Vol. 99, No. 69 (USPS 650-640)
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PUBLISHED SINCE 1889 BY THE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAST
Tuesday December 6,1988
Gorbachev to arrive today
The Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) — A year ago, concluding an arms treaty with the United States, Mikhail S. Gorbachev is heading for a meeting with President Reagan and President-elect Donald Trump to help set the pace for future arms talks.
During the Soviet president's trip, which begins Tuesday, he will address the United Nations and visit Cuba and Britain, to polish his image as a statesman and dispel the fears of the Soviet Union as an enemy.
It was Gorbach's luncheon meeting in New York with Reagan and Bush, planned for Wednesday, that
the official media emphasized in its reports Monday.
Tass, the Soviet government's news agency, called the meeting "an extraordinary event" because superpower relations are a determining factor for "the very essence of the world process."
"It is perfectly natural that the new administration will need some time to get its bearings in the complexity of domestic and international problems. But it is very important to drag out this period." Tass said.
"Marking time in international affairs, especially in the domain of arms limitation and reduction, is
tantamount not only to loss of time, but to backsliding." it said.
On Dec. 8, 1987, Gorbachev and Reagan signed an agreement to eliminate their medium- and short-range nuclear missiles.
But progress in talks to cut the two sides 'arsenals of strategic weapons slowed to a crawl because of the U.S. election campaign and problems including continued differences over Reagan's "Star Wars" program for a space-based defense against nuclear attack.
The government newspaper Iwzvesta, in a front-page article from New York on Monday, said the U.S. administration was preparing intensively for the meeting with Gorbachev "There is a basis to suppose that the administration will not only bring something in return," the paper said.
Gorbachev has said he is seeking improved relations with the West in order to free up resources to improve standard of living of Soviet citizens.
One Western analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Soviet Union "doesn't have the resources to sustain the investment it's been making in foreign aid and defense."
Please see VISIT, p. 6, col. 3
Shuttle returns today to end secret mission
The Associated Press
SPACE CENTER, Houston — The military astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis planned to end their secret mission today, having deployed a powerful spy net over the United Union, sources said Monday.
Atlantis is scheduled to touch down at 5:36 p.m. CST, the fifth day of their mission, at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., NASA announced yesterday about 24 hours prior to the landing.
NASA and Air Force officials previously had kept mum about the mission, saying they would
break their silence only to give 24 hour notice on the shuttle's landing time or if a major problem developed.
NASA also said the weather forecast at Edwards was favorable for the landing day: visibility, light wind, temperatures in the 60s.
NASA said a slow leak in a landing gear tire was not a concern for landing. The leak had been detected before the launch, but officials had determined it was not serious enough to halt the liftoff.
Legislators elect leaders for session
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — Republican legislators caucused to elect four veteran lawmakers to top leadership positions yesterday as senators and representatives began gearing up for the 1989 Legislature.
Senate Majority Leader Burk Bud Leawood was named Senate president after his chief opponent, Sen. Fred Kerr, R-Pratt, pulled out of the race to fill the vacancy and named majority leader, the second most powerful position in the Senate.
Related stories
In the House, Speaker Jim Braden, R-Clay Center, had no opposition as the 67 Republicans elected him to his second two-year term. Rep. Robert H. Miller, R-Wellington, fought off a challenge from two others to win the majority leader's position on the third ballot.
in their caucuses, Democrats retained Sen. Michael Johnston of Parsons as Senate minority leader and Gov. Joseph Lounsberg as House minority leader.
Burke, 54, replaces Sen. Robert Talkington, R-Iola, who chose not to seek re-election to the Senate.
Miller won the House majority leader's position by one vote over Robert Vancrum of Overland Park. David Heinemann of Garden City also was a candidate. Miller will replace Rep Joe Knopp of Manhattan, who lost his seat in the Nov. 8 general election.
The race was close on each of the three ballots. After the first vote, Vancrum led with 24 votes to Miller's and Heinemann's 21. Miller pulled ahead on the second ballot, with 24 votes to Vancrum's 22 and Heinemann's 20.
Under the GOP caucus rules, Heinemann was dropped from the ballot. Miller then collected 34 votes — the exact number needed to win.
The Senate Republicans did not announce vote tallies.
Looking back Kansas City Call editor battles for human rights
By Mark E. McCormick
Kenan staff writer
Illustration by Gary Pratt/KANSAN
Kansan staff writer
As a young, black journalist barely out of school. Lucile Bluford drew an unsettling assignment.
"I went down to Skiketon, Missouri, right after they had a lynching," said the 1932 University of Kansas graduate and the second black graduate of the School of Journalism. "They dragged a black man through the street — tied him to the back of a car and dragged him through the street."
"Back in the '20s and '30s, at least one lynching occurred every week somewhere in the country. It was terrible."
Bluford and a photographer arrived in Sikeston a day after the lynching hoping to capture the atmosphere of the town where the victim lost his life at the end of a rope.
Then and since, life has been a struggle against racism for Bluford.
struggle against racism for Bluford. For 30 years as editor-in-chief of the Kansas City Call, which celebrits its 70th anniversary next year, she has undertaken numerous human rights struggles.
"We're not only a business, but we're a service organization because we serve the people," said Bluford, a Salisbury, N.C., native. "We crusade against injustices and discrimination wherever we've had it.
"That's the purpose of a black newspaper. There always been a need for it, and there still is. We crusaded for equal education, equal housing. There have been so many. I crusaded for 30 or 40 years."
Bluford said alough her search for worthy causes sometimes carried her into less than friendly territory, but never been the object of hostility.
