SPORTS: Magic Johnson announces his return to the LA Lakers. Page 11.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOL.102.NO.28
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1992
(USPS 650-640)
Pastor slams homosexuals
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Stance sparks radio debate with GLSOK
Daron J. Bennett / KANSAN
By Christine Laue Kansan staff writer
Anti-homosexual activist, the Rev Fred Phelps Sr., entered the recording studio at JKIK with the jacket sleeves of his black and magenta Nike warm-up suit pushed above his elbows, as if he were ready for a fight.
But last night's live on air debate between Phelps and two members of Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas was a civil discussion rather than the ferocious battle some predicted.
Before the 30-minute debate began, however, six members of Phelps' Topeka church who were standing at the end of KIHK's drive off 11th Street argued with motorists who stopped after seeing anti-homosexual signs.
Messages such as "Fags are worthy of death" and "Fags hate God" decorated the pickers' signs, along with Bible citations and skulls and cross bones.
After two men in a Jeep stopped to argue with the picketers, members of GLSOK who were standing outside the radio station waiting for the program to begin jogged to the end of the drive when they heard the velling.
Phelps discussed homosexuality and politics with Patrick Dilley, GLSOK member and chair of the Student Senate AIDS task force, and Janet Prior, co-director of GLSOK. Jeremy Wilkins and Steve Ammerman were the hosts of KJHR's weekly news magazine. "Think About It."
Wilkins said she and Ammerman asked Phelps to participate in the discussion because they wanted to address issues related to hate crimes and gangs and lesbians.
"When you think about that — ultimate gay bashing — you think Fred Phinsss. Willips said before the protest."
you will be. With PhiPs, we want you to be the program.
Phelps, a Topela pastor, has gained notoriety for leading weekly anti-homosexual demonstrations during the past year in Topeka.
And his protests last night by saying homosexuality was "the righthist conduct known to man and God." "To tell you that if you live in that filthy lifestyle" Pheasant said, "you show that's not my idea. That's the word of God Abughly."
Prior responded, "My beliefs in God are different from Mr. Phelps' but I can respect him in his beliefs and all that I ask is to be respected in mine."
The hosts several times had to steer the fast-paced discussion back to politics. Phelps said people had the right to know whether political candidates were homosexual
"It taints and corrupts every decision they make on every national policy," Phels said. "It's a legitimate issue for the people to know before they go into a voting booth and vote."
Daron J. Bennet / KANSAN
Dilley said, "As a student politician and leader, I can tell you that no single issue defines how decisions should be made."
Top photo: Eric Banham, left, and Jason Jones, Lawrence residents, pass a line of picketers protesting homosexuality. Right: GLSOK members Chad Foster, Kansas City, Mo. Greg Wilson, Lawrence, Lawrence Alldafer, Colby senior, from left to right, listen to the discussion on KJHK.
Topeka pastor brings his message to KU
By Joe Harder
Kansan staff writer
The Rev, Fred Phelps Sr., the anti-homosexual activist who debated last night with members of Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas, said in an earlier interview that his adamant beliefs used to be accepted by more people.
"It's just been in the last decade that militant homosexuals have brought it to the front burner, into the marketplace of ideas," he said. "They're coming out of the closet, as they say. It's not because of anything I've said or done.
"I'm challenging believers to come out of the closet, or this country's going to go the way of Sodom and Gomorrah."
The Bible describes Sodom and Gomorrah as two cities that were destroyed by God because of their sinfulness.
Phelps, 62, has been the pastor of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka since 1955. The church has about 100 members, Phelps said.
Phelps claimed that homosexuals had sex in a wooded area in the park. Graberson said that the Topeka Police Department had not been able verify that claim.
He gained notoriety for leading weekly anti-homosexual demonstrations during the past year in Topeka's Gage Park. Between 15 and 20 people demonstrate each week, said David
Grabersen, director of parks and recreation in Topeka.
In April, Phelps led an anti-homosexual demonstration outside a church during the funeral proceeded by his wife, Amanda Scott. Scott died of an AIDS-related illness.
In addition to his duties as pastor, Phelps practiced law as a civil rights attorney from 1964 to 1979, when he disputed by the state Supreme Court.
Phelps' suit against a court reporter, which the court regarded as a personal vendetta, according to Supreme Court records. The court also charged that Phelps filed false documents during the proceedings.
The disciplinary action grew out of
In the past, Phelps has denied all charges against him, calling the court's version "propaganda of the tyrant."
Phelps entered this year's U.S. Senate race, running against Gloria O'Dell in the Democratic primary. He received 31 percent of the vote.
He also ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of Kansas in 1990, receiving about 7 percent of the vote in the three-person primary race.
Bush makes proposal for debates
The Associated Press
President Bush yesterday proposed an unprecedented string of Sunday night debates with Bill Clinton as he worked to develop a come-front-behind strategy in his race for re-election.
Bush called for an initial debate Oct. 11, but Clinton said he was ready to go this weekend.
Bush said he would be pleased to see Ross Perot included in the debates, which would stretch through the final weekend of the campaign, if he decides to make a formal entry into the race in the meantime.
The president proposed two debates with a single moderator
debates win a single moderator — the format favored by Clinton and a bipartisan debate commission — and two others with a panel of reporters posing questions.
