Campus/Area
University Daily Kansan / Thursday, November 30, 1989
3
Financing for Disorientation in doubt after debate
By Chris Evans and Lara Weber
Kansan staff writers
Personal politics and the role of Student Senate committees were put in question last night as senators discussed the fate of one of KU's longest-standing alternative publications.
See related story
A bill to finance the magazine Disorientation, which has been financed by Senate for four years, was shot down by the University Affairs Committee two weeks ago. Tuesday, the bill was approved by the finance committee, despite objections from the University Affairs Committee Chairman.
Dissertation editors are asking for $3,584 to publish the magazine, which covers topics from recycling to rock 'n' roll. Use of vulgarity and misuse of language in massuburbation have made the publication controversial at times.
Christine Stanek, chairman of the University Affairs Committee, said the Disorientation bill should not have been heard after being defeated by her committee. Stanek was the only person to speak about the bill in the University Affairs Committee. She spoke against it, saying Disorient-
tation staff members should have sought money through budget hearings in Spring 1889.
spokesmen for the magazine said they previously had not been advised to go through the hearings. They said they would do so in the future.
After a heated debate, senators last night suspended rules to allow discussion about the entire Senate body voting to finance Diorisation. A subsequent motion, which was defeated, was made to return the bill to the University Affairs Committee.
Aaron Rittmaster, author of the bill, said the bill would not receive a fair hearing in the University Affairs Committee.
Stanek defended her committee's decision, saying it was wrong to bring the issue before Senate.
"This was killed in committee," she said. "It's out of line and it's a direct slap against the committee system."
Rittmaster said personal bias had caused the bill's defeat in the University Affairs Committee.
"I think that it's unfair and disappointing that personal feelings about a specific organization can keep the group together, so a group like Diorientation," he said.
Committee members answer only to themselves, he said, whereas senators are responsible to their constituents.
Michael Moschini, University Affairs Committee member, said he voted against the bill. Last night, he said he wished he had actively supported it.
"I said no," he said. "I was even so wet behind the ears that I gave it an unfavorable recommendation."
Ritmaster asked Moschini if committee members were intimidated by
Stanek's opposition to the bill. Several senators objected to the question, and Moschini did not answer.
Stanek said Rittmaster should not question the committee decision because he was not at the committee meeting.
"University affairs made a fair decision and that should have been respected by Senate," she said.
Senators voted against a motion to return the bill to the university affairs committee and decided to table it until next week.
Dennis "Boog" Highberger and Mike Mader, former Disorientation editors, were present at the meeting and said they thought the bill would pass when brought before Senate again.
Highberger, a former student body vice president, said he disagreed with the opinion that the bill should not be discussed in Senate after it had been defeated in committee.
"Reviewing committee decisions is what the committee system is about," he said. "What good is Student Senate if it can't overturn committee decisions?"
Senate might create elections council
By Lara Weber
Kennew staff writer
A new proposal to adopt changes in the Student Senate elections rules was sent to the Senate Rights Committee at last night's Senate meeting.
Kansan staff writer
The proposal, which would replace a longer proposal originally submitted by the rights committee, would establish an independent elections council responsible for conducting Senate elections.
Specific elections rules would not be included in the revised Senate rules and regulations. Instead, they will be determined by the new council.
According to the proposal, the council would consist of two undergraduate students, one graduate student, two law students, a faculty representative from the division of student affairs, a political science department member, a law professor and a representative from the organizations and activity center.
Another person would be hired by the University to act as commissioner of the council.
Aaron Rittmaster, chairman of the rights committee, expressed his support for the new proposal and said it reflected the direction his committee was working toward.
Rittmatter said it was important that the commissioner would be a paid position to ensure neutrality in the council. The commissioner could be fired by the council at any time.
David Ambler, vice chancellor for student affairs, said he supported the new proposal and that it was similar to recommendations he had made to Senate two weeks ago.
"People conducting the elections should have as little connection with those running as possible," Rittmaster said.
At that meeting, which was called specifically to address the elections issue, Ambler said he was not impressed with the proposals presented to him. He suggested that Senate reconsider the ideas and create a new proposal.
"The whole plan is to provide some independence and autonomy that will protect the people running the elections from the whims of people in the
elections," he said. "They're heading in the right direction."
Ambler reviewed the situation and requested that B. Jake White, student body president, and Jeff Morris, student body vice president, correct ambiguities in the elections rules or face salary cuts and community service work.
In the Spring 1989 Senate elections, the winning coalition, Common Cause, was found guilty by the University Judiciary Board of violating campaign expenditure rules.
The rights committee has been meeting throughout the Fall semester to rewrite the rules. Senate is scheduled to hear the new proposal next week.
African medallions are being worn by Blacks as a symbol of ethnic pride
Stacey Gore/KANSAN
By Cory Anderson Kansan staff writer
African medallions show cultural pride
He has chosen an African medalion to show pride in his culture.
