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KS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO BOX 3585
TOPEKA, KS 66601-3585
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Kansan
Chilly temps with decreasing clouds.
Monday
October 20, 1997
Section:
A
Vol. 108 No. 43
Online today
Take a peek at the new "Kansan" basketball website chronicling the Jayhawk basketball team and its history.
Sports today
http://www.kubasketball.com
Vol. 108·No.43
WWW.KANSAN.COM
The Kansas football team was stamped by the Buffaloes in Colorado, 42-6.
SEE PAGE 1B
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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Women taken aback at 'Night'
Event tainted by greek group's sneers at same-sex hand-holding
(USPS 650-640)
By Rachelle Darweiler rderweiler@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
A series of offhand remarks aimed at women holding hands spoiled the atmosphere of the Womyn Take Back the Night rally, event organizers said.
Loretta Pyles, an organizer of the march, said that a member of the the University of Kansas Panhellenic Council had contacted her prior to the march to inform her that sorority members would attend the march.
Pyles said the Panhellenic Council member mentioned the Gamma Phi Beta sorority in the call.
The sorority members had been asked to go to the march because of incidents that occurred last month, Pyles said. Members of three KU sororites had sent strippers and alcohol to Sigma Nu fraternity members in hope of being invited to Bacchanalia, an annual spring party.
Even though sorority members' attendance at the march was a result of the Bacchanaialia incidents, Pyles said that
"Then I also had concerns that there'd be people there who would not want to be there and there might be an incident."
march organizer
Loretta Pyles
"I was excited to know potentially that many women would be there," Pyles said. "Then I also had concerns that there'd be people there who would not want to be there and there might be an incident."
the Panhellenic member did not say that the attendance was a punishment.
An incident occurred when sorority members, identifiable by their matching blue shirts, made negative comments concerning two women holding hands as they walked to the Train Park, said Jennifer Roth. an organizer of the march.
Wichita sophomore Amanda Brown was one of the women holding hands.
"One of the girls turned around and said, 'Oh my God. No way.' Brown said." Then she grabbed her friend by the shirt and pulled her out of the march. The whole group started talking and saying they wouldn't walk by us."
Roth said that no organizers or participants had been informed of the incident until Brown got up and spoke in front of the crowd.
See 'NIGHT' on page 3A
Groups calling themselves the "McSix" protest in front of McDonald's on Massachusetts Street on Saturday. They alleged that the food chain mistreated workers, polluted the environment and promoted unhealthy diets. Photo by Sarah McKinney/KANSAN
McProtesters not happy with super-sized company
McDonald's action day draws picketers, signs
By Rachelle Detweiler and
Daniel E. Thompson
dthompson@kansan.com
Assembling with signs in hand on Saturday was the "McSix," a coalition of six activist groups, which demonstrated outside McDonald's at 911 Massachusetts St. to commemorate "World Day of Action Against McDonald's."
Kansan staff writers
The placid protest of about 12 people lasted from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and centered on educating pedestrians by distributing 700 informative filters.
The fliers focused on seven areas of McDonald's alleged business practices: exploiting workers, damaging the environment, animal cruelty, robbing the poor, promoting unhealthy food, censorship and globalization.
"We're not encouraging people to go to Burger King or Taco Bell, but McDonald's has the worst record, and they're a good one to use to show what's wrong with multinational corporations," said Michael Schmitt, a member of Proponents of Animal Liberation.
Six protesters lined the sidewalk outside McDonald's and formed a gauntlet of signs: "McGreed," with Ronald McDonald puffing a cigar, "McDonald's Makes Your Mother Sick" and "The Golden Arch Enemy" were just a few of the signs' messages.
When the first few protesters formed, Liz Campbell, McDonald's supervisor, attempted to disband the demonstration.
Did somebody say ... protest?
"Not five minutes passed when the manager
Who: The McSix
Where: At McDonald's locations worldwide. In
Lawrence, at McDonald's Downtown.
came out," said Jen Ketner, Feminist Union member. "She was really upset and said we could not stand in front of McDonald's because it was McDonald's territory."
Keltner said that the protesters had argued that they had been standing on public property and had the right to do so. The manager pointed toward Ninth Street, suggesting an alternate location and then called the police, she said. After assessing the situation, the police said the protesters were free to assemble as long as they didn't block the sidewalk or McDonald's patrons from entering the establishment.
What: The McSix
■ Coalition for Labor Action and Social Struggle
■ KU Environs
■ Proponents of Animal Liberation
■ Food Not Bombs
■ Feminist Union
■ Democratic Socialists of America
What: World Day of Action Against McDonald's
When: Annually on October 16
Where: At McDonald's locations worldwide. In Lawrence, at McDonald's Downtown
In addition to confrontations with McDonald's management, individual protesters encountered comments such as "Animals are competitive" and "Hamburgers rule" from McDonald's proponents.
