Friday, February 5, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
The Lawrence Athletic Club stands in ruins. The building caught fire early yesterday morning, and firefighters expect to begin investigating the cause soon. Photo by Joseph Griffin/KANSAN
Athletic club struck by fire; owner plans to rebuild in future
By Katie Burford
Kansan staff writer
A fire destroyed much of Lawrence Athletic Club, 3201 Mesa Way, early yesterday morning, said Bill Stark, battalion chief with the Lawrence Douglas County Fire and Medical department.
The fire, which started about an hour before the club was scheduled to open at 5 a.m., took 1 1/2 hours and 40 firefighters to bring under control. Stark said. He said that no one was in the building when the fire started and that there were no injuries.
Charred and warped workout equipment stood exposed within the skeletal remains of the structure, which contained a weight room, a child-care room, tanning beds, locker rooms, a cardio-theater and offices.
"I got the call that the building was on fire at 4:20," Lawrence Athletic Club owner Richard Sells said. "By the time I got here around 4:25, the south side was engulfed."
Stark said that the fire began in the central part of the building, but that fire officials had not yet determined how it started. He said that the investigation would begin after firefighters had finished draining the excess water out of the building, which took most of yesterday.
Officials haven't estimated the cost of the damage. Sells said the total value of the property was $2.5 million. He judged by the appearance of the building that there was at
least $1 million in damage.
The west end of the L-shaped building was built in 1994. The addition of an east wing, which included an indoor swimming pool, was completed last year.
Although the east wing appeared relatively unmarried by the fire, Sells said that the pool circulation pumps in the basement of the building might not function because of water damage.
More than 4,000 people belong to the club. Sells said that the club had recently run a special sale for students and that 675 new members had enrolled since Jan. 1.
He said people on monthly installment plans would not be billed next month and those who had paid in full would have their memberships extended until the club reopened for service. Sells said that other options were being explored but that it was too early to say what those options might be.
"I've only belonged for a week," Ben Anderson, Omaha, Neb., sophomore, said. "I wanted to get more exercise, and I figured if I signed up at a club, I'd do it more often."
Anderson signed up during LAC's student special. He said that he had used his credit card to pay the entire fee and that he was eager to find out what arrangements the owner would make to compensate members.
LAC is site only health code owned by Sells.
"We're definitely going to rebuild," he said.
"It's just a matter of how soon we can get it done."
LAC is the only health club owned by Sells.
We do detailed programs to uphold the LAC.
Spending limit approved by Senate
By Nadia Mustafa
Kansan staff writer
The Student Senate elections commission is attempting to increase voter turnout and individual campaigning by implementing lower spending limits.
After holding an open complaint hearing and finishing final revisions this week, the commission will release its final 1999 elections code at noon today at the Dean of Students Office in Strong Hall.
One of the most drastic changes in this year's code will be the decrease of campaign spending limits.
Amanda Weinberg, commission chair, said the commission's major goal this year was to increase voter turnout.
"I think this year we'll have more active campaigning by each senatorial candidate," she said. "Spending limits also will give independent candidates incentive to run."
Coalitions now can spend $1,500 compared to last year's $2,780.
Previously, individual candidates who ran as part of a coalition had to
- Individual candidates must submit expense reports.
NEW SENATE ELECTIONS CODE
- Individual candidates may spend $50 separate from their coalition's contribution.
Campaign spending limits are lowered to $1,500 per coalition.
Candidates may campaign on campus sidewalks.
pay for their campaigns within the coalition's total spending limit.
This year, they can spend $50 separate from their coalition's contribution.
Jennifer Watkins, elections commissioner, said that the individual spending limit would encourage candidates to campaign individually.
"We want to advertise, get people out there and educate the students," she said.
Independent candidates can spend $150 compared to $200 last year.
Because of the spending limits, candidates no longer have to submit campaign budgets. Instead, they must submit an expense report that documents campaign expenses such as buttons and posters.
Last year, the commission only required an expense report from each coalition.
"We want to take a more active role in increasing student body awareness on campaign issues," she said.
Ben Walker, Nunemaker senator, said that he was unhappy with the spending limits but that he thought overall the commission did a good job revising the code.
"There was a lot of good argumentation," Walker said. "Overall, the code is decent."
Another change in this year's code is a provision that allows candidates to campaign on campus sidewalks.
Watkins said that the commission wanted to protect candidates' First Amendment rights to free speech.
Mike Kaufman, commission member, said that Senate created the commission to ensure fair and impartial elections.
On Wednesday, Senate passed two bills that reversed the commission's decision to place coalition names on the ballot.
The search is on for three new deans
Schools of Law Fine Arts, libraries begin nationwide hunt for prospects
By Kristi Reimer Kansan staff writer
National searches are under way to find the right people for three vacant or soon-to-be vacant dean positions at the University of Kansas — School of Law, School of Fine Arts and libraries.
A search committee began interviewing candidates for the School of Law dean yesterday, said Webb Hecker, professor of law and chairman of the committee.
Members will meet with five candidates between now and Feb. 20, Hecker said. Then the committee and faculty will meet to discuss the applicants and decide on a
list of names to present to the administration.
"Our time frame is to try to get this wrapped up and into the provost's hands by the end of the month." Hecker said.
Together, the provost and chancellor will make the final hiring decision, Hecker said.
He said the school was pushing to complete the search before an American Bar Association accreditation team arrived to evaluate the school March 1.
"It would be horrible to be doing both at once," Hecker said.
He said the new dean would need to address fundraising issues and maintain the innovative approach the school had taken with its curriculum.
"I think KU is in the forefront of responding to the need for hands-on, clinical experience," Hecker said. "We have at least doubled
the number of clinical-education courses, and in that area we are one of the leading law schools in the country."
Examples of these innovative curriculum areas were a tribal law certificate program for Native Americans and a clinic that was part of a program in media law and policy, he said.
The School of Law dean,
Michael Hoeflich, is stepping down at the end of the academic year.
John Gaunt, dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Design, is leading the search for a new dean at the School of Fine Arts.
His committee is accepting applications until Feb. 15, although if an appropriate candidate is not found, it will take resumes after that date.
Gaunt said that his committee hoped to interview applicants in March and April and have a selection
bv Mav.
Peter Thompson, the outgoing dean, will return to the classroom after this year.
He said that the next dean of the School of Fine Arts would handle an accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music and a Board of Regents fine arts program review.
"That will be facing some one immediately," Thompson said.
He said that the new dean would inherit the Murphy Hall construction project and that alumni development, fund-raising and faculty turnover would need attention in the next decade.
The search committee for the dean of libraries should be announced early next week, Provost David Shulenburger said. The target date for hiring someone is July 1.
Dean Bill Crow resigned from the position in January to become chief librarian at Spencer Research Library.
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