CAMPUS: About 250 people listen to KU administrators and student leaders give speeches supporting gay and lesbian rights. Page 3.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
VOL.103,NO.37
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1993
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
(USPS 650-640)
NEWS: 864-4810
Haitian mob stops U.S. troops from landing
The Associated Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Army-backed toughs, warning of another Somalia, wrecked plans for American troops to land as part of a U.N. peace mission in Haiti yesterday and drove away U.S. diplomats waiting to greet them.
The band of 25 to 50 men, some of them armed, then beat up merchants in the nearby market and fired guns while roving through the capital, including near the seaside U.S. Embassy. No casualties were reported. The gunmen later took over state-run Radio Nationale.
U. S. and U.N. officials said the disturbances would not halt the overall peace mission. But it was yet another
direct challenge by the military to the U.N. efforts to restore democracy to Haiti.
Although the group was small, they clearly had the support of the powerful Haitian army's police division, which stood by or even helped the gang. Haiti's army commander later defended the mob's right to protest, although he deplored the violence and occupation of state media.
The Clinton administration demanded that the Haitian military explain why the troops were not allowed to land.
The U.N. Security Council yesterday adopted a U.S. statement that said it was "imperative" that Haiti's armed forces ensure the safe landing of the troops. The statement also warned
that sanctions could be imposed if the military did not comply.
Yesterday's landing was to start the peace mission to restore democracy and rebuild the economy. About 100 other U.N. personnel — including 25 U.S. troops — are already in the country.
After the disturbances, the White House delayed the deployment of the nearly 200 American military medics, engineers and civil affairs specialists aboard the USS Harlan County, an amphibious landing ship anchored 800 yards offshore. There was no word on when the troops might dock.
The docking "will not take place until we have a permissive environment. That is, one that is safe for the men in the U.N. mission." U.S. Army
Maj. Jim Hinnant, a mission representative, told the Associated Press, Hinnant, a member of the U.S. advance team flown in last week, said negotiations were under way between mission officials and the Haitian government.
Port officials supported by the Haitian military blocked the Harlan County's docking by moving another ship to the pier where arrangements were made days ago for the U.S. ship to berth at 10 a.m. yesterday.
Another U.S. warship, the USS Fairfax County, is to arrive Oct. 20, carrying hundreds more soldiers for the biggest U.S. military involvement in Haiti since a 19-year occupation by the Marines ended in 1934.
Haiti has a long history of civil and political unrest, most recently fueled by the 1991 coup that ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Sept. 30, 1991: Jean-Bertrand
Oct. 30, 1991: U.S. bans commercial trade with Haiti following OAS embargo
- November: Refugees begin fleeing the country
Feb. 1, 1992: U.S. begins forcibly returning the refugees.
April 11, 1993: Aristide offers
amnesty to military and military
BOUQUET
June 27, 1993: Talks begin in New York between Aristide and Haitian army to negotiate return of ousted president.
SOURCE: World Book, Facts on File
Oct. 30, 1993: Aristide due to return as president of Heitl.
Report asserts LesBiGay rights
Knight-Ridder Tribune
Support offered with limitations by administration
By Carlos Tejada Kansan staff writer
Ed Meyen, executive vice chancellor, released both reports more than two years after the study committee was formed by Del Shankel, thenexecutive vice chancellor, in 1991.
With 26 recommendations spanning several campus issues, the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Concerns Study Committee report and the administration's point-by-point response were released yesterday.
The report then specified recommendations that ranged from health care at Watkins Memorial Health Center to student housing to obtaining more LesBiGav literature for KU's libraries.
The committee's report focused on four general areas that it said needed to be changed to improve the on-campus atmosphere for KU's LesBiGay community. The report said the University must affirm the rightful place of the LesBiGay community, provide institutional support, re-evaluate the handling of diversity issues and establish a center for LesBiGay studies.
