Cops, winos, transvestites struggle in city
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second of three stories about the Urban Plunge, which is sponsored by The American Cancer Society.
By KATHLEEN CONKEV
Staff Reporter
I had slept less than an hour when I was awakened Friday at 5 a.m. This was the second day of Urban Plunge, a program designed to introduce KU students to inner-life city.
I walked to the bathroom to wash. There was only cold water and it made my face ache. I ate a biscuit I had stuck in my bag the day before. It was hard. I wiped up the hungrier, but moving my jaws warmed me a little.
Friday: The plan was to visit some of the government and private agencies charged with solving
Ed Button, associate professor of social welfare and one of the eight people on Urban Plunge, had offered a theory Thursday night that stayed with me during the rest of the trip.
THE INNER CITY," he had said, "is the modern day Indian reservation. The government gives its people just enough to survive, so there will be no prisions, but not enough to live dearly."
What we saw Friday substantiated Dutton's theory. People can survive in the inner city, but that that's about it. The organization tries to keep people out of the battle against too little funding and too many people who need help. To see some of the problems welfare organizations face, we started our day with Kansas
Skid Row is an area of church missions and liqueur stores near the River Quay. The River Quay was a small town in Lancashire before it became a city.
shopping area until organized crime moved in several years ago.
Now most of the businesses are closed; some of them were bombed out. The area is a wasteland. No cleaners are at work here we see one we saw on the street, and we aren't even any prostitutes. No one could afflict them.
We visited the air farmers' market, the only bright spot in the area.
THEN WE walked over to the Helping Hand, a board house operated by Goodwil Industries. Room rates are $11 a week. Meal prices in the buffers are average, so desidite people cannot eat here.
W were inside to get some coffee. It was a 6 a.m. Most of the men were winks, 35 to 40 years old. Most were several coats or jackets, not because it was warm and perhaps would be. Winsco carried everything they own with them.
While we were drinking, a man staggered to our table and, holding onto it, began to talk.
"You know, I've got some potatoes and onions to make a stew, but these guys won't give me a bucket of water."
His face was full of crevices deep enough to hold a dime. He had just finished of a bottle of wine.
He told us he had just been released from the veterans hospital in Little Rock, Ark., and was living under a bridge. In his hand he held a folded napkin. When he laid it down, salt smelled from it.
"They gave me some salt for the stew but they wouldn't give me any grease or a bucket to fix it," he said.
I SAID, "Maybe you could bring your vegetables here, and they'll cook the stew for you."
Urban Plunge
"No. They wouldn't let me do that. I need a bucket." he said.
Tracy Spellman, KU-Y coordinator, asked the man to sit down, then she went to find him a bucket. The woman had dropped it.
"You know, there's good people in America who want to help folks," he said. I’ve got this drinking problem, see me and anything about it. But I just want to help, and anything about it. I want to help. I want to die. I just want to die. I tried to drink myself to death, but I can’t get dead. I want to死. I work sometimes. Sometimes I sell my blood.
Spellman came back with a large tin can and handed it to the man. He thanked us and, I looked up at him. "Thank you."
Spellman and I went outside. Against the walls and in small groups on the corners, there were about 12 men, waiting. I asked the one closest to me what they were doing.
His name was Herman Brown. He was tall. When
he put his arm around me, I could hardly feel it. It was almost 6:30 in the morning and he was drinking coffee.
"Just hanging out, baby."
"I KNOW how to start my day right," he said. "go down to the corner and get my pint of White Port."
"Hey, now I can't tell you that," he said. How do I do
your greetings with the FBI? You want a drink,
isn't it?
Brown grabbed the bottle from my hand.
"You crazy girl," he said. You isn't supposed to let people know you're drinking. Here, watch."
He turned to the wall, raised the bottle and downed the last 2/2 inches
The wind was going right through my sweater as I took the bottle. After taking a swig I stopped shivering for a while. The sweet liquid warmed me on its way down. But I had made a mistake. You aren't supposed to face the street while drinking. Public transportation is not like a police car passed just as I finished drinking.
Brown was the first man who had been friendly without trying to hustle me. We shook hands and hugged. I rejoined the rest of the group as they beaded for a Nazarene mission down the street.
the director of the mission said he could put up about 30 men each night. He said the men must attend a camp and train them to be able to respond.
HE SAID there were four types of people who stayed at his mission and 90 percent of them had been vaccinated against the flu. The usually men about 35 and older. Drug adducts are the second biggest group, usually 18 to 25 years old. The others were mostly children.
"These men are sometimes college graduates.
