Wednesday June 8,1988
1
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Published since 1889 by the students of the University of Kansas
Vol. 98, No.146 (USPS 650-640)
Frat may be charged for violating fire code
By Karen Boring
Kansan staff writer
City Prosecutor Jerry Little said yesterday he would file charges against the Triangle fraternity next week for failure to comply with city fire codes.
Jim McSain, Lawrence fire chief,
said in a video-taped press conference
on May 5 that after the April 26, 1987,
fire at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity
house, the Lawrence Fire
Department developed a program to
bring all KU greek houses into compliance with the fire code.
The department inspected the 37 active Greek houses in June and July 1987, said Fire Marshal Rich Barr. The corporation board of each house was given a list of violations and was required to turn in plans of compliance, including a schedule for completion, by January 1988. A corporation board is a group of alumni that acts as landlord of the house.
The Triangle board turned in a statement to Barr, asserting that all required changes had been made. Little said. However, when the fire marshal inspected the Triangle house on May 2, he found that none of the changes had been made.
The only course of action that the
fire department is interested in with the Triangle house is prosecution." Little said. "The next step is filing charges against that fraternity."
Ron Gast, Triangle corporation board president, said a new board, including himself, was elected in February and that the original plan of compliance had been submitted by the former board. Gast said he and other board members learned of the fire-code problems from the house's student officers after the May inspection.
The board is taking bids so it can make a new plan of compliance. Gast said. He anticipated no problems with meeting the December deadline.
"We want to get costs in mind first," he said. "I think we will have a firm plan by this summer and have some of the work completed by September."
Five other greek houses also are under investigation by the city prosecutor's office. Barr said.
The Alpha Kappa Lambda and
Lambda Chi Alpha fraternities and
the Alpha Chi Omega sorority have
not come to agreement with the fire
department on plans of compliance
with the fire code, Little said. The
"They either have not submitted plans of compliance or the compliance time frame is not acceptable." Little said. "What I'm trying to do is to open the lines of communication."
Tau Kappa Epsilon and Phi Kappa Tau fraternities also have been submitted for investigation.
The project involves obliterating grandfather clauses, under which older structures do not to have to comply with fire codes enacted after they were built, he said.
Normally, the fire department inspects greek houses twice a year to ensure that existing fire equipment is working properly. Barr said. The present fire-code project, however, involves seeing that the existing equipment adequately complies with today's fire code.
"If they do not involve sprinkler systems, because sprinkler systems are a very large project from a structural standpoint, we are requiring those plans of compliance to be completed by December 1988." Barr said at the press conference. "If they involved sprinkler systems, then we extended that deadline by one year."
Give it a twirl
Dave Niebergall/KANSAN
Terri Maness, Lawrence resident, twirls batons with glow sticks attached to the ends. Maness entertained golfers during the Moonshine Night Golf Tournament on Saturday night at the Orchards Executive Golf Course. The tournament was a benefit for the Achievement Place Boys' Home.
Water safe, tests indicate
Cancer-causing chemical no longer present at Lindley
By Monica Hayde
Official reverses Hoch ruling
Kansan staff writer
For two weeks, signs were posted inside and outside Lindley Hall warning people not to drink the water in the building. On Friday, they were removed.
Warning notices were posted in the building on May 20 after state and University inspectors found high levels of a cancer-causing chemical in the water in Room 107. But the latest tests have shown that no health hazard exists, a University statement released Saturday said.
Inspectors from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, found high levels of 1.2-ichloroethane
"Tests have not been run campus-wide, but they are in the process of being run," he said. "However, the water coming into Lindley Hall is of acceptable quality, so the assumption is it's probably of acceptable quality going into all the other buildings."
Bearse said it was unlikely the water in any other campus buildings was contaminated.
Sue Cater, University environment, health and safety officer, said no one knew such an elevated level of mercury in the water.
"It's quite possible we'll never know where it came
By Paula Messbarger
Kansan staff writer
A state fire official who said in April that Hoch Auditorium might have to be closed because of fire hazards now says it is a safe building.
Paul Markley, who is chief of the fire prevention division for the state fire marshal's office, said after his April inspection of Hoch that the 61-year-old building was too dangerous to use because of fire-code violations.
