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University Daily Kansan
Campus/Area
Monday, March 3, 1986
Panel to discuss centers of excellence
By Mark Siebert Staff writer
The Center for Bioanalytical Research at the University of Kansas will receive a greater commitment from the state if the Kansas Legislature passes a bill officially establishing centers of excellence in the state.
The House Committee on Communication, Computers and Technology will discuss a bill today that would establish centers of ex-
celeilence at four state universities, including the research center at KU. The bill also would encourage the development of additional centers.
Centers also have been established at Kansas State University, Pittsburgh State University and Wichita State University.
State Rep. G.R. Friedman, R-Great Bend and vice chairman of the committee, said the bill would show the Legislature's intent to continue
Ted Kuwana, director of the Center for Bioanalytical Research, said the bill would save the center from having to get the Legislature's approval each year.
supporting the centers for excellence program.
"I think this just formalizes what has already been started." Kuwana said. "I think this is a better way to go."
Kuwana, who will be in Topeka today for the hearings on the bill, said
it would give the program more continuity.
Friedman said he thought the centers were highly successful and were generating much interest. This and an increased emphasis on economic development would boost support for the bill, he said.
The centers of excellence were created to enhance research, innovation and development in various technological areas.
Bill would change way to fill empty seats
By Piper Scholfield
Staff write
Stan Wither
A bill now before Student Senate could change the procedure for filling vacant senate seats so that students are better represented.
The new bill would create a pool of candidates comprising nominees from the previous election, and the student body president's and the elections committee's lists of nominees.
The elections committee then would narrow the list to one candidate who would then be approved by the Senate.
The procedure now is for the person with the next greatest number of votes from the previous election to fill the seat. There is no maximum number of votes a candidate must receive. Candidates
could be appointed even if they were the only ones to write in their name on a ballot.
The bill was postponed at last week's Senate meeting because of insufficient time for discussion. It will be voted on at Wednesday's Senate meeting.
Man accused of arson gets change of venue
Army Brown, student body vice president, said last week that the current policy for filling Senate vacancies made it difficult to fulfill campaign promises.
The Senate could find itself trying to fulfill campaign promises while it was filled with people from a previously opposing coalition, she said.
Brown said the procedure was unfair to students because by the end of the year, the Senate could be
There were instances in the past when vacancies were filled by persons who had only one vote, she said. It was questionable whether a person with one vote was qualified to fill a Senate position, she said.
David Epstein, student body president, said it was to be expected that many senators would quit during the year. Some students graduate, transfer to another school or discover that holding their seat requires more work than they had thought.
Jennifer Balzer, executive secretary of Student Senate, said that four senators had already resigned their positions this year.
By Brian Wheplev
Staff writer
A change of venue was granted Friday to a Lawrence man accused of arson in relation to a 1982 fire at his downtown clothing store.
Thomas Black Jr. was granted the change by District Judge Gary Nafziger of Oksalaoka. Nafziger handled the case because all Douglas County district judges disqualified themselves
Jerry Wells, Douglas County assistant district attorney, said Friday that the Kansas Supreme Court would set the location of the trial.
Black was charged in October 1982 with arson and making a false writing in connection with a fire at the Royal College Shop, 837 Massachusetts St.
A November 1983 preliminary hearing found no probable cause to charge Black and the case was dismissed. The district attorney's office appealed, and in January 1984 the Kansas Supreme Court overturned the dismissal.
Black was tried and convicted of arson in May 1984. He appealed the verdict, which was overturned in
September 1985 because of jury misconduct. The Kansas Supreme Court declined to review the court of appeals decision.
The jury misconduct decision resulted from a jury member stating during the trial that he thought Black was guilty.
On Feb. 12, Black's attorney, John W. Lungstrom, filed for a change of venue. The motion stated that because of Black's prominence and earlier trial publicity, it was impossible for Black to receive a fair trial in Douglas County.
The motion said trial publicity, which included the mention of a previous fire at the business, had prejudiced potential jurors.
In its reply to the motion, the district attorney's office said the trial publicity was fair and occurred long enough ago for it no longer to influence the outcome.
Several people, including city commissioner David Longhurst, signed affidavits saying they thought Black wouldn't receive a fair trial.
A request for the trial to be held in Johnson or Sedgwick counties was included in the motion.
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