We've got the heat
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Details page 6
Thursday September 3,1987 Vol.98,No.10
Published since 1889 by the students of the University of Kansas
(USPS 650-640)
Ex-coordinator has not paid KU for all stolen funds
By MICHAEL HORAK
Staff writer
Steve McMurry, the former coordinator of KU on Wheels who embebled more than $257,000 from the campus bus system between 1978 and 1982, has not made a restitution payment in five months, KU records show.
nose same records show that McMurry has paid the University of Kansas only $1,460 since he was released from prison three and a half years ago. That amount is only about one-fourth of what he and his parole officer agreed he could afford to pay.
McMurry, who now lives in a Denver suburb, could not be reached for comment.
A stipulation in his 1984 parole agreement states that McMurray would repay the University $257,051.17, which would be divided in monthly payments depending on his income.
In September 1982, McMurry was arrested and charged with five counts of felony theft of property. He was convicted in Douglas County District Court in June 1983 and was sentenced to one concurrent and four consecutive two- to five-year prison terms. He was released on parole after spending 17 months in Kansas state prison.
in Mansfield State University. McMurray sent his last restitution payment to the University in April. His restitution payments in the past have been sporadic.
payment in the past. He will receive
but officials with the Kansas Department of
Corrections in Topeka said they had no intention of revoking McMurry's parole for not paying restitution.
in putting it off.
"As long as we feel he is meeting other obligations of his parole agreement and he is making an attempt to repay his restitution, we don't feel it is in the public's best interest to reincarcerate him," said Larry Cowger, special assistant to the secretary of corrections.
Cowger acknowledged that McMurry was not abiding by the restitution stipulation in his parole agreement.
Cowder said his department would be more concerned about the case if McMurry were jeopardizing public safety, but he said that was not the case.
was not the case. Because McMurry is living near Denver, the Colorado Department of Corrections is supervising his parole. However, Kansas parole officials still have jurisdiction over his case.
The Kansas Department of Corrections' position on McMurry's restitution payments has left McMurry's current Colorado parole officer puzzled and has frustrated at least one University official.
Mary Prewitt, KU's assistant general counsel, said, "One of the most disappointing things that has happened is that he was
See McMURRY, p. 6, col. 1
'Nice Girls' flick fizzles
Staff writer
By BEN JOHNSTON
The movie "Nice Girls Don't Explode" had a gala premiere April 1 in downtown Lawrence, but since then the cheers for it have stopped.
Julie McArthur, assistant to the vice president of distribution for New World Pictures, the Los Angeles company that produced the movie, said ticket sales totaled only $65,369. The movie, which was made in Lawrence, cost around $1 million. It was produced by Doug Curtis, a KU graduate.
Dong Curtis, a UCLA graduate,
Elden Harwood, district manager for Commonwealth Theatres, said the movie showed in Lawrence for only eight days.
To put it crudely, it bombed. The film just absolutely did not make money. The first night we let a lot of people in for free and donated the use of the theater. But that was the only time people showed up.'
- Elden Harwood
District manager
for Commonwealth Theatres
“To put it crudely, it bombed,” Harwood said. “The film just absolutely did not make money. The first night we let a lot of people in for free and donated the use of the theater. But that was the only time people showed up. It, though it, was a nice little picture. I
don't know what was wrong with it.
The movie, which premiered at the Grana
da Theatre, 1020 Massachusetts St. appeared in Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Mo., Charlotte, N.C., Minneapolis, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City between April 3 and June 11. McArthur said.
"In Charlotte and Los Angeles the movie only played for a day or two," McArthur said. "The only two places it ran for longer than a week were Kansas City and Minneapolis." The movie appeared for 20 days in Kansas City, Mo., and for 15 days in Minneapolis, she said.
those cities also served as distribution points for the movies' appearance in smaller cities, she said.
the tilt appeared in countless smaller towns throughout the country," McArthur said. "Lawrence and Kansas City were not the only places in the Kansas area where the movie appeared. In fact, the movie could have been seen in many parts of Kansas."
have been criticized.
