8A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5, 2001
NEWS
THE POWER OF HEMP
LAURIESISK/KANSAN
Keeley Lavin and son Josiah Wilson of Redfield set up their display of hemp products at the SUA Annual Arts and Crafts Bazaar. Lavin's handwork includes hemp jewelry, handwoven hemp pouches and headbands. Lavin said in times of environmental crisis, hemp could solve both ecological and economical concerns. The fair continues from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and tomorrow.
Courts to decide on transsexual's marital status
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — An attorney for a transsexual told the state's highest court yesterday that if it doesn't declare his client's marriage valid, the court would create the impression it supports same-sex unions.
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The Supreme Court is reviewing a dispute about the $2.5 million estate of Marshall Gardiner, a Leavenworth stockbroker and newspaper reporter who died in 1999 without a will.
The outcome will determine whether his widow, J'Noel Gardiner, and his son, Joe Gardiner, will split the estate, or whether Joe Gardiner will claim it all.
Normally, the estate would be split evenly according to Kansas law. But J'Noel Gardiner was a born a man and had sexual reassignment surgeries in 1994 and 1995. She married Marshall Gardiner in 1998, when she was 40 and he was 85.
I'Noel Gardiner's attorney,
Sanford Krigel, of Kansas City, Mo., told the justices the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that adults have a right to marry. Concluding that J'Noel Gardiner remains a man despite her surgeries and declaring her marriage to Marshall Gardiner invalid would leave her the right to marry only women, he said.
"You're creating a situation where you would essentially be approving what would appear to be a homosexual marriage." Krigel said. "There's all kinds of potential pitfalls."
Attorneys for Joe Gardiner said the definition of marriage included in Kansas law is a traditional one that excludes transsexuals. One attorney, Bill Modricn, of Kansas City, Mo., said the court should let the Legislature decide whether a marriage involving a transsexual is legal.
Joe Gardiner attended yesterday's arguments. J'Noel Gardiner, who has declined to talk to reporters, did not.
The case has received national attention, and groups on both sides filed legal briefs with the Supreme Court.
State's economy feels aftershocks of Sept. 11
The machinists and welders who made parts for the Wichita airline industry are visiting United Methodist Urban Ministries in growing numbers since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which have caused the cutbacks.
The Associated Press
And the first of the city's 7,000 laid-off Boeing Co., Raytheon Aircraft and Bombardier Aerospace employees also are starting to walk into the charity's doors. They're joined by restaurant employees left jobless because fewer people are eating out.
Like other charities statewide, United Methodist Urban Ministries is being asked to serve more people — about 20 percent more this holiday season than the previous year. Donations to the Wichita charity, meanwhile, are down about 40 percent.
"All of us are having a tough time with donations," said Deann Smith, executive minister of the agency, which has a homeless day shelter and food ministry. "A lot of donations went to New York and the Pentagon area. Now, the reality is the attacks have hit home. We've heard New York is ground zero in terms of attacks, but Wichita is ground
zero economically."
Katy's Place, an Overland Park-based charity serving area women and children with HIV and AIDS, is worried because a holiday mailer is generating only half the amount of money it typically does, said Susan McDonald, the group's executive director.
Zero economically.
There was such a flood of donations to the national relief effort that the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Red Cross raised about $6.5 million from Sept. 11 through the end of November. That's what it normally would raise in three years, said Mike Tarry, a Red Cross fund raiser for the six county area that includes Johnson County.
"If you have a little extra to give, don't forget Katy's Place," McDonald asks in the mailer, which acknowledges that many people already had donated to the Sept. 11 relief effort.
As the holiday season gets underway, fund raisers are asking donors to remember charities in their communities — particularly those that help people with utilities, rent, health care, food and clothing.
Even before the terrorist attacks aggravated the nation's economic slump, Kansans were turning to charities in droves many of them needing help paying off high utility bills from last winter.
The high gas bills also meant depleted supplies at food banks, said Jennifer Kennly, executive director of the United Way of Johnson County.
About 20,000 Kansas Gas Service customers were still without service at the end of October. And customers still working to pay off high bills owe more than usual.
"Last winter was terribly cold and with the price of gas, people had to decide what bills they wouldn't pay to pay the heating bill." Kenny said.
The utility has bad debts of around $12 million this year, up from a typical year of $2.5 million, said company spokesman Steve Johnson.
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Among those seeking help is Carol Mitchell, 33, recently laid off from BomHoff Inco., in Wichita, which makes aircraft interiors. The family exhausted most of its savings in August when buying a house.
She's already sought food, rent and clothing assistance and enrolled her children in Healthwave, a state-run health insurance program for low-income families. Mitchell also has called a few companies, and most aren't hiring until after Christmas.
"I know things are tight," Mitchell said. "Food banks are saying we don't have food to give people."
Giving is picking up again for several charities that saw donations dip after the attacks.
There have been bright spots.
Donations to the Topeka Rescue Mission dropped 28 percent from Sept. 11 through the end of the month compared to the same period a year ago. Giving to the homeless shelter returned to normal in October, said Barry Feaker, the executive director of the shelter, which has served about 20,000 more meals this year.
Donations to fine arts groups including the Topeka Performing Arts Center, the Lied Center in Lawrence and Bowlus Fine Arts Center in Iola — remained stable, although ticket sales dipped after the attacks.
TICKETS HALF PRICE for KU STUDENTS
The University of Kansas = School of Fine Arts = Lied Center
The BleuJacket = The Kansas City Star = Klaud's Audio/Video present
*Half-Price tickets available for KU Students
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!
Makes a Great "STOMPing Stuffer!"
PHOTO © OLUS MORTEY
KIEF'S Home Theater System
Tickets on sale at the LiD Center Ticket Office (785) 864-ARTS and via our website, lied.ku.edu
The★Star
THE BANKER CITY HALL
STUDENT
SENATE
tickets.com
www.stomponline.com
ticketmaster
(785) 234-4545
(816) 931-3330
Red Lyon Tavern
- Night Online Producers
- Morning Online Designers
- Online Writers
- Opinion Columnists
- Sports Columnists
- Artists
Applications are available in 111 Stauffer-Flint and are due Tuesday, December 11.
Questions? Call 864-4810.
elections commissioner position vacancy
eligibility
duties
administer, interpret, and enforce all election rules and policies set forth by the student senate elections commission.
must be a regularly enrolled student at the university of kansas, lawrence campus. members of student government organizations are not eligible.
salary
$8.50/hr., starts spring semester
SENATE applications available in 133 strong hall and the o&l office,400 kansas union
STUDENT
applications due:
Monday, December 10 • 5pm to 133 strong hall
Sleep well. Everything will be clear tomorrow.
Some of our patients go to bed at night knowing the next day will be clear and bright thanks to a procedure called Corneal Molding They simply put in special contact lenses before going to bed...and wake up to clear vision that lasts all day. Its non-invasive and about half the cost of lasik We'd like to tell you more about it.
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