the green, gold and black colors of Mandela's African National Congress. The celebrations spilled over
into the black districts of Soweto and Alexandra, where thousands of people poured into the streets dancing, laughing and waving ANC flags.
Nelson Mandela
Mandela himself joined in the jubilation — dancing across a hotel stage with Coretta Scott
king, widow of U.S. civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda in tow. In the background, a choir sang the praises of "Madiba," Mandela's traditional clan name.
"I stand before you filled with deep pride and joy — pride in the ordinary, humble people of this country," said Mandela. "You have shown such a calm, patient determination to reclaim this country as your own."
And joy that we can loudly proclaim from the rooftops — free at last!"
Earlier, President F.W. de Klerk of the National Party acknowledged defeat in South Africa's first democratic elections. He praised Mandela, a one-time political prisoner, as "a man of destiny" and pledged to work with him in the new government scheduled to be installed in eight days.
Mandela, in turn, congratulated de Klerk "for the many days, weeks and months and the four years that we have worked together, quarreled, addressed sensitive problems, and at the end of our heated exchanges were able to shake hands and to drink coffee."
The two leaders navigated the country through a transition in which an oppressive white minority surrendered its privileges to the Black majority. Both sides promised to forgive the past and build one nation.
Although ballot officials remained less than halfway through counting yesterday,
an ANClandslide victorywas indisputable.
The ANC was projected to win about 240 seats in the new 400-seat Parliament, which will select Mandela as president Friday. On May 10, he will be inaugurated at a ceremony attended by world leaders.
Mandela's victory culminated a process that began with his release from prison in February 1990 and ended with the last week's election in which Blacks voted for the first time.
"Mr. Mandela has walked a long road and now stands at the top of the hill," de Klerk said of the ANC leader, who spent 27 years in prison for opposing the policies imposed by his party. "I hold out my hand to Mr. Mandela in friendship and in cooperation."
Dekler is expected to serve as one of two vice presidents, and in his speech he made clear he expected to maintain a powerful presence in government.
Day on the Hill leaves mess behind
The Hill may not be clean for graduation if rain keeps falling
By Susan White
Kansan staff writer
After heavy rains, continuous traffic and a day of slam-dancing from Day on the Hill, the Hill itself will need a makeover to prepare for graduation day.
Steve Helsel, associate director of construction, landscape and vehicle maintenance for facilities operations, said the landscape team would be working from now until graduation to repair the damages.
"Seventy-five to 80 percent of the Hill is ruined," he said. "Everything is a mess."
1.
A sprinkler waters Campanile Hill as a mountain biker cycles up a sidewalk. The water is intended to help wash upturned soil from the Hill's surface. Activities at Saturday's Day on the Hill activities, combined with wet weather, turned the Hill into a muddy mess.
Helsel said all the materials and labor to repair the Hill would cost the University about $5,000.
Doug Hesse / KANSAN
Helsel said facilities operations would start by cleaning the mud off the Hill.
"The materials will cost between $2,500 to $3,500 and labor will cost about $1,500," he said.
"We have big water guns to saturate the Hill," he said.
If the Hill can be dried, the team will begin the next phase of the clean up, he said. Once the Hill is dry, which Helsel said would be during this weekend, workers will plant rye grass seeds and fertilize them.
Helsel said whether the work would be finished by graduation would depend on the amount of rain that fell.
"This is not a good time to pull this off," he said. "The weather looks pretty
gloomy for the rest of the week.
"If it doesn't perk up, we will continue the renovations over the summer."
Sue Morrell, director of Student Union Activities, said the organization probably would not have to pay for the repairs.
"We were responsible for the day and
the day after," she said. "We paid to fence off areas that would be less drainable. If there are areas with more severe damages, we may have to pay to fix them."
Morrell said they would find out within the next few weeks whether the organization was responsible to cover the dam.
ages from the event.
Helsel said that the damages from the event would not prevent graduates from taking the traditional walk down the Hill.
"I don't think they can make it any worse than it already is by walking on it," he said.
They step and sing for pride. They uphold the ideals that bond them and guide them through life's challenges. It's all part of...
The tradition of sisterhood
Stories by James E. Baucom Jr.
The pounding thump-thump of the bass and other funky rhythms blast from a set of Peavey speakers one Saturday night in the basement of the Burge Union, while nearly 300 students dance.
Suddenly, a half-dozen women clap their hands twice and shriek, "Skee-Wee" in a piercing, high-pitched tone.
Another group of women strut runway-model style in a synchronized walk around the crowded dance floor. After a double clap the women form a triangle with their hands and wall. "Oo-oop."
Minutes later two groups of men start
marching in unison The first group yells, "Ommuneeega," followed by the other group's shout of "Gomabi!"
This fazes none of the party members.
This scenario is common in predominantly Black parties at the University of Kansas and other campuses across the country. The walks, calls, steps and hand symbols are done by members of the eight historically Black sororities and fraternities. These activities contribute to the mystique held by these secret societies.
Of those organizations, three of the four sororities have chapters at the University. They are. Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta.
See SORORITIES, Page 9A.
Amv Solt / KANBAN
Members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority model their visual signal. Along with a walk, chant, song, flower, motto and wearing their letters, the hands signal is a way of identification for the members. These activities contribute to the mystique of the eight Black fraternities and sororities across the nation.
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