Volume 124 Issue 110
kansan.com
Monday, March 5, 2012
RADIO WARS
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Three members of the KU Amateur Radio Club work on computers that connect to HAM radios in Learned Hall. All club members must pass a qualification test to be able to use the technology and the equipment
ELISE REUTER
ereuter@kansan.com
KHJK radio is not the only campus radio station. Tucked in a corner of Learned Hall, the KU Amateur Radio Club has a long-standing history with the University. Since it was formed in 1952, KU students have used the radios in the room, known as HAM radios, to communicate with and compete against people from across the globe.
For most competitions, the goal is to contact as many people from a given area state or world wide as possible. Long-distance contact is
known as DXing, which is possible thanks to two large antennae on the roof of Learned.
"Using this equipment, I've talked to people in France, Italy, Chile and Great Britain," said Michael Shook, a senior from Peoria, Ill., in the Amateur Radio Club. "I really like DXing and talking to someone from tens of thousands of miles away."
Right now, there are a few upcoming amateur radio competitions, including one focused on contacting people from Kansas. Another competition, known as Field Day, takes place during the
summer, where over 35,000 HAM radio operators from the United States and Canada participate in a variety of contests.
Last year the club took home a first place medal from the Kansas QSO Party competition, a competition that is based on the number of conversations a station can havein 24 hours. This year, the club hopes for another win.
Right now the club has seven members, but the flexibility of the club allows members to be as active as they want: "You can go in and use the radios, or participate in competitions whenever you want," said
club president Riley Dunn, a senior from Overland Park. "In order to use the radios you have to take a test, but it's really just for anybody who's interested in radios."
Competitions aren't the only use for HAM radios. Sometimes club members will sit inside the radio room while doing their homework, and talk to people who are on at the same time.
"You can just have general conversations. People do it on their way home from work, or spend time at night talking to people," Shook said.
There are only 732,102 licensed HAM radio operators in all of the United States.
HAM radio is a niche hobby
While most radios have fallen out of use, HAM radios still have a few practical applications today. The radios were originally used for storm chasing, before the rise of the cell phone.
"People who tracked storms used to either find a land-line to contact the National Weather Service, or carry HAM radios with them," Shook said. "With cell phones and the internet and stuff, it's not as necessary as it used to be. It's still useful for emergency communications,
like with the tornado last Tuesday. When cell phone towers are wiped out and there are no communications, HAM radio operators go in and set up protocol."
The club at the University began after the Kaw river flood in 1951, and it gave itself the club call sign, W0AHW. A call sign is what HAM radio operators use to identify themselves when contacting other HAM Radio users. Eventually, the club shortened its call sign to its current name, KOKU.
Edited by Caroline Kraft
KANSAS BASKETBALL
McLemore's attorney suggests entrapment
RACHEL SALYER
rsalyer@kansan.com
Ben McLemore, a University basketball player, had a hearing in Douglas County District Court Friday for a minor in possession citation he received
at Abe and Jake's
Landing, 8 E.
6th St., in Novem-
ber.
McLemore's attorney, Al Lopes, asked Judge Peggy Kittel to orde
prosecutors to release Alcohol and Beverage Control documents, including field notes, evidence sheets and a policy and procedure manual. He also requested officer and decoy names, saying all were necessary to formulate his defense McLemore was entrapped by an ABC officer.
McLemore
Lopes alleged a decoy was used to entrap McLemore, a freshman from St. Louis, on Nov. 4.
McLemore, who is ineligible to play this season, entered the bar using his own identification, wore a wristband identifying him as a minor and didn't approach the bar. Lopes said a woman, whom McLemore didn't know, asked him
what he wanted to drink.
"How did the agent know unless that girl told him?" Lopes said. "The bartender wouldn't remember. That white girl told him, and there is no other conclusion that is reasonable."
"He said Red Bull and vodka," Lopes said, alleging that the woman returned, put the drink on the table and left, never telling her name. Minutes later, an ABC officer approached, took the cup and cited McLemore, who said he was trying to dispose of the cup at the time.
