Baseball: Kansas gears up for weekend series against Oklahoma State. Page 10 Rally: Graduate teaching assists unite for salary increase and benefits. Page
*****STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 3*
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
NEWS 864-4810
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28. 1997
ADVERTISING 864-4358
SECTION A VOL. 103, NO. 108
(USPS 650-640)
Magazine rapist was in Wescoe, women say
Two female KU students said they saw a man who they thought fit the description of the rapist in Wednesday's University Daily Kansan yesterday afternoon in the hallway on the fourth floor of Wesco Hall.
The two women, who asked not to be identified, were approached by a man who said he was selling magazines. The women said the man sat down next to them and began joking with them. They said he repeatedly said that he was having a bad hair day.
The women said the man did not tell them his name but told them that he had played in the World Cup soccer tournament in 1994.
After talking for about five minutes, one woman said she jokingly asked him if he was the person in yesterday's newspaper. She said he then looked shocked and grabbed a newspaper lying nearby. After glancing at the paper, the man mumbled something and said he had to leave. The woman said he then hurried away toward the east stairway.
"At first he was totally friendly," the woman said, "but then he looked surprised. I thought it was kind of weird that he left in such a hurry."
KU police said the case was still under investigation.
Kansan staff report
AIDS-related deaths fell in first half of 1996
ATLANTA — AIDS-related deaths fell 13 percent in the first half of 1996, the first significant drop since the epidemic began in 1981, the government said yesterday. Officials credited the drop to better treatment and programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that about 22,000 people died of complications of AIDS in the first six months of 1996, down from the 24,900 deaths in the same period the previous year.
And while the number of diagnoses of AIDS continues to grow, the rate is slowing. In 1995, about 62,200 people were diagnosed, an increase of less than 2 percent over the 61,200 new cases in 1994. The growth rate from 1993 to 1994 was 5 percent.
But some new trends worry health officials. In 1996 African-Americans accounted for more cases of AIDS than Caucasians for the first time — 41 percent compared to 38 percent. Hispanics accounted for 19 percent, and other races made up 2 percent.
Also, the proportion of women with AIDS is still increasing. In 1996, women made up 20 percent of new cases. AIDS-related deaths have not declined among women or heterosexuals.
Soldier found guilty in racial killings case
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A white former paratrooper faces the death penalty after being convicted yesterday in a racial killing that set off a nationwide outcry over extremists in the military.
James N. Burmeister, 21, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the shootings of Jackie Burden and Michael James on Dec. 7, 1995.
Jurors were to hear more evidence today before recommending the death penalty or life in prison.
The victims' mothers split on whether Burmeister should be executed.
Civil rights advocates applauded the verdict.
Burneirie showed no emotion at the guiltful wards were read
Prosecutors contended that Burmeister killed the couple on a dirt road near downtown Fayetteville for no other reason than to earn a spider web tattoo, a sign among racist skinheads at nearby Fort Bragg that the wearer had killed an African American.
—The Associated Press
Steve Punne / KANGAN
Double the pleasure
Center Nakia Sanford celebrates a Kansas victory. The women's team will play against Oklahoma at 2 p.m. tomorrow in Allen Field House. The Jayhawks will receive the Big 12 championship trophy and celebrate Senior Day.
By Tommy Gallagher and Bill Petulla Kansan sportswriters
'Hawks end seasons this weekend
"Last year, both of us won the last Big Eight and this year, the first Big 12," Williams said. "I think it's something that a lot of people around Kansas basketball have a lot to be proud about."
After adding four teams to the former Big Eight Conference, virtually the entire complexion has been different. From the league's name to the scheduling, almost everything has changed.
Not the front runners, though.
Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams said the performance of both the men's and women's teams has given Jayhawk fans reason to boost.
The top-ranked Kansas men's basketball team clinched the Big 12 title last Saturday with a 78-58 win against Kansas State. The No. 11 Kansas women's basketball team secured the conference crown on Wednesday night with a
The Kansas men's and women's basketball teams finished first in the Big Eight one year ago, and have swept the Big 12 Conference regular-season titles in its inaugural season.
Both the men's and women's basketball teams play their final game of the inaugural Big 1.2 regular season this weekend Here's when and how to catch them in action:
Steve Puppe / KANSAN
Women
Time: 2 p.m. tomorrow Place: Allen Field House Radio: KJH-FM, 90.7
Men
Final games
Time: 2:45 p.m. Sunday Place: Devaney Center, Lincoln,
Television: ABC, Ch. 9 and 14
Radio: KLZR-FM, 105.9
BASKETBALL! Fans go to great lengths for tickets. Page 7
The Jayhawks celebrate their standing as the first Big 12 Conference champions and the No. 1 team in the nation. The men's and women's teams won the last Big Eight title last year and the first Big 12 title this year.
66-58 victory against Nebraska. For Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington, this season's success can be directly related to the team's seniors.
66-58 victory against Nebraska.
"My senior class was going to have to be very important in terms of leadership and experience this year," Washington said. "We've had to deal with a lot of adversity throughout the year, and we've found a way to win because of our team's seniors."
"it's a good feeling," Williams said. "But I'm one of those guys where the more you win, the more you want to win."
The Kansas women's basketball team will bid farewell to its seniors at Senior Day against Oklahoma at ? p.m. tomorrow.
Forward Shelly Canada said the day would be memorable.
"It's going to be emotional, and there's going to be a lot of mixed emotions," Canada said. "I'm excited about cutting the nets down after the game. There's some sadness that it's almost over, but then you can't really get sad because there's such a great season coming up with the tournament and everything."
