UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, December 2, 1996
5
Poinsettias deck halls, not tree
Flowers replace holiday symbol in Strong Hall
By Lindsey Henry Kansan staff writer
Tis the season, but not at the University of Kansas.
Traditionally, a Christmas tree is placed in the rotunda of Strong Hall. But this year, poinsettias will adorn the area surrounding the University's administrative offices.
Provost David Shulenburger said that the decision not to have a tree was made after student and staff complaints accumulated in past years. He said that the administration had received complaints that a
Strong Hall Christmas tree excluded other religions.
"We don't have any business associating the University with a single faith," Shulenburger said. "This is not out of political correctness; it is a simple humanality claim. When the most prominent symbol is of one faith, that's a little strong."
Evan Heimlich, program assistant for the Multicultural Resource Center, agreed that a Christmas tree was exclusive to one faith.
"I agree it is not fair," Heimlich said. "But I am concerned the Christians might blame the non-Christians for not having the tree there, but that's not the case."
Shulenburger said that individual departments could decorate however they wanted for the holidays, but because most students had to venture into Strong Hall, he felt it should be religiously neutral.
Beth Ackerman, Dallas, Texas, senior and assistant director for the KU Hillel Foundation, said that though the foundation had taken no stand to oppose a Christmas tree in Strong Hall, she was impressed with the administration's decision.
"I am happy there's going to be no Christmas tree," Ackerman said. "We all would have to walk into Strong Hall and see it."
Ahmed Zafer, Medina, Saudi Arabia, graduate student and president of the KU Muslim Student Association, said that in his first year as the head of the association, he had not received any complaints about the administration's Christmas tree.
"It personally doesn't bother me," Zafer said. "I see it as I am a guest and you are the host. I am living in your country. If I, as a Muslim, can't respect your religious symbols, I can't respect anything else. I may
notlike it, but I have to respect it."
Hadi Alhassani, Yemen graduate student, said that no complaints were voiced when he was the president of the Muslim Student Association.
"This is a predominantly Christian country, and Christmas is more of a national identity than a religious holiday," he said. "I think it is probably too politically correct. I mean maybe they shouldn't have a Christmas holiday — I think it is kind of silly."
Alhassani said that he had been touched that the University allowed students of different faiths to take days off for their holidays, and that he had no issue with the desire to decorate for the season.
"I had absolutely no problem what soever with the tree," he said.
World AIDS Day to be observed today
Bv Megan Jordan
Kansan staff writer
Every minute, at least five people contract the HIV virus. That means that 250 people will become infected during the next class period. By the end of the day, the number could grow to 1,440.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimates that there are 20 million people with HIV and AIDS around the world. And with this number growing every minute, the need for education and search for a cure becomes essential.
Nine years ago, the group set yesterday aside to formally recognize this need and victims of the disease. World AIDS Day was observed in countries across the globe.
"World AIDS Day is important
because HIV knows no geographical boundaries," said Janine Gracy, health educator. "Every country has been affected by this disease and the future of every country has been affected, especially when you are talking about young people contracting it."
Because the day fell on a Sunday, however, the University of Kansas is observing World AIDS Day today. The Multicultural Resource Center and KU Libraries Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee are co-sponsoring three events throughout the day.
Rich Crank, library assistant, organized the activities, which will be held at the Multicultural Resource Center. Crank began educating the public about AIDS after he had several friends die from complications of AIDS.
World AIDS Dav
World AIDS Day at the Multicultural Resource Center
Multimedia lecture, 10 a.m.:
Multimedia lecture, 10 a.m.: Communications Strategies for AIDS Awareness
Video footage of the AIDS Candlelight March and display of the AIDS Quilt on the Mall in Washinton, D.C.
Lecture: The Culture of AIDS, 7 p.m.
Rich Crank, library assistant, will present all programs.
"I'm trying to show that there's not just a bunch of people out there with AIDS and HIV or people who have been effected by it, but they are a group, a community," Crank said.
He said he wanted to move beyond basic educational programs because he thought that most KU students were knowledgeable about issues such as contracting HIV.
Gracy agreed that students seemed informed about the virus, but said this knowledge was not reflected in students' behaviors. She said that one in every 500 college students has HIV. That means that about 50 KU students could be infected.
Gracy did not think that educating students about AIDS should necessarily be the focus of the day.
"I think it's important to have one day set aside so we can remember loved ones and friends who have died from AIDS, as well as believe in the hope that one day we will be able to stabilize this disease," she said.
Stormy weather brings out salt sand on streets
By Dave Breitenstein
Kansan staff writer
Although Lawrence received just a few inches of snow this weekend, streets are still not cleared. The snow was replaced with tons of salt and sand, dumped to melt the snow and make driving safer.
"The salt melts the ice or snow, and the sand provides traction until the salt melts it all," said Tom Orzulak, Lawrence street division manager. "We do a good job cleaning the streets in Lawrence."
Orzulak estimated the city spreads 1,000 tons of salt and 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sand each year. Salt costs $22 per ton, while sand is only $3.50 per ton. Lawrence uses a 4:1 sand to salt mixture ratio.
After snowstorms, Orzulak and other city workers sweep up the remaining salt and sand. Salt can rust automobiles and sand can clog up drainage systems, but Orzulak said no one complained about that.
"What it boils down to is a matter of safety," he said. "All of the ice may be gone in 24 hours anyway, but nobody wants to wait that long."
Mike Russell, director of the KU department of environmental health and safety, expressed similar thoughts.
"It's a give and take situation,
he said. "You can either keep
people from having accidents and killing themselves, or you can keep the environment intact."
He said if sand was not properly vacuumed off streets, clouds of dust could arise. Also, storm water runoff contains a high solution of acid from the salt.
Russell said there was only one way for the amount of salt and sand on streets to be reduced.
"If everybody would stay home when the weather gets bad, then they wouldn't need to dump salt and sand on the street," he said. "But if people demand that the roads be cleaned, then there is no other option."
Tim Wudarczyk, owner of A-1 Automotive, 802 Lynn St., said many cars corroded because of salt during the winter, but that could be prevented. He said that washing a car during the winter is critical because the underbody parts are not protected.
"You should also wax your car thoroughly before this time of the year. It'll all pay off later," Wudarczyk said.
Lindsay Rogers, Lewisville, N.C., graduate student, said she washed her car more often in the winter, but it was not for glamour or to protect her car from corrosion.
"I'm not somebody who is really concerned about how my car looks," she said. "I really don't know what the effects of salt are anyway."
Because all-nighters aren't always spent in the library.
© Visa U.S.A. Inc. 1995
It's everywhere you want to be.
928 Mass. Downtown
843-0611
We're Here For You!
Planned Parenthood provides confidential & affordable health care close to your school and home.
- Pap tests
- pregnancy testing
- Birth control
When you need us:
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU!
- Abortion services
- STD testing & treatment
- HIV testing
Planned Parenthood of Mid-Missouri and Eastern Kansas
(913) 832-0281 1420 Kasold Drive, Suite C, Lawrence, KS
The University Band
Thomas M. Stidham, conductor William Phalen, assistant conductor
Kelli Brungardt, harp soloist featured on Noctume for Harp and Wind Ensemble by Clare Grundman
The program will also include works by Holsinger, Del Borgo, and Saint Saens
7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 3,1996
Lied Center
General admission tickets are on sale in the KU box offices: Murphy Hall, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864-ARTS, SUA Office, 864-3477; public $5, students and senior citizens $4; both VISA and MasterCard are accepted for phone orders.
The KU Bands are partially funded by the KU Student Senate Activity Fee
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
SCHOOL OF TINE ARTS