University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, April 1, 1987
5
Latin American studies shows enrollment gain
By ROGER COREY Staff writer
Staff writer
The political turmoil in Central America and the United States' involvement in that region has had at least one effect on the University of Kansas.
Charles Stansifer, director of the Latin American studies program, said enrollment in the program had increased significantly because of public concern about Central America.
Between the fall 1985 and spring 1987 semesters, enrollment in the Latin American studies program increased by 23 percent. Stansifer said. Enrollment in the program was 1,981 in the fall of 1985 and is 2,313 this semester.
"We have classes that have doubled in size and others that were tripled."
"Students who are interested in Central America come to KU because the University has given Latin American studies a high priority," he said.
KU's program is one of 10 federally designated national resource centers in the United States for the study of Latin America. The University's exchange program with Costa Rica is the oldest program between the United States and Latin America.
"All the other exchange programs have failed." Stanser said of Latin America exchange programs at universities. "This one is flourishing."
He said an exchange program between the universities of California and Chile had been disrupted by political upheaval. Another program between the universities of Indiana and Lima ended because of political
Enrollment of KU students in the Costa Rica program increased from 16 in 1986 to 30 this year, Stansifer said.
strife in Peru.
"Costa Rica is the most stable country in Latin American," Stansifer said. "Politically, it's one of the more democratic nations in the hemisphere."
He said the Latin American studies program could handle more students, even though the University recently suffered budget cuts and officials were considering tightening enrollment.
"The increased interest in Latin America has also increased grants and money for the program." Stanley said. The amount raised $2 million in grants since 1979.
If the increased enrollment trend continues for three or four years more years, the Latin American students will be staffing problems, Stansfer said.
"We had to close out 200 students from Spanish 104," said Andrew Debicki, acting chairman and University distinguished professor of Spanish and Portuguese. "People are more interested now."
Student interest has also increased in the department of Spanish and Portuguese.
He said enrollment in the department had doubled since fall 1983.
More students are taking two years of language instead of one, and some schools in the University now require language training, Debicki said.
WANT 842-0600
PIZZA? DELIVERED
HACKENSACK, N.J. — A judge awarded custody of Baby M to her father yesterday, stripped surrogate mother Mary Beth Whitehead of all parental rights and uphold the $10,000 contract under which she agreed to give up the child.
In the nation's first judicial ruling on a disputed裁判 contract, Bergen County Superior Court Judge Harvey R. Sorkaw said the contract
Father receives custody of Baby M
Immediately after William Stern won custody in the landmark case, his wife, Elizabeth, adopted the year-old baby, whom they call Melissa. The child has been in their care while the case was argued.
was valid because just as men have a constitutional right to sell their sperm, women can decide what to do with their wombs.
The Associated Press
Whitehead, who had vowed to appeal, was at home when the ruling came. Earlier, she had visited with
the baby and then stopped at a church to light a devotional candle.
She made no statement after the ruling was announced, but her attorneys filed for a stay of the decision pending an appeal to the state Supreme Court and for an order continuing her visitation rights.
"If the courts are going to uphold those kinds of contracts, they are basically degrading our society," said Whitehead's attorney, Randolph Wolf.
"I have a tingling feeling in my elbows, I'm so happy," William Stern said as he embraced his tearful wife after they listened to the judge read his decision.
Elizabeth Stern said she had empathy for Whitehead.
"Despite all the bad feelings that have gone on, on both sides, she gave us a beautiful daughter," she said. "If she wants to be with Mary Beth, we'll do everything to help her be with Mary Beth."
Wednesday, April 1—
"Developing a Healthy Lesbian/Gay Identity." A lecture by Liz Gowdy. Gallery West in the Union. 6:30 p.m.
Thursday. April 2—
"Wear Blue Jeans if You're Gay Day." Can you tell who "is" and who "isn't"? Does it matter? Jack Bremer will be speaking on Christianity and Alternative Sexual Orientation. Gallery West in the Union. 7:30 p.m.
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