CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Wednesday, September 2, 1992
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Hate-speech policy redrafted
Human relations committee says new proposal is less controversial
By Lynne McAdoo Kansan staff writer
Kansanstaffwriter
The members of the 1991-92 human relations committee felt so strongly about the issue of hate speech on campus that it tried a different approach.
After the University Council voted down a hate speech resolution last semester, the human relations committee redrafted and resubmitted the resolution this summer.
The first draft stated that the University condemned any speech that led to violence, property damage or harassment of the victim. Controversy arose when some people questioned whether the resolution would lead to an infringement of First Amendment rights of free speech.
Reggie Robinson, associate professor of law and member of the human relations committee, said the redraft would be less controversial because it was worded in a way that did not imply that violators could be punished.
"The other was a little confused as to whether it was a statement of principle or a policy enforceable through sanctions," Robinson said. "This one pending is clearly a statement of principle. It does not attempt to even deal with the question of violations and sanctions."
The number of complaints about the first draft showed incredible ignorance for the grievance policy, said Maggie Childs, head of the department of East Asian languages and culture and head of the human relations committee last semester.
"We wanted the community to remind itself and refresh its memory that free speech is for dialogue, not name calling," she said.
The redraft focuses on the rights of free speech and equal opportunity. It states that these two rights sometimes conflict and the protection of free speech often silences the minority, denying them equal opportunity.
Jean Peterson, head of the human relations committee and associate
ACLU speaker
Hate Crimes and the College Code of Conduct
professor of social welfare, said the redraft was more positive and that it created an environment that was inclusive and was not hostile to its members.
Included in the redraft is an analogy comparing the University to a workplace environment. The redraft states that workers cannot work to their full potential if they are in an environment where discrimination exists between
a superior and another employee.
Ted Frederickson, associate professor of journalism who teaches a course in media law, said the analogy between discrimination at work and racist speech on campus was faulty and that University policy already forbade discrimination in so-called power relationships like the ones between professor and student.
"But this policy goes beyond those power relationships to cover the entire academic community — campus speakers, student organizations, public debates, even discussions between students in Wescoe Cafeteria," he said.
Laird Wilcox, a member of the Kansas City American Civil Liberties Union and KU graduate, agrees that the proposal is a step in the wrong direction.
"The best thing for the University is to realize that it is a free country and to let it alone." he said.
The University Senate Executive Committee has sent the proposal back to the 1992-93 human relations committee to allow new members to give their input. The new committee will take a look at the new proposal and possibly resubmit it, Peterson said.
Art Students League gives students opportunity to meet, share ideas
New organization plans first meeting for tonight
By Mark Martin
Kansan staff writer
Fine arts students, ranging from painters to graphic designers, will have a chance to express themselves as one tonight.
The newly formed Kansas University Art Students League will have its first meeting at 7 tonight in 315 Art and Design. The organization was formed to provide art students with a time to meet and share ideas.
"Without this group, all of the people in the art and design building just went to classes and did their work," said Kevin Jennings, Lenexa junior, who helped form the league. "There has never been a place for people to talk to other similar and different artists. We wanted to create an environment
where people could talk about things they want to talk about."
Brian Gunning, Chicago junior and co-founder of the group, said, "There's always a lot of fine arts people talking about doing the same things, but they've never heard each other. Now they can hear each other."
Besides being a discussion group, the league is planning to help sponsor shows featuring student art, to travel to art museums throughout the Midwest and to make suggestions to the faculty on ways to improve the fine arts department.
Jennings said the group also would try to get students' art displayed in buildings like Strong Hall and Watson Library. He said the group would be represented in the Harvest of Arts week in Lawrence.
Harvest of Arts, a celebration of all types of art from the various cultures in Lawrence, begins Sept. 28. Everything from performance art to gourmet
cooking will take place at different locations around town.
Gunning stressed the need for a student voice in making program decisions within the fine arts department.
"Right now, students aren't that involved with faculty decisions," he said. "This will be an opportunity for more people to have a sav in what goes on."
Bob Brawley, professor of art, said a fine arts students' group was definitely needed.
"This group will be able to have input into faculty decisions, as well as being able to do different things, such as art shows, that the faculty doesn't do," he said.
The founders of the group said the league could be very important to freshmen.
