Wednesday June 8,1988
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 McSwain, Lawrence fire chief,
said in a videotaped 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 broke at the 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 in 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 when 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
Tau Kappa Epsilon and Phi Kappa Tau fraternities also have been submitted for investigation.
"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."
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 compiles 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
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
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 state department does exist, a University statement released Saturday said.
Inspectors from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment found high levels of 1,2-dichloroethane in samples.
Bearse said it was unlikely the water in any other campus buildings was contaminated.
"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 water used in the building of acceptable quality going into all the other buildings."
Steve Cater, University environment, health and safety officer, said no one knew why such an elevated level of ethylene dichloride was in the water.
"It's quite possible we'll never know where it came from," he said.
Official reverses Hoch ruling
By Paula Messbarger
Kansan staff writer
A state fire officer 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 concerts.
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field, of course, and the good ones will dis place holders.
Although almost all designers begin with a college degree, most say that—like many professionals—they really learn the art of their craft on the job. Many schools offer both B.F.A. and M.F.A. programs; Carnegie Mellon, New York University, Virginia Tech and the University of Texas at Austin are among the most prestigious. Liberal-arts preparation can also help at
the drawing booth**. As ah undergraduate at NYU, lighting designer Robert Rosentel studied dramatic lit and classics. Joy Spabelm Emery, a costume designer who teaches at the University of Rhode Island, says the best costume and set designers spend much time painting paintings in museums and poring over encyclopedias to ensure authenticity.
Sorcerer's apprentice: After graduation, most designers apprentice with an experienced professional or production company. Costume designer Sally Richardson, who graduated from the University of Washington School of Drama, began her career as a wardrobe missi-
tress in St. Louis "doing laundry and quick repairs and making sure costumes were where they were supposed to be for quick changes." Last year lighting designer Rosentel traveled to six cities with the national touring company of "Cats," adapting the show's complex lighting scheme to the different structures of each auditorium.
As with anyone in this Gypsy life, backstage professionals hopscotch to play with the crowd.
Buxton, whose career path is fairly typical, took his degree from Virginia Tech and got a job as an assistant stage manager in the 1979 summer repertory season of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, making about $150 per week—including walk-onss as guards and monks. From there he worked on the musical "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in a regional playhouse in Wisconsin, then toured with the musical "Annie." He now draws a salary of about $900 per week as
Every little detail plays a part: Emery in her costume shop
one of three stage managers for the Broadway production of "Les Miserables" (boxt and tissue against heading for New York too soon. "You're doing yourself a disservice because you don't really know your trade yet," he says.
For all the long days and road trips, designers and stage managers take great satisfaction in their demanding trade. True, they don't get ovations, but that's part of such an intentionally anonymous trade. Says author Williamson: "They will have done their jobs best when nobody knows they've done their jobs." Surely that is the magic of theater.
CHRISTOPHER M. BELLITTO
Master of the House at 'Les Misérables'
more than most unseen theater professionals, a stage manager must mary technology with art. Witness Bill Buxton, assistant stage manager of the smash Broadway musical "Lies Meerrables," sitting in a dark corner on stage left, supervising a scene change halfway through Act I. In less than a minute, combining lights, sound and bulky set pieces, Buxton's verbal and visual commands will transform a French country inn of 1823 to a crowded alley in a Parisian slum nine years later.
"Warning: revolve 180 on red, 182 on blue." Buxton says into his headset microphone, cuing a technician who runs a computer-directed hydraulic system that uses cables to spin a huge turntable onstage. "Warning: fire cue 14 on red, 15 on blue," he says to stage
hand perched high above the stage who will unlock raps to lower a scrim "Stand by on trucks" Bilton tells two machine operators hidden inside a pair of large chunks of scenery pieced together with the legs of a broken furniture. "Ready left," they respond over the headphones. "Ready right."
As the orchestra hits a particular note in the score—which Buxton has been following in his thick, three-ring cue script—he calmly says, "Electric 88, go." An electrician hits a computer button that sets a programmed light change into motion. Simultaneously, Buxton flicks an illuminated toggle switch from orange to green, cuing the turntable operator to set the stage in motion. As it moves, Buxton checks its positioning on a black-and-white closed-circuit monitor.
BLACK STAIRS
Broadway command post:
Baxton calls the shots for scene changes
CAROL BERNSON
BLACK STAR
In 30 seconds—in full view of the audience—it is nine years later and many miles away as the actors take their places. Few theatergoers realize that a complex partnership of people and machines has set the creative process on hold, doesn't seem to mind. "It's an integral position that no one really knows about," he says, "and I kind of like that."
"fly cue 14, go." The scrim comes down to hide propen stricting the set behind. When another assistant stage manager—in costume onstage—calls a verbal "clear" over her wireless, Buxton gives the next revolve cue. "Electric 89,电." brings the word PARIS from a slide on a scenic projector onto the scrim. More than cues the lighting as the scrim goes up. Buxton flicks another toggle switch, and the truck operators drive the two pieces toward center stage.
C. M. B
Paul Marklev
NEWSWEEK ON CAMPUS 37
Hoch is safe as is. The
main concerns when inspecting a building; fire alarms, clear exits and emergency lighting that comes on during the day. Hoch has all three. Markley said.
state fire marshal's office
emergency lights are in operation.
d of a sprink- ea. Mark- be closed rected the However, ty officials med there at Hoch, that com- enceryng
He said not having a sprinkler system above the stage would not make it necessary to close Hoch.
rkley said. e in opera-
MAY 1988
e has three
"The sprinklers are there to protect the buildings," he said. "We care about the buildings, but our main concern is getting the people out."
ayed during
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.
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"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."
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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 athleticism, which University's decision to build a new performing arts center within the next few years.
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.
"We're looking for the general needs of the campus." Modig said.
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.
The Associated Press
Dukakis finishes with nomination
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.
The three-term Massachusetts governor began the night needling 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.
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 votes in Arizona 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.
"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."
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.
Bush pushed uncontested primary victories in all four states and said, "I think I can overcome this deficit (in the polls)," he said.
He decried 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.
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