Lawrence Clark wears his heritage around his neck.
"Basically, for me, the medallion is a physical manifestation of my pride and the knowledge of my culture and rich heritage," Clark, Junction City senior, said.
The leather medallions, imprinted with the outline of Africa and other cultural leons such as Malcolm X, are replacing other jewelry and represent a renewed cultural awareness for Clark and many other Blacks.
Bernard Love, owner of Cultural Expressions of Kansas City, Kan., said that the medallions were not
only a way to show pride in Black heritag but were a substitute for the cold chains that many prominent artists wore.
We had to have an alternate to all of the gold and all of that." Love said. "Some of the grass roots people were able to persuade some of the entertainers who were flaunting all of the gold to wear the medallions."
The gold the rappers wear represents quick money while the medallions are a way to get young people in touch with their heritage. Love said.
"What we're saying is here is the real deal, now hold on to it and understand it," Love said. "Understand, not only what it symbolizes, but how it relates to you. Instead of wearing gold
around your neck you are wearing your motherland and her colors."
One reason for the resurgence of pride is that many of the gains of the civil rights movement have fallen away. Love said. Now things have come full circle and Black people are starting to feel the same need to identify with Africa as they did in the '60s. He said that as opposed to wearing traditional African dress, the medallions were a more feasible way of expressing your pride.
The colors of the medallions are green, black, red and gold. The green symbolizes the land of Africa, the red symbolizes the blood of the African people, the black symbolizes the people themselves and gold is present in many African flags, he said.
Love said that the medallions were a source of mixed feeling for him: joy because of what they symbolize, but sadness because they are being exploited by some people.
"The closest that we could come to connect with that from an economical standpoint was to get the medallions," he said.
"A lot of people that don't have our best interest at heart are mass producing these and turning the symbol into a money-making idea," he said.
The medallions are more than just a fad or fashion statement.
"I think it's definitely a true resurgence." Love said. "Everything has failed us but this. Black people are going back to the basics."
Soviet professor paves the way for peace mission in Lawrence
By Stacy Smith Kansan staff writer
Robert Ivanov is on a peace mission for the Soviet Union.
Ivanov, Soviet professor of history at the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences in Moscow, is at the University of Kansas this semester. He plans to peace between Soviets and U.S. citizens, scheduled for Oct. 8-14, 1990, in Lawrence.
One thousand Scolson citizens from all Soviet states and 1,000 U.S. citizens from all U.S. states will attend the week-long conference, which will be on the 100th anniversary of Dwight Eisenhower's birthday.
The meeting also is being planned by the Elbe Alliance, a local organization of veterans and friends committed to keeping alive the spirit of alliance between U.S. citizens and Soviets during World War II.
"My task is to prepare my best for this meeting of peace," Ivannov said. "Our relations between two people, between two countries, should not
depend on President Gorbachev or President Bush. It should depend on us — the people."
William Fletcher, director of Soviet and East European Studies, said Ivanov was one of two Soviet professors visiting KU.
"Restrictions are much looser now in the Soviet Union," Fletcher said. "More professors are able to leave the country. It really adds to the educational value of KU."
Ivanov said Lawrence was a well-known city in the Soviet Union because of the movie "The Day After," about the effects of a nuclear war, which was filmed here.
Ivanov has studied U.S. history for more than 30 years. He has published books about historical events in the United States and has written biographies of famous Americans, including Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower and Benjamin Franklin.
"I like the United States. Your universities are more comfortable and more convenient," he said.
Visiting Soviet profs flood KU
By Stacy Smith
Kansan staff writer
Improved Soviet-U.S. relations have brought a record number of Soviet professors to the University of Kansas this semester.
Bill Fletcher, director of Soviet and East European Studies, said that in the past, only one or two Soviet professors had visited KU. This semester, 10 professors have made delegations to three delegations of 30 professors. Two professors also are at the University on a semester and yearlong basis.
program."
"It was unheard of until last year for this many to leave the country," he said. "Now the Soviets are letting in everyone in sight out of their country."
"We can invite them here, or we can do an exchange of faculty. They can also get outside grants or come through an international exchange
Fletcher attributed the increase to the loosening of restrictions that professors must go through before they can leave the Soviet Union. While they once had to go through the ministry of higher education to obtain permission, they now can receive clearance through any state ministry of education, or be invited by universities in other countries.
The biggest problems that face Soviet professors who wish to visit abroad are the need for airline reservations and the exchange of currency, he said.
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Some of the professors visit to lecture about their area of expertise or as part of a negotiating trip. Fletcher said Valentin Berezhkov, who lectured at KU on Oct. 31, was one of the most interesting visitors. He spoke about his experiences as Joseph Stalin's personal interpreter during World War II.
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