CAMPUS / AREA
University Daily Kansan/ Tuesday, September 17, 1991
3
Gay-community assistant quits recently created post
By Rochelle Olson Kansan staff writer
Tom Emerson, part-time graduate assistant for gay and lesbian concerns, reluctantly is leaving his position today.
Emerson, who has held the post since it was created in January, said he had been one of the first four women to
"I am devastated that I was not able to convince this University of the need for a full-time position to address full-time concerns," Emerson said. "That is why I am leaving. I did not leave to take another job.
"I did my damnedest to find a reason to stay here," he said.
Emerson, who graduated from the KU School of Law in the spring, said he planned on leaving the University to political career in the Kansas City area.
A successor to Emerson has not been chosen. Applications are available in the GLSOK office. The deadline is Tuesday.
"I think the University's commitment to gay and lesbian students can be questioned as long as the position is supported by full-time staff position," Emerson said.
David Amber, executive vice chancellor for student affairs, disagreed
Ambier said no direct correlation existed between a full-time staff position and the willingness of the University to work on any problem.
"Full-time professional staff positions don't come easy." Ambler said. "We don't establish them at our own will. They come from the state."
But Ambler said he agreed
Tom Emerson
that position addressing concerns of
gay and lesbian students was neces
"Tom has been super in the short period of time he has been with us," he said. "We have accomplished a lot, and ink it is because Tom has been there."
Emerson said the first thing he did when he took the position was assess the gay and lesbian campus community's needs.
He found that no shortage of resources existed for the students.
"Gay and lesbian people take care of themselves very well," he said. "It is an elaborate network of self-sufficiency."
Emerson decided to focus on the rest of the campus.
"They need to be educated and sensitized in regard to gay and lesbian people."
Emerson said conditions existed for gay and lesbian students that not everyone could see.
"A lot of people are part of the expression and don't know it," he said.
He cited as an example a professor
who tells a joke putting down gays and
homosexuality.
Emerson recently developed four offices and deployment centers on campus.
"The issues we program around are things that affect us every day on this website."
The brochures provide information about the myths and language of the gay and lesbian community, what to do if someone "comes out," or reveals that he or she is gay or lesbian, and ways to create a safe environment.
But Emerson said that even if he had never lifted a finger in his job, his symbolic presence in the position was the biggest accomplishment.
Scott Manning, member of Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas, agreed.
Manning said that Emerson served as a liaison between GLSOK and the US Army.
"Now we can have a dialogue with them instead of just reacting," Manning said.
He said Emerson had made administration and faculty members more comfortable with being open about their sexual orientation.
But Manning also would like to see the position become full time.
"There is no way that members of the administration would treat a graduate student with the same level of respect as a staff member," he said.
Sexual-assault program created to educate students, assist victims
By Kerrie Gottschalk
Kansan staff writer
At students' requests, there is a new program at KU this semester that offers sexual assault information.
The program, which is run by the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, will distribute printed information, act as liaison with Douglas County Rape Victim Support Services and make referrals to other available sexual assault services.
It will be called the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Program, and it was created in response to a demonstration last spring in front of Strong Hall in which students requested a sexual-assault program on campus, said Joi Phelps, graduate assistant coordinator for the program.
"We are an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and for anyone who knows a friend or has had any experience with sexual assault," Phelps said.
Assault Statistics
Its primary goal this semester is to make students aware of the center, Phelps said.
- 25% of all college women are victims of rape or attempted rape.
- One study reported that only 5% of the women who were raped reported it to the police.
- Another study reported that 27% of women whose sexual assault fit the definition of rape did not report the incident because they did not believe they were assaulted.
- 80% to 90% of all rapes on college campuses are acquaintance rapes
Phelps said the programs were not competing. Instead, they will coordinate their services.
The sexual assault program is not the only local service that assists people who have been raped or assaulted. KU police and Douglas County Rape Victim Support Services also offer education and counseling.
"People should feel free to come talk with me whether they have experienced sexual assault or not." she said.
- Rape is a felony that can result in 10 to 20 years in a state prison.
* Only four or five cases of sexual assault are reported each year to KU police. They believe this number does not accurately represent the actual number of assault cases that occur on campus.
Source: Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center and KU police.
Melissa Unterberg/KANSAN
KU police offer a general crime prevention program that includes information about self-defense, use of 911, legal aspects regarding rape, the rape support services program and sexual assault information, said Lt. John Mullens.
"It is a great undertaking trying to change society's acceptance of rape and sexual assault," Mullenssaid.
He said rape was probably the most serious crime KU police content with
which are police correspondent. KU police suggest to rape victims that they work with rape victim support services, he said.
Sarah Russell, director of the county's rape support services program, said the service had volunteer counselors who worked directly with victims.
Rape support services counselors assist victims throughout medical and legal processes.
She said it was the only agency in the county that provided crisis intervention for victims of sexual assault.
"The point of all it is to increase people's awareness of rape and sexual assault," Russell said.
The Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Program is in a 43 Strong Hall and is open 20 hours a week. Students also can call 864-3600 for more information about the program.
Both Russell and Phelps see the new sexual assault program as an information bank for students. Each said they thought that the programs would cooperate.
Mark Rowlands / KANSAN
Busy as a bee
Orley "Chip" Taylor, professor of entomology, checks a honeycomb to see if honeybee drones are retaining their identification numbers. Taylor is supervising student research on the relationship of particular enzymes in the bees and their flight stamina, which influences mating.
Douglas County Commission takes steps to replace jail sinks and toilets
Kansan staff writer
By Heather Anderson
Kansan staff writer
Five toilethes have broken at the jail in the last three months, said Douglas County Sheriff Loren Anderson.
The Douglas County Commission voted yesterday to take the first step in purchasing new toilet and sinks for the Douglas County jail.
Because of this, some cells are not locked at night in the 50-person prison to allow the inmates to use toilets in common areas, he said.
"It erodes security when you can't do the lock back into the jail." Anders said.
All the cells usually are locked at midnight. Anderson said.
The commission voted to have Chris McKenzie, county administrator, write a letter to Hebo, the manufacturer's representative, to request 35 stainless steel toilets and sinks from the manufacturer.
This would make it possible for all of the 16-year-old toilets in the jail to be replaced.
Although the manufacturer, Meteart, will make all of the toilets and sinks at once, the county will buy the toilets and sinks only as needed.
County Commissioner Mike Amxy said he recommended the county worry about the five broken toilets first.
"I would suggest that we take care of the immediate need so the inmates don't have to use the toilets in the common area," he said.
In the letter, the county administrator said he planned toask the manufacturer to hold the toilets for two years until the jail needs them.
The cost to replace all of the toilets originally was estimated at $1,593 for each toilet. Including installation, the total would come to $55,755, said Bill Bell, director of buildings and grounds for the county.
However, the actual cost for the total project will be $39,200. This includes the cost of the toilets and the installation fees, he said.
Each toilet will cost $473 less than originally estimated because of a
Anderson said he would like to see all of the toilets replaced within the next year because he expected that the showers will have to be replaced in the future. They are beginning to rust, he said.
manufacturer's discount, Bell said. Installation costs also will be less than first estimated because county employees will do most of the work.
The county has purchased one toilet and one sink and it has been installed.
"It's the talk of the jail," Bell said.
In other business, commissioners voted unanimously to give McKenzie, the county administrator, an increase in pay.
Commission chairperson Louie McEhlaney said the commission was very satisfied with McKenzie's performance.
McKenzie will receive an increase of $2,000 per year, bringing his salary to $70. 473.60.
McKenzie was hired by the commission to help with administrative duties. He has been the county administrator since 1986.
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