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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLUME 120 ISSUE 11
CAMPUS
Participants benefit from peer tutoring program
One of the University's most successful academic programs may also be one of its best-kept secrets. For more than 30 years, the Student Educational Services program has been helping some students beat all expectations.
FULL STORY PAGE 4A
TRANSPORTATION
Students on overcrowded Connector feel 'unsafe'
Riders on the K-10 Connector, the shuttle bus from Overland Park to Lawrence, said they didn't feel safe because of the crowded conditions. Some riders are forced to stand while each bus's capacity of 83 people per bus is pushed to the limit.
FULL STORY PAGE 8A
TRANSPORTATION
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
More than 12,000 people are using KU on Wheels and Park & Ride each day, nearly double the number of daily riders from last year. Some students have experienced late buses or have ridden crowded buses because of the increase in riders.
Free buses generate new set of problems
FULL STORY PAGE 8A
Ryan McGeenev/KANSAN
CAMPUS
Queers and Allies adds activist role
Queens and Allies has created an activism coordinator and chair for the Lawrence and KU communities. The move signals the group's shift to a more hands-on role on campus and in the city.
FULL STORY PAGE 3A
Defining 'abortion'
Maureen Ball, a volunteer with the organization Justice For All, listens to the arguments of Tyler Danaver, Wichita sophomore, and Stephanie Ball, Overland Park junior, Wednesday afternoon. The group, based in Wichita, erected signs depicting fetuses in various stages of development, as well as aborted fetuses, in front of Strong Hall. Representatives said they would stay on campus until 3:30 p.m. today.
Exhibit by anti-abortion group Justice For All displays graphic images, spurs discussion
BY JESSE TRIMBLE
jtrimble@kansan.com
Signs posted around Strong Hall lawn on Wednesday morning warned oncoming students and faculty members that graphic images were ahead. From at least 12 feet away the images could be viewed from any area around Strong Hall. Students stopped and stared.
The display, stretching about two stories high, displayed dozens of images of aborted fetuses. Graphic, educational and, as some students said, "unnecessary," the display was scheduled to be on the lawn until
Cook said that if any student had a suggestion for a way to attract students' attention differently, Justice For All would be open to hear it.
Green, who identifies as anti-abortion, said that she didn't think the images were necessary and that people who wanted to learn about abortion could look it up on their own.
"We regret to use such graphic photos," Cook said. "But injustice is very rarely visually appealing."
The display, Cook said, took about two hours to set up. She said Students For Life, a group of pro-life college students, invited Justice For All to the University. The organization has been traveling to various college campuses across the United States for 10 years.
3:30 p.m. Wednesday and from 8:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. today.
watching the display from across the street from Strong Hall under the roof because of the rain and cold.
@KANSAN.COM
"Our goal is to help people fully understand what the word 'abortion' really means," Cook said. "The word has lost its meaning in this country, and we want to put a face with a choice."
"I think the written word is a very powerful tool to be utilized," Green said.
Justice For All, based out of Wichita, organized the display. Tammy Cook, director of field operations for the organization, said the purpose of the display was to educate college students.
View a slide show of the protest at www.kansan.com/videos
Amy Green, Eudora sophomore, sat
She added that she was glad the group presented both sides of the abortion issue and that it wasn't taking a religious standpoint.
"The quickest way to
shut someone out is to proclaim their religion." Green said.
Kelly Gaynor, Chicago junior, said she thought the display was excessive.
"I think it's one thing to protest in a circle, but to put graphics up for everyone to see is definitely offensive." Gavnor said.
Gaynor, who supports abortion rights, also said the information provided by the group was interesting but that it was nothing she didn't learn in biology class.
Mike Botvinik, Chicago junior, spent part of his afternoon at Wescoe Beach expressing his disgust.
"We think education is a necessary component to eventually change the public policy." Cook said.
"I think that people shouldn't shove their beliefs in other people's faces," Botvinik said.
Chance Dibben/KANSAN
Cook said the group didn't come to campus for political reasons, but for educational reasons only.
Botvinik supports abortion rights.
Jim Shankman, Riffin, Wis., junior, observes a large anti-abortion display outside his Wesoeo classroom Wednesday afternoon. The demonstrator's graphic three-faced billboard could be seen from many malls on Jayhawk Boulevard. Shankman said the demonstration was "almost someone screaming from a bullhorn in my face."
Justice For All has sued three universities in the past — the University of Houston, University of Texas and the
University of Colorado-Boulder — for content discrimination. These universities, Cook said, did not allow Justice For All to set up its display in noticeable places or
index
include their Web site's address on posters and brochures. Justice For All won all of the cases.
Edited by Becka Cremer
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