Wednesday
March 5,2003
Vol.113.Issue No.110
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Kansas to close out conference play against Iowa State p.1B Aquanita Burras
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Contact Kristi Henderson, Jenna Goepfert or Justin Henning at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
Officials to travel to Costa Rica
Discussion to include Martin murder case
By Erin Ohm
eohm@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
Two University of Kansas officials will be briefed on the murder case of KU student Shannon Martin in San Jose, Costa Rica, this week.
Jeff Weinberg, assistant to the chancellor, and Diana Carlin, dean of the graduate school and international programs,
left yesterday on a three-day trip to discuss renewing an exchange agreement with the University of Costa Rica.
While they are in Costa Rica, they will hear a briefing on Martin's murder case at the request of the chancellor.
Lynn Bretz, director of University Relations, said the University wanted the case to be brought to justice.
"We've been doing everything we can to assist the family since the day of the murder," she said. "We felt that would be the very best thing to do."
Chancellor Robert Hemenway wrote a letter to the president of Costa Rica in January asking that officials of the Costa
Rican Organization of Judicial Investigation conduct a briefing to update University representatives on the progress of Martin's case. Hemenway asked that "all appropriate authorities pursue every available legal avenue to see that this horrible crime is solved."
Hemenway received a response from Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco this week that said the Costa Rican government was dedicated to moving forward in Martin's case.
Pacheco said in his letter that the government was "committed to seeing that the cruel murder of Shannon Martin, which has caused so much pain, be
Martin was stabbed to death after leaving a Golfito, Costa Rica, nightclub in May 2001. She was in Golfito on a KU study abroad program and would have graduated with honors a week later. The University has since discontinued the program.
solved as quickly as possible".
Carlin and Weinberg will also deliver a letter from Martin's mother, Jeanette Stauffer, and her family to Costa Rican officials.
"Mrs. Stauffer has really been encouraging us to use the clout that the University carries," Carlin said.
Weinberg and Carlin will meet with
Donovan Atkinson/Kansan
Jorge Rojas, the director of the Organization of Judicial Investigation, and Lineth
Short-term lease options are available
By Jessica Palimenio jpalimenio@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
From December graduation to study abroad, there are a number of reasons students seek short-term leases.
Students needing shortened lease terms often have to look harder to find apartments to accommodate them.
Kyle Cohlmia, Stillwater, Okla., sophomore, is planning to stay in Lawrence over the summer even though Pi Beta Phi sorority house where she lives will be closed.
Cohlmia and her friends will subleasing while working and attending class over the summer, but there are a few other options available to students.
Fox Run apartments, 4500 Overland Drive, offers three- to 12-month lease terms at no extra cost. Manager Mike Smith said it was important to accommodate people's different situations.
"We have a lot of fraternity and sororities that, when their houses close for the summer, they decide they want to stay in Lawrence. We also offer just a summer term lease to help them out," Smith said.
Smith said he had a high rate of retention from residents who wanted to stay after their short-term leases expired.
The complex also offers an all-inclusive utility package, where the utilities are paid by the apartment during a shortened lease at a flat rate with no inflation and no utility deposit.
Master Plan Management offers six, nine- and 12-month leases at no additional cost at two of its locations.
"Some people like to have the shortterm lease option. They don't like being locked in for a full year," said Michelle Paterson, Master Plan leasing agent.
There is sometimes an additional cost to the complex for offering this option. Park 25, 2401 W. 25th St., charges an additional fee of $50 per month to sign a short-term lease.
There is also the possibility of subleasing for a short time. Mastercraft Management does not allow short-term leases, but it does have an option to sublease. Mastercraft keeps a list of residents interested in subleasing their apartments. Then the management puts apartment hunters in contact with those wanting to sublease
"The corporation tells me it's for the paper work and trying to lease an apartment at mid-year can be more difficult," said Valerie Foos, Park 25 leasing agent.
Mastercraft also advertises subleases, but it is a joint effort with the residents.
"We encourage them to also put fliers up and advertise on their own," said Bobbie Wintel. Mastercraft leasing agent.
There is a $100 fee for apartment residents to sublease their apartments with Mastercraft.
Edited by Anne Mantey
Erich Buer, Lawrence resident and produce assistant, rotates organic produce at the Community Mercantile Co-op, 901 Iowa St., which is seeking certification to be official organic handlers from the Midwest Organic Services Association. "I hope people embrace it," Buer said about the future of organic foods. "It is so much better than subsidizing chemical agriculture."
Brandon Baker/Kansan
Students pick organic foods
Food industry growing; focus on environment, health
By Nikki Overfelt
noverfelt@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Using Clairol Herbal Essences products isn't the only organic experience KU students are choosing these days.
The organic food industry is growing nationwide, said Lisa Taylor, public information officer for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, and college students are also choosing to dig in.
Organic agriculture is an ecological production system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity, and it is based on practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony, according to the National Organic Standards Board for the United States Department of Agriculture.
A concern for the environment and for their health are the main reasons people are choosing to eat organic, Taylor said. With all of the processed food out there, she said, people are looking for something simpler.
These are the two reasons why Aaron Paden, Lawrence senior, chooses to eat organic foods, he said.
Organic foods are not genetically modified and are made without using pesticides, so they are safer and more environmentally sound, Paden said.
Supporting local farmers by purchasing through a co-op is another reason
he likes eating organic products, he said.
Choosing organic foods is not just a trend that will fade with college students, Paden said, because of the world they have grown up in.
"The younger generation is more aware of environmental issues," he said.
Hadley Ruggles, Overland Park
SEE ORGANIC FOODS ON PAGE 7A
Ash Wednesday starts Lenten season
By Cal Creek
ccreek@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Students looking to recover from Mardi Gras hangovers might want to include palm ashes along with water Tylenol Today marks the Christian holiday of Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season.
According to Seasons of the Church Year by Jane Furlong, Ash Wednesday is
the 40th day, not including Sundays,
before Easter. It is named after the custom of burning the palms from Palm Sunday and placing the ashes on the foreheads of the faithful in the form of a cross, an outward symbol of inward repentance.
“It's the beginning of the season of Lent, it symbolizes penance,” the Rev. Vince Krische of the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, said. “There’s considered to be sacred power in ashes.”
Ash Wednesday is not solely a Catholic holiday. It is also observed by some Protestants, and several services will be provided on campus today.
Krische said many Catholics observe penance, increased prayer and charity during the 40 days of Lent in an attempt to become better people. And if everybody becomes a better person, the Church becomes better, too, he said.
For many Christians, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of deprivation.
Many give up vices or fast in some form. United Methodist Campus Pastor Phil Shull said a modern form of fasting occurred when Christians gave up a meal once a week or gave money to a charity.
With the beginning of Lent, many churches direct those who want to become Christians into the final steps of their studies, culminating on Easter Sunday. For students who are already Chris-
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SEE WEDNESDAY ON PAGE 7A
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