THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1996
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS 864-4810
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
SECTION A VOL.102.NO.141
ADVERTISING 864-4358
(USPS 650-640)
TODAY KANSAN
SPORTS
Taking it on the chin
The Kansas baseball team fell to Kansas State last night 11-3. Page1B
CAMPUS
Earth week via satellite
Two 1996 Nobel Prize winners spoke by satellite about ozone depletion. Page 6A
NATION
Clinton signs terrorism bill
The new legislation will provide tougher tools for fighting terrorism in the U.S. Page 7A
WORLD
Death brings about change
Yeltsin's reelection chances and the Chechan war are items at stake. Page 8A
WEATHER
PARTLY SUNNY
High 72° Low 57°
Weather: Page 2A
INDEX
Opinion ... 4A
National News ... 7A
World News ... 8A
Scoreboard ... 2B
Horoscopes ... 4B
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents.
Hiring freeze yields computers
Money came from vacancies
By Colleen McCain Kansan staff writer
A year-long hiring freeze has been a mixed blessing for KU departments in need of computer equipment.
The departments have been forced to function with fewer employees during the hiring freeze. But because of the money saved, the University
has been able to purchase new computers for many departments.
"We've been able to use money that accrued as a result of the hiring freeze for one-time computer investments," Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. "I feel good about the progress we've been able to make, but we still have some catching up to do with other schools."
During the hiring freeze, 64 jobs were eliminated by not replacing employees and faculty members who have left the University. Money for these salaries already had been allocated for fiscal year 1996, so that money became available when
vacant positions were not filled.
David Shulenburger, vice chancellor for academic affairs, said the University spent $3.2 million on computing and networking this year. Of that, $1.4 million was money freed up by the hiring freeze, and an additional $1.8 million was taken from restricted-use monies and endowment funds.
"We will have done a lot of catching up in one year in the area of computing as a result of this money," Shulenburger said.
Shulenburger estimated that in most KU schools, more than 90 percent of faculty members now had
computers.
But some faculty members argue that new computers are of little consequence when departments are being asked to perform the same tasks with fewer employees.
"There's obviously mixed reaction to this," Shulenburger said. "But you have to consider that we weren't in a position to make permanent commitments to fill these jobs, but we did have this money for this year."
Charles Stansifer, chairman of the history department, said he was happy that the history department had gained 12 computers through this program. But 12 computers did
not make up for the department's loss of two faculty members during the hiring freeze.
However, Stansifer acknowledged that forgoing computers would not have meant gaining new faculty members.
"The computers are a terrific advance for our department," Stansifer said. "But the freeze has meant that we can't serve the same number of students."
"It's not as simple as if we didn't get the computers, we would get new faculty," Stansifer said. "But if I had a choice, I would choose more faculty rather than more computers."
Stand and deliver
Brian Hott / KANSAN
Dwane Lewis, Kansas City karate instructor, spars with Aaron Meggison, Shawnee Heights eighth-grader, in front of Allen Field House. Aaron and his brother Brett, a junior from Shawnee Heights High School, each sparred for two minutes with Lewis.
Women to march tonight
Eighth annual rally to protest violence
By Nicole Kennedy Kansan staff writer
Hundreds of men and women will converge on South Park tonight to battle violence against women.
The eight annual Womyn Take Back the Night March and Rally will begin at 7 tonight at the gazebo in South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St.
"I'm looking forward to seeing 400 women and feeling the energy of 400 women who've decided to take back the night," said Doris Cordero, New York senior. "You feel like you can take over the world after that night."
Amy Turnbull, Lawrence junior, and
Katherine Smith, Beaver Creek, Ohio, junior, will speak first at the rally about violence against women and how it affects peoples' lives.
Following the introduction speech, five women will share their personal experiences of surviving violence.
Jeni Schmidt, Leawood junior, will speak about the death of her sister, Stephanie Schimdt. Stephanie Schimdt, a 19-year-old Pittsburg State University student, was raped and murdered by a repeat sex offender July 2, 1983.
Following the speeches, the women will walk to Watkins Park, 11th and Massachusetts streets to participate in a women's circle. The women's circle is a meeting of women to discuss their experiences with rape, domestic violence and incest.
"This is the one night out of the year that we have a chance to have a safe place," Smith said.
During the women's circle, men will meet in South Park for a men's circle where they will discuss how men can take an active role in stopping violence against women.
