Tuesday, September 26, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
Minority voter registration underway
By Leita Schultes
writer@kanson.com
Kanson staff writer
Ladena Brown, Kansas City, Kan., senior, sat on Wescoe Beach yesterday morning, registering voters. She called out to minority students as they passed, reminding them of November's election for U.S. president.
She recruited minority voters because, although she doesn't have specific data, she doesn't think enough go to the polls.
"I just know that people I'm around don't vote," Brown said.
But Paul Schumaker, chan man of the University's division of government, said minority turnout wasn't as bad as Brown believed. Although the number of minority voters is slightly less than Caucasians, voter turnout is poor across the board, Schumaker said.
Brown, who is a member of the traditionally African-American sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, said the sorority is sponsoring a voter registration drive. She said feelings of political ignorance were a major reason African Americans chose not to vote.
"I just know that people I'm around don't
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority members Ladena Brown (center), Kansas City, Kan., senior, and Erica Hawthorne, Lenexa senior, work to increase minority voter registration. The voter registration drive started yesterday and will continue through tomorrow at Wescoe Beach. Photo by Jamie Roper/KANSAN.
Ladena Brown
Kansas City, Kan., senior
White people, she said, were better informed simply because presidential candidates are White.
Schumaker agreed that minorities felt misrepresented because candidates maintained middle-of-the-road platforms that did not single out specific groups.
African Americans relate to other African American, Brown said. She said minority students registered to vote at the Alpha Kappa Alpha table rather than with Student Senators a few yards away.
But, no matter how much Brown tried to convince J.T. Thompson, Kilgore, Texas, freshman, to register, he said he didn't have time — at least not for this election.
But he would make time for a minority candidate.
"I would vote for a Black president," said Thompson as he left.
Gabriel Roland, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, said neither George W. Bush nor Al Gore demonstrated genuine concern for minority issues.
"Anyone who really wants to help is not going to make a big, publicized event out of it," he said.
Alpha Kappa Alpha's voter
Clinton to nominate professor for council
Kansan staff writer
By Kursten Phelps
President Bill Clinton announced last week his intention to nominate the director of the University of Kansas Indigenous Nations Studies program for the National Council on the Humanities.
Donald Fixico, professor of history, will serve either a four- or six-year term on the council if his nomination is approved by the U.S. Senate. Fixico said he would know by mid-November.
"I think it's an honor certainly to be considered for the national council."
said Fixico, a member of the Sac & Fox, Shawnee, Creek and Seminole Native American tribes. "I hope the NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) can continue to do something for all communities, including the ethnic communities."
Fixico: Appointed to National Council on the Humanities
Council members review grant applications, as well as make recommendations about policies, programs and procedures of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provides funding for humanities programs throughout the country.
"It was something I was asked to be considered for. I've been reading proposals for the NEH for several years," Fixico said. "It's not anything you apply for. They kind of select you at random."
other things, has taught in exchange programs in England and Germany.
Fixico came to the University in 1999 from Western Michigan University and supervised the initiation of the Indigenous Nations Studies program. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma and, among
Fixico has published three books, including his latest, "The Urban Indian Experience in America," which was published this month. He also has edited two other books.
Bartholomew Dean, assistant professor of anthropology and Indigenous Nations Studies faculty member, said the nomination was a great honor for Fixico and the University.
"It's obviously a recognition of the world-class scholarship at the University of Kansas," Dean said. "It's fantastic news, and I'm glad to hear it."
Frederick stresses education on air
By Luke Wetzel
writer@kansan.com
Special to the Kansan
- Edited by Sara Nutt
"What happens to these 600 students is more high-profile than any other group of students," he said. "We tell them to answer to a higher standard."
Frederick: Spoke during a KJKH talk show last night
The Hilltop Lounge, a weekly political talk show, became the state of the Athletic Department address, as Frederick discussed a variety of issues with show co-hosts Tim Burger, Lenexa senior, and Cameron P. o. p. n.
Bob Frederick, University of Kansas Athletics director, emphasized the increased education of student athletes in dealing with sexual assault in a one-hour KJHK program last night.
Hutchinson graduate student.
Frederick also said that a mentor program had been
"It's pretty rare students have a chance to call up people and get their news in person." Burger said.
Frederick said the old policy stated that the University would provide counseling for the individual but that it would let the legal side take its course. The new policy dictates that if any student-athlete reports being a victim of sexual harassment or assault to a KU Athletic Corporation employee, they are to advise the student to contact the police or to contact the police for them, he said.
Burger said the show was started to give students the opportunity to discuss on-campus issues. Ben Walker, student body president, was on the show last week, and JKHJ plans to have more guests in the future. Burger said.
Among the issues discussed last night were the Feb. 26, 1999, incident involving the alleged assault of a female KU soccer player, which Frederick said was improperly handled by the Athletic Department.
"We now realize how we're going to handle such incidents, but we did not do it then," he said.
established among student athletes and that a student athlete group had been formed to help educate others.
"I can't tell you how badly I feel about the incident," Frederick said. "All we can do is educate, educate, educate and hope that it gets through."
The changing relationship between KUAC and the Kansas Union also was discussed last night. KUAC is choosing to sell licensed KU merchandise on its own Web site, K U s t o r e . c o m Consequently, the Kansas Union's 30-second advertising spots on pregame radio were pulled after the first football game of the season.
"I feel badly that we weren't able to address the issue before the football season." Frederick said. "Maybe we could have avoided this."
Frederick ended on a lighter note and congratulated the women's volleyball team on its best start ever. He also expressed excitement about the new track and field coach, Stanley Redwine.
Edited by Erin Adamson