Campus/Area
University Daily Kansan / Friday, February 16, 1990
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Board approves plans for Union renovation and Regents Center
By Pam Solner
Kensean staff writer
TOPEKA — The Board of Regents yesterday approved plans for several KU buildings.
The Regents first approved land acquisition and preliminary drawings for the Regents Center in Overland Park.
Construction costs will be $6 million. The 1989 Legislature provided $2 million from the general fund for part of the project.
Keith Nichter, director of KU business affairs, said the remaining portion would be financed by 20-year bondes, student fees and gifts.
Warren Corman, Regents director of facilities, said sketches of the center would be available at the March Regents meeting.
Later in the meeting, the Regents authorized the University of Kansas to accept a 14.6-acre land donation from Clay and Kay Blair. The land, located at 197th Street and Quivira Road, will be the site for the new center.
Construction bids will be gathered in September, according to Regents documents. The center should be completed in summer 1992.
Corman said the city of Overland Park would pay for street and utility improvements.
The center will have three levels of different sizes. The main floor will comprise more than half of the total square footage.
The exterior will involve a contemporary design of warm-colored brick, stone trim and light stucco. A tall window or skylight will provide roof will accept the lobby entrance.
The Regents also authorized KU to continue planning for Phase II of the Kansas Union renovation. The second phase will cost $4 million. Renovation bonds, which will be retired by student fees, will cover the cost.
Chancellor Gene A. Budig said the work was scheduled in such a manner that the Union wouldn't be closed.
More Regents news p. 6
The Board of Regents yesterday approved land acquisition and preliminary drawings for the Regents center in Overland Park.
Corman said several parts of the Union had been added to the main building since it was built in the 1920s.
Phase II focuses on fourth floor renovations, including improvements to the student activities offices, the television area, the information counter and banking center, the business and administrative offices and the lobby. Improvements to the entrances and a new outdoor dining area at the south entrance also will be constructed.
Phase I, which renovated the food-
source floor and bookstore, cost $6.5 million.
In other action, the Regents: ■ Approved final plans for the remodeling of KU's Fowler shops to provide jewelry and metalmensing design laboratories. Laboratories will be used as building hall. The vacant space will be remodeled for architectural engineering studios and offices. The renovations will cost $30,000, which will be provided by the 1989 Leislature.
Approved final plans for the remodeling of Haworth Hall for biology and neurobiology research laboratories. The construction of the Dole Human Development Center has released the space in Haworth. The improvements will cost $898,000, which will be financed from the Legislature's fiscal 1988-90 budgets.
Jo Scannell, rehearses with Jane Malin. Scripts will be used during performances because of rehearsal limits.
By Bryce J. Tache
Kansan staff writer
Aging, writing aspirations and drug addiction are the themes in "Jasmine and the Sixth Age," a production written by a former KU instructor that premieres this weekend.
The play will be performed at 8 tonight and tomorrow night at the Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 New Hampshire St.
local playwrights a chance to present new plays for the first time, said director Rich Kaler.
The play is featured as part of the theater's Plays in Progress series, which was designed to give
"Jasmine and the Sixth Age" will be presented as a stage reading in which the actors have scripts in hand, he said.
Bettie Laird, who wrote the play,
once taught English at the University
of Kansas. Since then, she said
that she had dabbed in fiction but
that this was her first full-length
drama.
She said her original idea was different from the final product.
"It itted out as a protest against aging that evolved around the characters who then took over," she said. "It's about a woman and her relationships with her family and friends and her process of sorting out what's most important to her."
The story focuses on a retired book editor who is writing her first novel and learning to cope with her illness. She also takes care of her own addiction to barbiturates.
Laird said that humor lightened the drama.
"People in general can be serious, but they have a great need to be released of that seriousness," she said.
Kaler said series coordinators allowed only one week of rehearsal.
"A week's time accelerates everything," he said. "I've never dealt with a brand-new play before."
Laird said that she attended two rehearsals but that she tried not to offer too much advice to the director or cast.
Former slave was first Black to graduate from West Point
Kansan staff writer.
By Jonathan Plummer
Though he faced apathy at best and racism at worst, Henry Flipper endured the rigors of training and bigryt to become the first Black graduate of the U.S. Military Academy.
In 1859, Flipper's father bought the freedom of his wife and child from slave owners and moved his family to Atlanta.
Flipper was one of 25 Blacks appointed to West Point in the 1870s and 1880s, according to Bernard Nalty's book, Strength for the Fight. Of those, 13 did not pass the school's entrance examination.
Once in the academy, those remaining faced even tougher trials. Racism was not limited to the cadets of the school.
Major General John M. Schofield, commander of the academy, wrote in a letter that a man born in slavery was not as worthy of the academy as an average white man.
Flipper was one of 25 Blacks appointed to West Point in the 1870s and 1880s.
"As well might the common farm horse be entered in a four-mile race against the best blood inherited from a long line of English racers," the general wrote.
Flipper graduated in 1879 and became a surveyor and a commissary officer in the military.
While in the latter position, he was accused of embezzlement,but
**Henry Flipper**
Born: March 21, 1856
Died: May 3, 1940
Occupation: Soldier, Engineer
Contribution: Flipper was the first Blindite from West Point Military Academy.
After this, he worked as a public surveyor and engineer, translator and assistant to the Secretary of the Interior, jobs at which he excelled. Although he worked all his life to have his court-martial rescinded, he was able only to have the army grant him an honorary discharge.
the charge was dropped by a court-martial panel. Flipper instead was found guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and was discharged.
People flock from cold to Kitchen
Weather forces cancellation of LINK's anniversary celebration
By Kristy Greene Special to the Kansan
Yesterday's icy conditions canceled the celebration for the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen, but more people than usual took advantage of its services.
LINK, which offers free meals to needy people, had planned a celebrat-
Because Lawrence schools were forced by the weather to close, many children took advantage of the free hot lunch offered at the First Christian Church, 1006 KINK St., said Katherine Janko,INKC supervisor. The church houses LINK.
About 90 people usually eat at each LINK meal, but 112 were served yesterday. The organization is busier during harsh weather. Byington said.
LINK serves one nutritious meal every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and the last Friday of each month to anyone who is needy or lonely. Volunteer groups prepare,
'Anyone is welcome. We accept people just as they are. To be needy or lonely is the only qualification.'
- Donna McCall
LINK director
serve, and clean up after the meals.
"Anyone is welcome," said Donna McCall, LINK director. "We accept people just as they are. To be needy or lonely is the only qualification."
The harsh weather also forced the cancellation of last night's fifth anniversary celebration, which would have honored the people who started the organization and those who have helped it expand services to better help Lawrence's needy. The party will not be rescheduled.
McCall said the organization had not changed much in the past five
years.
"The goals when we started were to keep it as simple as we possibly could and to get as many people as we possibly could," she said
The number of volunteer groups involved has increased. In addition to the help of businesses and private donors, the number of church groups (83, 83, M.Call) and the help of McCall the extra help made the program run more smoothly.
KU students also have offered their time to help make the program work. Among the groups that have helped to serve meals are student organiza- tions, cateries and clubs, residence halls, and george organizations, McCall said.
"The students have been a great help to us," she said.
Byington said some students offer their services to LINK as often as once a week. Other groups and individuals give help at least three times a month.
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