WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1996
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS 864-4810
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
SECTION A VOL.102,NO.96
ADVERTISING 864-4358
(USPS 650-640)
TODAY KANSAN
SPORTS
'Hawks ready to bounce back
The No.5 men's basketball team hopes to get back to winning tonight. Page 1B
CAMPUS
Lights, camera action!
Filmmaker Ken Burns spoke at the Lied Center about baseball and politics. Page 9A
World Cup threatened
WORLD
Sri Lanka's bombing may pose safety threats to the cricket world series. Page 10A
NATION
A Valentine pre-nuptial
What is expected from love and marriage may be in the form of a contract. Page 11A
WEATHER CLOUDY
High 50° Low 33°
Weather: Page 2A
INDEX
World News...10A
National News...11A
Features...12A
Scoreboard...2B
Horoscopes...8B
rne University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents.
Using condoms decreases the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Sponsors of National Condom Day, which is today, hope to raise awareness of the importance of safe sex.
Reducing the risk of sex
Condom use stressed today
By Teresa Veazey Kansan staff writer
Even the Tommy Morrisons of the world have to use condoms.
In the wake of reports that the heavyweight boxer reportedly tested positive for HIV, safe sex is being stressed even more than before. Having unprotected sex can be deadly, said Tamara Morris, vice president of marketing for Planned Parenthood of Mid-Missouri and Eastern Kansas.
Morris said that because today was National Condom Day, as well as Valentine's Day, educating people about the dangers of unprotected sex was crucial.
"The fact that this was announced during this time may help young people to pay closer attention to protecting themselves," said Candyce Waitley, nurse health educator at Watkins Memorial Health Center. "This may not have had as much of an impact two weeks from now."
Some people will put themselves at risk rather than talk about sexual issues, said Peggy Clarke, president of the American Social Health Association.
The Association has sponsored National Condom Day in conjunction with Valentine's Day for more than a decade.
"At a time when people are talking about love and romance, it's important for
people to love carefully and safely," she said. "The message is that loving responsibly means using condoms."
About 60 percent of all new cases of sexually transmitted diseases occur among people younger than 25, Clarke said. People tend to ignore the risk in the excitement of the moment, which is why couples who have sex should talk about protection beforehand.
"If couples are going to be sexually active, they need to use a condom." Waitley said.
National Condom Day isn't just about getting a picture taken with Condom Man or
getting free condoms, Waitley said. Couples should focus on communication and talking with each other about issues such as sex.
At the information tables at the Kansas and Burge unions and Wescoe Terrace, Watkins staff will be giving away Hershey's Hugs and Kisses candy with pamphlets about relationships.
With every free condom, the staff will give out a brochure on safer sex. Waitley said.
"We recognize that the majority of college students are sexually active," she said. "Given that fact, it's our goal to
educate them. We are providing them with a method to protect themselves."
Morris said Planned Parenthood wanted to take a slightly lighter approach when educating people about safer sex, which is why Condom Man will be visiting the campus today. Though he makes for a good photo opportunity, the facts are important.
"Condom Man is really there as an attention-getter to get people to talk about condom use," she said. "If you are going to be sexually active, condoms are the next surest thing to protect you."
Latex irritation could be alleviated
By Teresa Veazey Kansan staff writer
Call it "condom" sense.
Free condoms are being given out on campus today as part of National Condom Day and Valentine's Day, but some people won't be able to use them because of irritation and latex allergies, said Henry Buck, gynecologist at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
Men usually get more irritation than women because of spermicides on the inside of the condom, Buck said. To avoid this, he recommended that women use a vaginal spermicide and that men use a non-spermicidal condom.
While it is uncommon, some people develop allergies to latex from condom use, said Janna Tuck, pediatric allergy fellow at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
The most common latex allergy is contact dermatitis, caused by the chemicals used to process latex. Some women have the same allergic reaction when they wear earrings made of nickel and their ears get red or sore, Tuck said. Another latex irritation is anaphylaxis, a general term for a severe allergy.
Buck said that people who had irritation when using a latex condom had another option for contraception called "Skins," a condom made from sheep intestines.
Buck said another option was a new condom, Avanti, which was made of polyurethane instead of latex. Avanti condoms are available at Osco Drug, 1900 W. 23rd St., six for $10.29, and at Walgreens Drug Store, 3421 W. Sixth St., six for $10.99.
"They are better in the sense that there's more feeling to them," he said. "They hold sperm, but viruses can still penetrate them. They're not a good STD-prevention cond."
Alex Martinez, allergy fellow at the Med
"Definitely the ones that have flavors or color scents can be irritating to the skin," he said. "If you change products, then you shouldn't see the same kind of reaction."
Center, said a rash or itching resulting from using a condom could be alleviated
Condom Man to the Rescue
Condom Man will visit the University from 12:30 to 2 p.m. today at the Kansas Union.
- Watkins Memorial Health Center will sponsor information tables today at the following locations: Kansas Union, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wesco Terrace, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Burge Union, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Respect expected in classes
By Colleen McCain
Kansan staff writer
Students want just a little respect. But they don't always get it from faculty members, according to a report from the University Senate Human Relations Committee.