"They can find out from older students about what to take, and what's going on," sad Margaret Meyer, Prairie Village junior.
Students profit from small businesses
Continued from Page 1.
Griffin admitted that it can be hard to balance between being a student and a businessman.
Griffin said owning his business gave him an interesting perspective on his classwork because of his experience, insight into the world of computers.
'My biggest problem is time management,' he said. 'Try to keep every day reduced. I segregate blocks of time for different activities and keep to do lists.'
"We'll do something in class and I'll think, 'Oh, that will solve a problem I've got in the business.'"
Eli Muhl, co-owner of the sports marketing firm EMI, said going to school and operating a business at the company was like learning two things at once.
"School is just half of everything," he said.
His was his love of tennis that gave Muhi, Salma senior, the idea to open halls.
Two years ago Muhl joined Martin Hess, Det Soto senior, to found EMI. Their biggest project, Pepsi Tennis, promotes and runs tennis camps, tournaments and parties in the Kansas City area.
Mahl said he started the company to make money and gain experience. He said their biggest first-year mistake was not keeping close track of their expenditures. He said the loss he incurred in the first year of operation was like paying for school. He learned just as much.
"When you look at your project, cut your income in half and double your costs," Muhl said. "That was almost exactly what happened to us."
Muhl had a lot of advice to offer students interested in starting their own businesses.
He said the best place to look for a
loan was from family or friends.
When going into companies to present a proposal, college students could find that they are not taken seriously, Muhli said.
"It's how you react," he said. "If you go in and feel young and unconfident, then its hard to go to sponsors and win them over." He said the key was to look nice and presentable, and to act older and confident.
Both Griffin and Muhl are involved in the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs and last year were chosen as two of the top 10 ACE entrepreneurs in the nation. Griffin, president of KU's ACE chapter, said the group was a great way to make business contacts.
Griffin said ACE had given him credibility in the real world, where it was hard for college students to be taken seriously. Griffin said ACE also
"Even if you fail, hopefully you'll learn from your failure." Muli said.
Five years ago, Lucero came to KU to get his master's degree in computer science. However, he switched his major after he learned that more of his credit hours would transfer if he pursued his bachelor's degree in business administration.
offered its members inspiration and education about a variety of business topics.
"ACE has taught me a lot about keeping myself motivated," he said. Not all local business owners are members of ACE. Mike Lucero fell into the ownership of Camera America, 1610 W. 23rd St., by accident.
Lucero was working part-time at a camera store in Lawrence when it was merged with an Oklahoma chain.
Soon after, Lucero said, the organization fell apart. Lucero then bought the store from the company with money loaned to him by a friend. Lucero had not planned on being his own boss.
Holly.McQueen / KANSAN
On her toes
KU bike towing policy enacted for first time
By Christine Laue
Kansan staff writer
For the first time since last spring, a bicycle blocking ramp access to a University building last week was impounded from Murphy Hall.
Bob Turvey, head of the architectural barriers committee, said that by locking the bike to the handrails of the ramp at Murp Hill Hall's main entrance, the bike's owner violated federal and state laws that require buildings to be accessible for elderly, mobility-impaired, and visually disabled people. The owner also was in violation of building and fire codes, as well as University policy based on the American Disabilities Act.
"We have a responsibility as an institution to see that all people can go to class," Turvey said. "Nobody wants to tow these bicycles, but it is something you have to do to protect someone's right to get into a building."
The incident was the first since last spring, when the architectural barriers committee posted signs stating that any obstacle to a building's entrance would be towed.
Turvey said the signs, coupled with a heightened awareness of the problem, had helped the situation.
Most signs are 3-by-8-inch laminated yellow cards. But the one posted at Murphy, where accessibility problems had previously occurred, is an 8-by-8-inch sign. Turvey said.
He said people also had complained about bikes blocking access to Wesco Hall and the Kansas Union. Lt. John Mullens of the KU Police said the problem of bikes obstructing access to KU buildings was not new.
"It's been periodically a problem for literally years," he said.
Mullens said a sign at the Union stating that KU Police would tow bikes obstructing access there was not accurate because KU Police did not actually do the towing.
When people at the Department of Facilities Operations receive complaints, they contact a towing company to cut the locks and remove bikes. KU Police gathers identifying information on the bike in case the bike owner calls to report the bike stolen, he said.
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