Campus/Area
University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, September 11, 1999
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Students seek end to ROTC conflict
Bv Karen Park
Jason Stein asks ACLU members Michael Grossman and Mark Bysfield about the ROTC petition at Kansas Union
Kansan staff writer
Student involvement is increasing in the conflict between KU's anti-discrimination policy and the Department of Defense's policy excluding members on the basis of sexual orientation.
Three student groups, the University of Kansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Gay and Lesbian University, Women's Student Union, are sponsoring a petition which asks Chancellor Gene A Budig to sign a University Council resolution that would prohibit ROTC commissioning ceremonies.
It also would prohibit University personnel from participating in the commissioning ceremonies in an official capacity.
The resolution, passed on May 3, was in response to the Department of Defense's policy that excluded members based on sexual orientation among serving scholarships and from participating in commissioning ceremonies.
Council members said the deparm- nency's policy violated KU's policy, which prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, sex, disability, national origin, political affinity, age, ancestry or sexual orientation.
Budig did not sign the Council's resolution
Del Shankel, interim executive
vice chancellor, said that the resolution would be seen by the Department of Defense as a hostile action, and that the administration was working with other universities to change the department policy.
Students sponsoring the petition
"We would like the University to enforce its policy," said David Wacker, an ACLU and GLOSK member.
said that the administration was not doing enough to correct the situation.
He said that the ROTC was a good program but that it should not be allowed to discriminate.
Erin Parson, a Lawrence freshman who signed the petition, said the department's policy was in violation
"I don't see that it's going to change the Pentagon policy one way or another," he said.
of the University's anti-discrimina tion policy.
Chris Gavras, Tulsa, Okla., law student, did not sign the petition.
New IFC members challenged to end stereotypes
By Tracey Chalpin
Kansan staff writer
University, city and greek officials last night told about 500 new members of the Interfraternity Council what they needed to do to impress KU and the Lawrence community
Tom Cartellm, president of IFC, told those attending ICF's orientation at Woodward Auditium that until fraternities disassociated them earlier they would have to continue the fraternity关系.
Cartmell said one stereotype was that fraternities were insensitive to minority groups.
He said the IFC was working to integrate the four Black fraternities at KU into the organization.
Two other stereotypes associated with fraternities are that their atmospheres are conducive to alcohol abuse and less conducive to academics, Cartmell said.
He said fraternity problems had caused members of the KU administration to predict that a new course would be required.
Shirley Martin-Smith speaks to IFC members about their role in the community.
"That would be a sting to the entire greek system," he said.
Mayor Shirley Martin-Smith reminded members of the noise ordinance Lawrence adopted in
Carmell said fraternities were facing some of the same issues that society was facing, and that fraternites must be more active in treating their problems.
She said fraternity members should not oppose the ordinance but should warn neighbors ahead of them.
"The long term intent of its ordinance is to ask people to be aware of their neighbors," she said.
She said members should recognize hazing if they experienced it and should report it immediately.
Margaret Miller, coordinator for gecko organi-
zations, fraternities should focus on three
problem areas.
Miller also warned fraternity members to think Miller about alcohol consumption in their houses, where alcohol is prohibited.
She said fraternity members need to be more accepting of individuals of different races, religions and sexual orientations, or fraternities might vanish altogether.
Mike Schreiner, student body president, said his Greek pronunciation had been instrumental in students' success.
He emphasized the importance of student government in communication with the state, the district, and the college.
David Ambler, vice chancellor for student affairs, said KU enforced its strong position as a learning community by imposing more discipline on its members.
Ambler all all KU students, including fraternity members, needed to make sure that cultural knowledge was shared.
He said students must uphold the value of individual rights.
We will tolerate a greater amount of social chaos in order to follow the value of freedom."
Request for vote is denied Group's petition not yet completed
By Elicia Hill
Kansan staff writer
Swift, spokesperson for Vote On Tax Emissions, has collected 790 signatures on petitions to allow voters to choose their representatives, to decide the improvements.
The county commission yesterday turned down a request from John Swift, Lawrence graduate student, to place on the Nov. 6 ballot a referendum concerning renovation of 31st and Sixth streets.
Although Swift's deadline for filing the petition is Oct. 11, yesterday was the last day to place a question on the ballot so that County Clerk Pajia James could prepare the ballot questions for the Nov. 6 vote.
Oct. 11 represents the end of the 60-day protest period after the commission's approval of the improvements.
Swift had asked the commissioners to place the referendum on the November ballot because it would be more popular, $25,000, the price of a special election.
A special election could be required if Swift collected 754 signatures, 2 percent of registered voters in Delaware County, from registered voters.
County commissioner Nancy Hebert said it would be premature to put a street improvement referendum on the November ballot because Swift did not have the required number of signatures.
County commissioner Louie McElaney asked Swift how the commissioners would be able to settle safety issues and would not approve spending for them.
Swift said he was not dealing with safety issues but whether voters could exercise their rights to have power where their tax dollars would go.
Hiebert said Swift did not represent the people who wanted the roads fixed
"It's impossible to drive on that road," she said. "We're acting completely within the law by waiting until you get the required signatures. There is a possibility that you may not."
McEhlaney said he had not had anyone call him and voice opposition to these improvements.
Swift said, "I've worked for almost three weeks and have accumulated 700 signatures. I'm sure I can get the other 54; I like to get another 100 to make sure I have enough that would clear the requirements."
The commission voted that if Swift obtained the additional 54 signatures before Oct. 11, it would consider putting a referendum on the next available ballot, which would be in February.
However, James said the decision to place it on a February primary depended on whether enough candidates ran to conduct a primary.
Local Democrats gather in Lawrence to talk about campaign strategies
By Carol Krekeler
Kansan staff writer
Douglas County Democrats have been working hard to ensure success for their state and local candidates running in this year's election, said member, chairperson of the Douglas County Democratic Central Committee.
Local Democrats gathered yesterday at the campaign headquarters at Ninth and New Hampshire streets to listen to local and state Democratic candidates discuss their strategies for success.
The candidates, which included State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Joan Finney, took about 10
minutes each to outline their plans for a better Kansas government to about 75 supporters.
Finney said she believed Democratic campaigning had been so successful that Republicans were cross-party lines to support Democrats.
party and asking them to join us," she said.
"We, the Democratic Party, are welcoming Republicans into our
In an interview after her speech,
Finney said she had a two-part plan to improve Kansas universities.
Finney said she wanted to recognize the contributions of university faculty and bring back the Margin of Excellence.
The Margin was the Board of Regents three-year plan to bring the total financing of its seven institutions to 95 percent of their peer schools and to bring faculty salaries to 100 percent of their peers. The Legislature financed the first two years but not the third.
She said a day designated to honor
Kansas universities would help sup port faculty.
Finney also said her anti-abortion stand would not affect a woman's ability to receive an abortion at the University of Kansas Medical Center, which offers a Planned Parenthood program.