Outpost of study
SINCE 1889
Prot hopes class on Sibenia will lead to study center. See page 3.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30, 1985, VOL. 96, NO. 48 (USPS 650-640)
Details page 3.
French think drug stops AIDS virus
United Press International
PARIS — A drug used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs appears to stop the AIDS virus from destroying victims' immune systems and potentially may be used to treat a rare form of French researchers said yesterday.
the researchers, from Laenze Hospital in Paris, said experimental treatment with the drug cyclosporin A kept alive two AIDS patients would have died from the disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Professors Jean-Marie Andrieu and Philippe Even and Dr. Alain Venet, speaking at a news conference, said cyclosporin-A cannot cure the disease but appears to stop the virus from destroying the cells of
the immune system that are prime targets for the AIDS virus.
"Without our treatment, the man would be dead today. As for the woman, the growth of the disease was stopped. It is the first time in the world that this has happened," the researchers said in a statement.
Social Affairs Minister Georgina Dufox said the researchers reported to her on their work, which gives "reasonable hope" of improving the condition of AIDS victims. She cautioned that there was no way of knowing yet how well the treatment worked.
Cyclosporin-A, which suppresses the body's defense system to help keep patients from rejecting transplanted organs, is produced commercially by Sandoz Laboratories.
"We in the United States have no evidence that the drug should be investigated in patients with AIDS," Sandoz spokeswoman Blanche Higgenbotham said.
"We do not know what the mechanism of action claimed by the Paris researchers is. We were unaware of these studies or the findings until it was brought to our attention by the media. Since we're not familiar with what they're reporting, we're just waiting to see the data."
They said months of further research were needed to determine
The researchers said preliminary tests indicated it may have the same effect in controlling AIDS as insulin does on diabetes, allowing victims to live a normal life so long as they take regular treatment.
the drug's true effectiveness against the AIDS virus, known as HTLV 3.
The two AIDS victims at Laenece Hospital were a 35-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man who began treatment last week with the drug, the researchers said. Four other Laenece patients have since begun treatment.
The AIDS virus attacks and destroys white blood corpuscles called T4 lymphocytes, which help protect the body from sickness, the researchers said. Cyclosporin-A hinders the T-4 lymphocyte's reproduction. Transplant patients who take the drug have a reduced ability to fight off disease.
Andrieu had said earlier in a television interview that the cyclosporin treatment paradoxically caused a
The virus attacked only the T-4 cells present before treatment, the researchers said. Those new T-4 cells that were made by the patients' bodies afterwards were for some reason free of the virus.
rapid rise in the number of T-4 lym phocytes in the AIDS patients.
What effect the treatment would have on symptoms of the disease — the infections and rare cancers that are responsible for the high death rate — was uncertain. It was also uncertain how the doctors knew the two test patients were in danger of dying
Frank Mahaney, a spokesman for the National Institutes of Health, said the organization was "keeping an
Attorney details Stephan lawsuit
See AIDS: p 5; col €
From Kansan wires
TOPEKA - A Topleka lawyer, joined by Attorney General Robert Stephan, yesterday said that $24,000 in cash was paid to settle a $750,000 sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Stephen by Marcia Tomson, a former records clerk in the attorney general's office.
Bob Storey, the lawyer, and former Republican state senator, made the disclosure, saying he helped former Attorney General Vern Miller raise the money with the idea the settlement would remain confidential. Storey said he disclosed the terms, despite Miller's opposition, because his campaign is considering running for the Republican nomination for governor.
Storey, who spent eight years in the Kansas Senate before he lost the Republican primary in 1976, said Miller, a Democrat, called on him inebriation to raid his house because he knew Storey and Stephan had been close friends for 25 years.
Storey said he personally raised $12,000 in cash at Miller's request. The other $12,000 was raised by Miller.
Miller has been close to the Republican attorney general since the two were children growing up together in Wichita. Miller interceded in the lawsuit as an interested third party but neither he nor Storey, both attorneys, represented Stephan as legal counsel.
He said $24,000 is a modest settlement that falls into the category of a nuisance-level suit. He said the settlement did not include taxpayer dollars and had saved the state bet $30,000 and $100,000 in legal fees.
