UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Wednesday, September 22,1993 13 Trade agreement may force students to learn new culture By Donella Hearne Kansan staff writer If President Clinton succeeds in getting the North American Free Trade Agreement passed into law, more KU students may have to take an interest in Latin American studies. Trade between Canada, Mexico and the United States will be opened up if NAFTA is passed by all three countries. Tariff amounts on goods exported and imported among those three countries would be lowered into nonexistence. The agreement also would up business opportunities for investors in those countries. V. K. Narayanan, associate dean of business, said Latin American studies would be especially important for KU business students if the new agreement was passed because it would require students to learn the culture. "It is fundamentally important to have an understanding of the culture in which you are doing business," he said. "And it is expected by the company that hires you." Narayanan said the school had been revising its curriculum since 1986 to accommodate changes occurring in the world economy. $ ^{b} $NAFTA or agreements like NAFTA are part of globalization of the economy," he said. "It's just one step of the grand change we are moving into." Narayanan said the creation of the European Economic Community was another example of steps toward creating what he called the "global village." "The new undergraduate curriculum requires students to specialize in studies of one region of the world," Narayanan said. He also said the school had revised its undergraduate program to prepare for the economic changes. Alexandra Harper, professor of history in Latin American studies, said she thought more students, especially business students, would focus on the Mexican business markets because it gave students new career opportunities. Harper also said all students would need to learn more about Mexican culture if NAFTA passed. "One of the most important things is the culture," she said. "You can't conduct business in any country without knowing the culture." Harper said some aspects of Mexican culture would require U.S. businesses to make some adjustments when dealing with Mexican businesses. "If someone offers you something to drink or eat, it is really not a good idea to turn it down," she said. It is considered rude not to accept something a host offers. She also said Mexicans were not as time conscious as Americans. "We do try to run on time but we're more relaxed about it," Harper said. "American business meetings are very intense, but in some Latin American countries it is much more relaxed and less formal." Ready-to-drink tea sales gaining on soft drinks in beverage market But the teas are not as healthy as some consumers may think By Liz Kilinger Kansan staff writer The soda industry may have met its match. A few years ago, as cola companies savagely battled one another for consumers, a new non-carbonated competitor found its niche in the national beverage market. Experts in the tea industry estimate that ready-to-drink feed tea sales will reach at least $600 million and may go as high as $1 billion this year. Joseph Simray, executive director of the Tea Council of the USA, said he attributed the teas' recent success to a better-tasting product, better advertising, improved distribution and joint ventures between manufacturers and vendors such as Pepsi and Lipton, and Coca-Cola and Nestle Although Snapple teas have been on the market since 1987, the other industry leaders, Nestea and Lipton, began distributing their product within the past year and a half. Ready-to-drink teas can be found in many local supermarkets and convenience stores. "We're selling more all the time," said Bob Anderson, assistant manager of Texaco Self Serve, 1802 W. 23rd St. "The popularity of Nestea and Snapple looks like it's increasing rapidly." Simrany said many people perceived tea as being healthy, a factor that has contributed to its growing popularity. Simrany said college students might find iced teas attractive because they were more natural than soft drinks and a renewable resource. "I suppose it's the 'in' thing to do," Simrany said. But sweetened teas can have as much sugar and as many calories and about as much caffeine as a soft drink. Although the top three selling tea brands, Snapple, Nestea and Lipton, list their ingredients on their bottles and cans, none list their caloric or nutritional content. Baxter said that problem would be solved by May of 1994 when the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 would require beverage manufacturers to include the information with their products. "You can delude yourself into thinking something is more nutritious than it is," said Adrienne Moore Baxter, dietitian at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Whether it's healthy or not, Rachel McCallie, St. Louis senior, could not say enough about her love for Snapple's peach eded tea. Leigh Bowersock, Albuquerque, N.M., junior, grew up drinking sunmade tea and is not impressed with the ready-to-drink version. "I really like the flavor of it," McCalle said. "It loses something going into the can." Bowersock said. Annexation land rezoning asked of city The City Commission sent two rezoning and annexation requests in the Southern Development Plan to the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission last night at their weekly meeting. Kansan staff writer By Tracl Carl Payleass Cashways asked that three acres east of Sonny Hill Chevrelet-Geo be annexed and 10.68 acres be rezoned from limited commercial and agricultural development to planned commercial development. The 10 acres to be rezoned would include the three annexed acres. Payless Cashways plans to build a store that would sell retail and wholesale lumber and home-improvement products. The commission decided in August to put any development requests in the Southern Development Plan area that would significantly alter existing land-use patterns on hold until the plan is completed. The plan, which will lay out development along the South Lawrence Trafficway, should be completed in six months. Wint Winter, an attorney for Payless Cashways, said the requests did not affect existing land-use patterns. The land is already zoned limited commercial, he said, but limited commercial does not allow Payless Cashways to have delivery to residential homes or outdoor storage, which is part of the store's plan. Planned commercial development would also give the commission more control over the appearance of the site, Winter said. "It seems to us that this is actually an enhancement to the existing area," he said. Commissioner Jo Andersen said the planning commission wanted to develop the plan without any pending development requests. We sell Frisbees • We sell Darts "They don't need anything side-tracking them," she said. Doug Brown, who spoke on behalf of Holladay, said she wanted the land annexed and rezoned from agricultural to planned commercial development only if the Target proposal is approved. The other rezoning and annexation request was from Merle Holladay, whose home is next to the northeast corner of a proposed Target store. The Target proposal will be brought before the commission Sept. 28. Come See Men in Tights! Find out how when The KU Wrestling Club meets September 22 Wednesday 7:00 pm in the Jayhawk Room Kansas Union Henry T's Bar&Grill 15¢ Buffalo Wings $1.50 Longnecks 6th & Kasold 749-2999 The University of Kansas HOMECOMING 1993 Parade applications available in the SUA office. Recycle the Cyclones! Entry Categories: - Marching Bands - Float - Banner Signs - Float- Deadline for entry applications is Friday, Oct. 1 at 5:00pm - Marching Bands and battalion - Deadline for entry applications is Friday, Oct. 8 at 5:00pm - All entry applications should be submitted to the SUA Office, Level 4, Kansas Union. - Marching Bands and Banners-Deadline for entry applications is Friday, Oct. 8 at 5:00pm. For more information call 864-3477. Entry Applications & Deadlines: Required Parade Meetings - Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 5:00pm in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union, Level 5. All FLOAT entries must have a representative present for rules and safety review by the KU Police. An absence from this meeting could result in disqualifications from the parade or loss of points. Put some performance into your drive. Microsoft Word $99^{00} Microsoft Excel $165^{00} Microsoft Works $115^{00} union technology center Academic Computer Supplies & Equipment Burge Union • Level 3 • 913/864-5690