TODAY'S WEATHER: Partly sunny and breezy with a high of 42 SPORTS: Kansas sneaks out of Texas with a narrow victory
TALK TO US: Contact Leita Walker, Jay Krall or Kyle Ramsey at (785) 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSA
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12,2002
WWW.KANSAN.COM
ISSUE 91 VOLUME 112
SECURITY ALERT
Terrorist attack possible. FBI says
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The FBI issued an extraordinary terrorist alert last night, asking law enforcement and the American public to be on the lookout for a Yemeni man and several associates who might be plotting a terrorist attack as early as today.
The FBI scrambled to put the warning out after information emerged that one or more people were involved. Officials said the intelligence, while deemed credible, was not specific about possible targets.
The alert identified one possible attacker as Fawaz Yahya al-Rabeei, a Yemeni national born in Saudi Arabia in 1979. It listed about a dozen associates of al-Rabeei, most from Saudia Arabia and Yemen. One associate was listed as possibly coming from Tunisia.
The bureau planned to put photos and information on a Web site to help Americans identify the possible perpetrators.
"Recent information indicates a planned attack may occur in the United States or against U.S. interests on or around Feb.12, 2002. One or more operatives may be involved in the attack," the alert to 18,000 law enforcement agencies said.
The alert asked police "to stop and detain" any of the named individuals in alert and that all "should be considered extremely dangerous."
Although the alert was issued on the fourth night of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, officials said there was no intelligence suggesting the Games were a possible target. Instead, they urged that all locations in the United States and abroad with Americans to be on guard.
Law enforcement officials said there was no evidence that al-Rabeei had entered the United States. The alert did not say whether the attack was planned by or involved Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.
Law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the alert was prompted by recent information from interviews of detainees in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where several al-Qaida operatives are being held.
Officials said the information was specific enough to be deemed credible but had come in so recently that it could not be corroborated yet. The warning was issued out of caution and because today was near, they said.
Fraternity sued over death
Seeks damages from University, Phi Gamma Delta and student
By Rachel Keesee
Kansan staff reporter
The University of Kansas, a KU fraternity and a KU student have been sued for negligence in relation to a September 2000 car wreck that killed a Lawrence woman.
The family of Felicia Bland filed a lawsuit in Douglas County court yesterday claiming wrongful death and asking for damages in excess of $75.000.
Bland was killed in a collision on Sept. 16, 2000 on Kansas Highway 10 with Sean Scott, then 16 years old. Scott visited his brother, Robert "Mike" Scott, a KU student. He was drinking at The Wheel, 507 W. 14th St., and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, where his brother lived, before returning home according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Scott's 1992 Chevrolet Camaro crossed the median and struck the driver's side door of Bland's 1990 Mazda 626. The police later determined that Bland was killed on impact.
The lawsuit asks for damages in compensation for the loss of Bland, the suffering of her husband, James Bland, and daughter, Michaela Rodriquez.
Scott pleaded no contest and was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March 2001.
The lawsuit claims Sean Scott drove to Lawrence on Sept. 16 to see his brother. He met his brother at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, where his brother lived.
Sean Scott and his brother went to The Wheel to meet their mother, Dana Rieke; stepfather, Lawrence Rieke;
"Sean Scott continued to increase his level of intoxication...including rum served to him by Barrett Bottemuller and other members" of the fraternity.
From the Bland family's lawsuit
Barrett Bottemuller, a Phi Gamma Delta pledge; and others. The lawsuit claims the Riekes provided alcohol to Sean and other minors.
Sean and other minor Dan Church, attorney for the Bland family, said The Wheel had not been sued because no facts supported it selling alcohol to minors.
"The Wheel sold to two adults," Church said. "The parents were purchasing alcohol for minors' consumption."
Last month, Lawrence Rieke was charged with six counts of providing alcohol to a minor. His first court appearance was Feb. 6.
The Wheel, the Scott brothers and Bottemuller went to the fraternity house, where "Sean Scott continued to increase his level of intoxication... including rum served to him by Barrett Bottemuller and other members" of the fraternity.
The lawsuit claims that after leaving
the firmry.
The Riekes' attorney and Botemuller's attorney did not return phone calls yesterday.
Bebe Arbuckle, house director of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, said she did not have any comment.
The lawsuit also names KU as negligent, saying the University "had a duty to regulate and control the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors within fraternities and other social organizations directly related to and benefiting the University of Kansas."
Todd Cohen, assistant director of University Relations, said he had not seen a copy of the lawsuit, and the University's policy was to not comment on pending litigation.
Contact Keesee at rkeesee@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jeremy Clarkson.
Timeline of the case
Sept 16,2000
Dec. 6, 2000
Sept 10, 2004
Sean Keenan K10 toward Lenexa,
steering the median and hits
another car about 15 miles east
of Lawrence. The driver of the
other car, Felicia Bland, dies
at the scene.
Dec 6, 2008
Sean charged with involuntary
damage in the juvenile
division of Johnson County
District Court.
