2A
The Inside Front
Tuesday November 25,1997
News
from campus, the state, the nation and the world
CAMPUS/AREA
An explosion at the KPL power plant northeast of Lawrence sent three workers to the hospital yesterday.
Chancellor Hemenway will switch on the Christmas lights at Outlook, his official residence, during a ceremony Dec. 4.
NATIONAL
WASHINGTON: The Food and Drug Administration approved the first new obesity drug since a ban of two popular diet remedies left overweight Americans clamoring for help — but the new medicine poses a serious risk too.
CAPE CANVERAL, Fla. Space shuttle Colum
bia closed in on an out-of-control satellite
yesterday for an attempt by two spacewalking
astronauts to lean over and grab the
tumbling craft with their gloved hands.
INTERNATIONAL
VANCOUVER, British Columbia: Anxious to halt a burgeoning crisis, President Clinton and Pacific leaders crafted a blueprint yesterday designed to calm turmoil that has rattled world markets and humbled once mighty Asian economies. The plan would implement a $68 billion rescue effort, the largest financial bailout in history.
TOKYO: Japan gave its clearest warning yet yesterday that ailing financial companies would be allowed to go under and that the government would not embark on any corporate rescue missions.
MOSCOW: Once instruments of doomsday during the Cold War, scores of mothballed nuclear submarines are rusting away in Russian harbors, threatening to unleash radioactive waste that could bring environmental ruin.
CAMPUS/AREA
Power plant explosion sends three to hospital
An explosion ripped through the Kansas Power and Light/Western Resources plant north of Lawrence in Douglas County yesterday afternoon, sending three employees to the hospital.
"They were taken out of here very seriously injured," said Steve Johnson, operations manager for Lawrence.
The explosion happened at 4:43 p.m., Douglas County sheriff's office representatives said.
the sheriff's office, Douglas County rural fire department and Kansas Power and Light are continuing to investigate the cause of the explosion. As of last night a cause had not been determined.
Johnson said nothing like yesterday's explosion had ever happened at the plant before. The plant provides power for Lawrence and the surrounding area.
Johnson said that no power outages resulted from the explosion and that he did not foresee any power problems for the Lawrence area.
Ron Guy, 57, of Lawrence and Charles Price, 35, of North Kansas City, Mo, were flown by helicopter to the University of Kansas Medical Center. Both were in serious condition with third degree burns on $90\%$ of their bodies. The other employee was not named, but died at the scene.
Chancellor ignites season with community tree
Chancellor Robert Hemenway will host a community tree-lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 4.
Hemenway will ceremonially turn on lights decorating an evergreen tree and Outlook, the official residence of the chancellor and his family.
"In the spirit of the holidays, I hope members of the campus and Lawrence community will join together at this event," Hemenway said. "This is a wonderful time of year. I hope that this celebration gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate the sense of community we enjoy in Lawrence and at the University."
University of Kansas students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the Lawrence community are invited to attend.
The event will include refreshments and group carols.
Kansan staff reports
NATIONAL
Medication for obesity garners FDA's approval
WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration approved the first new obesity drug since a ban of two popular diet remedies left overweight Americans clamoring for help — but the new medicine poses a serious risk too.
Knoll Pharmaceutical's Meridia is moderately effective at helping patients shed pounds. In studies, people lost about 7 to
11 more pounds than ordinary dieters, the FDA said yesterday.
But the FDA said Meridia does not appear to pose the risk of heart valve damage that forced September's ban of the nation's most popular diet drugs, Redux and fenfuramine, the "fen" in Phen-Fen.
But Meridia can cause increases in blood pressure and pulse rate that may endanger certain patients, the FDA warned.
The agency approved Meridia Saturday night despite the objections of its own scientific advisers, who called the drug too risky.
Because of Meridia's side effects, no one with poorly controlled hypertension, heart disease or irregular heartbeat or who has survived a stroke should use the drug, the FDA cautioned. And it is only for the seriously obese, as measured by a body mass index — the relationship of weight to height — of 30 or greater, such as someone who is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds.