"Let's start Sunday. I'm ready," said Clinton, noting that Bush's proposals would conflict with televised baseball playoff and World Series games.
Clinton said Bush should show up for previously scheduled debates on Oct. 4 and 15 — confrontations that the president has shunned because he disliked the format. The Democrat proposed letting a bipartisan debate commission decide the merits of the president's suggestion for a running series of weekly encounters.
Bush said: "Let's get it on." But he was not ready to get started until Oct. 11.
Bush has been criticized by Clinton for rejecting the commission's debate plans, and Clinton supporters have turned up at Bush rallies in chicken costumes to taunt him for not debating.
The president's proposal, couched as a challenge to Clinton, seemed an attempt to entice Clinton into a series of debates that would allow plenty of opportunity for missteps. Such debates likely would overshadow events on the campaign trail.
The president made his comments as the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates scrapped plans for the debate on Oct. 4 because Bush balked at its proposal for a single moderator. It was the third such cancellation, all of them because of the president's insistence that there be multiple questioners.
Bush said he also favored two debates between Vice President Dan Quayle and Clinton's running mate. Sen. Al Gore.
"If Governor Clinton is serious about debating, he will accept this challenge," Bush said. "I think it is important that the voters have an opportunity to see and vote from the candidates themselves."
The Bush proposal
President Bush has proposed a series of four Sunday debates beginning Oct. 11; Arkansas Gov, Bill Clinton wants to debate this weekend.
Format
Bush wants two debates with a single moderator and two debates with a panel of reporters asking questions. Clinton favors having a single moderator.
"So I have no doubt that there
The Perot factor
Texas billionaire Ross Perot,
who is one of the others,
is invited to debate if he
declares his candidacy.
will be organizations willing to sponsor these debates. And if Governor Clinton is serious about debating, he will instruct his campaign officials to meet promptly with my campaign officials to work out the details directly between the parties."
But Clinton said, "This is the same guy who hasn't had an economic plan for three and a half years. He didn't have a debate plan, now he comes up with this."
Unlike Bush, who seemed angling for campaign-to-campaign negotiations, Clinton said the two should review Bush's proposals.
In a statement last night, Bush campaign chair Robert Teeter said Clinton was waffling in his initial response to the president's invitation.
But Clinton campaign chair Mickey Kantor said, "I don't think this is a serious offer, or the president would have accepted the bipartisan commission's debates." Kantor said on CNN's "Larry King Live," that Clinton would only discuss debates under the commission's aegis.
Perot, flirting with an October entry into the race, seemed to look forward to joining Clinton and Bush on a debate stage. "Sure, I will go," he said, hours before the president spoke.
A letter from the debate commission to the Bush and Clinton campaign made no mention of Perot, or one of 60 state ballots for the fall.
The panel canceled two previous debates because Bush rejected the proposed rules. The third one was called off by the University of San Diego in advance of the commission's deadline.
The maneuvering surrounding the debates came as Bush and Clinton strategists and pollsters tried to anticipate the impact of Perot on the race. The Texan, who won a seat in his candidacy before folding his effort in July, said he would be guided by the wishes of his volunteers.
Look at the Lied Center
Twenty-seven student leaders from several campus organizations gathered yesterday for their first peek at the Lied Center, KU's new, $10 million performing arts center.
See story, Page 3.
KU student injured in staged snatching
Demonstration turns serious when witnesses mistake it for real thing and attack unsuspecting simulator
By Muneera Naseer
Kansan staff writer
It was meant to be a simple, mock purse-snatching as part of a safety education class.
Kansan staff writer
It became a painful event for Robert Crane, Hugoton sophomore.
Denise Monroe, assistant professor in health, physical education and recreation, wanted to know how much information students would retain about a person committing a crime.
She hired Craine to steal her purse from her during class. Crane, dressed in a KU baseball cap, red sweater, jeans and brown boots, entered Room 159 in Robinson Center yesterday, grabbed Monroe's red purse from a
projector cart and took flight.
He ran up two flights of stairs, as planned. But the demonstration took an unexpected turn.
Students and faculty outside the classroom mistook the demonstration for a real purse-snatching and gave chase, Crane said later. He tried to exit, but the nearest doors were locked, so he turned toward the gym doors.
He fell face down with his arms spread out and the student sitting on his back.
At this point a student tackled Crane and sent him flying through the gym doors.
The student on his back took the shoeaces off Crane's
he fell face down with his arms spread out and the stu-
Crane said a man he did not know kicked him in the chin and told him he was stupid for stealing.
Monroe waited in class for Crane to reappear as planned but soon became aware of his ordeal.
right boot and tied his hands behind his back, Crane said. Someone called KU police.
She informed the police officer that the pursue-snatching was a staged event.
Crane was untied, and he accompanied the instructor back to class.
Monroe said the students in her class had identified Crane to a tree.
She was surprised none of her 40 students ran to catch Crane after he took the purse, but she said she gave away the whole experiment by laughing out loud in class.
She was glad that other people in the building responded so well.
Crane later went to Watkins and had X-rays taken of his chin. No bones were broken.
"I'm real sore, and now I have a headache," Crane said yesterday.