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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
TALK TO US: Contact Kursten Phelps or Leita Schultes at (785) 864-4810 or editor@kanss.com
KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FRIDAY
SEPTEMBER 21,2001
ISSUE 20 VOLUME 112
Boeing says layoffs are imminent
Effect on Lawrence will be small, says company official
By Paul Smith Kansan staff writer
The airline industry continued a steady economic decline this week after the terrorist jetliner attacks, and the resulting job cuts may affect Kansas.
The Boeing Co. announced impending layoffs of between 20,000 and 30,000 employees last Tuesday, about one-third of its nationwide work force. Boeing built the four planes that were hijacked on Sept. 11, and the company has a plant in Wichita.
Fred Solis, representative for Boeing in Wichita, said that he was uncertain what effect the layoffs, which may begin three months from now, would have on the company.
"It's going to be a serious challenge for us as a company," Solis said, "and to a degree, the communities we work in as well."
The Wichita plant employs 17,400 workers, of whom 12,000 work on the commercial side. Solis said that the next largest division of employees worked on military projects.
The plant manufactures the cab sections for all six commercial models of the Boeing 7 series, as well as the engine struts that attach the engines to the aircraft wings and the engine nacelles that encase the engine. The 737 fuselage is also manufactured in Wichita.
On the military side, maintenance for B-52 bombers and 767 AWACS is performed at the plant, in addition to work on an airborne laster program financed by the federal government.
Any economic effect on Lawrence may be small. Solis said that Boeing tracks every community with more than 100 resident employees and that Lawrence was not one of those communities.
Boeing has experienced layoffs before, Solis said.
"It doesn't make it any easier," he said. "But we know we'll get through it."
T. J. Lervik, Lawrence senior, said that Boeing was looking at short-term market conditions in its decision to hand out pink slips.
"They're projecting for what they see in the future," said Lervik, a business student. "Like the rest of the aerospace industry, they're not seeing a lot of growth."
Lervik's father is an employee at the Boeing plant in Wichita, where he works as a computer engineer on its military operations.
"My father is in the later stages of his career. I see early retirement as a possibility," Lervik said, adding that he was confident his father would keep his job. "But anytime a big company lays off jobs, nobody is safe."
Mark Ewing, associate professor of aerospace engineering, speculated that the layoffs would primarily affect the manufacturing side of Boeing's commercial enterprises.
"I'm going to guess the orders are down for the 737," Ewing said, "and Boeing-Wichita is primarily a manufacturing function. The layoffs are probably going to hit people on the floor from the manufacturing unit."
Boeing is the largest private employer in Kansas. Its stock fell more than 10 percent this week, ending at $29.76 yesterday on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Bush vows he will not forget, rest
Demands that bin Laden is handed over to U.S.; threatens retaliation against Afghanistan
By Leita Schultes Kansan managing editor
As University of Kansas students watched President Bush speak to the nation last night, they were reassured by a message that stressed both American unity and zero-tolerance for terrorism.
"It was a good speech," said Andrea Jennings, Olathe sophomore. "It showed definite leadership, and that there's a plan."
Jennings watched the speech with roommate Katy Munch.
Munch, a Bellevue, Neb., sophomore,
said that Bush had handled the nine days since the terrorist attack well and that last night's speech clearly showed the United States meant business.
"Yeah, it's kind of comforting, but at the same time, it's in your face," Munch said. "We're going to take care of this problem."
President Bush cautioned a shaken nation last night that there were "struggles ahead and dangers to face" as America and its allies combat global terrorism. He also announced a new Cabinet-level defense to fortify homeland defenses.
Addressing a joint session of Congress nine days after suicide hijackers are believed to have killed more than 6,000 people at the Pentagon and World Trade Center, Bush clasped the badge of a slain policeman in his fist.
The Sept. 11 attacks had put the United States on notice that the world's only superpower was not immune to attack, Bush said. He named Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge to head the new Office of Homeland Security. Ridge, a Republican, will resign Friday, Oct. 5, and will be replaced by Lt. Gov Mark Schweiker.
Contact Smith at 864-4810
Using forceful terms, Bush delivered a verbal indictment against Osama bin Laden and demanded that Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia surrender the suspected terrorist, release imprisoned Americans and give the United States full access to terrorist training camps.
"I will not forget this wound to our country, or those who inflicted it. I will not yield. I will not rest," he said.
These demands are not open to discussion, Bush said. "They will hand over the terrorists or they will share in their fate."
The commander in chief directed U.S. military forces to "be ready" for the gathering war: "The hour is coming when America will act, and you will make us proud."
For professor's comments on U.S. retaliation see page 5a
Bush relegated today's terrorists to the ranks of the 20th century's evil forces: "By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions — by abandoning every value except the will to power — they follow in the path of fascism and Nazism and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way to where it ends, in history's unmarked grave of discarded lives."
Paul Johnson, associate professor of political science, said the speech proved to be what he had expected.
