AAAAAHHH
Tomorrow's weather
The University Daily Kansan
Mild tomorrow with highs in upper 60s and lows in the upper 40s
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
upper 40s.
Sports: The women's golf team finishes fifth at the Utah-Dixie Classic in St. George, Utah.
SEE PAGE 8A
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2000
Inside: Students download MP3s for recordable, free music.
SEE PAGE 1B
JSPS 650-640) * VOL. 110 NO. 127
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Senate bill requires matching funds review
By Erin R. Barcomb
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Student Senate wants to make sure institutions hold up their end of the bargain when it comes to matching funds.
- Last night Senate voted to have a mandatory review of any funding matched by the Kansas Legislature, the University of Kansas or the Board of Regents through a tuition increase.
"Realizing that the state is slashing the budget, it seems like the state is backing out of the commitment to education," said Christian Lutz, graduate senator and the bill's author.
The state had a two-for-one deal with the University for a technology fee but has since backed out after budget negotiations.
"This is a great way for us to be proactive and send a message to the state," said Lisa Meinen, liberal arts senator.
Campus lighting, recycling and child care all are supported by matched fees.
A Student Senate Outreach Board was approved last night by a vote of 32-13.
The board will serve as a liaison between Senate and the media by issuing press releases and working on Web pages. The board will inform students about what business Senate is conducting.
The Communications Board, which served Senate until now, rarely met this year and only few members attended the meetings, said Marlon Marshall, Student Executive Committee chairman.
By restructuring and renaming the board, supporters said the group wouldn't be limited to dealing only with the media.
The budget bill, which failed the Senate meeting two weeks ago, passed last night, but not without discussion.
Firefighters battle Wheatfields blaze
Cindy Bracker, fine arts senator, said she did not think the KU Choral Society, of which she is a member, was getting enough funding, especially for sheet music. Bracker said that as a fine arts senator, she was interested in supporting all facets of the arts.
During the fire, police block off the intersection at 9th and Vermont streets to keep traffic and pedestrians from interfering with the firefighters. Photo by J.M.Dailey/Kansas
Aravind Muthukrishnan,
Finance Committee chairman,
said even though Senate overspent the budget, groups still could ask for additional money.
- Five of 18 bus shelter designs submitted by KU students were presented by Holly Krebs, transportation coordinator. The winning design will be announced tomorrow at an architecture conference at the University.
Firefighters douse what flames they can get to through the back door of Wheatfields Bakery, 904 Vermont St., but they could not enter because of smoke. A fire broke out at the bakery yesterday afternoon. Photo by J.M.Dalley/Kansan
Alumus is downtown fire victim again
Bv Rvan Devlin
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Rich Ridlen feels as though he's cursed.
Ridlen, who graduated from the University of Kansas last fall, and his girlfriend, Morgan Radek, Chicago junior, live at 13 W. Ninth St., above Second Chance Children's Store and Hair Incorporated. Their apartment had to be evacuated because of smoke levels during yesterday's fire at Wheatfields, 904 Vermont St.
Ridlen said he was coming home from work yesterday when he saw smoke pouring through his building.
"I saw all these ambulances and fire trucks," Ridlen said. "All I could think about was I hoped Morgan was OK, and then I saw her standing on the street and I was relieved."
Radek said she had just gotten out of a shower when she began to smell smoke.
"I kept wondering what was burning in my apartment," Radek said. "I looked at our windows and our air conditioner and all this smoke was pouring through them. Then I looked out and saw flames coming from behind Wheatfields."
Radek said she left after she saw the flames. She said she was standing on the street when she noticed firefighters begin to check her building.
"I asked them to save our two turtles, and one of the firemen went upstairs and brought them down a few minutes later," Radek said.
For Ridlen, the event brought back memories of a previous downtown fire in Spring 1997. Ridlen lived above Carlson Wagonill Travel, 800
Massachusetts St., when fire destroyed nearby Herbivores Restaurant and Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, 802-804 Massachusetts St.
"We had a firewall in between us so the fire didn't spread to our building," Ridlen said, "but the smoke damage coupled with the fact that the roof caved in from water damage destroyed everything but our TV."
Ridlen said he couldn't believe he could be the victim of two separate downtown fires.
"I definitely feel like I'm cursed," Ridlen said.
Ridlen said the two did not have renter's insurance.
MORE FIRE DAMAGE
Businesses with fire or smoke damage:
Bwheatfields Bakery, 904 Vermost St.
Hair Incorporated, 11 W. Ninth St.
Second Child's Store, 15
Second Chance Children's Store, 15
W. Wiltshire St.
W. Ninth St.
Smoke Shop, 17 W. Ninth St.
Au Marche, 19 W. Ninth St.
"But we have parents who will thankfully help us out," Ridken said.
At press time, the couple didn't know the extent of the damage to their apartment, but they said they hoped some of their belongings could be salvaged.
Cause of fire, extent of damage unknown; police block off streets
By Mindie Miller
By Mindie Miller and Ryan Devlin writer @kansan.com Kansan staff writers
The hottest day of the year so far turned out to be even hotter for Lawrence firefighters who battled a raging fire at Ninth and Vermont streets yesterday.
