2A
The Inside Front
Monday December 11,2000
1.
News
from campus, the state the nation and the world
CAMPUS
Smoking issue at Towers tabled until February
A vote on whether to continue allowing smoking in Jayhawker Towers has been postponed until February.
Residents of Jayhawk Tower Towers met last night to debate whether smoking should continue to be allowed in the towers. Students currently can smoke in their rooms with the permission of their roommates.
The vote originally was scheduled to take place at the meeting, but only about 30 people attended.
Although there was no vote, residents did decide on the options that will be available when the vote occurs. Residents will be able to vote only on whether smoking will be allowed in the four buildings of Jayhawker Towers. Some residents had proposed smoking be allowed on certain floors of the buildings or that some towers be designated as non-smoking and others as smoking.
"There's no way we can satisfy everybody," said Omega Tadesse, president of the Jayhawker Towers Tenants Association and Ethiopia junior.
The vote by the residents of the towers is nonbinding. Tadesse said if the no-smoking resolution passed, the Department of Student Housing would then decide on the issue.
Chris Wiltgen, assistant complex director at the towers, said the department's decision would depend on the strength of the residents' recommendation.
— J.D. McKee
Engineering, journalism students graduate
They're finally done.
Two schools bid farewell to their graduating seniors with ceremonies yesterday afternoon.
Honored were 129 graduates in the School of Engineering and 110 in the School of Journalism.
Yet to come are graduation ceremonies for the Schools of Law at 5 p.m. Friday at the Rice Room in Green Hall; the School of Business at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Woodruff Auditorium and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Lied Center.
Flu shots being offered at the Burge Union
Fu shots will be offered for $5 by Watkins Memorial Health Center from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today on level two of the Burge Union.
If additional supplies of vaccine can be confirmed today; shots will be offered again at other off-site locations. Watkins will announce further vaccine availability tomorrow.
— Kanson staff report
STATE
Federal prosecutors allege mail fraud
TOPEAK — Federal prosecutors are seeking to take control of nearly $9 million in what they allege was a massive mail-fraud scheme by a company that offers tax advice to its customers.
Jackie Williams, the U.S. attorney for Kansas, said Renaissance, The Tax People, Inc., used the U.S. Postal Service to fraudulently amass $100 million from customers nationwide since 1997.
On Friday, Williams filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Wichita to have $8.9 million forfeited to the federal government. The money was confiscated from 13 financial accounts — including bank accounts, an investment account, life insurance accounts and a safe deposit box — connected to Renaissance.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. postal inspectors in cooperation with the Kansas attorney general's office.
NATION
Candidates eagerly awaiting court decision
On the eve of historic U.S. Supreme Court arguments, Al Gore's attorney said yesterday the vice president urgently needed a legal victory to recount Florida's votes or "that's the end of the road" for his dogged drive to the presidency. A chorus of anxious Democrats agreed.
George W. Bush's lawyers asked the high court to overturn a Florida Supreme Court recount plan, saying it was "virtually guaranteed to incite controversy, suspicion and lack of confidence" in the first American presidential election of the 21st century. In briefs filed late yesterday, Democratic attorneys previewed their case for the 90-minute court session that could bring a close to the 33-day election drama.
The high court justices voted 5-4 on Saturday to temporary halt manual recounts in Florida and consider the landmark Bush v. Gore case.
The House could vote as early as tomorrow on a presidential slate. The Senate isn't expected to take action before Wednesday.
'Santas' protest unfair working conditions
GOLDEN, Colo. — Four people in
Santa costumes released pepper spray and spray-painted racks of clothing at a department store Saturday during a protest of working conditions for Nicaraguan garment workers, police said.
Shoppers fled the Kohl's Department Store and one woman was treated at the scene after inhaling pepper spray.
the protesters fled before officers arrived, said Golden police spokeswoman Julie Brooks. She said the vandalism caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
Witnesses said 10 to 15 people had been outside the store chanting slogans about Nicaraguan workers earning 6 cents an hour. A corporate spokeswoman for Kohl's did not immediately return a phone call Saturday night.
In Pasadena, Calif., another group of protesters picked a Target store Saturday, also claiming garments sold there were made under sweatshop conditions in Nicaragua and the workers there were not paid a living wage.
32 students receive Rhodes scholarships
On Saturday, 32 American students were chosen to receive Rhodes scholarships for two to three years' study at Oxford University in England.
Recipients include an AIDS researcher, a prison tutor, a theater director and students who have worked with people in need around the globe.
The Rhodes scholarship, created from the will of British philanthropist and colonialist Cecil Rhodes, is the oldest international study award available to American scholars. Winners are selected on the basis of high academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership potential and physical vigor, among other attributes.
Winners this year were chosen from 950 applicants endorsed by 327 colleges and universities; Yale led with three recipients. So far, 2,918 Americans have won the scholarships.
Mother could lose child for forced breast-feeding
CHICAGO — A judge will hold a hearing today on a 6-year-old boy who was removed from his mother's custody because she was still breast-feeding him when he was 5, allegedly against his wishes.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services took the child in July after a baby sitter called a child- abuse hot line.
Champaign County Circuit Judge Ann Einhorn is scheduled to hear the case.
DCFS investigators said the boy told them he no longer wanted to breastfeed, but the mother said her son never indicated he wanted to stop. She denied any allegations of abuse. The Associated Press
Lawrence is working to become more environmentally friendly by using recycled motor oil in four city vehicles.
