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"What time's he due in?"
"About 1:35.
He's a little behind."
The University Daily
KANSAN
see p. 6
Vol. 94, No. 159 (USPS 650-640)
Published since 1889 by students at the University of Kansas
Frisbee weather
High, 94
Details on p. 2
Friday morning, July 20, 1984
Balloons soar to remember POWs
By LORI ELLIOTT Staff Reporter
Tonight the skies above Lawrence will be filled with balloons containing the names of men who never came home from the Vietnam War. Whether they died or are still somewhere in Southeast Asia, no one is sure.
The balloon release is part of the nationwide observance by the National League of Families of American Prisoners Missing in Southeast Asia to remember the 2,489 men who are still missing, said John Musgrave, a Vietnam veteran who lives in Baldwin.
The balloons will be released at 6 p.m. from the Veterans of Foreign Wars building, 138 Alabama St.
"THIS DAY IS to help remind people that the war is not over," Musgrave said. "It won't be over until we know where all these people are."
Mustrugra said that there were 39 Kansans listed as missing, and that eight of them had gone to the University of Kansas. He said these eight men would be designated as missing when their names were listed on the KU Vietnam Memorial.
Although the groundbreaking date has not been set for the Vietnam Memorial, the Student Senate and the Vietnam Memorial have agreed to build it near the Frank R. Burge Union.
"The family members don't know whether to pray that they're alive or dead," Musgrave said. "They want them to be alive so they can see them again, but when they consider the horrors the prisoners may be
Remains of casualties returned
By United Press International
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii — The remains of what are believed to be eight U.S. servicemen killed in the Vietnam War have been returned to American soil.
The remains were turned over in Hanoi to American officials, including Col. Joe Harvey of the Joint Casualty Resolution Center.
The coffins, each draped with an American flag, were flown to Hawaii Wednesday aboard a C-141 Military Airlift Command jet from Manila.
Two teams of four servicemen, representing the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force, carried each casket through the rear ramp of the jet, past a five-member military honor guard and color guard. The caskets were loaded onto an Army hospital bus.
Vietnamese officials identified one set of
remains as those of Sgt. Domic. Sansone of New York City, killed Dec. 10, 1964, when the 'Jetnamess-plated' C123 transporter in crashed into a mountain near Da Nang.
However, the identification had not been verified by U.S. authorities, an official said.
The remains of the eight were taken to the U.S. Central Identification Laboratory in Honolulu where technicians were to try to establish the identities.
After the ceremony, Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Stevenson, a member of the U.S. delegation to Hanoi, said it was hoped that this latest move would resume "technical" talks between the United States and Vietnam on the resolution of the fates of 2,490 Americans who never returned from Indochina.
Another round of talks is scheduled for next month in Hanoi.
Of the eight returned this week, Stevenson said, five were recovered from the Hanoi-Haiphong area.
enduring, they think, 'Should I pray they're dead?'
REBECCA PYLES, Lawrence graduate student, said her uncle, Boyd Pyles, had disappeared during a reconnaissance flight out of Da Nang in 1965. He was a colonel in the U.S. Air Force.
Pyles said there had not been any sightings of her uncle reported to her.
"It's unlikely that he's still alive, according to the U.S. military's classification," Pyles said.
"I almost hope that he isn't alive, when I think of what he may have gone through these past 19 years. I'd almost hate to talk
about it. It would really be a mixed blessing if he were alive."
Pyles, who is a member of the league, said she probably would be participating in the balloon release tonight.
Several men who had been declared missing in action may soon be identified, Musgrave said.
"This release of remains was the first in over a year." Musgrave said.
THE REMAINS of eight bodies have just been released by the North Vietnamese government, he said. They are in Hawaii now to go through identification processes. One set of remains has been tentatively identified as an American.
The North Vietnamese traded the remains for good publicity and peace meetings, Musgrave said. The remains were released in small cardboard boxes and didn't always contain entire skeletons. Some of the boxes also contained identification cards or dog tags.
In addition to the remains the North Vietnamese government turned over to the United States, there have been reports that some former members who fought in Vietnam are still alive.
These sightings did not include the information that had been gathered by Department of Defense intelligence. He said intelligence officials would not release the information, fearing they would endanger the lives of people who might still be in Southeast Asia.
Musgrave is involved with a group of Vietnam veterans called Prairie Fire, which is concerned about the POWs who were lost in Laos.
