THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOL.115 ISSUE 90
WWW.KANSAN.COM
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2005
Officials balance cuts campus security
By Amanda O'Toole Senior Staff Writer
Crime is down at the University of Kansas, but so is the number of certified officers and the overall budget for the Public Safety Office.
Today, two officers patrol the campus at any one time — the minimum standard, said Captain Schuyler Bailey. The bike patrol is used only for
football, and students say they'd like to see more officers on campus.
So would KU's public safety officials. In the past decade, budget cutback meant their office was trimmed more than $115,000. That led to the layoffs of about eight positions including both office staff and officers, said Ralph Oliver, director of public safety.
Now, the University employs 29 certified officer. About eight years ago, that number was closer to 35.
Officers who have more responsibilities and fewer reasons to stay. A growing campus, frequent turnovers and a constant rotation of rookie officers make keeping students safe a bigger burden than in the past.
Daily tasks, such as patrol, paper work and crime investigations leave officers little, if any, time to perform other important duties like networking on campus and public education, Oliver said.
"We spend time putting out brush fires and we don't have time to water the plants," he said of daily tasks and crime prevention.
Some officers have workloads that would have been handled by two people before budget cuts, Cant. Schuyler Bailey said.
More to Do
For example, Bailey is in charge of community service, which requires him to sit on boards such as the Campus Safety Advisory Board, in addition to filing paperwork, scheduling officers, training officers, working with the media and other daily activities.
In 1985, those duties were assigned to two different people the information officer and the community service officer, Bailey said.
Crime investigations also are affect ed.
Bailey said investigations are limited
The KU Public Safety Office began to see changes in the budget in the early '90s. Below are three cuts that were made in the past decade. Cuts have led to the elimination of about eight jobs including officers and other office staff.
CUTTING BACK
1996 through 1997
♦ 1998 through 1999:
$20,070.09
◆ 2000 through 2001:
$21.252.72
Source: University of Kansas budgets 1997 through 2005
Chris Keary, assistant chief, said he didn't know how many investigations the office was currently conducting.
and take longer to complete because fewer officers are available to conduct interviews and gather evidence.
At least one rape that was reported in November was being investigated. Officers completed two more rape investigations last semester that were sent to the Douglas County district attorney's office. The district attorney will decide whether there is enough evidence to go to trial.
Still Safe
Oliver also cares whether students feel safe.
The main responsibility of the safety office is to keep students safe.
"It people perceive they are unsafe, it doesn't matter what the reality is," Oliver said.
Overall, crime on campus has gone down 40 percent between 1997 and 2004, but in the 2002-2003 academic year, crime increased by 6 percent, according to a March public safety office press release. The increase was attributed to more bikes being stolen.
But rapes — however infrequent — and other highly publicized crimes on campus make some people edgy, Jeff Mack, Rome, Ga. graduate student, said.
Mack lives in Stouffer Place apartments on the south side of campus.
Blue emergency phones and street
SEE SAFETY ON PAGE 6A
CAMPUS SECURITY
Eves on KU
The first phase of placing cameras around the University has started with installations on Daisy Hill, but a specific deadline has still not been set. Safety incidents last semester prompted the advancement of the project, including a Sept. 27, 2004, incident when a female student was robbed at gun point in the GSP-Corin parking garage.
There are two phases planned for the installation of cameras
+ Phase one: GSP-Corbil Hall and parking garage, Parking Lot 300 (Lied Center and Dole Institute), perimeters of residence halls
- Phase two. Two academic buildings, the Kansas Union, the Student Fitness Recreation Center, libraries
Cameras already in place Phase one cameras Phase two cameras
Sources: KU Public Safety Office
Camera plan bogged down
BY JOSH BICKEL
jbickel@hansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Deanna Psilopoulos, a Lewis Hall desk assistant, hasn't felt safe on Daisy Hill since two incidents last semester near the parking lot of the Lied Center.
"I walk from campus to here late at night sometimes," Psilopoulos said. "It's not as safe as it used to be."
