University Daily Kansan/Wednesday, September 18, 1991
CAMPUS/AREA
3
Views vary on relevance of Fulcher's race
By Rochelle Olson Kansan staff writer
Opinions about issues surrounding embattled student body president Darren Fulcher have been greatly divided in the past few weeks.
And questions about the role of race in those issues similarly have brought up problems.
Fulcher was charged with battering his ex-girlfriend, a KU student, during a domestic dispute in February, Lawrence police and court reports.
Last week, Student Senate voted to expel Fulcher. The decision has been appealed.
Fulcher, the first African American to be elected student body president of the University of Kansas, said he did not believe that the events surrounding the incident.
"But me being Black makes me an easier target," he said.
that it had potential to be.
Sherwoold Thompson, director of the office of minority affairs, said that he is involved with the committee.
"I think that this situation has all the characteristics and potential of a racial issue because the players are white and Black, and
because Darren
Fulcher is the first African-American president of the student body," he
Quivale Roberts, East St. Louis, Ill., senior, said she thought all public figures were scrutinized regardless of their race.
"I think that it's real easy to say that this is a racial issue because of the history of Black and white people," she said. "A lot of Black people believe that white people are afraid of any Black person in power."
he considered the issue to be moral and legal rather than racial.
Jacob Gordon, professor of African and African-American studies, said
"I think the student senators have the right to question the character of their leader irrespective of race or color," he said.
Stephanie Wilcox, member of Students Against Violence Against Womyn, said she thought there probably were some people on Senate who wanted Fulcher expelled because he was African-American.
But the issue has gone beyond race, she said.
"Now it is a matter of whether he can effectively represent the student body," Wilcox said. "He can't represent either victims of domestic violence."
Corbin Cain, Coffillevie, sophona issue had been blown into a radial lesion.
The women's groups are on one side, and the minorities are on the other.
"Simply because he is a Black president, some people see that as a chance to be a leader."
Gretchen Crowell
actions because he was Black. I think they took them because of what he did."
People would have been in an uprora
nother what color he was, Crowell 81
"Whether it is a racial issue on what is going on in people's heads, and I'm not privy to that," Marquis said.
Don Marquis, professor of philosophy, specializes in ethics.
He said people were quick to charge racism without evidence.
ing."
"It happens on a regular basis on this campus," he said. "I find that distress-
Marqueel Jordan, Kansas City, Kan., junior, said he thought it was a racial issue because of the way the Kansan portrayed it.
"Throughout history when there is a Black and white issue, it always makes me the Blank on an assault and a white is the victim," Jordan said.
Penny Wright, overland Park freshman, partlyagreed.
"I think it has been portrayed as a critical issue because of the coverage," Writen said.
The pictures of people that are for Fulcher are always Black, and those against him are always white or women, she said.
William Allen, Pittsburg, Kan.,
was wrong to slight the issue was political, not racial.
body decide."
"It's pretty much giving Student Senate something to do and probably has less meaning to the average KU student than the *Kansan* is reporting." Allen said. "If it is that important, they ought to hold a vote and let the student
But Mark Ridk,
Kansas
City, Kau-
nion, said the
wife was most
definitely
a racialist.
"I think the whole reason it came out in the limelight was
Mark Riding
because of the mixed races of the people involved," Riding said.
He said that because Fulcher was Black, it was inevitable that people would dig up something unfavorable about him.
Maggie Childs, faculty adviser to Women's Student Union, said the issue was racially divisive because people had claimed it was.
"If anything, people have dragged their feet in asking him to resign," Colson said. "If he was a white guy he would have been asked to resign a quicker."
Pro-choice coalition, protesters clash at Union
Ruckus erupts at meeting held by KU pro-choice group
Penov Jarman,right,and an unidentified anti-abortion protester debate at the Kansas Union.
By Jennifer Bach Kansan staff writer
Tempers flared last night between members of the KU Pro-Choice Coalition and a group of anti-abortion protesters from the Kansas City Area.
About 40 members of the coalition were at the Kansas Union last night listening to a speech by Peggy Jarman, a pro-choice advocate, when protesters arrived, said Meredith Shaehon, a member of the KU Pro-Choice Coalition.
Jarman is the representative for George Tiller, a physician in Wichita who was the target of anti-abortion protesters during the summer.
During the speech, about 10 anti-abortion protesters entered Alcove C of the Union, where the meeting was being held, holding up a sign that read, "It is a fact ... abortion is murder."
Shaehan said that when the anti-abortion supporters first arrived, one man sat directly behind Jarman, shouting and asking what she called obnoxious questions.
"They're welcome to come. But they came to disrupt our meeting so that people couldn't ask relevant questions. That's why we wanted them out."
— Amber Alamanza, KU Pro-Choice Coalitio
"They said that men should tell women what to do," she said.