It said the administration's methods for handling diversity and LesBiGay issues would be addressed in the upcoming Blueprint for Diversity.
The administration's response was just as specific. It reaffirmed KU's LesBiGay population as members of the campus community and promised to establish a full-time position in the Student Assistance Center for LesBiGay concerns.
But the administration also said in its response that it would not finance a center for LesBiGay studies, nor would it create a specific office where the LesBiGay community would have its issues addressed. It also declined to say whether the partners of LesBiGay students constituted family in regard to student housing.
On some points, the administration said it was powerless to act. It said it could not extend benefits to the partners of LesBiGay University employees because such policies were set by the state.
Reaction to the administration's response generally was positive.
"They've done a thorough job in responding to all the recommendations," said Dennis Salee-
Report and Response
The administration completely fulfilled the following recommendations of the study committee.
Committee's Recommendations ▲ Administration's Response)
The University:
- provide liaisons between KU police and the LesBiGav community
says that KU police now participate in sensitivity training concerning the LesB/Gay community should provide positive literature about sexuality at Wakefield Memorial Health Center
should provide positive literature about sexuality at Watkins Memorial Health Center
has developed four brochures for Watkins and the Student Assistance Center addressing sexual orientation
should assure campus that AIDS testing at Watkins is confidential
says all such tests are confidential
- should acquire more LesBiGay literature
- has reaffirmed commitment to acquire LesBiGay literature that supports academic programs
- should emphasize anti-homophobia training for
▲ will emphasize training as much as resources permit
bey, professor of social welfare and head of the study committee.
Karl Woelz, Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, graduate student and member of the study committee, said he was glad the recommendations released by Meyen would be included in the Blueprint for Diversity.
"I'm glad he's including queer perspectives in what he's doing for diversity as a whole," said Woelz, the LesBiGay liaison at the Student Assistance Center.
But Scott Manning, Lawrence graduate student and co-director of LesB1Gay Services of Kansas, said he thought the response was too cautious to be totally effective.
Maggie Childs, associate professor of East Asian Languages and Culture and head of Gay and Lesbian Academic and Staff Advocates, said the response missed the point of the study committee's report.
"It was really nice, but it sounded like an administrator's response to another administrator." he said.
She said she expected the response to concentrate less on specifics and more on strong language supporting the LesBiGay community on campus. She said forceful words would be less costly but more significant.
"What I think is the most valuable thing from Ed Meyen is the cheapest thing," Childs said. "Apparently it's not the easiest thing."
Tom Leininger / KANSAN
Nybe Ward, San Francisco, and Mulci Madrid, Hollywood, Fla., freshmen at Haskell Indian Nations University, listen to a speaker during the Columbus Day protest in front of the Kansas Union. About 70 people, mostly American Indians, protested the holiday observance yesterday at noon by marching from Haskell to the Union.
American Indians march in protest of holiday status of Columbus Day
By Carlos Telada
Kansan staff writer
For Lyle Frank, North Battleford. Canada, graduate student, Christopher Columbus' landing on the American continent 501 years ago yesterday is more bitter memory than distant history.
"We're looking back at 501 years of contact with European people," he said. "We're doing this for the people who lived through 500 years of genocide."
Frank, an American Indian, and about 70 other people marched from Haskell Indian Nations University to the front of the Kansas Union yesterday to protest Columbus Day. The marchers included members of the community and students from Haskell, Lawrence High School and the University of Kansas.
The march was a condemnation of the federal holiday, said Sleepy Eye LaFromboise, president of the Haskell student body.
"This can't be a holiday to us," he said. "Why should we celebrate something that turned out to be 500 years of oppression?"
"We're still here," Mann said. "We will always be here. The young people here are the living progress of their ancestors."
The marchers, some in the traditional garb of American Indian nations throughout the country, stopped traffic on Massachusetts Street and 19th Street as they marched toward KU. They carried signs condemning Columbus Day, broken treaties and alcoholism in the American Indian community.
