THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOL.100, NO.134
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
(USPS 650-640)
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1990
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
NEWS:864-4810
Ramaley to visit interview Sunday for Oregon job
She says opportunity is intriguing
By Pam Solliner
Kansan staff writer
Judith Ramaley, executive vice chancellor, will travel to the West Coast on Sunday to interview for the presidency of apother university.
This time, it's Portland State University.
Ramaley asked yesterday that she enjoyed the University of Kansas but that her career was reaching a new point. She said the next logical step was a university presidency although she said it would be hard to would take the job if it were offered.
She said the presidency was an opportunity that intrigued her. Portland State is developing into a large urban university.
Portland State has about 16,000 students, primarily from the Portland metropolitan area. It is the second largest university in the state. Only the University of Oregon is larger.
Ramaley said she had been studying Kansas City schools for the past three years, exploring ways to set up a quality educational system in a complex urban environment.
She said the Portland job was a better career move than the presidency at the University of Vermont.
"I thought so because what I most enjoy doing is working with a group of university people who are trying to teach us that hasn't been before," she said.
Last month, Ramaley was among four finalists for the presidency at the University of Vermont. She had intended to visit the university during her scheduled interview April 15-18.
But Ramaley contacted the search committee chairman Saturday to withdraw her name from consideration. She said she not a good career move at this time.
Three days later, Larry Large,
See RAMALEY, p. 6
U.S. hostage may go free
The Associated Press
BEIRUT — A pro-Iranian group holding three U.S. educators hostage promised yesterday to free one of the educators within 48 hours as a humanitarian gesture and said he would carry a message for President Bush.
However, the White House rejected one demand of the hostage-takers: that a senior U.S. diplomat fly to Damascus to coordinate the release.
The group, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine, did not say which of the three educators would be freed. Its statement was accompanied by an instant photograph of Jesse Turner Ofo, Idaho, the first photo of him alone since three months after his 1987 abduction.
The group holds Turner, Alann Steen and Robert Pohlh. All were abducted from the campus of Beirut University College on Jan. 24, 1987. They are among 18 Westerners, including eight from the United States, held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon.
Reliable diplomatic sources in Damascus, Syria, confirmed that a U.S. hostage would be freed tomorrow in the Syrian capital.
The longest-held is Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, kidnapped March 16, 1985.
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State James A. Baker III appeared to welcome yesterday's reports that a pro-Iranian group would free a U.S. hostage, but the White House rejected the group's demand that a senior U.S. diplomat飞 to Damascus to take part.
Baker welcomes pledge of freedom
The Associated Press
Diplomatic sources also said a U.S. hostage would be freed tomorrow in the Syrian capital.
The Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine, which is thought to hold three of the eight U.S. captives, demanded that Assistant Secretary of State John Kelly hurry to Damascus "to coordinate some
final stents to guarantee success within 48 hours."
But presidential press secretary Marlin Fitzwater said, "We would not anticipate him becoming involved in hostage release in any way."
Fitzwater said that Kelly was in Bonn, West Germany, "on other business. He's expected to return to the United States in a day or two."
Kelly, who heads the Bureau of Near East and South Asian Affairs, is attending a conference of U.S. ambassadors in Bonn. He is a former ambassador to Lebanon, where all eight Americans are believed to be held.
The kidnappers demanded that John Kelly, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, fly to Damascus.
"The arrangements for the release should be accomplished by the arrival of John Kelly in Damascus to coordinate some final steps to guarantee success within 48 hours," the handwritten statement said.
"Of course we're always hopeful," Baker said while reiterating a longstanding U.S. demand that all eight Americans held in Lebanon be released unconditionally.
It did not specify what the kidnappers expected Kelly to do in Damascus. Kelly served as U.S. ambassador to Lebanon from 1983 to 1988, when the eight U.S. citizens were seized.
James A. Baker III appeared to welcome the reports.
Baker, however, hedged on the demand for Kelly to fly to Damascus.
Presidential Press secretary MIRLIN Fitzwater tailed reporters, "We would not anticipate him becoming notated in hostage release in any way."
Fitzwaer said of the reports, "We don't know if they're true. We've seen this many times before. We
eled.
In Washington, Secretary of State
hope they're true. We'll wait and see."
Diplomatic sources in Damascus said Foreign Minister Faruk Sharaa last month carried a letter on the issue from Syrian President Hafez Assad to President Hashemi Rafsaniani in Iran.
The letter stressed the necessity to close the hostages' files, according to one of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity.
He said the Syrians were fulfilling a pledge made by Sharaa in February to hostage families to seek the release of all the captives in Lebanon.
Gretchen Pinegger/KANSAN
Ringmaster Nick Weber of the Royal Lichtenstein Circus mingles among a large audience in front of the Kansas Union
Ringleader bewitches audience with laughter
By Bryce J. Tache Kansan staff writer
Kansan staff writer
Five minutes before noon yesterday, the clouds broke, and the sun shone on the lawn between the Kansas Union and Dyche Hall.
After all, the circus had come to town.
When the five-member Royal Lichtenstein Circus came to the University of Kansas three years ago, Joe Reichlin, then a senior, quit school to join the circus.
"I don't know why I love it so much," he said. "I like, before we come, it's just a parking lot or a sidewalk or a patch of grass. But then we transform the place. We bring color and music and animals and things that are just a little bit impossible. It's like magic."
The circus performs in about 200 cities a year. As ringerleader, Weber strings jokes between the juggling, acrobatics, magic, pantomime and animal acts.
Nick Weber, a Jesuit priest, started the circus 18 years ago.
