CAMPUS/AREA: A workshop today is designed to help international students deal with American life. Page 7.
KANSAN
VOL.103,NO.133
KANSAS STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TOPEKA KS 66612
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
ADVERTISING: 8644358
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1994
(USPS 650-640)
NEWS: 864-4810
Apparitions of Mary, 'Queen of Love'
Story by Cathleen Slecha Photos by Melissa Lacey
WHEN ELIZABETH WEAVER WAS a teenager in Venezuela, she wasn't a religious person.
"I went out and partied with my friends all the time," Weaver says. "I didn't visit the church very often at all."
But when she turned 19, everything changed.
"I used to be very normal," Weaver says. "But if the Virgin Mary comes to visit and talk to you, you're going to listen."
important message came in December of 1992, when Mary told her to build a statue bearing her image of the Blessed Mother in a grotto outside her home at 3520 Garner Street, Kansas City, Mo.
"Many people will come," Weaver says Mary told her. "And when they see the image in the grotto, they will know that you were inspired by me and that I am in your soul and that you are in mine."
Sheltered by the grotto and poised behind a Plexiglas cove, a blue-robed Virgin Mary folds her hands in prayer.
So Weaver built a cavern with a fountain. She hung the United States flag behind it. She kept the grotto surrounded by flowers, both plastic and real, year-round. Small speakers play Muzak night and day, per the Virgin's wishes.
When the shrine was completed,
Weaver heard the Blessed Mother say,
"This is just the beginning."
Today, Mary, whom Weaver says wishes
"If the Virgin Mary comes to visit and talk with you,you're going to listen."
to be called "Mary Queen of Love," says she will not be satisfied until Weaver's entire block is filled with people coming to visit the grotto. Of the more than 3,000 people who have visited the grotto, Weaver said several groups have been party to public apparitions of Mary or Jesus hovering in the air.
None of this is particularly surprising to Sandra Zimdars-Swartz, professor of religious studies and author of the book, "Encountering Mary." She said claims of
divine interventions and Marian appari-
tions often draw large crowds. She has visi-
ted such apparition sites as Jurgorge,
Fatima and Lourdes, where Bernadette
Soubirous reported an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1858. She was sainted as a result of her visions.
"I went to Lourdes kind of as a joke," Zimdars-Swartz said. "I was in France for another purpose and I thought, 'Why not visit a thriving modern monument of pilgrimage?' I ended up being fascinated by what I saw and spent the better part of the day there."
See MARY, Page 9
Elizabeth Weaver built a grotto to protect a statue of Virgin Mary at her home.
Ex-president travels world talking peace
By Denise Nell Kansan staff writer
Gustavo Alvarado still remembers the day in 1986 that Oscar Arias was elected president of Costa Rica.
"I lived in a small town," said Alvarado, San Ramon, Costa Rica, junior and president of the Costa Rican Student Association. "It was around 7:30 when they announced he was president. I remember that people were jumping in the backs of trucks and going out to celebrate."
Arias, who during his time as president developed a Central American peace plan that earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, received a standing ovation from a crowd of almost 700 after a speech at the Lied Center at 8 yesterday evening. Arias spoke on "The Key to a Just Society."
Arias made his idea of justice known to the world when he convinced the leaders of five Central American nations to sign a peace plan in August of 1987. The plan called for an immediate cease fire in all guerrilla wars, suspension of outside military aid, general amnesty and democratic elections. Arias used Costa Rica's position as one of only two states in the world with no army to promote peaceful negotiations in the region.
Arias now travels the world teaching and lecturing. He also serves as president of Foundation Arias, an organization dedicated to furthering peace and human progress. He said he would like to see nations such as the United States follow Costa Rica's example and use money now spent on military weapons to improve education, housing and health care in their countries.
In his speech, sponsored by Student Union Activities and Student Senate, Arias said that KU students should appreciate their opportunities to receive a college education, since many people in developing nations were not afforded that privilege.
"Many of you might complain about a 12-page term paper, long lab hours or what you believe is an unfair exam without realizing that many people throughout the world can only dream of your situation and the opportunities it offers you," he said. "You belong to an elite group of individuals that have the opportunity to pursue a higher education."
Arias mentioned many problems facing developing countries today, such as poverty, illiteracy and drug abuse. Today's university students will be the future leaders who will solve these problems, he said.
Arias also was nomored at a luncheon yesterday. A representative from Gov. Joan Finney's office presented Arias with a document proclaiming yesterday Oscar Arias Day in Kansas. Arias spent the rest of the afternoon visiting history classes and talking with KU professors and students.
"He brings a message of peace," said Jose Alvarado, San Jose, Costa Rica, graduate student and treasurer of the Costa Rican Student Association. "He says that peace has no boundaries."
Oscar Arias, former president of Costa Rica, answered questions at a press conference in the Kansas Union. Gov. Joan Finney declared yesterday Oscar Arias Day. Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to stop the fighting in Central America and travels around the world advocating peace.
