THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PUBLISHED SINCE 1889 BY THE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
(USPS 650-640)
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1989
VOL. 99, NO. 135
Professormixes old, new music
Kansan staff writer
by Mario Talkington Kansan staff writer
Edward Mattila's hands are con stantly busv.
They shuffle one of the stacks of papers and books that fill his office. They repeatedly turn over a cigarette lighter. They lightly stroke his graveyard beard and, again, shuffle the stack of paper.
Mattila doesn't have time to sit idly, not when there are so many things to be done. So many songs to be written.
"I'm thinking about music all the time. My main difficulty is finding enough time to compose," he said. "There's never enough time."
Mattila does find time to teach music theory, serve as director of KU$'s electronic music studio and music faculty, composing electronic music.
In a time when many people have closed their minds to new ideas, Mattila, professor of music theory and composition, has opened his mind to the cutting edge of electronic music technology.
Mattila, 61, has embraced the electronic world and, for the past 16 years, has worked to introduce that world to the University of Kansas.
Since 1972, when he took a sabbatical and saw first-hand the developing music technology. Mattila has played an important role in developing KU's electronic music studio. His electronic music has been integrated into areas such as sound recording, video editing and he has taught students how to harness the power of synthesizers and computers to create their own electronic compositions.
At first glance, Mattila seems an unlikely champion of electronic music. He talks and dresses with a quiet conservatism more reminiscent of an instructor in English literature or Romantic composers than an instructor in high-tech music gear.
But Mattila has found a comfortable place somewhere between the traditional and the contemporary.
Even his office attests to the successful marriage of classicism and high-technology. A stack of the latest issues of "High Fidelity" magazine
See CLASSICALLY, p. 6, col. 1
North trial deliberations to start today
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The jury in Oliver North's Iran-contra trial was dispatched yesterday to decide the guilty or innocence of the former White House aide with the judge's admonition that no one, including the president, had "the authority to order anyone to violate the law."
Because of the lateness of the hour, jurors were sent to the nearby hotel where they will be sequestered, with orders to begin deliberations today.
U. S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gessell told them "your job is to decide the facts" in the first trial stemming from the mid-1980s affair with the governor of New York, whom were diverted to aid the Nicaraguan contra-
The judge was specific in his instruction about North's contention that he acted under orders from top White House officials and, he assumed, with Reagan's approval.
"Neither the president nor any of the defendant's superior had the legal authority to prosecute him."
"You have heard testimony indicating that other government officials may in some respects have concealed facts known to them, and some ranking above or below the defendant may have engaged in conduct similar to that charged against the defendant on trial."
The judge's charge was delayed for a half day by a problem involving jurors who may have given misleading answers in pre-trial questioning. When he convened court in the
afternoon, Gessell said he had denied a North motion for a mistrial, filed on grounds that "the jury had been infected by publicity about some of its members."
The five alternates were dismissed after Gesell gave the instructions.
Gesell said North's defense that he was authorized to cover up his secret contra role may be considered, but under closely defined circumstances.
Six of the charges involve withholding information from Congress when it sought to find out about North's and the National Security Council's role in supplying aid to the contrais.
Conviction on each of those counts carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Each conviction carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
North also is charged with obstructing a presidential inquiry, making false statements when he was questioned by Attorney General Edwin Meele II, and conspiring to defraud the United States of illegal use of a tax-exempt foundation. Each of those counts carries a 5-year penalty.
maximum of $3 million.
One count of altering, destroying and concealing documents is punishable by three years in prison; another, of accepting an illegal gratuity — a $13,000 security system — is punishable by four years. The count conveys traveler's checks to his personal sentence carries a 10-year maximum sentence.
If convicted of all counts, North could be sentenced to a maximum of 60 years in prison.
Sun run
Mike Gaume, Kansas City, Kan. senior, runs along the Kansas River against the setting sun. Temperatures were in the high 70s yesterday afternoon.
Regents consider tuition increase Proposal for 1990-91 would mark the 8th straight rate hike
by Candy Niemann Kansan staff writer
The Board of Regents yesterday discussed proposals to raise tuition and fees at all Regents institutions for the 1980-91 school year.
With the proposals, tuition at the University of Kansas would increase 6 percent for in-state students and 10 percent for out-of-state students. The Regents will vote on the proposals in May. If approved, it would mark the eighth consecutive increase since 1982-83.
Tution increases for next year approved by the Regents in May 1988, include a 5 percent increase for resident undergraduates, a 12 percent increase for non-resident undergraduates, a 9 percent increase for resident graduates and a 13 percent increase for non-resident graduates.
"The recommendations on tuition are fair." Chancellor Gene A Budig said. "KU will remain an exceptional bainte."
The Regents also have proposed a $15 application fee for students applying for undergraduate admission to a Regents institution, to be effective
Brook Menees, student body president, suggested that money from the fee be used for financial aid.
Paying for college Tuition rising again
But Stanley Koplik, executive director of the Regents, said the fees would be used for expenses in processing admissions and financial aid applications.
Source: Kansas Board of Regents
Annette Stenner/KANSAN
"It is an expense that is borne now by the general tax payers of Kansas which you can argue shouldn't be borne," Kopik said. "The philosophy of an application fee is to place the upon those making applications."
