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The Inside Front
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Tuesday January 16,2001
News
from campus, the state, the nation and the world
CAMPUS
Former football player enters plea in court
A former University of Kansas football player pleaded no contest Thursday to charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery.
Dion Johnson, who was a defensive end in his senior season in 1999, was originally charged with kidnapping and aggravated robbery in connection with a June 27 incident in the 1700 block of Kentuckville Street.
The victim, a 21-yearold University student, testified in September that two males robbed him at gunpoint at his residence.
One of the males, a 1.7 year-old who was sentenced to two years in juvenile detention for the robbery, testified in September that Johnson gave him and the other male guns, told them where they could get money and marijuana and drove them to the student's house.
The other male was never identified. Johnson's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 23.
— Lauren Brandenburg
University, institute agree to share medical data
The Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Mo., and the University of Kansas have announced plans to collaborate in medical research.
Stowers, the University and the KU Medical Center will exchange data and research programs under the agreement. As a result, the three institutions will jointly apply for contracts, federal grants and awards for medical research.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said the collaboration will improve medical research.
"Health care and medical research will be greatly enhanced," Hemeway said. "It is a positive thing for the institute and KU to form a close-working relationship."
— Livi Regenbaum
STATE
Segwick County study shows low recycling
WICHTA — Low recycling participation in Sedgwick County has officials threatening to charge people for every bag of garbage they pitch.
Figures from a recently released study show only 15 percent of Wichita-area residents recycle, far below the 37 percent of households nationwide thought to be recycling. And it's nowhere near the 50 percent sought by the Sedgwick County Commission, which commissioned
the study.
Unless half the residents begin recycling within the next two years, the Sedgwick County commission has voted to charge people for every bag of garbage they throw away and charge everyone to recycle whether they want to or not.
NATION
Ashcroft to encounter difficult Senate hearings
WASHINGTON — John Ashcroft will soon be mingling with his friends back in the Senate, some of whom are ready to pounce.
But it isn't personal, Democrats said Sunday, while making clear they will not give him a pass to become the next attorney general just because they think he's a fine individual.
"Advise and consent doesn't mean advice and rubber stamp," said Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Judiciary Committee's senior Democrat and temporary chairman.
Democrats opposed to Ashcroft's nomination say his conservative opinions are ill-suited to the job of being the nation's top law enforcer.
Election 2001 to begin in many U.S. cities
If you haven't caught your breath from last year's never-ending presidential race, too late: Here comes Election 2001 with a flood of campaign signs, debates and TV ads.
Two states and hundreds of cities — including, Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Detroit — elect their leaders this year, putting urban issues squarely in the spotlight and giving the political world a tryout for the midterm elections a year later.
"We're talking about governors and mayors who deal with real issues, unlike in Washington and Congress where they talk but don't get anything done," said Ron Faucheux, editor of Campaigns & Elections. "They're often times good testing grounds for strategic moves for both parties."
Clinton calls for common humanity as he leaves
WASHINGTON—Marking the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, President Clinton said yesterday that his wish as he leaves the White House is for an America where the quest for common humanity outweighs racial, ethnic and cultural differences among citizens.
"I if I could leave America with one wish as I depart office, it would be that we become more the 'One America' that we know we ought to be," Clinton told a crowd of about 900 at the University of the District of Columbia.
Clinton also referred to a message he sent to Congress over the weekend that calls for improvements to the criminal justice system, restoring voting rights for people who complete their prison sentences, and a national election commission, led by former Presidents Ford and Carter, that would review balloting problems that surfaced in the past presidential election.
Strained Middle East peace talks to resume
WORLD
to suspected collaborators with Israel — an attempt to blunt international outrage over executions of informers and thwart Israel's campaign of assassinating Palestinian militants.
JERUSALEM — Yasser Arafat's government allowed amnesty yesterday
Despite this shadowy war fought by the two sides.
peace talks were to resume today, after a day's break called by Israel over the killing of a Jewish settler by Palestinians near his greenhouse in the Gaza Strip.
Arafat: Offered amnesty to Palestinian collaborators
in response to the slaying, Israeli troops reimposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip, closing the Palestinians' international airport and border crossings.