Heather Lofflin / KANSAN
Health plan to be focus of Clinton's visit
Trip will include KC town meeting
By Stephen Martino Kansan staff writer
President Bill Clinton will be in Topeka and the Kansas City area today to stump for his health-care proposal, now before Congress.
Clinton will fly into Forbes Field in Topeka at about 11:45 a.m., where a public greeting will be conducted for him. From the airfield, Clinton will go to the Topeka Foundry and Iron Works Co., 300 S.W. Jackson St. This event is only open to a selected group of small-business owners and the media. The public will not be allowed in for the meeting.
After leaving the foundry, Clinton will leave Topeka aboard Marine One, the presidential helicopter, for the Kansas City Municipal Airport in Kansas City, Mo.
The President will host a live town hall meeting at 7 tonight from KCTV Channel 5 in Fairway. Additional live audiences will be gathered at WIBW Channel 13 Topeka, KMTV of Omaha, Neb, and KOTV of Tulsa, Okla., all of which are CBS affiliates. CBS' other affiliates across the nation can show the meeting if they want.
The visit to Kansas comes on the heels of decreasing public support for the proposal. Since he introduced the plan in his State of the Union address in January, Clinton has watched support slide among the public and members of Congress.
One congressman who will be with the President during his visit to Topeka is Jim Slattery. A candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, Slattery also is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which will have a key role in passing the legislation.
Jim McLean, Slattery's press secretary, said Clinton's visit had no connection to Slattery's gubernatorial campaign.
President Clinton
"The congressman is always glad when the President decides to come to Kansas," McLean said. "He hopes the President listens to the concerns of the small-business owners and factors what they say into his health care proposal."
But the primary objective of the Kansas visit is to grab control of the subject and inform the public about the strength of the health care plan, said Ken Collier, assistant professor of political science.
"Clinton is trying to get his version out," he said. "It was once very popular, but he stopped talking about it. He's trying to control the of agenda."
Collier said that even though the visit was not connected to Slattery's campaign for governor, the congressman could get some benefit from the visit.
"If Clinton gives him a big hug and makes him look like a good guy, it will make him look good," he said.
How to see Bill
11. 145 a.m. — Clinton will fly in to Forbes Field in Topeka and be met by a greeting ceremony that is open to the public.
7 p.m. Clinton will host a town meeting on health care in Fairway, which will be televised on KCTV Channel 5. Studio audiences from Topeka, Ormaha, Neb., and Tulsa, Okla., also will participate.
Sophomore Reid Slattery has dominated the tennis courts as the No.1 singles player for Kansas.
KANSAN
King of the court
YOU coalition touts its leadership and experience
By Heather Moore
Kansan staff writer
Editor's note: This is the fourth of four articles profiling candidates for student body president and vice president.
Sherman Reeves, candidate for student body president, said he had an active commitment to KU. Reeves is serving as Interfraternity Council senator and is also on University Council.
YOU candidates plan to use their leadership experience to improve campus by establishing a volunteer lobbying group and improving campus recycling.
"I'm devoted to this campus," he said. "I've tried to be active and be a leader. It's hard to walk in without a solid base of experience."
YOU, which has 52 candidates running, is the most qualified to lead Senate. Reeves, Manhattan junior, said.
"We started, last year, forming the most qualified coalition," he said. "We have 17 returning senators. This sets us apart. We have worked to find people that have shown commitment to the University. These people have shown enthusiasm and fire."
Knowing—and helping to improve—the economic conditions of students is another goal, Reeves said.
"In the summer, it is evident that the students are not here," he said. "It is also evident to the merchants. We established the student dollars task force, which found businesses that offered discounts to students just for being a student. YOU wants to expand this with signs in windows and on registers."
Reeves said that he would like to see a change in Senate meetings.
"One of the problems I had this year was people closing meetings before the debate was over," he said. "Next year, at the leadership training workshop, I would like to see the leader emphasize that it's a forum for all opinions."
"It is not rampant fiscal irresponsibility," he said. "We have about $180,000 in the coffers. We would like to use it for the students. It is their money."
Reeves said he did not believe that Senate had not spent its money wisely.
Eric Medill, candidate for Senate vice-president, is serving as holdover senator and chair of the finance committee.
Medill, Sedan junior, said he would like to see some revenue code procedures changed. Revenue code requires that certain campus organizations are given a block allocation of money for a two-year period. One of the groups that receives this funding is campus transportation.
William Alix / KANSAN
Eric Medil, Sedan junior, and Sherman Reeves, Manhattan junior, say their experience would benefit Senate.
"In the past, there have been procedural things that I would like to see changed," he said.
The way to lobby the Legislature is through a volunteer campaign, Medill said.
"We would like to create a student lobbying task force with volunteer coordinators," he said. "It would have senators and non-senators working on mass letter campaigns to the Legislature. We could send people to Topeka when the issues are at hand."
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