SINCE 1889
Haunted houses,
demons, graves
add to spirit
of Halloween
See page 6
Ghostly visions
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
A child in a field of falling leaves.
THURSDAY, OCT. 31, 1985. VOL. 96, NO 49 (USPS 650-640)
Cool Details page 3
Tacha nominated as judge
Of the Kansan staff
By Gary Duda
Deanrell Tacha, vice chancellor for academic affairs, was nominated yesterday as judge for the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by President Reagan
the offices of both Kansas senators announced that Tacha had been nominated by the president. They said the nomination would be passed to the Senate today.
would miss his press conference.
Tacha, who had been one of the top nominees for the judgeship, said she was honored by the president's nomination. She said she was grateful for the support she had received from both Kansas senators.
"I am honored by this nomination," she said. "I have appreciated the support of Senators Dole and Kassebaum and many members of the bar in Kansas. I consider this position to be one of the highest public trusts in our nation."
If confirmed by the Senate, Tacha will be the second woman in history to be appointed
to the 10th Circuit bench and only the 17th women appointed in the 100-year history of the Circuit Court of appeals
"I shall endeavor to bring to the Federal Bench the full measure of my abilities, energy and commitment to the American system of justice," she said.
Tacha said she learned yesterday of the nomination in a phone call from the president. She said she had been informed the previous day that he would be calling.
"t to tid my kids that he might call," she said. "They said I might be as important as Brett Saberhagen." Reagan talked with Saberhagen, the pitcher for the Kansas City Royals in the seventh game of the World Series, after the game last Sunday.
Series after the game that Tacha said she was very happy about the nomination but would be sorry to leave the University.
"I have very mixed emotions because I will miss the University," she said.
Sen. Boh Dole, R Kan., recommended
Tacha for the position in June. The 10th Cir
cut, covers Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma,
Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico.
Johnny, Clarkson.
Dole said Kansas could be proud of Tacha's nomination. He said she would be a fine addition to the 10th Court Circuit.
"Dearen Tacha's nomination to the 10th Circuit Court by President Reagan is a proud day for Kansas." Dole said in a prepared statement. "She brings outstanding qualifications to the Senate. Her background in law, teaching, college administration and government is truly impressive."
Dole said he could not see any difficulty in ber "swift acceptance" by the Senate.
The judgement, which is a lifetime appointment, would pay Tacha $83.20 a year
meen, would play Pretender, on the beach. Sen. Nancy Kassbaum, R.Kan., said she thought Tacha was very qualified for the judo-joiner.
"Deanell Tacha will be an outstanding addition to the 10th Circuit Court," she said in a prepared statement. "She has both the common sense and the keen understanding of the law that is necessary to be a fine judge."
Tacha, a 1968 KU graduate, became the vice chancellor for academic affairs in 1981. She previously was the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.
"We congratulate Deanell Tacha on her nomination and thank her for her many significant contributions to the University of Kansas," Budig said. "We are a better institution because of her efforts here over the years. She will be missed and difficult to replace."
KU Chancellor Gene A Budig congratulated Tacha on her nomination. He said Tacha had been an asset to the University
Tacha, once an associate dean of the KU School of Law, was instrumental in developing programs to enhance educational opportunities for KU students. She is now involved in the academic evaluation efforts under way at the University.
Budig said that, while Tacha wouldn't be easy to replace, he and the University ad-
See TACHA p. 5 col 1
Deanell Tacha
175 fires reported in Detroit
From Kansan wires
DETROIT — Fires and false alarms launched the pre-Halloween Detroit tradition of Devil's Night yesterday in the face of a full police alert and an officially unwelcome throng of Guardian Angels.
Pollice reports listed 175 fires in the city by 10 p.m., compared with 248 by the same time last year.
There were no initial reports of casualties.
The combined Devil's Night-
Halloween total for 1984 was 559 fires.
Devi's Night originated as a time for such pranks as overturning garbage cans and letting air out of tires. It turned to vandalism in Detroit in recent years, with emphasis on torching abandoned buildings.
Unofficial observers reported fires lighting the city skies as the evening began, including a fires in a private garage and a warehouse on the city's vulnerable East Side
A jack of a lantern brightens the festivities inside the Sigma Nu house during the Big Brothers Big Sisters Halloween party. The party, held last night, was
for children participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. See related story on page 3.
KU curator to leave
By John Williams Of the Kansas staff
The curator of KU's Natural History Museum has been named the director of the National Museum of Natural History/National Museum of Man of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Robert Hoffman, the curator and a professor of systematics and ecology, next spring will replace Richard Fiske, a geologist, as director of the museum.
