Monday, April 23, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Rights march ends Pride Week
200 people march at gay-rights rally
By Erin Adamson
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
"Two, four, six, eight, no more violence, no more hate!" shouted marchers in support of gay rights at a Rights March on Saturday.
Gay Pride Week festivities concluded Saturday at 200 supporters of gay rights marched two-by-two down the east sidewalk of Massachusetts Street chanting prideslogans.
Fifteen supporters of the Rev. Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka followed on the opposite sidewalk, carrying signs with antigay slogans.
The Rights March began at 11:30 a.m. across from City Hall and proceeded down Massachusetts Street to the gazeebo in South Park for a rally
The procession filled up the east sidewalk because Rights March organizers didn't obtain city permission to have a parade in the street. The city allows only one parade weekend, and organizers of yesterday's Earth Day parade obtained a parade permit before organizers of the Rights March.
But organizers of the Rights March said that keeping to the sidewalk didn't take away from the power of the event.
Stan Handshy, Erie sophomore and march organizer, said he was happy with the turnout for the event.
"I'm incredibly impressed with the march," handshy said. "Everyone was very willing to work with the limitations placed on us."
Lea Burgess-Carland, Lawrence sophomore and march organizer, said the march was an important part of Pride Week because it brought the gay, lesbian and transgendered community together. It was Burgess-Carland's first year
organizing the march.
"I think that queer people can feel really alienated and lonely in the straight community," she said. "It's important to get together and be with their community."
Five members of A.C.T. in Faith, a KU United Methodist campus ministry that welcomes people of all sexual orientations, marched in the parade to show support for the gay community.
The march ended in South Park, where Lawrence Mayor Mike Rundle addressed the crowd on behalf of the city. He offered support in fighting discrimination against the gay community and commended the city's leadership in passing a human rights ordinance that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Rundle said that he recognized the leadership roles of gays and lesbians in the Lawrence community and that it was important for their contributions to be publicly recognized.
"I think it's important that historians and storytellers among us document these contributions," Rundle said. "Finally, let us take pride in being here today."
Curtis Dixon, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, and Galen Stoecker, Garden City sophomore, who found hate messages scrawled on their dorm room door April 10 at Ellsworth Hall, thanked the gay community for supporting them through a difficult time and helping turn the hate message into a positive experience.
Christine Robinson, former director of Queers and Allies, also spoke at the park. She said that being involved in the gay community had offered her hope and strength to overcome an abusive relationship, thoughts of suicide and a painful relationship with her parents.
"Ispeak because I survived and we survived," Robinson said. "And now we have a wonderful relationship."
Edited by Sydney Wallace
Drag artist Tyra Banks performs for the crowd at the Eighth Annual Brown Bag Drag Show. More than 200 people gathered Friday afternoon in front of the Kansas Union to enjoy the show. Photo by James Roper/KANSAN
Show earns dough for Q&A
time."
Next to them, three KU students protested Phelps' message.
Continued from page 1B
Supporters of Rev. Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka stood across the street in protest of the event.
Mike Appleby, Lawrence sophomore, held a sign that read. "I'm with Stupid" that pointed to the Phelps supporters.
"There are certain things that make this state look bad," Appleby said. "I'm standing next to one of them."
Members of A.C.T. in Faith, a United Methodist campus ministry that welcomes gay and transgendered members into its ministry, held a sign and passed out fliers in the crowd.
Gary Bartholomew, A.C.T. member and KU junior, said the group was out to counter Phelps' message.
"We're here today just to let people know there's an alternative message to the hate message, one of love and acceptance," Bartholomew said.
The Rev, Heather Hensarling was attending her first drag show with A.C.T.
"So many of the campus ministries are so conservative," Hensarling said. "There are campus ministries with these kinds of offerings."
$500 will be awarded to campus leaders
- Edited by Sydney Wallace
African-American groups unveil scholarship
By Danny Phillips
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The National PanHellenic Council unveiled a new minority scholarship last night at the NPHC/Black Student Union awards and recognition banquet at the Kansas Union.
It was established in the names of Mark Tolbert Jr. and Shyra McGee, two students who died this semester in car accidents.
Lorraine Talbert, Mark Tolbert's cousin, and John McGee, Shyra McGee's husband, announced the $500 scholarship, which will be awarded every year to one male and one female student.
She approached NPHC and BSU about establishing the scholarship because she said she wanted students involved with it. To be eligible for the scholarship, students will have to write two essays about their community involvement, have a letter of recommendation, have a GPA of at least 3.0 and be a minority.
"The main reason for this scholarship is to honor the memory of these dynamic students that touched our hearts." Tolbert said to the banquet attendees.
John McGee encouraged the attendees to make a difference in their community by becoming leaders.
"Leadership is something Shyra believed in. It's something Mark believed in." he said.
Earlier in the evening, the awards for the NPHC and the BSU were handed out. The awards culminated at the announcement of the
"Leadership is something
Shyra believed in.It's something Mark believed in."
g Mark believed in."
John McGee
Shyra McGee's husband
The gift poked fun at the refusal of current student body president Ben Walker to pass on a baseball to Mills that had been signed by past presidents.
Student body president-elect Justin Mills, Lansing senior, who was a BSU member two years ago, also gave a short speech at the banquet. He thanked everyone who voted for him and said one of his top priorities would be to recruit and retain minority students.
"At the beginning of the year, we're thinking about the end of the year," the Grandview, Mo., senior said.
J. R. Roland, the fraternity's vice president, who also won BSU outstanding senior member and outstanding Kappa Alpha Psi member, said every year his fraternity strived to be the best.
sorority and fraternity of the year.
