SINCE 1889
Heartfelt exercise
Youngsters jump rope to benefit heart research See page 3
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Mild
Details page 3
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1986, VOL 96, NO. 108 (USPS 650-640)
Astronauts to discuss Challenger Senators say process OK
United Press International
SPACE CENTER. Houston — Two key senators defended NASA's overall decision-making process yesterday, the day before the space agency allows astronauts to break a month of silence on their reactions to the Challenger disaster.
Three of the four astronauts scheduled to meet with reporters today are veterans of shuttle flights in which rocket seals between fuel segments experienced damage.
See related story p. 8.
A leak past rubber Oring seals in a joint connecting two fuel segments in Challenger's right-hand solid-fuel booster rocket is the prime suspect in the fatal explosion of the ship's external fuel tank 73 seconds after blastoff on Jan. 20.
Members of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's astronaut corps, normally available for interviews, were not allowed to speak in public after Challenger's explosion as the space agency instituted an uncharacteristic but strict policy of silence.
But that policy has been revised following a series of revealing hearings by the presidential disaster commission that indicate NASA's decision-making process leading up to the fatal flight was flawed.
The astronaut corps has had nothing to say on the record. But sources say that most members of the elite group knew little or nothing about previous concern about O-ring erosion and that many are angry that NASA continued to launch shuttles even after an August 1985 conference in Washington in which engineers with Morton Thiolok Inc., builder of the rocket boosters, suggested 43 possible modifications to correct problems with joint joints alone.
KU head basketball coach Larry Brown gets the last strand of the net with help from Calvin Thompson left, and Ron Kellogg during the celebration after KU's 90 to 70 win against Iowa State. Saturday's victory extended KU's winning streak at Allen Field House to 33 games.
Challenger was launched after a night of sub-freezing weather despite objections raised by Morton Thiolok engineers, which were later reversed by company managers. The engineers said the low temperatures might affect the operation of the crucial seals.
During the presidential investigation, internal NASA documents have surfaced that chart a clear history of concern about problems with the rubber O-ring seals in the booster fuel segment joints. Hot gas reaching the seals caused erosion on 10 flights dating back to 1981.
Sen. Jake Garn, R-Ultah, who flew on the shuttle Discovery in April 1985, said yesterday that while that process apparently broke down for Challenger's flight, it generally had served the space agency well.
"The indication the whole process has been flawed on all launches, I don't accept because I've seen this process and how carefully NASA works and how concerned they were about flight safety," he said on ABC's "This Week with David Brinklev."
Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., said on the same program that he was concerned about why the chain of command was unable to react to the internal debate on the wisdom of launching.
"I think we ought to really refine the conclusion . . . that the process was flawed," he said. "Rather, the process was violated, it was reversed. The process was tried and true."
Final 4 is 2 big steps away
By Frank Hansel
Associate sports editor
Don't make your reservations for Dallas just yet.
Although the Kansas Jayhawks are having one of their most successful basketball seasons, much work has to be done before Jayhawk fans can think about a road trip to Reunion Arena for the Final Four.
The Jayhawks finished their regular season with a 28-3 record and a Big Eight championship, but Kansas still has the post-season Big Eight Tournament and the National College Athletic Association regional tournament before Jayhawks fans invade Dallas.
Head coach Larry Brown said Saturday that there was no guarantee for any team to reach the Final Four.
"I think it's a realistic goal for us," Brown said. "But we're facing six sudden death games."
players to think about reaching the Final Four, but they had to take it one step at a time.
The first step starts Friday at Kemper Arena in Kansas City.
Monday Morning
The first goal was the Big Apple NIT, where they lost to Duke, 92-86, in the finals. The second was the Big Eight conference title, which they won by four games over Iowa State. The final goal is the NCAA championship.
"We want to go out in style," Kansas forward Ron Kellogg said. "Coach Brown has the experience, and we want to share that experience. This is a great opportunity-
Mo., in the first round of the Big Eight Tournament.
The post-season tournament is the third of four goals the Jayhawks set out to accomplish at the beginning of the season.
ty, but we have to take it one game at a time."
