Wray fighting for state aid, independence
By JOHN LOGAN
Staff Renorter
She sits in a nursing home, a lonely young woman in a small cluttered room, surrounded by the casualties of advanced age and family neglect—a B-52 from an in place designed for people three times her age.
Dana Wray, confined to a wheelchair by a 1979 accident that left her paralyzed from the neck down, is working toward a dream, a dream of becoming self-supporting as a social worker helping other handicapped people, a dream that would allow her to walk and wals that separate her from her classmates.
But the dream may seem a long way from fratern as the KU graduate student fights a recent decision by Kansas welfare officials. They cut in half the working hours of a state-paid assistant who helps
The officials said Wray's 86 hours of help each week last semester were more than the state allowed. Wray received 56 hours of nursing care and 30 hours of school assistance each week.
ONE WEEX before fall classes started, welfare officials took the group and were going to give her 15 minutes of rest.
Wray responded last week by filing a federal discrimination complaint against the state with the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, and by requesting a hearing before the Commission in a Special and Rehabilitation Services appeals committee.
Wray is forced to live in a local nursing home because of the daily care she needs. She has to have assistance to get to and from classes, to tape books and assignments and assistate school functions that are not offered in her own home.
The effect of the cut is that her school activities have been limited, Wray said.
"I CAN DO only day-to-day things," she said. "I can't go to meetings, talk to teachers, don't move around."
"I don't have any type of class back. There's only time to go to class and come back, buy supplies, and Xerox things off. The normal student doesn't just go to class for a period of time, but they are completely isolated from other students by this.
"They are limiting me."
The officials who made the decision told Wray they thought some of the duties of the school aide could be replaced.
"It is not clear that there is a need for an attendant and nursing services," Robert Harder, secretary of SRS, said. "It appears if there is an overlap of staff and nurses to check to see if sum of that can be doubled up."
WRAY SAID there was no way that could be done.
"Nurse aides cannot be school aides," she said. "The nurse aides do all the things to get me ready."
The nurse aides also are not qualified to help her with school. Wray said.
"You really need a student, someone who is in school and knows all the requirements," she said. "I'm sure my nurse aides would quit if they had to do all that stuff. They weren't bored for it."
But Cora Catt, area director for SRS, disagreed.
"We took a look at the services," she said. "We decided that there was some spare time that people needed."
could perform some of the duties the attendant was doing."
Catt said her office had scheduled a staff conference this month to review the case.
"We think it's time to pull it together," she said. "We have a lot of material to go over and because I am retiring at the end of the month, I want to get it out of the way."
"We will put together some sort of program at the meeting and submit our information to the central office."
THE CONFERENCE will include the Vocational- Rehabilitation director, local staff members, income maintenance personnel and a medical services representative.
Wray and her Lawrence attorney, Rose Stewart,
were not invited to the meeting. Catt said.
"We don't want to jeopardize her appeal." Catt explained.
A date for Wray's appeal hearing should be set soon, according to Joe Babbeli, attorney for the case.
"I'm waiting for a summary of the case from the Voc-Behc neople." "Babiekasijid.
He said that at the hearing, which will be in Lawrence, each side would present its case. The hearings would be taped, he said, and a transcript of their recommendations sent to the appeals committee.
THE COMMITTEE'S decision is final, he said.
Wray said she thought the decision of the SRS would be to cut off her school aid completely.
"They keep trying to convince me that I can't be a social worker because I'm severely disabled," she said.
"I continually get discouragement from Vocational-Rehabilitation concerning my employment and I'm constantly threatened by not getting my school paid for because they think I am not
"I don't see why they discourage me from even trying. I thought that's what vocational rehabilitation was meant to do."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Vol.89,No.38
Yanks triumph with 4th in row
Wednesday, October 18, 1978
See story page 11
Staff Photo by ALAN ZLOTKY
Senatorial support
Kennedy stops in KC to back Roy for Senate
By TOM RAMSTACK
cooks, in Kansas City, Kan., yesterday during two banquets for Kansas senatorial hopeful BILL Roy. Kennedy is chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research.
Staff Writer
KANAS CITY, Kan- Sen, Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, said yesterday that Democrat Bill Roy were elected, he would bring commission to the U.S. Senate.
Kennedy spoke to 1,700 people in Kansas City, Kan., and Overland Park during two fund-raising banquets for Roy's senatorial campaign. The event was the highest Republican Nancy Lankson Kassadee.
During a $25-a-plate breakfast and at a later $50-a-plate brunch Kennedy said, "There are thousands of Americans who live, remembering what Bill Roy has done in helping develop an emergency medical service program."
nemy is chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Inspections.
KENNEDY SAID Roy had distinguished himself as a U.S. representative and that he
"Bill Roy's record is a sound record of achievement and accomplishment," he said. "I welcome a chance to return to *Jane* and that which I have worked up whom I respect."
Kennedy said the emergency medical service and minimum tax bills that Roy sponsored were examples of Roy's compassion for the common man.
"We are a party of hope, not despair," he said.
As usual, Kennedy denied rumors that he is considering running in the 1980 presidential race.
"President Carter is going to run, and I support him and hope he gets re-elected."
ALSO PRESENT at the fund-raising breakfast in the Kansas City, Kan., National Guard Armory was Sen. Thomas Eagleton, D-Mo., who said, "If you can elect a Polish pope, you can elect a Democratic senator from Kansas."
