FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2003
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
NEWS
Area firefighters increase number of nightclub inspections
By Lauren Bristow
lbristow@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Students waiting in line to get into their favorite crowded bars and nightclubs will continue to wait as area firefighters crack down on fire safety violations after two national nightclub tragedies.
Busy nightclubs that are popular to students in areas like downtown Lawrence and Westport have seen the numbers of inspections rise during the past week after 21 people died as they tried to exit a Chicago nightclub Feb. 17. A week later, 97 people died after a fire broke out in a West Warwick, R.I., nightclub.
"I've seen firemen inspecting crowded bars before," said Ross
Schraeder, Dodge City senior. "It's for my own safety. If it's going to protect people then I don't mind waiting to get into a crowded place."
Last weekend, Kansas City, Mo., firefighters inspected 60 commercial properties and issued 11 notices of hazards, which are minor infractions, said Greg Vincent, chief fire marshal of the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department.
Vincent said minor infractions include exit signs that aren't illuminated and minor door blockages.
"They are things that can be fixed while we are there." Vincent said.
Random spot inspections are new for the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department. Previously, commercial buildings, like bars and nightclubs, were inspected annually during daytime hours and at
night after complaints from either patrons or from police in the area, Vincent said.
Firefighters visited America's Pub, 510 Westport Road in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday and Saturday nights, said Chris Pearson, the club's manager.
"Quite simply, as long as your fire exits are unlocked and unblocked, you have fire extinguishers and working emergency lights, there isn't much else to do." Pearson said. "It's pretty much about just being responsible."
Although Vincent would not comment on how often the city planned to do random inspections, he said the city planned to continue them.
"If we want the inspections to be effective, we don't want the word to get out how often we are
going to be out doing those inspections," Vincent said.
Nearly 400 patrons at the Granada were surprised Saturday night by a planned visit from a Lawrence firefighter. Club coowner James Radina, asked Rich Barr, the Lawrence fire marshal, to send someone in to speak about fire safety. A firefighter spoke on stage to the crowd that had gathered to watch the band No Lessons.
Barr spoke with patrons about what do in case of a fire and how to protect themselves.
"It was about being proactive and the fireman received a good response from the crowd," Radina said.
The Lawrence Fire Department has inspected clubs, restaurants and theaters randomly
though a night consultant program since the early 1980s, Barr said. The department has six personnel with two working each three-day rotation.
"They are required to go out at least one night for every three-day rotation," Barr said. "Typically, they are on the street three to five nights a week."
Barr said inspectors go out after 10 p.m. and inspect for three to four hours at a time. The inspectors are checking that all exits are unlocked and unblocked, exit signs and emergency lights are illuminated and working properly and counting the number of occupants at the establishment.
Depending on the severity of a violation, Barr said the establishment owner could receive a fine up to $2,500 or six months in jail.
He also said that he had never seen an establishment receive the most severe fines.
"If we determine that an establishment has had three violations during a 12-month period, we take that information to the city commission," Barr said. "The city commission has the authority to suspend or revoke an establishment's liquor license."
Barr offered club patrons two pieces of advice if they thought an environment was unsafe.
"The first thing is to make sure that the owner or manager is aware of the situation, not a bartender or doorman." Barr said. "The next thing to do is call the fire department directly and we'll send someone out immediately."
— Edited by Amber Byarlay
Religious panel discusses war
Bv Cal Creek
By Cal Creek
ccreek@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Six religious leaders discussed the nature of war and what it means to their specific faiths last night.
The members represented the Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and Protestant faiths for a crowd of about 55 students and Lawrence residents.
To make their points throughout the evening, the panelists quoted scriptures and teachings, told stories and spoke of current events.
"We thought it was essential with the war on Iraq to approach the issue through a faith perspective," said Jennifer Donnally, Lawrence sophomore and event coordinator. Donnally and Erin Larive, Lawrence sophomore, organized the event.
Titled, "What Does Religion Have to Say About War?" the panel met last night at the Walnut Room in the Kansas Union.
Each panelist discussed what his faith thought was necessary to justify a war.
The Protestant representative, Caleb Stegall, said Protestants must look at war with hopeful realism to recognize the sin in all humans, even themselves. People must temper their self-righteousness and not assume that God is always on their side, he said.
Other members of the panel said that the pursuit of peace came before any thoughts of war.
"Any Jewish discussion of war must begin with peace," said Ken Katz, the Jewish representative. "The Torah demands that one must seek for peace."
Audience members wanted to know if an attack on Iraq would
be perceived by the rest of the world as an attack on Islam, and what wars in the past have been justified.
The Rev. Vince Krische, Catholic representative, said the Catholic Church had seven principles that must be attained if a war was to be justified.
Some cited historical figures who best represented their views.
"The most illustrious apostle of nonviolence was Gandhi," said Surendra Bhana, the Hindu representative and professor of history.
Dan Breslauer, the representative for Islam and professor of religious studies said that, to a Muslim, war should never be out of aggression or for the conquest for property, but only if Islam or a person's way of life was threatened.
—Edited by Ryan Wood
'Taboo' topic aids women's issues
By Lauren Airey lairey@kansan.com lairey staff writer
The February Sisters Association brought The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler to the Kansas Union last night as part of a V-Day College Campaign to raise money and awareness to stop violence against women and girls.
About 400 people attended the third annual performance, a celebration of all things "down there."
Carey Sherrer, February Sisters Associations co-chairwoman, said it was amazing to see people's reactions. "It's so taboo in our culture," she said. "This event is eye-opening for everyone."
Performances will continue tonight and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. An informational fair is open across the hall before and during each show, including vagina trivia.
"This kind of event takes the stigma off the word vagina," said Shelagh Jessop, Grayslake, Ill. sophomore. "It gets the stories of women out there."
Because the play is performed by a local volunteer cast and led by a local volunteer director, all proceeds from ticket sales and ruffle tickets benefit Women's Transitional Care Services, Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, Rape Victim Survivor Service, the Sacred Hoop Project and the V-Day Initiative.
Jerilyn Smith, director of survivor services for the Rape Victim-Survivor Service, said the event created awareness. "People can make a connection to the importance of awareness about violence," she said.
Stephen Moles, Lawrence
freshman, said it was crazy to be a guy in the The Vagina Monologues. "I was trying to find the rhythm and the voice of the piece."
The monologues are based on more than 200 interviews with women around the world.
Gail Krotty, February Sisters Association co-chairwoman and Lisbon, Ohio, graduate student, said there was positive energy. "It's a play that makes you feel things instead of just watching."
In 2002, more than 800 productions of The Vagina Monologues took place on college campuses and in communities to raise funding and awareness for V-Day. A monologue on the struggles of Native-American women was also added to the monologues.
— Edited by Christy Dendurent
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