Mondale boasts of 'new realism' in party in 1984
By United Press International
SAN FRANCISCO — Walter Mondale,
accepting his party's presidential nomination
last night, urged Americans who voted
for Ronald Reagan four years ago to look at a
"new realism" in the Democratic Party in
1984
Mondale said the national convention was ending in unity despite a hard-fought contest for the nomination with Gary Hart and Jesse Jackson.
"Over the next hundred days, in every word we say and every life we touch, we will be fighting for the American future," he said.
The Democrats are a party changed from four years ago when, Mondale acknowledged, Reagan "beat the pants off us."
"I heard you. And our party heard you." Mondale said in a near apologetic tone, aimed at millions of television viewers.
"Look at our platform," he said in a prepared address. "There are no defense cuts that weaken our security; no business taxes that weaken our economy; no laundry lists that raid our Treasury. We are wiser, stronger and focused on the future."
"I Mr. Reagan wants to re-run the 1980 campaign; fine. We fight them over the past. We're fighting for the American future — and that's why we're going to run."
See MONDALE, p. 5, col. 1
Lynne Lowry, left, rummages through a pile of running shoes, looking for the right size, while Sien. Wint Winter J., R-
Lawrence, looks on. The two were making the best of the hot summer day yesterday during Lawrence Sidewalk Sales.
Raymond Brecheisen/KANSAN
Sidewalk sale popular with shoppers, stores
By KAREN MASSMAN
Staff Reporter
Although the Christmas shopping season usually doesn't begin until after Thanksgiving, Arlene Lawson, Eudora, took a day off from her job as city clerk yesterday to begin her holiday shopping.
Lawson was among the hundreds of area bargain hunters and sightseers taking advantage of the annual Downtown Sidewalk Sale yesterday.
"I usually Christmas shop. I have teenage grandchildren," Lawson said. "The crowd is about the best I've seen." THE SIDEWALK SALE, sponsored by the Downtown Lawrence Association has taken place each year at this time for the last 12 years. Ron Johnson, president of the association, said
Johnson said that it was a fun day for people to dress casually, see friends, and enjoy the variety of foods that normally aren't available downtown.
"IT'S BEEN AN enjoyable day" Hattie Wells, who had just purchased a pair of shoes for her grandson, said. "I think the community responded 100 percent. A lot of people look forward to this every year."
Various groups in Lawrence set up food booths including a funnel cake booth by the Rainbow Girls, a barbecue brisket booth by the Veterans of Foreign War Auxiliary, a popcorn booth provided by the Lawrence Center, a hot dog booth by the Clinton Park Assembly of God.
The day was enjoyable not only for the
merchants, but also for downtown retail
merchants.
Britch's Corner, 843 Massachusetts St.
began baking at 6:30 a.m. but it wasn't until 8 a.m. before things "result" really began cooking. By the time I got home, I had been cooking for 7 hours.
Gordon said that it was the best day of the year for the store because they were able to move more merchandise out of the store in one day than in a week during a regular sale.
AFTER BEGINNING at 8 a.m., kids' Stuff, 814 Massachusetts St., had sold most of their merchandise by 9:30 a.m. Katie Baker, owner of the store, said. She said that Kids' Stuff was trying to clear out its summer line in order to make room for the incoming fall merchandise.
However, not everyone was excited about the busy downtown streets of Lawrence
Lorie Trahan, Lawrence resident, said that she usually avoids the sidewalk sale.
"Everyone acts like savages. I don't like crowds," Trahan, who had just purchased a new toy lawn mower, said.
She said that she came because she lacked something better to do, but did concede that she enjoyed seeing friends and watching the people.
JANELLE CROSBY, a Boston resident visiting Lawrence, said that the sale was great and the merchandise was less expensive in Lawrence than on the East Coast.
Many stores, such as Saffees, 922 Massachusetts St., and Sidelines, 840 Massachusetts St., were selling things below cost in order to get rid of their merchandise.
For two new businesses in town, Davis Paints, 733 Massachusetts St., and The Palace. 8 W. Eighth St., the sidewalk sale gave welcome exposure.
Stewart Brown, owner of Davis Paints,
said that the sidewalk sale was a time to meet other merchants and the public.
Proposed sales tax could increase students' share
By SHAWNA SEED Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
UNLESS THEY OWN property or buy their car license tags in Dougson County, the only taxes KU students pay for local government services are sales taxes. Hill said. Therefore, most students will not benefit from lower property taxes.
