SECTION TWO TUESDAY, May 1, 1990 Perspectives on the racial climate at KU **Editor's note:** The Kanaan asked several members of the campus community to give their perspectives on race relations in general and the March 30 incident at the SAE fraternity house in particular. Kansan reporterate Steve Bailley, Erick Goraki, Jonathan Plummer, Christine Reinolda, Carol B. Shiney, Inee Shuk, Pam Sollin, Buck Taylor and Matt Taylor contributed to this project. Mark McCormick Black Men of Today Mark McCormick of Black Men of Today said his life took a hectic turn after the incident at Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. "It kept my phone ringing. It kept me away from my studies. It's curtailed my social life." McCormick says. McCormick has been the most vocal and visible member of Black Men of Today. He leads their news conferences and marches. He led more than 80 protesters to the administration hearing, which resulted in an impromptu conference with Chancellor Gene A. Budg attended by more than 350 people. "It was worth the time regardless of what comes from it." McCormick said. "We sort of woke everybody up. If we made anyone care, we were successful." McCormick said he would like to see increased racial awareness and dialogue on campus. He also wants the position of executive vice chancellor to be filled by a Black. MecMorrick said he was encouraged by Budig's announcement last week of 35 new scholarships for graduate students. namalaye said the scholarships, worth $500 each, were renewable and would be financed by Campaign Kansas. McCormick said, "It would be better to coincide (the students) in a new administrator who represents those students." Bryce Petty President of SAE fraternity Campuswide sensitivity training and education in cultural diversity should result from recent events, said M. Sakura. The events "will open not only the eyes of administrators, but also the students" Pettie said. "It is important to make sure that you are aware." Petty, who has been the spokesman for his fraternity, said it had been difficult for him to keep up with university and University responsibilities. Petty said some members of the fraternity, while being embarrassed. "But it's been a learning experience," he said. "I feel like it is opened my eyes and helped me become a better person." were beginning to feel defensive about the events of the past few weeks because the fraternity was being blamed for their failure. "SAE does not condone such actions," he said. "I hope in the eyes of everyone out there that SAE doesn't get KU police assistant director Ralph Oliver Whether student groups protesting racism on campus were approaching the issues correctly was not a question Ralph Oliver, KU police assistant director, said he could answer with certainty. He said, however, that they were achieving results. racism, I think it'll raise the overall consciousness of the community," he said. "And people are concerned." Oliver said that because no statistics were available about the amount of racism on campuses across the country, he did not know whether the University of Kansas was more or less racist than other universities. "Personally, one incident is one too many." he said. Oliver said that the recent past had demonstrated that racism was a problem across the country. Oliver said he hoped that when students thought that they had been wronged, for whatever reason, they would learn a lesson. "Don't know if what's going on at KU is any different from anywhere else," he said. "But it's nice to see that KU's staff are doing well." "If these incidents continue to occur, we hope that people come and tell us about it and give us a chance to do our jobs." Mark McCormick, right, and others speak with Robert Shelton. KU ombudsman, at Strong Hall. Group brings leadership as racial tensions escalate Special to the Kansan By Karen Park During the past few weeks, a previously little-known campus group emerged as a vocal player in the discussions about race relations at the University of Kansas. The group, Black Men of Today, led a demonstration at Strong Hall after a Black pizza delivery person reported being struck and insulted at Sigma Alpha Epsilon in New York City. Chancellor Gene A. Budig and other administrators The group was formed in November 1989 by Darren Fulcher and John Lewis in response to the lack of action by the administration to increase recruitment and students, said Fulcher. Kansas City .M., junior The group began as a Black male forum sponsored by the Black Student Union. The forum, Fulcher said, unified Black males and gave them an opportunity to express their problems. After the group formed, Sam Adams, associate professor of journalism, became the group's first faculty adviser. Adams said the group had not needed a full-time professor and offered the University facilities and art on campus-wide issues. Now the group is a registered University organization, but it does not receive Student Senate funds. Fulcher said Black Men of Today and BSU were two separate organizations that were linked closely. Cedric Lockett, BSU president, said that even though several groups had different views about minority recruitment and retention, they all had the same goal. Shannon Lawrence junior and BSU member, said, "I do think if everyone joined together to make a unified effort, it would be better, but