CAMPUS
The School of Business is searching for a new dean. Page 6A
SPORTS
Kansas beat Missouri last night 13-9. The victory improved its chance at a seed in the Big Eight tournament. Page 1B
STORMY High 57° Low 45° Weather: Page 2A
KS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TOPEKA, KS 66612
VOL.104,NO.149
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1995
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
(USPS 650-640)
NEWS: 864-4810
Commission approves ordinance
Discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal
By Sarah Morrison
Kansan staff writer
It's official. It's illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in Lawrence.
Last night, the Lawrence City Commission adopted, on the second and final reading, an amendment to add the words "sexual orientation" to the city's human relations ordinance, thereby providing anti-discrimination protection to people on the basis of their sexual orientation.
The move was expected after the commission voted 3-2 on the first reading April 25 to make the change. Still, four opponents of the provision spoke to the commission in hopes of changing their minds.
Sharla True, Lawrence resident, told the commission that she challenged commissioners Allen Levine, Jo Andersen and Vice Mayor John Nalbandian, all of whom voted for the change on April 25, to vote against the amendment on second reading. The issue should be put on the ballot and voted on, she said.
However, the commissioners voted the same way they had on the first reading, Nalbandian, Levine and Andersen voted for it; Mayor Bob Moody and Commissioner Bonnie Auguste voted against it.
Ben Zimmerman, co-chairman of Simply Equal, the coalition that campaigned for the new provision, said he was happy the amendment passed.
we are very happy,
Equal's work is not done. We are going to continue educating people. There is a lot of misinformation out there."
Zimmerman said. "But Simply
The Rev. Leo Barbee, who has been vocal in his opposition to the amendment, said he would continue in his efforts to get it repealed.
"Simply Equal's work is not done."
"There are several options we are looking at," he said.
"We are going to contact the attorney general, for one thing, and see if it conflicts with the state's sodomy laws."
Ben Zimmerman co-chairman of Simply Equal
Opponents of the ordinance change have said they would collect signatures for a petition to get the item placed on the ballot and put to a referendum. About 2,800 signatures would need to be collected to get the item on the ballot, said Patty Jaimes, Douglas County clerk.
The amendment makes it illegal to discriminate against people on the basis of their sexual orientation in areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Prior to the vote and public comment on the issue, Moody read a memo from the city staff clarifying some of the effects the new provision would have.
Religious organizations would be exempt from the provision because of the ordinance's definition of employers and public accommodations.
The exemption had been included in the ordinance prior to the addition of the words "sexual orientation."
Moody also said the new provision would not force people to reveal their sexual orientation. Some landlords and employers had questioned the commission about possibly being required to ask about sexual orientation on a job or rental application.
Robert Hemenway will become the 16th chancellor at the University of Kaneas on June 1. "I consider this to be the best job in the country," he said.
Arna, with the evening's treats in tow, and Hemenway pile into the chancellor's personal vehicle — a 1984 Mercury Lynx — and make the 15-minute drive to a church for the meeting, with one pit stop.
They turn in at Wendy's. Arna has a kid's meal, the chancellor, a single hamburger with everything and a Diet Coke. The chancellor loves Diet Coke.
At the church, Hemenway has the kids placed in the corner of the room.
"Tonight, we are going to learn how to tell stories," Hemenway stays. "The story I'm going to tell you is about a man named Odysseus and the Trojan War."
For the next hour, Hemenway does his best to keep up with the 7 year olds, telling them stories and
"Oh, Dad." Arna interrupts. "Don't start again about those gods."
HEMENWAY: New chancellor visits the University. Page 3A
having them tell stories to him. It's all in a day's work, he says. And he likes to do it.
"I think if you don't do events such as these you are going to forget where you came from," he says.
Hemenway has not forgotten where he has been, and he knows where he is headed: into the 16th chancellorship of the University of Kansas.
It's the type of job that Hemenway, 58, has long coveted, to be the chief executive officer of a major research university.
"I consider this to be the best job in the country," Hemenway said at his Jan. 7 introduction to the University by the Kansas Board of Regents.
Time will tell. Hemenway says he wants to be KU's chancellor for 10 to 12 years.
And if the University of Kansas feels the same way at Hemenway's departure as the University of Kentucky does now, all indications point toward a successful term as chancellor.
At Kentucky, everybody seems to like Hemenway. Fellow administrators regard him as a tireless worker. Faculty members cite his active concern for their situation, and students think of his open-door policy as an invitation to discuss problems. Even the editor of the student newspaper, the type of person regarded on college campuses as a cynic or a pessimist, likes him.
"I love the man to death," says Kentucky student body president Benny Ray Bailey. "It's just so comfortable to talk to him as a student. He's like going to talk to your grandfather."
Accessible Attitude
Sandwiched between meetings with deans, alumni and interviews for open positions on the Lexington
See HEMENWAY, Page 5A
KU might seek attorney general's assistance
By Robert Allen
Kansan staff writer
Tonkovich suit names University lawyers
The state attorney general may represent the University of Kansas in court if former law professor Emil Tonkovich's lawsuit is heard.
Normally, KU is represented by the University General Counsel, but Victoria Thomas, general counsel, and Rose Marino, associate general counsel, are named as defendants in Tonkovich's lawsuit.
In cases where defendants are state employees, the employees may request that the attorney general represent them, according to the Kansas Tort Claims Act.
"It is a statute that states in part that a state employee who is sued for an act or omission that is within the scope of employment can be represented by the attorney general's office, if a request is made for such," Marino said.
To make this request, the state employee must write a letter to the attorney general's office after the lawsuit has been served, she said. The law states that the request must be made within 15 days after formal serving of the lawsuit to the defendant.
But making such a request is not necessary.
Instead, defendants may seek a lawyer in the private sector, said Stephen McAllister, associate professor of law.
"Either they can go to the attorney general's office or they could go to outside counsel," he said.
"If a defendant didn't want to, they wouldn't have to ask." Marino said.
But representation by a private attorney could be costly to the University or to the other defendants. Representation by the attorney general's office would be free.
"That may be a strong economic incentive," said William Westerbeke, professor of law.
Westerbeke said that it would be
highly unusual for the University's attorneys to represent the University in a lawsuit in which they were named.
Because there are 30 people specifically named in the lawsuit, the defendants also may be represented by several attorneys. McAllister said.
"There is a possibility that some of these people may want their own attorneys," he said. "Joint representation is difficult. Some may want to retain their own counsel."
It is not known who will represent the University or when the case will go to court.
"It's too early in the case," Westerbeke said. "It's hard to make a prediction. All you have is a complaint filed."