Kansas law officials watch N.Y. drug law effects
Reporter
A 18-year-old Kansan could receive a mandatory life imprisonment sentence for selling one ounce of heroin if Kansas adopted the new New York state drug law.
Although there are no bills before the Kansas Legislature to make such a change, many Kansas law enforcement officials are carefully watching the New York experiment.
"I couldn't say now whether a mandatory life sentence would be advisable, but I definitely favor more severe penalties for sellers of hard drugs," the attorney general for Karsas law attorney, said recently.
"I think the present Kansas drug laws are weak, and I'm sure the legislature will soon consider inducting a new drug."
The New York law is being watched because most
legal observers consider it the strictest drug law in the nation. A life prison sentence is mandatory for anyone at least 16 years of age convicted of selling an ounce or more of almost any illegal drug.
Since the law was enacted Sept. 1, 1973, more than 150 people have been given life terms. The youngest arrests are Jerome Murphy, arrested two days after his death; $30 worth of money to an undercover agent.
In contrast, the sale or possession of marijuana was reduced from a felon to a misdemeanor, with punishments ranging from 5 to 10 years.
Critics of the law say it hasn't put a dent in New York's huge drug traffic.
Judges Mary Johnson Lowe and David Ross, of the Manhattan, N.Y., Narcotics Courts, have said that they would like the big drug deal be had instead struck only by someone addict who occasionally sells to support his habit.
Supporters say the mandatory nature of the sentence removes unfair dispatriies and in time will significantly inhibit, or at least remove, drug pushers.
In Kansas the hard drug problem is relatively new. It wasn't until 1907 that Kansas had its first law.
"Since it is such a new area in the law, we aren't really sure how stricter penalties will effect the business as usual device user or seller," said Patrick康乐, chief office of the division of the Kansas Attorney's general office.
David Berkowitz, Douglas County attorney, said he also was watching the effects of the New York drug law, and he had already drawn some conclusions.
"law officials haven't generally looked in favor on a law that put punishment for illegal drugs on a par with murder," Berkowitz said.
The law has been called a "kill the cop law" because a person caught selling drugs doesn't ask any greater punishment if he tries to escape and kills the arresting officer, he said.
A Kansas court now can give a life sentence to a drug offender, but it isn't mandatory for any drug offender.
Although Douglas County does have a significant number of drug-related arrests most involve marijuana, hashish or amphetamines, he said. Berkowitz said he recalled only two cases involving heroin and six with opium during the past two years.
"When you talk about stiffer penalties for possession or small sales of drugs," Berkowitz said, "you're attacking the problem in the wrong manpower and preventing the prevention much more than we are now doing."
Most officials agree that heroin use has increased
in Kansas, but they also agree that arrests are more difficult to make than with marijuana.
Heron护商 either sell to people they know or insist that buyers "shoot-up" when they make the purchase. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is cautious about allowing agents to use heroin to smoke marijuana or permits an undercover agent to smoke marijuana if it is essential to keep his cover, Berkovitz said.
Connolly said he knew of only one instance in which he had been given permission to use heroin in order.
"The arrest was only going to be possible if the agent shot in front of the pusher." Connolly said. The agent agreed. We had the hospital standing by for detoxification, and I told the agent to shoot for out. But at the last minute the pusher apparently changed his mind and we abandoned the plan."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
Vol. 85-No.35 Monday, October 14, 1974
The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas
Women's budget request slashed in first dav of committee hearings
Wishful thinkina
By Kansan Photographer JIM THOMAS
A drummer in the K-State marching band took advantage of his showcase position and displayed a somewhat uncompromisable poster about KU. The poster had a short life, however; another K-State band member tore it off the drum seconds after this picture was taken.
BY JOHN JOHNSTON Senate Reporter
The commission had requested $1,660 from the Senate's fall student activity fee fund.
The Student Senate's Finance and Auditing Committee tentatively cut over $1,100 yesterday from the budget request of the Commission on the Status of Women, according to Lewis Gregory, chairman of the committee.
The Finance and Auditing Committee now is conducting hearings on requests by
campus organizations for a share ot the tne $25,000 available through the fund. Twenty-nine groups have requested a total of more than $40,000.
The committee will continue its hearings today and tomorrow. The final budget proposal will be worked out tomorrow night. The budget will be submitted to StudExT the budget being sent to the Senate for final approval. The funds will be released after Oct. 31.
