CAMPUS/AREA UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, November 27,1995
3A
Lawrence breaks open the salsa
Latin dancing gains popularity with locals
By Hannah Naughton Kansan staff writer
Some like it because it is exotic, others because it reminds them of home. Some learn it because of the skill and precision it requires, and still others choose to learn Latin dancing as an alternative to the traditional bar scene.
"I've heard people say it's the vertical position of a horizontal desire," said Sonia Ratzlaff, Hutchinson junior. "For me, it's the only really accepted public display of affection, partly because it's a skill and because it's classy."
For whatever reason, people are discovering Latin dancing in Lawrence, and its popularity is growing. In the past, Latin dancing was limited in people's houses on the weekends and the occasional International Student Association party. Now the venues for Latin dancing have grown. Three places in Lawrence offer regular Latin dancing events.
"It is growing," said Pedro Echeverria, who runs Casablanca Night every Friday night at Duffy's bar in the Ramada Inn, 2222 W. Sixth St. "There has been quite a few times where we've reached capacity and turned people away."
St., on Saturday nights and Club Havana at the Icehouse, 1801 Massachusetts St., on Friday nights. "We have so many international students in Lawrence. It brings diversity to Lawrence."
Echeverria, who is from Quito, Ecuador,
started Casablanca in August 1994.
"We didn't have a place in Lawrence where people could go to listen to Latin music," said Alfonso Canedo, who used to work with Casablanca, but now runs Coco Loco at the Low Rider Mexican Cafe, 943 Massachusetts
In Casablanca's beginning, the majority of the people attending the dance clubs were international students, Echeverria said. Now the popularity is growing with Americans.
Ratzlaf first started Latin dancing a year ago because it was new and challenging, she said.
Andy Rollestad / KANSAN
The clubs play music from the Caribbean for the Salsa, Merengue and Mambo, said Canedo, who is from Cochabamba, Bolivia. The clubs also play techno and pop dance music to appeal to a wider audience.
"I like it because it's fast, it's exciting and it takes a lot of coordinated movements, working with someone else," she said. "There are combined elements of some slow romantic dances and fast-paced, exciting and passionate dances."
But Latin dancing isn't for everyone.
Ratzlaff said that she had met more Latin American and international people through her Latin dancing hobby.
Canedo said that the dances appealed to people because they were exotic and it was entertaining to watch.
"When you get into a dance situation, you open yourself up to rejection," Ratzlaff said. "If you don't really have a solid perception of yourself it can be painful."
Mark Madigan, Lawrence graduate student,
said that he would like to learn Latin dancing
but had a hard time overcoming previous failures
with dancing.
"Itried to square dance once, and it was misrable," he said. "I've seen Latin dancing, and I fear for anybody's toes who would choose to dance with me."
Oscar Ramos, Panama City, Panama junior, and UMKC student Syla Gomez dance a samba at Duffy's in the Ramada Inn, 2222 W. Sixth street. Casablanca Night gives people a chance to dance to Latin music every Friday night at Duffy's.
Credit woes compound during holidays
Charge card abuse is pervasive,some say
By Aaron Hull
Kansan staff writer
Allison Munn is sitting out this school year. The Derby senior didn't get burned out, and she's not trying to earn money for tuition.
She's trying to pay off her credit cards.
"My goal is to have them paid off by May," Munn said. "They're evil." She may have others joining in her plight soon. With the holiday season comes the pressure to buy gifts for loved ones and the associated pressure of how to pay for them.
answer can be an all-too-easy one—just put it on the credit card. But doing so can lead to many unforeseen problems.
"There's a real tendency to overuse credit," said Mark Hirschey, professor of business and Stockton Research Fellow in business. "Everybody is susceptible."
For many college students, the
Lending institutions see college students as good credit risks. They have a greater potential for high paying jobs and the accompanying disposable income, Hirschey said.
In addition, their parents may help bail them out of credit hassles.
"I remember getting numerous applications around graduation time," said Eric Syphers, Lawrence graduate student.
"I called it a free money card until my credits called me," he said. "I had to go to my parents for help."
College students, as many members of society do, often struggle with credit management. Paul Koch, professor of business, counsels his students on the proper use of credit.
"I try to emphasize that when you borrow money, you should expect to pay market rates for that money," Koch said.
He said credit cards were hardly ever the proper way to borrow money.
"People of all levels of intellect have problems managing their debt." Koch said.
This problem can increase during the holiday season, when many stores offer buy now, pay later
"They forget to mention your interest," said Stacy Renfroe, Derby junior.
promotions.
"People need to figure out whether they're willing to pay 10 or 20 percent higher for an item," Hirschev said.
"They have to separate the issue of what they're going to buy versus how they're going to buy it," he said. "I think there's a tendency for students and non-students to make poorer decisions with borrowed money than with money they have."