"I've wanted to do this since I saw my first circus at the age of five," he said. "But because I was strait-jacketed by society, I couldn't do this until I was 30."
"Children always have been tripping the light 'fantastic,'" he said. "It is the adults who need the help."
Weber said the circus was more for adults than children.
Reichlin a veteran wire dancer.
agreed.
The St. Lawrence Catholic Center sponsored the circus performance, which comes to KU every three years. Father Vince Krische, director of the center, said over the whistles of a 56-pipe calliope that he was excited to have the circus here.
"I guess the circus is an indication to play, and people respond to that," he said. "People like to play by nature. It's just that sometimes they forget that."
Weber joked about topics ranging from materialism to drugs and homophobia. Ronald Reagan, Oral Roberts and Madonna were three of the many targets of his biting humor.
"They give a commentary on issues of the day regarding the earth, education, politics and the church," he said.
As a parrot climbed a large circular ring, Weber said, "He's just like a puppe. Watch him bite and climb his way to the top."
"Before you fall asleep tonight,
will you please spend three or four
seconds just trying to imagine this
world at peace?" he asked the crowd an hour and a half after the show started.
While blowing up a balloon, Weber said he learned the trick from Ronald Reagan, who was a master of inflation.
But beyond the jokes, he said, the circus has a serious message.
Joe Reichlin, center, Carl Gentile, left, and Matthew Reichlin.
By then, the sun had disappeared behind the clouds again, and the wind had picked up a bit. Trunks were packed, and the equipment was disassembled.
"It's over for now," Reichlin said. "The people are gone. They-
're worrying about their tests or parking tickets or getting cash at the union. . . But their faces during the show, to see people's faces and hear people laugh, make it worth it, you know?'
KU jazz instructor to go to Minnesota
By Christine Reinolds Kansas staff writer
A KU associate professor of music has decided to take a position at the University of Minnesota after teaching theology in Kansas for 14 years.
lonald McCurdy
Ronald McCurdy, known to his students as "Doc," has accepted a job as director of jazz studies at Minnesota for Fall 1990.
"I was approached this year and had a chance to visit Minneapolis," said McCurdy, jazz coordinator. "It is a very art-conscious community. There are more resources and more opportunities in a metropolitan area. It gives me the chance to be successful as a performer and teacher."
Although he will receive a higher salary at Minnesota, he said that was not a big factor in his decision to leave KU.
"I thoroughly enjoyed myself here," he said. "It is a bittersweet situation. The job is one of the best positions in jazz in the country."
McCury came to KU in 1976 as a graduate assistant in the department of music. He earned his undergraduate degree in music education from Florida A&M University and went on to earn his master's and doctorate degrees in music education from KU.
In 1987, he was selected by the National Association of Jazz Educators as one of the most outstanding jazz educators in the country.
He took his Jazz Ensemble 1 and vocal jazz singers to perform at the North Sea and Montreux Jazz festivals in Europe in 1988.
Paul Morgenroth, Grain Valley, Mo., junior, has played in the Jazz Ensemble 1 under McCurdy's direction for six semesters.
'He is a fabulous educator.It's a big step for him. He has a couple of followers who are interested in following him when he goes.'
— Paul Morgenroth
Grain Valley, Mo., junior
"He is a fabulous educator," Morgenrbent said. "It's a big step for him. He has a couple of followers who are interested in following him when he goes."
Tom Stidham, assistant director of bands, said the official search for McCurdy's replacement had not started.
"I felt a kinship because his hometown is the same as mine," Stidham said. "We are pretty good buddies."
"That's the kind that is attractive to other schools," Foster said. "It's a big success story. I'm happy for bim."
Robert Foster, director of bands,
Robert Cardy, 36, was a good
young player.
Michael Tyler, Dallas senior, said there was "absolutely no doubt that McCurdy had a strong influence on iazz at KU."
Tyler was inspired by McCurdy to write music for the jazz ensemble. Tyler plays in the Soul Masters and has been featured on an album with well-known jazz trombonist Bill Watrous.
"I'm really sad to see him leave," he said. "He really did the program some justice. He not only had the talent, but he had the connections to bring well-known musicians to KU. I hope he doesn't forget us."
Soviet Union stops crude oil from flowing to Lithuanians
MOSCOW — The Soviet Union yesterday shut off the supply of oil to Lithuania's only refinery, imposing part of President Mikhail S. Gorbachev's threatened economic embargo on the breakaway Baltic republic, a Lithuanian spokesman said.
The Associated Press
"The flow of crude oil to Mazhikial was cut off at approximately 9:30 p.m." said Aidas Palubinskas, a spokesman for Lithuania's Supreme Council legislature.
Reading an official government statement, he said Mazhieki refinery director Bronius Vainoras confirmed that the single pipeline feeding the plant from the Russian city of Polotsk had been shut down.
There was no immediate word on whether natural gas supplies also had been disrupted. Lithuania is entirely dependent on Russia for oil
and natural gas supplies.
The move came just hours after Soviet Deputy Oil and Gas Minister Aklim Mukhamedzayov told the Soviet news agency Tass that reports of an energy cutoff to Lithuania were completely groundless.
He said the Soviet Council of Ministers issued no instructions to stop the flow.
Sales of gasoline to Lithuanian motorists have tripled this week as residents reacted to Gorbachev's threat with panic-buying. Stocks were adequate and no rationing was anticipated, Lithuania's energy minister, Leonas Asmantas, said before yesterday's shut down.
1
The Supreme Council refused yesterday to bow to Gorbachev's ultimatum that it rescinded independence-oriented laws, but offered to pass no more such measures if the Kremlin starts immediate talks.
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