But Markley said Monday Hoch is safe and can be used by the University of Kansas for classes and con-
state fire marshal's office
main concerns when inspecting a building; fire alarms, clear exits and emergency lighting that comes on when the power goes off. Hoch has all three, Markley said.
ation.'
'Hoch is safe as is. The
rowed from British bands, no rhythms from Africa. this music—with instruments like the fiddle, banjo and mandolin—is homegrown. No tricks, either, up this record sleeve. The O'Kanes make a big deal about recording "live." without overdubs, all six members of the studio band playing on the same take.
The O'Kanes weren't exactly weened in Nashville. Term, Jamie O'Hara hails from Toledo, Ohio, and Kieran Kane (O'Hara and Kane—get it?) the O'Kanes) from the
A country blend of old and new: The O'Kanes—O'Hara (left) and Kane—in concert
The O'Kanes make music that's simple—and good
A review as straightforward as the music of The O'Kanes would say, "Buy this record—it's good." Their second album, "Tired of the Runnin'," picks up where their refreshing debut left—country tunes played with a deft crispness, creating music as stunning in its simplicity as an Edward Hopper painting.
patting.
U2's music evokes Ireland. Chicano culture powers Los Lobos. Hear The O'Kanes and you'll hear America. Nothing bo-
All-American Sound
He said not having a sprinkler system above the stage would not be safe.
MUSIC
noted country-music capital of Queens, N.Y. Despite their birthplaces, the two took easily to country and worked as staff songwriters in Music City, creating hit songs for The Judds and Alabama before striking out on their own. Listen to "One True Love," for example, and you'll likely find your thinking of tooling fast down an open road in a pickup truck, windows down, crisp Kentucky air blowing through your hair.
TODD BARRETT
**NOTICEES:** A rock fan might think that sneakers they stumble "In My Heart" is an all-too-typical hound-dog-lament of a woman who up and left. Followed as it is by "I'm Lonely," you might wonder how folks in Nashville manage to master a smile. Fortunately, the spare lyrics, calling up spent emotion, can't disguise a spunky foot-stompin' tone bolstered by Kane's niny mandolin work.
Syntistically, the O'Kanes blend the old and the new in a very appealing fashion. You can hear the influence of bluegrass in the instrumentals, the easy vocal harmonies so reminiscent of the Everly Brothers and a few jazzy digressions as well. This is true innovation in country music—musical and lyrical explorations by new traditionalists who make music that is both new and traditional. Just when you think you've got some basic bluegrass, the next tune harks back to folk or the blues. If you don't listen to the O'Kanes just because they're country, you're missing an awfully fine line. Buy this record—it's good.
Hoch Auditorium once was used as the home court for the Jayhawks basketball team until Allen Field House was dedicated in 1955. Hoch has had a long history of safety and structural problems, which led to the creation of decision to build a new performing arts center within the next few years.
Rock and Roll Comes Down to Two Guys
W hunt kind of horn swish W call itself House of Freaks? The first impression youget from the name is leather-clad instruments failing away at detuned instruments while howling punk obsences. Well, never trust first impressions. House of Freaks cranks out gritty rock and roll that refers back to a purer, presynthesizer form. Buddy Holly with a BoDiddleybite. Their gusy drive is most evident in live performance, but on their debut album, *Monkey on a
their about chain
Chain Gang (Rhino!) they've managed to capture 90 percent of the raw energy of their stage show without knuckling under to the conventional wisdom of the recording studio.
dom of Freaks is a duo.
Period. Songwriter Bryan Haven plays guitar and singing.
Johnny Hott plays drums Period.
No. "Guest musicians" — either on disc or onstage—and very little electronic manipulation or overdubbing just straight-back foot stompers such as "Yellow Boat" and by Hott on bass and creature sounding (and, in concert, howling), or a potential pop anthem like "40 Years," a melodic paean to an anniversary of Hiroshima, that soars on the earnest delivery of Harvey's vocal. When he sings,
"Pruy for yourself and for your memories." And be thankful
"There is an emergency lighting system, and its been there for at least 15 years." he said. "The problem was, no one asked the right person."
