THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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STATE Gay, lesbian magazine celebrates 10 years
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WICHITA — Kristi Parker published the first issue of Liberty Press, the state's only monthly publication covering gays and lesbians, 10 years ago this month.
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Parker, who edits the publication, admits there are days she can't believe Liberty Press is still going 10 years later.
At one point, Parker had to sell her car to keep the business
aftoil. Now the publication is grossing $100,000 a year, said Vinnie Levin, managing editor of Liberty Press and Parker's longtime partner.
Liberty Press, which averages 64 pages, has outlasted 24 other gay and lesbian publications based in Wichita, Levin said. Parker, a Wichita native, saw a need for a publication to connect the gay and lesbian communities across the state.
The Associated Press
"It's very easy if you're gay in Kansas to feel isolated," said Levin.
KOBACH: Senate hopeful to speak at Wescoe Beach
education and national security, and that because Kobach was a law professor and teacher of constitutional law at UMKC, he was more in tune with the needs of students.
Josh Steward, Hays senior and vice chairman of the KU College Republicans, said he thought Kobach would appeal to undecided voters on campus.
"There's a lot of people who have already made up their mind to vote for him, and a lot of people who have already made up their mind to vote against him," he said. "If people have stayed undecided in this campus atmosphere, they're probably going to be more conservative."
Steward said Kobach was an
"T there's a lot of people who have
already made up their mind to vote for him, and a lot of people who have already made up their mind to vote against him."
Josh Steward Hays senior
BLOOD: Drive needs more donors by tomorrow
CONTINUED FROM 1A
attorney and was very articulate, and would be likely to convince undecided voters to vote for him.
"This morning when we took inventory, we had 26 pints of O-negative blood; that's a quarter of the minimum amount we want on hand," said Bree Cox, communication manager for the American Red Cross Central Plains Region Blood Services in Wichita.
The shortage began last year in late December and continued into April, Cox said.
By August, supplies of all blood types, especially O-negative blood, were dangerously low and have remained low since then.
"We've had to postpone elective surgeries," said Humbina Harper, medical laboratory technician at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. "The supply is so low, we're saving what we have for trauma."
Type O-negative blood is the most commonly used type of blood because it is the "universal" type; people of any blood type can receive O-negative blood. Trauma patients who need a transfusion are given type O-negative blood first and then are typed and given their specific blood type later. Patients with O-negative blood can only receive O-negative blood.
"We have had to ask hospitals to be sparing with it," Belanger said. "We're that low right now."
"M medicine has advanced,
but that means more donations are needed. What we see is that the number of donors is actually falling."
American Red Cross Central Plains Region communications manager
The shortage isn't necessarily caused by a lack of donors, Cox said. Factors such as new treatments and increased oncology practice require more blood.
Also, the baby boomer generation donates blood at a much higher rate than its children, but that generation is aging and needs more blood. Younger people are less likely to donate than older people, and that gap is also becoming a problem, according to the United Blood Services Web site.
"We're living longer," Cox said. "Medicine has advanced, but that means more donations are needed. What we see is that the number of donors is actually falling."
The American Red Cross supplies blood to 106 hospitals in the Midwest region, and Community Blood Centers supply 75 hospitals, including Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Both organizations have been hit hard by the shortage.
"If we can't get supplied by Lawrence, we have to call units in from Topeka or Kansas City." Harper explained. "It's more expensive in the end for the patients."
Michael Harry, Spring Hill senior, is familiar with the transfusion process.
When he was 15, Harry had an accident with a belt sander and had to have a blood transfusion.
"Basically, it caught my forearm and started ripping," Harry said. "The transfusion and stuff is a blur because I lost a lot of blood."
Harry received a pint of blood during treatment. Harry was a trauma patient and he most likely received O-negative blood.
"I received blood before, so giving blood is important," Harry said. "I'd say I'm appreciative to someone for doing it."
Belanger said college-age students were generally good about donating blood, especially due to the fact they see it as an opportunity to save lives.
Nathan Hartshorne Overland Park junior, believes there are several reasons to donate blood.
"Really, there are three reasons why I give: to help other people, it's healthy for the body because then it has to
regenerate the blood, and I like getting my cholesterol results in the mail," Hartshorne said.
According to the American Red Cross, one in every three people will be in need of a blood product in his or her lifetime.
"Think of yourself and your two best friends," Cox said. "One of you will need blood. And the last thing you want to think about when you need that blood is whether it's on the shelf for you to use or not."
Participation in blood drives is almost five percent in Kansas, and 60 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood. The American Red Cross estimates that 500 donors are needed to supply one day's worth of blood, and another 30 to provide platelets.
Belanger said that receiving 100 units of blood was a good day for the KU Blood Drive, and she would like to see 457 units or more from this year's drive.
"If people would just come in, if we could just get more of the population in here," said Cox.
"It's seven minutes of your life, but it's the rest of theirs. That's something to consider."
The KU Blood Drive continues through tomorrow.
So far, the drive has collected 167 units since it started on Monday.
Edited by Marissa Stephenson
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