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VOLUME 118 ISSUE 92
LAWRENCE
Witnesses testify in hit-and-run case; jury meets
BY JESSICA WICKS jwicks@kansan.com
Josh Walton's defense attorneys called two witnesses Friday to prove that the victim, former student Ryan Kanost, was not in the crosswalk the night he died, before both sides made their final arguments.
are trying to reduce the charge to vehicular homicide, which is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum sentence of only one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Walton, former University of Kansas student, stood trial this week for the hit-and-run death of Kanost. Walton is being charged with involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol, a felony, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. If he is convicted for this crime, he will face a minimum of two and a half years in prison. Walton's lawyers
Both witnesses who testified in Walton's defense said they noticed that Walton was driving too fast.
Former student Jacob Starr said he saw
Kanost get stuck by the vehicle, fly back and hit a post. He testified that Kanost, who was in the street north of the crosswalk, was never actually in the crosswalk.
The prosecution said that blood stains in the crosswalk proved Kanost was there.
"They tried to make me look like I didn't know what I was talking about because of
where the blood was," Starr said after his testimony. "But it was an explosive accident."
Starr said he was certain Kanost was not in the crosswalk, and he wrote it in his journal the next day.
The truth is, it doesn't matter whether
SEE TRIAL ON PAGE 4A
ELECTION
Huckabee wins caucus
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee's visit to Wichita on Friday paid off this weekend. Huckabee won 60 percent of the vote in the Kansas Republican caucus compared with John McCain's 24 percent. Huckabee won 44 percent of the vote in Douglas County compared with McCain's 28 percent. Saturday was the first time that the Kansas Republican party had held caucuses since 1998.
Rachel Anne Seymour/KANSAN
Signs promoting Republican and Libertarian candidates line the routes to the Republican caucus at South Junior High School, 2734 Louisiana St., in Lawrence on Saturday.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 9A
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOPE NOT LOST
Search continue for three men missing in blast
Members of Kansas' bowling team practice at Jaybowl in the Kansas Union. Beer sales were removed in 1998 because of a car accident that killed a student.
FULL AP STORY PAGE 8A
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》 KANSAS UNION
Dry campus may become wet
Beer sales could come back to Union
BY BRENNA HAWLEY
bhawley@kansan.com
A proposal to bring beer sales back to the Jaybowl will go to the provost's office this month. If approved, alcohol will be sold at the hangout for the first time since 1998.
The proposal would allow 3.2 percent beer to be sold in the laybowl and surrounding Hawk's Nest area from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Sales would be limited to two beers per person to help prevent intoxication. Jaybowl employees would scan IDs, then give a wristband and fluorescent hand stamp to people over the age of 21.
Shawn Bowers was a student member of the committee that reviewed the proposal and is the director of public relations for Student Union Activities, which runs alcohol-free activities for students. He said he wasn't thrilled with the idea initially, but with the restrictions in place to prevent underage drinking, he now supported the proposal.
The proposal said that anyone found drinking underage would be removed from the Kansas Union immediately. It also said that information about campus services such as SafeRide would be posted.
"It's more about creating an environment where students and professors can come and relax." Bowers said. "It would be another option for a mature campus audience."
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Tim Fields, Lincoln, Neb, senior, works at Jaybowl and thinks beer sales would
at Jaybowl and thinks draw people into the bowling alley and the Union.
He said the bowling alley was often full on Friday and Saturday nights, but on week-nights there were empty lanes. The two-drink maximum would make it a place to hang out and bowl.
"We want it to be a learning atmosphere that shows having one drink is okay," Rodee said.
really a place in Lawrence to go that was like what they were proposing.
"By eliminating alcohol from campus, it increases the abuse of it."
"I don't think it would be a place for people to come and get drunk" Fields said.
Aly Rodee, Senate executive secretary and another member of the committee reviewing the proposal, said there wasn't
ALY RODEE
Senate executive secretary
Hutchinson senior, said that by allowing beer in moderation, the University would be encouraging responsible drinking.
"By eliminating alcohol from campus, it increases the abuse of it." Bloom said.
wasn't bad, but that she had a younger sister who was a freshman at the University and wasn't old enough to drink.
Bloom said that being of age and enjoying a beer when hanging out
I'm not going to go to a bar with my
sister," Bloom said.
She said if the jaybowl sold beer, she would go there to hang out with her sister and her sorority sisters.
Dustin Luthron, Olathe junior, said he didn't go to the Jaybowl often, but if they sold beer it would make the atmosphere of the alley better.
"It would be a good attraction, but I wouldn't go just for the beer." Luthro said.
Because the University would not have a liquor license, Jaybowl would sell 3.2 percent beer, which is a lower alcohol content than beer that can be bought in liquor stores in Kansas.
Beer sales were removed in 1998 when a KU student killed student Lisa Rosel in a hit-and-run accident. Both were under the influence.
Steve Munch, 2005 student body president, led the initiative to bring beer back to the Kansas Union. Marlesa Roney, vice
Other Big 12 schools
Four other Big 12 schools sell alcohol on their campuses.
Colorado — 3.2 percent beer sales
Kansas State — 3.2 percent beer sales
Iowa State — full beer sales with wine coolers at select performances
Texas — full alcohol service
provost for student success, denied the proposal then, but is now taking the revised proposal to the provost's office.
Lynn Bretz, director of University communications, said the proposal had not made it to Provost Richard Lariiviere. She said he would take the proposal into careful consideration when he saw it.
- Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
STATE
Study reports information on same-sex couples
A new study shows same-sex couples in Kansas have increased by nearly 68 percent from 2000 to 2005. The study examines the composition, distribution and financial standing of same-sex couples compared with married couples.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 9A
>> SCIENCE
Alumnus speaks about genomes
University of Kansas alumnus Randy Scott visited campus Saturday to talk about the future of gene mapping in medicine and genomic entrepreneurship.
Scott discussed the current state of health care. Students also expressed their interest in following in Scott's footsteps by getting involved in the business side of biotechnology.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 9A
Bill Evans is one of the most influential dancers and teachers of dance in the United States. For the past week-and-a-half, Evans has shared his wisdom with University students and faculty in preparation for a performance with University students at the Lied Center in April.
ENTERTAINMENT
Tap master to perform at Lied Center
FULL STORY ON PAGE 9A
》 HALL OF FAME
New exhibit inducts former athletes
Kansas Athletics welcomed 33 more individuals and 15 more teams into its hall of fame as it unveiled the hall's new exhibit Saturday.
Members of Kansas' 1952 men's basketball national championship and Olympic gold-medal team highlighted the inductees
The inductees were among the first people who viewed the new 800 square-foot exhibit, which Athletics Director Lew Perkins said took about two years to complete.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 4A