CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, November 3, 1993
3
Panel debates trafficway plan
By Carlos Tejada Kansan staff writer
Haskell Indian Nations University sophomores Nancy Green, right, and Marnie Lounsbury, take turns expressing their disapproval of the proposed South Lawrence Trafficway through wetlands on Haskell property. Haskell held an open forum on the issue last night at Haskell Auditorium.
Melissa Lacey / KANSAN
Traffic, spirituality and a history of cultural differences dominated the discussion at Haskell Indian Nations University last night.
About 100 Haskell students, American Indians and supporters gathered at Haskell Auditorium to hear a panel of speakers discuss the proposed South Lawrence Trafficway. Most directed their attention to panel members Mark Buhler, Douglas County commissioner, and John Pasley, project coordinator for the trafficway.
"The students at Haskell will not allow the trafficway to totally destroy their land and their heritage," said Adrian Brown, Haskell Student Senate vice president and member of the panel.
The discussion concerned the route of the proposed trafficway, which has been planned since 1984. Current plans call for the county to build a two-lane trafficway between Kansas Highway 10 and Clinton Parkway. The trafficway, which county officials say will alleviate traffic on Iowa and 23rd streets, would skirt the southern border of Lawrence.
But Haskell students and the Haskell Board of Regents are concerned that the trafficway would cover eight acres of the wetlands at the southern end of Haskell's property. The highway's proximity also
would destroy the religious and spiritual significance of the land.
"The wetlands, for me, are my church," said Josephine Fire Lane Deer, Haskell sophomore and member of the panel. "That's the closest place I can go and pray."
Bob Martin, Haskell president, said the board had not addressed the long-standing issue before because the county waited until this July to answer questions the board asked in 1992 about the trafficway.
Both Pasley and Bukler said they were concerned with both the spiritual and environmental impact of the $60-70 million trafficway. Pasley said they attended the discussion to understand the wetland's significance to the students.
But Henrietta Mann, Haskell professor on leave from the University of Montana and member of the panel, said Buhler and Pasley would need added compassion. She said such governmental land agreements like the trafficway had hurt American Indians in the past.
"Unfortunately, I see nothing but 501 years of having to hold down and battle for the land our fathers gave us," Mann said.
ficway, which called for a two-lane highway to be built on the east side of Lawrence instead of the south side. Supporters said such a plan would help move traffic from Interstate 70 and around the city.
Buhler such a plan would not move traffic in an east-west direction, which he said was the county's bigger need.
After the discussion, Pasley said the feedback from Haskell students
might lead to different plans. He said he might change the height of the trafficway and the plant of trees on the side of the trafficway to reduce noise levels, he said.
But Buhler said he did not know whether any changes would be made.
"it's going to be a difficult process," he said. "I'm not sure who will do it to make everybody happy, and in that I'm discouraged."
Wetlands provide students at Haskell vital link to nature
By Carlos Tejada
Kansan staff writer.
The word "wetland" conjures images of crocodiles, marshes and lily pads.
Here, Haskell students hold ceremonies at the medicine wheel, a circular path in the grass symbolizing the cycle of life. Here, sweat lodges — where students come to purify their souls — lie hidden in the grass.
But what possible religious significance could students at Haskell Indian Nations University attribute to the wetlands at the south end of Haskell's campus, where the proposed South Lawrence Trafficway would go?
And here, Sleepy Eye LaFromboise, Haskell Student Senate president, comes to pray at night.
"I know a lot about my Sioux and
Seneca side, and I've been taught to
The answer lies in a visit to the contested area. Instead of swarms and spotted frogs, tall prairie grass and spindly trees cover the field. On a cold fall morning, a light breeze brings a sighing sound from the grass and dead autumn leaves.
take care of this land," he said. "It's our mother."
LaFroboise said he liked to pray at night, because the noise from nearby 31st Street is too bothersome during the day. But the sound of the proposed trafficway, which would replace 31st Street, would be worse, he said.
