Campus/Area
University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, April 23, 1991
3
Aluminum pins
Carol Duermeier, Lawrence resident, and her five-year-old son,
Thomas, try to knock down aluminum can bowling pins with
plastic balls. The game was one of several activities sponsored by SUA yesterday in the Kansas Union to celebrate Earth Day and to promote awareness of the need to recycle.
Union celebrates Earth Day Students discover environmentally safe cleaning alternatives
By Katie Chipman
Kansan staff writer
In celebration of Earth Day yesterday, some KU students participated in activities at the Kansas Conservation and the environment
The open house, which was sponsored by SUA, consisted of information tables, a contest, games and arts and crafts.
Many students stopped at one table that had information about making products such as hairspray, scouring powder and various cleaners at home, without using chemicals that many store-bought brands contain that may harm the environment.
The ingredients to all of the alternative products are natural substances such as lemons, baking soda and salt.
Jennifer Gilbert, a coordinator of the open house, said, "A lot of the things we buy to clean our houses are toxic, and we don't realize it. We need to know that there are alternates that are safe and cheap."
Robert Taylor, Prairie Village senior, said, "I think as people become more environmentally aware, they will rely on more products like these. Realistically, I think we'll see more businesses that cater to this sort of thing in the future."
Gilbert said there were also homemade products that could be used to control pests outside the home instead of using the chemicals that not only were dangerous to the environment but also to people.
he made several of his own household cleaning products because the chemicals in store-bought products scared him.
Alex Ellett. Topeka senior, said
Ellett said he uses soap rather than detergent when doing laundry because detergent was a by-product of petroleum.
"I use plain vinegar to wash my hair," he said. "I use vinegar water and newspaper to clean windows. I can make this stuff myself with the impact on the environment. It's cheaper and just as effective."
Committee pulls money for 1992 primary election
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — In an unexpected turn, the Senate wages and Means Committee yesterday pulled financing for Kansas' scheduled 1992 presidential preference primary election.
The move stunned some lawmakers.
"I thought we had resolved this once and for all," said Sen. Dick Rock, D-Arkansas City.
"We did," replied Sen. Gus Bogina, R-Shawnee, the committee's representative. "We're taking a second shot at it."
The committee pulled $1.2 million from the so-called omnibus appropriations bill, money the state would have used to reimburse counties for the cost of the primary, which is set for April 7, 1992.
The Legislature passed a bill in 1990 that authorizes the primary.
The only presidential primary in Kansas history was conducted in April 1980. It was not continued for 1984, mainly because of the cost, but also because Kansas attracted few candidates for personal appearances. However, more people voted in that election than any primary in state history, about 484,000.
Rock said that the Ways and Means Committee was in effect vetting legislation already passed and that members were trying to repeal the law if they pulled financing.
Harder said the committee was not ignoring a law passed earlier by deleting the financing for the building and must delay it until 1996, he said.
"The issue was decided on the floor," added Sen. Wint Winter, R.Lawrence.
The financing for the primary could still be reinstated during
Except for 1980, Kansas has used a caucus system to select delegates to the national Democratic and Republican conventions, where the two parties' presidential candidates are nominated.
floor debate.
Except for 1980, Kansas has used a caucus system to select delegates to the national Democratic and Republican conventions, where the two parties' presidential candidates are nominated.
Under the primary scheduled for next year, delegates would be apportioned according to how the candidates fared in the primary.
The omnibus bill is a catchall appropriations measure that traditionally is one of the final bills passed by the Legislature.
Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee yesterday endorsed a plan designed to stop the further development of new state payroll and personnel computer system.
However, the state still would have to spend $1.64 million on the system during the budget year that begins July 1. The money would be used to maintain the current payroll computer system. Both systems have been described as troubled.
The proposal would give Gov. Joan Finney's administration time to develop a plan for improving the state's payroll computer system. The proposal also is a rejection of suggestions to add to the existing computer system.
Med Center seeks state bill approval to begin building
By Amy Francis Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas Medical Center is waiting to find out whether Gov Joan Finney will approve $8 million worth of state financing for the construction a new medical research building.
The Med Center would receive the money for the Bio-Medical Research Building during four years starting in 1992, said Scott Rumney, assistant director of the Med Center. The Med Center itself would spend up to $4.5 million for the building.
Jack Alexander, legislative laison to the governor, said that no action had been taken by Finney but that the bill was being reviewed by her staff. If no action is taken by Friday, the bill will become a law.
Ramsey said the state already had spent $760,000 on planning the research building. The Med Center has been planning it. For several
years. The plans should be completed in about three months.
The building would be located east of Wahl Hall and would connect with four or five other buildings including Wahl, Sudler Hall and the patient care area of the hospital. The connection have not been easy to design, he said.
Gay, lesbian and bisexual organization formed to be a voice for faculty, staff
Ramsay said that major planning was needed to create building access. "This was one of the reasons this is where they be found."
Difficulties with electricity, poor ventilation, lack of temperature control and close proximity to patient equipment in current research areas, he said.
The new building is needed because the current research areas are limited and scattered in 17 buildings, Ramsey said.
The research building will be four to five stories high with 65,000 to 70,000 gross square feet, he said.
Kansan staff writer
Maggie Chids thinks gay, lesbian and bisexual faculty and staff need to be as organized and politically active with them. They are gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas.
Childs, chairperson of East Asian language and culture, said she was impressed by Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week.
She said the week was her catalyst for starting a gay and lesbian group
for KU faculty and staff.
The group will have its first meeting at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Governor's Room in the Kansas Union.
"I was inspired by the competence and the talents of the students," she said. "But I was embarrassed that faculty and staff were unorganized."
Childs said she expected about a dozen faculty and staff to attend.
She said reactions to the group had been mixed.
Childs said other reactions had been positive.
Some faculty and staff will not attend because they are afraid that if they are known as gay and lesbian, they will not enroll today, she said.
"I wanted to get a group together to be one more voice on campus," she said, referring to speaking out on issues like the Department of Defense's ban on gays and lesbians from the military.
Mike Sullivan, co-director of
"As students, we need the support of our faculty and staff," he said.
GLSOK, said the student group was more than pleased with the formation of the faculty group.
Sullivan said the group would provide a crucial role model for gay and lesbian students who were uncomfortable with their sexuality.
"It will show you can be out at least in academia," he said.
"It's a great effort," he said. "It's long overdue."
Regents action makes engineering fee permanent
By Eric Nelson
Kansan staff writer
After the issue sat dormant for several months, action by the Board of Regents last week received concern from the $15-accredit-hour engineering fee.
expense.
Although students are not seen picketing or protesting, some are displeased that last week the Regents voted to abolish the police, however, see the need for the
The Regents originally said the fee would be in effect for one year, but at a meeting Thursday it gave the fee permanent status.
David Suroff, Leawood senior and engineering student student, said that with the academic year winding down and the Senate turning over in ratification, it was doubtful any official action would be taken until the fall.
He said the fee was disturbing in light of recent tuition increase set by the Regents. The Regents committee on tuition and fees recommended the increase with the understanding that the revenue generated would help cover operating and equipment costs at the Regents schools, he said.
John Gill, Mission senior and engineering student, said the action in the Legislature and by the Regents was exactly what he had expected.
He said he was afraid the fee would become a burden on juniors and seniors taking several engineering hours and paying the $15-a-credit hour rate.
Gill said he would have fewer complaints if the plan was like that at Kansas State University, where students would be charged $100-assemester, regardless of the number of engineering hours they enroll in.
Clip and Save with Daily Kansan Coupons !!!