Tomorrow's weather
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Kansan
A good chance for rain, otherwise mild and humid
Monday
September 22, 1997
Section:
A
Vol. 108 - No. 23
Online today
Get the scoop on what is happening on "Days of Our Lives" on Dustin's Days Page. Will John find the cure for Roman?
http://dustin.simplenet.com/days
Inside today
John Lee, a retired California physician, preached the importance of progesterone in women to a group of students last week.
WWW.KANSAN.COM
SEE PAGE 6A
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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
(USPS 650-640)
It wasn't pretty
Above: Kansas running back Eric Vann is tackled by University of Cincinnati linemen. The Jayhawks lost 44 yards rushing on 23 attempts and only had 53 total offensive yards. Right: Kansas receiver Michael Chandler and head coach Terry Allen hang their heads during the final minutes of Saturday's game against Cincinnati. The Bearcats defeated the Jayhawks 34-7. Photos by Steve Puppe/KANSAN
Sororities get lewd for Sigma Nu men
Disciplinary actions may be forthcoming
By Sarah McWilliams
mcwilliams@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Members of three University of Kansas sororites went too far last week while competing for an invitation to Bacchanalia, a series of parties thrown every spring by the Sigma Nu fraternity.
The incidents involved members of the Chi Omega, Kappa Alpha Theta and Gamma Phi Beta sororities "serenading" fraternity members. KU Panhellenic Association leaders would not comment on the specifics of what happened, but Eric Weddle, president of Sigma Nu, said that sorority members had sent strippers and alcohol to the Sigma Nu house.
"In past years, the competition has been more tame, but this year it got too out of hand." Wedle said.
KU Panhellenic is considering disciplinary action, and the three sororites have withdrawn from competition for an invitation to Bacchanalia.
"Their behavior was outrageous," said Ashley Udden, president of KU Panhellenic. "Members of the sororities and fraternities involved will be held accountable. No one's getting off."
Bridget Mason, vice president for public relations for KU Panhellenic, said that the actions of the sorority members had not been approved by the chapters.
"This incident was just a few people making a poor decision," she said. "It's frustrating because
the whole purpose of sororities is to make them a positive experience for women."
The members' actions highlight the issue of competition among sororities and fraternities, as well as the outdated state of traditional parties, said Pam Norris, graduate advisor to KU Panhellenic.
"It's not just Sigma Nu. It's a lot of other traditions and issues, and it could have been any of the chapters that made poor decisions." Norris said.
Norris said the stage had been set for the few sorority members to cross the line between healthy and unhealthy competition. Fraternities' traditions often require women to compete to be invited to fraternity activities, but Norris said that sororites did not have similar traditions.
Leaders of KU Panhellenic, including Norris, Udden and Mason, met with presidents of the University's 14 residential sororites last week.
The association also has met with advisers to Sigma Nu and will continue to work with fraternity leaders from all chapters to change the structure of traditional parties, said Bill Nelson, associate director of the Student Organizations and Leadership Development Center.
Weddle said that Sigma Nu members realized the tradition was outdated and that the fraternity was working with Nelson to come up with ideas for a new party theme.
"I think the term 'Bacchanalia' will not be used anymore." Weddle said.
KU Panhellenic is gathering information about what actually happened and has not made any official decisions about disciplining the members, Norris said.
Jen Lockwood, president of Chi Omega, Sarah Remley, president of Kappa Alpha Theta and Lisa Sapasap, president of Gamma Phi Beta, all declined to comment on the specifics of the incidents.
Proposal may give bus passes to those needing assistance
By Tim Harrington tharrington.kansan.com Kansan staff writer
A new proposal by the Student Senate transportation board may allow for a limited number of free bus passes to be given out in cases of extraordinary circumstances, such as a disability.
The precise terms under which the discretionary bus passes would be awarded have not yet been clearly defined, said Scott Kaiser, transportation coordinator and Overland Park sophomore.
The proposed change in policy already has three beneficiaries. Scott Sullivan, student body
president, said that three blind Lawrence elementary students were the first to receive the discretionary passes.
Sullivan said that the students' teacher was trying to educate the three children about how to become more independent.
"The passes were given out under auspices of a policy which has not yet been written," Kaiser said. "That's all we need to do, though, is put it in writing."
Sullivan said that the new policy would be an opportunity for the University to reach out to the Lawrence community and enhance relations with the city.
"It's these types of steps that
take place in the establishment of trust with the city of Lawrence," Sullivan said.
the transportation board has the power to institute these types of changes because the local bus system is funded entirely by KU on Wheels and allocations from Student Senate. Kaiser said that the policy would not cover lost or stolen passes.
The passes will most likely be given out on a semester-by-semester basis, and there will be a limit on how many KU on Wheels will administer per year, Sullivan said. He said that it probably would be about 12 per semester.
Water-saving gardens blooming in Lawrence
By Daniel E. Thompson
dthompson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Xeriscaping protects precious commodity
Xeriscaping is changing the way the University of Kansas covers its dirt.
And right in front of Burt Hall is a dry garden incorporating the seven principles of xeriscaping (the Greek word sarme means "dry").
The technique saves water by replacing thirst plants and grass with rough-and tough flora placed in a planned design.
A xeriscape garden should use at least 25 percent less water and could use up to 75 percent less water, said Victoria Silva, environmental specialist in the office of resource conservation and recycling.
Woyne Reusch, physical plant supervisor, said that he had used the principles of xeriscaping in various Lawrence locations, in addition to the Burt Hall garden. Reusch said xeriscaping was a name for techniques he has had to use all along.
Burt Hall is the small building southwest of Learned Hall, and the garden is at the top of the stairs coming up from 15th Street.
Silva said, on her office's website on the KU Facts page, that she learned about xeriscaping in Colorado, where she grew up. The Denver Water Board created the name "xeriscaping" in 1880 to describe a water-efficient landscape.
During the summer, Reusch helped Silva create her full-fledged xeriscape in front of Burt Hall.
"It's my baby," said Silva, whose offices are in Burt Hall.
"Xeriscaping is now pretty much the standard in the arid west." Silva said.
But with the increasing cost of treating water, water-conserving landscaping has become more accepted in the Midwest, Silva said.
See XERISCAPE on page 3A
This is part of a dry garden kept by Victoria Silva, environmental specialist at the University of Kansas. The garden, located next to Burt Hall, has been kept by Silva since the summer. The garden is a dry garden that Silva learned to keep when she was in Colorado. It uses very little water and is aimed at conserving water. Silva expects the garden to last for a long time. Staff photographer/KANSAN
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