SPORTS: Sydney, Australia, will be the host of the 2000 Summer Games. Page 9.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
VOL.103.NO.25
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1993
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
(USPS 650-640)
NEWS:864-4810
Witness says wanted status benefits none
By Kathleen Stolle Kansan staff writer
Collective bargaining could be detrimental to both graduate teaching assistants and the University of Kansas, a witness for the University testified during a hearing yesterday.
But Robert Bickel, former director of employee and labor relations at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. N.J., could not name any adverse effects collective bargaining has had on Rutgers.
GTRAUNION HEARINGS
- **AROUND THE NATION:** GTAs at other universities have faced the same complex issues that KU's GTAs are dealing with right now. Page 3.
During the fourth day of GTA status hearings, Bickal testified that bargaining collectively for wages could tie the hands of department directors.
"It seems to me it limits the flexibility a department has to assign its resources," he said.
The hearings will determine whether University GTAs qualify as public employees and therefore could vote to form a collective bargaining unit. The University, which says GTAs benefit from the experience of their assistance-hip, is challenging the GTAs' claim that they are public employees.
Bickal, now a consultant in labor relations, was expected to testify as an expert witness, by hearing officer Monty Bertelli ruled that Bickal lacked the proper scholarly background to be considered an expert. His testimony on GTA collective bargaining could reflect personal experiences only. Bertelli said
Bickal testified that contracts negotiated through collective bargaining could commit GTAs to undesirable conditions.
"What I have found is that because of the transitory nature of graduate work, very often what the present group of teaching assistants attempt to bargain is not necessarily of interest to those who succeed them," he said.
Bickal testified that uniform collective bargaining could disrupt the informal relationships between departments and their GTAs.
Under cross examination by GTA representative Scott Stone, Bickal could not cite specific problems collective bargaining had created for the administration at Rutgers. He also said the administration at Rutgers did not try to block the formation of collective bargaining units by the Rutgers GTAs.
"After he was pressed, a lot of what he said came out in favor of the GTAS." Stone said after the hearing.
Faculty members, called as witnesses by University assistant general counsel Karen Dutcher, echoed Bickal's assertion that collective bargaining could be detrimental.
Dean Stetler, director of undergraduate studies in biological sciences, said collective bargaining could upset the delicate balance of budgeting, providing experiences to GTA and serving undergraduates.
Hearing highlights
A brief overview of previous days' testimony:
Monday: The GTAs first presented their case with lead-off witness David Reidy, who summarized the GTA position: "Nobody would deny that you do receive some academic benefits. But the motivation for the job is primarily economic."
Tuesday: Applied English Center director Betty Soppela, the University's first witness, supported the University's position that assistanceships are an academic teacher training experience, not employment: "We're trying to promote opportunities for GTAs in allied disciplines to teach and receive some income so they can afford to go to school. It's commitment to teacher training on our part."
■ Wednesday — The University relies heavily upon the GTAs teaching service, witnesses from both sides testified. "What would happen if all the GTAs walked out tomorrow?" GTA general counsel Scott Stone asked. "We'd be in trouble," said University witness Howard Mossberg, dean of the graduate school. But the University maintained the position that they were not public employees.
Secretary speech
Former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney told a crowd at Baker University yesterday that the end of the Cold War should not justify U.S. defense cuts.
Page 8.
Health-care plan
Who are the winners and losers under President Clinton's proposed health plan?
Page 7.
President Clinton's proposed health plan
Missing student calls family
Johnson stranded in Kentucky town with car problems
By David Stewart Kansan staff writer
After having been reported missing for five days, a KU graduate student has turned up in Kentucky with a broken-down car and possible intentions to return home.
Family and friends of Rob Johnson have not seen him since Saturday.
Jaworski, on Tuesday and told him he had broken the front ball joint on his 1978 Buick Skyhawk in Eddyville, a town in the corner of southwestern Kentucky.
Johnson called his stepfather, Mike
"We thrashed a lot of things out on the phone," Jaworski said. "I asked him what does Kentucky
mean to you?" and he said 'Nothing.' He said he was just going to go."
While he did not know for sure, Jaworski said he expected Johnson to get his car fixed by today and return to his home in
Rob Johnson
Wichita tonight or sometime tomorrow.
"We never gave up hope on him," Jaworski said. "His mom's just ecstatic. His stepdad, too."
Jaworski did not know for sure whether Johnson intended to return to the University.
"It's still kind of up in the air," Jaworski said. "But I get the sense that he might not return."
Mark Tregallas, Pratt senior and Johnson's roommate at Stephenson Scholarship Hall last year, said that he learned of Johnson's planned return to Kansas from Johnson's family. The news came as a big relief to Tregallas.
"It doesn't matter what he's done," Tregallas said. "I'm really not sure why he
Tregallas spent Wednesday night posting notices throughout campus asking about Johnson's whereabouts.