KU students will bear an increased share of the tax burden in Douglas County if voters approve a proposed county sales tax on Aug. 7, according to the county budget director.
Darlene Hill, the budget director, said that if the half-cent tax were approved and students continued to purchase goods and services in Douglas County, the amount they paid in sales taxes would go toward reducing the county's property-tax levy.
The sales tax is an alternative way to pay for government services, according to a pamphlet the county is circulating in support of the tax. Without the tax, the pamphlet says, property taxes will necessarily increase.
If voters approve the half-cent sales tax, it will be added to the 3-percent sales tax levied by the state and the existing half-cent sales tax levied by the city of Lawrence.
COUNTY AUDITOR John Dixon said that
without the sales tax, property taxes would not necessarily increase in 1984, but that they would.
The sales tax is projected to raise about $1.8 million for Douglas County, Dixon said. Of that amount, the county would receive $592,000, and Lawrence would receive about $1.1 million. Baldwin and Eudora each would get about $45,000, and Lecompton would get $9,000.
The sales tax has received the support of the Lawrence City Commission. At its meeting Tuesday night, the commission passed a resolution stating that it supported the county in placing the issue on the ballot and allowing the voters to decide.
The tax revenue would be divided in two equal portions. The first portion would be divided between the county and the cities in the county on the basis of population.
ALTHOUGH THE TAX will be levied on any good or service bought in the county, local business people apparently are not concerned about the tax or any effect it might have on Lawrence business.
The other portion would be divided between the counties and the cities based on the proportion of property taxes received to total property taxes levied the year before.
See TAX, p. 5, col. 5
Poetry class inspiring elderly to create
By CINDY HOBSON Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
The poem, written by Marie Smith, was one of several read aloud at a creative writing class sponsored by the Lawrence Senior Center.
The poem tells of two people making a "duty" visit to a friend in a nursing home.
When they leave, the friend recognizes their condescension and feels "bitter, lonely and frustrated" until she calls upon them to help and makes a face at their retreating backs.
The class meets at 10 a.m. every Wednesday in a meeting room at Babcock Place, 1700 Massachusetts St., an apartment building for the elderly.
WHEN SMITH FINISHED reading her poem, Kate Sanders, St. Louis senior at the University of Kansas, said, "I've learned a lesson about patronizing people in nursing homes."
Sanders does not call herself a teacher, but she gives the class of six one topic each week to write about, ranging from "Why animals aren't so bad" to "My secret fantasy."
Sanders leads discussion and compliments each writer with phrases such as, "absolutely wonderful," "I'm really impressed," "I got chills" and "You guys never cease to amaze me."
"The only thing I would criticize would be an empty page," Sanders said. Each class member brings a different perspective to the tonics.
Amber Waddle, a member of the class,
said, "I wonder what I would write that
she wouldn't compliment so much."
"That's the beauty of it," said writer Gladys Timmsen. "Each one has different views."
THE CLASS MEMBERS rave about Sanders and her participation in the class.
"She's outgoing, sincere and pleasant," said class member Catherine Clough.
"She brings more out of us." Smith said. "I feel like this class has helped me." Timmens said. "All my life I've wanted to write."
Elizabeth Hatchett, coordinator of the recreation department of the Council on Aging, said, "Kate is taking the direction she has been given by helping them produce their thoughts."
Sanders decided to do it herself.
Sanders was working in the information and referral office of the Council on Aging, 745 Vermont St., when Timmens asked her to find a replacement teacher for the class.
"They do some incredible stuff."
"I LEARN MORE from them than they do "from me," said Sanders, a KU psychology major with an emphasis in gerontology, the study of aging.
"I wish more people would take an interest," Waddle said.
The class members have often expressed a wish that other members of the Lawrence senior citizens community would join them in the writing class.
Sanders said, "People tell stories about their childhood. I say write it down, but they say no. A lot of them can do as well as we do."
Smith said that many people have a wrong impression about the class.
"Some people are afraid that it's too knowledgeable of a group."
AS THE GROUP members were laughing and joking among themselves, Waddle said. "This is creative. I don't know as it's writing."
Class poems are published in the Prairie Taproot, a quarterly magazine sponsored by the recreation department of the Council on Aging for writing by senior citizens. The magazine is available at some local bookstores.
The Prairie Taproot has been in publication for the last five years. Any senior citizen, not just members of the class, can submit writings.
Hatchett and Sanders type the stories and poems, and the class helps put it together.
"I think it's real neat," Sanders said. "It reminds us of how things have changed."
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