wednesday, October 22, 2003
news
the university daily kansan
7A
Commission approves Living Wage Ordinance
By Amanda Kim Stairrett
astairrett@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
After three years and seven weeks of work, David Smith of the Kaw Valley Living Wage Alliance is "very pleased."
Last night, the Lawrence City Commission finally voted and approved a Living Wage Ordinance. Commission meetings have been lengthy as city officials, opponents and supporters of living wage debated the issue.
After an unusually short public comment on the ordinance, Mayor David Dunfield remarked, "This is a change."
As the Commission cleaned up the language of the official ordinance, Dunfield also offered comments.
"I want very badly to vote for a living wage ordinance." Dunfield
In other meeting news, Dunfield reminded Lawrence citizens to collect aluminum cans for a competition against Manhattan. The mayor announced three drop-off sites at Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, 419 E. Ninth St., Immanuel Lutheran an Church, 2104 W. 15th St. and a designated site at 1007 Massachusetts St.
said. "I want very badly for it to be unanimous."
Shortly after, the ordinance was passed by a vote of five to zero and the audience broke out in applause. Supporters of living wage congratulated each other as they gathered in the lobby outside the meeting room.
■ Mike Wildgen, city manager, announced that T sticker sales for the transit system for August reached more 200.
Friday, Oct. 31 was proclaimed as "Halloween Beggars Night." Roger Steinbruck, marketing supervisor for Lawrence Parks and Recreation accepted the proclamation. He reminded Lawrence citizens to keep their lights on between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Halloween nightfortrickor-treaters. He also announced "Spook and Splash" at the Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive. The event will last from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct.25.
James McSwain of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical was recently announced as the 2003 Kansas Fire Chief of the Year. The honor was presented to him on Oct. 18 by the Kansas Fire Chief Association and the Lawrence City Commission recognized him yesterday.
841-PLAY 1029 Massachusetts
Edited by Dave Nobles
Nation Brain-damaged woman to get back feeding tube
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Invoking a law rushed through the Legislature only an hour earlier, Gov. Jeb Bush ordered a feeding tube reinserted yesterday into a brain-damaged woman at the center of one of the nation's most bitter right-to-die battles.
The bill was designed to save the life of Terri Schiavo, whose parents have fought for several years to keep her alive. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, says she would rather die.
The woman was taken yesterday from the hospice where she had gone without food or water for six days.
Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed by court order last Wednesday, and doctors said she would die within a week to 10 days without food and water.
The Senate voted 23-15, and the House passed the final version only minutes later. Bush signed it into law just more than an hour later.
We Buy, Sell & Trade USED & NEW Sports Equipment
The Associated Press
By Amanda Kim Stairrett
astairrett@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Local gaming store rolls the dice on popularity of role playing games
Whenever residents of Stephenson Scholarship Hall play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, someone calls them nerds.
Brian McDow, a 2003 University of Kansas graduate, opened Jester's Attic, 2223 Louisiana St., at the beginning of October. Jester's Attic sells board and role playing games such as Cranium and Dungeons & Dragons. The store also provides people who play
"It's a guy thing," said John Benjamin, Lawrence freshman. "It's how we entertain ourselves."
"I know a lot of normal people that play," he said.
McDow said he heard of the nerd stereotype but disagreed with it.
McDow said he saw a void in the Lawrence gaming market. Employees from Mass Street Comics, 938 Massachusetts St., Sacred Sword, 732 Massachusetts St., and Fun and Games, 816 Massachusetts St., said they did not sell role-playing games.
McDow said there was a large market for games in the area, but people tended to play at their homes. By providing a centralized location, he wants them to
mobilize. He said Lawrence gamers often traveled to Topeka and the Kansas City area to interact with other gamers.
But Benjamin said he didn't think there was a large group of gamers in Lawrence.
"It's not something that appeals to a lot of people," he said.
John Higgins, LaPorte, Ind., sophomore, said there were about four or five Stephenson gamers that met once a week to play.
Higgins, Benjamin and McDow said they started playing these games when they were in junior high or high school.
The ages of players range from high school age to 35-year-olds. McDow said.
PLAY IT AGAIN
SPORTS
The newest fad in role-playing games is pirates, Benjamin said. He said that pirates had a cult following, including Stephenson gamers.
"There's no limit to the person alities you can make," he said. "And that what makes it fun."
Benjamin said role-playing games appealed to him because they allowed him to use his imagination.
Jester's Attic hosts role playing games on Thursday and Friday nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday.
Edited by Ehren Meditz
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