,. f ••.• Just one more issue until The Current turns 1000! Comer Coffee · House perfect VOLUME 34 for students The casual atmosphere of October 9, this coffeehouse makes it an ideal place for students to 2000 study or hang out. It's a great Your source for campus news and information place to get a caffeine fix ISSUE 999 before or after class, too. .... See Page 6 THE.CURRENTONLINE.COM .- . UNIVERSITY OF M ISSOURI - ST. LOUIS INSIDE Supreme Court refuses to hear KKK Klan's case against KWMU ends unsuccessful BY TIM THOMPSON whether or not KWMU's decision to Wente-Bennett said she was very ...... - . ... .... .. staff writer refuse the KKK's contribution consti­ happy with the result. tuted a breach of its first amendment "'This represents an important day The u.s. Supreme Court refused right to free speech. U.S. Magistrate for public broadcasting," Bennett stat­ to grant the Missouri Chapter of the Tom MUmmert, who presided over ed in a phone interview. "It means that Ku Klux Klan a review of its case the case, ruled il1 favor of KWMU. In KWMU is now free to accept or reject against the KWMU radio station at doing so, he cited a 1982 Federal financial gifts for advertising from the University of Missouri-St. Communication Commission rule various businesses just like everyone Louis. which granted radio stations "the right else." Riverwomen On Sept. 16, 1997, the KKK of discretion of accepting financial Bennett said she wanted to thank attempted to pay for a IS-second gifts in return for advertising time." all of the support KWMU received jump ahead to advertisement during the national The KKK and its attorney refused dUling the lawsuit. radio program "All Things to accept this and filed an appeal with "We received an overwhelming 4·2 in GLVe Considered." In exchange, they want­ the 8th Circuit Court of St. Louis. On number of phone calls, letters, and e­ ed an announcement describing their Feb. 8, 1999, their appeal was denied. mails supporting our position," she The Riverwomen used strong association as "a white Christian The Circuit Court ruled that KWMU said. "Chancellor Touhill and the offense and defense in their organization standing up for the rights had the right to decide what to put on Board also displayed strong leader­ victory against Lewis. They and values of white Christian America the air, and what not to. ship during the whole process." played a good first half, but since 1865." Patricia Wente-Bennett, After its second defeat, the KKK The KKK and its attorney Robert Lewis tied the game in the sec­ director and general manager of played its final trump card. It appealed Helman were not nearly as enthusias­ ond half. KWMU, refused their request. Her to the U.S. Supreme Court. On Oct 2, tic about the Supreme Court's deci­ decision was supported by Chancellor 2000, the bighest court in the land sion not to hear the case. Blanche Touhill and the University of simply refused to hear the KKK's In an interview with Deirdre ... See page 5 Missouri Board of Curators. case. Whenever this takes place, it Shesgreen of the Post Dispatch' s In response, the KKK and its attor­ usually means that the case lacks Washington Bureau, Hennan stated, ney, Robert Hennan, brought a law­ merit from a legal standpoint. "When government makes availab le suit against the radio station. On Dec. Through its silence, the Supreme third-party speech, it must be without 11 , 1998, the US. District Court in Court actually upheld the decision reference to viewpoint. Nobody is Mike Sampson adjusts some settings. Sampson is a radio announcer downtown St. Louis heard the case. made by the 8th Circuit Court of St fooling anybody here. This is becau at KWMU, which saw the Supreme Court refuse to hear the lawsuit BRIEFS The central issue in questioo was· LOl~S. of the Klan' viewpoint." brougl\t against it by the KKK. Event celebrates 4frican culture Student -loan Touhi I selects Burns as with fashion, food, anddancing ·defaulting declines interim director of Office This Friday at 6:30 p.m. across the country for Equa Opportunity the Millenium Student Center will be host to a festival of African culture. Activities BY ELIZABETH ZEMAN omy has helped. people payoff are scheduled to include an " .. " .. ... " .. - .. ............ ...... BY STEVE VALKO Dai()' Illini their loans." exhibition of artifacts from With the increased availability speCial to The Cu rrem 20 African countires, a buffet (V-WIRE) CHAMPAIGN, of loan information on the Internet, dinner featuring traditional The position for .the director of the m. - Fewer students are default­ students are becoming better Office for Equal Opportunity was filled African dishes, professional ing on their college loans than ever informed about their options and on a temporary basis when manager of dancers from Ghana, a fash­ before, according to recently responsibilities as borrowers. hwnan resources Deborah Burris was ion show, and a disco dance released fIgures from the U.S. Additionally, collectors are taking chosen to take over for the retired with African music. Department of Education. measmes to educate borrowers, Norman Seay. The event, which will be According to the education Andersen said. "BasicaIly, what happened is that held in Century C on the department's report, the national Borrowers typically have a six­ Mr. Nomlan Seay took the early retire­ month period after graduation third floor of the Millenium default rate from the 1998 fIscal ment program, and that created a year was 6.9 percent - the lowest before they must begin making Student Center, is co-spon­ vacancy, and [Chancellor Blanche percentage since the 1989 incep­ payments on their college loans, Touhill] needed coverage," says Burris. sored by the Pan-African and the monthly payment amount tion of the Default Management In her new position, Burris will be Association, the Student Initiative, a goverrunental effort to varies with the loan's total amount, Activities Office, the Office responsible for making sure lJMSL ensure student loan repayment. Andersen said. complies with federal laws, such as of Multicultural Relations, The default rate peaked at 22.4 After the fIrst six months, how­ Affirmative Action and Equal and the Office of percent in 1990. ever, there are consequences for Opportunity. She will also help the Internationa Student The University of illinois's those who default on their loans University continue in a direction of Services. Admission is free. default rate is even lower than the and refuse to reply to the collec­ diversity. Dinner tickets are available national average. According to the tor's notices. 'We would like to participate in at 267 University Center, 110 Associated Press, the percentage Borrowers who do not repay training programs that have to do with Clark Hall, and 304 SSB. For of University students who "can have their wages garnished race and awareness of cultural differ­ defaulted o'n their loans fell from and people have lost their cars if more information, call 516- ences, and differences that relate to 4.5 percent to 3.4 percent in the the goverrunent pushes it that far," 5229. gender. We want to make sure that the 1998 fiscal year. Andersen said. "But that's the last campus is a better environment for Bob Andersen, associate direc­ resort." everyone who is here" Darren Brunei T1Je Currel1t New York poet to tor of the Office of Student Andersen noted that college Burris is also responsible for prepar­ Financial Aid, noted that the loans are becoming more common ing a campus Affinnative Action plan Deborah Burris the new director of the Office of Equal give reading University'S rate is "very, very across the nation. He said a large for the Office of Federal Contract and Opportunities is attends to campus opportunal discrepencies. low" and attributed the decline to percentage of University students Compliance Programs. This is a must Ira Cohen will give a read­ both the national economy and bet­ take out loans, and he estimated because, due to an Executive Order, discrepancy, you need to figure out UM -Rolla, and came to UMSL in 1991 ing on Thursday in room 483 ter information. about half of all college students everyone who receives funds from the why and what are you going to do," as System Director of OEO. After that, of Lucas Hall. For more . "I think it's more to do with our across the nation have student federal government must complete a Burris said. she served as an interim director of information, call 516-5699. national economy than with any­ loans. plan. Bmris said also that her door is open Human Resources for the last four thing else," he said. "A good econ- The plan "is to make sure that you to all UMSL students and staff. She years, but came back to the OEO when are open in that minorities. women, said that she doesn't exclusively deal she had the chance. persons with disabilities, people with with discrimination: she helped get a "1 think that's one of the strong veteran status are being treated fairly disabled student connected with the points of my getting" this position, INDEX Coming next week. • • within the organization, and that there right departme nts for his degree Burris said. "I've been here awhile, i ; are ample opportunities within those requirements. know the operation, I know the cam­ On Oct. 16 The Current will publish its groups," Burris said. Burris noted, however, that she is pus. I have a lot of background in [the Bulletin Board 2 Bums also addressed some miscon­ only the interim director.