VOL.100,NO.116
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
(USPS 650-640)
MONDAY. MARCH 26, 1990
Fire in NY social club kills 87
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A man bounced from a Bronx social club for quarreling with an ex-girlfriend returned with a jug of gasoline and set a fire that killed 87 people at the nightspot, which had been ordered closed, police said.
Most of the dead suffocated in thick smoke in the pre-dawn blaze Sunday, authorities said. Some people were trapped to death; others were stuck through a wall to an adjoining hall in a desperate attempt to live.
Emergency workers described bodies felled by smoke so quickly that they still had their legs wrapped around a bar stool, gripped
drinks or held hands. Only three people managed to reach safety by way of the two tiny exit doors on the front of the two-story Happy Land social club.
"People literally were stacked on top of each other," said Anthony. De Vita, the Fire Department chief. "It was a firerap."
NEWS:864-4810
Authorities early today began raiding and shutting down some of the city's special clubs that Mayor David Dinnan said were operating in the city.
It was the deadliest fire in the continental United States since the 1977 blaze at the Beverly Hills Suspension Club in Southgate, Ky, that
killed 164 people. A New Year's
Eve 1986 fire at a hotel in San
Juan, Puerto Rico, killed 166.
The fire occurred 79 years to the day after a blaze at the Triangle Shriftwaist Co. in New York City that claimed 145 lives, many of them immigrant garment workers. That blaze led to reforms around the nation in workplace safety.
Julio Gonzalez, a Cuban immigrant and former boyfriend of a Happy Land's ticket seller, was charged with arson and murder. Police Commissioner Lee Brown said he was to be arraigned later today.
Gonzalez, 36, was bounced from
the club after a quarrel in which he tried to woo back the woman, police said. After warning, "I'll be back," he returned and sprinkled gasoline on the floor, said Lt. James Malvey.
Gonzalez cried with remorse under questioning, said Lt. Raymond O'Donnell, a police spokesman. "Basically, he's saying he did it." O'Donnell said.
The impoverished Latino neighborhood near the Bronx Zoo was thick with mourners, who were asked to identify relatives from snapshots of the bodies posted on the wall of a high school.
Killed were 61 men and 26 women, most of them Honduran
and Dominican immigrants.
"Most of the bodies were in dance clothes." Emergency medical specialist Christopher McCarthy said. "They were out to have fun."
Alva Romero, a Honduran immigrant, lost six relatives, including a daughter, both brothers and a sister. Jerome Ford lost five relatives. The local Honduran soccer club lost several players.
Happy Land was ordered shut in November 1988 and again a year later because of inadequate exits, sprinkler systems, emergency lighting and signs. Dinkins said. It had no liquor or cabaret license.
New count to increase federal aid for county
Ice queen
Photos by Steve Traynor/KANSAT
Above: White cotton shirt by Gant,
100 percent silk,
navy blue necktie with polka dots by
Mister Guy. Courtesy of Mister Guy.
Above right: Men's
watches (top to bottom)
Traditional quartz, quartz with
slim face, quartz with
bold face, all by
Gueses? Pop
Swatch quartz by
Swatch. Courtesy of
King of Jeans.
Right: Bleached,
pre-washed overalls
by Guess? for
Men. White cotton
shirt by Polo with
pre-shrunk 501
jeans by Lev's.
His is hers Women swear by menswear
By Amelia Beard Special to the Kansan
Arnie Wilson wears men's clothes for two reasons. They're more comfortable and they fit better," she said.
arrie Wilson wears men's clothes for two reasons.
Wilson, Overland Park freshman, is one of many women who has discovered the advantages of wearing clothing made for men.
Besides comfort and fit, fashion is a factor in many women's decision to venture into the men's department.
"They have neater styles. They're not flashy," Wilson said. Keri Roe, Leavenworth freshman, said the classic design of men's clothing was what drew her to buy men's sweaters and other apparel.
