SECOND SECTION
MONDAY, AUG. 28, 1989
Fraternities face changes in pledging process
By Steve Buckner Kansan staff writer
An announcement by two national organizations of KU fraternities that they would end the pledging of new members has been met with mixed reactions from various Greek houses.
Zeta Beta Tau, 1942 Stewart Ave., announced last year that it was doing away with its pledging new members. Tau Kappa Epsilon, a Tupea made a similar declaration Tuesday.
"I'm 100 percent behind it. It's the right thing to do," said Kevin Flower, Oskaloosa senior and ZBT chapter president at the University of Kansas.
A brief press release prepared by Dan Carlson, Rapid City, S.D., junior and vice president of TKE said, "In regards to the recent proposed amendment to our national associate member program, Alpha Phi Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon plans to review
these recommendations. From what we understand, this program is in the research stage and will be further discussed at the 1991 conclave."
Michael Shonrock, adviser to the interfraternity council, said, "Obviously it's a dramatic change within the traditional pledgehip or associate members of international and national fraternal organizations."
Hazing is against the law in Kansas.
Flower said that pledging was a program designed as a trial period for would-be members to prove themselves as members. He also said that pledging could lead to hazing.
The difference between pledging and hazing is that pledging may involve household chores done only by new members. Hazing occurs when active members use mental or physical abuse to test the mettle of pledges.
The new policy means that ZBT's new members are considered actives, said David Eichler, Wichita senior and vice president of
the KU chapter.
Usually, active members are those who have been initiated.
Eichler said the new policy would attract students who wanted to join a fraternity but did not have the time to go through with the pledging process, such as athletes and students who were highly academically inclined.
"I think it's really going to alter fraternity life in a positive way on a national basis," he said.
Eichler said that ZBT had developed a four-week education program for its 30 or more new members. The program will include lessons on the Greek system, general fraternity life, history of KU and the ZBT chapter, as well as the ideas of the house.
Flower said the ZBT members had mixed emotions about the change, but he anticipated an eventual acceptance.
"We have to break the idea that just because these people went through it, it's not
the right thing to do," he said. "Three years from now the membership won't know anything else."
"We have associate members who have all the rights of actives, except at initiation," LaPointe said.
The ZBTs and TKEs are not the first houses on campus to opt for a different way to gain members. The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, 1918 Stewart Ave., did away with pledging in 1972, said Jank Lason, Overland Park senior and president of the KU chapter.
He said their approach was the reason many members helped.
"Here every member has work duty around the house. We don't put off work on us."
Jim Carter, Bonner Springs junior and fraternity educator of the Lambda Chis, said. "The whole purpose of associate member programs is to allow members into the paraprofessional as soon as possible."
Not all fraternities at KU share the optimism expressed by the houses without pledging.
Kappa Sigma president Lance Anderson, Boulder, Colo., senior, said, "I see it as a trend, but it won't eliminate hazing."
Anderson said his national organization had reviewed eliminating pledging, but no formal action has been taken at the KU chapter, 1045 Emery Road.
Doug Baxter, Salina junior and pledge trainer for Alpha Tau Omega, 1537 Tennessee St., said, "I think it makes you lose a little bit if you miss out on all the work; it makes you lose a feel for your house."
Brad Moody, Golden, Colo., senior and president of Delta Upsion, 1025 Emmery Road, said he was a strong believer in pledging.
Residence halls add tighter escort codes Security reasons are motive for decision
"Without pledgeship, members do not have the incentive to learn about the house," he said. "As long as you do it right, there's no problem in it."
By Cory Anderson Kansan staff writer
At Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., a young woman was killed in her residence hall room by a man who was able to walk freely into her hall.
The ensuing legal battle, in which Leighh was accused of not having enough security, has prompted many law officials to tighten lax residence hall security.
The University of Kansas is one of those universities.
This year, the KU housing administration is attempting to tighten security by rewording escort and visitation rules and staff to follow the regulations.
"There was dissatisfaction with the way it was stated before," Jean Morrow, assistant director of residence life, said. "Part of what was done was that the terms were cleared up and clarified."
According to the new terms of the residence hall contract, any person who is not a resident must be escorted at all times by his or her host and all guests must be registered during security hours. Residents of the hall must be escorted in corridors where students of the opposite sex live.