At 9:30 tonight, the women will march down Massachusetts Street, chanting and advocating an end to violence in society.
"The more my eyes are opened to how society perpetuates violence against women, the more I want to do to change that and the more I want to open other people's eyes to that," Smith said. "Education is the first step in prevention. You can't shut you're eyes once they've been opened."
Smith said the rally and march was intended to educate and empower females.
Everyone is invited to attend.
New Senate meets for first time
The event is sponsored by Students Against Violence Against Womyn, Student Senate and Women's Transitional Care Services.
By Nicole Kennedy Kansan staff writer
The newly elected Student Senate convened about 9 p.m. last night at the Kansas Union Ballroom.
Executive committee appointments also made
Grey Montgomery, Junction City senior and newly elected student body president, opened the meeting by issuing several challenges to the incoming senators in his inaugural address.
"The key thing is that you get involved and take Student Senate seriously," Montgomery said. "Listen to what people have to say. Advertise the fact that you are a student senator."
Kevin Lafferty, Valley Center junior, was appointed Student Executive Committee Chairman. As StudEx chairman, Lafferty's job is to improve communications between students and Senate.
The senate also unanimously approved Montgomery's executive committee appointments.
"We're going to do everything we can to outreach to students." Lafferty said.
Ashleigh de la Torre, Topeka senior, was appointed Legislative Director, a new position created in the last meeting of the outgoing Senate.
The Legislative Director conducts research in Topeka and keeps the student body president informed about state legislative issues that affect KU students.
The president then uses that information to lobby legislators on behalf of students.
Amy Turnbull, Lawrence junior, and Emily Heath, Oskaloosa sophomore, were appointed co-directors of the Center for Community Outreach.
The center coordinates the volunteering efforts of students on campus.
Before the new Senate met, outgoing senators met and elected three holdover senators for next year. Holdover senators served this year and are elected by their peers to next year's Senate to help educate in-coming senators.
Sean Haley, Bloomfield, Mich., junior,
was elected as senior holdover senator.
He said being appointed by his peers meant a lot because they had seen his previous work on senate.
"I think it actually holds more validity than the elections do even." Haley said.
Slang is used as social tool by students
Expressing feelings helps with peer cultural barriers
By Heather Kirkwood Kansan staff writer
"Parallel parking" means having sex and is one of many slang expressions used by college students.
When students speak of parallel parking, they may not be referring to parking their cars.
"College has its own culture. It is easier to get along with people if you speak the same language," said Grant Clester, Belle Plaine junior. "It's easier to communicate with people who come from the same background."
Connie Eble, professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and author of the book, Slang and Sociability: In Group Language Among College Students, agrees with Clester.
"The main reason that any group, such as college students, use slang is to express a social affinity for other people," she said. "They are showing that they share the same plight in life."
Eble said college students routinely used slang to describe the social aspects of their lives.
As an English linguistics professor, Eble said she began to collect samples from her students to show how words were developed. After several years, she has collected 10,000 examples of slang.
"As you might predict, many of the words are for things like drinking too much, vomiting, partying; and there are lots of words about sex," she said.
Eble said that although slang was often seen as a lesser form of speech, it was simply a different kind of sneech.
"Most people think that slang violates the rules of English grammar," she said. "But it is not used in the format where it would make any difference."
Eble said slang terms also transcended academic interests or vocational goals.
"It has very little to do with their pursuits," she said. "You wouldn't be able to tell what they are studying from their slang."
Mark Gelner, Springfield, Mo., freshman, said he had his own theories about why people used slang.
"It's just a quicker way of expressing what you feel," he said. "It has nothing to do with how you view the world. It's just a bunch of catch phrases."
"It helps you be a part of a group," she said.
Lexicon of slang terms
Bad bongos: a situation in which things are not going the way they should
Birkenstock buddy: environmentalist
Dangling modifier: a single, long and shiny earring
Dead soldier; an empty beer can
Intellectual hour; open opera time
Goth: someone who dresses in black all the time
Gumbyhead: someone who does stupid things
McPaper: a paper that one writes at the last minute
Power hour: to take a shot of beer every minute until one is drunk
Social donut hole: someone who is not good at interpersonal communication
Table zamboni: the rag used to wipe up tables at a restaurant
Triangle: someone who is not up on the latest things
Wilma: a female who is not very bright