Mark Simpson, assistant district attorney, told the judge that the prosecution had given Lopes all the information it had in the case and no evidence logs or field notes existed.
Lopes questioned how the officer learned the cup's contents, because McLemore said he never told the officer what was in the cup.
Though the contents of the cup have not been tested — but can be at McLemore's expense — the officer who cited McLemore said the杯 contained Red Bull and vodka.
"He wants documents that dissert facts that don't exist," Simpson said. "There are no other documents to disclose that I know of."
Simpson said the ABC officer
Simpson said he would ask for an ABC policy and procedure manual for Lopes, though Judge Kittel said that was not a function of the district attorney's office, and if Simpson did not provide a manual, Lopes would need to subpoena the information.
was acting alone when McLemore was seen drinking during a regular bar check, and a vial of McLemore's cup was stored in the officer's locker.
If Lopes finds information indicating McLemore was not entrapped, he said he would not drag out the case.
"I don't know how this is going to be resolved short of trial unless you all figure out a different disposition," Kittel said.
"As far as the woman goes, there are no facts to support this assertion." Simpson said.
"If I come across something that says 'Whoa, your guy is really going to need to be held accountable for his actions', I won't waste anyone's time," Lopes said.
The next hearing is scheduled for May 29, when a trial date could be set.
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 4
Edited by Christine Curtin
City laws prevent slaying of chickens for artist's project
The chickens were slated to be slaughtered as part of a project, "The Story of Chickens: A Revolution," by the University's artist in residence Amber Hansen. Hansen tentatively planned on displaying the chickens in a coop near downtown Lawrence for several weeks before killing, cooking and serving them during a public dinner. Hansen's goal is to show how far removed people have become from the food they eat.
KELSEY CIPOLLA
kcipolla@kansan.com
Some students immediately wondered whether Hansen's project would violate animal cruelty laws.
"This is legal?" said Jessica Joffe, a sophomore from St. Louis, when she first heard the chickens would be killed. "I feel like she could make her point some other way."
For five chickens that were almost killed. "The Story of Chickens" has a happy ending.
Index
Now Hansen has to.
LAWRENCE
Last week, she was informed that slaughtering the animals in Lawrence would violate the city's animal cruelty ordinances. She revised the project, which will no longer include any chickens.
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
Animal Outreach of Kansas founder Judy Carman worked to prevent the project from happening by reaching out to other animal rights advocates throughout the country and encouraging people to voice their concerns on the Spencer Museum of Art's Facebook.
Last week, Carman and retired University professor Beth Schultz met with Hansen to discuss her project. Hansen offered to let Carman and Schultz speak at the finale on April 21. She is also allowing a vegan chef to prepare food at the finale dinner and gave permission for local artists to display work related to animal rights at a March 30 art display at The Lawrence Percolator, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing art and culture to audiences in town, at 1022 New Jersey.
An empty coop will instead be displayed, according to Hansen's blog through RocketGrants.org.
The artist did not respond to requests for a comment.
Carman is grateful that the project gave animal rights advocates a chance to communicate their ideas.
"It's given us a wonderful opportunity to talk publicly and raise awareness, get people
Karen Davis, president of United Poultry Concerns, a Virginia-based organization that promotes fair treatment of chickens and other domestic fowl, was also active in protesting Hansen's project. She issued five alerts relating to "The Story of Chickens" through UPC's website and published letters from prominent artists asking Hansen not to proceed with her project.
Although Davis was upset about the chickens being confined, displayed, killed and eaten, she was also concerned about Hansen's suggestion that there are humane ways to farm chickens.
"People often think because they're told, misleadingly, that factory farming is the result of big corporations, whereas family farming is some kind of Hallmark card type of experience where animals are treated humanely and with respect," Davis said. "That is not the case."
thinking about that," Carman said. "And that really was her goal to get people thinking about where the animals eat, come from and what they go through."
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 4
contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Edited by Nadia Imafidon
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