"I didn't feel any danger," she said. "We just talked to some people in the black community. Nobody bothered us. I've never been in any real danger."
Racism at KU
The University of Kansas wasn't as dangerous as Sikeston, yet racist segregation permeated the campus, she said.
"There was a lot of discrimination at KU when we were there," she said. "We weren't allowed to participate in extra curricular activities or sports, and we weren't allowed in the dormitories."
Bluffard said many students had to live off campus, renting rooms from Lawrence residents. And campus requirements have made institution requirements for black students
"Swimming was required for graduation, yet black people weren't allowed in the school pools." Bluford said. "This requirement, however, was conveniently waived for black students."
Discrimination also eliminated opportunities, she said.
"In my senior year, the senior students who were members of the journalism sorority invited me to become a member," she said. "But I am not in question refused to let them initiate me. They had a policy of no blacks."
Despite her hardship, Bluford said she salvaged fond memories of KU.
"I got along fine," she said. "I still have two or three friends that I made up there.
"I entered the journalism school my sophomore year, learned what I needed to know, and enjoyed my classes. I was the only black student in the school at the
Please see BLUFORD, p. 5, col. 1
Late examination schedule causing problems for some
By Grace Hobson
Kansan staff writer
On Dec. 23, Beth Kensinger will make last minute arrangements for her wedding the next day, attend her wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner — and take a final exam.
The students in the class petitioned the class's professor, with everyone who was in class when it was passed around signing the petition, to have the exam time moved up. The petition said that the professor would be able to spend his break free from grading exams and mentioned Kensinger's wedding. Also, another student in the class is scheduled to move on Dec. 27.
"I tried to get the final moved up, but the professor wouldn't change the day," said Kensinger, Topka
The professor declined the offer, saying he appreciated the thought.
Many students share Kensinger's frustration. But unlike Kensinger's professor, some faculty members are moving their finals to an earlier day to compensate for the late schedule.
Bruce Rond, assistant professor of English, moved his final from Dec. 22 to Monday, the last day of class. Only three of his students are taking the exam on the originally scheduled day.
"I would never do it again, but this time, some students had already made arrangements to go home."
In a memo, Judith Ramaley, executive vice chancellor, informed all faculty and staff about the
University Senate's "Rules and Regulations" concerning exams.
The policy is that all final examinations must be given at the scheduled time, and no finals may be given on the last day of classes or six days before the exam. The policy is that no finals may not be given then if no comprehensive final is given.
"In almost all the cases, the impetus for the change came from the students," he said. "If professors change the exam time, they should accommodate students who feel hurt by this."
If professors want to change the time of their finals, they must petition the University Senate Calendar Committee. Petitions had to be presented three weeks in advance of the scheduled final exam date.
John Schinkel, Leawood senior, has two last unit exams during the six-day period before finals mentioned by the Rules and Regulations. Neither class has a comprehensive exam during finals. He is glad that one of the exams isn't during finals, although both exam dates violate University rules.
Ted Frederickson, chairman of the Calendar Committee and associate professor of journalism, said that about 12 professors had requested changes. All changes were approved.
Bond said he didn't go through the committee to change his exam time but did provide for students who were inconvenienced by the change.
"I'd have more time to study, but the problem is that our final is on Dec. 23, and you really have to take that
Walkmans hold hidden risk Cranking tunes can leave listener with permanent hearing loss
By Courtney Eblen Special to the Kansan
Experts now fear portable headphones could leave listeners with serious hearing difficulties. It is estimated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that 22 million Americans already have developed noise-induced hearing problems.
Stereo headphones may be a 1980s fat, but their influence could last a deafening lifetime for users who turn up the volume.
Much of that damage is being caused by stereo headphones. Walkman's feature tiny speakers worn directly upon the ear opening. With their heads thus plugged in, KU students walk, study, exercise, ride buses and even sleep under the influence of their choice of noise.
Most students like their noise in the form of rock n' roll. And they prefer it loud.
Shelly Grooms, Prairie Village freshman, said she turns her Sony Walkman "up all the way" if she is married. But otherwise she turns the volume down.
Ken Mosley, Lawrence sophomore.
Grooms is not alone. Most Walkman wearers blast music to shut out noise around them. Many do not realize they are losing their realism; they realize they are gradually losing
their hearing.
"When I'm outside, it doesn't seem that loud," Maday said. "But when I'm inside I turn it down to three."
Peggy Maday, Chicago freshman,
said she commonly turns the volume up to eight or nine on a scale of 10 while en route to campus.
Brandt said students often arrive
hearing.
"You're really not aware of it," said John Brandt, professor of speech, language and hearing.
"Anyone who walks around with a Walkman on is being bombarded by sound." Brandt said.
at the Speech Hearing Department in 2101 Haworth Hall seeking help for tinnitus, or ringing of the ears. They usually acquire it from years of listening to loud music, both at coneheadphones and portable headphones, he said.
Each sound causes the eardrum to vibrate differently — more with louder sounds, less with softer ones. The intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB), which measure the physical sound creates when it impacts with the eardrum.
Rick Bender, a salesman at Kiel's Record & Stereo Supply, 25th and Iowa, said any stereo model, regardless of size or power, is capable of producing a high decibel level. Wattage does not determine the amount of decibles a stereo can produce. For the decibel level to noticeably increase, the wattage of the stereo must be doubled.
Consequently, a steree headphone pack powered by only two AA batteries can produce the same number of decibels as a three-foot tall hi-fi speaker. Bender said the two kinds of steree headphones (in-ear and out-
Please see WALKMAN. p. 5, col. 1