TUESDAY,APRIL 8,2003
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NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 7A
Campus crime dwindling, continuing a five-year-trend
Despite decrease campus safety still of concern
By Erin Ohm
eohm@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Part of the responsibility for keeping campus safe falls on the University of Kansas community, said Ralph Oliver, director of the KU Public Safety Office.
The community has been doing its part, according to figures
released by the office last week which showed the number of reported criminal offenses in 2002 dropped for the fifth consecutive year.
The total number of criminal offenses reported for 2002 was 807, which is a 10 percent decline from 2001, with 897 total criminal offenses reported.
Ten of the offenses reported occurred outside the jurisdiction of the KU Public Safety Office.
Crime statistics decreased despite the loss of three positions at the office.
Oliver said the office had to cut a police officer, a security officer and a dispatcher from its staff.
Of the reported crimes, less than one percent were violent crimes, which are defined by the FBI as murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. The office received reports of one rape and two aggravated assaults in 2002.
The number of auto burglaries increased by seven percent, from 73 in 2001 to 79 in 2002, and the reports of criminal damage or vandalism rose eight percent, from 166 to 180.
Overall, the 807 total offenses for 2002 represent a decline in crime, which has decreased by 45 percent from 1,479 total offenses in 1997.
Oliver said increased lighting that had been installed on campus in recent years helped officers and the community detect suspicious activity at night.
But a survey of 523 female students conducted last spring and released last week showed 46 percent of the women surveyed said lighting on campus was inadequate, and 47 percent limited their
evening classes because of safety concerns. The survey was conducted to understand female students' perceptions of their roles at the University. It was also meant to pinpoint areas of concern.
Lauren Karp, Buffalo Grove, Ill., junior, was glad to hear crime statistics were decreasing. But Karp said she still thought campus needed more lighting, especially between Wescoe and Budig halls.
"If you come up to the library or something, it's just dangerous," she said.
Andy Knopp, Manhattan junior and chairman of the Campus Safety Advisory Board, said the University added four blue emergency lights last year.
"I don't think lighting will be adequate until you can walk anywhere on campus without being in the dark," Knopp said. "But I think the current fee that goes toward lighting improvements is being spent wisely."
Crime statistics include all criminal offenses reported to KU's Lawrence campus.
- Edited Todd Rapp
Student learns funeral trade
By Megan Hickerson mhickerson@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Despite facing death every day at work, Ryan McGilley always seems to have a smile on his face.
McGilley, a fifth-year-senior from Cleveland, clocks in at 30 hours per week at McGilley Memorial Chapel in Kansas City, Mo., a family-run funeral home established in 1899.
As an apprentice to a funeral director, he observes the process of making arrangements with families, coordinates motorcycle escorts, orders flower arrangements and washes the limousines and hearses.
Although McGilley isn't involved in the embalming process, he's isn't opposed to painting a few fingernails when needed.
Working alongside his father, Jim McGilley III, Ryan is the fifth generation of McGilleys to work at the funeral home.
Although he has no qualms dressing and handling the
"I wouldn't go near dead people for quite a while."
Ryan McGilley Cleveland senior
deceased, McGilley has not always been comfortable around the dead. When he was 5 years old, his older brother tricked him into going into the embalming room.
"I wouldn't go near dead people for quite a while," McGilley said. "I still remember exactly what happened."
Because he takes his job seriously, McGilley rarely lets his emotions show during ceremonies. But sometimes he can't help but let go of his professionalism.
"It's the 42-year-old, mother-of-three funerals that really get to me," he said. "I've cried at funerals that I've worked. I don't work suicide funerals — especially when they were my age. No amount of desensitizing can prepare me for that."
Not every funeral that McGilley has worked has been depressing. On one occasion, the friends and family of a deceased man celebrated his life by chugging beers in the parking lot of the funeral home.
"When your drinking buddy dies, what do you do?" McGilley said.
Customers of the funeral home haven't had funeral requests that McGilley thought was unusual, but he plans to go out with a bang when the day comes Jimmy Buffet style.
"I want people to enjoy margaritas, and I want them wearing sunglasses and Hawaiian shirts," he said.
Because he works with family members, McGilley occasionally experiences bickering at work. Despite nicknaming his son "Trouble," Jim McGilley is proud to work alongside his son.
"One of the most heart-rendering things was having him go into the family business," the elder McGilley said.
Edited by Lindsay Hanson
Ryan McGilley, Cleveland senior, works as an apprentice to a funeral director at McGilley Memorial Chapel in Kansas City, Mo. McGilley is the fifth generation of his family to work at the home, which was established in 1899.
John Nowak/Kansan
Unusual winter storm hits northwest Kansas
ATWOOD — A winter storm dumped about a half foot of snow this weekend in parts of northwest Kansas.
Between 6 and 8 inches of snow piled up in Rawlins County.
The ground was still covered yesterday morning.
Snow fell briefly in much of northwest Kansas, though little stuck to the ground. Sheriff's offices in northwest Kansas did not report any injury accidents caused by the surprise storm, although one driver did roll a vehicle in Cheyenne County.
In Hays, the precipitation was limited to mostly rain, and the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center south of town logged. 19 of an inch of moisture this weekend. The total for the year is 2.81 inches.
Cold temperatures were expected to stick around for another day. The National Weather Service in Dodge City issued a freeze warning for last night and this morning for southwest Kansas and a few counties in northwest Kansas.
The Associated Press
Welcome home, Jayhawks!
Office of the Chancellor
Congratulations to you and the Jayhawk basketball family on another amazing season. The Jayhawk tradition of excellence continues to be a source of great pride to the KU community.
You are all wonderful ambassadors for the University of Kansas on and off the court. You have demonstrated the ideals of hard work good sportsmanship and respect. We also are proud that your graduation rate is the best among the Final Four teams—and your minority graduation rate was in the top three of the Sweet 16 teams (and the best among the public universities).
On behalf of Jayhawk fans everywhere, I salute you for your hard work and terrific success.
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