CAMPUS / AREA
University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, October 9, 1991
3
KSU purchases OK'd
Student body president's furniture spending authorized
By William Ramsey
Kansan staff writer
Last night Kansas State University's student senate approved money for office furniture that the student would use. And the summer without senate approval.
The student senate voted 42-3 to approve payment for the furniture, most of which is in storage in the stucco member. He also member, who voted against the measure.
The bill included the $21,000 for furniture but not money for a computer, color monitor and laser printer that are made by Atribrus. Atribrus said in a telephone interview.
Senators passed the measure because the furniture for the student senate office had already been delivered, he said.
Joel Gruenke, a graduate student senator, said he had voted against the measure on ethical grounds and was unhappy that the bill had passed.
"The precedent that we set was that the university president has carte blanche to buy whatever he wants and then we will approve it," he said.
Todd Heitschmidt, student body president, and senate adviser Sally Routson had been questioned by senators in recent
weeks because
the furniture and
computer
items worth
$23,000 were
ordered
without its
approval
Todd Heitschmidt
But Routson and Heitschmidt
said that they thought that they could use the money, which was left over in a bank.
Gruenke said that the measure should not have passed, and that the furniture and computer should have been returned.
Heitschmidt may include the computer items in the senate's normal process in November, said Tricia Thornberg, an administrator on the finance committee.
"We have to get furniture, one way or another." Thornton said.
She said the committee had proposed the bill last week because they decided Heitschmidt had not acted maliciously in making the purchases.
The senate had not set aside money for furniture because it thought furniture was included in the $65,000 summer-renovations budget.
Heitschmidt and the senate now agree that it did not.
many boots.
"There still might be a few rebels out there," he said.
Heitschmidt said yesterday that the controversy had been sensationalized but that he thought the matter to be mostly settled.
Craig Uhrich, chairperson of the finance committee, said the issue, which at one point had included calls to the governor, was no longer a campus topic.
"People have sort of forgotten about it." Uhrich said.
Dan Knoll, K-State St. Louis senior,
said that students were not talking
much about the issue. But he also said
he thought Heitzschmidt should have
asked for permission before buying
the equipment.
Pat Bosco, de student life, said before last night's meeting that he would release the money from a retaliation statute decide to pass the allocation bill.
"It itse like the K-State student senate responded very quickly to the concern that their own spending politically was not appropriate in the appropriate manner," he said.
Justin Knupp/ KANSAN
Warming up
Waiting for the other members of his band, Steal Mary, to arrive for practice, Kenny Gall, Leawood senior, warms up in the front yard of his house on Kentucky Street. Gall decided to hold practice outside to take advantage of the nice weather yesterday afternoon.
Forum considers gays' privacy rights
Exposure should be a personal choice, GLSOK co-director says
By Rochelle Olson
Kansan staff writer
Students and faculty discussed their views about "outing," the exposing of closed gays and lesbians against their wills, at a forum last night.
Rob Taylor, co-director of Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas, said outing people did not help break stereotypes about gays and lesbians.
Pulling someone out of the closet does not leave positive images, Taylor said to about 20 people at 100 Smith Hall.
'you are not going to force someone out of the closet and make someone a positive role model,' he said. 'If I was pulled out of the closet when I wasn't ready, I certainly wouldn't be where I am today.'
The forum was co-sponsored by
GLSOK and Gay and Lesbian Academic and Staff Advocates as part of National Coming Out Week. Friday is National Coming Out Dav.
"There are plenty of us who are open and are making steps toward showing the world that has at some steps been made," Murray said. "We are good people." Murtaugh said.
He said the path to having more gays and lesbians in powerful positions in entertainment and government was not through outing.
He also said that there were healthier foods that were better out of the closet, although a tough struggle was.
Dan Murtaugh, graduate teaching assistant in English, said he thought outing was counterproductive.
Murtaugh looks to the classroom as place to educate others about gays and lesbians.
Although outing could have negative consequences, it also might help people accept their sexual orientation, he said.
But Patrick Dilley, Oklahoma City graduate student, said that people gave up their rights to privacy when they entered the public sphere.
