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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
TALK TO US: Contact
Kursten Phelps or Leita
Schultes at (785) 864-4810
or editor@kansan.com
KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
MONDAY
OCTOBER 8,2001
WWW.KANSAN.COM
ISSUE 31 VOLUME 112
Gas masks selling out, might not save lives
By Sarah Finks and Matt Gehrke Special to the Kansan
Surplus stores in the Lawrence area are sold out of gas masks following the September 11th attacks.
September 14th Rebecca Moeller, employee of Surplus City & Tool House, 1849 E. 1450 Rd., said the store hadn't carried gas masks before, but recently ordered 100. The store is still waiting on a shipment that was supposed to arrive last Friday but has been delayed because the masks have to be shipped from Israel.
Local experts say that although a biological attack is possible, gas masks might not be the best defense against it. Paula Phillips, the director for Douglas County Emergency Management, 1100 Massachusetts St., said that brochures offered different ways to stay safe in a biological attack.
One pamphlet advises about "In-Place Sheltering," which says that staying inside a building is sometimes the best defense against "accidental release of toxic chemicals."
Phillips said that it was best to be prepared, but mindful of the risks.
"Anyone that wants to do harm, can do harm," she said.
The planning for biological or chemical attacks changed after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing to include all types of government agencies, Phillips said. Before 1993, emergency planning focused on sheltering and feeding the victims of natural disasters like floods, tornadoes and earthquakes.
"It has become more mainstream, getting all the responders included: EMS, sheriffs and hospitals," Phillips said.
The state of Kansas is also prepared to respond better to biological and chemical attacks through the recently created HAN network.
Kay Kent, the Lawrence-Douglas County health department director, said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is building HAN, a federally funded secure Internet connection which links local environmental and health agencies throughout the state.
KDHE and Kansas Emergency Management, a division of the adjutant general's department, held a biological warfare scenario in Topeka 13 days before the terrorist attacks.
Kent said the exercise helped authorities practice dealing with a biological emergency in Kansas.
Alan Wisman, owner of Einstein's Outdoor Outfitters, a military surplus store at 1820 SW 10th Avenue in Topeka, said he sold out of his stock of gas masks a week after the attacks of September 11th.
"We carry gas masks year 'round for plumbers and construction workers," Wisman said. "That's why we always stock them. But we don't stock hundreds of them because they're not in demand, except like right now."
He said he had received inquiries from in and out of state about the quality and price of gas masks being sold on the Internet. He said a fair price for a mask was less than $20.
"People should buy with a certain amount of skepticism," Wisman said. "There's no way to tell which chemical a gas mask will protect you from."
He said the gas masks sold to the general population were not current issue and might not be effective against a recently made chemical.
"Buy a flag instead of a gas mask," Wisman said. "Be more hopeful than fearful."
AFGHANISTAN ATTACKED
Contact Finks or Gehrke at 864-4810
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announces air strikes against Afghanistan's Taliban government as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers looks on. The two spoke during a press conference at the Pentagon yesterday.
AMERICA RETALIATES
Kansas faculty and students have mixed emotions about U.S. strikes
The Associated Press
T thunderous explosions and the rattle of anti-aircraft fire were heard yesterday in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul, as the United States and Britain launched military retaliation against Osama bin Laden and his Taliban supporters.
The first of five explosions occurred in Kabul at 8:57 p.m. local time, or 11:27 a.m. CDT. The attacks came when it was dark in Kabul and when a curfew was in effect throughout the city. The explosions caused the power to go out across the city almost immediately
In Washington, President Bush said U.S. and British military forces were taking "targeted actions" to weaken the Taliban's military capabilities and the al-Qaida terror movement led by bin Laden.
"We are beginning another front in our war against terrorism so freedom can prevail over fear," said Bush representative Ari Fleischer.
University of Kansas faculty members and students had concerns and mixed emotions after learning about the U.S. attacks.
Thomas Heilke, associate profes
sor of political science, said he was concerned that innocent Afghan civilians would be killed and that the attacks would lead to more violence.
"I think the U.S. leadership feels compelled to use violence because there is a lot of pressure on them to use it." Heilke said.
Chiemela Enyia, Chicago senior said that he didn't feel good about the attacks and that they would only make matters worse.
"We don't know the extent of the danger we are in," Enyia said. "There is going to be a lot of innocent people from both sides die in this."