"This seems like a reasonable request of students, so we know who is in the hall," Morrow said. "We want the halls to be a safe place."
"I don't mind it because our floor last year was the first to get ripped off," she said. "Last year they had people just walking into rooms."
Michelle Volk, Wichita sophomore, has no argument with that. She has lived in Ellsworth Hall for three years and doesn't mind checking people in.
LeeAn Lamb, resident director of McColm Hall, said the policy would initially be enforced more by inform- residents than by disciplining them.
T
This seems like a reasonable request of students, so we know who is in the hall. We want the halls to be a safe place.'
Jean Morrow asst. dir. of residence life
"There has been a lot of complaining but no problems with it," she said. "The returning students say the new teachers are more and the new people don't know."
Lamb said students violating the police will be warned first and have police officers present.
"The residents are responsible for their guests coming and going so they can't blame security," she said. "I think part of it is that if people who don't live in our hall want to come and visit we know who they are."
Jenny Sykes, Rose Hill freshman, don't have much confidence in the police.
"I don't think they can be enforced as much as they would like them to be."
But she doesn't think the policy is totally hopeless.
"If everybody has enough sense to be responsible about who they bring in the team," he said.
Erin Suchiok, Leornister, Mass. freshman, said, "I think they are good in the fact that you don't have people wandering the halls.
"Some disadvantages are you
may chance to meet people
from other cities."
Suchoski thinks the policy will help as long as everyone does his or her
"If we're all watching for people that don't belong on our floor then it will work," she said. "I've nailed a couple of people myself."
To crash D.C. parties all you need is courage
WASHINGTON — Lisa McCormack says crashing an exclusive black-tie party in Washington is easier than you think. All you need is a tuxedo or a formal gown and plenty of chutapah.
She ought to know, even though she's never crashed a party herself.
As former editor of the "About Town" society pages of the Washington Times for 5½ years, McCormack says she attended "literally thousands" of glitter social events and "interviewed everyone from Spuds MacKenzie to Mother Teresa."
The Associated Press
"What shocked me was how easy it is to crash parties in this town." McCormack, now an investigative reporter for the Times, said in an interview after she lectured eager students at the Learning Annex, a local university, on the rules of the party-crashing game.
Here is her how-to guide for slipping into swank parties without an invitation and enjoying a free evening of booze, food and schmoozing with big-name guests.
The toughest job is finding out where the parties are and when they begin, she says. Check newspaper society columns, magazines and the big hotels for upcoming events. They publish a detailed, mimeographed list of future parties and banquets, complete with names and phone numbers.
"Call up (the hotels) and say, I'm interested in attending your party. Can you tell me who the VIPs are? Have an agenda in mind. You are going there for a specific purpose," she said.
"If a dinner party starts at 7 o'clock, arrive 20 minutes late. You'll see a table at the door, usually run by five women. That's where paying guests go to check in. Avoid those women at all costs."
"Go directly to the bar, start chatting in the line and get a drink. It will help you relax and give you a chance to mix and mingle. Like me, you might run into former Surgeon General). Everett Koop, who drinks straight gin out of a glass, "Say it isn't so." I told him."
The rest is a cinch
Above all, she says, maintain a nonchalant attitude.
Slamming
St. Louis freshmen David Stahl and Scott Lcewen block an oncoming ball. They played volleyball at the sand courts behind Oliver Hall
Controversies about abortion continue
Groups prepare for the 1990 Legislature
By Jennifer Reynolds and Derek Schmidt Kansan staff writers
Abortion.
The word is easy to define, but the positions surrounding it are not.
Once positions are reached, they often divide communities, political parties, and other groups.
"There is a certain empowerment you feel when you make the decision to go, spend the money and stand up for women's rights," Simpson-Zinn "Thursday." "When you see her doing the same, it's empowering."
During the March for Women's Equalities, Women's Lives, an April pro-choice rally in Washington, D.C., she said she felt strength.
Joy Simpson-Zinn, graduate teaching assistant in the office of women's studies, is one person who has reached her stance on abortion.
The march was in response to a Missouri case, Webster vs. Reproductive. Services, being argued before the Supreme Court. In early July, the court's decision allowed states to restrict abortion.
