A bird in the clouds
Weather
The University Daily Kansan
Today: Cloudy with a high of 48 and a low of 32
Tomorrow: Fog with a high of 45 and a low of 34
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Tuesday February 13, 2001
Sports: The Jayhawks lost to Baylor 85-77 in Waco, Texas, last night. See page 10A
(USPS 650-640) • VOL. 111 NO. 90
For comments, contact Lori O'Toole or Mindie Miller at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
Inside: Kansas Regents schools will lobby in Topeka tomorrow for higher education issues. See page 3A
See page 3A
WWW.KANSAN.COM
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Friends celebrate life of RA
Mark Frutiger, Wichita senior and friend of Shyra McGee since his freshman year, listens to a speaker share memories of McGee at her memorial service. Friends and family gathered to remember McGee yesterday afternoon at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Photo by Nick Krua/KANSAN
By Sarah Smarsh
writer@kanson.com
Kansas staff writer
John McGee, his jaw wired shut from surgery, spoke yesterday afternoon to a crowd of more than 300 people who gathered to remember his wife, KU student Shyra McGee.
The Wichita senior, set to graduate in May, died Feb. 4 in a two-car collision at the intersection of Sixth Street and Monterey Way.
John McGee explained some of the events that preceded the crash to those gathered. He said Shyra wanted to drive to Hy-Vee after they had watched The *Sopranos*. Laughter filled Woodruff Auditorium when he quoted Shyra as having said, "There are bargains to be had."
These hardships will be tough for Kim Schaul was among those who laughed and cried with family and friends. Schaul, a Lawrence resident and KU graduate, met McGee living in the residence halls and then worked with her for two years at the front desk of Templin Hall. She said she attended the service to honor a remarkable person.
"It didn't matter what mood you were in — no one was better at putting a smile on your face than Shyra," Schaul said.
Nearly all of the nine speakers at the memorial mentioned McGee's smile. Among them were McGee's husband, John, and Amber Sellers, Wichita sophomore, who were both injured in the collision.
John said the University was important to Shyra, who he said gave the "stipulation" before they married that she would finish school here.
Shyra founded the KU chapters of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and the National Council of Negro Women, and last year received The Outstanding Woman. Student in Leadership Award.
Her husband told people to smile despite the loss of a vibrant student because "she's gone home."
Sellers, Shyra's fellow sorority member, approached the lectern wearing a sling and using a walking crutch. Sellers cited the
anonymous poem inside the service's program, naming Shyra among those who "leave footprints on our hearts." She encouraged people to pass on Shyra's selfless acts of kindness.
Ann Curry, who worked with Shyra as a resident assistant at Stouffer Place, also focused on her rapport with people.
"Her academic degree might have been in English, but her eternal degree is in humankind," Curry said.
Tyrone Seymour, Lawrence junior, said Shyra "lived life to make a difference." Responding to the information that the
driver of the other car in the collision might have been drunk, Seymour challenged the crowd to make a difference and "stop just one person" from driving after drinking. A police investigation has not yet determined if alcohol was involved in the accident.
The audience listened to "Open My Heart," by Yolanda Adams, and bowed their heads in prayer with Pastor Rene Brown of Ninth Street Baptist Church, where McGee was a member.
Counseling and Psychological Services representatives were on hand to help anyone struggling with McGee's death.
As members of the crowd left the auditorium, they hovered around a table covered with pictures of McGee, one of her sorority T-shirts and a box labeled "Shyra Monet McGee Memorial Fund Donations." Also on display was a large envelope filled with cards made by children of the Good News Club, with which McGee was involved.
One card was made of blue and green construction paper and covered with smileyface stickers.
"Dear Shyra," it read, "I am so glad your up with god and having fun."
Edited by Megan Phelps
Court rules Napster must close
By J. R. Mendoza editor@kansan.com Kansan wiki editor
Napster must stop allowing the millions of music fans who use its free Internet-based service to share copyrighted material, a federal appeals court ruled yesterday in San Francisco.
The three-judge panel allowed Napster to remain in business but told a lower court judge to rewrite her injunction that ordered Napster to shut down, pending a trial in a lawsuit filed by the recording industry.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also said Napster must lock out those users who exchange copyrighted songs without permission.
The appellate court had earlier issued a stay of the injunction.
"This is a clear victory," said Hilary Rosen, president and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America. "The court of appeals found that the injunction is not only warranted but required. And it ruled in our favor on every legal issue presented."
Sarah Zaragoza, Leawood sophomore, said that she used Napster once a week to download a variety of songs and that the ruling disappointed her.
However, she said she wouldn't go out and buy CDs instead just because it had to shut down.
"I can see the point why people would want to shut it down," Zaragoza said. "It's kind of the same as videos because you can get them and copy them."
Jennifer Nollitt, Overland Park sophomore, said she had been following the Napster controversy and also understood the ruling. She下载ed three to four songs a week from Napster.
"It was good while it lasted," Noblitt said.
Noblitt said she would still go and
See PANEL on page 5A
Ron A. Willis, professor emeritus of theater and film acting as Charles Darwin, bids farewell to the crowd after recounting life stories of the British scientist on the steps of the Natural History Museum. Kansas Citizens for Science celebrated the 192nd birthday of the late scientist yesterday. Photo by Thad Allender/KANSAN
Group salutes Darwin
By Cassio Furtado
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Kansas Citizens for Science, an organization that gathers students, educators and scientists against the current science standards in Kansas, organized a birthday party for Darwin, the creator of evolution theory. Evolution is currently de-emphasized in the curriculum of the state's public schools.
