Jumping
Tomorrow's weather
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Continued warm weather with sunny skies
Kansan
Monday November 30,1998
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Vol. 109·No.69
Sports today
football coach Terry Allen is a candidate for the Iowa coaching job vacated by longtime coach Hayden Fry last week.
SEE PAGE 1B
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Watson Library's power restored
By Chad Bettes
Kansan staff writer
(USPS 650-640)
After four weeks, three closings and about $25,000 in expenses, the University of Kansas may have lost its gamble to save money on the Watson Library electrical repairs.
Bob Porter, associate director of facilities operations, said the University had rolled the dice by ordering a used, refurbished transformer rather than a new one to fix the electrical problems at Watson.
Julia Roles, assistant dean for information services, said the installation of a refurbished electrical transformer at Watson during Thanksgiving break allowed the library to stop using gas generated power and open Friday. The library closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday for the installation.
There will be a public Christmas tree lighting on the lawn of the Outlook, the Chancellor's 1532 Lilac Lane home, at 5 p.m. on Dec. 7. The lightning ceremony will include traditional and Haitian carols performed by Melle Melomane, a group of Haitian students studying at the University.
"Christmas trees haven't been banned on campus," Burg said. "But we have asked departments not to use state funds for the purchase of decorations and to be mindful of all traditions."
But Porter said the fix was temporary because Lyons Electric supplied a transformer that was functioning but that did not meet the contracted specifications.
Lyons Electric was not able to be reached because of the holiday weekend.
The transformer only has the capacity to provide three-fourths of the power the
See POWER on page 2A
However, Burg said that Christmas trees were not banned on campus.
Strong Hall gets seasonal decorations
Kansan staff writer
By Melody Arc
Seven banners will hang in the Strong Hall rotunda during December to recognize holiday traditions observed by University of Kansas students.
This is the first year the University will try for a comprehensive recognition of holiday traditions.
"The University's position is that this is a very important holiday for the Christian religion, and there are also a lot more traditions represented in the diverse mix of people and cultures that make up a modern university," Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. "We should go out of our way to show respect for all traditions. I think the best way to honor any one tradition is to honor them all."
The Christmas tree that decorated Strong Hall was removed two years ago after protests by some University students.
The 10-square-foot banners represent Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Native American Celebrations, Hispanic Celebrations, Chinese New Year and a banner that says "Celebrate them ALL"
Holiday information
The Capitol and West-
port are some fun
options for students.
See page 3A
Strong Hall also will have a poinsettia display as part of the Lawrence Festival of Poinsettias.
"I think with the addition of the the banners we'll come a lot closer to being cognizant of different kinds of traditions," said Mary Bung, executive
Informational pamphlets about each holiday and the Multicultural Resource Center will accompany the banners.
assistant to the chancellor.
Entertainment east and west of Lawrence
The Capitol and Westport are some fun options for students.
See pages 3-6B
Photo by Matt Daugherty/KANSAN
Some students give thanks for warm holiday weather
The warm weather during Thanksgiving this year was a sharp contrast to the harsh temperatures that the Pilgrims endured at the first celebration of the holiday.
By Carolyn Mollett Kansan staff writer
Some University of Kansas students took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather.
Laura Parada, Santa Cruz, Bolivia,
junior, said she had a lot of home-
work to do during the break. Parada
decided to do her work outdoors at
coffee shops.
"I am really happy with the weather." Parada said.
Parada also went Christmas shopping with her roommate in Kansas City and Lawrence. She said they discussed Thanksgiving break last year when they didn't even want to drive to stores because it rained so much, and they loved the sunny weather this year.
She said she liked wearing short sleeves and not bothering with a coat.
Lawrence did two high-temperature records during Thanksgiving
break, and temperatures consistently remained above normal compared with averages from this time of year, said Mick McGuire, Clearwater junior, who records weather information at the KU weather service.
He said that
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He said that the average daily high temperature during the break was 69 degrees, but that high temperatures in late Novem-
not unusual.
ber were normally about 50 degrees. "So we're above normal," McGuire said.
Steve Kays, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Topeka, said that the high temperatures were unusual for this season but that windy and stormy conditions were
Last Tuesday, Lawrence tied its record high temperature of 72 degrees from 1909, McGuire said. Then, he said, on Thanksgiving Day, the high temperature of 71 degrees tied the record high from 1910.
Phillip Bills, also a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Topeka, said the weather pattern La Niwa was probably responsible for the unseasonable conditions. He said the pattern would probably break eventually and lead to unusually low temperatures.
But Bills said that extreme conditions were a characteristic of La Niña and that the pendulum of weather conditions could continue through the winter.
Kays said that this part of the country got most of its thunderstorms during spring and summer. However, he said that it was not unusual to have rain and thunderstorms come across the plains from the Rocky Mountains and cause stormy weather throughout the year.
A front from the Rockies caused a few hours of windy conditions yesterday, and it rained last night, Kays said.
He said temperatures should cool to highs in the 50 to 60 degree range this week, and no rain or storms were expected until late in the week or next weekend.
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