WATER BREATHING
Weekend weather
Kansan
Saturday: Partly cloudy.
High 97, low 72
Sunday: Partly cloudy.
High 98, low 72
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Friday, August 25, 2000
Sports: Ultimate Frisbee team kicks off 21st year at Kansas.
SEE PAGE 1B
Inside: Student Senate looks to boost student participation. SEE PAGE 3A
(USPS 650-640) • VOL. 111 NO. 03 For comments, contact Nathan Willis or Chris Borniger at 864-4810 or e-mail editor@kansan.com
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Burge party ban lifted tomorrow
By Leita Schultes
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Members of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity will hold the first party at the Burge Union tomorrow since a ban on after-hours events at the union was lifted in May.
James Kitchen, then dean of students, instituted the ban on parties at the Kansas and Burge unions last winter, following a Jan. 23 shooting at the Burge Union during an Alpha Phi Alpha dance party.
Bryon Kirtdoll, Topeka, was arrested and charged with shooting Gregory J. Davis, then a KU senior from Denver. The case
went to trial but was dismissed this spring when the victim failed to appear in court.
The ban on union parties resulted in the cancellation of seven social events sponsored by traditionally African-American Greek organizations.
But increased security measures have allowed groups like Phi Beta Sigma to use the union again.
The plan to increase the safety of afterhours events was developed by a task force of students and administrators. Danny Kaiser, director of student organizations and leadership development, served as chairman of the task force.
"We believe they have the things in place
to reasonably have this event," Kaiser said.
Kaiser said events must be scheduled two and a half weeks in advance, which allows time to check the backgrounds of disc jockeys and discuss security with campus officials. Groups that wish to hold events at the union are responsible for contacting the public safety office to arrange for security.
New safety precautions include metal detectors and searches of attendees and their bags. People admitted to union parties must present photo IDs and cannot leave without paying to reenter.
Sgt. Troy Mailen of the KU Public Safety
Office said that three officers would be working at tomorrow's event, monitoring both the parking lot and interior of the union.
The public safety office provided security services to parties several years ago but then discontinued the practice, Mailen said. Starting up again for Saturday's event will mean extra costs for the fraternity.
The officers will work the party at an overtime rate — $26.87 per hour — which fraternity members must pay.
Hot weather drives record water demand
By Melissa Davis writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Rising temperatures this week spurred record water use in Lawrence, leaving city officials urging residents to shut off their taps.
The temperature was so high last week that Lawrence set a new record for water usage — 24.6 million gallons on Wednesday. According to city records, this was 1.2 million gallons more than the previous record, set on Tuesday.
Officials at the city's two water
Officials at th plants have been able to meet the demands from the increased water usage, but city officials are encouraging residents to conserve water, especially during the hot spell.
"With the forecast calling for little relief, we are closely monitoring our ability to continue meeting high water demand," said Roger Coffey, utilities department director.
Temperatures in the 100s have increased the chances of other problems beyond
CONSERVING WATER TIPS
Outdoor tips
Water the lawn in the morning and avoid watering pavement.
■ Mulch landscape to reduce water loss.
■ Don't leave the water running when washing car.
Indoor tins
- Take short showers rather than baths.
- Repair leaks in sinks and toilets.
- Run full loads of laundry and dishes.
- Turn off water when brushing teeth, shaving or shampooing.
just a water shortage.
"The dry ground has also led to an increase in water main breaks in the city in recent days," said Coffey in a written statement.
Conserving water not only helps avoid problems, but also can help save money.
Cynthia McCarvel, community relations specialist for Kansas Power and Light, said she thought conserving water could also save on energy bills.
"A family of four spends about $24 dollars a month on water heat, which could add up in the long run," she said. City officials advise running full loads of dishes and large loads of clothes to save on water. Officials also have tips for saving water outdoors. They advise residents to avoid letting the水 run when washing cars or excessively watering the lawn.
Watering in mid-day heat is discouraged, officials said, because the water will evaporate. They suggested people place sprinklers so that the water doesn't land on the pavement.
Jean Thoma, the facilities office manager for the KU athletics corporation, said the sprinklers at the SuperTarget Field ran in the middle of the day because the field needs to be watered between practice times.
But in some cases, watering mid-day can't be helped.
"The schedule relates to when a team is scheduled to practice," Thoma said. "And to avoid risk of injury."
The bottom line, officials say, is to use common sense with water use because there is little relief in sight. According to the National Weather Service, the heat is likely to continue through the weekend, with only a slight chance for evening thunderstorms.
