University Daily Kansan, April 13, 1984
CAMPUS AND AREA
Page 6
Attorney general threatens to sue over waste site
By United Press International
TOPEKA — Attorney General Robert Stephan said yesterday that if he did not get satisfactory answers about cleanup efforts at the hazardous waste site, he would be in Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
In a letter addressed to Gov. John Carlin and KDHI Secretary Barbara Sabel, Stephan said he had tried repeatedly over the past two years to get information on progress on the cleanup of the dump and a target date for finishing the cleanup.
"My patience is at an end, to say nothing of the patience of the residents of the Furley area,"
"I WOULD appreciate a response by the end of next week," Stephan said. "If I do not receive satisfactory answers to my concerns, which convince me that the department ... is responsible carrying out its duties in regard to Furley, I will have no alternative but to consider legal action to protect the health and welfare of the people of this state."
The hazardous waste dump, owned by Waste Management Inc., was closed two years ago by the state after the discovery that life-threatening chemicals were leaking into nearby groundwater. Waste Management has submitted an application to reopen the site.
However, an Environmental Protection Agency report released Wednesday recommended the site not be reopened, and said cleanup efforts should be stepped up.
In his letter, Stephan asked if there was a clean water source and if so, when the cleaning would be completed.
A SPOKESMAN FOR Carlin said that the moves behind writing the letter were questionable.
"It is interesting to note that the attorney general hands the letter out to the press without inquiring with the governor about the problem itself," said Michael Swenson, the governor's attorney. "The governor would hope the attorney general would address the concerns to him directly."
"Cleanup of waste is a whole new area for us." Swenson said. "Contamination doesn't happen overnight, and you can't clean up overnight. Setting an exact date for finishing the cleanup is almost impossible. Learning how to clean up hazardous waste is not as easy as going out and learning how to ride a bicycle."
Warm weather makes Potter Lake a popular place for students. Julie Gross, hall director for Gertrude Sellars Pearson and Corbin Halls, right, and Amy Waibel, St. Louis, Mo. freshman, sat on the bridge over Potter Lake talking earlier this week.
Jim McCrossen/KANSAN
Burn patients miss privacy during Med Center treatment
By DAVID SWAFFORD Staff Reporter
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Angry, helpless, the patients want privacy.
They are scared, uncertain of the future.
"It's a real challenge," said Cindy Spears, a social worker who counsels patients in the Burnett Burn Unit at the University of Kansas Medical Center. "It's very demanding.
"Some patients aren't able to dress themselves or use the robezone by themselves."
And because family members might spread infection throughout the unit, visiting is limited to only two hours a day.
THE MED CENTER'S burn unit opened in 1973 and serves Kansas and western Missouri. Six patients are now being treated, although the unit has a capacity for 10.
From the first day they enter the unit until their last, patients spend some of their time in "the tank," a unit filled with water for each patient to be cleansed in. The purpose of the tank is to loosen dead skin and to help prevent infection.
Spear said the tank contributed to each patient's lack of privacy and anger because several staff members must help cleanse the patient.
Also, patients don't get much sleep, especially those who have buried eyes. Spear said that a patient with chronic hearing loss
hour.
"The only way patients can express themselves is either by not eating or by emotionally lashing out at staff members," she said. "And when they dash out at a staff member, it takes
"We have staff support meetings about twice a month to discuss problems in treating patients."
"The patients get very depressed," she said. "They feel like they are freaks, especially if they have burns on or around their face. They feel like they are too ugly to face people and may close off society."
SHE SAID THE severely burned patients were more apt to lash out at staff members because they got so tired of the lack of privacy. She said it wasn't uncommon for some patients to stay in hospital.
'It's disasterous, especially if they had a poor self-image of themselves before.
"I know of one woman who wouldn't allow anyone to see her except her husband."
Spear, who recently earned her master's degree in social work from the University of Kansas, previously worked as a medical technologist. She started working at the Med Center in August and now counsels both burn unit patients and their families.
Board wants to change bus passes to help reduce the chance of forgery
"People think of burns as something horrible, and they usually are," she said. "But the burn unit is pretty much a unique place. They do miraculous work."
By the Kansan Staff
Members of the the Student Senate Transportation Board agree on one thing — the University of Kansas' bus pass design needs to be altered to help eliminate forgery of the passes.
more difficult to forge.
They do not agree, however, on what those alterations should be.
The board last night discussed changing the passes but could not agree on what changes
Several of the changes discussed included using identification cards with photographs, numbering the stickers and using a more intricate design in order to make the stickers
Bus pass forgery has been a problem recently. Twenty-four students accused of forgery will appear later this month before a panel consisting of the Transportation Board and one member of the Transportation Board.
The board also discussed the problem of loading and unloading passengers in front of Snow Hall. There are now two KU Police Department parking places in front of Snow, which according to the Transportation Board, makes it difficult for passengers to get on and off the buses safely.
In other action, the board elected a new chairman, Rob Hunter, Wichita sophomore, and a new secretary, Mark Sump, Lawrence junior.
Saturday, April 14—Company Auditions
Open Call — 1-4 p.m. Room 209. Murphy Hall
*Auditions should prepare three (3) minutes of contrasting material pass one (1)
minute of song.
*Smarty's math eighth (8) hours of undergrad credit (THDR 303) or live five
hours of graduate credit (THDR 803).
*KRT Company meetings throughout June and July.
*KRT Company productions are I'm Gatting My Act Together and Taking it on the
Road and Daughter.
Cell Ref.: 209. Room 209. 738. Martin Hall
1234567890
Sunday, April 15—Community Auditions
Open Call —2.5-p.m. Room 209. Murray Hall
*Auditions open to all members of the Lawrence community*
*KRT Community production *goodbye My Fancy* is directed by Bobcy P. Patton*
*Community necesary for auditions, co-reading materials will be provided*
*Community rehearsals held in the evening in June; performances in July*
Call-Backs - 7:30 p.m. Rooms 209, 235, 341, Murphy Hall
For additional information about Kansas Repertory Theatre, 1984 summer season
For additional information about Kansas Repository Theatre: 1984 summer season
or audition requirements, contact
Dr. Jack B. Wright
317 Murphy Hall
University of Kansas
917-654-3083
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