University Daily Kansan, April 21, 1983
Page 3
Poor economy not reflected by donations
By ROB KARWATH Staff Reporter
Turn on the television to watch the evening news. Pick up a newspaper, a magazine, or just listen to talk on campus.
campus. These days it doesn't take much to learn the latest about the state of the nation's economy.
One place not to look if you want to know the most recent economic trends, however, is the ledger book of the Kansas University Endowment Association. According to Jim Martin, vice president for private support programs for the Endowment Association, recent economic trends have not been reflected in changes in donations to the association.
"We haven't seen any noticeable reduction as a reflection of the recession," Martin said. "There have been no great changes in the overall levels of support and money coming in. In fact, both have be increasing."
"It's been a steady, upward trend."
MARTIN SAID LAST WEEK'S record-setting telephone campaign for the association's Greater University Fund was evidence of that trend. Ten nights of calling by student volunteers raised more than $35,000 in pledges for unrestricted money to be used for a variety of scholarships and projects.
variety of schools and programs Martin added, however, that although KU donations have not suffered, many other schools are not as lucky.
"There is definitely a difference between KU and our sister schools in the Big Eight," he said. "We have gotten and continue to get more support per capita than our sister schools, mainly because we've been around longer — sometimes twice and three times as long as other endowment associations. We have more assets and more contacts."
Many of those contacts are with alumni, traditionally the largest group of donors to the University.
"We have more alumi to access now than ever before," he said. "But I would also hope the increase is a
or ALTHOUGH DONATIONS AREN'T drying up as money gets tighter, Martin has noticed one change recently.
reflection of our successful articulation of the University's needs."
"Donors are definitely becoming more selective in their giving, so we're having to become more accountable to them." he said.
"That's another reason I think we have such a great drawing card," he said. "Not one cent of each dollar goes for paper clips or coffee cups. Our operating budget is already taken care of. I think this makes supporting us much more attractive."
The Endowment Association's overhead expenses are not among those costs, according to the vice president.
then,' he said.
And accountability is one reason Martin thinks the Endowment Association has not suffered from a shortage of money or donors. Through biannual mail reported, he said, donors learn how their contributions are distributed to meet costs.
INCOME FROM THE association's
private investments pays for overhead.
But despite this added attractiveness, Martin said, he realized that hard times made even the most loyal alumni think twice about opening the checkbook — especially when other charities have their hands out.
"I'm sure at times this is a problem for our donors," he said. "Assume someone belongs to a church and supports the heart fund as well as KU. Now that's a lot of people after that person's money."
we realize this; we know there are other interests out there, but we don't see them competing with us for dollars. We haven't done any studies on the importance of hard times our donations go down because people donate elsewhere."
LIKEWISE, MARTIN SAID, the association has never tried to "siphon off" money for KU from other charities.
"We're just hoping our product — quality education — is attractive enough to attract support," he said. "So far, we think it has been."
Unions request wage increase
By United Press International
MEXICO CITY — Mexican labor leaders announced yesterday they would demand a 50 percent increase of the minimum wage to help workers cope with rampant inflation, which has cut earning power by half over the last three months.
"Our demand is fair because our studies show that 50 percent is how much the worker's earning ability has deteriorated," said Fanatico Chena Perez, union representative at Minimum Wage Commission.
The Commission, with representatives from labor, government and business, sets minimum wages across the country which vary from $2.15 to $3 per day, depending upon the region.
Hawkstock cancellation report wrong
CHENA PEREZ SAID LEADERS of the Mexican Labor Congress had decided on the percentage raise they would demand late Tuesday night after a meeting of the wage commission.
"We are willing to negotiate, but we consider 50 percent the optimum rate." Chen Perez said. "If workers don't have any money, then there is no demand for goods and the economy doesn't advance."
Poor communication caused radio station KYYS 102-FM in Kansas City to incorrectly announce that the Hawkstock 1863 concert had been canceled, one of its promoters said yesterday.
"Hawkstock is not canceled," said John Katz, director of marketing for New West and Contemporary Productions, one of the concert promoters.
NEW WEST WAS TRYING TO cancel another concert, for the group Berlin, which had only 90 tickets sold, he said.
"There was some kind of mix-up and
the announcer said it was Hawkstock. "Katz said, "I was real angry, and since then I've gotten about 40 phone calls about it."
"There is nothing weird going on with Hawkstock. We have just met with the IFC to try and think up ways to increase ticket sales. We are hoping that the weather gets beautiful and people go out and buy their tickets."
The concert is scheduled for May 1 in Memorial Stadium, and is to feature
the groups Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Huey Lewis and the News, Modern English, Shooting Star and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
The Interfraternity Council will provide free beer.
NEW WEST REPRESENTATIVES said Tuesday that ticket sales for the concert had been slow. As of Tuesday, only 2,000 tickets had been sold in Lawrence and the Kansas City area, and promoters must sell 10,000 tickets just to meet their expenses.
Draft report urged for aid applicants
By United Press International
WASHINGTON — The Reagan administration yesterday urged young men to voluntarily report on federal student aid forms whether they have registered for a possible draft, despite a court ruling against the procedure.