having all the men standing up is a step in the right direction." Cory Anderson, one of four leaders of the group, said, "We're not just representing Black men. What we're trying to do is for the good of the campus." Origin of the group Fulcher said Anderson and Mark McCormick, who mentioned the group's efforts, were instrument in getting the organization started. "Mark had a lot of information and motivation," Fulcher said. The group had its first protest in December 1989 in front of Strong Hall. The protest was in response to the administration's lack of effort to recruit and retain minorities. Anderson said. Todd Boerger, Winfield senior and one of several white people who have attended group meetings, said he joined in the middle of this semester because he was a teacher and thought they were addressing important issues. Coleen Dodson, Little Rock, Ark., sophomore, said she became involved in Black Men of Today after it began addressing the issues of recruitment and retention. Fulcher said the group began with a membership of 20 people. Membership has increased to about 40 "They have no real commitment to the program." hasaid of the administration. "They're not going where they want to go." Dodson, who also is involved in Students Concerned About Discrimination, said she became involved with Black Men of Today because it was one group that she saw was very active in tackling problems. Tiffany Craig, Topeka freshman, said she became involved with the group a month ago. She said she did not join as a result of the incident at the SAE fraternity. "I liked what they were all about." Craig said, "I felt they were doing more than BSU." Black Men of Today is able to address more issues and more independent growth, because it is a smaller and more independent group. Even though no exact plans have been made to work with Black Men of Today, Lockett said he anticipated that BSU would work with the group more in the future. Women involved Although some people have accused the group of being sexist, eight to 10 women are members of Black Women's Association. Janice Turner, Fort Madison, Iowa, junior, said she joined the group in November 1989. "I wasn't intimidated by the name. I just wasn't sure if women were allowed." Turner said. "So I asked "It's the behavior that defines the group. It isn't the name. As a group they are not only open, but they are Ann Dean, the pizza delivery person, called Black Men of Today after the March 30 incident and asked the group to support her. Anderson said. It is right that Ann Dean gets their help, Adams said. It puts the lie to rest,13 he said, referring to charges of assault. Fulcher said the group's notoriety had increased because of the incident at the SAE house. After the incident, the leaders of Black Men of Today decided that nothing was being done by the administration or the Lawrence police department, Adams said. On April 11, the group organized the demonstration at Strong Hall. Adams said he agreed with the group and what they had done to prevent the issue from being swept under the rug. Among the demands was that Matthew Willenborg, the fraternity member who reportedly struck Dean, be expelled from the fraternity. On April 23, Willenborg resigned from SAE. During that demonstration, the group voiced some of its demands to the administration. Fulcher said that he approved Willemberg's resignation but that the fraternity should have contested it. Anderson said the group also wanted the administration to improve minority recruitment and retention programs and involve Black Men of Today in finding a permanent director for the Office of Minority Affairs. Demands on the University In addition to the group's other demands, Fulcher said Black Men of Today wanted the University to require all incoming freshmen to take a multicultural awareness class. The group also wants the administra- See BLACK, p. 4b Judith Ramaley Judith Ramaley, executive vice chancellor, said recent events had opened the lines of communication between students and administrators. Executive vice chancellor "I think the effect will be extraordinarily positive," she said. "More people have found a voice and expressed their views." Ramaley said that people experienced incidents of racial harassment every day and that those smaller incidents did not immediately so they did not build up. "We must not return to business as usual," she said. "We should not wait for an event to open up the lines of communication. We must not wait for something to happen as public as the SAE incident." Humane said she and other administrators already been meeting with students and working on minority issues. She said she had devoted about half her administrative duties to finding solutions to the problems in the middle of preparing the University budget. But the incident enraged more student groups with more demands, making it necessary to schedule more meetings during the past three weeks. "It has meant that I have spent a much higher portion of my time listening to student concerns and understand- ing them." "We have been working as fast as we can to respond, be available and accessible," she said. Gene Budig Chancellor Chancellor Gene A. Budig said that the incident at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity had resulted in construc- "It has opened new and needed lines of communication on the