The fourth group is women, usually runaways. The Nazaren mission has only a men's dormitory, but they are not usually there.
sometimes doctors or lawyers, but they don't quite fit in and no one will give them a job." he said.
"But mostly we get alcohols," the director said. "These men cash their Social Security checks and get money."
The director pointed to the street outside his window.
"Then the jack-rollers and sit beside them and rob them while they're sleeping," he said. "But 'bush' is on his chest, but I don't know. These men are somebody's sons, somebody's brothers or fathers. They could be mine, so I keep at
WE LEFT the mission and headed downtown. Within minutes, the people on the streets changed from derelicts with soiled clothes, hanging out, to business-suited men on their way to work.
But even downtown had its shadier spots. a few of us went into an adult bookstore. It was 8:15 a.m.
The rest of the increase will come from the housing office, which supervise housing operations.
Inside, there were rows of magazines with suggestive titles and covers to match. All were wrapped in plastic wrapping and were saadmaocha magazine. In the back of the store, a darkened doorway led to a 25-cent movie arcade.
See WATER back page
Inside the narrow hallway, the walls and doors were painted black. It was so dark I couldn't see anything, but the sound of a door opening—it—the signal that the door is occupied—would open and a man would out come. I tried not to catch their breath.
The increase will cost the housing department about $2,000 next year, accrued in future years.
See PLUNGE back page
THE RATE increase, the third yearly increase in a five-year plan designed to meet market needs.
Staff photo by BRUCE BANDLE
KU departments must pay increased city water fees
Workmen inched up the final portion of the steam generating plant chimney yesterday afternoon, scraping off loose paint in preparation for a new coat.
Tall order
Staff Renorter
A 21 percent water rate increase passed by the Lawrence City Commission this week may cost the University of Kansas as much as $4 million a year, according to University officials.
By JOHN LOGAN
Facilities Operations will pay for about 80,000 of KU's add cost, according to DHI.
The University of Kansas
KANSAN
Vol. 89. No.54
Blockades and fences were set up around four walls outside new Green Hall yesterday to keep passers-by away from faulty concrete panels.
Lawrence. Kansas
Staff Reporter
Bv DEB RIECHMANN
Fences warn of Green's hazard
A study made by a construction and engineering consultant, which was reviewed by state and KU officials Tuesday, showed a possibility that some panels might collapse.
An announcement has been posted in law building concerning the consultant's
report. The report indicated that some of the panels might have structural deficiencies.
The notice said: "The consultant has concluded that there is a possibility of structural failure and collapse of these panels.
"PENDING" further investigation to determine the validity of the conclusion, all persons should avoid the exterior areas adjacent to the suspected panels."
CASSON CONSTRUCTION failed a final inspection of the $5 million building on Aug. 1, 1977 because of the defective panels.
Casson Construction Co., Topeka, con-
officers and KU's faculties planning
See PANELS back page
The report also concluded that the engineering design of Green Hall did not
meet normal standards for engineering adequacy.
tractor for the building, setting the fencing and blockades around Green Hall after KU officials decided to take precautionary measures against possible accidents.
According to the report prepared by Wagner, Holins and Inglis Inc., the second consultant that has studied the parallels, the team will meet the American Concrete Institute code.
KU officials have said they are unhappy with the appearance of the panels and have questioned their structural sound-construction of the building began in March 1977.
After lengthy debate, members of the Student Senate had night voted to allocate $4,000 in supplemental funding to the university.
Staff Reporters
Kansan gets more funding
By MARY ERNST and TAMMY TIERNEY Staff Recordings
The allocation was $5,000 less than the Kansas's original request of $9,000, which was cut this week on a recommendation by Richard Winter, Senate treasurer. The budget money to make up an unbudgeted increase in printing costs.
Members of several student groups said the Kanans should not receive supplemental funding unless an advisory board, composed of five students selected by the Senate Rights committee, was created.
Leon Brady, senator and member of the Black Student Union, made an amendment to the Kansan's request, calling for the mandatory establishment of the board before it could be allocated. The amendment was defeated by a voice vote.
Because the Kansan has "a one-sided viewpoint of minority affairs," Brady said, the role of the board would be to direct the Kansan's coverage of minority affairs and sensitive issues
"We want to impose this sanction and once they've demonstrated their commitment to covering minority businesses," he said.
"We WESE the advisory board as a means to initiate some kind of consideration of minorities by the Kansan staff," she said. "We want to work with the Kansan, but we're not sure if we could prove to our requests unless we have a way to make them."
Sharron Parker, president of the BSU, agreed with Brady.
demonstrate that commitment, then the funds should be held."
Nancy Miras, president of the Commission on the Status of Women, said she supported the advisory board idea because she thought the Kansan did not devote enough space to women's events.