Brown made a Final Four appearance with UCLA in 1980.
In the second half of Saturday's 96-70 win over Iowa State, the Crimson girls wore T-shirts that said, "Final 4 Bound", Baby Jay displayed a sign that said it was migrating south to Dallas and banners have adorned the field house telling of the Jayhawks' final destination.
Many Kansas fans seem to be looking past the first couple of steps and concentrating on the top of the staircase.
"It bothers me some," Brown said of the banners and shirts. "We've got the Big Eight tournament ahead of us.
"We have such a great opportunity to accomplish what few people have a chance to do, but if we play our best and get beat, I think our kids will be able to deal with
Few clues found in assassination
United Press International
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Swedish leaders were assigned full-time bodyguards yesterday, and police said the murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme probably was plotted in advance by an assassin firing an unusual jacket capped bullet
Investigators had no clues to the identity of the killer or his motive two days after the first assassination of a Swedish politician in nearly two centuries. Hans Holmer, police commissioner, said the case was like assembling a puzzle with very small pieces.
Authorities think the murder was planned. Holmer said, but added that the team of 120 investigators had been hindered because a motive had not been established. Police continue to nationwide manhunt for the killer.
Authorities said they have not
dismissed a claim of responsibility for the shooting by at least one terrorist group, the Holger Meins Commando, linked to West Germany's leftist Baader Memhof gang.
After Palme was shot on the main Stockholm avenue Friday night, a man whom police did not identify chased the suspect down a narrow street and up a steep flight of stairs to a hill. The suspect ran across the hill and down another flight of stairs to a square, where the witness lost the chase. Holmer said.
Police think the gunman followed Palme and his wife when they left their home Friday night and took a subway to the Grand movie theater, where they met their son Morten and his girlfriend.
But investigators do not know whether the assassin entered the theater — where Palme spent his last
Swedish students jolted by murder
See SWEDEN, p. 5, col. 1
By Tom Farmer
Staff writer
Several Swedish KU students were in a state of disbelief after the assassination Friday of Olof Palme, socialist prime minister of Sweden.
Staffan Haegermark, Stockholm junior, said he was shocked when a friend told him late Friday about the assassination.
"I couldn't believe it," Haegermark said yesterday. "Things like that don't normally happen in Sweden."
Haegermark described Sweden as a country where people could do things freely without having to worry about murders and assassinations.
Palme, who had been prime minister of Sweden since 1982, was shot while walking with his wife along an avenue in Stockholm.
Christer Ljung, Sollentura,
Sweden, freshman, spoke to his
parents about the assassination.
Sollentura is a suburb of Stockholm.
Haegermark said he didn't always agree with Palme's views, but he had a great deal of respect for the prime minister.
"I was not sympathetic with his party, but I respected him as a leader," he said. "He was an intellectual and very sharp-tongued politician."
Ljung's parents told him Stockholm came to a halt immediately after the shooting. A thorough search was made of anyone in the area of the shooting and anyone leaving Stockholm.
"Sweden is a country where peace and democracy have been widely accepted," said Lung. "Everyone is totally confused."
Ljung said he knew that such acts of violence occurred elsewhere in the world, but he never thought they could happen in Sweden.
"We haven't been at war in over 170 years," Lung said. "We have been trying to keep peace I feel stabbed in the back."
Ljung said he wished he could be in Sweden, but he planned to remain in the United States and watch the situation from here.
Nina Ahl. Stockholm freshman, said she talked to her parents Saturday after being told by a friend of the assassination.
She said her parents did not know any more about the assassination than she did.
"It's something you don't really expect to happen in Sweden," said Ahl. "Now I wonder what's going to happen with the new leader — if there are going to be any changes."
Panel wants ASK to be reorganized
Staff writer
By Barbara Shear
The University of Kansas will remain in the Associated Students of Kansas if some changes are made in the organization, an ad hoc committee decided yesterday.
The most important changes the committee decided were changing the size of the legislative assemblies, increasing the role of the campus director and adopting a campus autonomy program.
