University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, April 10, 1990
Campus/Area
3
Fraternities say no to footing the bill for 'free' products
By Christine Reinolds
Kensan staff writer
Scott Sacielowsky, Phi Kappa Tau house manager, thought 25 free bathroom deodorizers was a good deal until he received a $180 bill for the unordered merchandise last week.
If people receive unsolicited merchandise, they need to notify the company to pick up the items. If the items are not picked up by the company, consumers are allowed to keep the merchandise without paying for it, according to the Kansas Consumer Protection Law.
"We're basically giving them the opportunity to pick it up at their own expense," said Pitner, Lawrence junior.
Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, 1540 Louisiana St., received unordered merchandise from Aerotech Inc. and Metro Janitorial Supply Company
Phi Kappa Tau and other KU fraternities said they had received unordered cleaning supplies and other janitorial items. The fraternities were offered the free gifts by telephone sales representatives and later were billed for the merchandise.
Pitner said the companies targeted organized living groups such as fraternities, sororities and scholarship halls.
Jula Pitner, director of Consumer Affairs Association, 700 Massachusetts St., said Consumer Affairs had sent letters to the companies requesting them to pick up the unordered merchandise.
Scott Fitzgerald, Phi Gamma Delta treasurer, said one of the members was offered a free telephone and he accepted. Two orders of cleaning supplies and lightbulbs later were received by the house totaling
$480. The companies sent the fraternity a bill for the unordered merchandise.
"We went to Consumer Affairs," Fitzgerald said. "They told us if the company did not pick the merchandise up, it was ours."
B. J. Beeen, Illinois assistant attorney general, said that as of April 5, Aerotech had reached a tentative agreement with the attorney general because of a law suit stemming from other consumer complaints.
"The consent decree demands that Aerotech change its telemarketing practices." Reese said. "It has been agreed to but not signed."
Reese said Aerotech was asked to state its name, the price of the goods and the salesman's name when calling potential customers. It also was told not to use free samples as part of its sales offers.
David Ashley, Aerotech chairman, said he was not aware that his company had sent supplies to a KU fraternity.
About 250 consumers nationwide have been affected by the company's telemarketing practices, Reesen said.
"There is a high-turnover of sales reps," Ashley said. "They lose their commission if there is a problem with the stock levels, but goods unless they are confirmed."
Metro Janitorial Supply Company Inc. could not be reached for comment.
Ashley said an invoices would be three to five days after the orders.
Pitner said there were complaints against telemarketing companies other than Aerotech and Metro.
"We just tell people not to accept offers over the phone," Pitner said. "Nothing is ever free. There are always strings attached."
Senate candidates debate campaign issues at forum
Kansan staff writer
"Students have been taxed and taxed and taxed," Boerger said in criticism of rising student fee payments.
Minority issues, campus safety and fair representation in Student Senate were some of the issues discussed last night when presidential candidates for Senate participated in a forum sponsored by KJHK.
By Matt Taylor Kansan staff writer
ment, which he labeled as majority enhancement.
The five candidates answered questions asked by five student panelists and some of the 200 people at the ballroom in the Kansas Union.
Todd Boerger, Real Representation presidential candidate, said the state government should pay for campus improvements and a multicultural center that would allow students to learn about minorities.
Brad Sanders, New Blood presidential candidate, said minorities needed to direct minority issues. He suggested playing host to a Jayhawk Day for people to interact with others and unite as Jayhawks.
"The administration already espoused a multi-cultural center in its November '88 Minor Issues Task Force Report," he said. "The administration should commit to this issue."
In response to a question about improving minority enrollment, Mike Schreiner, YOU presidential candidate, said Senate should provide an environment that was conducive for culturally diverse students. As the governor, he should sponsor forums and establish a scholarship fund for minorities.
Minorities respond to report
Members of four minority groups voiced similar concerns yesterday about a Minority Issues Task Force report released Friday.
Senate needs to take action to improve handicap accessibility and
Jeff Milligan, Jayhawk Pride presidential candidate, said campus safety could be improved through education and training seminars. He added that minority enrollment should be increased and that he wanted to improve fair representation in Senate.
He said the University administration should finance minority recruit-
In reference to fair representation in Senate, Sanders said, "Representation comes from quality leaders from all areas of campus."
Greg Hughes, Fast Break presidential candidate, said students should pay for better lighting on campus with a restricted fee. He said the state government would increase tuition if it was asked to finance the campus improvements.
By Carol B. Shiney
"It itens like they're taking credit for what everyone else is doing," said Darren Falcher, executive board member of the ADA group. "We want to know what they're doing."
Kansan staff writer
problems at the University of Kansas. The report appears to be an attempt by University officials to say, 'Look at what we're doing,' rather than attacking the problems.'
Hughes also proposed to establish a coordinator position to help recruit more minorities.
"I applaud their efforts, yet more proactive things can be done," she said.
At a forum Friday, Skip Turner, director of the Office of Affirmative Action, discussed the 24-page report that summarized activities since the task force released its action plan in May 1989.
Fulcher said he also was concerned because the administration was not meeting part of a task force goal of
Roberts said she would like to see the administration focus more on retention of minority students and faculty.
Lockett said racism permeated every facet of the campus, including the University Daily Kansan, the KU Police and the administration.
Aaron Andes, director of Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas, said the report was missing a singular, comprehensive action plan.
