Basketball: Several top prospects to visit campus in coming weeks. Page 1B
On stage: A KU graduate's play opens tonight at Lawrence Arts Center. Page 3A
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
NEWS 864-4810
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1996
SECTION A VOL.103.NO.35
ADVERTISING 864-4358
(USPS 650-640)
New Muslim prayer hall in Temple angers Jews
JERUSALEM — Muslim authorities are opening a new prayer hall under the Aqsa Mosque, igniting Israeli protests about changes at the site Jews revere as the Temple Mount.
Hassan Tahboub, the Palestinian minister of religious affairs, said yesterday that the hall would open in two days, once floor tile had been laid.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened tension, following riots and clashes last month that killed 78 people after Israel opened a new entrance to a tourist tunnel at the base of the complex.
Tahboub said that the hall was not Israel's responsibility or property.
Middle East earthquake kills 1 and injures 21
Richard Devinki/KANSAN
NICOSIA, CYPRUS — A strong Mediterranean earthquake rattled much of the Middle East yesterday, killing an Egyptian whose house collapsed on top of her and injuring 21 Cyriots.
Buildings swayed in Cyprus and panicked residents ran outside in Egypt, the two places that sustained the worst damage from the magnitude-6.8 quake. The temblel also was felt across Israel, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, western Turkey and the Greek islands of Rhodes and Crete.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the 3:10 p.m. earthquake occurred in the Mediterranean Sea about 20 miles southwest of the Cypriot port of Paphos and some 80 miles from Nicosia.
Consumer group wants safer nuclear reactors
The Critical Mass Energy Project, an arm of Ralph Nader's Public Citizen consumer advocacy group, described 25 reactors as a threat to public health and safety.
WASHINGTON Nuclear energy critics urged federal regulators yesterday to begin shutting down almost one-fourth of the nation's nuclear power reactors because of poor safety and economic performance.
Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should close the most dangerous plants and improve the remaining reactors.
William Beecher, representative of the commission, said that all nuclear plants were safe.
Pentagon unable to link exposure to syndrome
WASHINGTON — Five years after the Persian Gulf War, the Pentagon is not ready to link low-level exposure to chemical weapons to a specific illness.
The medical community is not ready with a cure if chemical agents are responsible for ailments known collectively as the Gulf War syndrome.
A definitive finding of exposure to chemical weapons could shorten the administrative process for veterans with undiagnosed symptoms to receive financial aid, said Phil Budahn of the American Legion.
These assessments were offered by government officials, veterans representatives and medical experts vest.rday.
The Associated Press
Tutors support athletes
Academic services motivate players in the classroom
By Spencer Duncan Kansan staff writer
In the halls of the Parrott Athletic Center rests a members-only educational center.
Only University of Kansas athletes have access to the center, an educational resource and tutoring facility with access to seven conference rooms. It is connected to Allen Field House.
The Hale Achievement Center serves all KU athletes, said Paul Buskirk, assistant athletic association director who oversees the center.
The center was constructed three years ago, but the program began almost seven years ago.
Buskirk said the center served about 550 athletes.
Mike Hock, director of strategic learning apprenticeship, said he remembered the early days.
"It originally began to help football students," Hock said. "When we started, were in Jayhawk Tower B in the basement using a training table. We served 15 to 25 people. We have come a long way."
The center is comprised of three areas: strategic learning apprenticeship, for tutoring and services; degree and career counseling; and student- athlete life, which concentrates on areas outside of academics. Surtutor work in the center
Buskirk said the University must support athletes academically.
"Any student recruited here we should, and are required to, help and support while they are here." Buskirk said.
The Athletic Department finances the center, which is why only athletes are allowed to use it, he said.
In 1993, the center received about $300,000.
Today it receives $600,000, Buskirk said.
And he said every dollar was justified.
"These athletes are under a lot of pressure," Buskirk said. "Philosophically, we should have a center like this on campus with day care and other services that would teach the students. But this is what we have, and I think it is needed."
Maritza Machado-Williams, director of the University Student Support Services Program, said she found no problem in an athletes-only center.
