FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Engineers hear ideas about SLT
By Lindsey Hodel
Kansan staff writer
About 500 members of the Lawrence community once again debated the fate of the South Lawrence Trafficway at a public hearing last night at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St.
About 30 protesters were outside throughout the hearing.
The issue at hand was whether the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should grant the Kansas Department of Transportation a 404 permit, allowing them to extend the South Lawrence Trafficway through the Haskell-Baker Wetlands. Robert Smith, project manager for the Corps of Engineers, facilitated the hearing and will make the final decision.
KDOT applied for the permit last year and proposed to build the highway along a 32nd Street route. This route would bisect the wetlands, a development some community members opposed. Some of those in opposition favor a route farther south on 42nd Street.
Street. The final decision to grant KDOT a 404 permit would probably come in early November. Smith said, after the Corps finished the Environmental Impact Statement and accepted public comment on it.
Smith said the public's comments were important to his decision. He also told community members this was their chance to influence the decision.
"We are heavily considering two options right now that we see
as the best fit to generally satisfy the public's interest," Smith said, referring to the proposed 32nd Street and 42nd Street routes. "But we will consider any other alternatives that people propose."
Students and community members last week discussed possible public comments for the hearing and written comments to send to Robert Smith in opposition to KDOT's proposed route.
Trisha Shrum, Olathe sophomore and member of KU Environs said she was encouraged that the debate had been going on so long. She, along with other members of KU Environs, demonstrated against the 32nd Street route outside the hearing.
route outside the wetlands," she "It would be a huge tragedy if we paved over the wetlands."she
said. "I was under the idealistic impression that we were done with trampling on the rights of Native Americans."
Smith said although his decision on whether to allow KDOT to build the highway is final, he can't guarantee it will end the 22-year-old debate."Hopefully this will be the last round and will serve as closure to the issue," he said, "but nobody can guarantee that."
Smith heard arguments from community members on all sides of the issue.
of the issue.
Dean Carlson, secretary of transportation for Kansas, spoke in favor of the 32nd Street route over the other alternatives. He told the crowd that the need to alleviate traffic from Lawrence's city streets would not go away.
Alexandra Fraser, University of Kansas Ph.D. student speaks about the environmental implications of a 32nd Street route through the wetlands. About 500 members of the Lawrence community met last night to discuss the fate of the South Lawrence Trafficway. Anton Bubnovskiy/Kansan
"Somewhere in the neighborhood of South Lawrence, this will happen," Smith said in his speech. "There are also extensive mitigation plans that will include providing an educational research facility and over 300
acres of replacement wetlands to replace 60 acres taken by the project."
Contact Hodel at
lhodel@kansan.com.This story was edited by Melissa Shuman.
Queers and Allies makes progress but thinks more is needed
By George Schulz Kansan staff writer
Attempts this week to include sexual orientation in Topeka's anti-discrimination and hatecrime statutes exemplify the difficulties Queers and Allies has endured since its inception in 1970.
1970. Queers and Allies, the University of Kansas' lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered group, spent Tuesday at Topeka's city council building demonstrating support for an amendment to the city's anti-discrimination and hate-crime codes.
The draft for the proposed amendment would have added "sexual orientation and gender identity and expression" to the
city's hate crime and discrimination ordinances.
but after night of deliberation and more than 80 scheduled speakers supporting and opposing the measures, the Topeka city council, voted down 4-5 an amendment to include sexual orientation in the city's anti-discrimination ordinance.
But the council did vote 7-2 in support of the inclusion of the single phrase "sexual orientation," into the city's hate-crime ordinances.
Although progress was made, transgendered Topeka residents were left without protection in the ordinance. The KU students who traveled Tuesday night to Topeka to support the amendments were left with only a small
portion of what they were asking for.
"It's not enough to have faith that people won't discriminate," said James Manning, LGBT resource coordinator and adviser to Queers and Allies. "You have to put it into law."
But the Topeka city council didn't agree with Manning, Liberal graduate student.
The revised ordinances extended punishments for crimes committed against someone based on their sexual orientation, but without all of the changes, queer Topeka citizens still can't expect employers to grant job protection despite their orientation.
"You can fire someone for being gay but you can't beat them
up," said Chase Richards, McPherson junior and director of Queers and Allies, referring to the council decision.
This isn't the first time Queers and Allies has been involved with a major political initiative.
The group struggled to gain recognition from the University
a major power in The group's long history is characterized by name changes, battles with the Student Senate and a legal clash with the University that nearly reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
Supreme Court.
Once known as the Lawrence Gay Liberation Front, Queers and Allies formed shortly after the explosive Stonewall Riots in New York City that established the queer rights movement in America.
and receive funding from the Student Senate, according to Queers and Allies' Web site.
and Ames were not. Not until 1980, when Student Senate rules regarding student groups changed, did it become an official campus organization.
United States The modern version of that
official complaints.
"A lot of people don't realize this, but in a lot of ways, the '70s were a lot more tolerant time than the '80s," said Richards. "But AIDS just scared a lot of people and galvanized both camps."
camps. Richards said the AIDS epidemic helped solidify public opposition to same-sex activity. But the AIDS scare also helped queer activists organize and create a visible movement in the United States.
movement was seen Tuesday
Hundreds of people gathered in Topeka from both sides of the discrimination issue.
With the volatile history of queer rights on campus, Richards said much of the fear surrounding AIDS had subsided, and with it, much of the political activism.
"AIDS may have lost its 'bogeyman' status," said Richards. "A lot of people feel like there's nothing for us to do anymore. But hopefully this is a signal that we still have stuff to do and we will for many more years to come."
Contact Schulz at editor@kansan.com. This story was edited by Chris Wintering.
Quick Books.
Grab 'n Go? How about Grab 'n Graduate! Upperclassmen have found that you can avoid the rush by getting your books and supplies at the Burge Union's KU Bookstore. In and out and on your way, unless you want to take some time to check out our KU merchandise, or grab a magazine and a candy bar at the Hawk Shop Hey, at the Burge Union, we're on your side!
5 p.m. to Close-Every Evening
kansan.com
"Always the 'Best' Specials, Always the 'Most' Fun!"
Friday 9/13/02
The University of Kansas · School of Fine Arts · Lied Center presents
SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 14,2002
ROBERT MIRABAL
WITH RARETRIBALMOB Music From A Painted Cave Tour
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