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Monday, October 16, 1995
NATION/WORLD UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Washington prepares for Million Man March
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Black men converging on the nation's capital for today's Million Man March describe the march as a unifying, uplifting event that transcends its controversial originator, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
"It's not about a march, a man, words. It's about a movement," the Rev, Vernor Cray said yesterday.
The event, which includes a rally and a prayer meeting, is called a day of atonement and reconciliation. Supporters describe the event as a call for Black men to take responsibility for their lives and families and to dedicate themselves to fighting the scourges of drugs, violence and unemployment.
Organizers asked women — and men who can't come to the rally — to stay home from work or school to mark a holy day and to avoid spending money to demonstrate Black economic power. No one knows how many will take part.
The idea originated with Farrakhan, and he has been its chief organizer, with help from ousted NAACP chief Benjamin Chavis Jr. But the event has attracted a coalition of support, including Jesse Jackson, Rosa Parks, several Black members of Congress, mayors and ministers. Many say it is unfair now to characterize it as Farrakhan's event.
"It was his idea; he dropped the seeds," said Clarence White, a postal worker who traveled from San Antonio, Texas for the rally "But it's no longer his. It's ours."
Early arrivals milled around the event site on the National Mall. Several exchanged greetings of "Brother!" or "Hev, Black man!"
Vendors hawked T-shirts and hats that said "One in a million," and city crews began closing some streets along the Mall.
Three members of the Coalition for Jewish Concerns appeared on the Mall with signs that said "David Duke and Louis Farrakhan — two sides of the same coin." They got in a brief shouting match with some Black passersby.
Farrakhan's remarks have infuriated Jews, Catholics, gays and feminists. He has called Judaism a gutter religion, and he recently defended using the term blood-suckers to describe Jews or others who open businesses in minority communities and take the profits elsewhere.
Farrakhan canceled his public appearances yesterday to prepare for the rally.
Huge speakers and giant video screens were being set up on the grassy Mall yesterday, and yellow tape marked the spot behind the Capitol where organizers planned to erect a stage.
Crowds were expected to begin converging on the Mall soon after midnight. Some city subway stations were opening at 12:30 a.m., five hours earlier than usual, to accommodate them.
Activities start at 5 a.m. with prayer and African drumming, followed by speeches, music and more prayer.
City officials said that they were preparing for 500,000 to one million participants. Organizers predict more than 11,000 buses will bring them to the rally.
The 1963 civil rights march led by Martin Luther King Jr., which included men and women of many races, drew 250,000 people.
President Clinton will give a speech on race relations in Austin, Texas today. Deputy White House Chief of Staff Harold Ickes reiterated the president's support of the march's goals and his opposition to the bigoted, hateful, anti-Semitic, sexist comments of Louis Farrakhan.
"This group is not Farrakhan's group," Ickes said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "This is a group of Black men from around the country who are coming here for a day of atonement and to talk about how to take responsibility for their own lives."
Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole said, "My view is, there are probably a lot of well-intentioned people coming to Washington. And I like the talk about self-reliance, about picking yourself up, cleaning up our cities and getting kids off drugs, but I don't think that Farrakhan should be the leader of the march."
12:01 a.m. Buses begin to arrive on Mall
5 a.m. Prayer services on Mall
5-6 a.m.: African drummers
6-7 a.m.: Ecumenical prayer service
7 a.m.: Pre-event program on video screens
Monday. continued
7-8 a.m.: Prayer and instructions
Monday, continued
11-4 p.m.: Program
8:11 a.m.: Greetings
4-8 p.m.: Post-event program
SOURCE: Million Man March
9 p.m.: Celebration reception, Washington Convention Center
There are 1.0 Metro stops within walking distance of the rally on the Mall: Smithsonian, Archive, Federal Triangle, Union Station, Center Metro, Gallery Place, Judiciary Square, L'Enfant Plaza, Federal Center, Capital South
Book rates 'Land of Blahs' last
Knight-Ridder Tribune
The Associated Press
WICHITA — Tourism promotions like to call Kansas the "Land of Ahs."
But according to a new travel book that rates vacation spots around the world, the state might be more appropriately described as the "Land of Blahs."
Kansas ranked dead last in the new book "Vacation Places Rated," a survey of seasoned travelers who were asked about their favorite U.S. vacation places.
The sunflower state drew a collective yawn from the 13,500 veteran vacationers surveyed for the book. Less than 10 percent of them said they especially liked what they saw in Kansas. No other state, or domestic travel destination, such as Miami or New York City, scored that low.
"That doesn't mean Kansas is a
bad place," said Stanley Plog, author of the just-published book.
Based on travel habits and preferences, Plog split the people he surveyed into three groups: "venturers," who like to travel spontaneously, going where few have gone, before
"We don't have huge mountains, and we don't have beaches."
Matt Brisch communications director for state Department of Commerce
high marks. In fact, every group gave Kansas the lowest marks possible. Kansas was at the bottom of a list of one-star states that includes Oklahom a, North Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Delaware and Mississippi.
None of the groups gave Kansas
them; "dependables," who like the comforts of home when they travel and don't like surprises; and "centrists," or those who fall between the extremes.
The list was
summed up this way. "Very few people like it...you better know what you want to do before you go there, otherwise it could be a bad vacation experience."
"This hardly sets off any panic sig.
nals," said Matt Brisch, communications director for the state Department of Commerce, which houses the state's travel and tourism office.
"You've got to realize Kansas is not Hawaii, and it's not Colorado," Brisch said. "We don't have huge mountains, and we don't have beaches."
