THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Tomorrow's weather
Cold tomorrow with mostly cloudy skies.
Kansan
Monday
December 7,1998
Section:
A
Vol. 109 · No. 73
Okay, so this is an interesting marriage proposal, but have a heart let's pitch in and help this poor guy out. http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Arc/ 7406/index.htm
Online today
Sports today
The Kansas men's basketball team won 62-55 against Pepperdine and the women's team finished first in the jayhawk Commerce Bank Classic.
SEE PAGE 1B
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Stopping on Stop Day can be hard for students
By Melody Ard
Kansas staff writer
On Stop Day, life at the University of Kansas ideally grinds to a halt.
The day set aside each semester between finals and classes is designed for students to have a break. According to university regulations, no University class or organization is allowed to schedule meetings.
sity class of organization events or meetings that require student participation during the final examination period, including Stop Day.
"We have not had any requests this semester," said William Tsutsul, Calendar Committee chairman. "In the past we have considered it on a case-by case basis, but we try to protect the policy."
Although the University's Calendar Committee has the authority to grant exceptions to the rule, they did not do so this semester.
Despite the Calendar Committee's efforts to maintain Stop Day, some students said they had to maintain Stop Day themselves.
Danelle Schwartz, Topeka senior, said her Physiology of Cultures professor originally assigned Day Stop as the due date for their final exam.
"We had a paper due on Stop Day, and a couple of us mentioned that we would have to drive up here from out of town," she said. "He said we could turn it in on the 10th."
STOP DAY REGULATIONS
Another student, Beth
university regulation 1.3.7 of Article 1 states: No University organization shall schedule events or meetings that require student participation during the final examination period, including Stop Day. Exceptions are allowed for local events or meetings that are scheduled between noon Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday. A committee that must meet during the final examination period to resolve an academic issue may meet only at a time mutually convenient to all members. Other exceptions to the rule may be made only with permission of the Calendar Committee or the University Events Committee. No other exceptions are allowed.
"I knew what it said in the Timetable," she said. "I called the Provost's office and asked them what they could do. They called them and relayed the message. It was an anonymous way to do it, and they were very helpful."
Huddleston, Pittsburgh junior, encountered problems with the elementary school where she was working on her practicum. The school originally wanted her to work until Dec. 11, including Stop Day.
Tsutsui suggested that students who had problems with groups or classes observing Stop Day should contact the Provost's office at Huddleston did.
Carol Holstead, Calendar Committee member, said she suspected Schwartz' and Huddleston's problems were common, and there were groups who still met on Stop Day, despite the committee's efforts to prevent it.
"We like Stop Day to be respected and preserved as a day for students to rest and regroup," Holstead said. "When we start allowing this or that to happen we will lose Stop Day all together."
（USPS 650-640）
Tumbling temperatures
Changing weather
Cold front sweep to bring rain and possibly snow by week's end
By Augustus Anthony Piazza
Kansan staff writer
The cold front that swept through the Midwest yesterday should produce colder temperatures during the next few days.
Brian Walawender, National Weather Service Meteorologist, said that temperatures were predicted to be in the middle 30s today with cloudy skies.
Walawender said that high temperatures during the week should be in the low to middle 40s.
"There is a chance of rain or snow toward the end of the week," Walawender said.
Shannon Marshal, Dallas senior, said she would prepare before she went to bed last night to face the colder temperatures.
"I'm going to lay out my outfit before I to be bed." Marshal said.
She said she would wear winter clothes and boots.
The weather took a turn for the worse yesterday as it rained and temperatures dropped throughout the day.
In southwestern Missouri, temperatures were in the 70s with a southerly wind, and in Topeka, the temperature was 36 degrees Fahrenheit with a northwesterly wind.
At 3:30 p.m.yesterday, there was a drastic difference in temperatures ahead and behind the cold front, the weather system responsible for the changes.
At 7 p.m. the light drizzle changed to flurries in Lawrence as the temperature decreased to 32 degrees, but there was no accumulation.
Last night, the temperature at 9 p.m. remained at 32 degrees but was predicted to decrease to the lower 20s by morning.
Walawender said that areas in north central Kansas had some accumulation on grassy surfaces.
Despite the above-normal temperatures that have occurred in December, some students said that they were ready for the change.
"I'm excited; it's December, and I'm ready for some snow," said Rachel Slaton, Dallas junior.
