SPORTS: The Kansas women's basketball team defeats Southwest Missouri State 65-51. Page 9.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOL.102.NO.75
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9.1992
(USPS 650-640)
NEWS:864-4810
Plans draw new attention to minorities
By Mark Martin
Kansan staff writer
Kansan staff writer
A recent proposal by the African American Student Concerns Task Force and a resolution passed by Student Senate three weeks ago have rekindled debate concerning the creation of an administrative position responsible for cultural affairs.
Administrators say they are looking into the recommendations, but many minority students at the University of Kansas wonder whether their concerns are really ever heard.
"It seems like nothing will be done with this until students make some noise about it," said Peter Braithwaite, off-campus student senator and member of the African American Student Concerns Task Force.
Braithwaite pointed out that in 1980, a task force recommended that the University create a new position to oversee minority affairs on campus.
That position was never created.
Braithwaite co-wrote the Senate resolution this year, which demanded that the Office of Minority Affairs, which operates within the division of student affairs, be moved up to operate within the executive vice chancellor's office. The resolution also calls for elevating the OMA director to assistant or associate vice chancellor status.
Some think raising OMA's status would allow it to be more effective. Hispanic students have complained that the OMA has been insensitive to their needs and lacks Hispanic resources such as magazines and journals. Most say that with an expanded role, the OMA could serve n.
"The problem with the office currently is the come there with problems they're having on cation that office has no power to change policies," I said. "They can just make suggestions. We're that the office needs more respect on campu power."
Tim Dawson, chairperson of Student Senate affairs committee and the co-author of the Sensation, that the OMA was lost in the shuffle office was too low in KU's organizational struct-
"Right now they have to go through too many 'get anything done,' he said. "They have to go to student life, then to the vice chancellor for student affairs," he said. "You've got to be before people at the ten even hear about them."
Before 1987, OMA worked within the chancell and the director reported straight to the chanc office was moved into the student affairs divisio stands now.
David Ambler, vice chancellor for student at the office was moved to student affairs becau determined that the office's main function w. with students.
Moving the office to student affairs would al- contact with students and with other offices it work with, such as admissions and financial aid Ambler said that because of KU's budget const did not think the University would be able to crep in the administration.
"The University is carefully studying the reef report," he said. "One of their recommenda to create a University-wide council that could o the programs that deal with minority needs."
Sherwood Thompson, director of minority affairs that as KU became more multicultural, more wired for diversity.
"With more and more minority students coming may be necessary to have a representative at the trative level," he said. "It would help to coordi and assess the needs of minority students in all a
Administrators point to the planned multicultural as an example of KU's commitment to minorit And minority enrollment has risen each of the 1 years.
But a planning committee has yet to be forme
center, and the original opening date of Fall 1993
pushed back a year. And despite the enrollment in
more than 90 percent of the student body is white
"Right now, it seems like minority and cultural a treated as a program at KU, instead of within U structure," Braithwaite said. "We need someone campus with enough power to keep people a what's going on, and what needs to go on."
See related story, Page 12.
Cashing in on books
After a semes!
reading, and
h work problems
dents can
have their late-night
s Pain by cash
the textbooks.
See related story, Page 3.
Students live unhealt
A recent study shows that most health habit incoming freshmen worsened after a year in col-
See related story, Page 14.
U. Survey - The Student Holiday Gift Wish List
It's no surprise cash topped the list as the most-requested gift by college students this holiday season. But their philanthropic side wasn't far behind either, as children's, homeless and AIDS charities all made the top 10 most-wanted gift list. Other top gifts for students included computers, cars, glasses, concert/ movie tickets and travel tickets.
So how do we know your holiday desires? U. The National College Magazine asked 450 students at 19 universities what they wanted this holiday season.
Holiday requests ranged from the end of prejudice, to early graduation and the ever-popular desire for world peace. A student at the U. of South Florida wants straight A's, and students from many colleges simply want jobs after graduation. A wishful thinker at Rutgers U. wants to spend a week with model Naomi Campbell on a deserted island. Can't blame him for wishing. One generous student at the U. of Oregon wants a girlfriend on whom he can lavish expensive gifts. What's the quickest way for us to get to the Northwest?
Communications
1. Answering Machine
2. Stationery / Stamps
3. Phone
4. Fax Machine
5. Calling Card
Sports/Fitness
1. Clothes
2. Shoes
3. Skis/Ski Equipment
4. Weights
5. Camping Gear
Transportation/Travel
1. Car
1. Car
2. Travel Tickets
3. Bicycle
4. Luggage
5. Motorcycle
Entertainment
1. Compact Discs
2. Concert/Movie Tickets
3. Movie Videos
4. Cassettes
5. Camera Film
Clothes
1. Gift Certificate
2. Jacket/Coat
3. Jeans
4. Shoes/Sandals
5. Sweater
1. Glasses/Sunglasses
2. Perfume/Altershave/Cologne
3. Contact Lenses
4. Shampoo/Conditioner
5. Dental Care
Personal Care
Survival Gear
Academic Tools
1. Cash
2. Microwave
3. Batteries
4. Refrigerator
5. Toaster
1. Computer
2. Printer
3. Books
4. Software
5. Word
Furnishings
1. Cooking Gear
2. Towels
3. Blanket
4. Sheets
5. Dishes/Utensils
Entertainment Hardware
1. Compact Disc Player
2. VCR
3. Camcorder
4. Television
5. Car Radio/ CD/Cassette Player
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U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE MAGAZINE DECEMBER 1992