Tomorrow's weather
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Kansan
A good chance for thunderstorms during the day.
Tuesday
September 16, 1997
Section:
A
Vol. 104 - No. 18
Online today
The University of Kansas has joined the Great Plains Network alliance, which could speed on-campus Internet access.
SEE PAGE 8A
Sports today
The Kansas women's soccer team lost games this weekend against Texas A&M and Texas. The team is 2-4 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
SEE PAGE 1B
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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Coke deal not so sweet for 12
(USPS 650-640)
Ex-concession employees lose earned benefits
By Corrie Moore
Kansan staff writer
However, his plans were altered this summer when the University of Kansas signed an exclusive beverage contract with Coca-Cola. The deal wiped out KU Concessions, a division of the Kansas and
Ron Lash worked as a vending machine technician for KU Concessions for 32 years and was planning to retire in three years.
Burge Unions, and left 12 unemployed.
Lash was one of three former KU Concessions employees hired by Treat America, a snack provider hired by the University as a result of the Coca Cola contract.
Although most have found work elsewhere, many, including Lash, have been left with fewer benefits.
Lash, who is 52, said that with the University's retirement plan, he would have retired at age 55. With his new job, he will not be able to retire until age 65, he said.
And although Lash did not receive a significant pay change, he now works longer hours, and he lost six weeks of paid vacation.
"I sort of had to start all over," Lash said. "I think with the amount of money the Union got that they could take care their employees."
KU Concessions' employees were notified on Aug. 4 that they would be losing
Cathy Johnson, former KU Concessions office supervisor, said the employees were aware that changes would be taking place but that they were not officially notified until Aug. 4.
their jobs. They received 30 days' pay if they had not found a job by Sept. 2.
The following day, interviews were set up with the University, Coca Cola and Treat America.
"It all happened very quickly," Johnson said. "By the end of that week, three people were already gone."
Johnson said she was one of the last people to leave and that in two weeks' time the office looked like a ghost town.
Scott Campbell, a former supervisor for KU Concessions who now works for Coca-Cola, said he thought that the agreement between the University and Coca-Cola was a good decision. But the way the Kansas Unions handled those who were
displaced was wrong, he said.
"I find it disgraceful." Campbell said.
The Unions did offer a separation package for those who were affected by the switch to Coca-Cola.
In the package, former employees who had not found employment 30 days after being displaced received five-days' pay for every year they had worked for the Union. For example, someone who worked for 10 years would receive 50-days' pay.
In order to qualify for compensation, employees must not have found a job elsewhere or refused any jobs offered by the University, Coca-Cola or Treat America. Employees whose new jobs resulted in more than a 10 percent reduction in pay were also eligible for the separation package.
See CONCESSION on page 7A
A bumpy ride
Steve Hoag, a driver for Spree Foncard, checks his company's Nascar simulator before removing it from in front of the Kansas Union. The motorless simulator was on display yesterday so KU students could experience the joins and thrills of a stock-car race. Photo by Dave Morantz/KANSAN
Recycling bins at home on campus
By Daniel E. Thompson
dthompson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
After weeks of plastic bottles filling up the waste stream, the University of Kansas now has a place to put them.
Coca-Cola delivered 100 recyclin bins made from recycled bottles yesterday to the Kansas Union. One hundred more containers are waiting to be delivered to the University.
Theresa Klinkenberg, associative university director, said the bins were a temporary solution until a comprehensive recycling plan was in place.
Many who helped construct the bins found it difficult to build the 44-gallon neon green bins, which are no more than a rectangular piece rolled into a cylinder and closed on both ends.
"We're starting in baby steps," she said. "We needed something in the interim."
"I don't like how they're so flimsy," said Victoria Silva, environmental specialist for environmental health and safety.
The pieces are connected by little, smooth black pegs. Many of them fell through fingers on the
bricks below.
"I made a list of different buildings and locations," Silva said. "It's a tentative list based on going through the buildings, but they'll see them show up."
But after a little practice, an army of bins was constructed. Coca-Cola used five of its minivans to transport the green canisters to different campus locations.
The bottles will fill the bins in high-traffic areas quickly, Silva said. Those filled could be picked up as early as tomorrow.
Silva said priority was placed on the administrative and classroom buildings along Jayhawk Boulevard.
"It's important to take the caps off and make sure the bottle is empty." Silva said.
