THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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VOL.115 ISSUE 120
WWW.KANSAN.COM
SPEAKER
Ann Coulter to speak tonight
Conservative author draws audiences from both parties
BY JASON SHAAD
jshaad@shaaan.com
KANKSAN STAFF WRITER
Ann Coulter wasn't on a Nickelodeon game show the last time she had pies thrown at her. She was speaking to students on a college campus.
Two students threw pies at Coulter in October while she sppke at the University of Arizona in Tucson, according to The Arizona Daily Wildcat, the university's student newspaper. One student missed; the other hit part of Coulter's shoulder.
Both were arrested afterwards.
Coulter
Coulter, a conservative political commentator and best-selling author, will lecture at 7 p.m. tonight in the Lied
Center for the Vickers Memorial Lecture Series.
The series' purpose is to provide an open and constructive forum for critical thinking, dialogue and debate, said Toni Dixon, director of communications for the School of Business.
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2005
SEE COULTER ON PAGE 7A
STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS
Issue in the works
Coalitions disagree about who deserves credit for online tickets
By ROSS FITCH
rfitch@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR STA WRITER
KUnited has promised to work with the Athletics Department to deliver an online ticket redemption system for men's basketball. But department officials say the ticket system will be put in place regardless of who is elected.
KUnited representatives have met with Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director for external affairs, three times during the past three months to discuss the system, said Nick Sterner, Shawnee junior and KUnited presidential candidate. Representatives from the other
coalitions, Delta Force and Student Voice, have not discussed the issue.
"This isn't something that we're just trying to take credit for," Sterner said. "This is something that we've already taken progressive steps to make sure it happens."
Marchiony said he had talked with KUnited about the issue, but the decision to implement the new system was not based on one coalition's involvement
"We're not doing this because any particular group has asked us to do it," he said. "We are doing this based on our desire to improve the system and have the best possible system for students."
The department's desire for a new system was not based on receiving an excessive number of complaints. The department didn't receive any more complaints after the season's first pickup period last October, he said.
Dennis Chanay, Paola freshman and Student Voice presidential candidate, said a new system was a good idea, but Student Voice focused on other issues. Chanay said it should not have been on KUUnited's platform if it was going to happen anyway, Chanay said.
Elaine Jardon, Overland Park sophomore and Delta Force presidential candidate, said she thought KUnited often promised to deliver services that were already in the works, such as wireless Internet in the Kansas Union.
Jardon said Delta Force did not talk with the department about an online ticket system because it tended to focus on more activist issues, such as sexual health care. Because the system would likely be implemented anyway, Jardon said Delta Force didn't need to make it an issue.
Discounts combat high fuel prices
"This is a trend with them," she said.
FINANCES
BY ADAM LAND
aland@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
"It doesn't matter who you vote for; you're going to enjoy the benefit," she said.
SEE CREDIT ON PAGE 7A
The price at the pump does not seem to be dropping any time soon. Gas prices have raised to as high as $2.13 average for the state, according to kansasgasprices.com.
Higher costs not only hit the pocketbook of patrons. They also affect the policies and sales of the businesses around Lawrence.
"We've had to get a little more creative in our give-aways," said Brian Long, general manager of Zarco 66 No. 3, 900 Iowa St. "We needed to find other ways to help our customers."
To combat the higher gas prices, Zarco and other businesses have created new incentives for choosing their stores.
Customers who buy a car wash can save up to $2.50 off the total price of gas, Long said.
"We wanted to offer more savings to our customers." Long said. "This can help offset the cost of gas."
Patrons who have Dillons cards can get discounts off one gallon of gas at the Dillons Gas station, 3000 W. Sixth St., and Kwik Shops throughout the city. The Hy-Vee Gas station, 4000 W. Sixth St., also offers cash back with a receipt of purchase from the Hy-Vee grocery store. Each store varies on savings.
Businesses in geographical competition with one another
SEE PRICES ON PAGE 7A
Stephanie Earley/KANSAN
it takes $9.88 to put about 4.5 gallons in Megan Powell's Saturn. Powell, Topeka senior, filled up her car yesterday afternoon with the price of gas at $2.15 per gallon for unleaded gasoline at the Amoco at 23rd and Louisiana streets.