Kansas will likely welcome Charles Darwin back to the school curriculum when the Kansas State Board of Education meets tomorrow, but KU students got to see him on campus yesterday.
Easterday marked Darwin's 192nd birthday and the unveiling of the human genome map, which is considered to be a scientific landmark.
Ron A. Willis, professor emeritus of theater and film, dressed in full Victorian costume to portray the late British scientist and address a crowd of about 50 on the steps of the Natural History Museum.
tist's life, education and the importance that his work and research had on modern science.
Speaking as Darwin. Willis recounted the scien-
He remarked that when the standards were changed in 1999, the change got international coverage. Willis said he wished the event would help to change the image of Kansas abroad.
Macroevolution, which holds that man is descended from earlier species, was deleted from the state's science curriculum by the Kansas State Board of Education by a 6-4 vote in August 1999. References to microevolution, or change within species, were left intact.
Willis said that it was important to draw attention to the fact that the science standards would be changed. "We are going to a new stage." Willis said.
The balance of power in the board of education shifted toward emphasis on evolution in last November's election. Republican newcomers Sue Gamble of the Kansas City area, District 2, and Carol Rupe of Wichita, District 8, will replace Linda Holloway and
See SOME on page 5A
Gay marriage draws support
No state allows same-sex couples to marry now, but the queer community has made progress on this issue in Vermont. That state passed a law last summer that recognized "civil unions," granting the same rights and responsibilities that married couples have to same-sex couples.
By Danny Phillips
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
It was against the backdrop of Rowland's dilemma, shared by many others in the queer community, that Queers and Allies had a petition drive yesterday during the fourth annual National Freedom to Marry Day.
Queers and Allies member Jeremy Wolff, Derby
Buck Rowland would like nothing better than to marry his partner of 13 years.
But there's one obstacle standing in the Wichita graduate student's way. Legally, he's not allowed to because he's gay.
Fifty-eight people signed the National Freedom to Marry Coalition's resolution, which will be sent to the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund for lobbying and civil rights purposes.
senior, spearheaded the petition drive and said he hoped the resolution would allow Lambda to "approach lawmakers and show them the grassroots efforts on this issue."
While Wolff said he would be satisfied with any future civil union legislation, he said he understood the desires of the more religious members in the queer community who want full-fledged same-sex marriages to be legalized.
"I'm an atheist, so marriage as an institution means nothing to me," Wolff said.
A self-described "traditionalist," Lang said he believed God intended marriage to be between a man and a woman only.
Tim Lang, Topeka junior, said his perspective was at the opposite end of the spectrum.
"Marriage is a huge commitment, a huge union, a contract," he said. "I don't believe same-sex couples have the right to unite under marriage."
Rowland disagreed with that viewpoint.
"I don't understand why people are trying to protect marriage when half of heterosexual marriages end in divorce," he said.
— Edited by Megan Phelps
Rv Amanda Bealin
City crews work to repair potholes
Lawrence drivers dodged potholes all through town during the weekend until enough snow was cleared so that the Lawrence Public Works Department could begin fixing the holes yesterday.
Campus traffic was temporarily stopped near 15th Street and Engel Road yesterday afternoon as city street crews filled gigantic potholes that Friday's foul weather caused.
Kansan staff writer
Bryce Campbell, Lawrence public works street supervisor, said 24 workers in three crews filled large potholes on busy streets such as Iowa Street, Clinton Parkway, Sixth Street and Kasold Drive.
Many KU students who live in residence halls said they believed Daisy Hill deserved more attention.
Paula Peggi, Richardson, Texas, freshman, usually catches rides from a friend to get around town, but her friend has had two flat tires this winter, partially as a result of parking lot conditions.
"Being outside, changing flat tresses — not my idea of a good time," Paggi said. "Cars splash through all the potholes and send mud and slush everywhere. I'm from Texas. This is new to me. I was actually asking around, 'Is it supposed to be like this?' "
Recent snowstorms left Engel Road with huge potholes outside Hashinger Hall. However, there is some confusion about whether Lawrence public works or the University is responsible for its repairs.
Campbell said the public works department spent time repairing the 15th Street and Engel Road intersection because it was in its jurisdiction. But Campbell said he was still unclear where public works maintenance ended and University maintenance began.
Campbell said that, if in fact Daisy Hill is in the city's jurisdiction, theotholes would likely be patched within a week.
Campbell said Lawrence public works was responsible for about 200 or 300 feet beyond the 15th Street and Engel Road intersection — which includes Daisy Hill.
Crew member John Barnes said unusually large pothes were caused by the salt and sand the public works department dumped on streets to dissolve ice.
"The salt on the ground eats away at the concrete." Barnes said. "Then moisture and sand get under the asphalt with the salt. The salt freezes and it actually pops."
When it pops, Barnes said, the concrete separates and a pot hole is formed. Cars traveling across that patch of ground will slowly expand the hole.
Campbell said remaining sleet might affect the quality of pothole fillings.
"Sometimes water seeps into the fillings before they solidify, so the fillings punch out," Campbell said.
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Edited by Melinda Weaver
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