Tunnel of Oppression event kicks off KU’s Pride Week

An interactive, multimedia experience designed to teach participants about oppression is making its second appearance at Kansas University.

The Tunnel of Oppression was designed by Robert Page, director of KU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, and has been presented at universities across the country.

It uses actors, video and audio to teach about such topics as racism, sexism and homophobia. Above, KU students Jason Robertson and Melanie Bonney act out a scene about domestic violence. University counselors conduct small-group discussions after the event.

The Tunnel of Oppression continues from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. today and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Hashinger Hall. It is an official event of Pride Week, sponsored by KU’s Queers and Allies.

Kansas University: Tuition panel finishes report

A campuswide committee at Kansas University put the finishing touches on its recommendation for a five-year tuition increase.

The recommendation, formally approved Monday, will be that tuition increase to $160.25 per credit hour by 2006. It now is $77.50.

The committee of students, faculty, staff and administrators will forward its report to other university governance groups for discussion. KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway will make his tuition presentation to the Kansas Board of Regents in May, with the regents’ decision expected in June.

Committee members also prioritized how additional tuition money should be spent. High-priority items included stipends for graduate teaching and research assistants, additional faculty positions and online enrollment. Medium-priority items included technology and additional support staff.

Poverty: Welfare-rights advocate to speak at economic forum

Cheri Honkala, executive director of the Philadelphia-based Kensington Welfare Rights Union, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt. The topic of her speech is “Building the Movement for Economic Human Rights.” The free event is open to the pubic.

The Kensington Welfare Rights Union is a multiracial organization that aims to build leaders from poor and homeless families to guide the struggle to secure basic human needs. Honkala’s appearance in Lawrence is sponsored by the Kaw Valley Living Wage Alliance and the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice.

For more information, call Allan Hanson of the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice at 841-3026.

FEMA: Disaster relief office closing

The disaster field office that opened Feb. 6 to help victims of the late January ice storm will close Wednesday.

Staff from Kansas Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency worked in a temporary office in Emporia to provide a base for inspectors processing requests.

Those who still wish to report losses can do so by calling (800) 621-FEMA. The deadline was recently extended to April 22.

Through April 4, the office reported:

$1.1 million in grants was awarded for temporary housing and home repairs.

$28 million has been allocated to help state and local governments repair or replace infrastructure.

Gasoline prices: Pump Patrol seeks best deal

The Journal-World has found a Lawrence-area gasoline price as low as $1.32 at the Conoco at Sixth Street and Crestline Drive and the Citgo stations at Ninth and Iowa streets and at 920 N. Second St.

If you find a lower price, please call us at 832-7154. Be prepared to leave the name and address of the business and the price. Or go to www.ljworld.com/section/gasoline