The report, which details instances in which students thought that they had been respected or disrespected by their instructors, was presented to the Senate Executive Committee yesterday.
reports of disrespect ranged from the minor—such as being short with a student —to the illegal—such as asking a student for a date.
"He asked me to stay after class," one student said. "He then proceeded to close the door and ask me for a date. Although the class had ended, my grade was not final."
Other instructors were less subtle in their frustration
Many students said they felt disrespected when instructors made them feel stupid, such as when instructors rolled their eyes when students asked questions.
One student wrote: "The teacher would hand blonde girls a brick in class if they asked a dumb question. He said since they were airheads, the brick would hold them down."
The respect students expected from their instructors was generally basic. Taking the time to learn students' names and having the patience to listen to students' views were cited examples of respect.
"The professor is very attentive to all opinions in the classroom," one student wrote. "He also gives all thoughts and opinions validity."
Another student said that a teacher who was willing to stay after class and answer questions when the student was having difficulty made a positive impression.
Paul Friedman, chairman of the Human Relations Committee, told SenEx members that faculty members needed to be made aware of the report and its findings to help improve human relations on campus.
"It's good for faculty to know that respect is important to people," he said. "Students are people."
Friedman said that while the most severe instances of disrespect were not widespread, even a few such reports were cause for concern. He also said that many students felt helpless when they were treated poorly.
Students can report instances of disrespect on an instructor's evaluation, but that was little comfort to the student who wrote, "The teacher told us to fill out evaluation forms but said it wouldn't do any good because he is assistant head of the department and has tenure."
The report recommended eight actions be taken. SenEx voted to act on two of the recommendations now: distributing the report to the Freshman/ Sophomore Academic Experience Committee and circulating the report to deans and department chairmen.
But SenEx members agreed the report gave a one-sided impression of KU and voted to conduct a faculty survey asking for examples of student respect and disrespect.
The Human Relations Committee now will begin work on the faculty survey, and SenEx will consider action on the other recommendations after responses to the report from academic departments have been collected.
"We need to begin communicating about this issue, and we need to hear from both sides to do that," said Robert Minor. SenEx member.
Friedman said that he supported conducting a faculty survey but that he wanted to make sure that consideration of the student survey was not delayed indefinitely while another survey was conducted.
"You can't legislate or mandate respect, but all that we ask is that this report and these concerns just not get buried," he said.
Kansas considers tattoo regulations
By John Collar Kansan staff writer
Proposal requires license, inspection to encourage safety
Students who get a tattoo of their Valentine's name could be jeopardizing their health, several Kansas legislators said yesterday.
Eight state representatives are hoping to remedy the situation by sponsoring a bill that would require licensing and inspections for each of the estimated 45 tattoo and body-piercing shops in Kansas. These shops are not regulated, said State Rep. William Mason, R-El Dorado, one of the bill's sponsors.
"We just feel that someone should be overseeing them and being sure that they are using sterile methods," Mason said. HIV is only one of many blood diseases that customers could contract if correct sterilization procedures are not followed. Mason said.
He initially became interested in the legislation when a constituent's underage son received a tattoo. The upset father did some
quick research and discovered the shops were not regulated.
"I really believe that most of the businesses are good businesses that use the right kind of sterile methods and good practices overall," he said. "I do believe there are some that don't meet this criteria."
The legislation probably will not encounter much opposition, Mason said.
The regulations would require only one or two staff members and about $25,000 for administration, Mason said. An additional member who is an expert in tattooing and body piercing would be appointed to the board.
The bill would require the state board of cosmetology to license the shops.
The bill requires that anyone younger than 18 have a notarized letter of permission from a parent or guardian. The parent also is required to be present at the time of the procedure.
The shops would be charged an inspection fee of $60 to $70 and a yearly fee of $150, said State Rep. John Ballou, R-Gardner. Oregon and Colorado recently adopted a similar law, and Oldahoma has outlawed tattooing, Ballou said.
Robert Miller, tattoo artist at Led Bodine's Bad Tat Graphics, 1826 Massachusetts St., said the regulations were not needed because
Miller said that the tattoo equipment in the shop was sterilized in an autoclave. In this procedure, the needles are heated to about 280 degrees Fahrenheit and 30 pounds per square inch pressure. The process takes about 30 to 45 minutes, he said.
Many people don't realize that tattoo artists are more at risk than customers because employees are exposed to needles every day, he said.
"If we weren't running a clean shop, we would be increasing our chances of getting sick," Miller said. "We handle everything like it's supposed to be handled."
People who receive a tattoo are required to sign a standard release form in which they agree not to hold the shop responsible if problems develop. The shop requires anyone receiving a tattoo to be 18 or older.
most shops were safe. Unsanitary methods are the exception rather than the rule, he said.
"We've accumulated a lot of knowledge over the years," Miller said. "We pretty much know what you need to do to make a tattoo heal properly. If you don't follow them, it's your own problem."
The House Health and Human Services Committee has scheduled a hearing on the bill today at the Statehouse.
Gina Thombunt / KANSAN
Robert Miller, tattoo artist at Led Bodine's Bad Tat Graphics, 1826 Massachusetts St., says tattoo shops already are safe.
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