9 Tuesday, February 7, 1989 / University Daily Kansan --- KU professors back from Antarctic study by Brett Brenner Kansan staff writer To three KU professors who just returned from doing research in Antarctica, the recent blast of cold Arctic weather almost feels comfort- Edward Zeller, Giesla Dreschhoff and Claude Laird, professors of physics and astronomy, spent part of December and January studying solar activity in Antarctica with a grant from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Air Force. The researchers used core samples of ice to study past patterns of solar activity. Data analysis collected in Antarctica is being processed by, from left, Claude Laird, visiting assistant professor of physics and astronomy, Gisela Dreschhoff, courtesy assistant professor of physics and astronomy, and Edward Zeller, professor of physics and astronomy. The snow that falls in Antarctica does not melt, but lies in layers. The researchers drilled 70 feet to get water from the 1920s, Dreschbof said. By chemically analyzing the snow, the researchers can determine the amount of solar activity that season, Zeller said. "Basically, we can go back in time." Dreschhoff said. So far, the research has shown that in addition to the sun's normal solar cycle, which takes about 11 years, there are sporadic periods of solar flares. Dreschhoff said. These flares, which represent extreme solar activity, are unusual. The last giant flare was recorded in 1972. Zeller said that the research, which has taken 12 years, also dealt with the climatic change cycle. "I am not convinced of the greenhouse effect." Zeller said. "Conversely, there may be a change taking place in the output of the sun." Edward Zeller When Zeller and Dreschhoff returned in late January, they came from Antarctica's 25-degree temperate climate to Lawrence's 70-degree temperatures. The greenhouse effect is a theory that the earth is slowly warming because of the increased burning of fossil fuels. Vapors from the fossil fuels trap the sun's warmth, creating the same effect as in a greenhouse. Although the research will not be finished soon, the group will present a preliminary report in Tucson, Ariz. next month. "We were horrified by the warm weather." Zeller said. I am not convinced of the greenhouse effect. Conversely, there may be a change taking place in the output of the sun. professor of physics and astronomy 11 researchers were staying, reached a maximum population of 1,100 while they were there, Zeller said. There is transportation to and from the station only from October to February, sometime in the southern hemisphere. While the researchers were in McMurdo, it was never dark. This allowed them to do some of their work at night. "Many times we would work past midnight." Zeller said. "There was no particular time that we had to work." The weather in Antarctica was terrible, said Zeller, who has been there 15 times. Although the weather is normally sunny with little snow, this season it was cloudy and there were also two large storms and two periods of whiteout, or extremely low visibility. Research in Antarctica Late last month, three KU prot returned from doing research in Antarctica. They spent their time studying snow samples to determine the amount of solar activity during the past few decades. The researchers were stationed at McMurdo Station situated on the Ross Ice Shelf. Mccurdo Station is a research center operated by the United States. As many as 1,100 people live there from October to February, summer in the southern hemisphere. McMurdo, the town where the Source: Kansan reports Employees set goal Kansan staff writer by Thom Clark Kenyon staff writer Eliminating or reducing tuition for state classified employees is one of the goals of a Classified Senate subcommittee, one member said. trad Eden, library assistant and chairman of the classified tuition reduction subcommittee, said the subcommittee had not designed a course for students. He hoped to educate University officials of the group's concerns. Classified Senate represents issues dealing with the University's classified state employees, who include police, food service, library staff and those who have other civil service positions. finances 75 percent of the tuition for all its classified employees. All classified employees who attend classes at KU are eligible to receive as much as $120 in assistance for tuition and textbooks. The University also pays the student fee portion of the tuition. "In (this type of) job, a lot of people want to continue their education." Eden said. "The University has have a program that helps out." Eden said that the University could provide other advantages for faculty in addition to the increase of students. The origin of Excellence aims to provide According to figures supplied by Eden, the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Nebraska waive tuition for all their classified state employees. The University of Missouri The Margin of Excellence is the Board of Regents three-year plan to bring the total financing of its seven institutions to 95 percent of their peer schools and to bring faculty salaries to 100 percent of their peers. Diana Dyal, president of Classified Senate, said that anything that would help develop the academic opportunities of classified employees would be beneficial to both the employees and the University. Non-traditional students told of aid "If classified or faculty employees had the option of pviding children with a higher education at less expense, the University would provide pviding and not be dishing out