Friday
January 24, 2003
Vol. 113. Issue No.82
Today's weather
26°
Tonight: 2°
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Kansas moves past loss to face No. 1 Arizona tonight p. 1B
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Contact Kristi Henderson, Jenna Goepfert, and Justin Henning at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
Identity theft'unlikely'in hacking
By Henry C. Jackson
cjackson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
International students whose information was stolen in a hacking incident at the University of Kansas should not worry about the incident affecting travel to and from their home countries, said Chris Bentley, representative for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Despite concerns from University officials, Bentley stressed the difficulties that someone would face in trying to use the stolen information.
"For someone to use this information for travel they would need a false passport, I-20 and visa and
this would be highly unlikely," Bentley said.
The I-20 is a form completed by the university where international students intend to study and is used to obtain the F-1 student visa, which allows entry into the United States.
Bentley said INS was not concerned by the hacking incident because it did not compromise the national Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The files compromised by the hacker were part of a University test to comply with an INS mandate.
Reaction on campus to the security breach was mixed. As University officials moved swiftly to aid and calm the students whose information was stolen, international
students called upon the University to do more to protect its computer systems.
"I know from experience the computer security system at the University is not very good," said Raed Al Bilbissi, Jeddah, Saudia Arabia senior and a computer science major. "That being said, I was surprised with the level of the security files."
Arun Arargwal, president of the KU Cultural India Club, echoed Al Bilbissi's sentiment.
"We need to take some drastic steps to make sure this doesn't happen again." Argarwal said. "We need to look ahead."
Lynn Bretz, director of University Relations, said the University would send a packet of information
to all affected students, and a Web site would be put up to inform the students about what they could do to protect themselves from any further harm.
Al Bilbissi said he thought the University should take full responsibility for the hacking incident.
"I think if someone uses our information, if we are harmed in any way, the University should be held fully responsible," he said.
University officials discovered that personal files for 1,450 international students were hacked into Tuesday, and they alerted the students via e-mail Wednesday. The information in the files was compiled as a test file so that the Univer-
Aaron Showalter/Kansan
SEF HACKER ON PAGE 5A
Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor for University Relations, and Joe Potts, director of International Student and Scholar Services answer questions about an incident of computer hacking into a file server. The University is assisting the FBI in identifying and apprehending the suspect or suspects.
Whistle may be replaced
By Lauren Airey lairey@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The steam whistle that has signaled the end of classes since 1912 was temporarily silenced yesterday.
The whistle broke away from the power plant structure next door to the Facilities Operations offices shortly after 9:20 a.m. Wednesday. The damage caused to the bronze bowl near the bottom of the steam whistle was beyond repair, said George Cone, assistant director of Facilities Operations.
Cone has been in contact with Richardson's Landing, a whistle manufacturer in Cincinnati, since Wednesday morning about materials and pricing to replace the whistle.
"We watched it blow 25 feet in the air." Cone said. "And this was the not first time. We fixed it earlier this year and we had a hope and a prayer, but I knew this would happen. It's at a point that it has to be replaced."
Cone said he wanted to replace the whistle entirely and estimates the replacement could cost $2,000 to $2,500,depending on the metal. The money for a "We will have a new whistle, but not next week." George Cone Assistant director of Facilities Operations
would come from the Facilities Operations maintenance fund.
A replicate whistle could take a month or more to make because Richardson's Landing doesn't have a pattern for KU's whiste, which came from a 1939 German freight ship.
"We will have a new whistle, but not next week." Cone said.
The whistle's temporary silence has been noted by students and faculty.
"I always notice the whistle and I like it because it lets me know when class is over," said Sarah Jewell, Lawrence graduate student. "I miss it when it's not going."
Cone said it was important the new whistle would sound and look the same as the current one.
"I've been here five years and the whistle is the No. 1 thing I hear about," Cone said. "Anytime it's off or it sounds bad, I hear about it. It has to be important because I get plenty of phone calls."
Edited by Michelle Burhenn
On Christopher Entwhistle's floor in McCollum Hall, the clink of knitting needles has become as normal as the sounds of televisions and stereos.