Lawrence Fire and Medical crews responded at 4:11 p.m. to reports of a fire in the back of Wheatfields Bakery, 904 Vermont St., that had spread to a 100-square foot storage warehouse east of the bakery. Crews blocked off Ninth Street from Massachusetts to Kentucky streets and Vermont Street from Eighth to 10th streets to make room for fire trucks and hoses. Fire Chief Jim McSwain said that every available unit was at the scene.
The fire was contained to the back of Wheatfields and the neighboring warehouse, used for storage by Weaver's Department Store, 901 Massachusetts St. But smoke damage to businesses and an upstairs apartment facing Ninth Street was extensive. Except for its stone walls, the warehouse and its contents — Weaver's merchandise and display equipment — were destroyed.
Marlene Swaggerty, office manager at Weavers, said that the store itself had not sustained any damage but that it smelled like smoke.
James Weber, front-of-house manager at Wheatfields, said he didn't know about the fire until a customer came in the front door and told him the back of the restaurant was on fire. He said there were 25 or 30 people inside who evacuated the restaurant immediately.
McSwain said last night that the cause of the fire and a damage estimate had not yet been determined.
Mary Watson, Kansas City, owns some of the buildings damaged by the fire. She described the fire as devastating and said that although she had fire insurance, it probably wouldn't be enough to cover the damage.
Cappy Burnett, Topeka resident, said that he and his wife were driving east on Ninth Street when they saw smoke coming from behind Wheatfields.
"By the time we got here, there were flames shooting up, and the power lines were going up like fireworks," Burnett said.
Amy Kendrick, a server at Mad Greek Restaurant, 907 Massachusetts St., said the lights started flickering in the restaurant about 4:15 p.m. and then went out.
KPL, and KPS officials cut electricity and gas to the entire block so firefighters could fight the fire safely. The lack of power left businesses on the block with no other option but to close early.
"There was smoke coming into the restaurant, and you could feel the heat from the fire through the back wall." she said.
At 5 p.m, the roof of the warehouse collapsed, sending a giant ball of flame into the sky. Black smoke poured from the hole in the roof and covered Massachusetts Street. Onlookers shielded their mouths and noses so they could breathe.
Firefighters attacked the fire from the north and south with water hoses mounted to three 100-foot ladders. McSwain said the warehouse had a bolt truss roof, which was dangerous because it was constructed in one piece with no center supports.
"It's a firefighter killer," he said. "Once the fire moves to the roof, you've got to get out. The whole roof goes at once."
1wo firefighters were transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital with heat-related injuries. Brian Pope, nursing supervisor at the hospital, said both firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. Three more firefighters were treated at the scene for similar injuries. No other injuries were reported.
McSwain said firefighters and officials would be on the scene well into the night investigating the fire's cause and tending to remaining hot spots.
Exuberant students break out tank tops, crack open beers in warm weather
Students enjoy the warm temperatures by gathering at the Crossing, 618 W. 12th St., for beers and conversation. Some put school and work on the back burner yesterday to take advantage of the sunny day. Photo by J.M.Dalley/Kansan
By Warisa Chulindra writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The most common sight across campus yesterday afternoon was students lounging outside reading and studying. Several lay motionless in the sunlight, sleeping. Temperatures in the mid-80s, and a slight breeze drew students outside. Several instructors even took their classes outside.
Some students listened to the forecast and were prepared for the warm weather in short, T-shirts and tank tops.
Others expected windy, chilly conditions like Tuesday, and by mid-afternoon they shed sweatshirts and jackets and tied them around their waists.
Before her anthropology class, Anne Billingsley, Overland Park sophomore, joined the students spread across the lawn in front of Fraser Hall and Watson Library
"All these people look comfortable, so I thought I'd join them," Billingsley said, barefoot with her shirt sleeves and pants rolled up.
"Kicking it over a cold beer is a great way to spend the first 80-degree weather of the month."
Grant Barnes
Lake Lotawana, Mo., senior
"It's too nice to go back home," Bracey said. "T'll enjoy the weather while I can, and people are friendlier and slow down."
Chris Bracey, Oak Park, Ill., sophomore, studied near the Campanile, surrounded by the chiming of the carillon bells.
At the Crossing, 61W. W12 St., student
mingled on the deck. Owner and manage
Brad Durkin said he prepared for the extra
business by doubling his beer order.
"When it's warm and sunny out, we always get a better crowd." Durkin said.
Grant Barnes, Lake Lotawana, Mo., senior, was among those on the deck. He didn't have class yesterday, and he went to the Crossing after playing golf.
"This is what it's totally about," Barnes
Bull Winkle's Bar, 1344 Tennessee St., has an outdoor patio and manager Jay Muelbach said he opened it when he thought a lot of people would show up. He said the outdoor patio was not open yesterday, but it could be open today or tomorrow.
said. "Kicking it over a cold beer is a great way to spend the first 80-degree weather of the month."
Larry Schultz, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Topeka, said the warm weather was caused by jet stream patterns, which have kept cold winds to the north in Canada. This winter has been unusually mild, and temperatures have not gotten down to zero.
Today's forecast calls for temperatures in the 80s. Showers and thunderstorms are predicted for tonight and tomorrow. Warm temperatures are expected to continue into next week.
However, Schultz cautioned that the cold weather could return. In previous years, freezing temperatures have hit in late April.