Friday inside Event filled weekend The University of Kansas will combine Open House and Parents Day for the first time ever creating plenty of options for students and families this weekend. PAGE 3A Ribbon cutting St. Lawrence Catholic Center officially opened a 174 spot parking garage yesterday. The garage will have an economic impact on the City of Lawrence. PAGE 5A Conservative soccer A former soccer star has learned to deal with an injury that ended his career and turned his focus to the Republican Party. PAGE6A No room for error The 'Hawks take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks tomorrow for the final non-conference game of the season. Mangino said the team must be prepared and not overlook the opponent. PAGE1B California Dreamin' The women's soccer team travels to California to take on San Diego and Loyola Marymount this weekend. PAGE1B Weather Friday 6941 a little warmer Two-day forecast tomorrow sunday 7644 7152 more normal t-storms Matt Laubhan, KUJH-TV Talk to us Tell us your news. Contact Michelle Burhenn, Lindsay Hanson or Leah Shaffer at 864-4310 or editor@kansan.com index Briefs Opinion Sports Sports briefs Horoscopes Comics Vol.114 Issue No.22 2A 4A 1B 2B 6B 5B KANSAN Friday, September 19,2003 The Student Newspaper of the University of Kansas By Ryan Greene rgreee@kansan.com Kansan staff writer Event recalls landmark case A national series of public programs commemorating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education began last night at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics. The aftermath of the Brown v. Board of Education has been felt throughout formal education continuously over the last five decades. The two-hour program, Race, Law and the American Creed: Examining the Social and Legal Impact of Brown v. Board of Education, featured nationally renowned speakers. They examined not only what the historic Supreme Court decision has done to break down racial barriers in American school systems, but also what still can be done. The symposium was introduced by Richard Norton Smith, director of the Dole Institute; former Sen. Bob Dole on a pre-recorded video statement; and Cheryl Brown Henderson, the daughter of Oliver Brown. Oliver Brown tried to enroll his thirdgrade daughter, Linda Brown, in an allwhite elementary school that was closer to their home. The NAACP first took the case to trial in 1951, and the case went to the Supreme Court in 1953. Smith said it was fitting that the program began near the origination of the Brown v. Board case in Topeka. "Oliver Brown may not have began the suit against 'separate but equal','but he personified it," Smith said. Franklin Kansas, holds a special place in that journey." John Nowak/Kansas The keynote speakers included V.P. Franklin, David R. Roediger, and Roger Wilkins. was the first to speak and addressed the program's three main goals. The first was how race leads to understanding the significance of Brown v. Board then and now. Second, the program examined the role formal education has played in struggles for equality among ethnic groups. Finally, it discussed how the issues of race, equality before the law and equal opportunity are reflected in the Brown v. Board decision. Franklin, a member of the Teachers College faculty at Columbia University. David R. Roediger is the Director of the Center on Democracy in a Multicultural Society at the University of Illinois and is also a professor of history there. Corporate coffee clash SEE BROWN ON PAGE 7A "Put the odd back into God!" screamed the Reverand Billy as he led a group of supporters outside Starbucks, 647 Massachusetts St. The Reverand, also known as Billy Talen, is a performance artist from New York City who does the preacher persona to spread the word about anti-globalization and political change. He has brought his "Church of Stop Shopping" to Murphy Hall for performances tonight and tomorrow. SEE STORY, PAGE 7A Institute director top choice for Lincoln Library position By Danielle Hillix and Maggie Newcomer dhillix@kansan.com and mnewcomer@kansan.com Kansan staff writers Sources inside the Illinois governor's office confirmed yesterday that Richard Norton Smith, high-profile director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, is the leading candidate to head the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill. "Smith is at the very top of our list," said Abby Ottenhoff, press secretary for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Ottenhoff said that the governor's office had been in constant contact with Smith, but no job offer had been made. "Talks are moving along and we're very ontimistic," Ottenhoff said. Smith could not be reached for comment. Erik Nelson, Smith's assistant at the Institute, confirmed that no deal had yet been made, but said that Smith was in line for the job. Smith's reputation makes him a prime candidate for the job, Ottenhoff said. "Clearly he's the only one they want," Nelson said. Smith has previously directed the Eisenhower, Reagan, Ford and Hoover presidential libraries. He also appears regularly on television news programs SEE DOLE ON PAGE 7A Genetics may cause binge drinking By Danielle Hillix dhillix@kansan.com kansan staff writer Researchers said the link could possibly lead to future medications for those with a drinking problem. Blame your parents for that hangover you had last weekend — binge drinking could be in your genes. In a study released this month, college students with a particular version of a common gene tended to have more harmful drinking habits than students with a different version. For the study, researchers surveyed 204 male and female Caucasian college students, all between the ages of 17 and 23. The participants answered questions about their drinking habits and provided saliva samples. "Obviously it's going to take a lot more work," said Paolo D. DePetrillo, National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse clinical investigator and co-author of the study. sarva samples Researchers used the saliva to look for the serotonin transporter gene known as 5HTT. The gene is responsible for recycling serotonin in the brain. DePetrillo said that this gene was targeted because of its known connection to anxiety. Everyone is born with either short or long versions of this gene. This leaves the possibility of three combinations: two long strands, two short strands or one long and one short strand. This isn't to suggest that 5HTT is the only gene involved with the binge drinking habit, DePetrillo said. But the research does prove a strong relationship that could lead to a possible cure for serotonin imbalance. Researchers with the NIAAA found that binge drinking was more prevalent in students who had two short strands of the gene. These students reported binge drinking twice as often as students with different forms, DePetrillo said. town inhospitable. "It wouldn't be a magic bullet," DePetrello said. "But perhaps this could lead to a remedy of the problem." lead to a recommendation. Binge drinking, defined as five drinks in a sitting for men and four drinks for women, is a common problem on college campuses. Barbara Ballard, head of the University of Kansas' alcohol task force, said that the University of Kansas was no exception. "We know our students have a problem," Ballard said. "But we're providing education and alternatives for them." All KU residence halls have alcohol education programs in place and Watkins Memorial Health Center also offers educational programs to various campus groups. The alcohol task force began Hawk Nights in 1998 as an alcohol-free alternative to Lawrence nightlife. "Drinking isn't the only kind of recreation that students have." Ballard said. Lisa Matchulat, Milwaukee sophomore, said that activities like Hawk Nights were good for students who didn't want to drink, but she doesn't think the programs discourage drinking. "If people want to go out and drink on the weekends, they're going to go out and drink," she said. Edited by Shane Mettlen