Thursday, August 26.1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
City raises fake ID, MIP fines despite objection
By Darek Prater
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
A night of drunken revelry just got more expensive for underage partiers in Lawrence — if they get caught.
Despite objections from Michael Henry, University of Kansas student representative, the Lawrence City Commission passed two new ordinances Tuesday night that raise the fines for minor in possession of alcohol and possession of false identification from $200 to $300.
Henry, community affairs director for Student Legislative Awareness Board, appealed to the commission not to raise fines but instead to work with the University of Kansas to curb underage drinking.
"We're just a little concerned that raising the fines for minor in possession and fraudulent IDs won't exactly curb the problem like the city might think it will," he said.
Henry offered alternative ideas to the commission to address the problem of underage drinking.
sion to address the problem of underage diking. Rather than increasing fines, the commission should consider adding public service requirements for offenders, Henry said.
"Places like the juvenile correction facility are in constant need of tutors," Henry said. "What better way for our students at the University who do commit a crime ... to pay for it than by working with a 13-year-old who has already committed a serious crime?"
Henry also said that he thought that programs such as the one supported by a $400,000 state grant to the University, which attempts to dispel misconceptions about drinking by advertising "drinking norms," were more effective than simple punitive action.
He said that Student Body President Korb Maxwell was offering to form a university commission to work with the city on creating more non-alcohol related activities for people in the 19 to 24 age group.
Commissioner Marty Kennedy pointed out that the ordinances were put forward by an alcohol abuse task force formed last year that was made up of representatives from the city and both the University and Haskell Indian Nations University. The task force developed a comprehensive plan to combat alcohol abuse and underage drinking, and the ordinances were just a part of the whole plan, he said.
Commissioner Mike Rundle said that though the commission welcomed new ideas to stop underage drinking, the commission was inclined to follow the advice of the alcohol abuse task force.
Commissioner David Dunfield said that the task force's recommendations were based on a simple principle.
"Sometimes it takes a harsh monetary hit to motivate some people," he said.
Henry said that he was disappointed with the commission's decision to approve the ordinances and raise the fines.
"I was hoping the commission would realize that our suggestions were coming from people that these ordinances affect," he said.
—Edited by Chris Hutchison
Changes alter culture of fraternity living
Fraternity recruitment moves to October
By Lori O'Toole
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Interfraternity Council moved formal recruitment from the traditional mid-August date to Oct. 3 through Oct. 8 in an attempt to generate more interest and greater involvement.
But the change also altered fraternity culture.
Bill Nelson, director of greek programs, said this was the first time in many years that formal recruitment did not take place during the week before classes began.
Since recruitment will not occur until October, men who would have pledged with a fraternity and moved into a chapter house are now living elsewhere under a year-long lease or housing contract.
"The chapters are not accustomed to pledges living out of the chapter houses." Nelson said.
Tim McCabe, Beta Theta Pi member
and St. Louis, Mo. senior, said his chapter would probably not participate in formal recruitment, but that the change would take some getting used to for chapters that do participate.
"It would hurt in a negative way," he said. "I feel it's good having the freshmen live in, get accustomed and meet everyone."
Nelson said the number of men involved in formal recruitment dropped from about 120 in 1992 to about 40 last year.
In addition to the low number of participants, the cost of the process placed an increasingly heavy financial burden on the Interfraternity Council, which Nelson said resulted in disgruntled fraternities.
He said the largest cost was housing the participating men in hotels for about a week since they would not permanently move until they pledged with a chapter house.
Brian Cooper, Interfraternity Council vice president of recruitment, said he hoped that the additional two months before formal recruitment would help out-of-state students have
"This is the beginning of a promotion of a culture for involvement for those who live out and who live in,"
Bill Nelson
Director of greek programs
more time to become better informed about the process and the campus.
Despite the anticipated improvements, Nelson said he was concerned about some of the negative aspects it may introduce.
For example, he said that men may not be willing to join certain fraternities based on stereotypes or perceptions they gain from others.
Ryan Kinsey, Dallas, Texas, freshman, said he would participate in formal recruitment in October. He said he liked the change and would not have participated in formal recruitment if it had been in August.
"I would have felt like I was being rushed into a fraternity that I may not like," he said. "It's quite a big decision."
Kinsey said his only concern with the change was that the houses may fill through informal recruitment.
Nelson said informal recruitment would continue to occur, and that some houses may not need additional members in October.
Nelson said he expected that about six of the 23 fraternities would not participate in the formal recruitment.
Nelson said it would be each chapter's decision whether to add the October pledges to the class that joined during the summer, to the spring pledge class, or to treat the new members as a separate class.
He said that the Interfraternity Council needed to work out the details of the recruitment schedule, but that there would be an alternate night for participants to visit fraternities in order to accommodate those with night classes or other obligations.
Nelson said he hoped about 150 men would participate in recruitment in October.
"This is the beginning of a promotion of a culture for involvement for those who live out and who live in," he said.
Edited by Katrina Hull
Artful display
Left: Elizabeth Baddeyle, Overland Park freshman, eyes a design sculpture created by Steve Elliot in the Basic Studies Scholarship exhibit. The exhibit opened last Sunday and runs until September 3.
Above: Amber Koelzer, Onaga freshman, peers into a box created by Kristen Haug for a design project.
The work is one of over 60 works that are part of the Basic Studies Scholarship in the Art and Design building gallery. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
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