Kyle Johnson, Rob Johnson's cousin,
said he had not yet had a chance to speak
with Rob Johnson but was relieved at his
return.
chose to leave when he did. He probably just needed some time."
In addition to his graduate studies, Rob Johnson is a graduate teaching assistant in math.
"That's a mild understatement," Kyle Johnson said. "Still, I'll be really relieved when he's in Wichita with his folks. Right now, he's still traveling, as far as I know."
Kansan reporters Scott J. Anderson and Shan Schwartz contributed to this report.
Your move
John Gamble / KANSAN
Nathan Welch, Lawrence sophomore, and Charlie Frey, Brockport, N.Y., senior, play a game of "speed" chess at the Hawk's Nest in the Kansas Union. Speed chess is a timed game lasting less than 10 minutes. The two played during the Chess Club's meeting last night. The club meets every Thursday at 7 p.m.
New food delivery business to bring Lawrence dining directly to front doors
By Chesley Dohl
Kansan staff writer
After three years of delivering pizzas and learning all the tricks of the trade, three 22-year-olds will sit back in their offices on Sunday and manage a delivery business of their own.
"It's going to be really exciting for us," said Mark Lyerly, Overland Park senior. "It's going to feel great to be on the opposite end of the delivery business after sitting behind a steering wheel for so long."
Lerly and two longtime friends will open "Waiters on Wheels" this Sunday in Lawrence.
The business is designed to deliver foods from Lawrence restaurants that do not offer a delivery service. Sxr restaurants on Massachusetts Street have their menus on the delivery service brochure.
"We're working on distributing menus in Lawrence right now," Brant said. "People will only have to call our business, tell us what they want from a restaurant, and we will take care of the rest."
One of the three new managers, Andy Brant, Prairie Village senior, said the service would be convenient and easy to use.
Three delivery cars will operate at all times. Brant said their business would guarantee hot and fresh foods—or the delivery would be free.
"We've learned a lot about the business since we've all delivered pizza for years," Brant said. "We know what people like and what people don't like so we're going to use our experience to better serve the public."
Keith Rice, Tin Pan Alley manager, said he was excited about the service.
"I think it will bring more business to downtown Lawrence," Rice said. "On busy nights,
"It was one of those
"It was one of those things where I didn't know what to do with a history degree—this came up, and I decided to
jump at the chance."
Kryan Meyer
Co-founder of Waiters on Wheels
"My mom asked me what I wanted to do with my economics major when I graduated from KU," he said. "I gave it a lot of thought, and I wanted to use my experiences with delivery."
we might even be able to crank out an extra hundred bucks."
Brant said he had been at home during winter break last year when he thought of starting the business.
Brant and Lyerly said they had spent some time brainstorming the project and had called an old high school friend to ask him if he wanted to go in on the business.
.
Ryan Meyers, who graduated from Santa Clara University near San Jose, Calif., with a degree in history last spring, said that he had not enjoyed his job and that he had been ready to do something else.
"It was one of those things where I didn't know what to do with a history degree — this came up so I decided to jump at the chance," he said.
Waiters on Wheels
Two KU students and a friend started an independent delivery service, which delivers food from the following restaurants:
Cornucopia
Low Rider Mexican Cafe
Paradise Cafe
Quinton's Bar and Deli
Tin Pan Alley
Uptown Bagels
Micah Laaker/KANSAN
Heather Linhart, Emporia senior, said she thought the business would be a success.
Meyers helped his friends finance the business and added some ideas he got from delivery services in California.
"Someday, we'd like to expand and deliver movies along with the food people order." Meyers said. "Then people can eat their meals and watch a movie at the same time."
"There's a good variety of restaurants, and I think it will go over well," she said. "It'll definitely be nice for lazy or rainy days like today."
The wrong speech — Clinton's Feb. 17 economic message — flashed up on the eye-level viewing screens for the president to read instead of the address about health care.
The Associated Press
Clinton speech almost spoiled by technology
TAMPA, Fla. — Television host Ted Koppel teased President Clinton during last night's town hall meeting about the foul-up the night before with the president's TelePrompTer as he began his address to Congress.
ABC then played a videotape showing Clinton on the podium in the House chamber Wednesday night, turning to talk to Vice President Gore. Clinton narrated.
"There you were," Koppel said. "You were in front of a joint session of Congress. You had the joint chiefs of staff there. You had your Cabinet there. You were talking to tens of millions of people."
"I am telling the vice president, 'Al, they've got the wrong speech on the TelePrompTer.'
}
"He said, That's impossible."
"I said, 'You're not reading it. Read it.'
"That what I said to him," Clinton explained that the White House communications department had typed his health-care speech onto the same computer disc that also contained the earlier address.
"And I thought to myself, 'That was a pretty good speech, but not good enough to give twice,'" Clinton said.