As for the men's basketball team, Williams said he didn't want to settle for just a Big 12 Championship ring this year.
Fire's cause still unknown
Shop will open temporary store
By Kevin Bates Kansan staff writer
The cause of Wednesday night's blaze at the corner of Eighth and Massachusetts streets is still unknown, the Lawrence Fire Department said yesterday.
McSwan said firefighters still were dousing hot spots in the buildings yesterday morning to prevent flare-ups from causing more damage. He said that small, smoldering areas remained that needed to be watched. A small part of the front of the building that used to house Herbivores restaurant, 9 East Eighth St., was braced so that firefighters could search the building safely.
Jim McSwain, director of the Lawrence and Douglas County Fire and Medical Department, said the department was investigating the fire that burned Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop, 804 Massachusetts St., but he did not know how soon to expect an answer.
McSwain said that the corner building, Carlson Wagonlift Travel, 800 Massachusetts St., did not receive fire damage, unlike the surrounding stores.
rest are pretty bad." McSwain said.
"The travel agencv is OK. but the
Heather Clark / KANSAN
David Longhurst, president of Downtown Lawrence, said Sunflower wrapped around the corner travel agency in an L shape and connected to the vacant restaurant. He said Sunflower had been renovating the other building for expansion to the bike shop.
Chad Kemper, Sunflower manager, said he had been in meetings with the owner and employees yesterday morning to discuss the store's future. Kemper said plans to rebuild had been made.
Longhurst said that neither the corner travel agency nor Visions Optical, 806 Massachusetts St., the stores next to Sunflower, were damaged.
The back side of Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop, 804 Massachusetts St. All that remains after Wednesday's fire is a skeleton of the building. The store plans to open a satellite shop Monday at 844 Massachusetts St.
"We talked about what we are going to do next," Kemper said. "Everyone is taking it pretty hard. It's really devastating to all of us, especially the owners."
Kemper said he had watched the store burn Wednesday night from the sidewalk across the street. He said he had been approached by people giving their sympathy to him and his employees.
"I've had so many people that I don't even know express sorrow to me for what's happened," Remper said. "I just want to give out a big thank you for all the support we received. I talked to a lot of people and saw so many regular customers last night that I was incredibly blown away."
Kemper said he planned to reopen Sunflower Monday morning at a temporary location, 844 Massachusetts St. He said it would be called the Sunflower Satellite Shop.
The north half of the store held bicycle equipment, and the south half held clothing and hiking gear. Kemper said the north half of the building was gutted by the fire but that he thought the other half was
I thought the other half was
not as damaged.
He did not know how much inside the store had been damaged.
Jesse Ramirez, Lawrence senior, said he had worked at the bicycle store since the fall of 1993 and that all the employees worked in a family atmosphere.
"It's a good store, a nice gathering of people," Ramirez said. "It's totally unique. I would hate to see it torn down."
ID rules tighten for cigarette purchases
By Rachelle Detweller Special to the Kansan
Purchasing a pack of smokes has just become more difficult for KU students.
The regulation, however, does not prohibit those 18 or older from purchasing cigarettes.
Rhonda Phillips, assistant manager at Kwik Shop, 1611 23rd St., your store already was enforcing the regulation.
Today marks the first day of the Food and Drug Administration's new regulation requiring retailers to ask for identification from buyers who look younger than 26.
To make sure that retailers comply, the FDA is sending state inspectors into stores to buy cigarettes. Stores that do not ask for ID can be fined.
Phillips said the confrontations were better than the $50,000 to $100,000 fine for selling tobacco products to a minor.
Buyers in their early 20s are frustrated, she said, because they are not accustomed to being carded and often do not carry IDs into convenience stores.
"I've had cigarettes thrown at me," Phillips said. "I just back away from the counter, explain the law and wait for them to calm down."
Once the public becomes aware that the policy is a federal regulation, not a store policy, she said, she expects unpleasant incidents to decrease.
The Coalition for Responsible Tobacco Retailing, based in Massachusetts, offers fiilers to retailers that inform buyers of the new policy.
Even with fliers and careful cashiers, some buyers remain unaware of the carding crackdown.
Milton Brown, owner of University Phillip's 66, 2434 Iowa St., displays the coalition's flier.
Even though the posted signs increase public awareness, Brown said he still anticipated customers being upset with the regulation. However, there is no avoiding the law. he said.
Brook Agee, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, said she had noticed an increase in carding, but she did not understand why she was being checked.
Agee carries an ID, but she said her friends who did not carry IDs have tried to talk the cashiers into selling them cigarettes. For now, that approach has worked.
After today, only previously carded customers will not need an ID, and no amount of coaxing can change that, said Michele Conley, supervisor at the Kansas Union's Information Center.
"A lot of people come here with the attitude that it's the only place they don't get carded." Conley said.
When she sells tobacco, she assumes that most younger-looking customers are 18-year-old freshmen. She said she carded only after 5 p.m. and on weekends when minors usually were not in school.
That changes today. She now will have to card almost all her student customers.
The coalition called Stop Teenage Addiction to Tobacco is pleased with the FDA's regulation.
Laura Mullen, project coordinator for the coalition, said the FDA had illustrated the need for the regulation with a poster of a 15-year-old girl and a 25-year-old woman. Business suit and make-up made the girl look older than the 25-year-old woman wearing overalls.
"The point is that you can't tell age by looks." Mullen said.
INDEX
Television ... 2
Opinion ... 4
Sports ... 7
Horoscopes ... 8
Classifieds ... 9