LaFroboise said the planners of the trafficway did not understand the attachment American Indians have to nature. He said he had been taught that he was cousin to the earth's two- and four-legged animals and brother to the hawk.
"We believe things are in a cycle, and in that cycle everybody is equal," he said. "Nobody is on the top, and nobody is on the bottom."
But John Pasley, project coordinator for the trafficway, said he might understand after all. After a walk through the area last week with LaFomboise, other members of the Student Senate and Douglas County officials, he said he could understand the students' concerns.
"You begin to see how the noise would be a problem," Pasley said. "That's one of the big things I got from it."
It's that time of year again ... time to clear those parking ticket holds on your enrollment. If you've ever wondered where your money goes, here's a look at the parking department's budget for its current fiscal year.
Source: University Budget Office and Donna Hultine, Asst. Director of Parking.
John Paul Fogel/KANSAN
CAMPUS BRIEFS
Student in hospital after jumping to I-70 following car wreck
Cindi Johnico, Kansas City, Mo., freshman, was listed in stable condition last night at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo. She was flown there by Life Flight after being transported from the scene to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
A KU student was injured yesterday when she crashed her car and then jumped from an overpass on Kasol Street and landed on Interstate 70.
A Douglas County Sheriff's deputy responded to a report of an accident at I-70 and Kasold Street at 10:26 a.m. yesterday. A witness reported that a vehicle had hit the overpass.
When the deputy arrived at the scene, Johnico ran from her car and jumped off the overpass, landing on the north lane of the westbound I-70, according to reports.
Comedian to perform at Lierl
The sheriff's department could not determine yesterday why Johnko jumped off the overpass.
"Saturday Night Live" star Kevin Nealon will perform stand-up comedy at 8 tonight at the Lied Center.
Nealon has been with "Saturday Night Live" since
Tickets are still on sale and are $10 for students and $12 for nonstudents. Tickets may be purchased at the Student Union Activities box office in the Kansas Union. The box office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students will be able to purchase tickets at the door before the performance.
the 1986-87 season. He is most known for his portrayals of Franz in Hans and Franz, Mr. Subliminal and as host of Weekend Update.
"The Kauffman Foundation is certain to be a dominant force for good in the years ahead, and I am honored to be associated with it and its noble objectives," Budig said in a statement.
Budig also serves on the Royals Board of Trustees, which will oversee the financial responsibility of the team pending approval by the Internal Revenue Service.
Chancellor Gene Budig has been elected to the board of directors of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the board announced yesterday.
Budig joins Kauffman board
The foundation was established by the late Ewing Kauffman, who owned the Kansas City Royals and founded Marion Laboratories, Inc., which later merged with Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals to become Marion Merrell Dow Inc.
The philanthropic foundation was established to help underprivileged children, to assist youths to become productive members of society and to stimulate entrepreneurial growth in the United States.
Student invests his time helping boys earn badges
Engineering major counts nearly 19 years in Scouts, now volunteers with troop
By Chesley Dohl
Kansan staffwriter
At 26, Rod Zinn is still a boy at heart.
Dressed in a tan Scout shirt covered with badges and emblems, Zinn, Overland Park sophomore, appeared to be a Boy Scout again as he was surrounded by a group of 10 Lawrence youths last night.
And he said he would not have it any other way.
Zinn is the assistant Scout master for Lawrence's 52nd troop, the oldest Boy Scout troop in Lawrence.
He volunteers his experience and enthusiasm to Boy Scouts in Lawrence and Overland Park every week when he conducts meetings and teaches scouting skills and responsibility to young Scouts.
"He's kind of like a big kid," said Lawrence resident Todd Hayworth, 11. "He's easy to talk to, and he's a lot of fun. He helped me learn to tie knots so I could earn my Tenderfoot Badge."
Zinn is a civil engineering major at the University of Kansas. Though he enjoys his major, he said that working with young Boy Scouts often makes him question his engineering career.
"I know engineering like the back of my hand — but then there's the boys," he said. "I enjoy giving them something better than what I had when I was their age."