campus," he said. "I believe the matter brought people together in a way to enhance services and support for minorities. "I have had a series of productive conversations with faculty, staff and students. I have appreciated receiving the benefit of many views." But Budig said that students, faculty and administratorsmust continue to work together in the future. Budig Andrea Katzman Students Concerned About Discrimination Recent events since the incident at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity should be a clear signal to University administration that changes are needed, said Andrea Mitrillo for Students Concerned About Discrimination. "I think that they've shown the administration that it's important to get creative." on campus that is welcoming to minorities and all people who face discrimination. "Katzman said. He doesn't think it as a unique incident. It's not." She said that if the administration wanted to change, then it could make anything happen that it wanted to. He said that if they had concern and concern was only because they were receiving pressure, then their interest and concern would step once the pressure stopped and nothing would happen. Katzman said there was a need for a strong Office of Minority Affairs, better communication, a class dealing with cultural and multiracial issues, sensitivity training and integration, and retention of minority faculty and students. "Above all, a real commitment for action is needed, not just words." Katzman said. Katzman said she was upset by recent events because people on campus saw bigfory and racism but did nothing People who do not do anything about bigotry and racism encourage it because of their silence, she said. an impulse and frustrated that the administration has made changes, or making changes," she said. "That is inexhaustible." Katzman said she was excited because some people were realizing that things can happen through unity. "I think it's made people more aware of the problem and that it's something we need to deal with," she said. "It's made them frustrated, though, because responses have been so slow. I think it's made people excited that no matter how hard it been, we've done something. We've made changes." Continued on Page 4b Sequence of race-related events on campus this semester — A member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity strikes Ann Dean, St. Louis sophomore, and utters a racial insult to her as she delivers pizza to the SAE house, 1301 West Campus Road, according to police reports. FRIDAY MARCH 30 12:30 a.m. — A group of about 30 students protecting Friday's incident gathers on the front lawn of the SAE house. SUNDAY,APRIL 1 8:30 p.m. — About 20 students return to the SAE house, demanding to talk to someone about the incident. Lawrence police arrive, and Bryce Patey, SAE president, announces that Matthew Willemberg has been suspended from the fraternity for activity "unbeschenged of a gentleman." The discussion is moved to a meeting with University officials, police and students participate in an improprium forum. MONDAY, APRIL 2 - University officials meet separately with Dean and SAE representatives to review options in the matter. TUESDAY, APRIL 3 THURSDAY, APRIL 5 SAE announces formation of a race-awareness committee for the fraternity. - Black Men of Today gives a forum on racism at the Kansas Union. The racial climate at KU and the incident at SAE are discussed. FRIDAY, APRIL 6 - Dean files a complaint against Willenborg with the University. MONDAY APRIL 9 form an advisory group for the Office of Minority Affairs. A panel will also review SAE fraternity members' attitudes and behavior in race relations. William Whitcomb of the U.S. Department of Justice is a member of the group of students in the Kansas Union and offers his mediation services in the incident. WEDNESDAY, APRIL H - David Ambor, vice chancellor for student affairs, outlines steps to improve KU's cultural climate. He announces that KU will provide cultural training for leaders of student organizations and leaders of academic organizations. THURSDAY APRIL 12 About 70 students march to the SAE house to deliver a “get well” card. The students return to a meeting place in front of Strong Hall, where they attempt to stop traffic on Jayhawk Boulevard. After KU police block the boulevard, the students decide to march to administer tive offices, where about 80 protesters chant, "We want action." Chancellor Gene A. Baldry returns from Kansas City, Kan., to speak to a crowd of about 350 in the Strong Hall rotunda. He apologizes for a lack of communication between administrators and students and discusses steps to improve KJ's racial climate. He also offers the University's apologies to Dean. - Members of Students Concerned About Discrimination and Black of Men of Today meet with administrators, including Budig and Judith Ramaley, executive vice chancellor, to discuss the campus climate. MONDAY, APRIL 23 1 - Willebenb and Greg McGlenn, Topkeima烤鸡, voluntarily resign from the fraternity after a separate battery incident April 21. According to police report, the fraternity bettered a man who tried to persecute to report an automobile accident. WEDNESDAY APRIL 25 Jim Flory, Douglass County district attorney, announces that Willeboro has been charged with conduct and misdemeanor battery in connection with the March 30 incident.