AFTER QUESTIONING representatives of the various organizations for more than
four hours, the committee decided to make tentative cut in several of the requests,
KU maintenance employes sign first labor agreement
The $1,100 cut in the Commission on the Status of Women's request included reductions in funds for postage, advertising, supplies and mail labels, Gregory said.
After a six-month period of negotiations, a labor agreement between the University of Kansas and an union representing University maintenance employees was signed Friday.
The contract, signed by executive vice chancellor Del Shankel and Francis Jacobs, a field representative for the Public Service Employees Union is the first working
"Their request was tentatively cut because it was excessive. The committee it was definitely a worthwhile organization, the funds just aren't available," he said.
Ford, Richardson to visit area
Former Attorney General Elliot Richardson will speak at the University of Kansas on Wednesday night. Sen, Bob Dole, R-Kan., will appear with both men.
President Gerald R. Ford will bring his infusion fighting fluids, City Ms. and Wendy Woods.
Ford is expected to outline specific suggestions to citizens for cooperation in inflation in the Kansas City speech. He will address the national convention of Future Farmers of America at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Hotel Muehlebach. Ford's speech will be delivered by Jerry Fogel, chairman of the Jackson County Republican Party, said.
agreement between Local 1132 and the University, Shankel said.
The contract covers basic working conditions and won't provide any great changes, he said. However, it will include a recommended 10 per cent pay increase for union employees to be placed on the budget July 1, 1975.
Ford also will attend a $100-a plate breakfast Wednesday morning for Thomas B. Curtis, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Thomas Eagleton.
Richardson will speak at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Hoch Auditorium. Richardson resigned last October as attorney general under President Nixon rather than fire Archibald Cox, special Watergate prosecutor.
Richardson's speech, concerning the 1974 political scene, will follow a dinner with university officials and student leaders in the university hall. The event will be conducted at 7:15 p.m. in the Union.
The contract has yet to be approved by Chancellor Archie R. Dykes and Lowell Kline, but it will receive their approval, the contract goes to Regents and the Kansas Legislature for final approval. Until that time full funding for claims cannot be made known, Shankel said.
Richardson, whose appearance is
sponsored by the Young Republicans, will speak at Washburn University, Wichita University and Emporia Kansas State College before coming to the University of Kansas.
Although Dole will accompany Richardson, the Senator won't make a speech, and Richardson's speech won't be a campaign speech for Dole, according to Robert Hughes, Douglas County campaign coordinator for Dole.
Ford's appearance in Kansas City is for national business and some political aligning, according to Fogel, who said Ford was stumping for his anti-inflation program.
Jim Feldstein, director of the office of labor relations, said the contract was basically the same as those signed previously between labor unions and regents' institutions. There aren't to be any major changes in agreements already existing, but the contract will merely serve to clarify he, said.
The contract was drawn up to make sure that everything agreed to would be carried out, Harry Buchholz, director of the physical plant, said Friday.
The committee also tentatively cut the entire $250 request of the first year law students. The group requested the money to set up a doudnut concession in Green Hall.
"Anytime you join a union," Buchholz said, "you have to have a working agreement, and the contract signed is just that."
The committee tentatively decided to grant the intramural program its full request of $2,901.21, Gregory said. The increase in the minimum wage passed recently by Congress will cause a large rise in employment. He said the committee cited the larger number of student participants in the program as a major support for support.
THE COMMITTEE will recommend to the intramural board that the program be more widely publicized. Several members of the committee said they thought off-campus students were often uninformed about intramural activities.
The committee also expressed support for the Consumer Protection Agency's (CPA) request to allow the committee to request $500, and the committee cut only $50 from that request. Gregory said the tentative approval of the request had been successful, and provided a role in the community over last year.
The CPA requested $300 for filming speakers who lecture at KU on consumer topics, said Patricia Weiss, president of the CPA.
The CPA's budget request says, "Our purpose in filming the lectures is to memorialize the information, thus providing the University and the community of Lawrence with a visual aid in consumer education."
MECHA, the Chicago student
organization, requested $120 to conduct a
workshop for Chicago educators.
Beatrice Armendariz, seminar coordinator told the committee that the symposium objectives were to increase communication between KU and MECHA on questions of curriculum, to help Chicano students adjust to University life, and to publicize information on college requirements and financial aid.
