CAMPUS/AREA
University Daily Kansan/Monday, February 3.1992 /
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New domestic violence law sets stricter arrest policies
By Michelle Betts Kansan staff writer
In the early television comedy, "The Honeymonerons," Ralph Kramden threatened his wife, Alice, that one would get a punch "right in the kisser."
Today, Ralph's threats could put him behind bars.
A state law that went into effect Jan. 1 mandates strict domestic violence policies. The KU and Lawrence police force a crackdown in accordance with the state law.
The law states that an officer called to handle a domestic violence complaint "shall make an arrest when they have probable cause to believe that a crime is being committed or has been committed."
Both Lawrence and KU policies also state that the crime of domestic violence includes threats of violence and physical harm, as well as physical and/or sexual abuse.
Lt. Mark Brothers, Lawrence police representative, said there were problems with the new domestic violence policy.
Every incident generates a full offense report, which has led to large amounts of paperwork, Brothers said.
Also, the law has taken away discretion the police had in deciding whether an arrest needed to be made in a domestic violence situation, he said.
"It has changed from the officer 'can' make an arrest to the officer 'shall' make an arrest," Brothers said. "Going from three to five letters makes a world of difference."
"It has changed from the officer 'can' make an arrest to the officer 'shall'
Lt. Mark Brothers Lawrencepolice
make an arrest."
Extenuating circumstances in the past that could have let officers avoid making arrests, such as considerations for an arrest's effect on children, money problems or the emotional state of people involved in the dispute, cannot be considered now, he said.
"If well-trained officers do not have a reasonable level of discretion, it really takes away much of the positive strength of having that well-trained staff," Brothers said.
Putting the aggressor in jail is not always a solution to the domestic problem. he said.
"The arrest can have a positive effect. It provides a cooling down time instead of leaving the woman alone," Robinson said.
Jean Rosenthal, a lecturer at the Applied English Center, worked with State Sen. Wint Winter Jr. on revising a draft of the bill before it became law. She said she thought Lawrence police were uncooperative when dealing with the domestic violence law and the public.
Rosenthal said she thought the Lawrence officers were not trained correctly to deal with factors involved in domestic violence.
"They need to train them not just in this law, but in the psychological things that are going on, like why battered women act the way they act," she said.
The quality of training Lawrence police receive in this matter is important to students because the police's actions, actions of the police, who live off campus, Rosenthal said.
Connie Burk, Lawrence graduate student and member of Students Against Violence Against Womyn, said Lawrence police might not comply with the intent of the law.
"They need yearly training and training for the recruits, and they need to have the attitude that this is something they need to see work," she said.
Burk said she thought KU police had a positive attitude about the policy and her willingness to work with them.
Burdel Welsh, KU police representative, said the KU police's policy followed the guidelines required by the law.
KU police also provide people involved in domestic violence cases with information about where they can receive help.
Watkins' survey highlights student satisfaction, concerns
By Katherine Manweiler
Kansan staff writer
The most recent patient satisfaction survey at Watkins Memorial Health Center indicated that KU students were overwhelmingly pleased with the services at Watkins.
However, the numbers don't tell the whole story. Positive comments outnumbered the negative comments, and many staff members were praised for their performance. But many students expressed frustration with doctors seemed rushed and that waiting time for walk-ins seemed long.
Charles Yockey, chief of staff at Watkins, who oversaw the survey, said the staff tried to be efficient and meet student needs.
Pharmacy employees distributed the survey during finals last semester. Surveys were given to 150 patients, and 95 were returned.
The pharmacy was the last stop of a Watkins visit for most respondents. Some of the staff, at least the pharmacist, were very surprised that a survey was being conducted.
Ninety-eight percent of the respondents said the waiting time for appointments or walk-ins was short or OK.
Ninety-nine percent of the respondents said their conditions and treatment were satisfactory.
All respondents said their overall opinion of the visit was OK or great.
The survey asked patients to individually rate the departments at Watkins, such as the pharmacy and gynecology clinic. The ratings for all
Watkins Memorial Health Center conducted a survey December 9-20 with 95 respondents. The results:
Watkins survey results
Waiting time for walk-in or appointment
short 33% O.K. 65% long 2%
Were your condition(s) and treatment(s) adequately explained to you?
great 69% O.K. 30% poor 1%
Rank of each section visited by surveyees. (1 is
7.95 general medical clinic 7.36 laboratory 7.30 pharmacy
7.78 urgent care 7.91 medical records 8.58 gynecology
9.00 INH/TB clinic 9.29 wart clinic 8.13 physical
8.25 immunization/allergy 7.83 nutrition clinic 7.67 medicine
Overall opinion of the visit great 77% O.K. 23%
Source: Watkins Student Health Center survey
departments ranged from 7.3 to 9.3 on a 10-point scale.
Most of the written comments complimented the friendly, helpful nature of the staff, particularly the physicians.
Many respondents said that they many clear explanations and considerate advice.
Some comments said that the examinations did not seem thorough and the
Although 98 percent of the respondents approved of the waiting time for walk-ins or appointments on the rating scale, the most frequent complaints on the survey were about the need at the pharmacy and for walk-ins.
Several students said that they did not feel they received complete, individualized care during their visits.
doctors seemed rushed.
Yockey said waiting times could be reduced significantly if more students made appointments. One-third of the patients at Watkins make appointments. The goal is to increase that number to at least half of the patients, he said.
The maximum waiting time for a
during finals was 48 minutes.
Yorkie
He said there must be a compromise between spending 30 minutes with every patient and keeping the waiting time reasonable. Appointments for the general medicine clinic are scheduled 15 minutes apart.
"The amount of time that a doctor spends with a patient is not directly related to the quality of their care," Yockey said.
Pow-wow at Haskell celebrates return of students
A member of the Eagle Talon Society takes part in the traditional dance.
Kristen Petty/KANSAN
Tribal dancers from across Kansas bring traditional event to junior college
The Head Singers pound out the beat to the "Round Dance" at Haskell Indian Junior College.
By Shelly Solon Kansan staff writer
Mark Brown and his 6-year-old daughter, Becky, approach the center of the packed room. Boom, boom, boom; the drums beat slow, then fast, then slower, then faster.
Yellow and black feathers frame their 'faces', and beads from their headaddress hang below each eye. They look dark and forth but barely lift their feet.
Brown shakes a feather in time with the music. The drums keep beating, and voices echo native songs.
Kristen Petty/KANSAN
For a moment, the audience seems to forget that they are not part of a traditional pow-wow on tribal grounds. They seem to forget that this dance is in a school gymnasium.
About 100 dancers participated in the Welcome Back Pow-Wow Saturday night at Haskell Indian Junior College in the Tony Coffin Sports Complex. Festivities included intertribal and social dancing as well as gourd dances and a dinner.
"It was a spiritual event," said Manny King, master of ceremonies for the pow-wow. "We wanted to bring in elders to give the school a spiritual blessing."
King said that the pow-wow was a welcome-back celebration for the students, faculty and staff but that it was most important for the students.
"The pow-wow gives students some cultural activity," he said. "It's important to maintain our culture and our spirituality, and we want the students involved with that."
King said the pow-wow was the first of the year. Another has been scheduled for the first week in May for commencement.
Bob Martin, president of Haskell, said that the pow-wow also was related to the activities for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America.
"We want to open up all these activities to the community," he said. "We hope we can get them involved with our culture."
The gourd dance was performed by the Intertribal Warrior Society of Wichita and the Eagle Talon Brotherhood of Kansas City, Mo.
King said that the gourd dance originated in Oklahoma and usually was performed by societies or gourd-dance clans. He said that the dance honored war veterans.
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