Afterward, the NPHC presented Mills with a gift — a softball signed by many of those in attendance.
The award is granted for involvement in community service and in NPHC.
Zeta Phi Beta won sorority of the year, and Kappa Alpha Psi won fraternity of the year.
"I've been offered a lot of baseballs the last few weeks," Mills said. He added jokingly: "I'm not sure if I'll be giving this up next year."
- Edited by Jason McKee
AWARD WINNERS
Outstanding sophomore member: Gabriel Roland, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore
Outstanding freshman member: Kristin Lambert. Overland Park freshman
Black Student Union awards
Outstanding junior members
Grace K. Chung, Olivia Kenyon
Cassandra Young, Grandview, MA
Outstanding senior member; J.R.
Roland, Grandview, Mo., senior
Executive board member of the year:
Courtney Bates, Lawrence sophomore
General Assembly member of the year: Mark Dupree, Kansas City, Kan., freshman
Outstanding chapter NPHC representative: LaDena Brown, Lawrence junior
Outstanding executive board member
Alex Morales, Kansas City, Mo.
senior
National PanHellenic Council awards
Outstanding general assembly member: Amber Sellers, Wichita sophomore
Gap unhappy with group's music improv
Outstanding Alpha Phi Alpha member Chris Hendel Lawrence senior
Outstanding Phi Beta Sigma member:
Russel Hages, Kansas City, Kan., junior
Outstanding Sigma Lambda Beta member. Alex Morales, Kansas City, Mo., senior
Outstanding Kappa Alpha Pi member. J.R. Roland, Grandview, Mo., senior
Outstanding Zeta Phi Beta member: Angela Jones, Kansas City, Kan., senior
Outstanding Iota Phi Theta member:
Dion Jones
Outstanding Delta Sigma Theta member: Amber Sumler, Wichita junior
Outstanding Sigma Gamma Rho member: Amber Sellers, Wichita sophomore
By Sarah Smarsh
Outstanding Sigma Lambda Gamma member: Erica Andrade, Kansas City, Kan., senior
Kansan staff writer
Shoppers at the Gap got more than they bargained for Saturday afternoon when a KU-based musical group broke into song and dance somewhere between the khakis and the sundresses.
The troupe, which has also struck at Budig Hall's computer lab and at the KU parking department, hasn't yet inspired onlookers to join in, Meyer said.
"It's inserting the magic of musicals into everyday life," he said. "I hope eventually we're going to have people swept away with the music."
"We had some people humming in the computer center, but that's as far as it's gotten," he said.
"It's a naturally theatrical environment, but they don't want any theater in it," he said.
Josh Meyer, Overland Park senior, founded the troupe as a senior project for his major in theater. Meyer said he hoped the musical numbers would brighten people's days.
The troupe completed its grand finale of the semester with performances at Gaps in Overland Park's Town Center Plaza and Oak Park Mall.
Edited by Melinda Weaver
The Guerrilla Musical Theatre troupe, a secretive group of more than a dozen students, alarmed some customers and amused others while "spontaneously" staging a performance inspired by the clothing chain's television ads at the Gap, 647 Massachusetts St. The performance appeared to begin spontaneously, like musical numbers in plays and movies; two women praised a shirt in unison and were gradually joined by inconspicuously dressed performers scattered throughout the store.
Gap employees weren't humming along — one store manager attempted to break up the group and then called police. The troupe completed its mission and dispersed just as police arrived.
"It was a celebration of consumerism," he said, adding that the store's negative response was ironic in light of its theatrical advertising ties to musicals, such as West Side Story.
Performers wore exaggerated smiles as they sang about the conformity of Gap apparel, but Paul Anders, Kansas State University junior, thought the musical number was all in good fun.
Gap employees declined to comment, but one manager, who would not offer her name, said the Gap chain often encountered loud, anti-corporate protests.
"I thought it was just kind of a satire," said Anders, an onlooker whom a store manager falsely accused of being involved. "I thought the store over-reacted. She said, 'Do another round for the cops.'"
But Meyer insisted the performance was not a protest.
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April 26 and 28, 9:30 pm DUSTIN HOFFMAN
Traffic
April 25 and 27, 9:30 pm
April 26 and 28, 7 pm
Free Preview: Driven
April 24, 8 pm
Nepal Exhibit
Photography and Artifacts April 16 to 26 Kansas Union Gallery 4th floor, Kansas Union
Day on the Hill Saturday, April 28 at noon West Campanile Hill, FREE Featuring Fastball
All movies at Woodruff Auditorium, 5th floor of the Kansas Union. Tickets/Movie passes sold half an hour before movie times, in front of Woodruff. Movies are $2 or free w/ Movie Card. Preview vouchers are free,and passed out the day
review vouchers are free, and passed out the day of the event at the SUA Box Office.
The SUA Box Office is located at the 4th floor of the Kansas Union. Please call 864-SHOW for more information, or visit www.ukans.edu/~sua.
other events at the kansas union The International Film Series
Kikujiro
The International Film Series
Monday, April 23, 7 pm
Monday, April 23, 7 pm
Woodruff Auditorium, $2.00
Brown Bad Classics
Brown Bag Auditorium
Wednesday, April 25, 12:30 pm
Alderson Auditorium
Enjoying Smythe Piang
Featuring Jessica Smythe, Piano
Afternoon Tea
Thursday, April 19, 3-5 pm, Kansas Union Plaza (Traditions Area - rain location) Free tea, sweets and conversation