}
SPORTS: Magic Johnson signs a record one-year, $14.6 million contract with the L.A. Lakers, Page 9.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
VOL.102, NO.30
FRIDAY,OCTOBER 2.1992
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
(USPS 650-640)
NEWS:864-4810
Perot makes official bid for presidency
The Associated Press
DALLAS — Ross Perot plunged belatedly into the presidential race yesterday, setting the stage for a three-way struggle with President Bush and Bill Clinton in the final month of the campaign.
"Government is a mess," Perot said, vowing to repair it.
The Texas billionaire said he was joining the race because neither political party had effectively addressed economic and other concerns that were on the minds of the voters. "We gave them a chance; they didn't do it," he said of his rivals.
He made his remarks at a news conference 11 weeks after he announced he would not run. He said at that time he believed he could not win and did
not want to be a disruptive influence on the campaign.
He didn't address the likelihood of victory in his announcement speech before family, friends and supporters in his home state of Texas. Instead, he looked beyond the election, pledging to dedicate himself to solving the nation's problems and rallying the public to the cause.
"Looking forward, working together, we can fix anything." he said.
Perot once had support rivaling that of Bush and Clinton in the public-opinion polls. But his backwing dived through a series of spring controversies, and he now runs a distant third in polls.
Even so, his entry, coupled with the prospect of a series of October debates, had the effect of injecting
uncertainty to a race that Clinton has led consistently since July.
Perot cast his announcement as a deferential bow to the volunteers he said had urged him to reconsider his earlier refusal to run. However, spending reports filed with the government indicate he has spent millions since his nominal withdrawal to maintain a political infrastructure and make sure his name was placed on all 50 state ballots.
He reportedly has 20 or more television commercials ready to go and said with a smile as he left his news conference: "Got to make a living, got to pay for ads."
Perot stepped forward as Bush and Clinton negotiators tried to nail down arrangements for a series of debates. They met privately through the day in
Washington after beginning talks Wednesday night. Perot, asked if he wanted in, replied, "Sure, I'll be glad to participate."
In a TV-ad battle over taxes, Bush unveiled a commercial suggesting Clinton would raise taxes on all working citizens. The Democrat brought out two new ads, one featuring Bush's "Read my lips, no new taxes" pledge and the other contending Arkansas has thrived economically with Clinton as governor.
Bush declined to answer questions about Perot as he arrived at the White House from Camp David in advance of the Texan's comments, Clinton, campaigning in Wisconsin, said, "I'm going to run my race" regardless of Perot. "I think my fight is with George Bush."
Perot, trying to capitalize on widespread voter dissatisfaction, said his fight was with both parties and the campaign officials. He allowed the economy to deteriorate.
Clinton said he got into the race "because I believed we couldn't afford four more years of George Bush and trickle-down economics. I still believe I have the best economic plan."
"We've got to put our people back to work," he said. To rejuvenate the economy, Perot has prepared a detailed plan to cut the deficit, including a mixture of higher taxes and spending cuts.
He added, "Our people are good. The American people are good, but their government is a mess."
A look at Perot's running mate
Bush and Clinton trade barbs
Director to debut tonight
By J.R. Clairborne Kansan staff writer
See page 8
The man who music students say restored pride to the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra will make his debut tonight.
The man, Brian Priestman, is a new artist-in-residence at the School of Fine Arts and conductor for the 71-piece symphony.
the performance will mark the beginning of the orchestra's 1992-93 season at 7 tonight in Crafton-Preyer Theatre.
Having conducted the New Zealand, Denver and Baltimore symphony orchestras, Priestman brings more than 48 years of international music experience to KU's music department.
"Music has been very beautiful to me," Priestman said between the steady flow of students with last-minute questions about tonight's performance. "Being a part of a university is something I enjoy."
Despite his additional duties of serving as director of orchestral activities, participating in the opera program and teaching graduate conducting courses, Priestman still manages to keep up with his professional conducting schedule, which includes an engagement in Sweden later this month.
"I divide my life between the professional world and the student world," he said.
Priestman he decided to come to KU because he had reached the point where he wanted to do something different with his life. Despite his world travels, Priestman said he had an appreciation for the West.
"KU has a good reputation as a
Continued on Page 6.
From Polish plays to Mozart, fine arts slated for weekend
Along with the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra's season premiere tonight, University groups will sponsor several other musical and theatrical events this weekend.