Iraqi Kurds realize dream of independence
IRBIL, Iraq — Kurdish militiamen walk patrols armed with assault rifles and cruise the streets in pick-up trucks mounting heavy machine guns. Local officials, and not Baghdad, make the decisions on what gets done. Foods and goods in short supply elsewhere in Iraq are abundant.
Ten years after the Persian Gulf War, Iraqi Kurds have realized their dream of governing themselves in a largely independent area of northern Iraq.
But the undeclared state is divided, fragile and dependent on the United Nations for food and the U.S. Air Force for protection.
Kurds know their fighting men are no match for Iraqi helicopters and tanks just 20 miles from irbil, whose 750,000 people make it the area's biggest city.
The Associated Press
Army drops case against gay reservist, politician
The Associated Press
PHOENIX — The Army said yesterday it has dropped efforts to dismiss an Arizona lawmaker from a reserve unit because he said during a legislative debate that he was gay.
An Army representative said that the case was dismissed after Rep. Steve May, a reserve lieutenant, agreed not to re-enlist once his current term expires Friday. May 11.
"Given my record of service, I should be allowed to complete my term, regardless of my sexual orientation." he said.
A military panel recommended in September that May be honorably discharged for violating the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Under that rule, gays are allowed to serve in the Armed Forces as long as they don't declare their sexual orientation. In turn, the military cannot asking service members if they are homosexual.
May's appeal of the panel's decision was rejected in November. But his lawyer, Christopher Wolf, said the military decided on Saturday to drop the case.
Wolf said he discussed the issue last month with White House chief of staff John Podesta and on Friday with top military officials.
"I think it's vindication that we were right from
"Given my record of service, I should be allowed to complete my term, regardless of my sexual orientation."
State Rep. Steve May Reserve Lieutenant
the beginning." May said of the Army's decision.
But LL. Col. Bill Wheelehan, an Army representative, said the case was dropped because May agreed not to re-enlist.
"Time was going to run out in the next four months to get this man out," Wheelehan said. "You can't (dismiss) an officer that rapidly when the officer is using everything at his disposal" to appeal. The legislator said he never intended to serve another term.
ON THE RECORD
May, a Republican who was re-elected in November, acknowledged his homosexuality during legislative debate in February 1999, while arguing for extending health benefits to same-sex partners. He was an honorably discharged civilian reservist at the time but was called back to the Army a few weeks later, during the Kosovo crisis.
A KU student's computer, CD player and other items were stolen between noon Dec. 22 and 2 p.m. Dec. 29 from Noismith Hall, Lawrence police said. The items were valued at $1,555.
A KU student's golf bag, two golf clubs and other items were stolen between 12:30 and 9:30 a.m. Saturday from a car in the 2300 block of West 26th Street, Lawrence police said. The items were valued at $4,740.
A KU student's jewelry was stolen and door damaged between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday from the 3700 block of Clinton Parkway, Lawrence police said. The jewelry was valued at $1,400, and the damage estimate was
A KU student's Nikon camera, black leather jacket and passport were stolen between 7 and 9 p.m. Jan. 8 from a car in the 2300 block of Lowell Drive, Lawrence police said. The items were valued at $510.
unknown.
A KU student's Sony CD changer and two tennis rackets were stolen between midnight and 9 a.m. Saturday from a car in the 2300 block of West 26th Street, Lawrence police said. The items were valued at $500.
Eighteen checks were stolen between 5 p.m.
Dec. 17 and 8 p.m. Saturday from a KU student's room in the 1300 block of West Campus Bond, Lawrence police said.
A KU student's window pane was damaged between 7:35 and 7:40 p.m. Friday in the 1700 Kentucky Street, Lawrence police said. The damage was estimated at $30.
A KU student's car's passenger window was damaged between 9 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m. Friday in the 300 block of Bristol Terrace, Lawrence police said. The damage was estimated at $300.
ON CAMPUS
valued at $165
A vehicle backed into another vehicle at 12:31 p.m. Wednesday in the southeast lot of Memorial Stadium, the KU Public Safety Office said. No damage was reported.
A black leather parka and insulated brown gloves were stolen between 10 a.m. and noon Wednesday from the Kansas Union Bookstore, the KU Public Safety Office said. The items were
A student in Oliver Hall is being investigated for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, the KU Public Safety Office said. A resident assistant reported the incident Wednesday afternoon, and the officers confiscated the items from the fifth floor.
ET CETERA
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