Frank led the way with a bowl of smoldering cedar, which signifies the west and the sun's ability to rise again.
But the march was more than a protest, said Henrietta Mann, Haskell professor, on sabbatical from the University of Montana. She said it was a celebration of the survival of her people through five centuries of conflict with America's European settlers.
Three flag-bearers followed Frank. One flag was the U.S. flag, another was the flag of the American Indian Movement, and the third was a flag with the colors of the four winds
The march ended in front of the Kansas Union. Jay Jackson, president of KU's Native
"The nonindian tells us you can't go back to your old ways," he said. "Your ways are gone. But we return to the old ways because those were the best way for us to be."
LaFromboise and Ellen Papineau, a member of the American Indian Task Force of Kansas City, also addressed the crowd of marchers and curious KU students.
Rosie Leen Gorden, Haskell sophomore, said she was marching in memory of her White Mountain Apache ancestors.
American Student Association, addressed the crowd there.
"It makes me think I'm marching for my parents and for the people back home," she said. "I'm walking for them."
Nancy Green, Haskell sophomore and participant in the event, said the march's purpose was to educate the public. She said most people in the United States still thought Christopher Columbus settled a wild and untamed land.
"The children of today, and even the teachers, are learning that we were here first and that Columbus didn't discover a barren land," she said.
Horseback therapy
For those physically challenged by disease or injury, therapy can be boring and repetitive. Some patients have found a exciting alternative — horseback riding.
Page 7.
Hispanics examine fraternity possibilities
By Kathleen Stolle Kansan staff writer
Following a nationwide trend, KU Hispanic students are considering establishing a chapter of an international greek fraternity.
Octavio Hinojosa, Hutchinson junior and president of the Hispanic-American Leadership Organization, said he and other male members of HALO were meeting with representative of the Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity later this month.
"I don't think it's something that will happen overnight. It's going to take a few semesters to get it started." Hinojosa said.
Juan Rodiguez M., president of SigmaLambda Beta fraternity international and chair of its board of directors, said that in the last 10 years, the number of Hispanic fraternities had grown quickly, especially in the Northeast and Great Lakes area. He said SigmaLambda Beta had grown from
CULTURE SWAP: Hispanic Americans give Hispanic exchange students a hand in adapting to KU. Page 12.
five chapters in three states in 1989, to 25 chapters in 10 states.
Within the Big Eight conference, the University of Colorado and Iowa State University have chapters, and Kansas State University is in the process of establishing one, Rodriguez M. said.
Seven major Hispanic greek fraternities exist nationwide, he said, but only two, including Sigma Lambda Beta, are registered with the National Interfraternity Conference. The conference studies minority student retention and evaluates member chapter performances, Rodriguez M. said.
Rodriguez M. said the Sigma Lambda Beta chapters were open to college men of all races and ethnic backgrounds.
"Even though we are a fraternity that's geared toward ethnic groups, it's a brotherhood as well," he said.
The idea of the new chapter appeals to Robert Enriquez, Fort Scott freshman. Enriquez said he considered other fraternities at KU but none interested him. He said living with other Hispanics would expose him to a culture his own Midwest upbringing did not.
The fraternity requires its members to maintain a 2:25 grade point average and belong to at least two other campus organizations. This ensures the retention of Hispanic students and interaction with other university students, Rodriguez M. said.
"The Hispanic involvement would allow me to learn a little more about my heritage," he said.
Enriquez said he disagreed with a common argument that ethnic organizations foster segregation.
"I think if they have some kind of link to the other fraternities on campus, I think that would be a great way to have interaction among the students," he said.
If established, the new chapter also would have the support of at least one other KU fraternity, said Marek Jacobs, president of Alpha Phi Alpha. Jacobs said his fraternity, which has a predominantly African-American membership, was a source of support for him.
"I think it's definitely an advantage because it can cause more of a unity within the organization, within the ethnic group," he said.