CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, November 16, 1992
3
Gays like Clinton's stance
Others argue that homosexuals don't belong in military
By Christine Laue Kansan staff writer
A banner hung in the hallway of Christopher Jennings' dormitory floor at the U.S. Army base in Darmstadt, Germany.
"We almost killed a fag," it read.
"They bragged about it," Jennings said of the four men who beat him with a broomstick, a boot and a bag of billiard balls when they heard he was a homosexual.
Jennings, who now is publicity coordinator for Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas, spent almost two weeks recovering in the hospital and then was honorably discharged from the Army.
He and other homosexuals think President-elect Bill Clinton's announcement last week that he plans to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military could be the key to equal treatment of homosexuals in
the military.
Homosexuals do not want special treatment, he said. Homosexuals say the government is discriminating by not allowing gays and lesbians into the armed services.
"The only thing this is saying is that you cannot beat the crap out of me and get away with it," Jennings said. "We just want to have the same rights as heterosexuals."
Janet Pryor, co-director of GLSOK, said that the government was supposed to be an equal opportunity employer. But in reality it is not, because it does not allow homosexuals in the military, the largest employer in the United States, she said.
"When our government says it's OK to discriminate against gays and lesbians, it gives everyone a license to do it," Pryor said. "The government does discriminate."
Pryor, who was in the Army Reserve, said homosexuals were just as competent as heterosexuals.
"There's no reason not to let them in there except for other people's homophobia," she said.
Many officers say that the problem is not sexual preference but that homosexuals would openly display
their homosexuality if the ban were lifted. Their behavior could undermine the morale and discipline of fightings, some officers say.
Some field commanders have said that sharing barracks, showers and latrines would create serious management problems.
Officials in KU ROTC units said they would not comment on Clinton's announcement because any comment might be interpreted as representing the military.
Commander John Jones, Navy ROTC instructor, said the KU Navy ROTC unit did not have any information about where the Navy stood on Clinton's plan to lift the ban.
"It doesn't mean that we don't have our own thoughts, we just don't have the information," Jones said.
Capt. Brad Gentry, Air Force ROTC assistant professor and public affairs officer, said he did not expect a difference in the number of homosexuals who would enlist in the military if Clinton did rescind the ban on homosexuals.
Those that want to come into the program will come," Gentry said. Any student could take ROTC courses, he said. But when they commit to serve
in the military, they must answer questions about their sexual orientation.
"As long as you stay closeted, it's OK to be gay in the military," Pryor said. "If they come out, they're kicked out."
Prior and Jennings said homosexuals joined the military despite the ban. Both of them lied to get into the services and had to hide their homosexuality so they would not be discharged.
Jennings said some feared that if they came out, other officers would injure or even kill them. If Clinton lifts the ban, homosexuals think that such behavior would not be allowed but that discrimination would not disappear completely.
"I'm sure there will still be discrimination against gays in the military," Prvorsaid.
But Clinton's plan to lift the ban is a step in the right direction, she said.
Jennings said he admired Clinton for putting his reputation on the line to attain equality for homosexuals in the military.
"He's risking his entire political career," he said. "That's not something he should have to do."
Caught in the middle
Andy Martin. left, Fairway junior. Kipper Hesse. center, Lincoln senior, and Alexis Dillard, Wichita senior, practice for a national collegiate soccer competition, which will be held this weekend.
Haskell faculty will exchange with KU in 1993
By Muneera Naseer Kansan staff writer
-Kansan staff writer
The first formal faculty exchange between the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Junior College will begin next semester.
; Hannes Combest, education assistant to the president of Haskell and co-chairperson of the inter-institutional task force, said it would be the first exchange between Haskell and KU since a memorandum of understanding was written last spring as an agreement between the institutions to better their relationship.
The memorandum of understanding also involved cooperation between KU and Haskell on research projects, admission into the schools and library and information exchanges.
