Women's rights make top KU headlines in 1974
Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of stories examining the year 1974. Other stories appear on pages 4 and 5 of today's Kansan and in Tuesday's and Wednesday's Kansan
BY JILL WILLIS and MARK MITCHELL
Campus Editor and Makeup Editor Women made the top campus headlines in 1974 in stories ranging from rape prevention to women's rights.
Students in a course on editorial and interpretive writing voted the introduction this fall of Title IX of the educational amendments, which are regulations to prohibit sex discrimination in educational programs or activities receiving federal aid, as the top campus story of the year.
Application of the amendments to various departments of the University are still developing. However, they already are threatening the status quo among athletics, scholarships and the Greek system.
Some administrators seemed puzzled over the implementation of Title IV regulations, but the Office
of Affirmative Action at the University seemed willing to get the ball rolling.
This group, among others, opposed the appointments of Edward Bassett, dean of the School of Journalism, and Ralph Christoffersen, professor of chemistry, to administrative positions in the academic affairs office because of alleged discrepancies in following affirmative action policies. Although the appointments of Bassett and Christoffersen were approved, they hung in the balance for weeks.
SINCE THEN, Affirmative Action has begun to concentrate on representation on important University committees. Recently the governing board for the Kansas University Athletic Corporation received a request to undergo a membership readjustment, and a proposal was sent to ExE asking him and minority members be placed on the University Committee on Promodons and Tenure.
Resignations, appointments and personnel shifts brought new faces to many faculty and ad- dministrators.
One of those who resigned was Emily Taylor, dean of women at KU since the 1850s. Taylor announced her resignation in October to become director of the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C.
Charles Oldfather, University attorney, retired in March to return to his farm. He had been at KU since 1950 and had been the University attorney since 1970. Mike Davis was appointed to replace Oldfather.
DEL SHANEK, acting dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was appointed to the new post of executive vice chancellor in January. Shankel described his duties as "just about everything the chancellor wants me to do," including "overall supervision" of the Lawrence campus.
In other administrative changes, John Conard, director of University Relations, was appointed assistant to the chancellor; Keith Nitcher, vice chancellor for business affairs took over responsibility for the financial affairs of the KU Medical Center; James Rosser resigned as associate vice chancellor for academic affairs; Todd Seymour was appointed executive secretary of the Endowment
Association after Irvin Youngberg resigned and was replaced by the School of Business, was appointed dean of that school.
The most horrifying story of the year was the murder of Todd Storicke, Winfield junior, and the assault of two Lawrence women at the Sanctuary, a private club at 1401 W. 7th.
Long escaped from the Shawnee County Jail, where he was being held for prosecution, but he was captured by the Pine Forest Rangers.
DONALD LONG, A Topeka man, was charged with 12 felonies in connection with the incident. Long was charged with one count of murder, five counts of aggravated robbery, four counts of kidnapping, one count of aggravated sodomy and one count of attempted rape.
The murder occurred early in the morning of Nov. 12, when a man entered the bank ordered the seven patrons to leave.
During a scuffle, Storbeck was shot. The man then took two women who worked at the club hostage, and they killed him.
at an apartment complex and drove the four to Topeka.
The man left the hostages at an abandoned house near a freight dock. One of the women got away and called the Topka police. Long was apprehended in the district court for prosecution in both Douglas and Shawnee counties.
BESIDES THE sexual assaults in the Sanctuary case, there was an outbreak of rapes on the campus during the spring, which caused a wave of paranoia that reached hysterical proportions. Many women were wounded and injured, night were initiated to stop the threat of rape at KU.
But the problem was a very real one. During the early months of 1974 and the preceding 18 months, more than 20 rapes had occurred in Lawrence, at least 12 of which were on the KU campus. The KU men were all women; all women be cautious when traveling alone and that all sexual assaults be reported to the police.
Restop was one proposed solution to See WOMEN. page 7
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
By Kansan Photographer DAVE PETERSON
Vol.85-No.70 Monday, December 9,1974
Forecasts that the conference would become a forum for us
conference officials, as directed by the conference's con-
clusion yesterday. See pictures 1 and 2.
