Rise and shine
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
9200
Details. page 2
Thursday
Published since 1889 by the students of the University of Kansas
March 12, 1987
Vol. 97, No. 114
(USPS 650-640)
House approves resolution to cut aid to contras
Measure faces Senate.
United Press International
WASHINGTON — The House approved a symbolic resolution yesterday that would cut off military aid to the contras, rejecting Republican accusations that members were handing Central America over to the Soviets.
The measure, which passed the House 210-19 in extremely partisan atmosphere, would suspend for six months all assistance to the contras, notably the final $40 million of a $100 million package that Congress approved last year. The resolution also demands a public accounting of millions of dollars already sent to the contras.
The resolution was supported by 213 Democrats and 17 Republicans and opposed by 40 Democrats and 156 Republicans.
Speaker Jim Wright of Texas conceded the resolution stood little chance of passage in the Senate and no chance of being enacted over President Reagan's veto. But he said it would send a potent message to the White House that arming and aiding the cont
diplomacy and economic aid to curtail subversion in Central America and warned that Reagan's request for $105 million in aid in fiscal 1988 faced probable failure later this year.
The measure faces a likely filibuster in the Senate where there was strong opposition to the contra program before the revelation of the Iran-contra scandal in which profits from U.S. arms sales to Iran apply. It will be to ban the contras at a time when Congress banned such aid.
During the often emotional debate yesterday, Republicans accused Democrats of selling out U.S. interests in the region. Opponents such as Rep. Trent Lott, R-Miss., repeated the statement, "I do not want to be recorded as handing Central America over to the Soviets."
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But House Democratic leader Thomas Foley of Washington called that accusation a poor and limp excuse in support of a failed program. He said the Soviets knew Congress was united in pledging not to permit Nicaragua to have offensive weapons that threaten any nation.
members to say what they think should happen in the future.
The speaker said passage of the resolution meant Reagan should abandon his request for the $105 million — a request that could die by a majority vote in either chamber and didn't invite a veto because no legislation would go to the Oval Office.
Wright and Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd said that even if the measure passed Congress, they did not have the votes to kill Reagan's anticipated veto of the resolution.
Republicans were clearly putting themselves in the position to blame aid opponents for a possible victory by the Soviet-armed Sandinista army over the Contras.
Rep. Robert Mrazek, D.N.Y., countered by saying he refused to have his name recorded "in favor of handing Nicaragua over to the Contras."
Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., called the policy one of deception, lies, and cover-up and said opponents of the Sandistas "don't have the guts to ask for a declaration of war." It is
KU experts say U.S. reputation could sour
By ROGER COREY Staff writer
Staff writer
The United States' reputation as a peace-loving power and representative of international law in Central America could be destroyed if President Reagan continues to support the contras, according to three KU Latin American specialists.
Yesterday, the U.S. House suspended 230-196 the final 480 million of a $100 million package of aid to the contras that Congress approved last year. The resolution also demanded a public accounting of millions of dollars already sent to the contras.
House leaders admitted that the resolution had little chance of passage in the Senate. They also acknowledged that it had little chance of being enacted over Reagan's veto.
"The $40 million can't be stopped politically," said Charles Stansifer, director of Latin American studies.
Stansifer said that the real issue was not the $40-million outlay but the funds diverted to the contrasts from the Iran arms sale.
"Before Congress votes
million," Stansifer said.
Jack Bremer, director and campus pastor of Ecumenical Christian Ministries, said the most humane action for Congress and the administration would be to end all contra support.
"I saw the effects of the contra action," said Bremer, who just returned from a trip to Honduras, Nicaragua and the war zone area. "It was mostly terrorism against unarmed civilians."
Bremer said the administration had blocked peace proposals by the Contadora group and by Costa Rican president Oscar Arias Sanchez because it did not want to see a Central American government free of U.S. influence.
"Since 1850, when we sent the Marines to Central America, we have controlled Nicaragua." Bremer said. "It's evident the administration wants to overthrow the Nicaraguan government."
Bremer said the administration's policy actually was helping the communists by bringing death to inno-
is power in the last century, the United States was relatively gentle.
But U.S. policy in Central America has the past six or seven years has been more restrictive.
"And we are still pursuing the same policy," he said.
Barbara Waggoner, adjunct lecturer in Latin American studies, said the current Central American policy was not effective in terms of U.S. goals.
Waggoner said she had been watching developments in Central America since her first trip there in 1966. She said the effect of the war against the Sandinistas was vast. Farmers' land was being taken over for airstrips, and the fighting had increased economic pressures on Nicaragua. The war also had affected El Salvador and Costa Rica.
Waggoner said the United States had never been considered a beneficent nation by Central Americans. And the last thing the region needed right now was a war, especially in the name of democracy.
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Choice can make or break friendships
The day one Overland Park freshman moved into a KU residence hall, her roommate asked her, "Do you have a large family?"
She said no, she didn't.
"Well," said the roommate, "I come from a large family and I like my privacy."
That was the beginning of the freshman's problems. The roommate said she would want the room to herself at least one evening every week. And she wanted to have male friends stay overnight.
"It it really woke me up," the freshman, who now is a sophomore, said. "We had different interests. Also, she had people coming in at all hours of the night, when I was trying to sleep."
Three weeks later, the freshman moved to another hall.
As a result, within the first few weeks of every semester, the office of residential programs is swamped with requests for room changes, said Fred McElhene, director of residential programs.
That case is one of several hundred cases every year in which students think their roommate problems are serious enough to warrant asking for a room change after only a few days.
Only about 200 residents every year are moved from their rooms because they cannot get along with their roommates, he said.
"The number of requests for changes that we get is disproportionate to the number of changes that actually take place three weeks later," McElhenie said.
Usually, residents must wait three weeks before making room changes. Most roommate conflicts arise from a difference in habits, McElenie said.
For example, roommates may have different work or study habits, reflected sometimes by one of them turning on the stereo while the other is trying to study or sleep. One of them might be neat and the other untidy, or one of them might be less prompt about paying bills than the other.
Usually, the room at home is bigger than the room they will now have to live in. They believe the transition is going to be smooth. That is not the case.'
- Fred McEhlenie director of residential programs
Generally, if roommates can resolve those kinds of problems within the first three weeks, they can become good room-mates for the rest of the semester.
However, many residents move into the hall unprepared for the difficulties they may encounter. McEllenney said residents who were used to their own room at home had to adjust
to sharing a room with another student.
"Usually, the room at home is bigger than the room they will now have to live in," he said.
"They believe the transition is going to be smooth. That is not the case. Many people get homesick. They're scared about the new environment.
"What we try to do in the first three weeks of class is organize activities so they do not feel so isolated."
Those three weeks also can be important for new residents, because roommates who originally thought they wouldn't be compatible may develop friendships.
Best friends who decide not to live together have the opportunity to overlook things they dislike in one another. When they live together, what used to be minor irritants become big ones, he said.
Incoming residents often ask McElhenie whether they can avoid roommate problems by living with a best friend. McElhenie's answer to those students is no.
Roommates who cannot solve differences themselves can ask a resident assistant for help. The RA can suggest that the roommates sign an agreement.
The agreement is a three-page contract, covering potential disputes about personal property, responsibilities, phone bills, schedules, visitation and pet peeves.
"Students who are shy are reluctant to speak up about what is important to them. The agreement is a vehicle by which they can sit down and put down
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