"It does reflect some feeble attempts, but mainly it's a lot of lip service," he said. "I'm not against it being published, but I don't think it should be published as someone's action plan."
passive.
"I don't doubt the administration is trying to deal with these problems, but I do doubt their commitment to act swiftly and decisively," he said. "I'm not saying that every administrator, journalist or officer at KU is racist, but their overall attitude toward Banks is far from sensitive."
Cedric Lockett, Black Student president, said, "The Action Plan by the Minority issues Task Force on racial justice's commitment to solving racial
responding "powerfully and forthrightly to any incidents of racism and prejudice that occur here."
Quivale Roberts, BSU member,
said she thought the report was
"They could have acted on the incident at the SAE house within a week," Fulcher said. "It seems like the University is trying to pacify students by sweeping it under the rug."
Chris Alonzo, Hispanic American Leadership Organization member, said he thought many of the task force's plans of action would have been implemented already because they had had a year to work on them.
Stuck elevator traps resident at Ellsworth
By Kathryn Lancaster and Carol B. Shiney Kansan staff writers
Michael Gentzler, Overland Park junior, spent about 50 minutes stuck in an Ellsworth Hall elevator last night.
"I just went down to get ice on two," said Gentzler, who lives on the eighth floor. "Then the elevator went to three and the door wouldn't open. They told me to turn it off and turn it on. Then it shot up to 10, and the door was stuck."
The elevator stuck about 8:40 p.m.
Gentzler was freed by 9:30 p.m.
Deb Miller, Ellsworth residence hall director, said the elevators often got stuck because of student abuse.
"The way they vandalize them, it causes the elevator to get stuck the next time somebody rides it," Miller said.
Kevin Hammers, who lives on the 10th floor of Ellsworth, said Gentzler was one of at least 10 people who had been trapped in Ellsworth elevators in the past year.
When the doors opened and Gentzler walked off the elevator, about 10 people in the 10th floor lobby cheered and clapped.
Hammers said he was watching television and waiting for his roommate in the 10th floor lobby when the elevator alarm went off.
"I thought it was my roommate stuck in the elevator," he said.
But after waiting about 50 minutes, he discovered that his roommate was not on the elevator.
Gene Barnes, building systems technician for facilities operations, was one of three people called to Elsworth to open the elevator door. Although the residence halls have their own maintenance personnel, facilities operations technicians are called for emergency escapes.
"Sometimes you have to pry the door open with a crow bar," Barnes said. That was not necessary last night at Ellsworth.
Barnes said facilities operations had an emergency key that allowed workers to open the outer doors of elevators. The elevator will remain shut off until residence hall maintenance crews repair it.
Gentzler said the time went fairly fast while he waited to be rescued. Still, he said he might be leery of elevators.
"I might take the stairs for awhile," he said.
Jammin' for KJHK
Keith Thorpe/KANSAN
Bill V., guitarist for Dashboard Buddha, belts out a song for the cause of greater student control of student radio station KJHK. Four bands performed last night at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St., as part of a benefit concert sponsored by the Committee Representing the Students KJHK Serves.
KU student abducted, robbed
Police arrest two students early Sunday in unrelated incident
By a Kansan reporter
A 20-year-old KU student was kidnapped and robbed early Sunday morning near the Leavenworth-Douglas County line, a sheriff's officer said last night.
wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun came up to her and told her to get in his car.
According to the officer, the woman was driving about 1:30 a.m. toward Lawrence on U.S. Highway 24-40 when she was approached from behind by a car with flashing red lights.
After she stopped her car, a man
The suspect drove her about a half-mile south, stopped the car and then demanded money. The woman told officers that she gave the man $27 and then rushed back to her car. She then drove to a phone and reported the incident.
The suspect is described as a 6-foot, 235-pound, white male in his mid-30s. The car was described as a
brown, late-1970s model two-door hatchback.
In another Sunday morning incident, KU police reported that two 18-year-old KU students were arrested east of Jayhawk Towers. One was arrested on charges of concealning a 12-gauge shotgun and possession of burglary tools. The other was arrested on charges of possessing burglary tools. They are being held without bond in the Douglas County Jail.
KJHK offers coalitions equal air time
By a Kansan reporter
Student radio station KJHK has not been approached by any Student Senate coalitions seeking equal airtime, the station's general manager said yesterday.
Brian Sexton, KJHK news student, to discuss environmental issues on the KJHK news show "Think About It."
At least two coaltions have expressed concern about air-time received last week by the YOU coalition presidential candidate, Mike Schreiner. Schreiner was invited by
Tim Mensendiek, KJHK general manager, said an offer was made yesterday to the other four coalitions for air-time at 7 tonight. However, none will be able to attend because of a previously scheduled debate.
'It will be the coalition's responsibility to contact us and take us up on
our air-time," he said.
In addition, Mensendiek said that Kris Gillespie, JKHK assistant music director, would take the job of music director.
The job was vacated Friday afternoon when Grant Fitch, former KJHK music director, resigned.
Mensendick said no one would fill the assistant music director job.
1990 Rock Chalk Revue is now taking applications for the following positions in next year's advisory board:
★ Executive Producer
★ Executive Director
★ Assistant Director
★ Promotions Coordinator
In-Between Acts Director
Business Manager (2)
★ Promotions Coordinato
Applications available at the Organizations and Activities Center, 400 Kansas Union Applications due WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11 by 5 p.m. Any Questions? call 864-4033
★ In-Between Acts Director
★ Assistant Director