Dec. 7, 2000 Sean's first appearance in court. Judge sets bond at $50,000.
March 1 2001
March 1, 2001
Sean pleads no contest to
Judge orders that Sean be
placed in juvenile custody.
March 15, 2001
Sean is sentenced to 30
years in prison. County
correctional facility and
24 months of aftercare.
March 15,2001
May 14,2001
Ivy Leejeanne Sheldon says she made a mistake in the sentence. Orders Scott into a 90-day behavior program
Aug. 7,2001
Aug. 7, 2001 Sheldon orders Scott to five years probation, six months house arrest, and 300 hours of community service.
Jan. 30,2002
Jan. 30, 2002
Douglas County prosecutors
charge presence Rieke, Scott's
grandfather with six counts of
providing alcohol to minors in
connection with the Sept.16
crash.
Feb. 11, 2002 The family of Felicia Bland files a civil suit for wrongful death in Dougles County court.
Source: Douglas and Johnson County court records
GRAPHICS BY BENNY SUNG KANSAN
Students speak out about plan to demolish houses on Ohio
By Lauren Beatty Kansan staff writer
Some students voiced opposition to the demolition of three houses on Ohio Street while others said the houses should be razed to make room for scholarship halls at a meeting with state historic preservation officers last night.
University of Kansas officials want to raze the houses to make room for two new scholarship halls. Members of the Oread Neighborhood Association and the Lawrence Preservation Alliance have said the houses should be protected because they are near Spooner Hall and the Usher House, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Amanda Meglemre, Overland Park sophomore and resident of Douthart Scholarship Hall, said she was unsure about whether the houses should be demolished. She acted as a representative for other scholarship hall residents, compiling a petition signed by 108 people who opposed the demolition.
"They feel there are better things to do with that building." Meglemre said.
Maggie Beedles, Lawrence junior and resident of Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall, said she thought the homes were eyesores and detracted from the neighborhood. She said more scholarship halls would benefit the community.
"I hope the safety of our neighborhood is improved and more scholarship halls are built," she said. "The more scholarship halls, the better."
Powers, Kansas state historic preservation officer, will decide the fate of the University-owned houses in the 1300 block of Ohio Street.
Ramon Powers is the state officer who will decide whether to allow the University to demolish the vacant houses.
KIMBERLY THOMPSON/KANSAN
One of three houses that may be razed to build a new scholarship hall sits boarded up behind KK Amini Scholarship Hall. A public hearing will be conducted Monday to determine if the houses, located at 1323 Ohio, 1329 Ohio (pictured) and 1333 Ohio, contribute to the historic environs.
Meglemre said she thought the meeting would aid Powers in his decision.
"There was a good amount of input," she said.
Christy Davis, representative for the Historical Society, said people could
submit their comments to Powers for two more weeks. The final decision is expected within four weeks.
Contact Beatty at ibetty@kansan.com.
This story was edited by Brandon Stinnett.
JILLIAN THORPE/KANSAN
Students will ask Regents not to break their hearts
Maggie Beedles, Lawrence junior, decorates a Valentine's Day card in the Student Senate office in the Kansas Union.
By Sarah Hill Kansan Staff Writer
increases. "We've made Valentines for the individual Regents that tell them we love KU, and ask them not to price us out of our education," said Kyle Browning, student
"Happy Valentines Day! This might be my last Valentine's Day at KU if tuition goes up UNFAIRLY. Love, a KU student."
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, Student Senate will distribute handmade Valentines with messages like this one to Board of Regents members Thursday in Topeka as part of a demonstration against tuition increases.
Browning said the demonstration would help students, faculty and staff voice their concerns about the tuition debate before the Regents hear the final proposals on the increases at their next meeting in March. The regents have asked state universities to develop proposals for five-year tuition increases.
body vice-president.
Browning said Student Senate wanted to make sure that the Regents raised tuition fairly after listening to the groups involved.
involved. "Students, faculty and staff should have a say where the money goes, worked out democratically," he said.
The Thursday meeting will be the second this semester. Twenty students traveled to Topeka in January to support Justin Mills, student body president, who spoke on students' concerns. Browning said Thursday's demonstration would serve the same purpose and attract more students.
"We won't be disruptive," he said. "We just want to be there to show our concern."
Drew Thomas, off-campus senator, will be in Topeka on Thursday for the demonstration. "When we go to more than one meeting, it shows that we're not going to give up," Thomas said.
The Board of Regents office is located in the Signature State Office Building, 1000 S.W. Jackson St. in Topeka, across the street from the Capitol building. Student Senate has arranged car pools for those interested in attending. The car pools will leave from the Holiday Inn Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive, at 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. For more information, call the Student Senate office at 864-3710.
Contact Hill at shill@kansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Gassaway.
NEWS: A Lawrence man who attempted to rob FirstStar Bank will be sentenced.
SPRING BREAK'S COMING SOON: Tips on how to fake bake safely.
---