Hoffman's title of director of the museum will put him in charge of all aspects of work done in research, the exhibits and public education the national museum handles, he said yesterday.
"We are very excited to go to Washington," he said. "But we are very sorry to leave Lawrence."
The National Museum of Natural History contains the United States' largest collection of natural history specimens and artifacts, from rocks to life-sized stuffed animals. The collection has 31 million items from all over the world.
He said they were not leaving because they were dissatisfied, but because the museum offered such a unique opportunity.
Hoffman was contacted last spring by a search committee. Choices for the position were narrowed to three from the nominations. Interviews were conducted, and the process culminated in June, when the selection committee notified him of the appointment to director, he said. After some negotiation the appointment became official a couple of days ago.
Unfortunately, he said, his new administrative duties would leave little time for the continuation of his research on the evolution of mammals in North America.
"I will have no regular teaching duties, but I am going to try to keep up on my research program," he said.
Hoffman received a bachelor's degree in zoology from Utah State University in Logan. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in 1954 and 1955, respectively, from the University of California at Berkeley.
He spent 13 years as a professor of zoology at the University of Montana at Missoula. In 1969, he became a professor of systematics and ecology and curator of mammals at the University of Kansas. He was the chairman of the department of systematics and psychology during 1969 and 1972.
Dead student's father to ask Union Pacific to slow down
By Karen Blakeman Of the Kansan staff
The father of a 19-year KU student who was killed Sunday by a train said yesterday that he would call upon the railroad company to do something to make sure it didn't happen to anyone else.
Donald Lucas, father of Brian Lucas, the student who was killed Sunday while playing a game known to KU students as training, said he planned to ask Union Pacific officials to slow their trains to a crawl as they passed over the railroad bridges where the game was played.
Training, a game that involves getting as close as possible to a passing train, is played on two railroad bridges near Lawrence: the Mud Creek bridge, three miles outside of Lawrence, and the TeePee Junction bridge over the Kaw River. Brian Lucas was killed at the Mud Creek bridge.
Lucas, a local psychologist, said he thought students were attracted to training because of the danger in
"Kids are always going to seek thrills," he said. "The danger is sort of a substitute for drugs. It's a high for them, the speed, the noise, the wind caused by a passing train.
trains
Lucas said he did not think Union Pacific's past actions of patrolling the area and arresting trainers for trespassing had or would discourage people from playing the game.
"Training seems to be restricted to Lawrence, and to two specific areas. If the railroad would lower the speed in those areas to 10 or 15 mph, no one would get a thrill from being near the trains."
volved, and one aspect of the danger was the speed of the trains.
Donald Moss, a Lawrence psychologist, said he thought rebellion was another aspect involved in the appeal of training.
people from paying tighter. "The fact that it is illegal and they could get caught only adds to the thrill." he said.
in the appeal of a story,
"I think the kids say. 'Let's do
something the old folks wouldn't do
and wouldn't approve of doing.'
"It's a part of growing up," he said. "If you can get kids through
Tom LaHood, spokesman for the Union Pacific Railroad, said special agents employed by the railroad, in cooperation with the Leavenworth County sheriff's department, had arrested several people in late March for trespassing on Union Pacific property.
"If there are any reports of any kind, they go to the scene to keep the trespassers off the right of way," he said.
their teenage years and early 20s, the chances they will die from less violent means are a lot better."
LaHood said the arrests in late March were spurred by a story that appeared March 27 in the Kansan about training and the dangers involved.
"I think that is the date the arrests were made," he said.
LaHood said the railroad's limited police force made it difficult to patrol the training game bridges any more frequently.
"We have 22,000 miles of track to patrol. We use what manpower we have to patrol the track we're responsible for," he said.
By Bob Tinsley Of the Kansan staff
Local man treats pranksters to tricks of trade
At Mike's Pumpkin Paradise, would be pumpkin pilfers aren't in for treats — just tricks
Halloween brings pumpkin season to close
Lee McBee sells pumpkins at Mike's, situated on Highway 24 east of Lawrence Municipal Airport. He said yesterday that Mike's had a sure-fire system for keeping pumpkins on the premises. Although he would disclose no details, he said the method was effective.
But it would seem that pumpkin thieves are mere harmless pranksters seeking a thrill. McLee said it's all just part of Halloween.
"When they try to steal them, they're usually sorry that they do." he said. "They never come back and complain though."
Acree said some customers told him that selecting the right Halloween pumpkin was something done best after dark.