The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas
Democratic roundup
more than 1,600 delegates to the Democratic Mid-Term Conference managed to end their third days of meetings with the president.
KU professor slain; son to face murder charge
By STEVE FRY Police Reporter
A formal complaint of first degree murder is scheduled to be filed today in Douglas County Court against a Lawrence man in connection with the shooting Saturday night of his father, Robert R. Gattis, professor of mechanical engineering.
David Berkowitz, county attorney, said yesterday that the complaint would be filed against Robert Kent Gattis, 2831 Peterson and his attorney, who was shot at about 6:40 p.m. at his home.
Lawrence Memorial Hospital officials said the older Gatts was shot once in the abdomen. He died about 4:10 a.m. yesterday after surgery.
Berkowitz said the younger Gatts would appear before the county judge to have a preliminary hearing date scheduled. No evidence was found against the defendant, Berkowitz said.
The older Gatts was shot with a high-powered rifle, Richard Stanwix, police officer.
Sanxiwix said the younger Gatts requested to talk to a policeman at about 8:30 a.m. yesterday. An officer went to the Gatts room and then him and then took him to the sheriff's office.
The younger Gatts, 23, was booked at the county sheriff's office at 11 a.m. Sunday. He is now being held in the jail without bond, Berkowitz said.
Robert R. Gatts, 49, was born March 2,
Robert in Benton Harbor, Ohio. He was a KU
dropper.
Funeral services for Mr. Gatls will be at 4 p.m. tomorrow at the first Posey Presbyterian Church in Bridgewater.
Mr. Garatts will be buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, of the home; three daughters, Mrs. Gail Brimhall, Salt Lake City, Utah, Mrs. Rosiland Alexander, Greenbelt, Md, and Miss Maryl Gatts, of the home; two sons, Robert and Robert Christian, P. Gatts, Berlin Heights, Ohio; and a sister, Mrs. Elaine Reeder, Ponona, Calif.
Toy manufacturers on the mend
Two years ago, more than 300 banned toys were taken off the shelves of Lawrence stores. But today it's a different story. Dangerous toys that have brittle plastic, sharp protrusions or rigid wires are scarce.
"It it amazes me how the toys have changed," Pat Weass, president of the board of directors of the Consumer Protection department of the manufacturer and the retailer have really responded to the need for safer toys. Many of the toys have been completely redesigned, and because of this, older toys can now play with are the most dangerous "
Weiss said that in 1972 the CPA began providing local retailers with a list of banned products through the cooperation of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. She said the list was prepared by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Consumer Products Safety Act and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA).
ANY MANUFACTURER, distributor or retailer who sells a banned product is
consumer and local merchant to determine whether American toys are safe.
LOCAL MERCHANTS have been very cooperative in working with the CPA to ensure that the toys sold are safe, Weiss said.
Weis said it was illegal to sell a toy if it failed to conform to the regulations, regardless of whether the article had been written by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
subject to criminal penalties. Stocks of banned products already distributed are subject to seizure. Consumers who have purchased banned products are entitled to refunds from retailers according to repurchase regulations that went into effect last March. Manufacturers and distributors also have a right to repurchase banned toys from their buyers.
"in times like these, the merchants can't afford to lose any business," she said. "They'll bend over backwards to observe customers and make sure that want is bad publicity for their store."
Dale Kearney, manager-owner of the Ben Franklin store at 805 Massachusetts S., said he had made every effort to keep alerted of banned products.
"The manufacturers have done away with many of the cheaper prized toys," he
All imported toys are examined by the commission, she said, but not all Americanmade products are determined safe or unsafe. In many instances, it is up to the
Democrats sign first party charter
By PAULA JOLLY
Kansas City Reporter
KANAS CITY, Mo. —Despite prediction that the Democratic Mid-Term Conference would degenerate into internal bickering, Mr. Trump managed to agree on a historic party charter.