The changes came as an alternative to leaving the organization. Committee members said they expected the changes to occur in the near future.
"Unless these changes are met in a certain time framework, we would then pull out of ASK," said Jason
Krakow, Nunemaker senator and chairman of the committee.
The committee was formed to examine KU's involvement in the student lobby organization and the organization's overall effectiveness.
The committee decided adopting a campus autonomy program is the top priority. The program would aid the committee in the other proposed changes.
"Our main problem is that the legislative assembly isn't worked." Krakow said. "We could take the organization and develop it into the type of organization we want. Our first step would be to adopt (the campus autonomy program) and en-
See ASK, p. 5, col. 3
By Peggy Kramer
Dumpster art to be trashed
Several trash dumpsters at Stoufler Place look as if they've been dipped in a pool of watercolors. Bright blues, cool greens and squiggly yellow dumps decorate the once brown dumplers.
Staff writer
But the dumper art will soon be history.
The Stouffer Neighborhood Association voted last week at a general assembly meeting to repaint the dumpsters, Debra Lumpkins, chairman of SNA, said Wednesday.
"We had no complaints about the artist," she said. "The main complaint was not being asked beforehand by housing if the work be done."
Ken Stoner, director of student housing, said permission was granted to the artist by the city and the housing office. He said the neighborhood association wasn't notified before the artist received approval to paint the dumpsters.
She said that if housing had asked the residents' permission, it probably would have been granted.
Stevens, Overland Park junior,
said he began painting the Stouffer
dumpsters in December and wasn't
finished with the work.
Mike Stevens, the artist, said he hadn't heard anything about the decision.
"I should have followed through on the issue." Stoner said.
Dean Milroy, associate director of housing, said the dumpsters belonged to the city. It was a mutual agreement between the city and the housing department to let Stevens paint the dumpsters.
decision to repaint the dumpster and had no objections to the dumpsters being decorated if the art was not obscene.
He said he wasn't aware of SNA's
Stoner said he didn't know how soon the dumpsters would be repainted.
Stouffer residents had mixed reactions to the color of the dumpsters. Some didn't like the previous brown color while some considered the art to be an eyesore.
"The issue was hotly debated at the meeting," Lumpkins said. "However, it was a majority vote and I will call Dr. Stoner today and let him know of the decision."
Dave Loyst, Waterloo, Ontario, graduate student and Stouffer resident, said, "The first day I saw the dumpsters being painted, I called the police because I thought it was vandalism."
Hashinger's food supervisor receives hall transfer to JRP
The Hashinger Hall cafeteria was placed under new supervision Friday after the food supervisor requested a hall transfer, Ken Stoner, director of student housing, said yesterday.
By Peggy Kramer Staff writer
Stoner said Diane Michel's transfer request was approved Thursday and she began work in Joseph R. Pearson Hall Friday.
Michel said, "I feel very comfortable with the change to JRP and the staff is wonderful to work with."
students' suggestions and to meet with Lenoir Ekdahl, director of food services for student housing.
No other Hashinger cafeteria staff members have requested a transfer, Stoner said.
About two weeks ago, Hashinger residents demonstrated in an effort to encourage improvements by not eating the cafeteria food. A food committee was established to gather
Michel refrained from comment when asked whether the transfer was a result of the cafeteria problems at Hashinger.
Debra Lubben, the new Hashinger food supervisor, said she was waiting for direction from Stoner, Ekdahl and Hashinger residents.
Lubben was a relief food supervisor at the residence hall cafeterias before being assigned a permanent position at Hashinger. She said she had worked at JRP and Lewis halls
and substituted at McCollum Hall.
Brian Bongner, St. Louis freshman and a member of the Hashinger committee, said the committee discussed possibilities for changes and improvements.
The committee polled residents for suggestions and gave the results to Lubben Friday to give her a start.
Tom Smart, St. Louis junior and Hashinger resident assistant, said, "I'm not sure I liked the way the food situation was handled last week. I think there could've been changes without getting a new food supervisor."
Smart said he hadn't noticed anything different in the cafeteria and it was too soon to tell.