Friday through Sunday
"The Card Index," a contemporary Polish drama by Tadeusz Rozewicz and part of the William Inge Memorial Theatre Series at KU, will be at 8:30 tonight and 5 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday.
Tickets are on sale at the Murphy Hall box office.
Tickets are $3 for KU students, $5 for senior citizens and other students and $6 for the public.
Saturday
KANSAN ataFF
The English Alternative Theatre will present, "Chasity's Birthday," a staged reading of one-aact play by Kim Hewett. Hewett is a graduate student in KU's creative writing program. The free reading will be at 8 p.m. at Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., in conjunction with the Harvest of Arts celebration.
Sunday
The American Chamber Players win perform for KU's Chamber Music Series at 3:30 p.m. at Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.
Tickets will be on sale at the Murphy Hall box office and at the Student Union Activities office in the Burge Union. Prices are $6.50 and $5.50 for KU and K-12 students, $12 and $10 for senior citizens and other students, and $13 and $11 for the public.
Monday
The English Alternative Theatre will present coverage," a work-in-progress by Jeff Hopkins, a graduate senior in theater, at 8 p.m. at Brewster Auditorium in Strong Hall. The free play is about the new ethics of journalism and will be followed by a discussion with John Ginn, professor of journalism.
Brian Priestman conducts the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra in preparation for tonight's debut at Crafton-Preyer Theatre. Priestman is the school of fine arts 'new artist-in-training' with the Metropolitan New Zealand, Denver and Baltimore symphony orchestras and has 48 years of international music experience.
See story, Page 3.
The Flame Spirit Run
Hundreds of runners from across the country will be at Haskell Indian Junior College Sunday morning to start the Flame Spirit Run, a 7,000-mile trek through 600 towns.
See story, Page 10.
A unique publication
The first national research journal focusing on African-American men will be produced at the University of Kansas. The Journal for African American Male Studies was the idea of two men, including Jacob Gordon, director of KU's Institute for Black Leadership and Research Development
Program review may alter academic offerings
Bv KC Trauer
Kansan staff writer
Anna Chandler recently had a choice to make about her academic program at Wichita State University.
"Many people here thought there should be a free-standing minority studies program because we are an urban university with a considerable minority population," Chandler said. "If we couldn't get that, we had to find what else we could do."
The minority studies program was ordered to merge with another university program. After studying the options, Chan employed the same program, reluctantly chose anthropology.
Wichita State's proposal to merge minority studies with anthropology is one result of its program review, an effort undertaken at Kansas' state universities to examine how each program could best fulfill each university's mission, or educational priorities.
As the universities reorganize, enhance and eliminate their programs, the nature and availability of some academic programs could change.
As degree programs are merged into
other departments, more people will be involved in how and what a program teaches, said Dick Tracy, presiding officer of KU University Council, a faculty and student governance body.
"In time, the nature of the program will change. It could be for the better, could be for the worse."
In Chandler's minority studies department, all its degree programs are guaranteed to continue, she said. And a case could be made for Wichita State's relatively awkward marriage of minority studies and anthropology because both are studies of cultures.
Although the nature of the program may not change, its identity may suffer.
"The minority students here wanted a free-standing program because we do more than just teach courses," Chandler said. In other ways with many of the students.
Many of the Kansas universities' smaller programs are prime targets for reorganization or elimination, even though they may serve students and Kansas well.
Kansas State University's school library certification program, which the university may eliminate, certifies 70 percent of all
Kansas students in similar programs, said R.S. Talab, a faculty member in the program.
Talab took the program also recertified about 60 school librarians a year from every part of the state.
Fort Hays State University, which is one of the two other schools providing the program, also is considering eliminating its program.
Faculty at the universities that have released their proposals are not certain of their programs' ultimate fate because the Board of Regents must approve the recommendations, which will be presented to the Regents Nov.20.
Stanley Kopilk, executive director of the Regents, said the Regents would make sure the changes would not be detrimental to students.
"When the Regents make their decision, they will make a judgment of the availability and access of programs across the state," he said. "I have to believe a large part of the justification for their decision will take students into account."
See related story, Page 6.
RESTRUCTURING the UNIVERSITY
KU is conducting a program review examining all of its programs to determine how well they serve the University. This review could result in programs being expanded, reorganized or eliminated. KU has yet to announce its proposals, but proposals at other schools have begun to emerge.
Inside:
A look at how students and faculty may be safeguarded against the adverse effects of discontinuing a program. Page 6