UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, April 4, 1994
5
Politicians rally to keep Ft. Riley open
The Associated Press
JUNCTION CITY — Military downsizing has thrown the future of Fort Riley into question, and nearby communities are wondering about their own economic futures.
"Everybody who works here or who has a business here should be worried," said Robert Tankersley, whose rent-to-own store has catered to soldiers in this military town in central Kansas since 1962.
Fort Riley — and its $511 million annual payroll — could get squeezed out by the dual forces of government austerity and changing military needs.
"The closing of Fort Riley would be devastating," said Roger Maughmer, the mayor of nearby Manhattan. "We're not going to just stand by and let a mistake like that happen."
When the U.S. Army ranked the military value of its 11 divisional posts in the United States last year, Fort Riley was eighth. The two bases ranked 10th and 11th were closed.
Next year, the Army must rate its bases again and suggest the closing of at least two more.
Last week, a small parade of politicians rolled west on Interstate 70 to the fort for a series of meetings and forums as part of an ongoing rescue mission.
"It's important for those of us who represent Kansas in the Congress to be actively involved in maintaining the Army personnel" at near 515,000, said Rep. Jim Slattery, a Democrat running for Kansas governor. "The most persuasive argument is the right argument. And the right argument is simply keeping the military at that level."
Slattery was echoed by fellow Democratic Rep. Dan Glickman of Wichita, Republican Sens, Nancy Kassebaum and Bob Dole, and Democratic Gov. Joan Finney — all of whom have talked of a localized economic catastrophe if the post closed, and of a national security peril if the Army were to shrink much more.
"I if we are going to waste a little money," Senate Minority Leader Dole said at a dinner of base supporters, "we should do it protecting liberty, freedom and (the) future of America."
There are more than 14,000 enlisted personnel and officers stationed at Fort Riley.
Committee proposes library policy change
By Jamie Munn Kansan staff writer
An initiative to change KU library lending policies is past due, said one member of the Senate Libraries Committee. And one member of the University Senate Executive Committee said he was concerned that few students had been able to review the new plans, which included an increase in library fees and a clarification of the lending grace period.
But John Davidson, professor of physics and astronomy and chair of the Senate Libraries Committee, said the proposed changes were minor.
"I don't think it's a burning issue," Davidson said.
Davidson said the proposed changes were reviewed by SenEx in November. The changes then were forwarded to University Council, which could vote on the changes in its meeting this month, he said.
However, SenEx member and graduate student John Altevogt has fronted the claim that students have been ignored during the policy revisions.
But Davidson said that his committee included five students and five faculty members. Student members had been unable to attend some of the meetings because of class and test schedules, he said.
"I don't think that the charge that there was no student input is a valid one." he said.
However, Altevoft said he had written a letter to T.P. Srinivasan, head of SenEx, condemning the library committee's actions.
He also sent the letter to Davidson, Chancellor Gene Budig, Ed Meyen, executive vice-chancellor, and David Shulenberger, vice chancellor for academic affairs.
Altevogt said his main complaint was that he thought administrators had excluded or discouraged student input on the library committee.
"The problem is simply this: Committees of governance which involve library issues have been repeatedly transformed into committees of the administration," Altevogt said.
"A wide gap has slowly developed between what the Senate Libraries Committee should be and what it has become."
Davidson said he thought students would not oppose the plans because the changes were not drastic.
Davidson said that the increased fees were not significant and were less than inflation, and that few students or faculty actually kept books long enough for fines to be assessed.
The lending grace period, however, would be shortened, according to the plans. Instead of allowing a one-month grace period for most materials, fines were charged after 15 days. Davidson said.
"A lot of people have no clue when a book is really due," he said.
However, the amount of time that most materials may be checked out would be increased from one month to six weeks. Davidson said.
Although the committee held an open forum last semester, only two faculty members and no students attended the meeting, he said.
director for business, said graduate assistant coaches such as Shanks received a scholarship for tuition, books and room and board for their services.
Shanks was arrested on March 15 and charged with the rape of a Lawrence resident and a Kansas City, Kan, resident. He posted a $10,000 bond but was arrested again on Tuesday and charged with the rape of a KU student. He is now free on a $12,000 bond.
Neither Glen Mason, head football coach, nor Bob Frederick, KU athletic director, were available for comment.
Susan Wachter, assistant athletic
Vance said Shanks' duties on the team had involved assisting the full-time coaches and working directly with the players.
Graduate assistant coach on leave
Jeffery E. Shanks, a graduate assistant football coach charged with three counts of rape, has been placed on leave for an indefinite period, an Athletic Department official said yesterday.
Doug Vance, assistant athletic director, said that he did not know why Shanks had been placed on leave. He also said he did not know the date the action was taken.
Kansanstaffreport
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