"We're clearly in a rally around the flag mode," he said. "The president is using all of the symbolic tools he has to justify a lot of pain that is going to come to a lot of people."
SEE BUSH PAGE 3A
Mother tells of daughter's rape, suicide
Andrea Cooper tells of the rape, depression and eventual suicide of her daughter, Kristen (pictured in background), in 1995. Cooper's speech last night at the Lied Center was sponsored by Delta Delta Delta and Alpha Chi Omega sororities. Cooper told students to watch for warning signs of depression and
By Jeremy Clarkson Kansan staff writer
A mother who lost her daughter to suicide encouraged students last night at the Lied Center to be aware of the signs of depression.
Nationally-recognized speaker Andrea Cooper delivered her message through "Kristen's Story," an account of her daughter's rape, depression and suicide in 1995.
About 1,400 students attended Cooper's speech, which was sponsored by Delta Delta Delta and Alpha Chi Omega sororities.
JOHN NOWAK/KANSAN
"I had no idea it could get this big," Cooper said of the effect of her message. She has toured 93 colleges in 40 states to share her daughter's story.
Amanda Hubbard, vice president of educational programs for the Panhellenic Association, said, "It's not exactly an uplifting speech, but it's a very moving speech."
She escaped a serious car accident with minor injuries early in 1995, and her mother said that would have been her daughter's biggest obstacle in her life.
Kristen was a student at Baker University in Baldwin City.
"I never dreamed I would lose a child to suicide." Cooper said.
Cooper said her daughter was raped six months later by a friend with whom she was working.
That caused Kristen to fall into a deep depression, and on New Year's Eve 1995, she took her own life. She was 20 years old.
Cooper said she found Kristen in the family room after returning from a gathering with friends.
She said that at first, she
thought Kristen had drunk too much, but when she knelt down to check her daughter's pulse, she realized what had happened.
"When I leaned over, I saw a gun between her legs, and I knew she killed herself," Cooper said.
She said she had thought originally that Kristen had killed herself because her boyfriend had broken up with her, but she found out from her daughter's diary that Kristen had been raped.
The person who raped her has never been charged with the crime because Kristen committed suicide and couldn't testify, Cooper said.
She said that about 10 percent of rapes were reported to the police.
Cooper said it was important for people to seek help when they were raped or suffered from depression.
Cooper said students needed to be aware of the signs of depression, including feelings of sadness, emptiness, fatigue, eating and sleeping problems and suicidal thoughts.
Kristy Maharay, Kansas City, Mo., junior, said she attended Cooper's speech because she had heard that Cooper was an inspiring speaker. Maharay said she was glad that she attended.
"No matter what trauma you are going through, if you get professional help, you will recover," Cooper said.
"It was a tragic story, but hopefully it will save lives," Maharay said.
Contact Clarkson at 864-4810
Student rally promotes peace
By Luke Daley Kansan staff writer
Students gathered in front of Wescoe Hall yesterday afternoon to promote peace.
During the two-hour rally, some sang John Lennon's song, "Imagine." Others walked through the crowd of 250 spectators carrying an American flag with a peace sign in the middle or antiwar posters with statements such as, "An eye for an eye makes the world blind."
An open microphone was set up for anyone who wanted to speak about the recent terrorist attacks, and people could sign a petition for peace.
Joe Jarvis, Lenexa senior, participated in the rally and said retaliation wasn't the answer.
"Peace is a very convincing message," he said. "By taking osama bin Laden, we've done nothing."
"People want to rally around anything they can," he said. "I think an eradication of the terrorists is what we need right now. It's sure not the people's fault in the World Trade Center."
Ryan Nelson, Olathe senior, said the blame for the attacks shouldn't fall on the United States.
The rally was organized by William Justice, Saline County senior; Galen Turner, Lawrence senior; and Sarah Hoskinson, Burton senior. They also planned a rally at South Park last night.
The rally was put together for students who support a peaceful response to the terrorist attacks and felt alone in
For more rally coverage
see page 34
their support, Justice said.
Kiran Jayaram, Kansas City, Mo. graduate student, told students at the rally how they should react to the terrorist attacks.
"We're a place of higher learning," Jayaram said. "We're supposed to think about why this happened."
Cody Jackson, Nickerson sophomore, said that the rally was meant to bring people together to promote the idea of national peace.
"The people with the money want to go to war," he said. "We can unite through energy, through passionate dialogue."
Contact Daley at 864-4810
CHRIS BURKET/KANSAN
Lilly Mason, Lawrence graduate student, plants a flag in front of Wescoe Hall with a peace symbol sewn on it. An estimated 250 people attended a peace rally yesterday afternoon, which had an open microphone for anyone who wanted to speak.
INSIDETODAY
COMING IN MONDAY'S KANSAN
NATION NEWS ... 2A
HOROSCOPES ... 7A
WEATHER ... 8A
CROSSWORD ... 8A
SPORTS: Find out how the Jayhawks played against the Buffaloes in Colorado.
NEWS: KU might not get to build scholarship halls on Mount Oread, after all.
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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