In notices to 4,000 colleges across the country, the Education Department told students they did not have to disclose whether they had registered with the Selective Service in order to receive federal assistance.
BUT THEY SAID "PENDING the outcome of a court case" such information may be required at a later date — possibly causing delays for
students that had not disclosed their registration status.
"For this reason, you are encouraged to provide this information voluntarily now," the notices said.
U. S. District Judge Donald Alspor of St. Paul, Min., in a preliminary injunction March 10, temporarily blocked enforcement of the law requiring disclosure of draft registration on student aid forms. He said it may violate the Constitution's 5th Amendment prohibition against self-incrimination.
NO DATE HAS BEEN SET for a hearing for a permanent injunction. The case may ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.
upheld the law.
"If that is the case, we could have delays in issuing aid unless we already knew whether a student was registered," said the official. "We want to guard against that."
An Education Department official said the courts could retroactively uphold the law.
THE CONTESTED LAW, ENACTED last year, required young men to register for a possible draft in order to be eligible for federal aid in the 1983-84 school year and required them to disclose registration status on loan forms.
Before Alosp's ruling, student loan forms were already issued nationwide that included a question on registration status.
The unemployment percentage in Douglas County declined slightly in March because of an increase in seasonal work, the manager of the Lawrence Job Service Center said yesterday.
HE SAID THE DECREASE in the percentage of unemployed was caused mainly by an increase in seasonal service work, such as recreation, nursery and landscaping and mural employment.
Local unemployment down
Ed Mills, manager, said that 4.4 percent of the work force, or 1,500 people, were unemployed in March, down from the 4.7 percent, or 1,600 who were unemployed in February
Mills said he thought the on employment rate for April and May might show a slight decline, but
would probably not drop below 4 percent.
percent.
The workforce last month increased by 100 from February's total of 33,700.
He said that construction employment remained about the same.
The unemployment rate for the rest of the state dropped as well, going from 7 percent in February to 6.4 percent last month.
STEVE MCATEE, A RESEARCH analyst for the Kansas Department of Human Resources, said Lawrence had a high concentration of government employers, which made Lawrence less susceptible to a recession.
recession
Topeka's unemployment rate last month was 6.3 percent and Wichita's was 8 percent.
He said that Montgomery County's 13.2 percent unemployment rate was the highest in the state.
Board searches for operator to replace Lawrence Aviation
The Lawrence Aviation Advisory Board yesterday decided to seek public help in finding an operator for the Lawrence Municipal Airport.
The operator will be responsible for having a mechanic on duty, selling fuel and flying charts, operating runway lights and giving飞翔 instructions.
Mike Wildden, assistant city manager, said the city would provide limited service at the airport until a new operator was found.
Scott Killough, chairman of the aviation board, said the board would
THE FORMER AIRPORT OPERATOR, Lawrence Aviation Inc., which operated both a computer airline service and the airport, stopped commuter service last Friday and laid off 14 workers. Lawrence Aviation city that it wanted to quit operating the airport after the end of this month.
He said that the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence Flying Club both would be represented at advisory board meetings. He said anyone interested could attend advisory board meetings.
discuss guidelines to use in finding a new operator.
The next meeting is at 1 p.m.
Wednesday.
KILLOUGH SAID HE HOPED an operator could be named sometime after June 1.
He said the lease that Lawrence Aviation used was 10 years old and needed updating.
He said that commute service could start sooner, however.
Several representatives of area commuter airlines attended the meeting and expressed interest in operating the airport and a commuter service.
Texas city to consider Watson
City Manager Buford Watson will interview for the position of city manager in Beaumont, Texas, the mayor of that city said Tuesday.
Mayor Bill Neild said that Watson would interview with the Beaufort City Council today. Watson is one of its staff. In the position, which pays $90,000 a year.
pays $800.
WATSON SAID HE was interviewing for the job because he had heard Baumountain was a nice city and because it was an opportunity he wanted to examine.
Neild said that Beaumont had hired a consulting firm to search for candidates for the city manager job and that Watson was contacted by the firm to see whether he was interested.
Neild said the Beaumont City Council would decide who to hire within a week to 10 days and the person hired would be given 60 days to relocate.
Watson's annual salary as Lawrence city manager is $75,491. He also receives a monthly car allowance of $250 and $1,000 a year for life insurance.
THREE GREAT REASONS!
GREAT PEOPLE. GREAT ATMOSPHERE. GREAT FUN.JUST A FEW OF THE MANY REASONS, THANKS TO YOU, THE TRENDSETTER IS NUMBER ONE.
The Russians are Here!
And we need your help.
Several KU graduates secured Soviet acceptance of the Relays Invitation and have planned this week's events.Much of the success depends on your involvement and support.
Bob Swan '64 Dr. Mark Scott '70 Athletes United for Peace Post Office Box 1776 Lawrence,KS 66044
Attractive, commemorative buttons and posters are now available at several campus locations. Since we owe thousands of dollars in this effort for peace, we greatly appreciate your support in purchasing these official commemorative items.