Zinn said many of the Boy Scouts he works with are from single-parent families and live below the poverty line.
Zinn knows what they are going through. His parents were divorced when he was a boy, and his father was an alcoholic who never supported him in his interests.
Zinn's mother put him into a Boy Scout troop along with his two brothers, which gave him the direction missing from his home life.
"I sank all of my energy into the Boy Scouts, and I found I had a knack for it," he said. "I learned discipline and responsibility, and I want to share that with the Scouts."
That direction helped Zinn become the only Eagle Scout, the organization's highest honor, in his family.
Zinn drives to Overland Park every Monday night to conduct meetings and has Lawrence Boy Scout meetings on Tuesday nights. He works with Scouts at his home on Thursday nights to help them earn badges. Satisfaction is the only reward he gets for his time.
"It's a great feeling to know I'm helping these boys, and they appreciate it," he said. "Some of them are in the same boat I was as a kid, so I know where they're coming from."
Zinn is not the only KU student who gives his time to the Boy Scouts.
"I missed 'Late Night,' but I felt like I had a responsibility to go with them," he said. "It's a good feeling to know you're giving back to the Scouts and the community."
Russ McGuire, Harper freshman, attended a Scout camp in Bonner Springs with the Lawrence troop when they needed another assistant Scout master.
Tom Mulinazzi, associate dean and professor of engineering at the University, has a son in the Scouts and works with the troop. He said he thought the Scouts benefited from KU students who donated their time to the organization.
"Rod is the ultimate Scout himself," Mulinazli said. "He knows a lot about the Scoots. He's a motivator."
City commission to withdraw application to regulate cable
Sunflower's record added financial cost among cited reasons
By Traci Carl Kansan staff writer
Kansan staff writer
Ralph Gage, general manager of the Lawrence Journal World and a representative of the World Co., stood before the City Commission last night and lifted a 500-page, four-inch-thick pile of paper.
That is what the commission would be dealing with if it received approval from the Federal Communications Commission to regulate Sunflower Cablevision's rates, he said.
"And it is still being written and amended," he said.
So the commission decided last night to withdraw its application for certification to regulate Sunflower's rates.
But last night it decided the extra cost of regulation would not be worth the benefits.
According to the Cable Act of 1992, which was explained in the papers that Gage held up, the city could ask the FCC for permission to regulate Sunflower's rates. The city decided Oct. 19 to ask for the certification required to regulate rates.
Mike Wildgen, city manager, said that the city had sent only a one-page request for certification to the FCC, and that a letter would be sent to inform the FCC to disregard that request.
"I don't believe that I've had any concerns raised about Sunflower cable company," he said.
Commissioner Bob Schulte said he did not want to spend money to regulate something that had a good record.
Commissioner Bob Moody said Sunflower's production was above average, and its rates were below average.
"If there any cost associated with regulation at all, then we probably are wasting money without good cause," Schulte said.
"It is an intense, detailed and time-consuming process," he said. "I don't think it is something you can accomplish without additional personnel or consultants, and all that takes
The city receives part of Sunflower's fees, Gage said, and the cost of regulation could drain the city of those funds.
money."
The cable act gave cities the option to regulate rates because many cities had experienced trouble with cable companies charging unfair rates. Right now, Sunflower is regulated by the FCC, Gage said.
Gage said he thought Sunflower had proved it was a trustworthy company.
"We think we are doing a good job, and we'd like to be recognized by the city," he said.
Although Sunflower is the only cable company in Lawrence now, technology is changing, and soon cable may be available by satellite, Gage said.
"There's so much turmoil and so much change that every time you pick up a newspaper there's something different or some new alliance," he said.
Sunflower is required to notify its customers and the city 30 days before it changes its rates. The city still can apply for the right to regulate Sunflower in the future if it charges unreasonable rates, Gage said.
Although there are companies interested only in making a profit, Gage said, Sunflower is not one of them.
"We are an operator," he said. "We are not an investor."
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