KANSAN
University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas
Wednesday, September 10, 1980
Vol. 91, No. 13
USPS 650-640
Lack of quorum delays vote on petition to shrink Senate
By DIANE SWANSON
Staff Reporter
The Student Senate spent an hour and a half last night debating a petition to cut the size of the Senate in half in hopes of creating a more efficient voting assembly.
When it came time for a vote, however, the petition went unconsidered because a roll call showed that the Senate lacked the quorum needed to do official business.
After the roll call, Matt Davis, student body vice president, said that the lack of a quorum was "exactly why the Senate needs to reduce its size."
The petition also would eliminate Senate seats representing living groups.
This section came under attack, and an amendment calling for five housing representatives was added to the petition. The amendment gave Senate representation to the All Scholarship Hall Council, the Association of University Residence Halls, the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Association and off-campus housing.
The amendment, proposed by Bill Venable, IFC senator, passed 25-21-1, increasing the number of proposed seats from 60 to 65.
In explaining why the seats had been omitted, Davis said living groups would be represented by people who could speak English.
September.1980
Ampersand
Jewish students who have made arrangements with their instructors will be excused from classes and tests to attend Rosh Hashanah and Vom Klimur services.
HOWEVER, YOM KIPPUR falls this year on Sept. 20, which is scheduled as Parents' Day at the University of Kansas. The Jayhawks will play their first home football game against the university of Pittsburgh, and many living groups will sponsor special activities for students and their parents.
Archie R. Dvkes. Mvers said.
Most Jewish students are obligated to spend
Shankel issued an apology to the Jewish community, which appeared in the Kansas City newspaper.
In his letter to the editor, Shankel said, "I also was distressed when I discovered this scheduling system."
Hillel made another appeal to Del Shankel after he was named acting chancellor, Kort said.
The final decision came from the chancellor's office, however, and the date for Parents' Day
"The situation is terribly unfortunate and is something that everyone feels very bad about." Myers said. "It's a problem you run into when someone breaks their phone or gets in advance. We just hope it won't happen again."
AT LEAST 1,000 KU students and several teachers are Jewish, Kort said.
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the first two days of the Hebrew month of Tishri, which usually comes at the end of September or the beginning of October.
The Jewish calendar traditionally dates from
Some people send Rosh Hashanah cards,
some of them or less new year's greeting
cards; of Friar Tales.
The celebration of the new year begins with a dinner followed by sunday services, she said.
Hille is sponsoring a Rosh Hashanah service at 7:30 tonight in the Room of Forum in the Kansas Union. Morning and evening services will be held on Thursday at the Lawrence Jewish Community Center.
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keeping the communication system open," he said. "It's more like an insurance policy. I think representation by both schools and living groups is important."
The Ten Days of Penitence traditionally mark
SEE HOLIDAYS page 5
See HOLIDAYS page 5
A move was made to table the petition, but it was veted. A motion then was made to call for a vote, after which John Macchiotto, graduate student senator, called for a quorum.
Because there was no quorum, the meeting was dismissed and the petition now must be resubmitted to the Student Senate executive committee.
After the Senate makes a decision, the petition to be submit is a University Council, which makes the final decision.
Because Senate was dismissed, two bills listed on the agenda failed to reach the floor.
If acted on soon, the petition will take effect before student body presidential, vice presidential and senatorial elections in November.
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One would increase Senate committee powers and the other would improve inventory control.
Under the inventory control bill, the replacement cost of Senate-funded capital equipment that is damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen through the negligence or fault of an organization will be charged to that organization.
The Senate is considering whether to continue Kerry's leadership in the statewide student lobbying group.
The Senate also heard a report from Bob Bingamman, executive director of Associated Students of Kansas. Bingamman said ASK was succeeding in its lobbying efforts on student affairs and was working to increase political awareness and political participation among students.
encing system
stared into the eyes of the three KAA board members.
"Opponents of presumptive sentencing call it a passing fat," said Rep. John Solbach, D-Lawrence, a member of the interim committee. "They say it will have little impact on the crime rate and will increase the cost of running the prison system by $10 million a year."
SOLBACH RECOUNTED the case of an inmate who was sentenced and served two years in prison for a non-violent offense that defrauded three parties of less than $100.
The panel questioned the prisoner, delving into every aspect of his life—both outside the prison and since his imprisonment. They ignored the drooping, glazed eyes that pleaded with them.
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"This person had no previous convictions," Solbach said. "At $2 a day (the cost per prisoner in the state penitentiary) the state threw $18,250 and $13,900 in fines. The badly reinforced irresponsibility in that person."
But Solbac admits that sentencing is a complex question with no absolute answers.
"At the other end of the spectrum, what do you do with violon offenders? Should a Class A felon break his promise?"
Stephan argued that all discretionary questions should be taken away from the Secretary of Corrections and the KAa. He said he thought the judge who assigned a sentence should maintain full control over extenuating circumstances, such as the suspended sentence, sending the convict to a rehabilitation center for several months, an immediate parole, or a strict sentence.
Benjamin Day, a member of the KA4 parole board, sat at the table listening attentively to every answer from each inmate, and speared each candidate with probing questions.
"Determinate (presumptive) sentencing does not take into account the circumstances surrounding an individual's conviction, or give a
See COMMITTEE page 5