The weekend's weather
HIGH LOW 88 58
Sunday: Cooler with a chance for showers and thunderstorms.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Kansan Weekend Edition
Friday
September 3, 1999
Section:
A
Vol. 110 • No. 13
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
(USPS 650-640)
University waits to react to ACLU seal concerns
By Clay McCuistion writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The University general counsel declined to comment yesterday about an investigation into the appropriateness of the official University of Kansas seal.
The KU chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union decided Wednesday to send a letter to the administration, asking for an explanation of the seal's depiction of Moses kneeling before the burning bush. The seal also contains a Bible verse in Latin from Exodus.
ACLU members are concerned that the religious references on the seal violate the separation of church and state.
The sea view of the separat ion is
Reaction on campus yesterday was mixed.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway's
office referred questions about the group's action to Victoria Thomas, University general counsel. /
Thomas said her office and the administration wouldn't comment until they received the letter from KU ACLU.
"Our office doesn't get involved until our client asks for advice," she said. "I imagine ultimately I'll hear about it."
Thomas said she couldn't remember anyone questioning the seal during her 23 years at the University of Kansas.
According to information from University archives, in 1866 the Board of Regents authorized then-Chancellor R.W. Oliver to create a University seal. The seal was first used on a diploma in 1877 and was first featured in a catalog of classes in 1899.
The archives contain four versions of the seal with minor differences. Before 1955, the figure of Moses was bald. The current variation, in which the Biblical leader's head is covered, has been used since then.
What Oliver, a minister, meant to convey by the seal is still unknown. In the most frequently stated interpretation, the burning bush implies abundant knowledge, while the figure of Moses represents a scholar kneeling in awe.
Tim Miller, professor and chairman of the religious studies department, said he didn't think the seal was explicitly religious.
It a literary reference that is Biblical, but it's not religious in intent," he said. "I think that's the way it's been taken by most people."
Miller, who also is a member of the ACLU, said he thought the seal was general enough to be inoffensive.
"If you had a motto saying 'Jesus is your only hope,' there would be more of a problem with it," he said. "I don't see it as more of a problem than having 'In God we trust' on our money."
Dede Seibel, student body vice president, said she appreciated that the ACLU raised the issue.
"I would be interested to see how the University would respond," she said.
Seibel said she was unsure that the 133-year-old seal should be tampered with, though.
"It's such a tradition for the University, and it's so rich with history that I don't know if it should be changed," she said.
James Jassmann, Overland Park senior, fills out a job application at the Mass. Street Deli, 941 Massachusetts St. Many businesses across town are looking for help as students return to Lawrence. Photo by Roger Nomari/NKANSAN
Edited by Jennifer Roush
Shops scramble for workers as students return
By Chris Borniger writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
With an influx of thousands of students beginning the fall semester at the University of Kansas, Lawrence businesses are adjusting to increasing business amid a shortage of workers.
Sales at Jimmy John's Gourmet Sub Shop, 1447 W.23rd St., doubled when students moved back to Lawrence, said Kamal Gandhi, the shop's owner. He said during the middle of August, all three phone lines at the shop were usually busy.
Despite the increased sales, Gandhi said that he had trouble finding the right workers and that the lack of help could hurt his business.
"This town is growing, and there are a bunch of other franchisees in the market now, so we have to be competitive," he said. "And when we're running low on labor, we don't look like we're professionally run."
Evan Jackman, general manager of Einstein Brothers Bagels, 1026 Massachusetts St., said sales had increased 12 percent in the past month. He said that workers were hardest to come by during the beginning of September and end of May. To prepare for this semester, his store's corporate managers started printing signs for employment a month in advance.
Jackman said the store's patrons had been patient despite its lack of help.
"People understand in Lawrence that stores go through this," Jackman said. "I don't think it has a serious detrimental effect."
Jackman also said he preferred student workers.
"Students are the best," he said. "They're awesome. They're smart, and they work hard to balance work and class."
Gretchen DiGiovanni, manager of Chili's Bar & Grill, 2319 Iowa St., said she routinely had to train new workers this time of year to replace graduated seniors. That training, she said, wasn't necessarily a hassle.
"If anything, that helps," she said. "Teaching people how to do their jobs help you learn your job a lot better too."
Emily Hulce, Derby senior, began working at Mass. Street Deli, 941 Massachusetts St., last week. She said she had no trouble finding a job.
"I had the job within about 10 minutes," she said. "I had experience, so I started the next day."
Hulce said working in a restaurant was ideal.
“It's exactly what I was looking for,” she said. “I get to bring my tips home every night.”
Two years ago, Brian Corry, St. Louis senior, found a job with similar ease at Einstein Brothers — it was the first job for which he applied in Lawrence. Now, he's a shift supervisor at the store.
Balancing work and classes wasn't a problem, he said.
"It's hard at first, but you get used to it," he said. "It's really just a matter of scheduling everything right."
Nicole Clark, Elbing sophomore, said that she had offers for off-campus jobs but that she was looking for a job on campus. "It's just a lot closer and more flexible," she said. "I'd rather work with students all the time."
Edited by Mike Loader
CONCERT CALENDAR
Tonight
Spirit Festival—See page 10A
Kansas New Music Festival, Westerman's Amphitheatre, between Newton and Hutchinson on US-50.
Jesse Jackson 5, DJ Bill Pile, 9 p.m. Bottleneck, 737 New Hamshire St.
Li'l Slim and the Back Alley Blues Band, 10 p.m. Jazz-
zhaus, 926/21 Massachusetts St.
Billy Ebeling and the Late for Dinner Band 9 p.m.
Pat's Blue Ribbon Barbecue, 1618 W. 23rd St.
Spirit Festival 4 p.m. to midnight the Smithereens,
Deep Blue Something, Gravity Kills, Ultimate Fakebook
Tomorrow
Kansas City
Joshua Bell, Sam Bush, Mike Marshall and Edgar
Ryan, Lied Center
Arthur Dodge, Rex Hobart and his Misery Boys 9:30
The Bottleneck
- Jeff McGraw in m. Jupiter's Deil and Bar 15th
- Conocenti 9:30 p.m. Jupiter's Deil and Bar 15th
- Kagodr Dr.
Sunday
Supply Festival 4 p.m. to midnight Buddy Guy, Skinpee J's, Joe Sample and Lalah Hathaway
Kansas New Music Festival
p.m. The Bottleneck
Jeffrey Lee and the Pale Moon Kings, 10 p.m. Jazzhaus
Labor Day
Kansas City Symphony Labor Day Concert 7 p.m.
Mission Park.
Shawe Wiley Missionary English Alternative Theater "Parodies Lost" Spoofs for the Thinking Man, 8 p.m. Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall. Free
Labor Day
...
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents.
Check out the horoscopes online to find out what to expect for your day.
www.kansan.com
Believe it or not...
This local band is walking on air, despite an impending breakup.
See page 10A
Although they contributed to more than one-fourth of the total tackles against Notre Dame, Kansas safeties have other kinks to work out before their home opener against Cal State Northridge.
Safety review
Seepage6A
Nikki Giovanni, best-selling author, poet and essayist, urged more than 600 people to make the world a better place.
See page 3A
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Poet's challenge
Kansan movie critic Brendan grades the new action flick, Chtor, starring Academy-Awarrner Cuba Gooding Jr., and Ulrich.
See page 5A
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