Wednesday, July 23, 1986
University Daily Kansan
3
News Briefs
Residence damaged in early evening fire
A fire broke out at 1421 W. 19th Street at about 5:45 p.m. yesterday, a Lawrence Fire Department official said.
Campus/Area
The fire occurred on a wall separating the kitchen and bathroom and caused an insurance $1,000 damage, the official said.
The cause of the fire was not determined last night, but officials did not suspect that the fire was set intentionally.
Film sign-ups open
Open sign-ups will be held tomorrow for "Nice Girls Don't Explode," a movie being filmed in Lawrence. The film is being produced by Doug Curtis, a 1968 KU graduate.
The sign-up calls for people of Oriental descent and is open to all ages. The sign-up will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in front lobby of Murphy Hall. Entire families are encouraged to come sign-up.
The scene will be filmed Aug. 2 at Haskell Indian Junior College's gymnasium. The scene is of a championship pimpong match that the film's hero dreams he is playing.
The Oread Book Shop closed on Monday and will remain closed until August 4 in order to move to a new location at Level Four of the Kansas Union.
Book store to close
the book shop, which was located on Level Three of the Union, is moving because of the work being done in the Union.
The book shop is expected to move to its permanent location on Level Two of the Union by 1988.
"The Postman," by David Brin, has won the John W. Campbell Award for the best science fiction novel of 1985.
Author wins award
Brin received the award July 19 at a dinner at the Adams Alumni Center. Brin is the 13th winner of the award, presented annually at KU's Campbell Conference for science fiction enthusiasts.
"Brin beat out Kurt Neugut's second-place 'Galapags.' Greg Baer's "Blood Music" and Keith Roberts' "Kitewild" tied for
"The Postman" is about a post-nuclear holocaust world in which the accidental discovery of a postman's uniform and delivery bag lead to the rebuilding of civilization.
KU hosts seminar
Seven Kansas teachers and a visiting Fulbright fellow are attending a two-week seminar called "Prometheus迎临" tales in a technological World." The initiative began July 14 at the University.
The seminar focuses on three science fiction novels and a special anthology of essays and stories.
Today will be partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. The highs will be around 90 with winds from the southeast to south at 15 to 15 miles per hour. Tonight there is a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms with lows around 70. Tomorrow there is a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms with lows around 90s. This weekend this day for seasonal temperatures with a chance of thunderstorms each day. The highs will be in the 90s and the lows around 70.
Weather
From staff and wire reports
Acacia closes doors after 82 years
Bv Rachelle Worrall
The Acacia fraternity, 1100 Indiana St., has been on campus for 82 years, will not reopen in the fall.
Staff writer
because of declining membership and only 11 active members returning this fall, the Acacia initiates decided to dissolve the chapter, said Scott Paul, Overland Park senior and house treasurer.
The decline in membership began in 1969 when many of the 66 members had drug problems, Paul said. The national organization deactivated
Rich Anderson, house president,
said the main reason the house had
few members was that it never
went through the activization of
many of its members.
"I don't think the house really got past 30 members since then. We lost too many." Paul said.
many of the members and in 1970 membership was down to 17.
Erik Hansen, president of the Interfraternity Council, said he was surprised by the fraternity's decision.
"I didn't know they were in that big
of a jam. They didn't talk to anyone at IFC." Hansen said. "I know they had trouble during spring formal rush."
The decision to dissolve the fraternity was prompted by a poor spring rush, Paul said. The house has a 45-person capacity, so 11 members is not enough to reopen the house in the fall.
The corporation board will maintain the house and the national organization probably will recolonize at some time. Anderson said.
The national organization might
recolonize within two to five years, Paul said. The ultimate decision will rest with the national organization
To recolonize means to try to start a fraternity without giving the colony a charter — or official membership organization thinks it is stable enough.
"It’s always worth giving a second chance," Hansen said. "We have lots of colonies that make it and lots that don't."
Some houses fail because of poor alumni support and internal management. Hansen said.
Danny Kaiser, coordinator of Greek programs and director of Organizations and Activities, said, "Nothing is definite at this point. I would venture to say that there will be Accia organization in the future."