Entwhistle, Chicago freshman, who started knitting during his first semester at the University of Kansas, said he was not embarrassed by his new hobby. He isn't the only resident on the eighth floor of McCollum Hall who took up knitting last semester.
"I know that there are some guys on the floor that are closet knitters," Entwhistle said.
Carolyn Cornett, eighth-floor resident, said knitting and crocheting were relaxing, and when people saw her working on a project, they wanted to learn.
"I started out making Beanie Baby clothes," Cornett said. "But I've moved on to much bigger and better things since then."
Cornett, Wichita freshman, taught knitting and crocheting to several floormates. Cornett has been knitting since elementary school when her mother taught her.
Cornett and three of her floormates
knit or crochet together several times a week.
"Usually someone is sitting in their room working on a knitting project with their door open," said Laci Gerthart, Hutchinson freshman. "You'll pop your head in, see what they are doing and go grab a project from your room to work on with them."
Gerhart learned to knit from floormate Alicia Vierthaler, Spearville sophomore.
Vierthaler took up knitting over the summer because she could make a variety of projects.
One reason the residents on the eighth floor of McCollum Hall took up knitting last semester was to make Christmas gifts for family members. Gifts ranged from hats and scarves to afghans.
"We all made gifts for Christmas," Kerri Henderson, Topeka freshman, said. "It's great to see your family wear or use what you made them."
Socialization is another reason why students have taken up knitting. Several knitting circles have popped up on
Alicia Vierthaler, Spearville sophomore, knits with Laci Gerhart, Hutchinson freshman, on the eight floor of McCollum Hall. Along with other members of the floor, Vierthaler and Gerhart knit about seven hours a week and on average use about thirty skins of yarn a month
campus, including the Activist Craft Circle and Knit for Peace: Drop Stitches Not Bombs.
The Activist Craft Circle started during Spring 2002 and meets the first, third and, when applicable, fifth Monday at the lobby of the Kansas Uni on from 6 to 8 p.m.
Lindsey Gold/Kansan
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for different activist groups to get together and discuss what is going on in their group," said Karen Keith, Tula, Okla., senior and group organizer. "Basically the idea came from people talking about the need for an active alliance group on campus."
Keith said that, depending on the time of year, the attendance at the circle varied, but members from groups such as Amnesty International, KU Greens and Delta Force had participated.
People work on a variety of projects ranging from knitting to crocheting to needlepoint.
"Just about anything goes," Keith said. "People just drop in, work on a project and talk about the needs of their group."
Last semester Knit for Peace: Drop Stitches Not Bombs met weekly at Hashinger Hall to discuss politics and
SEE KNITTING ON PAGE 8A
Fine arts begins search for dean
By Lauren Airey lairey@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The search is on for a new fine arts dean.
A 15-member search committee met for the first time Jan. 16 to begin a national search for a new dean for the School of Fine Arts. Toni-Marie Montgomery, dean of fine arts, will be leaving the University of Kansas to become the
Montgomery
"I was not looking for another job." Montgomery said. "It was a difficult decision to make."
dean of the School of Music at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., effective July 1.
The search committee's 15 members represent the three departments in the School of Fine Arts — art, design and music and dance — and a representative from the Lied Center, which reports to the dean of fine arts. The committee is made up of faculty, staff and a student.
"This position involves cultural activities that affect everyone's lives in this region," said John Gaunt, chairman of the search committee. "We want a really outstanding person with a broad background in fine arts, demonstrable administrative abilities and someone we feel will be terrific for KU."
Gaunt said the committee hoped to start interviews before spring break and have the new dean ready to begin by July 1. The advertised deadline for applications is Feb.15.
Montgomery found Northwestern's art department appealing because of its prestige at being ranked 10th in the nation for all universities and sixth in music programs by U.S. News and World Report, as well as the school's nearness to Chicago and the private institution's opportunities for fundraising.
But her work here isn't done yet.
"As far as the remainder of the semester, I'd like to focus on completing the five faculty searches in the School of Fine Arts and make a smooth transition for my successor by planning events for the
SEE DEAN ON PAGE 5A
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