"We hope to place at least 50 today," she said.
Without help from soda drinkers, the program won't work.
When the bottles are collected, they will be taken to Community Living Opportunities at Wal-Mart.
Plastic taken there is sold to Smurfit Recycling Co., where it is used in carpeting, insulation and other products.
Students and alumni put together recycling bins for plastic soda bottles. The bins were built yesterday afternoon in front of the Kansas Union and then distributed around campus. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Sorority may find home at University for second time
By Sarah McWilliams
by Susan McWilliams
smcwilliams@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
An inactive sorority at the University of Kansas may be in for a rejuvenation if a Kansas State University student can put her plans into action.
See K-STATE on page 7A
The KU chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho, an historically black sorority, was dissolved when all of its members graduated two years ago.
But Stacy Yeager, a senior at K-State, said she was interested in restarting KU's Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. Yeager is considering coming to the University as a graduate student next fall.
"It would be great if it were already there when I got there," she said.
Yeager can start the chapter long-distance from Manhattan if she finds enough interested members, she said. Members will be recruited mainly by word of mouth.
Yeager was encouraged to start the sorority by her friend Dion Jones, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, junior. Jones and his friend Michael Owens, Kansas City, Kan. senior, started a chapter of Iota Phi Theta fraternity at the University this semester.
No arrests made in fight at towers
Football players' roles in brawl questioned by police,coach Allen
By Kelly Cannon and Mary Corcaron
kcannon@kansan.com
mcorcoran@Kansan.com
Kansan staff writers
No arrests have been made in the fight Saturday night that allegedly involved Kansas football players.
Two students at the University of Kansas and one student from the University of Missouri-Kansas City were injured in the clash in front of Javawker Towers.
KU police Sgt. Chris Keary said that as of yesterday morning, police had identified two of the suspects by name. If arrests are made, the cases will be turned over to Douglas County District Attorney Christine Tonkovich. Tonkovich said yesterday that she did not have any reports and that the case was still being handled by KU police. Police will not release suspects' names until arrests are made.
Kansas football coach Terry Allen said the football team was working with KU police to investigate the incident, and he would take appropriate action once the facts were determined.
The incident occurred between 11:45 and 11:48 p.m. Saturday, Keary said. By the time police arrived at 11:49 p.m., the suspects had fled the scene. he said.
"I received a report indicating some members of our football team were involved in a fighting incident on campus last night," Allen said in a prepared statement Sunday. "We expect our players to behave in a manner that reflects positively on our team and the University of Kansas, both on and off the field. We take this responsibility very seriously."
The three males were injured when about 10 to 15 men attacked them on the northwest corner of the towers, Keary said. While driving on 15th Street, the attackers allegedly stopped their vehicles, he said, and got out of their cars for a fight. The three victims were standing on the side of the street. Keary said.
Keary would neither confirm nor deny allegations that some of the attackers were KU football players.
According to police reports, alcohol was involved in the incident.
"We're still investigating the number of people involved and their motives," Keary said.
Owen Foust, Topeka freshman, said he saw the aftermath of the fight.
"I saw a bunch of people screaming, but I didn't see faces," Foust said. "A bunch of girls were screaming, and people were running around. It was dark across the street, but I assumed there was a fight going on."
Foust said he went inside his house to answer the telephone, and when he went back outside the police had arrived.
The two KU students, Christopher Ruddle, Overland Park sophomore, and Brian Wilson, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, and their friend, Mayoor Patel, UMKC sophomore, refused to comment about the incident under the advisement of legal counsel.
Wilson did, however, clarify previous media reports. He said earlier reports had inaccurately identified the number of vehicles involved and the extent of the victims' injuries. Contrary to previous reports, Wilson said there were more than two vehicles involved in the incident.
He also said Ruddle received minor cuts and bruises during the alleged fight, not while fleeing the scene as previously reported.
Ruddle would not comment on the incident. Attempts to reach Patel were unsuccessful.
According to hospital and police records, Patel lost two teeth in the fight. Wilson had a cut on his face and received stitches. Ruddle had minor cuts and bruises.
All three victims were taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital where they were treated early Sunday morning, police said.
Police will continue to contact and interview witnesses and alleged participants before making arrests. The suspects are under investigation for two counts of aggravated battery for Patel's and Wilson's injuries and one count of battery for Ruddle's.
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