Dan Truly, creative executive for New World Pictures, said, "The film had a very limited audience and a very bad reaction. Whatever the film did, it didn't do it very well."
"There are two types of films: those that are distributed nationally and those that are distributed regionally. This film is being distributed nationally, yet it cost about the same as most regionally distributed films," he said.
But Chuck Martinez, director of the movie, said he was still optimistic that it could make money, partly because videocassettes would be distributed nationally beginning in October.
"It it's too early to judge if it is going to make money," Martinez said. "The film was made very cheaply. It only cost about $1 million to make.
Martinez said the film would open Sept. 11 in New York City and Chicago.
Tie-dye is making a comeback at the University of Kansas. Dave Roberts, Boston senior, sported a tie-dye shirt while enjoying a beer earlier this week at the Rock Chalk Bar, 618 W. 12th St.
Students rediscovering fashion value of tie-dye
By KIRK ADAMS
Staff writer
By the looks of the T-shirts students are wearing at the University of Kansas these days, one might think the campus is stuck in a '60s time-warp.
Either that, or the band The Grateful Dead must be in town. But then again, even the sorority girls are wearing tie-dies. Maybe something psychedelic is in the Lawrence water, because the bright yellows, purples, greens and blues on those tie-dye shirts scream like a Woodstock flashback.
Multi-colored tie-dyes are flowing through the KU campus, Brad Wolgast, Topeka freshman, that in Topeka he had sold from 100 to 150 tie-dyes he made this summer to help him pay for school.
"These are the '60s kind," he said, pointing to a purplish tie-dye he wore. Wolgast said the '60s tie-dyes were simpler than the modern ones. The old tie-dies have more basic colors than the new ones and have circular designs, he said.
"the new kind just doesn't grab me I don't like them as much," he said. "The
new kind is like a seashell design — really intricate."
He said he liked tie-dies because they made him feel casual. "I don't consider myself a Deadhead, but I really identify with hippies, the music, the whole deal."
"There aren't many of the '60s kind around anymore." Wolgast said.
Deadheads are loyal fans of The Grateful Dead, whose popularity has remained steady since the heyday of tidewater music. Their variety of teeshirts are scarce.
Meiella Carolan, Kansas City, Kan,
junior, was wearing a tie-dye on campus
yesterday. She said she had friends who
sold the T-shirts at Grateful Dead shows.
"I listen to The Dead a lot," she said.
She likes her shirt because it is comfortable, she said, and because it is so colorful.
CONTROL
Mike Parmley, Wichita sophomore, said, "It used to be where you could go up to anyone with a tie-dye shirt and you would know they were a Deadhead, but now it's, like, fashionable."
See TIE-DYE, p. 6, col. 3
Protests keep elm by new library
by MARK TILFORD
Staff writer
When the University of Kansas' new $13.9 million science library opens, knowledge will not be the only thing in full bloom.
"We're taking all the precautions we can not to harm the tree," said James Modig, campus director for facilities planning.
Thanks to protests and a petition by students, the new library, expected to be operating by the fall of 1989, will have a 50-foot American elm as its neighbor.
The four-story science library will be on the slope between Hoch Auditorium and the Military Science building. The outside will be finished in three floors with matching buildings on campus.
Judith A. Ramaley, executive vice chancellor, will preside over the ground-breaking ceremonies.
Speakers will include Chancellor Gene A. Budig; Jim Ran, dean of libraries, and Charles D. Michener, Watkins distinguished professor of entomology.
in the fall of 1984, though, different kinds of gatherings were taking place near the oak tree. KU students met there to protest the planned site, saying it could have meant the destruction of the tree and the surrounding area
In September and October 1984, more than 3,000 students signed a petition to keep the tree and save green space. The petition was later passed by Student Senate.
A University committee including students, faculty and administrators later recommended the present plan, which will allow the tree to stay.
"I think it's a positive step," she said yesterday. "I hope it's more than just a token step, though. I hope the University will really concentrate on saving campus greenery."
know the tree to stay.