The committee also decided to tentatively cut the entire request of the Hilltop Twirlers Square Dance Club, Gregory said. The club had requested $885.
Gregory said the committee members thought the activities of the Hillop Twirlers were somewhat duplicated by the Folk Dance Club. He also said lack of participation had been considered in refusal of the funding. The club has only 10 members.
The committee also voted to grant a request of $80 to the Sailing Club for repairs to the boat.
ACTION ON a $1,50 request by the Soccer Club was postponed until the committee consults with the Senate's Sports Committee, he said. The board wants the Sports Committee's opinion on the validity of the Soccer Club's request.
The only other request at yesterday's hearings was made by the Muslim Students' Society. They asked for $160. Gregory said the committee tentatively had cut $75 from the budget.
See BUDGET Back Page
Alarms set off by cigarettes
Excessive cigarette smoke caused fire alarms in Wescoe Hall to go off twice Thursday, Harry M. Buchholz, Buildings and Grounds director, said Friday.
Smoke arresters in an auditorium ventilation system set on the fire alarm at 1 p.m. and about 9 p.m. The Lawrence Fire Department responded to the first alarm.
Buchholz said Smoking was prohibited in the auditorium.
Inside the KANSAN
The Jayhawks are the champions of Kansas after holding on to defeat Kansas State University 29-13. But the 'Hawks can't rest now because Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Coach Don Fambrighan admitted that the team should muddle all hell all," after losing to Missouri 21-10. See Page 6.
Sizeable team
Wescole Hall should have been a lot bigger than it was—25 stories tall in fact. The original plan for the humanities building was developed in 1967 but by the time it was built, the original plans were obsolete because of a myriad of problems. See Page 5.
Sizeable planning
Pleasant
The weather should be pleasant today after the deplorable weekend. The cloudiness should be lighter than on skies continuing through Tuesday. The high temperature should be in the upper 30s with temperatures of any rain. But it will be cooler tonight with the low in the 30s.
Nipping Neugent presents gnawing problem at KU
Who—or what—is Neugent?
This question has plagued several KU students who have sat in one of the many desks on campus ..*airing the inscription "Neugent Bites!"*
Several students offered theories about the mystery. In fact, out of about 50 students questioned, only two hadn't seen any of the popular graffiti.
Students have been warned against the perils of the nipping Neugent not only on in but in Kansan ads and in inscriptions cement by the new Wakkins Hospital, too.
Mark Silks, Prairie Village sophomore, said he was sure Neugent was a student because some desks had a first name on them as well as the name Neugent.
"I think one person is responsible for all the messages because the handwriting all looks the same. Neugent is probably just someone he knows." he said.
Bill Cram, Overland Park sophomore, disagreed. "A bunch of kids hate the guy and they tried to see how many desks they had for 'Nugent Bites' on," Cram said.
Janie Bernhardt, Leavenworth sophomore, said she heard that Neugent was a student who had been kicked out of Oliver Hall and had moved to Nismuth, and
some angry Oliver residents were responsible for the graffiti.
Suzi Wingfield, Prairie Village junior,
said she had seen the report on several
cases of teenage suicide.
"At first, I thought it was a teacher," she said. "I don't think it's recent, however. It was been written on some of those desks since I was a freshman."
Not everyone thinks the fearful Neugent is a human being, however. One KU professor said Neugent was a dog that visited class sites in Bailey Hall frequently.
said Duck Frye, mission Sphonih sophmore,
"Due to self-incriminating evidence, I
plead the Fifth Amendment," said Mark
Nixon, Prairie Village freshman.
The apparent target of the graffiti campaign is Roger Neugent, Wichita junior. Neugent is indeed a member of the KU football team and did he not know how the campaign began.
Neugent speculated that some of his friends started the graffiti.
"I think it's all in good fun," he said.
"I do get a lot of kidding about it."
Nogue said, "One guy asked me for my
name."
And the slogan not intimidating, *Neandr* didn't react like a violent carnivore. He said he was "a human."
Who's Neugent?
By Kanaan Photographer DAVE PETERSON
"Neugent bites," a familiar deskmark, has sent the minds of many a student wandering as to who, or what, is Neugent. Some of the explanations for the identity of Neugent range from a persecuted underclassman to a dog that was fond of visiting classes.