MONDAY, OCTOBER 23,1995
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
NEWS 864-4810
ADVERTISING 864-4358
SECTION A VOL.102,NO.46
(USPS 650-640)
TODAY KANSAN
SPORTS
Football team won't be denied
The Jayhawks fought back against Oklahoma and moved to No.6 in the polls.Page 1B
CAMPUS
KU's peers are reconsidered
The Board of Regents is looking at whether KU's peer schools are really KU's peers. Page 3A
Drug smugglers stand trial
Opening arguments begin today for two men charged with running one of the largest cocaine rings in the world. Page 6A
NATION
WORLD
United Nations turns 50
World leaders gathered in New York yesterday to mark the organization's anniversary. Page 5A
WEATHER
ABITWINDY
High 61° Low 48°
Weather: Page 2A
INDEX
Opinion ... 4A
National News ... 5A
World News... 5A
Scoreboard... 2B
Horoscopes ... 4B
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is free. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents.
Two football players must go to court
Linemen charged with Oct.9 theft
By Scott Worthington Kansan staff report
Two University of Kansas football players have been issued a summons to appear in court on misdemeanor charges of theft of services in connection with an Oct. 9 incident that was originally reported as an aggravated robbery, according to Douglas County court records.
Dion Johnson and Elliot Shaffer, both freshman linemen from Detroit, were arrested on charges of aggravated robbery and theft of services after a Kansas City, Mo., tad driver
said he was robbed by the men at knifepoint in front of Jayhawker Towers apartments.
The men then refused to pay for the $65 cab ride from Kansas City International Airport and took $20 from the driver, according to the report.
Charges of aggravated robbery were not filed immediately because police still were investigating. The two men have been ordered to appear in court at 3 p.m. Nov. 8 for the misdemeanor charge of theft of services.
On the date of the incident, Shaffer was arrested on an additional charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. That charge was not included in the summons.
The fact that the Douglas County District attorney's office is not pursuing the aggravated robbery charges has left the taxi driver indignant.
"I'm not satisfied, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it." said William Jones. a driver
for Ron and Fe's Taxi of Kansas City, Mo.
Jones said he was told that authorities would not pursue the aggravated robbery charge because they could not prove that a knife was involved.
"The knife I saw, they claim they can't find," Jones said. "I'm the only one who saw it."
Jones, who said he had not heard from the KU athletic department and had not been reimbursed for the loss, said he had not lied about the existence of the knife.
Jones described the knife as "Japanese-style" with a long, thin blade. He said that one of the men removed it from a sheath and pressed it against his ribs before taking the money and fleeing.
"I lost a whole day's pay and effort." Jones said. "Why would I want to say something like that? I just want my little bit of money back."
Jones said he would get a lawyer if he wasn't satisfied with the outcome of the case
'Investment comes down due to the cold
Contrary to the initial police report, Jones said he did have enough change to break the $100 bill the men offered for the $65 cab fare. The report stated that Jones said he had only a $20 for change. Jones said he was reaching for the extra $15 when one of the men pulled a knife. He offered no speculation about why the men suddenly refused to pay.
The two men have been suspended indefinitely from the team, according to a press release issued by the athletic department.
"I don't know these guys, and I don't want to know them," Jones said. "They're young, and they've got their whole lives ahead of them. They need to find something better to do with their time than that."
Shaffer declined yesterday to comment on the incident. Johnson could not be reached for comment.
Careful craft
Dusty Johnson,
Duluth, Mduln,
graduate student,
spins a piece of art
work in the Art and
Design building.
The piece is for a new
series on
which Johnson is
working.
Andy Rullestad/KANBAN
Team names tarnish series
By Craig Lang
Kansan staff writer
They are the most important games of the baseball season. It is
the date of year that baseball fans anticipate all summer long.
And while many people across the country will turn on
their televisions to catch the World Series, others will be changing the station.
Many Native Americans are disturbed by the political incorrectness of the two teams competing in this year's World Series.
Regina Grass, Vian, Okla., senior, said she found the use of Cleveland's Indian mascot and Atlanta's
Brave mascot, along with its tomahawk chop chant, derogatory toward Native Americans.
Michael Yellow Bird, assistant professor of social welfare. said the
"I think it's definitely racism," she said. "I do find it disturbing. If it was any other minority stereotype, they would have changed them by now."
ered-hat people." he said.
Dan Kersting, East Troy Wise, junior, said he thought it was ridiculous that some were upset about the mascots' use. He said he saw the
continued use of the symbols displayed Americans' ignorance about Native Americans.