After a meeting next month with the Acacia alumni board, Kaiser said, more would be known about the situation.
Larry Chance, Accacia corporation board member, said he was aware of the decision to dissolve the KU chapter.
Producer likes local scene
Bv Kristi Schroeder
Staff writer
Cameras are rolling in Lawrence, and KU students are reaping the benefits of working with a professional film producer.
Doug Curtis, 1968 KU graduate,
is producing the film "Nice Girls"
Don't Explode," and not only is
using KU students for some pro-
duction work, but students also
have a chance to be extras in
the film.
Curtis came back to Lawrence to film for several reasons. He had been lecturing in the department of radio, television and film at KU and knew it was time for him to leave. Lawrence was very understanding of the film industry.
"I had been trying to figure out a way to repay the department," Curtis said, "and a way to help raise funds."
Curtis worked with the Kansas Film Commission and a deal was made to double the budget for the department if more films were produced in Kansas. To uphold his end of the contract, Curtis filmed his latest movie. Most of the movie is being shot at 2009 Vermont St.
Curtis has six interns from the department working under him on the set in various positions. He also has six production assistants. The
construction crew from the theatre department is working on building all of the sets, he said.
"It's a total cooperative effort," Curtis said.
The film is the story of the world's most possessive mother, Curtis said. The mother is played by Barbara Harris, whose credits include a supporting role in "The Seduction of Joe Tynan."
The mother wants to keep her daughter, April, played by Michelle Meyrick of "Real Genius," away from boys. April is convinced by her mother that she has psychokinetical powers, and if she gets sexually excited she will start fires. Curtis said.
Filming for the movie should be completed by Aug. 23, and the movie should be ready for release by January 1987. he said. The film will be set only after the film has been picked up by a distributor.
Curtis said work on the film was going wonderfully, and no neighbors had complained about the film.
the things:
"If things went any smoother," Curtis said, "I'd be scared to death.
"This film is blessed. Everything's gone like clockwork."
The attitude of the city in
general has made filming in Lawrence a good experience, Curtis said.
"The city understands the film business," he said. "They welcome you to the neighborhood."
The 1983 ABC television film "The Day After" was filmed, in part, in Lawrence.
Curtis said the people of Lawrence didn't mind film companies blowing things up, referring to the nuclear explosions in "The Day After" and the "Nice Girls Don't Explode."
Lisa Miller, Shawnee junior, is working on the film in craft services. She is a film major and is working as a production assistant.
Miller's job includes everything from keeping food on the set for the workers to helping set up scenes for shooting, she said.
Miller said she had learned how a movie was put together since she began working on it, and directly with what goes on in pre-production.
Doug Curtis, a 1968 graduate of KU and director of "Nice Girls Don't Explode," reviews a scene with some assistants yesterday. The movie is being filmed in Lawrence until August 23
Dan Ruettmann/KANSAN
Lawrence man guilty of manslaughter
Staff writer
By Dana Spoor
A plea of guilty to voluntary manslaughter for the death of Leslie Frank Barnes was entered yesterday by Gary Thomas, 1405 Westbrooke St.
Barnes was found in the Kansas River March 19. He was killed Feb. 17.
10. Thomas originally was charged with first-degree murder, but District Attorney Jim Flory said that
as the investigation proceeded, the case weakened.
"For two weeks I have agonized over this," Flory said. "It was strictly a co-defendant testimony that we would have been relying on."
Thomas did not stand alone in this case. In June, Terry Barnes, wife of the victim, and Lewis Brochman, friend of the victim, attended a Columbus manslaughter. They are scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 8.
The main doubt in the case was whether Barnes was thrown into the river before or after he was dead. Flory said the autopsy showed the cause of death as drowning. But after being in the river for a long time, Barnes had absorbed enough water to make it bloody as if the victim had drowned.
"It is possible that he was not alive when he was placed in the river," Flory said.
You have to take basic informa
tion and build on that," he said. "You have to take all factors into account I feel very confident with the plea
Thomas is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 1. Voluntary manslaughter a minimum of 5 years to sentence and a maximum of 10 to 20 years.
feel very confident with the plea "This case was not filed first-degree to get a plea."