He said there was no reason that the Jesuit missionian should be considered wrong.
"If you stay behind the scenes, it's just saying that it's something to be ashamed of."
She said she thought the issue of outing was similar to identifying rape survivors without their permission.
"Ideally it should not be something to be ashamed of, but there are realities," she said.
But Sharon Danoff-Burg, Lawrence graduate student, disagreed.
Seven-year-old April,left, regards her Compeer program buddy,Leigh Ann Verbon,as a sister
Program matches children with dependable adult friend
By Kerrie Gottschalk
Kansan staff writer
Their eyes light up and they smile shyly when they talk about their buddies.
To April, 7, and Richard, 10, their buddies are like trustworthy older brothers or sisters.
And that bond means a lot to children like April and Richard, who do not have many dependable adults in their world.
April and Richard are not related, but they both participate in the youth Compeer program.
Compeer also operates an adult program that matches adults with mental illnesses or emotional disorders with an adult buddy.
Competex's youth program matches children who are experiencing ongoing emotional and behavioral problems with a volunteer adult buddy who spends at least two hours a week with them.
The 20 children participating in the program range from ages 7 to 17.
April's buddy, Leigh Ann Verbon, Kansas City, Kan.
sen., provides that important adult figure.
"She said she is my friend," April said. "And I told her 'No you are, not your mother.'"
Verbon said she got involved in the program after she heard Kelly Merrick-Mouriz, Compeer director, speak in a psychology class.
"At first I was kind of scared, and I really didn't know what I was getting into." Verbon said.
Now she looks forward to her time with April.
She and April act as if they have been friends - or sisters - for a long time. They hug, laugh and tease each other.
they were matched six months ago, and since then, they have met every week, which is one of the program's requirements.
Volunteers also must make a one-year commitment to the program. Merrick-Mouriz said.
Verbon and April do different things together each week. Last week, they went to a picnic. They also have gone swimming, sailing and to eat.
"I like to go to the arcade," April said.
Richard and his buddy, Wayne Kruse, Herkimer graduate student, have spent a lot of time together in the past seven months.
Richard's favorite thing to do with Kruse is go to area lakes and explore the wildlife. Richard said he liked catching frogs and climbing trees.
The pair also goes to movies, watches television, washes Kruse's car and eats out.
"We also talk about things we can learn from each other," Kruse said.
He said he wanted to help Richard develop good relationships with him and other people.
Richard said, "I like the Compere program because I get to do things with a friend."
Rick Spano, associate professor of social welfare, said programs such as Compeer were good for children who lived with dysfunctional families or had been removed from their homes.
Hispanic-American surgeon general works to resolve medical problems
By Blaine Kimrey Kansan staff writer
Antonia Novello is not only the first woman to be confirmed as the United States surgeon general, but she also is the first Hispanic-American to occupy the prestigious position.
Appointed Mar. 1, 1990, Novello has worked to improve medical conditions for Hispanic-Americans in the United States.
"One of the problems is with language," said Mary Jane Singland, director of public affairs for the surgeon general. "It's kind of a cultural phenomenon."
Novello was in charge of a team in 1990 that discovered disproportionately bad health problems among Hispanic-Americans.
The team found that Hispanic Americans suffer from a higher rate of diabetes, kidney disease, certain cancers and high blood pressure than other ethnic groups.
Antonia Novello
The team linked the health problems to the large number of Hispanic-Americans who lacked health insurance
("Novello) wants to educate Hispanic-Americans about public health services available to them," Singland said.
Novello is working to persuade more Hispanic-Americans to enter the medical field.
With more Hispanic-American doctors and nurses, Hispanic-American
citizens will not have to conquer the language barrier when they seek professional treatment, Singland said.
She said the office of the surgeon general, with Novello's direction, was printing information packets in Spanish and different types of immunizations.
Novello also is working on a project that would inform Hispanic-American mothers about seeking health care for themselves.
Novello was born Aug. 23, 1944, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Puerto Rico in 1965.
Novello later received a master's degree from John Hopkins School of Public Health and a doctorate from University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine.
She trained in pediatrics at the University of Michigan and at the Georgetown University Medical Center.