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Section A · Page 2
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, November 12, 1997
Feminist pioneer urges young women to unite
Struggles of the past should not be forgotten, Tobias says
By Rachelle Detweiler
rdetweiler@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
In 1968, Sheila Tobias sat typing in the back room with fingers calloused from transcribing Eugene McCarthy's campaign speeches.
For years, she had been politically active, and she remained committed to her views. But what she and other women noticed was that while they typed in the back rooms, the men sat out front making policy and budgeting the campaign's finances.
"I had a type of experience that so many people of my generation have experienced that it almost seems like it's from outer space." Tobias said.
Tobias spoke last night to about 50 people about her book "Faces of Feminism: An Activist's Reflections on the Women's Movement." She urged the younger generation to connect with the women's movement before past equality efforts are forgotten.
The Friends of Women's Studies sponsored the event at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union
When Tobias and other women of her generation realized that they confronted sexism from people with seemingly similar goals, she said some people left the political movement. They took their fervor to another movement: the women's movement
"Every 75 years we must start over from scratch because the story gets forgotten." Tobias said.
The problem remains that some members of the younger generation are not keeping the movement's momentum alive, she said.
Jen Dressel, Lawrence graduate student, said that a crisis would have to occur before the younger generation could unite and become completely committed to change.
Dressel said a major economic crash could help unite activists. She said that the economic comfort of our country allowed women virtually equal access to jobs. With an economic downturn, women would be the first to lose jobs.
Sheila Tobias speaks about her new book "Faces of Feminism." She discussed the women's movement Tuesday night at the Kansas Union. Tobias is a consultant to universities about math and science education, equity issues and women's studies. Photo by Dan Elvsky/KANSAN
The movement could gain momentum from a blow to our comfortable lives, Dressel said.
Barbara Hayford, Canon City, Co., graduate student agreed.
"It's not gonna happen until we have an actual fight to fight," she said "We're almost self-defeated because the issues are so complex. It's not something concrete. But the problems we can fight we can't find solutions to."
Commission approves BMX track at Edgewood
By Ann Premer
premer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
BMX riders soon will have a home in Edgewood Park. Last night, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to approve a BMX track in the park.
"I think this is a terrific location," said Commissioner John Nalbandian.
Supporters of the BMX track had proposed another location in September. Approval of that track, which was proposed to be built at the Lawrence Riverfront Park, failed because of a lack of safety services and restrooms at the park.
Paul Davis, BMX track supporter, said the new location offered all of the services that the
other location lacked. The approved location is adjacent to the East Lawrence Recreation Center. Bikers will be able to use the restrooms and phones and will be able to contact someone from the center in case of an emergency.
Rob Heidrick, BMX track supporter, said he preferred the Edgewood location.
"There was no opposition this time," Heidrick said. "That's almost unheard of."
The cost of the track was not addressed at the meeting, but Davis said it would be minimal. He said that volunteers would build the track and that hopefully someone would donate the dirt.
Mountain Bike Lawrence, an organization of Lawrence cyclists.
will maintain the track at no cost to the city.
Davis said he hoped to have the track finished by next spring.
In other city business, commissioners voted 3-2 to deny a request to allow concessions at the softball complex at Clinton Lake to sell 3.2-uroof beer.
"I'm really teetering on this issue," said Commissioner Bob Moody. "My inclination is not to do it. I have concerns of what it is going to do in terms of atmosphere."
Mayor Bonnie Augustine and Commissioner Marty Kennedy both voted in favor of the beer sales. They said the beer sales would not change the atmosphere at the softball games. People now are allowed to consume beer in the parking lots of the park.
Animal-rights group strikes out
Bv Sarah McWilliams
By Sarah McWilliams
smcwilliams@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Kansan staff writer
Sparkling colored lights outside Ellsworth Residence Hall spelled out the word "turkey," while inside, controversy raged about turkey bowling, an annual event in the hall.
Members of Proponents of Animal Liberation spoke against turkey bowling at Ellsworth government general assembly meeting of about 40 residents last night.
Turkey bowling is a tradition in the hall in which residents bowl frozen turkeys as a Thanksgiving activity. Residents used to donate the turkeys to Goodwill but ended the practice because of bruised meat.
