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THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
STUDENT SENATE
VOLUME 120ISSUE 130
Safety concerns halt debate
Anonymous threats and 'unsubstantiated rumors' spur University officials to cancel event
BY AMANDA THOMPSON AND ADAM SAMSON athompson@kansan.com asamson@kansan.com
Statements by KU administration remain unclear about the nature of the threats posed to the University Daily Kansan Student Senate debate scheduled for Monday afternoon, which was canceled after the event's door was outfitted with a metal detector.
University officials moved the debate, first scheduled to take place on the lawn of Stauffer-Flint Hall, to Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union early Monday morning, Marlesa Roney, vice provost for
student success, said the event was moved as a safety precaution, after hearing "unsubstantiated rumors."
"It was just concern that there would be some kind of violence today in relation
to the debate," Roney said.
Brenna Hawley, Salina junior and Kansan editor-in-chief, visited Woodruff Auditorium before speaking with Roney about the necessity of the metal detector.
cel the debate after talking with Roney. Hawley said her main concern was the safety of participants.
Hawley said she decided to can-
"It was just concern that there would be some kind of violence today in relation to the debate."
Adam McGonagle, Wichita junior and student body president, said
Boy, president, said there were multiple threats made during the weekend to the KU Public Safety Office. Kansas Union staff placed a metal detector at the entrance of the auditorium about 10:30 a.m.
Lisa Kring, conference coordinator for the Kansas Union
said the Union usually set up a metal detector for an event that
"If we have Public Safety requiring the use of a metal detector, we're going to use it," Kring said. "Safety of our students and staff is
See KUJH video coverage of the cancellation at Kansan.com/videos.
KUJH
posed a potential safety concern.
SEE DEBATE ON PAGE 3A
Tyler Waugh/NKAMSAN
A metal detector was placed inside the entrance to Woodruff Auditorium Monday morning.
The Student Senate debate was to be held there Monday afternoon.
The event was canceled because of safety concerns for students, according to University administration.
CRIME
Former student pleads guilty
UNWELCOME VISITORS
BY ALEXANDRA GARRY agarry@kansan.com
A former KU student is serving time in the Douglas County Jail and faces deportation after entering a plea agreement for two counts of felony animal cruelty during a preliminary hearing Monday.
Cem Basoflas, 21, of Istanbul Turkey, pleaded guilty to severe-
ing a cat in August 2008 and killing a dog in February. As part of the agreement, his bond was revoked
Basoflas
and he was taken into custody immediately following his hearing to serve 30 days before his sentencing May 8.
The maximum sentence for the charges is one year in jail. The minimum is 30 days.
Under the agreement,
Basoflas will pay a $500 fine
for each count and undergo a
psychological evaluation while
in custody.
Basolfas' lawyer, Sarah Swain,
presented the plea agreement
and said Basolfas also agreed
More on Basoflas' day in court can be found at Kansan.com/videos.
SEE BASOFLAS ON PAGE 3A
Photo Illustration by Weston White/KANSAN
Renters seek ways to combat increase in trespassers, property damage and burglaries
Students worry about safety of houses
BY KAYLA REGAN kregan@kansan.com
One night last semester, Laura Mueller woke up and saw a man banging on her third floor window, demanding to be let in.
Despite the city's overall decrease in crime, the Lawrence Police Department reported increased incidents of trespassing, burglary and criminal damage to property in 2008 than in 2007. Mueller said that she took basic safety precautions, like keeping her doors locked, but that because she lived in an older home, it was harder to secure her property.
"It was eight girls all in a room screaming trying to get him away," Mueller said. "He kept trying to open the window and right when the cops came he went
Mueller, Plano, Texas, senior, and seven other girls in her house called 911.
Mueller said the police arrived before the man, like others before him, found his own way inside.
downstairs."
"Our door doesn't latch well so it goes open because it won't hold, our back door falls off, and our windows don't work," Mueller said. "The landlords fix it in the cheapest and fastest way they can. It lasts for
a little while then it breaks again."
Robert Baker, ed. of Housing and Credit Counseling Services, said he frequently received complaints about a property's faulty safety features, such as broken locks or entrance keypads. Baker said he
landlord's permission before fixing a safety problem themselves.
"Our door doesn't latch well so it goes open because it won't hold."
understood why students would want to take such matters into their own hands. But he said renters needed their
permission before fixing problem themselves, because it could alter the property value or their taxes.
Aaron Caruthers, Lawrence senior, said he couldn't do much to prevent people from trespassing, stealing and destroying his property. Since moving into his house on 13th and Ohio streets in August.
Caruthers said cell phones, keys and other items had been stolen from his home, although he did
stop a group of men from taking his couch.
Caruthers said he had also dealt with people damaging his property, like the time his TV satellite was kicked over, or when someone smashed the chairs on his porch.
"It's drunk people trying to destroy your stuff," Caruthers said. "Nothing seems to go right for very long."
Mueller also said people coming home from the bars caused problems around her house on 13th and Ohio streets. She said people had broken into her house at least twice. Although the intruders
SEE SAFETY ON PAGE 3A
index
Classifieds...6A Opinion...9A
Crossword...8A Sports...10A
Horoscopes...8A Sudoku...8A
All contents, unless stated otherwise; © 2009 The University Daily Kansan
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