BY JOHSHUA BICKEL
jbickel@kansan.com
KANSAST STAFF WRITER
Rising pump costs increase gas thefts
Lawrence gas stations are watching out for an increase in gas thefts stemming from higher prices.
Kelly Williams, manager at Zarco 66 No.4,1500 E.23rd St., said that her store saw an increase in gas thefts when the gas prices got high.
"It's happened as often as twoday," Williams said. "We can go for months without having one and then, all of a sudden, have a burst of them."
Since Jan. 30, a total of 27 gas thefts around the city have been reported to Lawrence police. According to police reports, the peak of seven thefts occurred during the week of March 6.
The average gas price in Kansas during that week was $1.97.
Employees at gas stations are trained to be more aware of the potential for an increase in gas thefts, said Brian Long, manager at Zarco 66 No.3, 900 Iowa Street.
Long said the employee on duty was able to identify which customer stole the gas nine out of 10 times.
"We catch most of them," Long said. "The education process for employees goes a long way."
Williams said her store used video cameras and binoculars
to catch the license plates of thieves.
"We chase them if we have to," she said.
Lawrence gas stations are also explore other options to deter people from
SEE THEFTS ON PAGE 7A
The following is a list of the number of gas drive-offs reported to Lawrence police since Jan. 30. A total of 27 have been reported since Jan. 30.
Week of Number of drive-offs Average price of gas in Kansas
1/30-2/5 3 $1.89
2/6-2/12 3 $1.86
2/13-2/19 1 $1.84
2/20-2/26 1 $1.85
2/27-3/5 4 $1.88
3/6-3/12 7 $1.97
3/13-3/19 5 $2.05
3/20-3/25 3 $2.09
Sources: Lawrence Police Department and
PHI KAPPA THETA
Fraternity's fate lingers, hearing delayed
BY ERC SORRENTINO
esorrentino@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Phi Kappa Theta fraternity has to wait to appeal to the Interfraternity Council executive board regarding a previous expulsion from the University of Kansas.
occur yesterday, but one of the judicial board members was stuck in Las Vegas and could not return to Lawrence until today, said John Byerley, vice president of public relations for the IFC and member of The University Daily Kansan editorial board.
Beyerley said the hearing was re-scheduled for 5:30 p.m. today.
Matt Moreno, president of Phi Kappa Theta and Wichita sophomore, said the president of the Phi Kappa Theta alumni association had an emergency situation that prevented him from attending the hearing as well.
The hearing was supposed to
Scott Shorten, IFC president, said the executive board had three options after the appeal.
board's decision, reject it completely to where they have no punishment, or modify it," Shorten said.
"We could uphold the judicial
The IFC judicial board expelled Phil Kappa Theta, 1111 W.11th St., on March 7 for having an unregistered party at its house. The chapter faced 24 charges for recruitment and alcohol policy violations.
Police confiscated 16 kegs of beer, $517 in cash and signs that advertised the party during the weekend of Feb. 19.
The executive board has five school days to make a decision after the appeal.
If the executive board decides that Phi Kappa Theta's expulsion is the proper punishment, the fraternity could appeal for a second and final time. The IFC's general assembly, which contains the president of each chapter fraternity and a representative, would conduct the hearing.
"We would probably appeal for a second time if it came to that," Moreno said. "Right now, we're focused on this appeal."
- Edited by Ross Fitch
Senior guard shines Many Jayhawk fans would probably like to forget all about KU's first-round defeat in the NCAA Tournament on March 18. One thing they should remember, however, is Mike Lee's outstanding performance. PAGE 12A
Java jolt
Fare thee well
A drought in Brazil and the tsunami in Southeast Asia have sent the price of coffee soaring. At least one local coffee shop has raised its prices. PAGE 6A
With Student Senate elections two weeks away, Steve Munch, student body president, and Jeff Dunlap, student body vice president, reflect on their time in office. PAGE 3A
Bowling
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Both the men's and women's bowling teams took third place at the Intercollegiate Bowling Championship Sectionals over spring break to qualify for the national tournament in Rockford, Ill. PAGE 12A