"Any kind of support system that can help a student, athlete or not, is positive," Machado-Williams said.
Although a study released last summer by the former Big Eight Conference showed that the 1989 freshman football class was ranked last in graduation rates in the Big Eight, Buskirk said the center was effective and was taken seriously by coaches.
"There's an infamous story about a time when Adonis Jordan, who was a point guard for Kansas, missed the team bus by 10 minutes," Buskirk said. "Well, Roy Williams left him behind. Now I can guarantee you this, if Adonis had missed a tutoring session by 10 minutes, then he would have had to sit out some practice and he might miss some of the next game. That is how important academics are to people at this University."
Above: Kansas women's basketball senior guard Angie Halbleib and Kansas men's basketball sophomore forward Paul Pierce work in the computer lab at Hale Achieve Center in Parrott Athletic Center.
Right: Kansas football junior running back Eric Vann receives help with his Spanish class work from Spanish tutor Gloria Gonzalez, Caracas, Venezuela, senior.
Center helps athletes tackle academic tasks
By Adam Herschman Kansan sportswriter
J. J. Johnson has put the Hale Achievement Center to good use.
Johnson, a sophomore linebacker on the Kansas football team, is in the center at least four days a week, and he said his grades had improved because of the center.
Leroy Brown Jr., assistant director of degree and career counseling, said Johnson exemplified the center.
"He's an example of how not only the center's been put to good use but just the resources of people that we have here," Brown said.
The center has 18 computers, 12 rooms for tutoring and 11 full-time staff members, all paid for by the KU Athletic Department.
"You can have the space, and you can have those computers, but it really doesn't mean anything if those people don't really care," Brown said. "I feel confident in saying the 11 people that are here are focused on getting these kids to a point to where they can understand that they have more responsibility."
Johnson's schedule is similar to most Kansas football players' schedules.
He goes to the center for tutoring from 8 to 19:15 a.m.
Johnson has free time from 12:30 to 1:40 o.m.
After his tutoring session, he attends three classes that finish by 12:20 p.m.
In the afternoon, he is busy with football. From 1:40 until about 6:30 p.m., Johnson attends football meetings and practice. He has dinner after practice. After dinner, Johnson attends study hall at the center from 7 to 9 p.m.
"That's a normal day," Johnson said.
Kansas football coach Glen Mason said the center had improved since he arrived nine years ago.
"I think our student support operation is as good as anybody's." Mason said. "It's a big improvement from when I first came here as a coach. We had no place. We used to use the old training table in the Towers for studying."
The center also assists incoming
See ATNLETES, Page 2A
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INDEX
Features . . . . . . . . . . . 8A
Scoreboard. . . . . . . . . . . 2B
Horoscopes . . . . . . . . . . . 7B
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 7B
TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A
Weather: Page 2A
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KU split about debate winner
Students, faculty choose sides after vice presidential talks
By Neal Shulenburger Kansan staff writer
Vice President Al Gore and Jack Kemp faced off in St. Petersburg, Fla., last night. Following the 90-
minute debate, KU stu
dents were divided on who was the victor.
Ryan Kauffman,
Overland Park junior
and chairman of College
Republicans,
said he was impressed with the debate.
"Overall, I think it was a good debate," he said. "I was surprised. They mostly stuck to the issues. Normally they get a
lot nastier with each other."
Dole was criticized by some Republicans after the first debate for not attacking Clinton on administration ethical lapses. Moderator Jim Lehrer opened the debate by asking Kemp if he agreed with the critics.
"In my opinion, it is beneath Bob Dole to go after anyone personally," Kemp said.
See DEBATE, Page 2A
He said the Republican ticket wanted a campaign characterized by civility, respect, integrity and decency.
Opinions on who won the debate were mixed.
Gore thanked Kemp for that answer, and from there the debate proceeded politely, even as the two men differed sharply on many issues.
Chris Gentry, Alma junior and treasurer of KU Democrats, said that Gore won the debate by specifying the differences in the past between Kemp and Dole.
"I thought Kemp looked a little shaky in his agreement with Bob Dole," he
The UDKi provides links to the candidates' online campaign sites. www.kansan.com