Wednesday, June 24,1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 7
Legal Services works as student adviser, advocate
By Joyco Nowman
Kansan staff writer
Legal Services for Students does more than just advise students on speeding tickets and alcohol charges.
With summer apartment leases coming to an end and students moving into other residences, the office sees several landlord-tenant cases.
Problems arise with returned security deposits and apartment repairs, or the lack thereof.
The office regularly assists students with writing wills and contracts, troubles with consumer products, alcohol offenses, speeding tickets, and taxes.
"In the past year, I have helped students with divorces and name changes. My services have saved students a lot of money instead of paying an hourly wage to a Lawrence attorney for help and advice," said staff attorney Braxton Copley.
Legal Services for Students is completely funded by Student Senate through campus fees.
In the past, two restrictions have been placed on Legal Services for Students. One is that attorneys are prohibited from advising students against one another. The other restriction forbids the office from advising students on cases against the University.
Starting this fall, Legal Services for Students will be allowed to advise students against the University. The policy change was approved by Student Senate last year.
"I think at this campus students feel like a number. This change in policy will help students not feel like they are getting the runaround," said Legal Services for Students director Jo Hardesty. "We will be able to help facilitate students to deal with problems with the University."
This summer, aside from working on student cases, the office also is doing research. The attorneys are looking into cases between other schools and students to prepare themselves for the upcoming year.
The office is located in Room 148 of Burge Union. There are always three full-time attorneys in the office, and during the school year, there also are six part-time law students.
Hardesty said that seeking legal advice and meeting with an attorney was a painless process. During the summer, students can make next-day appointments or can be seen on a walk-in basis.
Legal Services for Students attorneys often go beyond advising to make phone calls and write letters on a student's behalf to negotiate between students and courts.
The number of students seeking legal advice increases significantly at the beginning of the school year. Students seeking advice during August and September are encouraged to make an appointment.
City debates pool
By Jenny Oakson Kansan staff writer
Several Lawrence swimmers and University of Kansas Athletic department staff want a new 50-meter pool, but neither the city nor the University is swimming in money.
Last night, the Lawrence City Commission took public comments and a letter from KU Athletic director Bob Frederick strongly supporting a larger pool option for the proposed indoor aquatic center near Free State High School.
The leading two of four design options for the center differ in pool sizes, 25 meters and 50 meters, as well as price, $7.6 million and $9.5 million. The
center will be financed by the city's recreation fund along with Lawrence property and sales taxes, and city cannot afford the extra $2 million.
"We have an obligation to the taxpayers not to betray their trust with overspending," said Commissioner John Nalbandian. "I understand that everyone, including KU, would appreciate a bigger pool, but unless they can find the $2 million, we can't accommodate them."
Frederick said that although the athletic department does not have money to spend, he was willing to pay a fair user's fee.
Frederick cited several instances in which the University opened its facilities to the community, including the "Red Dog Days" high school program at Memorial Stadium and the open hours in Allen Field House and
"As a citizen, not an athletic director, I'm convinced that a 50-meter pool will best serve the community. And I wish we could help, but we can't." Frederick said.
Anshutz Sports Pavilion for local walkers.
Gary Kempf, head swimming coach at the University, also spoke in support of the 50-meter pool. He suggested that the commission consider new ideas like creating a City Aquatics Director position and marketing the larger pool in hopes of attracting more funds.
"I'm afraid that in 30 years, Lawrence will outgrow a 25-meter pool, and we'll be back here to discuss expansion costs." Kemp said.
Overcrowding at aquatic centers resonated with adult swimmers, youth swimming coaches, and the outdoor aquatic center staff. Complaints of limited space and time poured out from community members during the meeting.
"Speaking on behalf of all adult swimmers, there are not enough pools for our immense and increasing swimming interest in Lawrence," said Bob Lockwood, swimming instructor.
Lockwood also spoke about the limited adult swim hours at the outdoor pools in the summer along with scarce time at the Robinson Aquatic Center and the Carl Knox Natatorium, 1901 Louisiana, in the fall and winter.
The commission voted to delay any design decisions for two to three weeks. As requested by both Kempf and Frederick, it will meet with representatives from the Parks and Recreation department and the University of Kansas athletic department before continuing any development plans for the center.
Be biker friendly
Clay Comfort, chairman of the Lawrence Bicycle Advisory Committee, helps Lawrence traffic technician, Larry Jameson put up the first "Share the Road" sign. The sign was posted June 17 on the east side of the 600 block of Tennessee Street. There are plans to hang signs at various locations throughout the city, hoping to create a safer environment for cyclists on busy streets. The sign was manufactured by the Lawrence Public Works department. The city reviewed signs from Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, Colorado, Nevada and Oregon. Photo by Lizz Weber/KANSAN
Greasy joke turns into business for entrepreneurs
Lawrence couple fills a niche with their hair pomade
man staff writer
By Michael Martin
Kansan staff writer
For two local entrepreneurs, grease is the word that means business.
Lawrence residents Todd and Leslie Karnahan make and market American Greaser, a waxy hair pomade, from the kitchen of their Delaware Street home. The business that began as a joke last year has grown to dominate their lives and living space
"There's some kind of grease product in every room in the house," Leslie said.
Two 50-gallon drums of bulk petroleum stand in their garage. Buckets and a melter line their kitchen. It is an arrangement that involves elbow grease for Leslie, who competes for cooking space with buckets of processed wax.
"I'm constantly scrubbing things down," she said. "One day is bread day, the next is grease day."
The process begins when Todd takes
But not before a step that makes American Greaser the Cracker Jack of hair products: the pomade is poured on top of a small plastic toy—such as army men, spiders and skull-shaped rings—that is revealed as the product is used.
petroleum in buckets and melts it in their kitchen. The pomade is scented with a fragrance Leslie approved, and is poured by hand into small flat containers resembling chewing-tobacco jars.
Three varieties of American Greaser, which have the consistency of soft candle wax, are sold in bars and shops.
Randy Crowle, owner of Sakaroff's, 12 E. Eighth St., said American Grace had more than doubled the salon's total styling-product sales.
Crowell said customers ranged from 8 year-olds who buy it just for the toy to 50-year-old women with long hair.
American Greaser's wide appeal surprised Todd, who intended it to be a styling aid for flat tops and pompadours. He thought it would appeal to the punkskateboarder-rockabilly scene.
"I always used pomade as a teenage punker," Todd said. "We did no market research."
At Christmas 1996, Todd filled a '50ser era grease container with a pomade prototype and gave it to a friend in jest. Then he began experimenting with
petroleum samples, which were given to him by his grandfather.
Leslie oversees all accounting and marketing, including American Greaser's small catalog of T-shirts and grease. Sales are sporadic--from $100 to $1000 a month--but increasing.
Todd, who works as a construction worker, painter and bartender,might give himself to the grease full time.
The pair's future plans include expanding distribution and adding a men's accessory line and more T-shirt designs to the catalog.
Paul Burnett of the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership in Kansas City, Mo., said there were several local resources for home-business owners. Small Business Development Centers, as well as The Kauffman Center's web site, wwwEntreworld.org, and Fast Track program provide support.
Burnett said entrepreneur venture out on their own for disparate reasons, but all share the common thread of passion.
It's something Todd and Leslie Karnahan have been able to preserve, in their marriage as well as their business.
"I love it. It's nice to be in business with your husband," Leslie said. "It can tear some people apart, but it's brought us closer."
Todd and Leslie Karnahan stand behind one of the 50-gallon drums of bulk petroleum. Photo By Michael Martin/KANSAN.