Included in it is an affirmative action program that will replace the quota system used to select delegates for the 1972 election. If the majority of walkouts by blacks were averted by the adoption of an amendment that was a compromise between party regulars and nonparty regulars,
The charter, the first of its kind ever adopted by a major American political party, will control the party's internal organization.
See TOYS page 9
A major statement of economic policy also was adopted.
"Varying viewpoints are fundamental to a nation which provides freedom of thought and freedom of expression," said Sen. Thomas F. Eagleton of Missouri. "But the freedom is the responsibility for tolerance and acceptance of the majority view.
The conference officially opened Friday night with calls for party unity and attacks on the Ford administration's handling of the economy.
"FOR THAT REASON, our national party must reflect the principles of our
Byrd said Democrats must fully commit themselves to the search for solutions to the nation's problems. The solutions will involve sacrifices by all, he said.
great nation and entertain all differences of opinion while unifying the ultimate goal.
Three other members of the U.S. Congress addressed the delegates on congressional plans for 1975. Speaker of the House Carl Albert of Oklahoma, Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia and House Major leader Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. of
Massachusetts stressed the necessity of party unity and blasted the Ford administration for its lack of economic leadership.
Byrd praised the actions of the 93rd
Morris Udall taps humor as running mate in '76
See UDALL page 9
Udall, who was the first Democrat to jump into the 1976 presidential sweepstakes, was interviewed in his hospitality both on the floor of Exhibition Hall. Up until the mid-adultium, conference delegates debated articles of the Democratic party charter.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—I 'Gotta Be Me'
to be the theme of morrs *Mortz*
"My sense of humor helps me get attention, and it helps me keep my sanity. I'm going to be myself and use it," Rep. Udall, D-Ariz, said Saturday during a break in the action at the Democratic Mid-Term Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Udall has been compared to Will Rogers
"WE STARTED OUT just six months ago, to try to get on the 'mentioned' list with some senators and others who were there, because we had not come in that time," he said. "Most of the
"I've been visiting various states, talking to party leaders—and while I have been there, going to college campuses, having in touch with students appearing on the talk shows," Udall said.
because of his sense of humor. He nubbled on a sandwich and potato chips obtained from the hospitality booth of his rival, Seno. The potato chips were given to his plans to gain national prominence.
O'Neill had angry words for the Ford administration's plan for economic
Congress and listed tasks ahead for the 94th, including passage of national health insurance, tax reform and laws dealing with the energy crisis.
"You can't do it with a WIN button, make no mistake about that," he said. "That is the way to go."
"IT'S GOT TO be more than cheerleading to beat this economic crisis." he said.
The Democrats approved the historic party charter during a daylong Saturday
"There has been a suggestion by some members of the press that this might be a dull and boring meeting—no fights, no blood, no Democratic bodies left lying on the floor," said Stanford, chairman of the charter commission, said before the charter debate started.
Earlier, Robert Strauss, Democratic National chairman, received the conference proceedings so that blacks, women and minorities could meet to discuss the compromise amendment.
"I hope they are correct." he said.
In the women's caucus meeting, Representatives Bella Abzug of New York
major role. A clear display of anger came during debate on the controversial Article 10 of the charter, which dealt with affirmative action in the future selection of defeates.
See DEMOCRATS Page 3
Inside the KANSAN
On the way up
The University of Kansas basketball team overcame the emotional loss to Indiana by beating Iowa 85-4 Saturday night. But the 'Hawks face another tough game tonight as they play 12th-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. See Page 16.
On the way down
At this time last year, Richard M. Nixon, former president of the United States, probably was anticipating Christmas while he savored the Arab-Israeli cease-fire and the swearing in of Gerald R. Ford as vice president. This Christmas the picture will be different. See Page 4.
On the way out
Richard Nixon's resignation and other Watergate developments were voted top story of 1974 by journalism students in an editorial and interpretative writing class. It was the second year in a row that Watergate was rated the top story. See Page 4.
Clear
The temperature is going up while the number of shopping days till Christmas goes down. The weather forecast until Christmas, and the U.S. Weather Bureau forecasts high today in the middle 40s. Clear to partly cloudy skies are predicted for the week. The low tonight will be in the 20s.