A New Way Out Prison reform see p.7
The University Daily
KANSAN
Vol. 94, No. 156 (USPS 650-640)
Published since 1889 by students at the University of Kansas
Wednesday morning, July 11, 1984
Hot and sticky
High, 97
Details on p.2.
Neighbors fight demolition of East Lawrence residence
By SHAWNA SEED Staff Reporter
Although city commissioners and neighbors say they want to save it, a house at 1128 Connecticut St. is scheduled for demolition if the owner does not make city-ordered repairs on it by Nov. 15.
The county will put the property on sale in early November because the taxes on it are delinquent, according to Wilden, assistant city manager.
The Lawrence City Commission, at its meeting last night, ordered the owner, Robert Kirkham, of Kansas City, Mo., to bring the house's interior up to the city's standards.
BUT THE CITY'S action has raised larger questions in the minds of some residents of East Lawrence.
Some residents of the neighborhood said that the city had ordered demolition of houses that were in decent condition, while others in worse condition had been left standing.
Mary Giese, 645 Connecticut St., treasurer of the East Lawrence Improvement Association, said that in the six years she had lived in East Lawrence, she had seen "selective enforcement" of the city's housing policies, and that the house at 1128 Connecticut St. seemed to be an example of that.
Giese also cited a structure at 1001 New Jersey St. as an example of a structure that she thought should be abolished which the city had not condemned.
THE COMMISSION's decision last night was designed to force Kirkham
to respond to the city's demands to repair the house at 1128 Connecticut St. He did not attend last night's meeting.
Mayor Ernest Angino said that a drastic action was necessary because the taxes on the property had not been paid since 1977, and the owner had not responded to the city's requests for repairs.
Shelley Miller, 936 Pennsylvania St., a representative of the East Lawrence Improvement Association, told the commission, "Don't put this house on this demolition list. The neighborhood is very concerned about losing housing stock."
She also said that the tax sale would force the owner to act.
COMMISSIONER DAVID Longhurst said the demolition would not occur because the owner would repair the house, or the property would have a new owner after the tax sale.
Miller said that she was reluctant to say the city enforced housing rules selectively, because she was not familiar with the city's criteria for demolition. However, she said she thought the structure at 1001 New Jersey St. was in worse condition than the house at 1218 Connecticut St.
See HOUSE, p. 5, col. 1
Larry Weaver/KANSAN
The City Commission has set a Nov. 15 deadline for repairs on this house (left) at 1128 Connecticut St., or plans will be made for its demolition. Members of the East Lawrence Improvement Association say that this old store building (top), at 1001 New Jersey St., is unsafe and should be demolished, but city officials and the building's owners say they have received no complaints. Below is a notice condemning a house at 1004 New Jersey St.
HOUSING and/or BUILDING
Code Violation
*This dwelling building is unfit for human habitation*
*or the occupation of this dwelling - building for*
*human habitation.*
Do Not Remove This Notice.
Financial aid expects few KU draft resisters
By PAUL FAZIO Staff Reporter
Although the Supreme Court's decision requiring men to register for the draft has angered some students, the University of Kansas won't really be affected by the move said Jerry Rogers, director of the office of student financial aid.
"I really isn't going to change financial aid," said Rogers. "It seems to me that 99.2 percent of our people have complied. We had just a handful who did not comply. We had only two or three where we almost had to send the FBI after them."
ROGERS SAID THAT another reason KU would be little affected that the financial aid office had been checking students for draft registration since July 1983.
Rogers viewed the Supreme Court decision with mixed emotions.
"If someone is willing for the government to help pay for their education, they should be able to defend the government."
However, Rogers said that his financial aid program did not want to be a "strong arm" for the Selective Service.
"One thing silly is that the registration must be reaffirmed every year. I don't want to be part of a collection process from an administrative standpoint."
Rogers said that although a student could
receive financial aid by saying he had registered for the draft when he actually had not, the Selective Service could catch him when they randomly checked students to confirm their registration.
"IT WOULD BE a chance I surely would not take." Rogers said.
"I think they are two separate issues that should not be connected in any way," Mark Feiden, Wichita senior, said. "However, it is hard to figure out which I registered for the draft in high school."
Although student reaction in general disagreed with the Supreme Court decision, a great personal concern was not evident.
Another student didn't like the fact that the draft and financial aid were being tied together.
"I know the Supreme Court is in the business to interpret the law, although I don't necessarily agree on this one," said Berger. "I think the tie-in of financial aid and registration for the draft is discriminatory. I think men and women are obligated to their country, but that's a different story."
Tom Berger, Lawrence graduate student and a member of the Vietnam Memorial steering committee, came out against the court move but agreed with Rogers that it would have little effect on KU.