Bombest said that some KU faculty members had taught at Haskell before but that this would be the first time a Haskell professor would teach a full-semester class at KU. She said the exchange would expose students from both schools to faculty from other schools and make transfer students from Haskell more accessible to KU. About 50 students have attended KU!
Combest said she hoped the exchange would continue in future semesters.
KU students can enroll in the course under Biology 420 for undergraduate students and Biology 701 for graduate students.
naymont Pierotti, assistant professor of systematics and ecology at KU, will teach a course called Native and Western Views of Nature at Haskell.
"The purpose of the course is to expose both Haskell and KU students to the philosophies of various cultures with regard to the natural world." Pierotti said.
He said that the course was not on the spring semester timetable and that the few students who had enrolled in it found out about it through ads and fliers put up by the department of environmental studies.
David Shulenburger, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and co-chairperson of the interinstitutional task force, said that it was harder for Haskell to send a faculty member to KU because Haskell's smaller faculty made it difficult to replace members for short periods of time.
Don Bread, Haskell instructor, will teach Tribal-Federal Government Relations in Fall 1993 at KU.
The course will address the various agreements made between the government and American Indian tribes, as well as tribal sovereignty.
Stuinleburger said that no instructor at KU had the expertise that Bread had in his area of teaching.
Ribbon cutting
Holly McQueen/ KANSAN
Patty Evans, right, Bonner Springs senior, hands a red ribbon to Anna Bird of Arkansas City. Members of KU's chapter of Angel Flight Silver Wings, a service organization, in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, handed out red ribbons after Saturday's football game for people to tie to their car antennas to support not drinking and driving.
Police to modify check lane notification procedure
By Kristy Dorsey
Kansan staff writer
After consulting with the state attorney general's office, Lawrence police have decided to modify how they notify the public about the locations and times of their driver's license check lanes.
The current system, which involves issuing general statements to the media that identify possible check lane locations for several weeks, will be expanded, said Police Chief Ron Olin.
"We are going to continue written notification to the media in a blanket fashion," he said. "We will supplement it on evenings when there is a higher likelihood that we
will run the checks."
Olin said police supervisors would announce the check lane locations at daily news briefings.
Questions about whether the police were giving adequate notification about the check lanes were first raised at an Oct. 16 meeting between city officials and University of Kansas student representatives. State senator-elect Sandy Praeger then pursued the matter with police and city officials at the request of Brad Garlinghouse, student body president.
Praeger said she was not sure if the blanket notifications alone met the requirements set forth in a 1984 state attorney general's opinion on how police should
conduct driver's license and DUI check lanes.
In the section dealing with advance public notice, that opinion states: "The notice should include the location and times of each specific checkpoint and should be provided sufficiently in advance to allow dissemination to the public, and in any event, at least six hours prior to the time to begin the check lane."
Praeger said she was satisfied with the changes if they met the attorney general's guidelines.
"If they are giving the exact location and time, then I think it is adequate," she said.
Garlinghouse said that although he was pleased with the changes, he still had questions about whether the police would provide information that was specific enough.
"My own concern will be that in the past they've had blanket statements, and this may still be like that," he said. "But I'm happy that they're at least listening to our concerns. I think it's certainly a step in the right direction."
If the modifications are still too ambiguous to meet the attorney general's guidelines, Garlinghouse said he would continue to push for changes.
"I guess I'll just wait and see what kinds of announcements they make at their press briefings, and if they still don't seem to conform to the attorney general's opinion, then I'll pursue it from there," he said.
Thank you to the old Panhellenic Executive Board for all of your help!
Sarah Gard Julie Garney Jill Russell Erin Fogarty Jennifer Zucco Jodi Reeves
Love,The New Exec.
Apply Before the Holidays for a High-Paying, Flexible Job for Next Semester
WRAP UP A JOB.
$8.00/ Hour Starting Salary Working as Loader / Unloader for UPS
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