The field, about an acre in size, is peppered with fat, orange pumkins of many shapes and sizes. The land is owned by Mike Garrett, whose family grew and sold produce there for about 30 years, McBee said. Garrett
"I never heard of a pumpkin patch being open at night," he said, "so I think most people are just used to stealing them."
"When we look at the field, we don't even notice it," he said.
McBee said Mike's nocturnal visitors had swiped about 30 pumpkins to date, but he wasn't sure.
left the produce business about five years ago.
"He's specializing." McBee said. "He's becoming a pumpkin man."
It's been Saturday, McBee said he had sold more than two tons of pumpkins at 10 cents a pound.
business seems just as good at Farm Fresh Produce, 1415 W 6th St., where owner Ron Moreland has sold sixteen tons of pumpkins since Oct. 1. Mounds of brilliant orange pumpkins are displayed prominently at Moreland's roadside stand.
"It's all psychological," he said.
"You've got to make them see it."
Moreland's stand, too, is plagued with Halloween pranksters, but he shrugs off the losses.
"Usually, I put a couple of real nice ones out by my sign, so they can just jump out and grab them," he said.
He buys his wares from local growers. Selling pumpkins caps his vending season, which begins in April with strawberries The pumpkin season is brief, he explained.
in this book.
"It starts the first of October till about 30 minutes before dark on Halloween night," he said.
Moreland sells his pumpkins by the piece, not the pound. Prices vary from 50 cents to $5. One 80-pounder brought him $8 a few weeks ago, he said.
McBee said that Tuesday morning, one customer bought a 42-pound pumpkin from him for $4.20.
"In Kansas City, you'd pay $25 for a pumpkin like that," he said.
McBee said pumpkins were planted at the end of June and began to mature in September. Rain caused some of this year's pumpkins to rot in the field.
"They've got several different stages of smell, and all of them are bad," he said. "We had some beauts, but once you get a bad spot, it's gone."
"It's really not healthy to throw a pumpkin," he said. "When they hit the ground, they break."
MeeBee sells pumpkins for Garrett several weeks each October. He said he enjoyed doing it because he liked working with kids, although sometimes they could be obnoxious.
United Press International
Stephan responds to lawsuit
TOPEKA — The gloves came off yesterday in the latest round between Attorney General Robert Stephani and Marcia Tomson.
Tomson, who has moved to San Diego, issued a statement yesterday through her lawyer, Margie Phelps, saying she would reopen her sexual harassment lawsuit against Stephan because he violated an agreement to keep secret the terms of the settlement.
settlement.
In subsequent interview, Phelps said Stephen lien when he professed his innocence and when he said he had no knowledge of the settlement terms. Phelps said Stephan initiated the settlement and negotiated its terms, adding that former Attorney General Vern Miller did not do so.
That spurred a new response late yesterday from Stephan, who called the latest statements from Phelps' office lies.
"I can only conclude this is a personal vendetta of the Phelps law firm against me and my office." Stephan said.
The verbal battle began Tuesday with a news conference by Stephan and Topeka lawyer Bob Storey, who said $24,000 was raised by Storey and Miller, now a Wichita lawyer, to pay as a settlement to Tomson.
Tomson filed a federal court suit in 1982 alleging she was fired because she resisted Stephan's continual sexual overtures. The suit was settled out of court in March and the terms kept secret.
At that time, Stephan said that the matter was settled by an unidentified friend, that Stephan did not know the terms, but that no state money was paid to Tomson.
Meanwhile, Stephan's unofficial gubernatorial campaign has been dogged by persistent questions about the secret settlement and its impact on his political viability.
Tuesday the issue came to a head when Storey and Stephan held the news conference. Storey said he was contacted by Miller for assistance in raising $2,400 to pay a settlement Storey, who said he had no commitment to confidentiality, said he raised $12,000 in cash, which he gave to Miller, who raised the remainder.
Stephan maintained his innocence and said Miller, a friend since childhood, contacted him saying he could settle the case if Stephan provided Tomson a favorable job recommendation and agreed not to talk about the settlement. Stephan said he agreed, adding that that was the extent of his knowledge of the settlement.
Yesterday Tomson issued a statement saying she would file a new lawsuit against Stephan, and against Storey. She said the pair held her up to public ridicule by lying about the circumstances of the lawsuit.
"IH Mr. Stephan had not looked me in the eye and admitted his wrongdoing and apologized with tears in the presence of four witnesses, I would never have agreed to settle my case against him." Tomson's statement said.
The statement said Tomson agreed to settle in response to Stephan's begging forgiveness, causing her to feel sorry for him and his family. She said they both agreed conditions of the settlement would remain confidential.