Wednesday January 13, 1989
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Published since 1889 by the students of the University of Kansas
Vol. 98, No. 74 (USPS 650-640)
Hayden assists Margin plan
Gov. Mike Hayden shakes hands with legislators after delivering his State of the State address yesterday evening in the House of Representatives chamber.
The Associated Press
Gov. Mike Hayden proposed earmarking $41.3 million for the Margin of Excellence program for Kansas Board of Regents schools during his State of the State speech last night. The plan represents a major infusion of money into the state's universities.
Hayden also endorsed the Regents selective admissions plan that would keep some Kansas high school graduates from being accepted as students at the Regents schools. Currently, any graduate of an accredited Kansas high school must be admitted.
See related story p. 6.
As part of his proposed $4.18 billion state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, including spending $1.99 billion from the state general fund, $4.13 million was set aside to increase salaries for teaching faculty members and new faculty positions.
The governor also proposed spending $85 million of the $135 million income tax windfall to balance his budget.
The governor's proposed budget includes an increase in state aid to local school districts that will allow for an average 4.5 percent increase in public school teachers' salaries next year.
The proposed budget includes $1.878 billion for primary and secondary schools, higher education, and teacher retirement programs, including $1.221 billion in state general fund money. The recommendations represent increases of $94.3 million or 5.3 percent in spending on education over the current fiscal year.
"Demands in our society for increased productivity and higher-order skills require that education be assigned our highest priority." Hayden said. "When students attend a
Regents university, they must have a highly qualified faculty."
The governor's recommendation would add another 150 new teaching positions to the Regents institutions. Instructional salaries would increase by 8.5 percent, but those increases would range from 7.8 percent for teachers at Emporia State University and the University of Kansas to 10.2 percent at Fort Hays State
University and Wichita State University.
Other Regents schools include Kansas State University and Pittsburg State University.
The Margin of Excellence program, proposed by the Regents, sought $47 million in additional state money to upgrade faculty salaries and programs. As originally proposed, it is a three-year program, but
Hayden said he wants only to fund the first year.
Hayden recommended that KU's operating expenses would be $224 million for fiscal year 1989, compared with $213.5 million for the current fiscal year. He proposed that the KU medical center's expenses would be $205.2 million for the next fiscal year.
Secure Cab canceled after fare increase; new service possible
By Christine Martin
Kansan staff writer
Students who depend on Secure Cab to take them home after a night of drinking or to drive them a distance they feel unsafe walking will have to find other ways to get home until a new program can be established.
The Secure Cab program, sponsored by Student Senate, was canceled last month because the fare rose from $2.50 to $4, said Charles Bryan, coordinator of KU on Wheels.
Secure Cab, nicknamed "Tipsy Taxi," was established in March 1986 to offer free rides home to students who had been drinking or did not feel safe walking home late at night.
Bryan said that the Senate could pay $2,000 for the program, but he estimated that the cost would be between $33,000 and $40,000.
"We feel that we owe the students a little more responsible use of their money." Bryan said.
Bryan said that last semester Secure Cab had 80 to 1,000 fares a month, but usually two or more students rode at the same time.
"So it could have been more like 2,000 students a month who used it," he said.
Bryan said that other programs were being considered and that a new proposal would be discussed at a Transportation Board meeting tomorrow night.
Since 1986, Student Senate has financed the service by paying Union Cab Co., 1045 New Jersey St. $2.50 for each ride they give to students. Bryan said that bids
from other companies would now be considered.
He said a possible option could include vans running every 30 minutes from taverns to student living groups both on and off campus.
"Once the board decides what direction it wants to go, it could be four to six weeks before a new program goes into effect." Bryan said.
Matthew Kerr, Student Senate treasurer, said the new shuttle system would help the program. He said that under the old system, some students gave false addresses to the drivers so they could get free rides to taverns.
"Fixed routes would eliminate abuse by taking people straight home" Keerr said.
Bryan said that it could be late February before the new system could take effect because contracts had to be signed and the program had to be approved by the state.
Carol Martin, Roeland Park junior, said she depended on Secure Cab for getting home at night because the buses stopped running before she got off work at Watson Library. She also saidSecure Cab had taken her home a few times after she had been drinking.
"Fixed routes wouldn't be as good because some people live way out and might get left out," she said. "I don't think it's fair because a lot of people rely on it."
The Transportation Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. to morrow in the Daisy Hill Room at the Burge Union.
Financing, admissions proposals facing hurdles
Bv Donna Stokes
Kansan staff writer
Legislators said recently that they expected the Margin of Excellence proposal to pass, at least in part, during the 1983 session, but that they were less optimistic about a qualified admissions plan.
KU's peer schools, similar in scope, mission and size, are the University of Colorado, University of Iowa, University of Oregon, University of Oklahoma and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Margin of Excellence is the Board of Regents three-year budget proposal. It would bring the KU budget from 86.5 percent to 95 percent of the University's peer school average.
State Rep. John Solbach, D-Lawrence, said, "I believe the state has the means to appropriate full funding, at least for the first year, and maybe for a long-term commitment. But it would take reducing the amount of windfall returned to citizens and funding for other interests."
State Sen. Gus Bogina, R-Lenexa and chairman of the Senate Nays and Means Committee, said it must be decided where the estimated $135 million tax windfall would go before anything is done about the proposal.
"I want to give half back to the taxpayers," Bogina said, "but I am certainly considering some funding for the Margin of Excellence proposal."
Solbach said that the state had seen more "fiscal sunshine" this year than in the past five years, and that there were many demands on the windfall money.