James Modig, campus director of facilities planning, said his office and a committee appointed by Judith Ramaley, executive vice chancellor, are reviewing possibilities for using Hoch once the new performing arts building is completed. Modig said some suggestions were offices, classrooms or an addition to the new science library.
ed the lack of a sprinker area. Markid be closed orrected the r. However, city officials ormed there or at Hoch, n, that con-emergency
continue to explore every musical possibility as a barebones duo. House of Freaks is a airtend band. Period
Hare bones? The rest of the album is equally inventive, displaying a wide variety of forms that seem to borrow from the likes of knee-slapping blues and country, without ripping them off. Only two cuts, "Give Me a Sign" and "Dark and Light in New Mexico," made me wonder if a punchy bass line or harmony vocal would help. But I hope Harvey and Hott resist the temptation to add other instruments and voices, and
ROBERT J. GEORGE
we've had 40 years," in counterpoint to his roughly textured guitar voicings, the song achieves a haunting unity, propelling the concept as well as the rhythm.
© 1987 PHIL SAUTONSTALL
Raw energy: House of Freaks
farkley said. are in opera-
"The sprinklers are there to protect the buildings," he said. "We care about the buildings, but our main concern is getting the people out."
"We're looking for the general needs of the campus," Modig said.
ice has three
NEWSWEEK ON CAMPUS 47
Tom Anderson, director of facilities operations, said the problem with the original inspection probably was a result of a KU Facilities and Operations employee who was sent with Markley on the inspection. Anderson said it was common practice for KU employees to assist the fire marshals during inspections. He said the employee probably was not familiar with Hoch and its lighting system.
erson, I've open," he concerned. I have no
r and disc
e was not
sion would
As for the near future, not much will be done to Hoch, he said. Some of the stonework will be repaired this year under the fiscal year 1988 budget. But there will be no projects for the fiscal year of 1989 because the Board of Regents did not approve the requests.
Michael Dukakis clinched the Democratic presidential nomination with a four-state flourish Tuesday night and forecast a "golden opportunity" to win the White House in 1988. Republican George Bush labeled himself the underdog heading into the fall campaign but said, "I'm fighting back."
Dukakis dominated Jesse Jackson coast to coast on the final night of a grueling Democratic primary marathon. He was winning primaries in New Jersey, Montana, New Mexico and California by margins of 2-to-1 or more.
Dukakis finishes with nomination
The three-term Massachusetts governor began the night needing about 150 delegates to achieve a mathematical lock on the nomination. He was winning more than 131 in New Jersey, Montana and New Mexico combined, and early returns from California showed him ahead for more than 200 delegates.
The Associated Press
Dukakis emerged as the winner of the Democratic primary marathon and owner of a lead over Bush in the nationwide public opinion polls. But Bush, who wrapped up the GOP nomination six weeks ago, holds formidable Electoral College advantages in the South and West, and Republicans have won four of the last five presidential elections.
Thus, the prospect is for a close general election, and Bush and Dukakis seemed to share an eagerness to begin.
MAY 1988
"My friends, what a golden opportunity this is for us," Dukakis said as he savored his nominating triumph in a speech in California. He pledged to use his campaign to stand up for factory workers thrown out of their jobs with no warning, to ease the burden of families hit by medical bills and to "share the rage" of those living in neighborhoods threatened by drugs.
"Every day between now and November, the American people will want to hear how we intend to build a strong and vibrant future for our country," he said. "They aren't interested in slashing attacks: They want to judge our positive ideas for change."
Bush posted uncontested primary victories in all four states and said, "I think I can overcome this deficit (in the polls)." he said.
In a television interview, he likened Dukakis to Walter Mondale, the landslide Democratic loser in 1984, for refusing to rule out a tax increase. "I'll rule it out," Bush said in an interview with CBS, and rely on a spending freeze to reduce the deficit.
"he derieed the "gloom and doom" that he said was emanating from the Democrats and said the polls would change as he began to establish his own political identity. "When we get through in the fall talking about opportunity and peace and numbers of jobs and how much better things are and what I'll do to keep it that way, I think I can overcome that deficit," he said.