If Roy bays Kassembau in the race to succeed Sen. James Pearson, R-Prairie Village, he will be the first Democratic senator from Kansas since 1932.
See KENNEDY back page
Theft quashes research
By JAKE THOMPSON Staff Reporter
A theft of $5,900 in equipment last month brought work at the hearing section of the Child Research Laboratory. A witness told investigators of speech and drama, said yesterday.
"We have three projects that are stopped completely," he said. "The students are just twiddling their thumbs. We've all employed the research I am involved with."
According to police reports, certain equipment used in hearing research was taken from the lab at 1043 Indiana St. during the night of Sept. 28. There were no apparent signs of forced entry, reports said.
"The only reason for the theft that I see, could be a very special need or a disgruntled somebody aiming for that particular equipment."
"I CAN MAKE some guesses, but as far as I know we don't have any loads that are concrete," he said. "We have a detective and several others examining television and playing the television--there's a lot of tedious work and waiting on cases like this."
Mike Hill, captain of the KU Police Department, said that as of Monday night he had no suspects in the case.
HILL DECLINED to comment about reasons for the theft or about possible suspects.
But Bob Bearse, associate dean of research, graduate studies and public services, said the administration appealed to Branford's board to equipment Brandt had requested. However, he said, he does not know whether a management would cover all of Brandt's needs.
Brandt said he had made a formal request to the administration for replacement of the equipment, but had received no official response.
"It is my understanding that the central administration will replace some of the equipment, but the question of whether it will be reengaged, as far as I know," he said.
HOWEVER, BEARSE said, Brandt's research still might be hindered because not all of the equipment has been approved.
See THEFT back page
"It involves some people in departments having to reach into their back pockets," he said. "And you inform the right back pockets that the money is needed, he said. "I hope that it will be done."
Brandt said most of the missing equipment, especially a sound generating unit valued at $4,000, was needed for effective research. He said
BEARSE SAID the allocation of funds for stolen equipment had to go through special channels.
HEW investigating KU athletics
The Department of Health, Education and Welfare formally began an investigation yesterday at the University of Kansas into two complaints filed this summer alleging inequities between men's and women's athletics.
Anne Levinson, Winchester, Mass., junior, and Elizabeth Banks, University of Kansas Athletic Corporation Board member, met with an HEW investigator yesterday to discuss the complaints they had filed.
Banks and Levinson charged in their complaints that inequities exist between the two programs in such areas
as program funding, scholarships and administrative staff. Levinson also expressed concern over a lack of equitable facilities and training programs and the cut in teacher salaries because they were abandoned in the loss of a job for Diana Beeley, field coach bckey.
LEVINSON IS a member of the women's field hockey team, which, after the cut, has been forced to operate independently of the women's athletics department by reliving on donations and fund raising.
According to Title IX grievance procedures, if KU is
The complaints are based on a provision in Title IX of the HEW guidelines that says athletic opportunity for men and women should be equal.
found in violation of the guidelines federal funds could be withdrawn or the case could be turned over to the Justice Department for court action to force compliance without a federal funding loss.
The investigator is scheduled to meet Monday with Bob Marcum, men's athletic director; Marian Washington, women's athletic director; and either Chancellor Archie R. Dykes or an appointed spokesman to discuss the com-
ACCORDING TO LEVINSON, the investigator cannot make a final decision until it is determined there is either
See HEW back page
Schneider, Stephan clash at KU
Rv TIM SHEEHV
Staff Reporter
Curt Schneider, Democratic candidate for attorney general, yesterday charged his team with violating a position on enforcement of campaign finance laws during speaking engagements.
SNHEIDER SAID his opponent, Robert Stephan, stated in Clay Center that he would not strictly enforce fire violations, likening the crime to jawwalking, but then said during a television debate in Wichita he would enforce the laws to the fullest extent.
*Often times, and I think legitimately a candidate for office affairs some things in one place are better than others.*
other places," Schneeder said. "He should,
at least, have been consistent."
Stephan responded to Schneider's charge:
"He misinterpreted most of the things I
asked."
"It is almost impossible to go through a campaign without a violation of the Campaign Code."
STEPHAN SAID that although he favored strictly enforcing campaign laws, he thought that many violations were not intentional and could process for judging.
Regulations concerning campaign finances were initiated in 1974 and revised in 1976. The regulations place a lid on how candidates can contribute to a candidate. They also
Schneider agreed that inconsistency of sentencing was a problem, but said the judge would have to re-examine it.
"I DON'T THINK the punishment should depend on the sentiment of the judge, but I think it will be a serious issue."
Schneider and Stephan made their remarks during a debate sponsored by the student bar association of the University of Kansas.
See DEBATE back page
established guidelines for reporting contributions to the state.
In discussion of other issues, Stephan told the gathering of law students and professors he would support abolition of the state punishment for involvement of uniform sentencing for crimes.
Senate voting begins today
Polling places and times are:
Today, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.-Corbitt Hall,
Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Nu, Alperu
Hall, Hashinger Hall, Tau Kappa
Epsilon, Kappa Alpha Theta and Pearson
Hall.
Today and tomorrow, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.—2nd floor, Summerfield Hall, 4th floor, Wesco Hills, Kansas Union lobby information booth in front of Flint Hall.
Tomorrow, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. -Cornish Hall, Alpha Delta Pi, Niawshall Hall, Ellsworth Hall, Alpha KappaLambda, Baldwin Hall, Alpha and Stephenson Scholarship Hall