Basketball: Forward Paul Pierce leads No. 1 Jayhawks by example. Page 1B
Grant: $249,000 helps research of African-American leadership group. Page 3A
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
NEWS 864-4810
ADVERTISING 864-4358
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1996
SECTION A VOL.103, NO.72
President nominates new secretary of state
WASHINGTON — With a nod to history and politics, President Clinton yesterday nominated U.N. ambassador Madeleine Albright to be the first female secretary of state and chose GOP Sen. William Cohen to be defense secretary.
Clinton also moved national security adviser Anthony Lake to the CIA and promoted Lake's deputy, Sandy Berger, to Lake's Job in the west wing of the White House.
With trouble simmering in Bosnia, the Middle East, North Korea and central Africa, the president declared that his new foreign policy team would "make sure that ... America remains the indispensable nation — the world's greatest force for peace."
—The Associated Press
Steve Puppe / KANSAN
S.A.N.T.A. delivers tree to Strong Hall rotunda; wants decoration debate
In violation of an administrative decision, a Christmas tree was placed in the rotunda of Strong Hall last night. The reason: C.A.N.T.A. came to town early.
N.A.T. A. came to town early.
- Members of a group called Students Against "No Tree" Association (S.A.N.T.A.) informed the University Daily Kansan late last night that they had placed the tree in Strong Hall.
(USPS 650-640)
In a letter and in a phone call to the Kansan, the group said it was protesting the University's decision not to have a tree this year.
don't not have a vote this year.
In November, Provost David Shulenburger said that the decision not to have a tree was made after student and staff complaints that a Christmas tree excluded other religions.
To be more sensitive to all religions, the rotunda was decorated with pol恳ettias instead.
members of S.A.N.T.A. placed what they called in their letter a Winter Tree in the rotunda.
Last night, more than 50 of those poinsettias had been removed from the rotunda. Only the plastic saucers, on which the plants had been sitting, remained.
"There is absolutely no reason why the University should not be able to put up a 'holiday' tree in celebration of those groups who do celebrate during this time of year," the group said in its letter.
The letter also said that the group's tree was meant to stimulate more discussion about the issue of holiday decoration.
Kansan staff report
They are homeless, transient and young. They say Lawrence is a good place to stay But they are still...
Out in the cold
Christina, 20, was one of the squatters who lived under the bridge this fall. When winter set in, she and her boyfriend, Chuder, jumped on a train in search of warmer weather.
t's a typical day in downtown Lawrence for Wendy Hill. She and her dog, Chester, sit in front of the Replay Lounge, sizing up the next prospect. As he approaches, she takes a breath.
Wendy, left, and Christina, right, sit around the fire with their friend Justin at the end of the day under the Kansas River bridge.
"Excuse me, sir. Do you think you could spare some change today?"
The man in the gray suit shakes his head and keeps walking.
See HOMELESS, Page 6
Story by:
LIZ MUSSER
Photos by:
EDMEE RODRIGUEZ
Clinton's win could mean freedom for Leonard Peltier
Rv Jeff Ruhv
Kansan staff writer
Leonard Peltier's 21-year nightmare could be drawing to a close, a speaker told an audience of 50 people at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union last night.
Lisa Faruolo, director of the Lawrence-based Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, said that Peltier, an American Indian Movement activist jailed 21 years ago, seemingly has been so close to freedom so often that his assurance doesn't come easy.
"He's had three appeals and lost all three," she said. "It's hard for him to be optimistic because every time we come close to winning his freedom, something happens. They always find some reason to keep him. But somehow he's still hopeful."
Leonard Peltier was convicted in 1977 on two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. He has been in prison the last 11 years at Ft. Leavenworth.
At a parole hearing held in December 1995, government prosecutor Lynn Crooks said there was no direct evidence against Peltier in the 1975 shootings of two FBI agents on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
Faruolo said that Bill Clinton's recent re-election was a good sign, and that, with the urging of some of Clinton's Peltier-supporting cronies, the President could make a decision soon on executive clemency for the imprisoned Peltier.
"Historically, the most common time for clemency is between Christmas and New Years," she said. "I'm cautiously optimistic."
Leonard Peltler
Cornel Peewardy, professor of multicultural education, said
"The story of Leonard Peltier is America's ghost; America's nightmare.It's the waking of America's consciousness.
Cornel Powewarty professor of multi-cultural education
Faruolo's speech was valuable because it led to an awareness and truth for students by giving an alternate viewpoint to the FBI's.
"The story of Leonard Peltier is America's ghost, America's nightmare," he said. "It's the waking of America's consciousness. Through a speech like this, more people become conscious and questions start to be asked."
Joshua Welch, Hoisington sophomore, said he became interested in Petitier's cause by reading Peter Mattheissen's In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, the definitive book on Petitier.
"I consider this the harshest injustice in the 20th century on an individual basis," he said of Peltier's 21-year imprisonment. "I came to the speech for two reasons: to learn the absolute status of his case and to learn the small things I can do to help."
Feltier's 11-year-old grandson, Cyrus, said he called the White House earlier in the day on his grandfather's behalf.
"I said, 'This is Leonard Peltier's grandson, and I would like to have my grandfather home for Christmas.'"
Closed panel to discuss same-sex marriages
By Cameron Heeg Kansan staff writer
When the issue of same-sex marriages arises, some people see no difference at all, while others see a difference that can never be overcome.
Rob MacRae, director of KU Queers and Allies, said forging a new future and overcoming stereotypes that homosexual couples face regarding same-sex marriages could only happen when professionals gather to discuss the issue with open minds.
To open minds, the KU Hilliell Foundation is calling for a panel and group discussion between faculty and other professionals. The panel, which is open only to invited guests, will be at
1:30 p.m. on Sunday at the home of David Katzman, professor of history. The panel will include law, history and religious experts.
"Talking together as a group is one of the best ways to work through an issue such as same-sex marriages," said Stephen Shawl, professor of physics and panel organizer. "There is a lot to discuss on this issue, and by no means is it cut and dry."
The issue has become more blurred with a court ruling by Circuit Judge Kevin Chang in Hawaii earlier this week. The ruling requires the state of Hawaii to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
However, Hawaii plans to continue its practice of denying gay couples
marriage licenses pending an appeal of the court's decision.
If the ruling is upheld, it will go against a bill President Clinton signed into law in September, which denies federal recognition of gay marriages. The law also allows states the right to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages that have taken place in other states.
"The ruling is definitely promising, but we are still a long way from the equality same-sex couples deserve," MacRae said. "If the ruling is upheld through the appeal process, expect to see a large number of couples heading to Hawaii to get legally married."
MacRae also speculates that cou
Outside the courtroom, the Hawaii ruling is also expected to shake the religious community.
"There is no single direction for religion and same-sex marriage," Breslauer said. "Religion opens a Pandora's box in this situation."
pres that return from Hawaii married will try to challenge their native state's laws and the September federal law. This would spark lawsuits nationwide, he said.
Many religions have various interpretations on homosexuality, but there are only limited writings on homosexual marriage, said Daniel Breslauer, professor of religious studies.
TODAY
INDEX
TV ...2A
Opinion ...4A
Scoreboard ...2B
Horoscopes ...4B
Classifieds ...5B