"The Kanans has exhibited a seist attitude," she said. "They have printed cartoons that are offensive to a number of women on this campus and articles that are offensive. They have inadvertedly covered women's events."
Tracy Spellman, coordinator of KU-Y, said she agreed with Mims. She said the advisory board was essential to the program's success.
HOWEVER, SEVERAL seniors said they did not think an advisory board was necessary because students already had the skills.
"A mandatory advisory board would handle the hands of editors," and Steve Young, journalism semiconductor. "The board is a critical resource for our business."
Jalile Riggia, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences senator,
add an additional board could be a duplication of services
"I don't think another advisory board is necessary," she said. "It has not been pointed out that students have yet tutored me."
"A great deal of my time as editor is spent listening to
heard him," he said. "I am there all the time. I don't see
them."
Steve Frazier, Kanan editor, said he thought the existing structure of the Kangan could deal with complaints
Senators also rejected an amendment to put the Kansas's supplemental funding completely on the grounds that the state lacked the ability to do so.
IN OTHER budget items, the Senate approved a $236.50 allocation to the Black Business Council. That group had requested $400, but the Finance and Auditing Committee had recommended $236.50 after budget hearings.
The University Dance Company, which had requested $1,817, received no funding, on the recommendation of the committee. Craig Templaton, Senate administrative assistant, said the finance company had decided it would be better for the Dance Company to be given a block allocation—much like the University Theatre.
The Association of University Residence Halls withdrew a recommendation for a $76 allocation. Mark Meyers, treasure of AURH, said AURH had requested the money to help cover print expenses and a special program.
But Meyers said that AURH, which is supported by residents' contracts, could not afford to support its programs if AURH was a University-wide organization. The organization would receive Sepale funds must be open to all students.
The Senate also confirmed the appointment of Steve Cramer, Lawrence sophomore, as StudEx chairman. Mike Harper, student body president, made the appointment Tuesday.
In other business, the Senate sent a petition to amend the Senate Code back to the Rights Committee for further research. The petition would seek full voting rights for students on University committees.
A resolution prohibiting smoking during Senate meetings was postponed until the next, meeting after a call called for a quorum revealed not enough senators were present to vote.
A resolution defining the recreational needs of the university was passed, as was a statement concerning direction.
Halls to be open Thanksgiving
Bv JAKE THOMPSON
Staff Reporter
With the exception of GSP and Corbin Residence Halls, all KU residence halls will be open during Thanksgiving vacation, David Amber, executive vice chancellor for student affairs, said yesterday.
Ambler said students rooming in those two halls would be asked to move to another hall. All other students who choose to stay for vacation will be allowed to remain in their own rooms, he said.
"For Thanksgiving, there will be no additional charge and each hall will be open if enough people want to stay. We don't have a lot of visitors yet, we predicted. This year, we're operating on an experimental basis, but we want to analyze the situation."
He said for halls to remain open, at least five staff members would have to stay to operate each hall: one person at the lobby desk, two persons for security, one director and one resident assistant.
"WERE MAKING every effort to accommodate all staff members who have special reasons why they are required to work on the project."
Ambler made his remarks to the Senate Executive Committee, which requested last week that he clarify the matter. SenEx had said it was unwise which ballots would be open and how many staff members would be required
Amber and the exact number of staff members needed would not be determined until after the student sign-up.
He said a minimum number of students would be required to keep halls open because of costs to the school.
Ambler said that J.J. Wilson, director of housing, was concerned about costs and did not think all halls would be occupied.
He said some students who were moved into other halls acted irresponsibly. The resulting problems might have been more serious, he said.
HE SAID keeping most of the residence halls open is an attempt to curb problems—such as vandalism and theft. He said that security measures are in place.
Although there will be no food service in the halls, Amber said, he will try to insure that hall hanning up for meals.
being charged to stay in the halls and not having campus activity to participate in. Amber said.
In other business, SenEx received a report from Jim Ram, dean of libraries, about the establishment of an art museum in New York.
He said the museum committee was examining full or partial transfer of art library holdings.
"I HAVE written to 13 university libraries asking how they have handled art library problems incurred by splitting he said. "Without exception, they said they had no problem from humanities because of problems with duplication."
Jamz said that if a divided art library were established, architecture and humanities material would not be
He said an alternative library, to be located on or near the site of the Military Science Building, was in the planning stage. That could have an effect on the location of the art library, he said.
"Tearing down of the Military Science Building is in the planning stages and has been endorsed by the administration," he said. "Obviously, we wouldn't want to put Spencer in a basement or basement of Spencer if the new library is built."