Roe, who owns men's tennis shoes, boots, sweaters and long underwear, added another advantage to the list — price.
For instance, boxer shorts, the most popular item sold to women at Weaver's Inc. Department Store, 901 Massachusetts St., sell for about $8.
Suzanne Racine, Arlington Heights, III., freshman, doesn't spend a dime for some of her men's clothes.
"I rob my dad's socks," she said. "I stole his Kansas shirts that he bought, now the whole family thinks they're mine."
Chris Hurt, manager of Mister Guy. 920 Massachusetts St. said that 20 percent of his customers were buying men's wearings.
Women wearing men's clothing seems to be a trend — one that's been around for several years and promises to stay around.
The number is even higher at Whitenight's Men's Shop, 839 Massachusetts St., said manager Wally Wondrack.
"I'd say probably half of the 30 percent (of women buying men's clothes) buy the clothes for themselves," he said.
Wondrack said color was one of the primary reasons for the trend.
"Our colors are better, our sizing is better — women like big things. Our colors are brighter. Most women's clothes are drab."
"Women say that the stuff looks better, and we have a bigger selection than the women's department, and some women just need a bigger size," he said.
Hungary
Socialists expect to lose vote
The Associated Press
BUDAPEST, Hungary - Millions of Hungarians cast ballots yesterday in the first free national elections in 43 years, and many expressed hope for the future and fear of the Communist past.
Premier Miklos Nemeth, a reform-minded Communist and a key engineer of the nation's conversion to democracy, declared moments before he voted that he was relinquishing control with a clear conscience.
As in East Germany, where Eastern Europe's first free ballot in decades took place March 18, the Communists were expected to fare poorly in the elections. They competed with 11 other national parties for parliament seats.
Despite occasional rain showers, voter turnout appeared brisk at Budapest polling stations, with election officials reporting a turnout of
arly 50 percent in some wards by,
on four hours after the voting
increased to eight hours before polls
about. About 7 million people were
able to vote.
new irregularities were reported
p.m. when the voting officially
ded. Several international
servers monitored the election.
Nemeth, who voted at a state-run
dergarden serving as one of 11,000
ling stations across the nation,
dined to predict the chances of his
death that last party. That he was
since reform-oriented Commis-
ists formed it after defecting
on the Communist Party in Octo-
His comments reflected wide-
deep acceptance, even among
himself. His party would not do
it despite his ties to the Funny
to demonstrate reform.
"The only thing I hope for is that a long government is created," meth said, adding that only a government not hamstruck by the position could deal with the nation's ailing economy.
I won't consider it an act of God if I don't make it into government." moth told reporters. "I will hold the r eins head high and with a ar conscience. I don't have bitters in my heart but satisfaction."
stead of crediting the Socialists volunteering to play by democratic rules, most voters remember excesses of more than fourades of 'one-party rule that haveide Communists unpopular throughout the Soviet bloc.
Imaginary's last elections were in '12, when the Communists won a major majority, largely through aid. A year later, they consolidated and forced all other parties out existence.
throughout the monthlong camn for 394 parliamentary seats, allist candidates attempted to vince the electorate of their comment to a multiparty system.
ut pre-election opinion polls indi-
cate the Socialists would finish no-
ner than fourth place, with a
aimum 10 percent of the overall
poll of 5,000 people published by state MTI news agency less than hour before polls closed indicated center-right Hungarian Democ Forum would finish strongest, 431 seats.
e job
infraire and the Office of Student
and $400 for trip expenses. White
only long-distance trip he took
ute often travels to Topeka and cities for meetings, he said he his travel expenses.
Senate was the only student state that didn't pay for tripsudent body president.
add . . . . " White said. "Hopework on this. I'm going to do my power for the next student."
name, assistant parking director,
ent body president was the only
no qualified for a blue parking
10B
granted pay $100 for his sticker.
the street from the Union in lot
sticker is convenient because of his
around campus and out of the
Friday, March 23, 1990 / University Daily Kansan