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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday. April 18. 1997
5A
Library collection informs about militias
By Doug McDougal Special to the Kansan
As jury selection in the Timothy McVeigh trial enters its 15th day and on the second anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, some journalists link the crime to extremist movements in Kansas — movements that really are not much of a threat, local experts say.
"The threat of the militias is greatly exaggerated," said Allan Cigler, professor of political science. "I have yet to hear of any activity of that sort in Kansas."
Cigler, who has taught a course on the psychology involved in forming and maintaining political movements, said militias have organizational problems. Members have "paranoid personalities," which makes it difficult for them to trust their leaders, he said. Militias often are not able to raise enough money for survival.
Monitors of extremist groups fall into two categories, Cigler said. Some watchdog groups are motivated by fear, which affects the message sent to the public concerning militias. Other observers see militias as another antiestablishment group,
common throughout Kansas history, that probably does not threaten society's fabric.
Joe Ray, director of Klanwatch, an Alabamased group that tracks extremist activity, said that 90 percent of the militia movement is relatively harmless. The remaining 10 percent consists of the dangerous, bomb-constructing terrorists.
Cigler said that news media coverage proved one thing: It only takes one or two angry individuals to carry out a massive act of terror. He said there was no way that anti-terrorist legislation could stop such actions.
The Wilcox Collection on Contemporary Political Movements at the Spencer Research Library may be the best tool for observers probing the obscurity surrounding the private militia movement in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing.
The collection includes books, pamphlets, video-cassettes, audio tapes and other material distributed by right- and left-wing extremist groups. Laird Wilcox, an Oathe writer, made his first donation to the University of Kansas in 1965. Wilcox, a former KU student, was a member of Students for a Democratic Society, a New Left antiestablishment movement, during the 1960s. He still sends material to
the collection,on the second floor of the library.
Rebecca Schulte, who oversees the collection, said Wilcox donated the collection to foster free speech. Although some materials were given to Wilcox, he bought or traded for many that he gave to the library. The information challenges stereotypes common in today's arguments for and against anti-terrorism legislation, which may restrict First Amendment rights for a broader group of citizens.
Wilcox described his method for comprehending the actions of extremist groups.
Wilcox, co-author of American Extremists, said there was a difference between paramilitary groups and other extremist organizations. Unlike the portrayal in the press, most militia groups lack organization. The high value members place on individualism thwarts cohesiveness. Militias resemble a "society of like-minded friends" rallying around a single issue, which often concerns governmental restrictions on gun ownership, he wrote in the book.
"Get to know and mingle freely with extremists of all kinds," Wilcox wrote. "That's the way to get to understand the ideas and feelings that motivate them."
Art and design students display works at show
By Sean Demory Kansan staff reporter
A five-day exhibition will highlight the works of dedicated KU art and design students.
Last weekend, art and design students nominated by their teachers showed examples of their work in the Art and Design building.
Of the students nominated, several were granted nearly $100,000 in school and private scholarships for everything from performance art to painting.
The Art and Design School's final Scholarship Show will begin with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday
in the Art and Design Gallery. The exhibition will continue through April 25.
Ronda Dugan, Topeka senior, received a University scholarship for her lithographs and is showing a piece of her work at the exhibition.
She said that this was the first major honor she had received for her work at the University and that she had been working toward a scholarship for some time.
"It's been a goal of mine all year to get.focused so that I could get nominated," Dugan said. "Now that it's happened, I'm really excited."
Dugan had shown work at the earlier Senior Show but said the exhibit at the Scholarship Show had additional significance for her.
"It means a lot to me because it
There's nothing
more fun than to see what your fellow students are doing."
Peter Thompson dean of fine arts
shows that all the work I've done paid off," Dugan said. "I'm proud that I've come this far."
Peter Thompson, dean of the School of Fine Arts, said the Scholarship Show was one of the key events in the art department and was awaited eagerly by the students.
"There's nothing more fun than to see what your fellow students are doing," Thompson said.
Thompson said there was a range of criteria from which students were chosen for scholarships, depending on the individual fund used.
This year, videos of performance art pieces will appear with more traditional forms. Thompson said this year's show promised to be exceptional both in scope and quality.
"I hope that people will come and see the show," Thompson said. "I think it'll show what I've said for quite some time — that we've got one of the finest undergraduate art programs in the nation."
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