As part of Chancellor Robert Hemenway's project to improve safety and security on campus, new security cameras on Daisy Hill will be installed. But for residents and employees of residence halls, the project isn't moving fast, Psilopoulos said.
Three aggravated assaults were reported since 2003. The most recent incident happened Sept. 27, 2004 when a female student was robbed at gun point in the GSP-Corbin parking garage.
"We're still ordering equipment and finishing our study," she said.
A specific deadline has not been set for project's completion, said Rhonda Birdsong, KU public administrator.
The KU Public Safety Office is working with Capital Electric Company, a state-contractor, to determine how many cameras will be used and where to install them, Birdsong said. The cost of the project is being negotiated. Capital Electric Company will install the cameras.
Psilopoulos, Providence, R.I. senior, said cameras on Daisy Hill would help make the area feel a little more safe, especially for residents walking back to the residence halls at night..
The project focuses on Daisy Hill, the Lied Center, Jayhawker Towers and GSP-Corbin Hall, said Jeff Weinberg, assistant to the chancellor.
A female student was attacked by knife-point while walking to the Lied Center from a residence hall in October 2003, and another female student was attacked by knife-point at the GSP-Corbin parking garage in February 2007
CAMPUS THEFT
"It's kind of an intensive project," Birdsong said. "It takes time to get it done properly."
Tightened security needed at Underground
— Edited by Lisa Coble-Krings
The Underground in Wescoe Hall is jam-packed at lunchtime on Monday. Underground cashiers Thaddeus Winter and Allison Baalman (right), Grinnell sophomore, checked out a long line of patrons. The Underground has been having problems with long lines and food theft.
Stephanie Farley/KANSAN
BY TRACY PERLMAN
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Preventing theft has become a priority for management at The Underground. Because of this, security guards and cameras will be its newest addition.
Employees of The Underground in Wescoe Hall have noticed students stealing food and beverages, said Karen Lewis, manager of The Underground. But she said they were not able to watch the doors and students at all times.
"We were not expecting this to become such a big issue," Lewis said. "We did not have as
many theft problems at the old Wescoe Terrace."
Management for The Underground may install three surveillance cameras, which would be located at the entrances and exits, Lewis said.
Until then, The Underground's employees have begun watching students more closely.
It may also hire a private security officer to help patrol busier times, she said.
"This has become a very serious issue," said William Kelly, assistant unit manager of The Underground. "It could lead to students getting caught and charged with theft."
The problem may be the new design. The food and beverage area is more spacious, which causes crowds that can lead to stealing occurrences, Lewis said. Also, the accessibility of doors near the cash registers make it easy for students to exit before paying.
Lewis warned that stealing food causes prices to rise to compensate for lost costs.
But taking food out of The Underground isn't the only way students steal food.
All the theft adds up. Employees estimate about $20 worth of food is stolen everyday from what they can see and catch.
"I watched a guy eat all his
fries while waiting for his Chick-Fil-A," said Rebecca Goldberg, Dallas sophomore. "He threw the wrapper out, and I doubt he paid for them."
Employees said they had watched students eat food in line and throw the wrappers away before reaching the cashier.
Employees said they couldn't stop students from doing this because they were busy helping others and were unable to reach suspects through busy crowds. Lewis said she hoped the addition of cameras and security would help these situations.
Today's weather
Edited by Laura Francoviglia
All contents, unless stated otherwise,
© 2005 The University Daily Kansan
King documentary
A rare documentary depicting the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and the struggles of the civil rights movement will be shown tonight. Because of copyright laws, the movie is no longer produced. PAGE 2A
Mental health
Students needing a psychologist must travel to Topeka or Kansas City following the closing of a facility at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. PAGE 2A
A swimmer's dedication
KU swimmer Lia Pogioli has faced many challenges as a student athlete and has always prevailed. The sophomore swimmer looks to this season for success.PAGE 1B
Men's basketball
Big 12 Conference teams head into the final month of competition with records similar to predictions made by preseason gurus. Kansas, once again, is on top. PAGE 1B