Lending institutions vary in their approaches to college students. Some institutions do not offer preapproved cards and give college students cards with low credit limits, designed to help students establish credit. Both Mercantile
Bank, 900 Massachusetts St., and the KU Credit Union, 603 W. Ninth St., counsel students on their use.
"We talk to them about the seriousness of handling credit cards," said Janice Tobin, senior vice president of Mercantile Bank.
"If it's not handled well, it can lead to problems in the future with credit ratings down the line," she said.
"A blemish on your credit record lasts seven years," said Mark Humphries, executive vice president of KU Credit Union. A blemish could prevent someone from getting a car loan or other items, he said.
The holiday season is a tempting time for credit card users, but the problems could be long-term.
"It's instant gratification but delayed retribution," Hirschey said.
Legislative panel begins to review speed limits
If Clinton signs legislation states could change the law
By Tara Trenary
Kansan staff writer
Getting somewhere quickly may be easier if Kansas decides to increase highway speed limits.
Congress approved legislation Nov. 17 that would end the national speed limits of 55 mph on most highways and 65 mph on rural interstates. President Clinton has not acted on the bill.
"I don't think what they decide about the speed limits really affects me that much," said
Aaron Beverly, Lawrence graduate student. "I guess if they increase, it will help me get from point A to point B a little bit faster."
Ken Miller, representative of the Kansas Department of Transportation, said that they still were waiting for the president to sign or veto the bill and that they did not want to speculate on the outcome.
"It's not like everything will revert to pre- 70s," he said. "Speed limits will stay the same."
In 1974, Congress mandated a 55 mph speed limit to conserve gasoline in response to a Mideast oil embargo. Prior to that, limits were 75 mph during the day and 70 mph at night on rural highways, and 70 mph during the day
At least they will for now.
and 60 mph at night on two-lane highways.
More than a decade later, Congress allowed the states to raise the speed limit on rural interstates to 65 mph.
There will be a 60-day review period for the Legislature to discuss options, Miller said.
The Kansas Transportation Committee, led by Sen. Ben Vidricksen, R-Salina, will begin discussion on the issue today at the state house.
Vidricksen said the first day of discussions would consist of open hearings on possible highway improvements and public input on highway and transportation issues.
He said he supported increasing speed limits on rural interstates to 75 mph.
energy, not to reduce highway fatalities, Vidricksen said. Increasing the limit would not cause an increase in fatalities because today's cars are better designed and seatbelt laws are in effect, he said.
Existing speed limits were set to conserve
"I personally discount the fact that speed will increase fatalities." Vidricksen said.
In addition to allowing states to set their speed limits, the legislation would repeal several other federal mandates, including requirements for motorcycle helmet laws.
States also would receive $65 billion for highway construction, including priority funding for a national highway system composed of interstates and other important highways.
The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
Chain gets hoot out of job request
By Craig Lang Kansan staff writer
With all the other problems facing the federal government, Tom Pryor thinks it frets too much about the fact that the Hooters restaurant chain does not hire male waiters.
"There's a lot more things the government could try to do than change Hooters," said Pryor, general manager of Hooters, located at 14227 E. Highway 40 in Kansas City, Mo.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced several months ago that Hooters' policy of hiring only female waitresses amounted to sex discrimination. The announcement resulted from a four-year investigation of the 170-restaurant chain after four Chicago men sued Hooters for discrimination.
The EEOC's recommendation that Hooters hire male servers is not binding, but it does allow the agency to file a lawsuit if the company ignores the recommendation.
Hooters of America Inc. plans to spend $1 million on advertising and other campaigning in major U.S. cities to protest the EEOC's recommendation. Pryor said waitresses at his restaurant are wearing pins that say "Save Our Jobs" because many of the women would lose their jobs if the company were force to hire male servers.
"Hooters has worked with girls being waitresses and men being cooks," he said.
Executives at the Atlanta-based chain have argued that their reputation was built on their sexy, all-American waitresses.
Sarah Deer, Wichita senior and member of the Feminist Collective Force, said because Hooters labeled itself as a family restaurant, its policy of hiring only female servers was discrimination.
"The law says that a business cannot hire people based on their gender," she said. "I don't think gender has anything to do with waiting on tables."
Brian Forster, Topeka freshman,
said hiring male servers would
take away from the restaurants'
popularity as a place where men
could go to see attractive wait-
resses.
"It takes away from the traditional scene," he said. "It's viewed as a place for men to go."
Tim Wagner, Atchison junior,
said he does not particularly care
for Hooters' tradition of hiring
only female servers. He said he just
thought it would be silly for a man
to want to work there.
"Personally, it wouldn't bother me if I went in there and a guy served me," he said. "Of course, then it wouldn't be the same kind of restaurant."
Wagner said he did think the restaurant would lose business if they were forced to hire male waiters.
"I know guys that go there just because it's Hooters," he said.
The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
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