— Edited by Chris Borniger
Freak out, party on
ABOVE: After the first day of classes, residents in Hashinger Hall spent the afternoon tie-dying and listening to music during Hippie Freak Fest. Jennifer Stimple, Des Moines, Iowa freshman, and Ginny Brinkerhoff, Kansas City, Mo., freshman both tie-dye shirts. Meg Taylor, St. Louis sophomore, holds up the shirt she just tye-dyed. Photo by Selena Jabara/KANSAN
LEFT: Richard Gintowt, Palotine, ill. sophomore, leads a sing-along of "Oh Suzanna" on the porch of Hashinger Hall Thursday after the first day of class. Cody Jackson, Nickerson freshman, accompanies on the drum. Photo by Selena Jabara/KANSAN
Faculty awarded Kemper fellowships
By Karen Lucas
writer @kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Strikwerda was handing out syllabi for his History of World War I course yesterday morning when Chancellor Robert Hemenway made a surprise visit with Jim Martin, president of the Kansas University Endowment Association; Mark Gonzales, community bank president at Commerce Bank; Sally Frost Mason, dean of liberal arts and sciences; and
Carl J. Strikwerda, professor of history, can't complain about his class being interrupted.
See AWARD on page 3A
Mary Lee Hummert, professor of communications, shakes the hand of Mark Gonzalez, community bank president at Commerce Bank after receiving the W. T. Kemper Fellowships for Teaching Excellence award. Photo by Jason Hoffman/KANSAN
Skyrocketing gas prices
gas prices rose sharply in the past year.
One year ago, the average price for one gallon of Regular Unleaded gasoline in the state of Kansas cost $1.18. One month ago, the price for the same gallon of gasoline cost $1.43, and the current average in the state of Kansas is $1.41. One month ago in Topeka, the price for one gallon of Unleaded gas cost 1.38, and currently it costs $1.40.
Jason Elliott / KANSAN
Students treated to lower prices at gas stations
Meahan Bainum
Megan Baltimore
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
According to American Auto Association figures, gas prices in the Midwest dropped 13.9 cents per gallon during the last month.
That's a welcome break, said JaneAnn Jensen, Ankney, Iowa junior.
After a summer of sky-high gas prices, KU students heading back to school got a lucky break at the pump.
Currently, in Lawrence, gas prices are falling to between $1.33 and $1.42 per gallon. Although these prices are more reasonable than summer prices, Cherie Sage, public affairs coordinator for AAA of Kansas, said there was no way to tell what the prices would do next.
"Yesterday I filled up for only $13." Jensen said. "This summer I was paying 17 or 18 dollars a time — It was ridiculous."
GAS SAVING
"You can have all the analysts in the world saying what they think is going to happen, but that isn't necessarily what will happen," Sage said.
Sage said because school had begun
Consolidate trips and errands to cut down on driving time.
Slow down The faster the vehicle travels, the more gas it burns.
Keep tires inflated and all systems operating properly.
If the vehicle doesn't need premium or mid-grade gas, purchase regular unleaded gas.
Avoid quick starts
Don't haul extra weight in the vehicle.
Use the air conditioner only when needed. If AC is necessary, use the "economy" or "recirculation" setting.
Source: AAA Gas Watcher's Guide
and the summer travel season had ended, the demand for gas had gone down and prices should follow.
Despite the back-to-school price break, students like Jensen said they felt they still had to dig too deeply into their pockets to put gas in their cars.
"When I first moved to Lawrence two years ago, I only paid 80 to 90 cents a gallon," she said.
According to the AAA figures, gas prices have increased about 24 cents in the past year, but Sage said that she didn't expect any sort of gas price crisis. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which is in charge of most of the crude oil used to make gas, is willing to keep prices at what it considers to be a reasonable level, Sage said.
Still, Jensen, like many students, wondered why that level had to be so expensive.
Drew Voogele, Overland Park sophomore,
blamed the price increase on OPEC.
"Oil should just be dirt cheap — prices shouldn't go up just because they don't feel like pumping it." Voegle said about OPEC. "Gas should cost a dollar."
But for now, it costs more than a dollar per gallon to drive in Lawrence.
Jensen said that she would try to walk more and carpool when gas prices head skyward. Voojege, however, said he had other ways to get around a possible gas crunch.
"I'll continue having my dad pay for my gas," he said.
v
— Edited by J. R. Mendoza