Miller collected the money in two trips to Topeka. It took Storey just eight telephone calls to raise the funds. He said Miller told him the case was to be settled in cash so he raised it in cash.
Storey said he, and not Stephan, was breaking the confidentiality agreement, and that he recommended Stephan comment on the matter, now that it was disclosed. He said in a meeting with Storey and Miller Oct. 22, Stephan urged the settlement be disclosed and Miller refused.
Stephan said the settlement was not related to a letter he wrote that was favorable to Fred W. Phelps Sr., father of the attorney representing Tomson. Phelps is defending himself against a disciplinary complaint in federal court. Stephan said he wrote the letter at Miller's request.
Stephan said Miller contacted him in February saying he could get the case settled if Stephan would give him more information and keep the settlement confidential.
"Despite the fact the allegations in the suit were totally unfounded, the suit certainly was a nuisance in my life. Stephan said." It was embarrassing for me to have been defended defense would be costly to the state. So Vern Miller settled it."
Stephan said he did not know until May that Storey — who had been contacted by Miller — was involved. Stephan said he did not know the amount of the settlement until last week and did not know the names of the contributors until Monday. He said he still did not know who had contributed the amount collected by Storey.
Storey said his $12,000 was con
See STEPHAN. p. 5. col. 4
Coalition debates without opponent
By Bonnie Snyder Of the Kansan staff
One coalition fired the first shot of the 1985 Student Senate election campaign last night, but the other coalition was not around to hear it.
The debate between the Chrysalis and Common Sense coalitions at Gertrude Sellards Pearson Hall last night became a question and answer session for the Common Sense Coalition, because the Chrysalis Coalition did not attend.
Scott said yesterday that advertising and filers had been distributed before he was notified about the debate. By the time he and Ruth Lichtward, vice president candidate for Chrysalis Coalition, found him to be unfit, it was too late for Lichtward to avoid a scheduling conflict, he said.
Milton Scott, presidential candidate for Chrysalis Coalition, said Saturday that his coalition could not attend the debate, which was sponsored by the GSP-Corbin Hall government.
we feel that natural answers and responses are the best." Scott said.
Scott said the two candidates also had decided not to participate in any debate in which questions were prearranged.
David Epstein and Amy Brown, Common Sense presidential and vice presidential candidates, described their platform and answered questions from the audience.
big goals were creating a "night ride" program to bus people home from local taverns, publishing a guide of evaluations of professors, forming a Universitywide lecture series that would bring top speakers to the University of Kansas and increasing the student voice in KU Parking Services.
Epstein said Common Sense's four
Although most of the nearly 75 people in the room wore red and black "Common Sense" buttons, Epstein said he had "Common Sense Coalition candidates."
Brown said they would create some services immediately after the election, such as a "hotline" to Student Services and had suggestions, questions or grips.
A few students challenged issues in the Common Sense platform, but most students who asked questions wanted details about the platform.
All these could be accomplished during his one-year term as student body president. Epstein said.
Both Epstein and Brown said they were disappointed that Chrysalis Coalition representatives did not attend the debate.
Besides campaign issues, people wanted to know how to participate in Student Senate, what the candidates did in the current Senate administration and why committee meetings took so long.
Brown said she was looking forward to tomorrow's debate against Chrysalis candidates, which will be delivered by the International Room of the Kansas Union.
Paul Goodman/KANSAN
As students file back into Watson Library, KU police officers Jerry Sylvester, left, and George Salehar talk with Capt Mike Penner of the Lawrence Fire Department. A wastebasket fire in the library yesterday afternoon set off alarms, forcing patrons outside.
Hot topic
Play ball, judge tells Iavhawks
The judge, Susan D. Borman of Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit, granted an injunction sought by the University of Detroit in its breach of contract suit against the University of Kansas.
By Liz Maggard Of the Kansan staff
Under the terms of a contract between the two schools, KU was supposed to play at the University of Detroit on Jan. 6 as part of a series between the two teams. The first played at KU during last year's season.
Gary Hunter, assistant athletic director, said yesterday that no decision would be made on the Detroit game until Athletic Department officials had had a chance to study Judge Borman's decision.
