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CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, September 21, 1992
3
Public Enemy draws 950 fans
Group influences crowd with its political ideas
By Delin Cormeny
Kansan staff writer
The Kansas Union Ballroom shook as much from the force of the sonic beat as from the force of lead voice and front man Chuck D's message at Student Union Activities' sold-out Public Enemy concert last night.
With four-letter eloquence, rapper Chuck D addressed racial and socioeconomic problems facing the United States and challenged the audience to strive for peace and equality while six uniformed bodyguards/dancers milled in the background.
The 90-minute set covered such milestones as "Public Enemy No. I." the song that set the group in motion, "Fight the Power," the theme song from Spike Lee's film "Do the Right Thing," "Bring the Noise," "Don't Believe the Hype" and "Can't Truss It," as well as new tracks from the upcoming album, "Public Enemy's Greatest Misses."
The group's lyrics have made them one of rap music's most popular and influential forces. The words are more than politically charged. They are poetic politics set to the beat of urban America, and they were well received by the 950 spectators that smashed themselves one on top of the other to get as close to the stage as possible.
Fans danced everything from black combat boots to black cowboy boots, dread locks to turbans and Spandex to bow ties, and ranged in age from 12 to 50. They danced, cursed, jumped, yelled and waved their hands in
COMMENTARY
response to Chuck D's cues
The self-professed "Prophets of Rage" certainly lived up to their controversial reputation during last night's performance.
Attacking everything from the Olympic Dream Team to the election process, they vented their contempt for mainstream society.
Flavor Flav, wearing his trademark clock around the neck, criticized the election process by telling about his pre-Public Enemy experience.
He said that he was laid off from his previous job because the politicians he voted for cut money for programs in his neighborhood.
He answered his own question to a round of applause and cheers, "Am I gonna vote? No!
"I am a Black man standing strong and firm," he said. "When it comes down to Public Enemy, we want you to be a backtrack thing, and you go to understand."
Chuck D explained the attitude toward police presence, especially white police presence, in the "hoods."
"Black people look at the police officer the same way as the slaves looked at the slave master," he said. The lack of property ownership both in the past and today was part of what was back black American, he said.
He also spoke about KU's history of racism by pointing out Wilt Chamberlin's experience as a student in 1958.
"They wouldn't even let him sit and eat with the rest of the basketball team."
And in keeping with the basketball
tance, he criticized the Olympic Press
"You should have played for Africa, he said.
Christine McFarland / KANSAN
Chuck D of Public Enemyenttains for a sell-out audience at the Kansas Union Ballroom.
Rappers focus on social issues before concert
By J.R. Clairborne
Kansan staff writer
At a public forum designed to unite the African-American and American-Indian communities of Lawrence, the rap group Public Enemy spoke to students and parents yesterday before their concert at the University of Kansas.
Michael Haney, Second Chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, said the event was the largest peaceful gathering of the two ethnic groups in Lawrence's history.
A crowd of about 300 people listened as members of the group spoke on issues ranging from education to racism to drugs and teen pregnancies. They spoke for more than two hours at South Junior High School, 2734 Louisiana St.
The event was coordinated by the KU Black Student Union, the American Indian Movement, the Black Teachers and Staff at Lawrence Public Schools and the Public Enemy Staff.
Dubbed "Dropping the Science," the forum's topics included the controversial quincentennial celebration of Columbus Day, the benefits of achieving an education and the importance of contributing to the community after graduation from college or trade school.
Haney spoke about the recent lawsuit filed against the Washington Redskins by the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media. He also discussed the importance of raising mainstream society's sensitivity.
Chuck D, Public Enemy's lead singer, said that celebrating Columbus Day was like having a Hilder Day, because American-Indian groups have credited Columbus with the genocide of several American-Indian tribes after his landings in the Americas. He also scoffed at crediting Columbus with the discovery of America.
"How are you going to discover the earth?" Chuck D said.
"The earth was here a long time before man, and it will be here a long time afterwards."
Rapper Flavor Flav took his turn at the microphone to stress education. He said that although many youths complained about attending school, they could do little in society without a diploma.
Flav also addressed drug abuse and said that drugs stagnated the mind and dulled the senses.
"The key to who you want to be and where you want to be is to have a clean mind," he said. "If you see your friends' lives, you will."
The group ended the forum with a medley of songs.
Foreign instructors study U.S. culture
Kansan staff writer
By Lynne McAdow
Karen staffwriter
Visitors from around the world spent last week at the University of Kansas studying contemporary U.S. society, culture and institutions.