But Knoll cannot sell Meridia for a few more months. The Drug Enforcement Administration is determining how strictly to control prescriptions, after the FDA determined Meridia could pose a small risk of addiction and recommended limiting refills unless patients first returned to a doctor.
Space shuttle astronauts seek to reclaim satellite
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Columbia closed in on an out-of-control satellite yesterday for an attempt by two spacewalking astronauts to lean over and grab the tumbling craft with their gloved hands.
NASA astronaut Winston Scott and Japanese astronaut Takao Doi were scheduled to spacewalk yesterday evening.
For the six crew members, there was more at stake than the $10 million reusable Spartan science satellite. It was a matter of pride—they accidentally sent the satellite into a slow spin moments after releasing it on Friday and wanted nothing more than to set things right.
NASA said that the main concern was a collision between the satellite and either the shuttle or a spacewalker but that the risk was extremely low.
"We'll go capture this baby, I'm sure of it," commander Kevin Kregel promised Mission Control late Sunday.
The satellite had been released from the shuttle to spend two days studying the sun. But for reasons that are still unclear, it malfunctioned within moments. And when Columbia's crew tried to retrieve it with the shuttle's crane, it started tumbling too quickly to be grabbed safely, and the shuttle backed away.
Columbia was expected to reach the Spartan satellite 1 1-2 hours into the spacewalk. By then, Scott and Doi were to be positioned on opposite ends of a platform spanning the cargo bay, their feet secured in restraints and their bodies leaning all the way back to avoid being struck by the 3,000-pound satellite.
It was Kregel's job to steer Columbia up to Spartan, with both spacecraft traveling at 17,500 mph, and position the shuttle in such a way that the satellite would be between the spacewalkers.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Anxious to halt a burgeoning crisis, President Clinton and Pacific leaders crafted a blueprint yesterday designed to calm turmoil that has rattled world markets and humbled Asian economies. The plan would implement a $68 billion rescue effort, the largest financial bailout in history.
INTERNATIONAL
Asian economic bailout has $68 billion price tag
There were fears the economic troubles could spread. "We need to take this very seriously," Clinton said, "and we have to work very hard. He cautioned that Asia's troubles could affect U.S. interests and the American stock market."
As the 18-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum assembled, ministers circulated a draft communique that would commit the leaders to the huge stabilization program spearheaded by the International Monetary Fund. Clinton said the leaders were examining the rescue plan to see if it would work.
The presidents and prime ministers wrestled with the impact of plunging currency values, stock market declines and bank failures across Asia that raised fears of a global economic slowdown. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who as summit host met with nearly all the APEC leaders, said he had asked each colleague if his country faced a recession
"All my friends ... they don't see a serious recession," Chretien said. "There will be less growth."
The international rescue effort will be led by the International Monetary Fund, backed up by supplemental resources from wealthy countries such as the United States and Japan.
Japanese financial giant gets no help from nation
TOKYO — Japan gave its clearest warning yet yesterday that ailing financial companies would be allowed to go under and that the government would not embark on any corporate rescue missions.
Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka said the stability of Japan's financial institutions depended on having companies like Yamaichi Securities Co. resolve their own problems.
Yamaichi Securities — one of Japan's four largest securities firms — closed its doors yesterday, unable to cope with its $24 billion debt. In doing so, it became the third Japanese financial company to collapse in a month.
Rather than save Yamaichi and avoid job losses, the government said financial institutions were largely on their own. The result may be a more competitive economy.
"Supporting long-term invalids is really not feasible. (Japanese officials) are beginning to face up to that," said Arthur Alexander, president of the Japan Economic Institute in Washington, D.C.
Confirmation of Yamaichi's failure, which was reported Friday by Japanese news services, pushed stock prices lower around the world. While Japanese markets were closed for a holiday, London's
main index fell 1.7 percent yesterday and foreign-traded shares of many Japanese companies were lower.
Russian subs sandwiched between budget, danger
MOSCOW — Once instruments of doomsday during the Cold War, scores of mothballed nuclear submarines are rusting away in Russian harbors, threatening to unleash radioactive waste that could bring environmental ruin.