Sure Roy coaches, but can he dance?
Although Cambell said there had been no impact on the Saturday lunch crowd, protesters thought they had brought attention to the issue.
Everyone loves 'Late Night' show
Attempts to contact local McDonald's representatives and their national office for comment were unsuccessful.
By Kristie Blasi
kblasi@kansan.com
Sports editor
There are two reasons for the late night part of the annual "Late Night with Rov Williams."
The first is that basketball practice cannot begin until 12:01 a.m. the next morning. The second is that a few thousand students and fans arrived about seven hours before any event was scheduled.
Edward James Olmos answers questions from the media. He gave a speech titled "We're All in the same Gang" to about 600 people last night at the Lied Center as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Photo by Augustus Anthony Piazza/KANSAN
Fellow freshman Pat Pugh, Omaha, Neb., attended his third "Late Night" but his first as a KU student.
Melissa Freedman, Atlanta freshman, and her friends went at 4 p.m. Friday to Allen Field House.
"The first time, I came here to watch my brother play," he said of junior forward T.J. Pugh. "Now I'm part of the whole experience, and I'm screaming for the same reason the fans were before."
"I'm so bored that I painted my nails," she said of her first "Late Night" experience. "It's a long wait, but it's awesome."
Pat Pugh said he had been impressed by how loud the fans were at his first "Late Night" and that he was looking forward to being part of the college crowd.
"I'm looking forward to watching my brother make a fool of himself dancing,"he said.
T. J. Pugh admitted that he had not worked on his dancing but said the skits were impressive.
Read about the scrimmage and see photos of Roy's funky moves.
See page 6B
"It was great," he said. "Every single Late Night' seems to ton the last one."
Kimberly Gencur, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, has attended every "Late Night" since former coach Larry Brown began the tradition in 1985.
"I was born and raised on KU basketball," she said. "Late Night' is an amazing thing. The spirit and enthusiasm from the students, players and coaches simplify KU basketball."
Before the basketball began, the men's and women's teams and the spirit squad performed skits with the theme of "Kansas Basketball: This Is Your Life."
A James Naismith impersonator began the prescrimage show at 10:45 p.m. by dropping a basketball in a peach basket at midcourt and announcing that the purpose of his new game was to occupy students between football and baseball seasons.
The skits included spoofs of popular TV shows including "Happy Days," "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Price is Right."
Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington was honored for 25 years of coaching women's basketball at Kansas. Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams received the 1996-97 Coach of the Year award from "The Sporting News."
Even Williams danced at midcourt.
"I just hope nobody catches it on camera so that I won't have to judge it," he said. "I can say I was great if nobody catches it on camera."
An actor portraying James Naismith speaks to the crowd at "Late Night with Roy Williams" Friday night at Allen Field House. Photo by Geoff Kriacier/KANSAN
Actor-activist speaks against violence, gangs in presentation
Edward James Olmos says education is the key
By Ryan Koerner
rkoerner@kansan.com
Kansan Staff Writer
Actor and community activist Edward James Olmos stressed the importance of education and heritage in preventing violence in a speech last night at the Lied Center.
Olmos delivered his presentation. "We're All in the Same Gang," to about 600 people as part of Hispanic Heritage Month and the "Gangs in Lawrence — a Call to Action" series.
Omos used himself, a self-identified Chicano, as an example of how children must know their heritage before they can understand where they stand in their community.
Olmos speaks about 200 days a year about multiculturalism and gang and domestic violence. He presents at elementary and secondary schools, college campuses and community-wide events.
He said his understanding of his blend of Mexican-American heritage gave him the power to be proud of his roots.
"It gets hard for kids to know where they come from," Olmos said. "But when they reach that understanding, we give them energy to do positive stuff."
At the base of the education is the commitment to get to the children while they are young.
"We go to grammar schools, and we speak to kids that are 4, 5 years old," Olmos said. "We give them messages, and then we go back every year and repeat them. By the time they are in high school, these kids are singing and chanting them."
Olmos named the curriculum of American schools as a primary culprit in the lack of education about minorities.
"Ninety-three to 94 percent of education today is based on European studies," Olmos said. "How are you going to know anything else if you don't study it?"
Another problem, Olmos said, is the way society treats violence.
"Violence done by adults or children, domestic, racial or hate violence — it's all pretty much a situation that has to be dealt with." Olmos said. "And it has to be dealt with as a health problem instead of a judicial problem."
The event was presented by the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, the Office of Minority Affairs, the Multicultural Resource Center, The Lawrence Partnership for Children and Youth, the city of Lawrence and the Koch Crime Commission.
"All citizens have an obligation to keep themselves informed about the dangers of youth violence in this community and others," said Jerry Wells, General Council of the Koch commission. "Olmos is truly a man who knows of what he speaks.
See ACTOR on page 3A