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THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904.
Crocs are taking over campus. Find out how they were created, where to buy them and who to credit/blame for bringing them to Lawrence. And decide for yourself whether the bright boating shoe will go the way of Birkenstocks or clogs.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOL.115 ISSUE 112
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2005
COURTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Victim's spouse indicted
Librarian's husband charged with her death
BY JOSHUA BICKEL
jbickel@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Fourteen-year-old Melodie Miller's voice didn't waver as she told a packed courthouse she heard muffled cries coming from her mother's room the night she died.
- Her mother, Mary Miller, a former KU librarian, was found dead the morning of July 28,
2004, at the Millers' house in the 2100 block of Carolina Street. Mary Miller was in charge of technology at Watson Library.
Prosecutors presented their case against Mary Miller's husband, Martin K. Miller, who was charged with the first-degree murder in yesterday's preliminary hearing.
"I never heard her yell like that," Melodie Miller said while testifying.
Melodie Miller was one of several witnesses called to testify.
Police officers, detectives, the couple's 12-year-old son Matthew Miller, and a 54-year-old Eudora woman who said she had a four-year affair with Martin Miller all testified on behalf of the prosecution.
Melodie Miller testified she was going to check on her mother after she heard the scream, but returned to bed
when she heard a male voice she assumed was her father's saying everything was going to be, OK.
"It was a very comforting voice." she said.
Melodie Miller testified that she heard footsteps and saw a male who appeared to be her father walk past her room shortly after midnight.
She awoke to the sound of sirens at about 6:30 the next morning.
She walked into her mother's
room where she saw her mother lying in bed, surrounded by four police officers.
"When I saw her I knew she was dead." Melodie Miller said.
As she left the stand, Melodie Miller didn't appear to look at her father, who was seated at the defendant's table. Martin Miller seemed as calm and collected as his daughter as she left the room.
Detective Jeff Cross, one of the officers who was on the scene when Mary Miller was found, interviewed Martin
Miller that morning.
Cross presented material yesterday that he gathered from Martin Miller. Cross testified that Martin Miller told police he awoke in the living room about 6 a.m. to the sound of an alarm clock in his and his wife's bedroom.
Around 2 a.m. he moved to a recliner to sleep because of head and back pain, Martin Miller told police.
SEE INDICTED ON PAGE 4A
ROCK CHALK REVUE
Big 12 game hurts revue's tickets sales
Greeks put on show for charity
BY ERIC SORRENTINO
esrentrentino@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The annual revue is losing Friday night ticket sales to the Big 12 tournament this weekend, said Craig Van Blaricum, Rock Chalk Revue business manager.
Despite several evenings of practice by nine greek organizations for this year's Rock Chalk Revue, only about a quarter of the available tickets for Friday's Lied Center show have been sold.
The Jahawks play at 6 p.m,
and the show starts at 7 p.m.
The revue, a variety show to raise money for United Way of Douglas County, is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday nights at the Lied Center.
Only 550 out of 2000 available tickets have been sold for Friday's show, but about 1,500 tickets have been sold for Saturday's show.
The Saturday show generates the highest attendance because of the awards ceremony, Van Blaricum, Lawrence graduate student and Beta Theta Pi alum, said.
The event has raised $18,000 from pre-ticket sales.
STEPPE TRAUMA
Chapters and show names
Gamma Phi Beta and Phi Delta Theta: "On Air"
♦ Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Chi: "Keepin' Time"
♦ Alpha Gamma Delta:
"Die a In Mode"
- Chi Omega and Beta Theta Pit "Greece"*
♦ Delta Gamma and Pi Kappa Phi: "Double Booked"
Source: Rock Chalk Revue Board
Delta Gamma's Michelle Gates, Omaha, Neb., freshman, and Pi Kappa Phi's Jason Murray, Leawood senior, rehearse for their show,
"Double Booked," Tuesday night in the Lied Center. This year's Rock Chalk Revue opens at 7 tonight and performances run through Saturday.
Wade Carr, executive producer and Wellington senior, said the event produced $40,000 for the United Way last year.
The participating chapters have conducted other fundraiser for Rock Chalk Revue to contribute to the United Way.
Kellv Hutsell/KANSAN
About $4,000 were raised through Kansas City Royals ticket sales, a grocery store roundup and a sponsorship from the Hawk, 1340 Ohio St.
Rock Chalk Revue has been a campus tradition for 56 years.
SEE TICKETS ON PAGE 4A
SCIENCE
Kathy Newell, professor of pathology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, checks on a brain in one of three freezers, which contain about 300 human brains, on Monday. The brains have been diagnosed with various neurological and psychiatric diseases and are available for research.
BRAIN FREEZE
BY TY BEAVER
tbeaver@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Inside are pieces of about 300 human brains, most of which are stored in plastic bags inside disposable Tupperware. After nine years of almost being forgotten, a program that focuses on collect-
three deep-freeze units sit at 2014 West in the University of Kansas Medical Center's Wahl Building.
Med Center has area's largest gray matter collection
Kathy Newell compares a human brain tissue sample against several diagrams Monday. The University of Kansas Brain Tissue Bank began in the early 1990s, primarily with brain samples that had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
ing brain samples for research is operating again.
The University of Kansas Brain Tissue Bank is run by Larry Carver, professor of psychiatry, and Kathy Newell, professor of pathology. Brain samples are from donors diagnosed with various neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.
"The importance of this resource to research is unbelievable," Newell said. "There isn't another in the region."
Rvlan Howe/KANSAN
Newell, who has done research on Alzheimer's disease, "inheritited" part of the collection two and half years ago when she came to the Med Center. Brains with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases formed most of a collection of tissue started by Rajesh Pahwa, professor of neurology, Newell said. Pahwa began the program in 1991.
Because of a lack of funds, the collection sat around unnoticed from 1996 until January 2005. When Carver arrived last year with his personal collection of about 150 brains, the collection rose to nearly 300 brains. Samples in his collection were diagnosed with various psychiatric illnesses, dementia and neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression and multiple sclerosis.
He began collecting the tissue when he did research at Louisiana State University Medical Center.
All contents, unless stated otherwise.
© 2005 The University Daily Kansan
SEE BRAIN ON PAGE 4A
Big 12 Tournament Kansas will face the winner of the Texas A&M versus Kansas State game tomorrow night. Coach Bill Self said both teams present problems and Kansas would need to play well to earn a high NCAA seed. PAGE 1B
Wireless Internet
Sparked by student complaints of slow Internet. Student Voice has wireless Internet in mind for residence halls. PAGE2A
Jayhawks meet Cornhuskers in tennis Saturday The last time the two teams competed, Kansas prevailed over Nebraska. Saturday, the Jayhawks won their match against Iowa State. They're hoping for similar results this weekend. PAGE 28
Rook to Q5
kansan.com
Rook to U5 Student Union Activities hosted a chess tournament las night at the Hawk's Nest.
073
V
EXCLUSIVE
Learn chess basics with our "how to" video.
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