Yellow Bird said that seeing fans dressed in face paint and doing the tomahawk chop exemplified the fact that Native Americans still are seen as un civilized people.
"Many people believe Native Americans are these savage. feath-
mascots as symbols of power and strength.
"I just don't understand why they're getting all upset," he said. "I think it's
more of a compliment than anything else."
Steve Shaffer, Lawrence junior, said he understood why Native Americans found the use of the mascots and the chant offensive, but he said the issue did not keep him from enjoying baseball or the World Series.
"It's something that's in the back of
my mind," he said. "It doesn't keep me from watching the game."
Yellow Bird said he did not hold a grudge against people who cheered for either team or who did the tomahawk chop.
"I understand they're caught in the moment," he said. "Many have no clue they're offending a whole nation of people."
Grass said she would like to see teams such as Atlanta and Cleveland change their mascots, but she said she could not see a change happening any time soon because of the familiarity associated with the mascots.
"I don't think you can change the attitude of people who hold that kind of money," she said.
Course to explore multiculturalism in America
By Novelda Sommers
Kansas staff writer
Kansan staff writer
Next semester, the course American Studies 110, The American People, will be taught by five instructors and will focus on multicultural America from 1895 to 1995. The instructors will tackle topics such as urbanization and industrialization, the Civil Rights movement and African Americans' migration from the South.
Norman Yetman, professor of American studies, teaches the class this semester. He said that in the wake of racial division over the
Five heads are better than one.
And the same was true during most of the 1970s. In the 1980s, enrollment dropped, he said. Since the late 1980s, interest has picked up again.
"Enrollment trends are definitely affected by current events," he said.
Yetman said that many times, current events seemed to influence enrollment in the class.
O. J. Simpson trial, it could not hurt for students to take a closer look at multiculturalism in America.
"in the '60s, I couldn't find a room big enough for the class," he said.
Barry Shank, assistant professor of American studies who will be one of the course's
instructors, said he also noticed enrollment trends.
"For example, during the years of presidential elections you definitely have an increase in students taking courses on the presidency," Shank said.
Shank said he did not know if a course about multicultural topics would improve racial tolerance.
"That is the great utopian hope of college teachers, that you could get through to students like that," he said.
Julius Williams, assistant director of minority affairs, said he thought courses in multiculturalism should be part of every student's edu
cation.
"I imagine how many people started (studying multiculturalism) before college," Williams said. "Very few."
The course will be offered 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday nights, with discussion sections on Fridays. William Tuttle, professor of history and American studies, David Katzman, professor of history and American studies, and Cheryl Lester, associate professor of English, also will teach the course.
Yetman said the two-hour block would allow for feature-length movies. One movie that he plans to show is "Birth of a Nation," a racist movie from the 1920s.
KU to review architects'plans for Templin renovation
Suites to be included in construction design
By Phillip Brownee Kansan staff writer
After two years of planning and promising, renovation of Templin Hall may be closer to reality. Lawrence architects Gould Evans Associates will present three design drawings for new Templin suites at an Association
of University Residence Halls meeting at 5 p.m. tomorrow in McCollum Hall.
The plans, which have been narrowed down from seven original designs, propose constructing suites that are the size of 1 1/2, and 2 and 3 existing rooms.
The plans also call for private baths, Ethernet and cable-TV hookups, new thermopane windows, new heating and air-conditioning systems and areas for refrigerators and microwaves.
The renovation project has progressed slowly because of the steps involved in the project, said Phil Garito, associate director of student housing. These steps include conducting a feasibility study, gaining approval from the Board of Regents and the Kansas Legislature and working with the architects to make designs final.
Officials hope to complete the $5.8 million project by Fall 1997.
"If all goes well, we should start construction by the first of July or the first of August," Garito said.
But Wonne Kroes, Elindhoven,
Holland, graduate student and
Templin resident, said he disagreed with remodeling Templin because KU's only men's dorm would be closed, and the renovation would result in higher housing rates.
Kenneth Stoner, director of student housing, said Templin residents would be relocated to other residence halls during the construction period. About 170 men now live in Templin.
He said Templin was being renovated because its 30-year-old infrastructure needed major work. Student input has led to converting the rooms to suites, he said.
"Templin is being remodeled at the cost of people who live here because it's cheap and easy," he said. "I would not come back because of the price increase."
Stoner said the cost of the proposed suites had not been determined but would be comparable to the present single-room rates, which are about $4,500 per year.