4B
Thursday, March 2, 1995
NATION/WORLD
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
School refuses to fund magazine
Court debates the use of tax money for religious work
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A spirited Supreme Court debate over public universities giving tax money to religious student groups showed clear divisions, and church-state indecision among the nine justices yesterday.
The court must decide whether the University of Virginia complied with the constitutionally required separation of government and religion, or singled out a student-run Christian magazine unfairly.
The university refused to give the magazine money from a student activities fund, supported by $14 each semester from each full-time student, because the magazine was deemed a religious activity.
Numerous student groups, but not all, receive money from the fund.
The university does not deny student-fund money to all religious-affiliated groups, just those engaged in "religious activity," argued its attorney, law professor
John Jeffries.
Likewise, he said, the 20,000-student school does not deny money to groups expressing political views, just groups that try to get a certain candidate elected.
"We are not picking out a religious view and trying to suppress it," Jeffries argued.
But University of Chicago law professor Michael McConnell, arguing for the three students who in 1990 founded Wide Awake to express a Christian viewpoint for campus life, said the university's denial of funding amounted to discrimination against religious speech.
The school, in an awkward attempt to avoid advocating any religion, is actually violating the students' free-speech rights, McConnell contended.
"The point is that the University of Virginia may not skew the marketplace of ideas in favor of one viewpoint." he said.
During intense questioning, the justices appeared most concerned with how the university could draw a line between religious-affiliated groups writing on a wide range of issues, and those specifically engaged in "religious activities."
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wanted to know what would happen if a newspaper receiving
student-fee money held a contest to pick the best columnist, and that columnist decided to write on religion.
When Jeffries said he thought the university would have to keep funding the paper, Kennedy asked, "Well then, what is the difference that justifies denying Wide Awake such financial aid?"
Justice David H. Souter asked Jeffries: "It may be tough to distinguish one from another. But it would be a distinction the university would honor, wouldn't it?"
Scalia, who in past cases has favored greater governmental accommodation of religion, also asked the university's lawyer why schools should be required to provide religious groups equal access to classrooms, but not equal access to cash grants.
And Justice Antonin Scalia asked Jeffries: "Do you take the position that any discussion of religious views is proselytizing?" Jeffries' answer was cut off by other questions from the justices.
"Do you think that's a major step, between giving access to a classroom and the money to rent a classroom?" a dubious Scalia asked Jeffries. "Is that the step off the cliff?"
Yes, Jeffries answered. If governmental purse strings are opened in
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg challenged McConnell on the question of cash subsidies to religious groups.
that way, the entire public elementary and secondary school structure in the United States could be declared unconstitutional, Jeffries said.
"Can you find any decision so far that authorizes a direct cash grant to support religious activity?" she asked. "I'm not aware of such a case."
Justice John Paul Stevens' questions indicated that he was also among those justices sympathetic to the university.
Chief Justice William H. Rehquist appeared more in tune with Scalia's skepticism about the university's line-drawing.
The numerous questions asked by Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen G. Breyer — who may play pivotal roles in deciding the case — did not offer many clues about how they would vote.
Justice Clarence Thomas did not ask any questions.
The court's decision, expected by late June, also could affect efforts to have the government subsidize, through vouchers, students who choose to attend religiously affiliated private schools.
Elvis hits are released in Latin to celebrate his 60th birthday
HELSINKI, Finland — "Nunc hic aut numquam."
That's not exactly Elvis Presley's way of saying "It's Now or Never"; it's the Latin equivalent. The King's hits have been reissued, in Latin, on a compact disc to mark his 60th birthday.
"Latin is an eternal language, so what better way to immortalize a
The Associated Press
legend,* said Finnish university professor,*Jukka Ammondt, who put out the CD with Finland's Eurovision choir.
The idea to sing Elvis in Latin came to Ammondt in a dream.
"I was going through a bad patch and began dreaming a lot about Elvis," Amundt said. "Elvis was always my teen-age idol and he symbolized freedom."
Aumondt, 50, teaches literature at the University of Jyväskylä, 165 miles north of the Finnish capital. He recorded Finnish tangos in Latin in 1993 and received a papal medal for promoting Latin.
"The pope was very grateful for the Latin tangos," Ammondt said. "He told us that Latin should not be restricted to the church and classical music."
Latin has a devoted following in
Finland. Since 1989, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, YLE, has broadcast news in Latin to a worldwide audience.
In addition to "It's Now or Never," Amnondt's CD includes: "I Surrender" — "Nunc aeternitatis"; "Can't Help Falling in Love" — "Non adamare non possum"; and "Love Me Tender" — "Tenere me am."
Republican goes the extra mile for presidential race
Alexander campaign begins to gain speed
"Just because you don't have the party establishment with you doesn't mean you can't play to win," said Iowa Republican Chairman Brian Kennedy. "There's always opportunity."
The Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa — Lamar Alexander takes his presidential campaigning seriously.
He walked 1,000 miles from town to town during a campaign.
Alexander's piano-playing, folksy campaign style, his supporters say, is an ideal fit in a state where campaigning for precinct caucuses takes place over coffee and in living rooms.
"There's some similarities between what he did to win the governorship of Tennessee and what it takes to win the Iowa caucuses," said Brent Siegrist, majority leader of the Iowa House and an Alexander backer.
"Even the piano playing plays pretty well if you get into the right groups of people," said Siegrist. "It's important when you get to 25 people in Charter Oak, Iowa, because it gives them a basis to relate to this guy."
Seeking to hammer home that grassroots theme, Alexander spent yesterday racing through six stops around Iowa to repeat his formal announcement that he's entering the Republican presidential race, sounding his anti-Washington theme.
"I believe we know what to do,
that in Maryville and Concord and
Des Moines and Austin and Tampa we are not too stupid to make decisions for ourselves," said Alexander in Davenport.
"Those things are important," said Dick Redmond, a veteran activist who headed Alexander's campaign for the February precinct caucuses, the first test of strength among Republican presidential hopefuls.
Redmond said Alexander had a lot more time to devote to the campaign trail than his major rivals, who must concern themselves with other jobs like the U.S. Senate. That's important, he said, because retail politics is a time-consuming business.
"That's a plus he has," Redmond said. "He is spending full time doing this. He doesn't have the problem of a day job right now."
"They are putting in the time necessary to organize here," Kennedy said. "If you look at the campaigns he's run in the past, he's used to running a real grassroots effort."
His supporters argue that Alexander can serve as a bridge between the sparring factions of moderates and religious conservatives within the state's GOP.
"Can we get somebody from the Christian Coalition?" Redmond said. "Of course. Can we get someone who is more liberal? Of course we can. The biggest problem he has is no one knows him."
Texas Sen. Phil Gramm is the other announced candidate, and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole is a soon-to-be-announced candidate.
Dole is far better known in the state, having won the caucuses in 1988, and Gramn has also enlisted substantial backing from the party's establishment.
MACARONI AU FROMAGE (EAT WITH GUSTO FOR ABOUT 51¢ PER SERVING.)
2 cups macaroni (pimwheels are fun)
cup sharp cheddar (grated)
1/2 stick butter
tsp Worcestershire (if you like)
1 cup milk
1 tbs flour
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
Cook macaroni in 5 cups salted, boiling water for 15 minutes or until al dente. Drain. In a separate pot, melt butter and mix in flour over low heat. Then, stir in milk until smooth. Add cheese, salt, pepper and Worcestershire. Stir well. Smother macaroni. Serves 4.
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