KU also has proposed a $1.50 increase in the student health fee and a new $9 fee for recreational services. The student health fee is now $68.
James Strobli, director of Watkins
Health Center, said the $1.50 increase
would not cover things like a
college fee, and the university
originally requested a $7 increase, but
Student Senate approved a $1.50 increase.
ces. The student health fee is now $68
"We felt that there needed to be more documentation." Meees said. "We saw needs but at the same time we were told of things that were not shown to us."
Strobl said the fee increase would generate $70,000, about $400,000 less than the health center's needs.
'bury cappell, director of recreation services, said the new $9 recreation fee was needed to cover the costs of serving increasing numbers of students participating in intramural programs and using Robinson Cen-
The Regents also approved KU's tenure and promotion requests for fiscal year 1990. On the Lawrence campus, 29 persons were given tenure; 16 persons were promoted to teacher; and 13 persons were promoted to professor.
were promoted. KU submitted its 1991-95 capital improvements to the Regents, so will allocate money for events at their meeting in May. KU's five-year plan calls for a total of $40.1 million to make improvements to Malott Hall, Murphy Hall, Hoch Auditorium, Spooner Hall, the School of Education, parking lots and the Lewis Hall cafeteria.
ing all but the remaining for the remodeling of Trusses Sears Pearson-Corbin Hall, Haworth Hall and Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall also were approved. A total of $2.2 million was allocated for the projects.
the tegers also approved final plans for Phase I upgrading of the Kansas Law Enforcement Agency. The Tegers approved $400,000 for the project.
Even though a similar threat Friday proved to be a hoax, Longaker said the threat was taken in
The caller said 'There's a bomb set to go off in Wagreau at 3.o'clock'. Longaker said.
Another bomb threat forces Wescoe evacuation
While police searched, students sat in the sun outside the building. Most were not overly con-
"Bomb threats are always serious." Longaker said.
said.
Wescoe was evacuated shortly after KU police were notified about the 2:20 p.m. call, Longaker
Lt. Jeanne Longaker, KU police spokesman, said the threat was phoned in to the office of student records at Strong Hall.
Basic skills assessment, which is already underway, has coincided with the new requirement in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences that freshmen must enroll immediately in English 101, and stay enrolled in English until successfully completing English 102.
A bomb threat yesterday forced the evacuation of Wescow Hall for the second time in six days.
"It is frustrating," said Bryan Hatch, Hutchinson. "Basically we lost a day in the class
by a Kansan reporter
schedule. You have to make the time up. It's just kind of a pain."
imad Abdelsael, Beruit junior, said his class was hesitant to leave because a quiz that was easier than expected had been passed out. But the threat of a bomb was enough to change their
Editor's note: This is the third of three articles dealing with the process of assessment at the University of Kansas.
"I told my professor I left Lebanon because I didn't want it. "Abdelater said.
Basics of education receive assessment
The areas are the basic skills of English and mathematics, and programs in majors.
People were allowed back into the building at 3:20 p.m.
by Candy Niemann
And to assessment at the University of Kansas, the big three are definitely key.
Aside from general education, KU has targeted two areas on which to focus when implementing its four-year. University-wide program is in the University's weaknesses and recognize the University's strengths.
Readin' 'ritin' and 'rithmetic.
Reason: Just like the other
When talking about getting an education, these areas are known as the big three.
In mathematics, freshmen must enroll in Math 101 during their freshman year and stay enrolled until successfully completing the course.
The purpose of the requirement, said Haskell Springer, director of freshman/sophomore English, was to force students to get their basic courses completed earlier so they could progress to upper level courses in the future.
The freshman/sophomore English program had an assessment plan in place long before the Board of Regents mandated it in Spring 1988. The program includes a writing sample exam at the beginning and end of English 101, a theme-grading test, a final exam and course evaluations.
Math 002 and Math 101, the self taught mathematics courses known
University Assessment
KU's report card
as the Self Instructed Mastery Plan are undergoing an in-depth study by a non-departmental committee. Results of the study will be available
To examine the effects that the new requirements are having on freshmen, the college has begun to gather data on course-taking patterns, probation rates, ACT scores and grade distribution levels for new freshmen taking the course before and after implementation in requirement was implemented in Fall 1987.
According to the office of institutional research and planning, the percentage of new freshmen completing English 101, English 102 and Math 101 during their freshman year is 94 percent, compared to 18.6 percent in 1986 to 79.5 percent in 1987.
Failure rates, however, also have increased.
In Spring 1986, 14.7 percent of new freshmen failed Math 101, while 18.3 percent failed in Spring 1988. During the same time period, the percentage of A grades earned dropped from 8.2 percent to 3.9 percent.
For English 101, failure rates increased in Fall 1987 from 6.7 percent to 9.1 percent in Fall 1988, and the percentage of A grades earned increased from 7 percent to 7.3 percent. In English 102, failure rates for Spring 1988 rose from 2.6 percent to 3.2 percent, while the percentage of A grades remained steady at 9.5 percent.
Susan Twombly, assistant professor of educational policy and administration, said the number of F grades earned may have increased
See COMMITTEE, p. 5, col. 1