UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, April 14, 1995
7A
Students fight fee increase
Protesters organize rally in response to WSU tuition hike
The Associated Press
WICHTA — More than 300 Wichita State University students rallied on campus to protest a proposed increase in tuition.
Jack Niblack, WSU Political Science Club president, organized the
rally in response to a proposed $3 a credit hour increase in fees that may take effect for the fall semester. He called on students to walk out of classes at 11 a.m. Wednesday to attend the gathering.
Some university officials also attended the rally to answer questions from students.
James Rhatigan, vice president of student affairs, said a civil rights complaint had been filed alleging the university hasn't properly funded women's athletic programs. A portion of the fee increase is earmarked for use in equalizing that inequity, he said.
But several students said the university knew about the problem as early as 10 years ago and should have corrected it then.
The $3 increase would raise tuition to $45 a credit hour for fulltime students who are Kansas residents.
University President Gene Hughes told the students the $3 increase is not written in stone. He said he hoped whatever amount was charged would be less than that.
Military service important to Dole
COLUMBIA, S.C. — On the eve of the anniversary of his World War II wounding, Sen. Bob Dole paid tribute to America's veterans yesterday and said it was important that the next president have military experience.
He said his visit to South Carolina's Vietnam Veterans memorial was nonpartisan even though it came during his presidential campaign announcement tour, and the state is critical to Dole's strategy.
At virtually every stop on Dole's 10-state tour there has been a reminder of his World War II heroism, and on the 50-year anniversary today he will attend a homecoming breakfast at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Russell.
Dole doesn't raise the subject, but aides say his military service will help him win the votes of veterans and others in South Carolina and other states with strong military traditions.
"I think facts are facts," he said yesterday. "I had military service. I think it is important. It sort of made a profound difference in my life, not just physically but how I think and what I believe and how I look at the future."
The Associated Press
In introducing Dole in Columbia, Sen. Strom Thurmond called him a brave soldier, a true patriot and a great American. Thurmond said that the next president of the United
States will be a veteran named Bob Dole.
Speaking to an audience of veterans, Dole said, "Because of the sacrifice you made, for some the supreme sacrifice, America is still the beacon of hope and freedom around the world." Among those on hand was former Gov. Carroll Campbell, whose younger brother, Patrick, was killed in Vietnam and has his name etched in the stone memorial.
Gramm was in South Carolina on Wednesday and predicted that he would not suffer at the polls for not having served in the military, citing his strong pro-defense voting record. "The young men and women in the country who wear the uniform have no greater friend," Gramm said.
Several of his GOP primary rivals, including Texas Sen. Phil Gramm and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, did not serve in the military. Both Gramm and Alexander received deferments during the Vietnam War. In the 1992 campaign, President Clinton's efforts to avoid the Vietnam draft became an issue but did not derail his candidacy.
Dole paid special tribute to Vietnam veterans, lamenting that there was more focus by the media on the demonstrators than there ever was on the heroes who served in Vietnam.
Speaking to reporters after the
Still, Dole said, "I think if there was a mistake it was that we just kept getting incrementally involved" instead of sending in overwhelming force. "It wasn't a very good strategy."
speech, Dole said he wanted to read a new book by former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara before commenting on McNamara's conclusion that the war was a mistake.
Two Vietnam veterans at the event complained to reporters that Dole was using the site for a political event. One of them, David Self, confronted Dole and said, "This is sacred ground." Dole responded by saying, "That's why I tried to make clear this is a non-political event."
In his remarks at the memorial, Dole never directly solicited support for his campaign.
Still, the event allowed the GOP front-runner to show off the deep support he has in a state that helped slam the door shut on his 1988 presidential run. Then, George Bush beat Dole in New Hampshire and then used a big South Carolina win as a springboard to crushing Dole in the Southern-dominated Super Tuesday primaries. Next year, South Carolina's primary will again be the first in the South.
This time, Campbell is in Dole's camp, as is the state attorney general, the state Christian Coalition leader and much of the state's GOP establishment.
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