The KU men's basketball team cannot play a proposed game with the University of Louisville unless it also plays a scheduled game with the University of Detroit, a Michigan judge ruled yesterday.
However, KU officials requested that the game be canceled or postponed until the 1986-87 season, so the team could play a proposed game with Louisville on Jan. 25.
When Detroit officials refused to agree to cancel or post one the game, the Athletic Department announced KU's team would not play the game. Detroit officials then filed suit.
Hunter said that he had been informed by telephone of the judge's
"It would appear that we are restrained from adding a basketball game to our schedule unless we play our game with the University of Detroit first," Hunter said.
After learning of the judge's ruling, Brad Kinsman, University of Detroit athletic director, issued the following statement:
"We're extremely pleased with the decision. This game is extremely important to our program and this injunction basically means we've done all we can to ensure that the game takes place.
"We're hopeful Kansas will be here Jan. 6."
In order to play both Detroit and Louisville, KU would have to drop another game. The National College Athletic Association permits a school that participates in a postseason conference tournament to schedule only 27 games. KU already had 27 games scheduled, including the Detroit game.
NBC Sports had expressed an interest in televising the KU-Louisville game.
Steve Griffith, sports publicity representative for NBC, said the judge's ruling would not affect NBC's plans.
"From our point of view, this is a scheduling mechanism between the schools that doesn't involve us," he said. "We're confident that the circumstances can be worked out so that the game can be televised."
Bill Olsen, Louisville athletic director, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Biology TA grabs students' attention
By Jennifer Benjamin Of the Kansan staff
Thor Holmes, biology teaching assistant, has faced students looking him straight in the eyes and saying, "I hate biology."
His reply: "OK, come to my house and we'll talk about it."
When students get to his house,
when he amazed at how fascinating
biodiversity is.
Students describe the house as unique, and colleagues describe it as a museum.
Animal skulls, skeletons, shells, rocks, fossils, animal pictures and plants are only a few of the objects that fill every room of his house at 2045 University Drive.
Holmes and his wife, Elaine, have collected more than 2,000 objects, including more than 1,000 shells, from across the country, he said last week. And he continually adds to his collection.
"I've found 95 percent of the things," he said. "But I've bought some items, and a few skeletons are from my pets that have died."
Students pick up objects at Holmes' house and ask questions, he said. He informs them that everything around them is biology.
"Biology is life," said Holmes, who teaches BIOL 104, Principles of Biology, and BIOL 105, Principles of Biology, Honors. "It's every breath you take. I put energy into making it a part of a reality for my students."
Holmes began to use his house as a teaching tool when he lived in Arcata, Calif. He has collected objects from the coasts of California. Florida and Texas and from desert areas and mountain regions of the West.
Holmes refers to the objects he finds as "treasures," and said some of his best treasures, such as marine mammal skeletons, were in museums at Humboldt State University in Arcata, where he received a master's degree.
He has two undergraduate degrees from California State University at Fullerton — one in biology and one in zoology. He is working toward his doctorate in systematics and ecology at the University of Kansas.
"It's like a museum," he said. "He has a lifelong collection."
Holmes' teaching is well received, as are his review sessions, McGrath said.
"I TA for 104, and my students go to Thor's review sessions," McGrath said.
"Students probably think, 'I'm not
Gary McGrath, who also is a Biology 104 teaching assistant, said Holmes took students on field trips and invited them to his "amazing" campus.
Getting students' attention is the first step in teaching, and Holmes said he accomplished this through his appearance and behavior.
sure how I'm going to handle this guy," he said.
Susie Fall, El Dorado, Ark., senior,
said she was shocked the first time
she saw Holmes. He was standing in
class with his big beard and his long
hair in a pony tail, she said, and
he wrote his name on the board.
"I thought, 'No way,' " she said.
" 'No way is this man named Thor going to teach me biology.'
"I hate biology, but he made me not mind learning it. He makes it fun and easy to understand."
Although Holmes entertains students in class by his actions and profanity, he said he wanted them to learn about life.
His behavior presents a problem at times, he said. If students are offended or overwhelmed by his manner, they may not learn the material for the class.
Holmes, who gives review sessions
See THOR, p. 5, col. 1