Martie Aaron, now director of the Associated Students of Kansas, was involved in the petition drive to save the tree.
Once the library is completed, it will bring together about half a million volumes of science and technology library materials on campus and other holdings such as maps, journals and microforms. Most of these are now housed in small departmental libraries.
"It's very difficult to operate a library at the capacity it is even now," said Kathleen Neeley, head of the science library on the sixth floor of Malot Hall.
"I imagine we'll be barely breathing at the time the new library opens," she said.
14. 1) Andersen Construction Co. of Topeka will begin construction soon. Andersen submitted a bid of $9.58 million for the first part of the construction.
Money for the library was provided through the state educational building fund and was approved by the Kansas Legislature.
Modig said parts of some campus parking lots would be closed at certain times during the construction to provide access roads for construction vehicles.
Those parking lots will include thes behind Stauffer-Flint Hall and the Military Science building. The parking lot behind Wescoe Hall will be closed throughout construction, he said.
saf.
Parking on the access road west of Hoch Auditorium will be permanently eliminated by the new building, he said.
Liberal arts dean will resign next summer
By VALOREE ARMSTRONG Staff writer
Staff writer
After almost seven years of the ups and downs of running the University of Kansas' largest academic school, Robert Lineberry, dean of liberal arts and sciences, announced Tuesday that he would resign next summer.
Lineberry, who has been at the University since 1981, announced his decision at Tuesday's College Assembly meeting in Alderson Auditorium. He will stay at the University as a professor of political science.
"I'll have been here seven years."
Lineberry said yesterday. "I've done all the good — and the damage — I could do."
"You do a job like this year in an year out and the problems become repetitive," Lineberry said, speaking of increasing enrollments and budget cuts. "Seven years is a long time."
But Lineberry, who will continue to teach Political Science 110, which he taught while he was dean, also said he wanted to spend more time with students, at the University or else-where. He is 45.
American government," he said. "I've always enjoyed it. And I'd like a chance to do that without just grabbing my lecture notes two minutes before class."
You do a job like this year in and year out and the problems become repetitive. Seven years is a long time.'
Robert Lineberry dean of liberal arts and sciences
Lineberry said he'd his marks at the University, including hiring one-fifth of the college's current faculty, revising curriculum requirements and rebuilding the undergraduate Honors Program.
Charles Himmelberg, chairman of the department of mathematics, said, "He's done a fine job. What's impressed me is that he's absolutely insistent on high standards for hiring new faculty.
"It's a very stressful job. He saw us through a very difficult time
budgetarily."
Del Brinkman, vice candlecor for academic affairs, said in a written statement. "He has held the deanship in a period of unparalleled enrollment growth and severe budget constraints. He has managed well in a time of difficult circumstances. We wish him well as he prepares for his next academic assignment."
Michael Johnson, chairman of the department of English, said that although people might forget the range of problems the department had faced the last several years, they would remember how well Lineberry had dealt with those problems.
Kathy McCluskey-Fawcett, chairman of the department of psychology, said Lineberry had appointed her a year ago and had been supportive of her and her department.
"I told him I'm sorry to see him go," she said. "He walked into a difficult situation. The fact that the college is still strong speaks to his abilities."
Brinkman said a national search for Lineberry's successor would begin immediately. Administrators hope to fill the position by the start of the 1988-89 school year.
Lineberry, who was born in Oklahoma City, is married and has two children.
Robert L. Lineberry Education:
B. A., University of Oklahoma, 1964
Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1969 Administrative Duties:
Administrative Duties:
University of Kansas, Dean,
College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences, 1981-present.
Academic Positions:
University of Kansas, Prof.
of Political Science, 1981-
present.
Northwestern University,
Assoc. Prof, 1974-1976 and
Prof, 1976-1981 of Political
Science and Urban Affairs.
University of Texas at Austin,
Assist Prof, 1967-1971 and
Assoc. Prof of Government,
'871-1974.
Academic Visitor, University of Kent at Canterbury, 1979.
Richard Stewart/KANSAN