Chris Breit, Lawrence resident, practices the art of kite-skiing on the intramural fields in a field west of campus. Breit used a special parachute-like kite called a power kite to pull him across the field on a special set of roller blades. Breit said he wanted to enjoy the warm weather before it ended. The weather took a turn for the colder yesterday with temperatures in the 30s. Photo by Graham K.
Johnson/KANSAN
Alcohol task force may make suggestions for policy changes
By Jason Pearce
Kansan staff writer
Weinberg said that the task force
A task force focused on curbing underage drinking could make recommendations to alter local and state alcohol policies tonight.
Members of the joint task force between the University of Kansas, Haskell Indian Nations University and the city of Lawrence will meet at 7 tonight at the DCCCA center, a substance-abuse treatment center at 3312 Clinton Parkway. The task force is meeting to discuss 10 possible recommendations and to finalize a statement of the group's findings, said Jeff Weinberg, task force
Some of the recommendations could include asking the Legislature to increase fines and community service hours for minors caught possessing alcohol, working to reduce minor access to alcohol at private house parties and exploring the establishment of a treatment and detoxification center in Lawrence.
The task force also may ask that Haskell and the University of Kansas adopt policies that punish people who persistently violate alcohol-related rules with serious sanctions — including expulsion.
coordinator.
He said that the task force, which is made up of a large cross-section of Lawrence residents, had addressed many problems of alcohol use and abuse during the last few months.
"Many different perspectives have been brought forward by this task force," he said. "This will make the recommendations very meaningful when they are made."
Weinberg said that the statement of findings would describe in detail
had narrowed the amount of possible recommendations from 65 to 10 during the last month.
POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS
See SUGGESTIONS on page 2A
Fine $300 for the first conviction of any minor in possession of alcohol. Increase the fine to $500 for subsequent convictions
Adapt a local ordinance or state-wide keg registration for responsibility purposes.
Establish a mechanism for testing of alcohol for evidence purposes
Publicize the existence of a guaranteed $500 reward for those who offer information on fake identification providers.
Recommend the training and licensing of all individuals employed as alcoholic-beverage servers.
Establishing a mechanism that would ensure that alcohol-related issues remain a priority item of attention for all involved institutions and the city.
Encouraging alternative events for those who are underage throughout the city, preferably in 'coal' places.
Explore the establishment of a treatment and detoxification center within the community.
- Recommend that the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University adapt policies that will subject students who persistently violate alcohol-related rules to strict sanctions — including expulsion.
Recommending that the Lawrence school district institute more required health-education instruction specifically focusing on alcohol abuse.
Watkins' annual tradition to stay
Housing officials OK compromise
By Sarah Hale Kansas staff writer
When the 49 Watkins Scholarship Hall residents had their annual Christmas Informal last night, they didn't have to worry about changing tradition.
The hall director started on the third floor and walked throughout the building. As she passed each door, those residents joined in the walk and sang Christmas carols.
The women also carried candles, a part of the tradition that had been disputed by the Department of Student Housing.
Instead of opting for battery-operated candle flashlights that the department
After a couple of weeks of trying to come to an agreement with the housing department, the women thought of an alternative that the department was willing to approve.
Instead of opting candle flashlights had suggested, the women decided to buy hurricane glasses to hold over the candles.
"I went ahead and ordered all the plastic hurricane glasses last Wednesday before I had asked anyone to approve it," said Camille Lauer, Watkins Hall president. "I met with directors on Friday and they said that we had come up with an appropriate alternative."
The housing department had problems with the Watkins tradition because of the safety factor and the 49 open flames. Candles are prohibited in University housing.
The department
The department was also concerned because the women walk close together and down the stairs while holding candles in the dark.
"This issue was always about the safety and security of the residents," said Ken Stoner, director of the Department of Student Housing. "We didn't want to alter the tradition. The question was just raised to make it safer."
"I know that the housing department still had some concerns about the flames and the smoke,but we're careful, and the compromise was enough of a safety precaution."
Camille Lauer Watkins Hall president
Stoner said that the hurricane glasses were still a concern but that he thought it was a suitable solution.
"With anything that comes up like this we ask ourselves questions about how to make it safer." Stoner said. "The women figured out a way to improve their ceremony without removing the tradition aspect. That's how progress is made."
Lauer said that she ordered the hurricane glasses for 90 cents each from a company in New York.
The $56 bill will be paid by the housing department.
"I know that the housing department still had some concerns about the flames and the smoke," Lauer said. "But we're careful, and the compromise was enough of a safety precaution.
The housing department also ordered extra fire extinguishers for the Watkins Christmas Informal. The extinguishers were strategically placed around the house in case of an accident.
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