Fifteen instructors in English Language and American Literature were selected by U.S. embassies in their native countries to participate in a U.S. studies program sponsored by the United States Information Agency. People from countries ranging from Brazil to Israel participated in the month-long program.
"We have done it a number of times because we have a strong American studies program," said David Katzman, head of the American studies department at KU and co-coordinator of the program. "We try to provide a interdisciplinary introduction to American culture."
Teachers from 13 countries visit the S-Bar.S Ranch north of Lawrence to get a closer look at Midwestern life.
Victorio Gulio, a teacher trainer from Mozambique, Africa, said, "I've always wanted to come to America. I've seen films about horses. I had an image of a dusty place full of horses."
Gilberto Valera, a professor of modern languages from Venezuela, said, "I think the behavior is different. They are more open and speak to foreigners."
Katzman said participants usually visited the East and West coasts, so the stay in Lawrence gave the program a regional balance.
"We like to think this is a good place to
introduce some kind of contrast." he said.
introduce some kind of contrast," he said. Several teachers said more freedom was the biggest difference between their own education system and the United States'.
Valera he was surprised that Lawrence High School allowed smoking in a certain section. He said that in Venezuela smoking hidden on all levels of the education system.
"People in Egypt look at America as an ideal country," said Yehia Mohammed El Sadek of Egypt. "They don't enjoy the same degree of freedom."
In Mozambique, Guila said, college students were not allowed to select their class
The instructors attended seminars at KU on such topics as the presidential elections, architecture and youth culture, which included a discussion of rap music.
es. He said students must enroll in a set curriculum with no chance to take electives.
While in the Midwest, they attended a city commission meeting and toured a ranch outside of Lawrence. They also by they visited the Gates Barbeque restaurant in Kansas City.
The participants also spent a week in Williamsburg, Va., studying U.S. history and will spend a week in New Mexico and New York City.
Intercom systems aid in emergency situation
By Muneera Naseer
Kansas stff writer
Kansan staff writer
When Ed Jones, a 31-year-old custodian, collapsed in a Wesco Hall elevator Friday afternoon, Kyle Johnson, a freshman from Littleton, Colo., called for help.
He reached out and pressed a button on a yellow box about eight steps away from the elevator.
Johnson used a device that people often overlook.
The devices are the square yellow emergency intercom systems that hang on the inside walls of campus buildings. The boxes include instructions in both Braille and print.
Six buildings have these yellow phones, said Mike Richardson, director of facilities operations. There are two in Wescoe, two in Fraser Hall, one in Haworth Hall, two in Learned Hall, one in Malott Hall and two in the Kansas Union. The Union will have two more after its renovation is completed.
The installation of these phones is an ongoing program between KU police, the KU Telecommunications Department and facilities operations.
The system can be used by pushing a button, which activates the control panel at the KU police department, where a dispatcher answers.
KU Telecommunications provides the phones and installation. Facilities operations wires the phones and the KU police coordinates the placement of the phones in addition to receiving the
The phones were installed in areas that are occupied after regular hours and after the administrative offices were closed. Most of the phones in the buildings are placed near the elevators.
"We'd like to bring more attention to these phones," Burdel Welsh, KU police representative, said. He said the yellow phone also was used in an incident in August at the Union when a man was thought to be having a heart attack. In 1991, 1,552 emergency calls were received
emergency calls.
The first group of yellow phones was installed at the end of the spring semester.
Welsh said that some people had traveled a great distance to report emergencies.
in the Wescoe incident, Johnson was able to describe the situation to the dispatcher as it was happening without being away from the emergency location.
Welsh said that people needed to plan ahead for emergencies and know what the resources were. Fire alarms, fire extinguisher and emergency phones all are available in campus buildings.
"If you think that way and look around that way, you'll find a lot of things," he said.
In 1991, 1,552 emergency calls were received by the KU police through 911.
Jones was admitted to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and was scheduled to leave Saturday
He said that he was glad an emergency phone was right there and he thanked the person who called for help.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 12PM-3PM KANSAS UNIONBALLROOM
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DAILY KANSAN CLASSIFIED GET RESULTS
So you think you're a Feminist... Then attend
Abortion is Killing Authentic Feminism
What:Forum When: September 22,1992
Time: 4:30 pm
Place: Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union
Juli Loesch Wiley, author of the book
Pro-Life Feminism: Different Voices
will argue there is proof that
Abortion is Killing Authentic Feminism