"The draft is not the University's business. Their business concerns my going to school here." Mark Cerney, Lawrence senior, said.
Groups react to bill limiting purchases
By MICKI SAMPSON
Staff Reporter
The bill, proposed by student body president Carla Vogel and vice president Dennis "Boog" Highberger, could ban any organization funded by Student Senate from doing business with companies that have subsidiaries in South Africa.
A bill that will appear before the Student Senate this fall that could restrict the purchases of all organizations funded by the Student Senate is drawing mixed reactions from some KU organizations.
HIGHBERGER SAID he wanted to boycott South Africa because its white regime practiced apartheid, a form of racial segregation, and was supported by most of the companies with subsidiaries there.
By refusing to do business with companies that have subsidiaries in South Africa, he said, the University of Kansas could help end apartheid.
Higherberger said he realized that the bill, if passed, would require some sacrifices on the part of the Senate and the organizations it sponsors.
For example, the Senate couldn't purchase any products from IBM. Inc. or Coca-Cola.
Some of the heads of the Senate-funded organizations, however, weren't sure whether they were willing to make the sacrifice.
"It bothers me that they are trying to
make restrictions. We should have the freedom to choose where we buy our products," said Jill Jorgensen, former president of the KU Karate Club.
THE KARATE CLUB was allocated $440 by the Student Senate for equipment for the 1985-86 season.
Jorgensen said that although she thought
Svoboda said it would be relatively easy for groups to move around the hill.
"I'm willing to make the sacrifice," she said.
But Tusar Dixit, president of the KU Cricket Club, said he was not.
"I THINK THAT'S not far," he said.
"There are very limited companies that
Jill Jorgensen KU Karate club
We should have the freedom to choose where we buy our products.
There are plenty of other places to invest. It's the least we can do.
— Jana Svoboda
Rape Victim Support Service
"
the proposed bill wouldn't have applied to the Karate Club, she opposed it because the bill might have kept some clubs from purchasing the highest quality equipment.
Jana Svoboda, co-director of the Douglas County Rape Victim Support Service, which was allocated $330 for the last fiscal year, said she favored the bill.
"There are plenty of other places to invest," she said. "It's the least we could do."
supply our stuff. We have no choice but to do business with them."
The Cricket Club was allocated $278 for equipment during fiscal year 1985.
Rick Von Ende, president of the KU Rugby Football Club, which was allocated $90 for equipment, said that the bill, if approved, would be better to deal with than most people expected
1 don't know how they are going to manage the issue," he said. "Are we going to take our computers and dump them?"
Howard Z, Smith proudly displays a pair of 1953 Chevy Belairs, only two of many vintage automobiles that he sells.
Car dealer displaying the beauty of golden age of American autos
Staff Reporter
By JOHN SIMONSON Staff Reporter
Howard Z. Smith owns a business nearly as unusual as his middle initial.
At first glance, Smith's used car lot at 1233 E. 23rd St. may not look like anything unusual. A double take reveals its unique nature.
Among the late model Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler cars and trucks sit more than 75 relics of the golden age of American motoring — cars and trucks built in this country between 1926 and 1965.
MORE THAN A FEW of these are also Chevroletis, Fords and Chryslers. But a number of the now extinct "dinosaurss" of that time are also represented - cars that bear forgotten names such as Kaiser, Studebaker, Hudson, Nash, Edsel and Packard.
And Smith, 47, the 'Z' stands for Zachary) is proud of his old cars.
"These old cars sitting out front here are better than a $10,000 lighted flashing sign," he said. "Signs are a dime a dozen, you know, and the unique cars are real head-turners."
When he founded Smith Motors in 1977, he had only 15 cars and the eastern half of the property he now uses. He ran the business out
of an old gas station next to the present building.
He expanded the business by recycling his profits and adding more cars. He also became known for trading for almost anything, including boats, go-carts, battery chargers, movie cameras, shotguns and even an old clothes dryer.
NOW SMITH MOTORS has four employees and 185 cars. He has also acquired a small selection of General Engine Corporation electric-powered cars and several motorcycles. Last fall he started Alpha Leasing, a used-car rental business.
But old cars have always been Smith's passion. His first old car acquisition was a 1921 Model "T" Ford, and thereafter, his inventory of classics began to flourish.
"That's kind of how we grew," he said,
"getting a few of them around, then people stopping in to look at them and saying. 'Well, I've got this and this old car and I know someone who has this one.'"
Smith says he gets a lot of old-car buffs who become repeat customers.
"T'D SAY 70 percent of our business is from people who have already bought several cars."
Price tags on Smith's collection run from
See OLDCARS, p. 5
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