State tourism efforts are hindered, he said, by the fact that Kansas has one of the smallest tourism budgets in the nation. The Department of Commerce has a $3.65 million budget for the division of travel and tourism, but that includes money spent on Kansas magazine and the state film commission's efforts to attract moviemakers to Kansas.
"Most of our travelers are people passing through the state, and that's fine," he said.
Sandstone emerges from financial ruin
The Associated Press
BONNER SPRINGS — Less than four years ago, Sandstone Amphitheatre was on the bankruptcy rolls and hadn't made a timely payment to country music star Reba McEntire for a 1991 concert.
But hard times seem to be in the past for the Kansas City-area theater. This year, 413,000 people have come to concerts at Sandstone, more than twice the number of fans that attended shows in 1990.
The success is attributed to Sandstone's new management, Contemporary Group of St. Louis, which leases the theater from Wyandotte County.
Irv Zuckerman, co-owner of Contemporary Group, predicted in January 1993 that his company would improve Sandstone and the concert climate in the area. Most of Zuckerman's predictions have come true.
Wyandotte County officials and taxpayers are
among the happy customers. The county's rental income from Sandstone this year is $633,000, a 31 percent increase from last year.
For the first time in years, taxpayers won't have to subsidize the county's annual $588,000 bond payment on Sandstone, Wyandotte County Auditor Robert Brown said.
The complaints were especially loud after Elton John and Jimmy Buffet concerts this season. People were crammed wall-to-wall in a lawn section where space is limited to a first-come-first-serve basis. Hundreds had no view of the stage.
But some music lovers are grumbling about crowded conditions and limited views at the amphitheatre.
While leaving the Elton John show Sept. 26, one fan complained to each staff member: "Thank you. Thank you very much. I love paying $30 for a concert I can't see."
Some fans accused theater officials of overselling concerts.
Older fans — such as baby-boomers who attended the John and Buffet concerts — use more space. They spread blankets and tend to remain seated.
The problem might have more to do with the age of the audience, said seasoned concert-goers and staff members. Young fans often stand, using less space than adult audiences.
The two concerts were sellouts, but not one ticket more than the theater's 18,000 capacity was issued for either show, officials said.
Customer satisfaction is the first priority of the company, said Greg Hagglund, senior vice president of Contemporary Productions, the concert arm of the company that manages Sandstone. But he said meeting customer needs is harder with capacity crowds.
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Which of the following TV shows are educational?
a) "NBA Inside Stuff," a behind-the-scenes look at NBA players and coaches.
b) "Five Willy," an animated series about a 12 year old named Jesse and his friend, a three-ton whale named Willy.
c) "Beakman's World," in which an actor and two sidekicks explain scientific concepts.
d) "The Magic Adventures of Mumfie," about a lonely animated elephant who sets out to find friends.
Answer: All of the above, according to the major broadcast networks. ABC airs "Free Willy," CBS has "Beakman's World," NBC does "NBA Inside Stuff" and Fox offers "The Magic Adventures of Mumfie."
The shows, network executives say, satisfy their obligations under a 1990 law to show programs that serve the educational and informational needs of children.
But Kathryn Montgomery, president of the Center for Media Education, and other critics do not think programs such as "NBA Inside Stuff" and "Free Willy" meet those needs.
As federal regulators consider adopting tougher rules, the debate about children's television has largely centered on whether the government should require TV stations to air a minimum amount of educational shows.
But what is educational?
The Federal Communications Commission, which ensures that broadcasters comply with the law,
says educational and informational programs are shows that further "the positive development of children 16 years of age and under in any respect, including the child's intellectual/cognitive or social/emotional needs."
That definition, the FCC admits, is vague and has resulted in confusion and some creative interpretations. Some stations have counted reruns of "The Jetsons" and "Leave it to Beaver" as fulfilling their educational obligations. And a study released last week by Dale Kunkel, professor of communications at the University of California at Santa Barbara, found some stations classifying "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and even "Yogi Bear" as educational.
"The FCC has failed to provide a definition to give guidance to broadcasters," FCC Chairman Reed Hundt admits.
But the agency is considering adopting a clearer and tighter definition of what constitutes an educational program. Industry and public comments on this and other proposals are due to the FCC today.
"Unless the FCC adopts tougher rules, you are going to see more shows move into pro-social themes, what I call 'lite educational programs' — they qualify but they are not really educational," Montgomery said.
Activist Peggy Charren, president of Action for Children's Television, said, "The FCC can and should spell out what educational need is satisfied. So when they say, 'The Jetsons' is designed to demonstrate life in the 21st century,' we can say, 'That's preposterous.'"
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KU REGREATION SERVICES 208 ROBINSON 864-3248
October 15-21
Alcohol Awareness
Special Events
Mon., Oct. 16 AAW on Wescoe Beach, 10 am-2 pm. Information tables, non-alcoholic beverages (NABs), bumper stickers, key chains, other freebies, PLUS a special appearance by the new KU men's vocalist group at 12:45pm.
Tue., Oct. 17 AAW on Wescoe Beach, 10 am-2 pm Information tables, NABs, and freebies. Mortician Speaks on Alcohol-Related Death, 6:30 pm, Kansas Union, Kansas Rm, sponsored by Gamma Phi Beta & GAMMA.
Wed., Oct. 18 Speakers from Alcoholics Anonymous, 8:30 pm, Kansas Union, Alderson Auditorium.
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Thur., Oct. 19 Trike Race, 6:30 pm, TKE House
AAW sponsors: PARTY, Center for Peer Health Promotion, GAMMA, Student Housing, KU Police Dept., Watkins Department of Health Promotion and Education. For more info: 864-9570.
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