Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, October 24.1997
Aim of fortune-telling Professor gives learning a French twist law troublesome to divine
Lawrence ordinance outlaws practice of mystical trade
Mary Corcoran
mcorcoran@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Look into a crystal ball, consult a deck of Tarot cards and try to figure out why the city of Lawrence has a law that makes using such products illegal.
Lawrence city ordinance 14-703 states that "It shall be unlawful for any fortune teller, palmist, phrenologist or clairvoyant to carry on or practice his business, trade or profession within the City."
It's on page 14-17 of all the city law books for anyone who wants to look it up. But very few people in the city even know the law exists, let alone whi it exists.
"The city ordinance book has over 600 pages, and to be honest, I don't know the rationale or reasoning behind every law in the code book," said Dave Corliss, city manager representative.
Corliss said that although he did not know anything about Lawrence's fortune-telling law, many cities passed similar regulations to protect costumers.
"It goes along the idea that somebody's going to get swindled," he said. "At the time it was adopted, I'm sure the city commissioners thought it was important. I doubt that it's enforced that much anymore."
According to the Lawrence police department, the law has not been enforced in almost 20 years.
"I can confirm that I'm reading it in the city code book, but I can tell you I've never heard of it and in 17 years
I've never seen it enforced," Lawrence Police Sgt. Susan Hadl said.
So lax is the police department about the fortune-telling law that it has allowed a Psychic and Metaphysical Fair to be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds more than once. Most recently, the fair set up camp in Lawrence this September.
According to police records — or lack thereof, no fortune teller, palmist, phrenologist or clairvoyant was arrested, cited or fined last month for practicing his or her business within city limits.
Many Lawrence vendors continue to sell Tarot cards, crystal balls or other means of fortune telling, not
realizing that while it is legal for them to sell the products, it is illegal for their costumers to use t he m with in Lawrence city limits. "It’s crazy,"
"It goes along the idea that someon is going to get swindled."
Dave Corliss city manager rep.
"It's crazy," said Todd
Johnson has worked at the store for more than 7 months. In that time, he said, he has sold numerous items that could potentially be used to break the Lawrence law.
Johnson, an employee of The Phil Zone. 1405 Massachusetts St.
"We're sold out of Tarot cards right now, but we have a Tarot book that tells you how to read the cards and a few books on witchcraft," he said. "I've never heard anything about a law that makes using them illegal."
Jennifer A. Yeoman
jyeoman@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Taking a walk down Jayhawk Boulevard with Theodore Johnson can change the way you look at the University of Kansas.
Johnson, a professor of French and humanities, often teaches his
courses using the campus as his classroom and architecture, flowers and sculptures as his teaching tools.
"He really makes you think," said Xinhan McGuire, Overland Park senior, who is in Johnson's French conversation class. "He brings together what the University is suppose to be, a place for ideas. The class makes you synthesize different ideas in different fields and tries to make you relate them
dents to shape their own ideas. He compares his theory to the Socratic method in which a teacher repeatedly questions students to help them gain knowledge.
Johnson is often pleasantly surprised by his students' inventiveness and how they react to his course.
"The ideas just seem to tumble out of then," he said. "I love to see their eyes flash and to see their smiles
brighten. The birth of an idea is a beautiful thing."
to a sculpture or a facade. It's a great class."
Johnson has seen that look many times during the 20 years he has been teaching at the University. Next semester he will teach Intensive Review of French Grammar, Survey of French Culture II, French Literature in Translation
Students in his classes are often surprised by
"It's about looking in detail and seeing beauty."
Professor Ted Johnson literally teaches his classes outside. He leads his French 376 class on a tour of campus buildings and monuments to discuss them. Photo by Holly Groshona/KANSAN.
Theodore Johnson professor
and Topics
and Pro blemms on Composition.
"I love to teach," he said.
"I tend to
the roving nature of his teaching style.
"In my last French conversation [class] we just sat around a table and studied vocabulary and other typical foreign language stuff," McGuire said. "I prefer this class. More students should be able to experience classes like this, earlier on."
Johnson's theory is not to give students ideas, but to allow stu-
teach a lot all across the board."
Johnson had always thought about teaching or going into art. To accomplish this, he has brought art into his teaching by comparing ideas to sculpture and art work.
"My father was an artist, but he always discouraged me from going into art," Johnson said.
The discouragement didn't seem to sink in. Johnson is a part of the 500 Locust Gallery where he specializes in life drawings, also called nudes.
Johnson's son, Stephen Johnson,
has also ignored his grandfather's
advice. Stephen is an artist who
recently published the book
"Alphabet City," which shows letters
in everyday things. For example,
the letter "Q" can be seen in a
train wheel.
"It's about looking in detail and seeing beauty," Theodore Johnson said.
He believes in using factual images and ideas and finding imaginative interpretations.
"Time just zooms by when you are working intensely with ideas," he said. "One doesn't notice time. It's very intense when ideas are being shared. One has no sense of outside time. The Campanile strikes time in the background, but it never registers."
Visiting ACE fellow from Nebraska to observe KU administration
By Matthew Friedrichs
Kansan staff writer
Rita Kite might not have spun straw into gold.
But she has turned an academic career in textile marketing into a golden leadership opportunity.
Kean, chairwoman and professor in the department of textiles, clothing and design at the University of
The American Council on Education is a professional organization for colleges and universities in the United States, said Marlene Ross, director of the ACE fellows program.
Nebraska, is a visiting American Council on Education fellow at the University of Kansas this year.
Kean is one of 30 fellows selected for the 1997-98 school year. Rose said.
As an ACE fellow, Kean is observing the administration from her temporary office and working on projects for the University of Kansas.
At the University, Kean will work on the strategic planning process to assess the future of the University of Kansas and a report on the status of women. She will also attend three ACE seminars.
Deborah Teeter, director of institutional research and planning, is
"She can raise questions or bring a fresh perspective." Teeter said.
working with Kean on Chancellor Robert Hemenway's strategic planning process.
Kean said that working with the administration would be different than the leadership opportunities she has held as dean at the University of Nebraska.
"My role at KU as a fellow is to
Nebraska will continue to pay her salary during her stay in Lawrence, Kean said. The University of Kansas will pay for her to attend three seminars sponsored by ACE, Kean said.
observe and learn," Kean said. "It's a very different role for someone who's usually the person out in front pushing a department."
She said she chose the University of
Kansas after speaking with past fellows.
"In the end, KU was my first choice because of the quality of the mentoring and the experience people have had with Chancellor Hemenway," Kean said.
Kean's academic career began at Nebraska when she served as graduate teaching assistant.