City explores benefits, costs of using recycled motor oil
By Matt Merkel-Hess
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The pilot program began late last month with two sedans and two pickup trucks, and will continue for one year.
Lisa Siegel, Lawrence recycling specialist, said the city would buy recycled products as long as the quality wasn't compromised and the cost wasn't prohibitive. Much of the city's office paper, toner cartridges and concrete base rock used to build streets were made from recycled products, she said.
"We try and close the loop and buy recycled," Siegel said. "Buying re-refined oil was just part of the part of that process."
Last year, the city collected 5,700 gallons of used motor oil, a non-renewable resource. Dirty motor oil is refined again by removing dirt and other impurities, and then turned back into a product for car engines. The city purchased one 55-gallon drum of the recycled motor oil, which the city garage is testing for lubrication, signs of wear and overall effectiveness.
Steve Stewart, city garage manager, said the four vehicles using recycled motor oil would be compared to similar vehicles in the city's fleet, and a sample would be sent to a lab after each oil change to test for wear levels.
"If we could determine that everything is of good quality and the price was comparable, we'd look to expand it," he said.
The city has a fleet of 500 vehicles and uses new motor oil that costs about $150 per 55- gallon drum. The recycled motor oil costs about $170.
Stewart said the process for cleaning used motor oil had been around for awhile, but the oil was typically used as heating oil. Only recently had the process been improved so the oil could be used for cars, he said.
The city practices other environment-friendly policies, such as recycling oil filters, antifreeze, and using waste oil to heat the shops. Another pilot program with city vehicles will be implemented soon using ethanol fuel, a corn-alcohol and gasoline mixture.
Karen Keith, Tulsa, Okla., sophomore and member of the Student Senate student environmental advisory board, said any steps to use recycled products were beneficial.
"Especially in Kansas, it's very cheap to throw stuff away," she said. "But I think it's worth that small amount more to use things rather than throwing them into a landfill and having to deal with them later."
The four vehicles in the motor oil pilot program will sport bumper stickers that say, "Follow our lead - Use re-refined oil." Siegel said she hoped the program was a success and the city could buy more recycled products.
ON CAMPUS
"It's sort of meaningless to recycle if you don't buy recycled," she said.
Edited by Erin Adamso
The Office of Student Financial Aid will have exit interviews from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today at the office, 50 Strong Hall. Call 864-4700.
Alcoholics Anonymous will have a Campus Serenity meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Grand Ave, Call Thad Holcombe at 843-4933.
Compulsive Eating Anonymous will meet at 3 p.m. today at Watkins Memorial Health Center. Call 312-1521.
■ KU Running and Jogging Club will meet for an afternoon run at 4:30 p.m. today at the oak tree by the east entrance to Robinson Center. Call Michael Roessler at 312-3193 or Keith Marshall at 840-0704.
Student Union Activities forums committee will meet at 5 p.m. today at Alcove A in the Kansas Union. Call Patrick Waters at 864-2428.
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship will pray at 5:15 p.m. today at Danforth Chapel. Call Daniel Wong at 312-3172.
Student Union Activities recreation committee will meet at 6 p.m. today at Alcove B in the Kansas Union, Call Patrick Lafferty at 864-2427.
KU Hillel women's learning group will meet at
6:15 p. m. today at Hillel House, 940 Mississippi
St. Call Becky Adelberg at 841-7769.
KU Baha'i Club will meet at 7 tonight at the Regionalist Room in the Kansas Union. Call Justin Herrmann at 830-8912.
■ KU Chess Club will meet at 7 tonight at Borders Books & Music, 700 New Hampshire. Call Kyle Camaraada at 749-3934 or e-mail chensclub@tal.ear.ukans.edu.
Black Student Union will meet at 7:30 tonight on the Pioneer Room in the Burgeum Room. Call Courtney Bates or Cassandra Young at 864-3984.
KU Trumpet Ensemble will perform at 7:30 tonight at Swarthout Recital Hall. Call 864-3436.
- Sons and Daughters of Vietnam Veterans will present "How the Campus Lied About Vietnam: Interviews" from 7:30 to 8:30 tonight on cable channel 19. Call Leonard Magruder at 843-3737.
- Applications are available for student media board today through Jan. 31 at the Student Senate office, 410 Kansas Union. Call Branden Bell at 830-8602.
ET·CETERA
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the
student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4962) is published at the University of Kansas, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and final periods, and Wednesday during the summer session. Periodical postage is
The Kansan prints campus events that are free and open to the public. When information is submitted, the event's sponsor, name and phone number must be on the form, which is available in the On Campus mailbox in the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. Items must be turned in two days
paid in Lawrence, Kan. 66044.
Annual subscriptions by mail are $120. Student subscriptions of $2.33 are paid through the student activity fee.
Postmaster: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Ken. 60645.
in advance of the desired publication date. Forms can also be filled out online at www.kansan.com — these requests will appear on Kansan.com as well as the Kanson. On Campus is printed on a space-available basis. On Campus is a free service provided by the Kanson to the University community.
It's Your Vote.
Think your vote doesn't matter? Your vote can make a difference in Washington and right here on campus too. Thanks to your input, the Kansas and Burge Unions are adding amenities that will benefit current students as soon as this Spring. Have ideas? Let's hear 'em! After all...
It's Your Union.
The Kansas & Burge Unions
www.jayhawks.com/comments
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