Shaehon said the meeting eventually ended because members of the coalition were tired of the anti-abortion supporters' rudeness.
"They started asking questions that were extremely subjective," she said. "They were saying things like, 'How does a baby feel when it's being aborted?'"
Powers said Jarman tried to deal with the questions from the anti-abortion supporters as rationally as possible.
Amber Almanza, Lawrence sophomore and the pro-choice coalition's treasurer, said the meeting was intended to be an open
forum, but for tolerant questions only.
She said the anti-abortion protesters' only purpose had been to agitate people at the meeting.
"They're welcome to come," she said. "But they came to disrupt our meeting so that people couldn't ask relevant questions. That's why we wanted them out."
Donna Damer of Kansas City, Mo., and one of the anti-abortion activists, said she was sorry that she had not arrived at the meeting when it began at 6 p.m.
"We came to educate the people the same way as Mrs. Jarman wanted to," she said.
Jim Ketchum, also of Kansas City, Mo., who was among the protesters, said that Jarman was not interested in hearing other points of view.
"She has no ground to stand on," he said. "They feel they have the right to murder whomever cannot defend themselves."
Kindergartners get a taste of 'Green Eggs'
The protesters said they were not members of any specific organization.
Kansan staff writer
By Stephanie Patrick
Asking questions like "Why would, you want to eat green eggs and ham?" kindergarteners at Hillcrest Elementary School were entertained yesterday by members of the KU Dr. Seuss Club.
Elizabeth Oeding, Luverne, Minn., freshman, reads a Dr. Seuss book.
The students listened as club members read several of the author's most famous books, such as "Green Eggs and Ham" and "The Cat in the Hat."
The reading at the school, 1045 Hilltop Drive, was an effort by the club to become a community service organization and not just a campus group.
"We always planned to do community service, but we just didn't get it organized in time last year," said Brandon Fitzpatrick, the president and Ballwin Mo. senior.
The club, which has more than 25 members, was formed last year by Hesse and others who liked Dr. Seuss literature.
Theodor Driss Geisel, whose name is Dr. Seuss, has recognized the club and given it a framed letter that is displayed at the club's meetings.
Hesse said he got the idea from a similar club he had heard about at the University of Massachusetts.
Lominska said that yesterday's reading was a nice gesture by the club and that it was also an important tool for the kindergarten students.
The club's opportunity to do community service came last month during KU enrollment and registration, when Bob Lominski, a kindergarten teacher at Hillcrest, saw the club's table at the Kansas Union.
"As a teacher, I am aware of the things that can be done with kids," he said. "I am always thinking, 'How can I exploit this to help my kids out?'
Lominska approached the club about the possibility of reading to several classes in the school district.
Fasting and reflection mark climax of Jewish holy days
By Rochelle Olson
Kansanstaffwriter
Last night's Koi Nidrei service in the Kansas Union Ballroom marked the beginning of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.
Yom Kippur is the culmination of the Jewish High Holiday period, which began with Rosh Hashana last week.
"The point of Yom Kippur is to reflect on the whole year and not just one day," said Andrea Katzman.
The Koli Nidiret prayer is said at the beginning of the evening service and absolves Jews of promises they have made to God.
The prayer frees people to think about their relationships with other human beings. Katzenman said.
"Right now my concentration is on this world and making it a more peaceful and better place," she said.
The Kol Nidret service usually is preceded by a large meal since Yom Kippur is marked by physical abstinence and fasting.
Many people begin fasting at sunset yesterday and will not eat or drink until after sunset tonight.
The fasting releases one from personal satisfaction and reminds one that people in the world suffer, Katzman said.
Jaffe said she would spend today at a synagogue in Overland Park with her family.
The service lasts an hour, and people must stand for most of the time, she said.
Overland Park with her family. "My family has always been very observant," she
"My family has always been very observant," she said. "I have fasted on the holiday) since was 11;
Anna Jaffe, Overland Park junior, said the most difficult part of the fast would be tonight's service.
Listening to the music of Yom Kippur helps her get into the mood of the holiday, Jaffa said.
"High Holiday prayers are really beautiful," she said.
"The holiday is a serious, contemplative time. I remember the feeling of being alone."
"I'll keep it that way."
"I're holiday in a serif; contextualize thine." reflect back on things that I have done and wish I hadn't.
"It is a time for me to think about how I am going to go forward in the next year and improvements I am going to make in myself."
But Marla Adler, Wilmette III, seni, said she would attend classes today and would not fast.
*Although my teachers will excuse me, it is really difficult to make up the work.* she said.
This is the first year that she will attend classes during Yom Kippur, Adler said. But the holiday will not gounnoticed.
"The holiday is still significant for me, and it's still a time to reflect," Adler said.