Flory would not say what his recommendation would be for sentencing.
Candidates all smiles at GOP picnic
By Rachelle Worrall Staff writer
Handshakes and smiles dominated the Republican gubernatorial picnic in Centennial Park on Sunday as candidates jocked for the GOF gubernatorial nomination. But candidates had to put a Republican in office.
Four candidates and three candidate representatives made five minute speeches while standing on tree stumps at the "stump-in," which was held so Lawrence residents could meet the candidates.
The candidates are vying to become their party's nominee in the November election. Primaries will be August 5.
the Agape, leading to a recent poll by the Topeka Capital Journal, the top candidates are Larry Jones, Coleman business executive of Wichita; Jack Brier, secretary of state; and Mike Hayden, speaker of the house.
Hydden, specialist The other candidates are Gene Bicknell, Pittsburg pizza franchiser;
Bill McDonald, Merrien taken soon,
Barbara Pomeroy, a former federal
administrator from Whitewater; and
Richard Peckham, Andover
attorney.
The candidates offer similar qualifications, but vary somewhat in how they market those qualifications.
Hayden, who was unable to attend the "stump-up," earlier expressed support of drug testing of government employees. Jack Walker, Hayden's running mate and the chairman of the department, received an award from the University of Kansas Medical Center, said he had mixed feelings about drug testing.
Jones said one of the main reasons he decided to become involved in the governor's race was his concern for high-quality education in Kansas.
high-quality education in a A teachers union would not help Jones said, but teachers do need
Stronger control at the law enforcement level, he said, would be a better answer to the drug problem.
strong leadership.
strong enough that "when it gets down to competing for really talented people, you must put it in the paycheck." Jones said.
On the issue of drug testing. Jones said he was against mandatory drug testing of government employees, but if organizations such as the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation felt a need to have drug testing, that would be their perogative.
progative. Bickell said he was also against mandatory drug testing of government employees.
"How are you going to go around testing 37,000 people?" Bickell said. "If one of them has got a drug problem, it's going to be obvious."
*romeroy also stressed education and said that for a while, she had been a part of the "brain drain" occurring in Kansas. The laurel is the larger of the two out of which with more lucrative opportunities than are offered in Kansas.
Kent Vincent, running mate of
Richard Peckham, who was not in attendance, focused on how family issues affect political issues.
Betty Laidier, McDonald's running mate, gave a more colorful speech and said everyone should be elected, as he knew just so she said.
"Let's have a jalta," she said. Bicknell should head the Department of Transportation, Laidler said, because he could provide a plane.
"We can send back the one John-Boy got and save $20 million," he said, referring to Gov. John Carlin's airplane.
airplane.
Brier, who spoke last, received much applaure. He emphasized the reduction in the budget deficit and said he supported a freeze in state employees salaries.
Another issue Brier discussed was his concern over decreasing funding in higher education. The amount of funding that he received has decreased by one percentage point.
The brief speeches helped carry the unpressured atmosphere at the picnic.
City accepts downtown blight study
By Bill Raynolds
By Bill Raynolds Special to the Kansar
The Lawrence City Commission voted 4-01 last night to accept a blight study of the 600 block of downtown Lawrence, the site for a proposed shopping mall, and voted 3-1-1 to acknowledge blight in the area under the state tax-increment financing statute.
The area involved in the study, known as the "footprint," includes the buildings between Sixth and Seventh streets and between Kentucky Street and the alley east of Massachusetts Street.
Commissioner David Longhurst abstained from both votes, saying that his role as a limited partner in the Eldridge Hotel renovation might be a conflict of interest. Part of the hotel renovation space at the Mayflower Building, which is in the footprint area.
The blight study, conducted and prepared by the law firm of Herrick, Feinstein, found substantial deterioration in some structures, violations of fire and building codes, inadequate street layout and conditions that create economic obsolescence.
Mayor Sandra Praeger said that under the state tax increment financing statute, the city and the developer must show that the blighted area would have a sufficient increase in value after completion of the project to pay off the bonds issued for the redevelopment.
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