Pillows in the sky
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Details, page 2
Published since 1889 by the students of the University of Kansas
Thursday
February 19, 1987 Vol. 97, No. 99 (USPS 650-640)
1,300 hear outspoken 'Gonzo'
Hunter Thompson, renowned journalist and novelist, stirs up a standing-room-only crowd in the Kansas Union Ballroom after a half-hour delay. The questions Thompson answered ranged from politics to drugs.
By IENNIFER FORKER
Staff writer
It took Hunter Thompson four hours to leave Kansas City International Airport after arriving at 2 p.m. yesterday. He spent the 2 time swaggering through the airport, bickering with his girlfriend and drumming on His Regal scotch on rocks in the barbart bar. His speech was garbled and distorted for the first five hours after his arrival.
Thompson is the "gonzo" journalist known for his ability to consume large quantities of alcohol and illegal substances, as documented in his novels. He arrived in Lawrence at the tail-end of four days of no sleep and two days of no food. Thompson wrote "Hell's Angels" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."
Author puts fans in high spirits
He squeezed himself into a yellow rental car with his two SUA hosts and girlfriend, Maria, at about 6 p.m. The first stop: liquor store. Thompson had to pick up some Chivas Regal for the road. Then it was off to the Hardees' daire in town, sandwiches, but Thompson only nibbled on a fish sandwich, fries and chips and sipped scotch.
They arrived in Lawrence at 7:15 p.m., less than an hour before the lecture. Thompson strutten into the Kansas Union Ballroom a half hour after he was supposed to start.
The crowd was wild with anticipation before his arrival, stamping and hollering: "Gonzo" Gonzo packed ballroom floor and ballet room.
About 1300 bodies had poured into the suffocating ballroom, which was filled with a smoky haze. Smoke, confusion, more smoke, laughter, smoke.
And then Thompson arrived.
The people sitting jumped up, and
those in the balcony stamped their
feet, yelling and screaming.
Thompson approached the podium and ripped the Channel 6 and two other microphones off, then placed them on a nearby table. He sat at the table and, using the microphone, asked for a question from "Whoever's the most pissed off and articulate here, whoever's the ugliest and meanest."
A man from the back of the room yelled out, "When are you going to cover another campaign?" referring to the 1972 presidential campaign between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.
"It's a good question," said Thompson, "and the answer is never. And it would be for you too."
"It's like sending a pretty young girl to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career."
The crowd roared.
And that's how the hour and a half went. People in the audience yelled out questions, and Thompson conscientiously answered every question thrown at him.
See LOATHING, p. 6, col. 3
By TODD COHEN
Staff writer
The overflowing crowd yelled, laughed, smoked and drank, as did the guest of honor, Hunter S. Thompson.
It was not the standard campus event, and that's the way some of those who squeezed into the Kan-room balloon last night wanted it.
"I kind of expected he'd have a verbal brawl," said William Volm-top, Topeka senior.
Alison Dishinger, Lawrence resident, said she was glad the audience was in high spirits.
"I was real happy with the crowd's adrenaline," she said.
The rambunctious crowd was the best part for David Krantz, Overland Park junior.
"I didn't come here to listen. I came here for the social scene," he said.
"I wanted to see what he had to say to this generation," Dishinger said. "It's funny to see someone our parents' age acting like that."
Others, however, were interested more in what the "gonzo" journalist had on his mind.
Others were not impressed. Jim Fargaru, olaf sophomore, left the speech early and sat in the lobby talking with a friend.
"Maybe he slurs his speech all the time. But I think he's high."
Farquhar said.
Farquhar was hoping for a good question and answer session. "It was more of an answer and answer," he said.
But Kenyu Fulk, Lawrence resident, said it was a standard Thompson speech. "Everything he said was relevant. Whether he's a good speaker or not is beside the point."
Farquhar said, "From the reaction of the crowd, they were getting their money's worth."
Herman Leon, professor of social welfare, said, "I enjoy someone who turns the young people on."