Sangeetha Lourdes, Malaysia senior, said that although she felt the attacks were necessary, she was worried there were going to be innocent lives lost.
"I am concerned it is going to start a war and ruin diplomatic ties and harm relationships with other countries," she said.
for more attack coverage see page 6A
Nic Perez, Houston sophomore, said he was glad to hear about the attacks in Afghanistan.
"I don't want us to go to war, but I want whoever attacked the World Trade Center to be bombed," Perez said.
Journalism professor recalled fondly
By J. R. Mendoza Kansan staff writer
"He had a Cardinals plate on the Explorer," his wife Laura Katch said. "He would go to the baseball games when he could get there."
E. John Katich loved the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team so much that Max Utsler, associate professor of journalism, nicknamed Katich's red Ford Explorer the "red bird express."
where he could work. E. John Katich, associate professor of journalism, died early Friday morning after a four-year battle with prostate cancer. Katich had taught courses at the University of Kansas in sales strategy and media management.
He was born July 1, 1950 in St. Louis. He majored in history at the University of Missouri and earned his master's degree in journalism at the school.
degree in job offered He came to KU in January 1985 and was general manager of TV-30. He became an assistant professor in 1986 and an associate professor in 1991.
"He loved working with students," Laura Katich said. "That was a passion for him. He always wanted his students to do their best."
Katich's daughters, Jessica, Lisa and Sara all attend KU. Jessica Katich, Lawrence senior, said her father loved teaching.
"He was extremely intelligent," Jessica Katich said. "He had a great sense of humor."
Linda Davis, associate dean of journalism, said students liked Katich.
"He was one in a million," Davis said. "He really had something special."
Wendy Brown, who graduated from the University in 2000, said Katich was her adviser.
"When I was trying to find a job, he played a prominent role," she said. "He was more than a professor, he was a friend."
Dick Nelson, KU journalism instructor, taught Katich at Missouri. He said he was impressed with Katich's work ethic as a student and professor.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, 1631 Crescent Road.
The School of journalism has set up a memorial fund for Katich. Contributions may be sent to the Kansas University Endowment Association, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, 66044.
Contact Mendoza at 864-4810
Open house welcomes students and strangers
By Eve Lamborn Kansan staff writer
Mika Hama stood in front of the Applied English Center table Saturday passing out candy and explaining why a huge world map behind her was covered with push pins.
"These are all the countries in the world who have students that go to KU," the Nagano, Japan, graduate student told passers-by.
The Open House was designed to allow people in the community to see the diversity of schools and departments at the University.
Waves of stroller-pushing parents and teen-agers toting bags from the Kansas Union Bookstore paused at her table, accepted Hershey's Kisses and chatted with her during the University of Kansas' Open House.
Informational booths and activities lined Jayhawk Boulevard, which was
closed to traffic on Saturday.
Events during the first-time Open House included tours of buildings, lectures from KU professors and a youth basketball clinic in Allen Fieldhouse.
"I think, for doing it the first time, we had a great crowd," he said. "It was a nice atmosphere."
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said he thought the events came together well.
J. E.WILSON/KANSAN
Margey Frederick, associate director of admissions and coordinator of the KU Visitor Center, said the Open House would become an annual event.
Children play in a trampoline tent in front of the Kansas Union on Saturday during the KU Open House. Activities inside the Union included lectures from professors and prize drawings at the Kansas University Bookstore.
Lisa Ramirez-Morgan, Lawrence resident, said she came to the Open House with her children — Taylor, 10, and Molly, 8—and their friend Jocelyn Drano, 7, at 10 a.m.
They were still on campus at 2:30 p.m., seated on the curb aside Jayhawk Boulevard waiting for the Hispanic
Heritage Parade to begin.
The children, between bites of popcorn, said they had played basketball at Allen Fieldhouse, visited a museum, played games at the Kansas Union and eaten sno-cones.
"It's been an all-day affair," Lisa
Ramirez-Morgan said. "There's a lot of diversity here, and that's the part we enjoy the most."
Contact Lamborn at 864-4810
INSIDETODAY
WORLD NEWS...5A
HILLTOPICS...7A
WEATHER...4B
CROSSWORD...4B
COMING IN TOMORROW'S KANSAN
STUDENT SENATE: Justin Mills wants to do away with credit card solicitors on campus
HALLOWEEN: Options for fun — including corn mazes and haunted houses — on the 31st of October
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The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
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