About $20 million of the windfall automatically would be returned to public schools. Solbach said.
"To a great extent, we can return windfall more effectively by wisely investing it for benefit of all Kansas citizens, instead of just giving back a few dollars here and there to individuals," he said.
Although legislators said they were optimistic that a portion of Margin of Excellence would pass, they were less optimistic about a qualified admissions plan.
The Regents approved a proposal Dec 17
that would require students to meet certain standards for admission to a state university. The proposal would require freshmen to have a C average in a high school preparatory curriculum, score 23 or higher on the ACT composite or rank in the top third of their high school class.
That plan and others may be considered in hearings starting as early as next week, said State Sen. Joseph Harder, R-Moundridge and chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
"Many legislators are very much opposed to qualified admissions," Harder said. "It may even have trouble getting out of committee."
State Rep. Denise Apt, R-Iola and chair
man of the House Education Committee, said, "I would assess right now that 30 percent of the legislators are for it, 30 percent are against it, and 40 percent are on the fence."
Apt used a two-year foreign language requirement as part of a high school curriculum.
However, some legislators that originally were opposed to the plan have become more open-minded about it.
State Rep. Jessie Branson, D-Lawrence, opposed selective admissions last year, but said she had "mellowed out on it since then" and had an open mind on the issue.
See LEGISLATURE, n. 6, col. 1
Commission hears gay rights opinions
By Joel Zeff
Kansan staff writer
The Lawrence City Commission last night heard public comment on a proposal to amend the city's human rights ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on sexual preference.
The city commissioners, addressing an overflowing chamber room, decided to hear public comment on the issue last night and to delay action until next week's meeting.
The ordinance, passed in 1983, prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, religion, color, nationality, ancestry, handicap and age.
"This is one of those things that how we decide will say a lot on the nature of Lawrence as a community." Commissioner Dennis Constance said. "I've got more input on this than any other issue since I've been elected. More than the mall issue."
The proposed amendment was suggested after an ad hoc committee formed by the city's Human Relations Commission researched the issue and found that discrimination against homosexuals does exist, said Lig Gowdy, spokeswoman for Citizens for Human Rights in Lawrence.
"There is a lot of discrimination everywhere for a lot of reasons,"
For example, Gowdy said a friend of hers received a death threat when involved in planning a dance for lesbians.
Gowdy, whose group presented a petition to the commission, said 1,654 people had signed the petition
Marie Kelly, Tulsa, Okla., junior, distributes safer-sex packets to students during fee payment yesterday in the Kansas Union.
Gowdy said, "Human characteristics. People wonder who is gay and who is not. It's human nature to make judgments. I do believe this is a civil rights issue — not morality. Are we affording everyone the basic human rights to live in Lawrence?"
Opponents of the amendment, including a group called the Alliance of Citizens for Traditional Values, last night said that discrimination against homosexuals to the extent described in the relations commission's report was not evident. In addition, opponents cited state law prohibiting sodomy, and references from the Bible against homosexuality.
The commission has since June refused to consider the committee's proposal. However, Commissioner Bob Schumm said that in June, the commission did not think many people were interested in the issue. He said the commission had waited for the level of interest to rise.
Constance said the meeting last night was informative and included a mass of emotion. He added that the opposing groups respected each other.
"Homosexuals do have rights in common with all Americans. They want a right that others do not have," said Gordon Gruber, an opponent of the amendment.
"Everyone is speaking beliefs that are sincere — with good intentions. Hopefully, there will be a vote next week," Connause said.
Condom handouts attract attention
By Joel Zeff
After weaving through reporters, television camera crews, photographers, protesters and interested onlookers, David Campanini walked up to pay his fees with registration card, checkbook and comon in hand.
Campanini, iola senior, was among almost 10,000 students who received saer-sex packets from the Student Senate Task Force on AIDS. The packets, containing three informational pamphlets and a condom, were distributed Monday and Tuesday during fee payment in the Kansas Union.
Kansan staff writer
See related story p. 7B.
"It's a great way to create awareness," Campanini said Monday. "People say everyone who has a rubber will use it; that's not the case. This will get people to face the facts and consequences, not get it on."
The safer-sex packets, which cost about $4,000, or 40 cents each, to distribute, were paid for by student activity fees and handed out by members of the task force. The task force was created last summer to begin taking steps against acquired immune deficiency syndrome, said Stephanie Quincy, student body vice president.
Quincy said the condoms were so popular that student senators ran out of packets at 1:30 p.m. Monday and at 12:30 p.m. yesterday. The task force prepared 5,000 packets for each day, she said.
"I was surprised," Quincy said. "A lot of people asked for more, and a lot of older students got them for their teenage children or younger brothers and sisters."
"This is saying — Look, AIDS is an issue. It is an issue we have to face. People say it's just a gay disease. People must realize it's an issue they must deal with. AIDS doesn't discriminate." she said.
Rebecca Newburn, Columbia, Md., junior and a member of the task force, said reactions to the safer-sex packets varied from serious to humorous. She added that it was important for people to understand that the main reason Senate was there to educate, not to offend.
Quincy said not only did the money
used to purchase condoms bring priceless attention in the area to the AIDS crisis, but the attention the safer-sex kits received was more positive than negative.
were in front of the Union Monday morning.
"There are some sincere people in Senate. But, but there are homosexuals in Senate and on the task force. What we have is a homosexual response to the AIDS issue." Hermesch said.
Hermesch said handing out the condoms in the packets was not a solution. Condoms, he said, promote immorality and sex before marriage and endorse the very activity that spreads AIDS.
See CONDOMS, p. 8, col. 1