Russia has called in its former foe, NATO, to help assess the problem.
Russia's cash-strapped government can afford to dismantle only five or six of the vessels a year. So far, just 16 of the 156 retired nuclear submarines have been fully disassembled. Another 100 subs are slated to go out of service by 2000.
"When we were building up our nuclear potential, no one thought about the need to dispose of the waste day." Ashto Sarkisov, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said yesterday. "It's a lesson for the future — before building something nuclear, we must first think what to do with it later."
Decommissioning nuclear submarines is a complex problem also faced by the United States and other nations. Russia, however, has the largest number of subs and is also plagued by severe fund shortages.
Dismantling Russia's submarine fleet is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Sarkisov said the government was providing only 10 percent of what was needed but did not give any concrete figures.
Until 1990, the Soviet Navy routinely dumped radioactive waste in Arctic waters, and the Russian Navy continued the practice in the Far East until Japan agreed to assist in a waste disposal project.
The Associated Press
ON THE RECORD
A KU student's Sony CD player, earphones and "Ave Maria" CD were stolen between 11:55 a.m. and 12:02 p.m. Sunday from the fourth-floor lobby of McColum Hall, KU police said. The items were valued at $234.
A KU student's black leather Coach purse and contents were stolen between noon Wednesday and 11 a.m. Friday from room 419 in Lindley Hall, KU police said. The items were valued at $205.
A KU student's NEC cellular phone was stolen between 7 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday from Robinson Gym, KU police said. The phone was valued at $150.
A KU student's 1984 blue Chevy was damaged between 8:20 and 8:40 p.m. Thursday in lot 104 in front of Ellsworth Hall, KU police raid. The damage was estimated at $50.
■ A KU student's left front window was damaged and the student's handbag was stolen between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 1:45 p.m. Wednesday from the 1000 block of Indiana Street, KU police said. The damage and item were valued at $183.
A KU student's driver's side door and mirror were damaged between 1 p.m. Nov. 17 and 12:50 p.m. Nov. 19 in the lot north of Oliver Hall, KU police said. The damage was estimated at $250.
ET CETERA
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
The University Daily Kansan (USPS 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and finals periods, and Wednesday during the summer session Periodical postage is paid in Lawrence, Kan. 66044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $120. Student subscriptions of $2.33 are paid through the student activity fee.
Postmaster: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045.
The On Campus section is now located in the University Daily Kansan's Classified section.
Listings for the On Campus section can be purchased at the University Daily Kansan business office, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, during regular business hours, Monday-Friday.
Listings are billed on a per-line-per-day basis. Prices are at cost for legitimate University of Kansas organizations.
Listings must be placed by 4 p.m. two days before the listing is to begin in the section. The University Daily Kansan is not responsible for ads that do not run due to missed deadlines.
For a complete look at the day's news and top stories from around the nation and the world visit the University Daily Kansan interactive.
Nation Word stories
http://www.kansan.com/news/nation/
Top Stories
http://www.kansan.com
More stories in the UDKi
BUY 841- PLAY SELL 1029 MASS TRADE PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS
KU BUSES:
- No evening route on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
- Buses will resume regular schedule on Monday, Dec. 1.
SAFE RIDE:
- Regular schedule will resume on the evening of Sunday, Nov. 30.
STUDENT
SENATE
- Will not run on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 25.
We are looking for individuals with:
Customer Service
Dakotah Reservations Services, Inc. is seeking qualified candidates to answer inbound phone calls in our Lawrence and Mission offices. We provide answering services for some of today's biggest, most exciting companies.
- Strong Communications Skills
- High Energy Level
- Accurate Keyboard Typing Skills
We offer:
we sell
• $7.00 plus bonus
- $7.00 plus bonu
- Paid Training
- Professional Casual Dress Environment
- A variety of Flexible Work Schedules (fits well with school schedules)
To find out how to join our teams, please apply in person between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at:
1601 West 32rd Street
Suite 206
Lawrence, Kansas
Or Call: (785) 313-4900
1