Members of PAL said that
bowling with turkeys showed disrespect for animal life and that it objectified formerly living animals.
PAL asked Katie Beisner, Gladstone, Mo., freshman, and third-floor resident of the Ellsworth, to propose a ban on the bowling event, but it failed 26-5 in a vote by senators from each of the hall's 10 floors.
Beisner said she submitted the bill on behalf of PAL because she was concerned not only about the disrespect of life that it promoted but also about the health risks of rolling raw turkeys around the lobby of the hall.
Katie Donnelly, Lawrence junior and Ellsworth resident, said she was in charge of social programming at the hall last year and that the hall leaders made sure the turkeys were wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil and a pillowcase.
Bowling will go on at 8 p.m. on Nov. 18 as scheduled.
She also said that turkey bowling was one of the hall's most popular events last year.
PAL asked the general assembly to consider replacing turkey bowling with a different event.
"Start a new tradition at Ellsworth that shows that Ellsworth residents care," said Michael Schmitt, Harrisonburg, Va., graduate student.
In hopes of showing that they care, members of the executive board said they would adopt a live turkey through an organization endorsed by PAL. The turkey will remain on a farm in upstate New York.
On the record
A Goldstar camcorder was stolen between 5 p.m. Oct. 29 and 10:30 a.m. Oct. 31 from room 326 Murphy Hall, KU police said. The item was valued at $645.
KAW microstation fights for life with petition drive
■ An International Scholarship book was stolen at 7:45 p.m. Friday from Watson Library, KU police said. The item was valued at $75.
By Rachelle Datweiler
rdetweiler@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Volunteers at Lawrence's community-based microstation,KAW 88.9 FM, are holding their breath,waiting for the reply to a package they delivered Monday to the Federal Communication Commission.
For six months, the station has been operating without a license from the basement of Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St. In early October, the FCC began investigating complaints about the unauthorized broadcasts.
KAW volunteer Rich Wenzel delivered the package, which included a petition and about 100 letters, to the local FCC office in Kansas City, Mo. The petition and letters were a response to an Oct. 28 FCC warning
giving the station 10 days to submit a statement concerning its 10-watt broadcast operation.
The station has been notified that it is violating FCC rules, and last Tuesday a representative from the FCC came to the station. Volunteers at the station argue that their low-powered broadcast does not interfere with other signals and should be exempt from regulation.
The volunteers now must wait for the FCC to decide whether it will waive licensing regulations, ask for a hearing or issue a notice of apparent liability that would include a fine.
"It would be better for everyone's peace of mind if we came to some kind of resolution instead of just hearing a knock on our door someday," said Dennis Higbberger, the station's attorney, who wrote KAW's response letter.
Highberger said the FCC had not contacted the microstation since the letter was delivered. He said he was unable to contact the FCC yesterday because the office was closed for Veterans Day.
The FCC can take as long as it wants to reply, he said.
The letter requested that the FCC take no further action against the station. Volunteers also requested a waiver of any FCC regulations that might prohibit KAW's operation.
Highberger said that if the FCC decided to investigate further, he would request a hearing to avoid the possibility of a fine.
Highberger said that KAW had not been sent a citation outlining the specific FCC
regulation that the microstation was violating.
"I hope for a legislative change that will clearly mandate the FCC to start regulating stations under 100 watts again," Highberger said.
Community stations throughout the country have experienced similar FCC tangles, and tactics such as petitions and letter writing campaigns have helped other stations, said Alan Nelson, coordinator for KAW.
Nelson said community response was overwhelming and that letters arrived at the station regularly. He said the community support could help KAW receive a waiver of the FCC regulation.
"Lawrence is an educated community," Nelson said. "People will not roll over and play dead."
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Let it not be said that these three friends see (JIM CAROTHERS), speak (JIM HARTMAN), or hear (BUD HIRSCH) any evil about one another in "Art," a sophisticated new comedy by Yasmina Reza. Winner of the 1994 Moliere Award for best play, "Art" is about a trio whose friendship is sorely tested when one of the men decides to buy a very expensive abstract painting. Paul Stephen Lim directs the staged reading for English Alternative Theatre (EAT). Only one performance is scheduled, 8 PM on Thursday Nov. 13, in the Spencer Art Museum Auditorium. Admission free. Photo by Ken Willard/paid advertisement.