House committee votes to reinstate half of total fees
By CHRISTOPHER HINES
Staff writer
TOPEKA — KU got only half the money it wanted from student fees yesterday when the House Appropriations Committee rejected Gov. Mike Hayden's proposed 75 percent reinstatement.
If approved by the state Legislature, the decision will mean a $635,612 loss in proposed 1987 revenues generated by KU's record fall enrollment. State universities sought release of the fees because of larger than expected enrollment.
Hayden endorsed a proposal that would have reinstated $933,418 in fees for KU, or 75 percent of the total student fees collected. The University wanted all of the fees, more than $1.2 million.
Some legislators said the state Legislature was far from resolving the issue of fee reinstatement and that lawmakers have had political maneuvering by the House.
“it's more of a tactical decision than a policy decision,” said State Sen. Wint Winter Jr., R-Lawrence. “The House historically has always been to have Senate has always added to it. They've up too much too early in the game.”
The committee voted 12-9 to release 50 percent, giving KU $635,612 in reinsteated fees for 1987. The committee decided against releasing any fees collected in 1988 from increased enrollment until it received complete information on the increase.
Chairman of the committee. State Rep. Bill Bunten, R-Topeka, said that the committee had to retain some fiscal responsibility in deciding the budget and that the 25 percent reduction would not drastically affect a university with a annual budget of more than $200 million.
"The best thing we can do is secure the fiscal stability of the state, because when you have a down turn in revenues we could have furloughs, layoffs and more budget cuts." Bunten said.
He said budget decisions being made by the Legislature based on estimated revenue levels. For the first time, he did not reach its estimated revenues.
"Overly optimistic revenue estimates have resulted in overspending.
putting the state in a very delicate financial situation," Bunten said. "It is time to be conservative with our money."
Ward B. Zimmerman, KU's director of budget, said, "We could use and need the full $953,000. I hope it is restored by the legislators."
KU could still receive the full amount requested by the governor, Ward said.
Vice chairman of the appropriations committee. State Rep. Rochelle Beach Chronister. R-Neodesha, supported the full 75 percent reinstatement of fees. She said the committee's action yesterday was just one maneuver in the House's budget strategy.
"Sometimes the House positions itself in order to wind up where they think is right," she said.
Chronister worked on a committee in the summer that originally reviewed KU's record increase in enrollment, using pre-renewal figures, and recommended a 75 percent reinstatement of fees.
"I think the University made its point with the amount of its enrollment," she said. "I felt 50 percent was not enough."
Chronister said she doubted that the House would reinstate the 25 percent reduction in fees approved by the committee, and she expected the Senate would have to take action on it.
Winter said the committee's action made him more determined than ever to push for a 100 percent re-statement of student fees at KU.
"It is bad news," he said. "It makes me resolved to solve the problem and put in the 100 percent reinstatement for both years."
On another matter, the committee rejected a 1 percent increase to the state's unclassified employees' retirement fund but endorsed Hayden's recommendation to increase faculty salaries by 2.5 percent
Bunten said, "When you see the cuts to programs like those of Aid to Dependent Children, it's hard to believe a million donation to a retirement fund."
The committee also recommended that the Kansas Board of Regents substantially increase the tuition payed by out-of-state students.
Source: Office of the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee
Bill Skeet/KANSAN
INSIDE
Students dressed up as rock stars and participated in a lip-synch contest at Cogburns, which was sponsored by Students Against Multiple Sclerosis. See story page 3.
Rockin' concert
Cedric Hunter and Mark Turgeon will play their last game at Allen Field House tonight when the Jayhawks take on the Kansas State Wildcats. See story page 11.
One last time
Reardon undergoes operation
United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Mayor Jack Reardon underwent successful heart transplant surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition early this morning, hospital officials said.
"The heart was a perfect match for the mayor." Dr Jon Moran, the surgeon who operated on the Reardon, said in a prepared statement. "He did beautifully throughout the surgery."
Reardon, 43, underwent a five-hour operation and was taken to the intensive care unit of the University of Kansas Medical Center at about 2:30 a.m., said Carolyn Curtis, a hospital spokesman.