money." Eden said. by Steven Wolcott Kansan staff writer A diverse mix of about 20 students, most a little older than the average college student and some with children in tow, attended a financial aid workshop Monday night in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union. The workshop was sponsored by the Non-Traditional Students Organization and featured Jeff Weinberg, associate director of financial aid. Weinberg started his presentation by focusing on how the make-up of the student body has changed from the non-traditional student, include the non-traditional student. "But you have to have the price of the ticket, 'cause can't get on the bus." Another burglar asked. Weinberg said that there was no reason why money should be a significant factor in getting a degree. He outlined four types of scholarships, two grants, and several loan programs that were available for non-traditional as well as traditional students. The program is currently classified is available at the office of student financial aid, 26 Strong Hall. Weinberg said that such expenses as child care, art supplies, and research supplies could be factored into the student's financial aid budget, which is used to determine how much aid a student will receive. "Starting this year, we can even factor the cost of buying a computer into a student's budget," Weinberg said. He said if the student would come in and talk with the staff at the financial aid office, they could tailor a financial aid program to meet his needs. Rita Swain, an undergraduate in psychology, said the workshop had been extremely helpful because she found that her financial aid status unsure about her financial aid status. Arctic air paralyzes highways The Associated Press As much as seven feet of snow surprised New Mexico ski areas Monday and closed roads, and the spread of the Arctic cold wave turned highways into dangerous skating areas. Snow from the dee South to the Northeast Icy roads caused accidents and slowed commuters from Texas and Mississippi to Kentucky and Pennsylvania to metropolitan New York City. A week after the arctic air that stunned Alaska crossed Canada into the continental United States, thermometers dropped to 49 degrees below zero at Craig, Colo., with an unofficial minus 52 at nearby Hayden, Colo., and San Francisco hit a low of 31 degrees, the lowest for February since record-keeping began in 1872. The weather has caused at least 49 deaths since Jan. 31, most of them in traffic accidents or from hypothermia. Thirty-three cities posted record low temperatures Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature is its coldest on record for any date. Other all-time records were 47 below zero at Roosevelt, Utah, erasing the previous record of 32 below and 33 below at Richfield, Utah. Freezing rain was reported early Monday across the Eastern seaboard and south and west across Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and into the Texas Gulf Coast and central Texas. Baltimore police were told to respond only to emergency calls and those who were sliding into curbs and posts. Northern and central Mississippi had power outages, downed trees and mounting traffic accidents. Ice covered roads and blocked some secondary roads. Country singer Johnny Paycheck sent to jail Heavy snow closed parts of highways Monday in northern and central New Mexico, caused scattered power outages in schools in more than a dozen towns. The Associated Press treatments. HILLSBORO, Ohio โ€” Country singer Johnny Paycheck, after pleading to a judge for mercy, was taken to jail yesterday to begin serving a 7-to-9-year sentence for his conviction in a 1985 tavern shooting. It was Paychek's second sentencing in the case and the same term he received at the original May 1968 sentencing. "If I'm taken away, my wife will be dead in six months," Paycheek told Judge Darrall Hottle in Highland County Common Pleas Court in southwest Ohio. Paychek, 50, a native of nearby Greenfield, pleaded for leniency, saying he needs to earn money in concerts because his wife has cancer, they have no health insurance, and he is paying cash for her medical But Hottle, after hearing testimony from Paycheck and four character witnesses, gave Paycheck the same term that he ordered in 1986. The 4th Ohio District Court of Appeals ordered the resentencing hearing. Paycheck, whose real name is Donnie Lytle, was convicted of aggravated assault, tampering with evidence โ€” for discarding the handgun he used โ€” and use of a firearm during a felony. The Red River ski area in northern New Mexico got seven feet of snow during the weekend, mostly on Sunday, and the nearby Angel Fire resort got six feet, according to the Ski New Mexico agency. On Sunday, wind estimated at 80 mph blew railroad cars off tracks near Abo, N.M., west of Mountainain, said Santa Fe Railway superintendent John Ish. No injuries were reported. Ish said. About 20 school districts in northern Texas were closed Monday after the Lone Star Gas Co. enacted emergency natural gas conservation measures to ensure sufficient supplies for home and business heat. Our baskets are filled with love for Valentine's Day - delightfully filled gift & gourmet candy baskets - personal pleasures - victorian lace - for men only Balloons-N-More 609 Vermont 749-0148 LATIN AMERICAN SOLIDARITY presents... THE LONESOME HOUNDOGS AT THE JAZZHAUS A hurricane relief benefit concert for Central America Wednesday, February 8 at 8:00 p.m. $3.00 cover PRESENT THIS AND RECEIVE 50ยข OFF ADMISSION --- The University of Kansas Department of Music and Dance