Jim Ryun, a member of the Lawrence chapter of Kansans for Life, says he believes the Webster ruling is the first step in overturning the 1773 Roe vs. Wade decision, saves women the right to an abortion.
Almost two months later, each side of the abortion issue is advocating its cause to the public and to legislatures.
"We're chipping away, at a huge mountain," Ryan said. "but it certainly is a positive step in the right direction."
Positive steps toward overturning the Roe decision also are in the mind of the Rev. Ron Mickley, pastor of the Temple Assemblies of God, 3200 Clinton Flwy.
"Life is sacred," Mickley said. "Life and death are in God's hands. We believe abortion is murder."
Peggy Billings, former president of the KU chapter of the National Organization for Women, said NOW was trying to involve KU in the abortion issue.
"We're trying to get faculty and students to write letters to the state and U.S. legislatures, as well as Gov. Hayden," Billings said.
As of Thursday, Hayden had resigned to take a stand on the abortion issue.
Gene Rosenthal, a member of the Lawrence N.O.W., said that after the Webster decision, pro-choice organizations formed a statewide umbrella group, called the Pro-Choice Action League, to coordinate lobbying efforts.
The main goal of Lawrence NOW is to force officials to take a stand, as she did.
"I don't think fence-sitting is going to be an ordinance." Reemah said.
to be an option," Rosenthal said. Another pro-choice group trying to express its opinion to the public is forming on campus this fall. The women's network will try to educate the campus about women's issues like abortion, Simpson-Zinn said.
Ryun is trying to inform people about abortion alternatives through a recent petition drive to stir up public support.
Mickley's church was one of the Lawrence churches that participated in the drive.
"We joined with a number of churches to show our disagreement with the current way abortion is being handled," Mickley said.
Ryun said educating people about abortion alternatives was an ongoing project.
"We are always working to make the public aware of the various things going on."
Kansans for Life is targeting the parental consent proposal, which was debated during the 1899 Kansas legislative session.
The proposal would require girls under 18 to have the consent of a parent, grandparent or judge before having an abortion.
"We are continuing our support of the parental consent proposal and are trying to end other areas of
See ABORTION, p. 8
Ohio judge loses personal war on drunken driving
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - A small town Ohio judge isn't getting anywhere with his nationally publicized bid to reduce drunken driving by imposing stiff sentences on offenders, researchers say.
One problem is that although New Philadelphia, Ohio, Judge Edward O'Farrell routinely orders first-time offenders to jail, the local facility is so full they don't have to serve their time for at least a year, said the study by the AAA Foundation for Toilef Safety.
"I think you known that all along," O'Farrell said in a call on phone interview Tuesday. "You don't do it alone."
The study compared drunken driving statistics and interviews with motorists in New Philadelphia against those of nearby Cambridge, Ohio, where the sentencing is not as stiff.
Researchers said their surveys failed to show drinking and drinking behavior in Philadelphia.
"Even a determined judge like Edward O'Farrall is incapable of creating the needed certainty of punishment on his own," the report said. "limited jail space remains an important constraint."
In Cambridge, 40 miles south of New Philadelphia, drunken drivers usually get sentences of three days or less in special education camps.
In drunken driving cases since 1982, the judge has routinely handed up 15-day jail sentences to first-time offenders; imposed a standard $750 fine; rejected plea bargains; and required the vehicles of restricted drivers to be tagged with a distinctive red-on-yellow license plate.
Farrell's anti-drumken driving campaign has received publicity on numerous national television programs and in newpapers and magazines.
The report showed motorists in the two towns had a good sense of their relative chances of being sentenced to jail if caught driving under the influence. But similar numbers of drunken drivers were found in both communities during anonymous spot-checks that included breath
Before changing their driving habits drinkers have to be convinced there's a strong likelihood of getting caught and going to jail, the report said.
"A Judge O'Farrell, to be fully effective, needs a similarly committed community, willing to play the resources necessary to support the struggle to reduce drunk driving," the report said.
tests.
New Philadelphia has just begun work on a new 100-bed jail, but in the meantime there's a 12 to 18-month stay that you get into the existing 19-bed facility.
by
The shortage of jail space tends to counteract O'Farrell's tough sentences.