Reardon entered the medical center about 4 p.m. yesterday when he was informed the Midwest Organ Bank had located a donor heart, described as that of a young man from the Midwest, said Mary Harrison, a spokesman for the hospital.
The operation began at about 9:10 last night and the donor heart arrived at about 9:20.
See REARDON, p. 6, col. 6
Low-key approach effective for Budiq
By LISA A. MALONEY
Staff writer
Six years ago, the Kansan greeted the appointment of the new chancellor. Gene A. Budig, with an editorial focus, sums as the comic book hero Superman.
"I suspect that if the economic climate in the state had been better, he might have turned out to have been the Superman-problem-solver he was portrayed as," said Del Shankel, professor of microbiology and former interim chancellor.
Stanley Z. Koplik, executive officer of the Board of Regents, said, "He has impeccable credentials in terms of integrity and credibility, which I think are very precious commodities. You can t buy those, you have to earn them.
But few are complaining about the jeff buding has done as he enters his sixth
"He's the right leader at the right time for KU. He's a very effective manager."
Budig started facing many difficulties, but recently Gov. Mike Hayden's budget cut has created new headaches.
But student enrollment increased by 1,200 students this year, and the University has received national recognition for its academic excellence, including a four-star rating by the New York Times.
"The University has attracted superior students in record numbers and has undertaken more than $100 million in campus building improvements.
Budig said. "In the past five and a half years, the University of Kansas has raised a record $75 million from private sources for academic program enrichment.
"One has to be proud of the academic standing and achievement of the University of Kansas."
Budig tackles problems
On Sept. 1, 1981, Budig became KU's K19 all Chancellor, replacing Archie R. Dykes, known to many as "the most popular man in Kansas" for his outgoing, gregarious personality.
Budig said he had met most of these goals, including visiting all 105 counties in Kansas.
Budig brought with him nine years of administrative experience, as president of Illinois State University for four years, president of West Virginia University for five and as a legislative lobbyist 15 years.
At that time, KU was faced with allegations of athletes' drug abuse, rising fees and a concern that career-affecting affecting the University's curriculum.
Early in his term, Budig announced a few of his goals; to be more accessible to students; to visit all 105 Kansas counties; and to spend at least one day a week on the
James J. Scaly, assistant to the chancellor, said Budig's greatest accomplishment had been to get the med center to be self-supporting.
Availability questioned
University of Kansas Medical Center campus.
Some students disagree that Budig has met his goal of being accessible (2017).
Before Budig, the University had to request supplemental funds from the state Legislature to support the med center, Scally said. Budig hired Eugene Staples, a hospital administrator, to manage the hospital.
Staples was told to get the hospital to break even, Scaly said. Hospital revenue has exceeded University revenue estimates ever since.
"He's as accessible as he feels he can be as any public official who wants to work with you."
Scaly agreed that the chancellor would probably draw mixed reviews on his plans.
David Epstein, former student body president, said. "I wish he would participate more in the hands-on aspect of students' life here. Then they would realize that he really is a terrific chancellor. Because he doesn't, students don't know him."
Scally said Budig met with faculty and student leaders every Monday morning and spent Wednesday at the Med Center. Much of Budig's day is consumed meeting with administrators, legislators, faculty and students.
Scally said, "There's an amazing number of students who think nothing about calling him late at night at home, sometimes about trivial things. If you call him at 11 p.m. because you got a parking ticket, he tends to be a little short-tempered.
"There's a tendency to think that the chancellor has more time than anyone."
Kelly Milligan, student body vice president, said that Bülig took students'
Right after the Student Senate elections were held, Budig explained the possible effects of Hayden's 3.8 budget cuts to him, Milligan said.
"I don't know how many chancellors would take the time to inform their student leaders to that degree," he said.
Budig said he was surprised that some students thought he was insecure.
"I have met with numerous student groups. I have attempted to seek and
See BUDIG, p. 10, col. 1