Thursday, April 30, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
The Lazer rocks, Rolling Stone says
Local station receives honor for 'taking risks'
ey lamara Mutter
miller@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Lazer was selected as one of the "Ten Stations That Don't Suck," in the April 30 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine.
Lawrence radio station KLZR. 105.9 The Lazer, received a surprise honor earlier this month.
The article explored the dominance that corporations
have on radio-station programming. The Lazer was praised for its variety and its persistence to remain a modern-rock station.
Hank Booth, general manager of the station, said The Lazer was a family owned operation, which allowed more freedom in music selection. He said The Lazer was willing to take risks, such as playing songs that were not as familiar to the listening audience.
"We want to be cutting edge, and we feel that we are," he said. "We played Chumbawamba three years ago, now look at it."
Booth said that the playlist was selected by Roger T.
"The ones (radio stations) that aim at the cookie-cutter approach are always looking at the bottom line,"
Dodger, programming director; Don Oborne, music director; and Jeff Petterson, the host of the local music show on Sunday nights.
Booth said a large corporation sometimes chose the programming for its radio stations, and this could
alienate listeners.
"I don't try to dictate the playlist," he said. "I'm 51 years old. If I played what I liked, we'd lose our audience."
"It always plays good music," she said. "It plays a lot of alternative and some rock."
Kelsi Ricke, Wellington freshman, said she frequently listened to The Lazer. She did not know the station was mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine.
Booth said the station would continue to keep their programming fresh. He said that because the station was in a college town, the playlist could explore different
venues, such as local music, and still be profitable. Other radio stations cannot afford to take those risks, he said.
"The ones that aim at the cookie-cutter approach are always looking at the bottom line," he said.
Katy Porman, Davenport, Ohio, sophomore, said she liked to listen to The Lazer because other stations tended to overplay songs.
"The Lazer does, too," she said. "But they also play a lot of variety."
Booth said the station aimed to satisfy an 18- to 24-year-old audience. However, sometimes the music appeals to an older crowd, too.
"I even listen to The Lazer," he said.
KU retirees honored at annual dinner
By Emily C. Forsyth etorsyth @kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The University bid farewell to 36 dedicated employees last night at the annual retirement dinner for faculty and unclassified staff.
More than 400 people attended the dinner in the Kansas Union Ballroom. The event honors faculty and staff who are retiring or have retired this academic year.
The honorees were guests of Chancellor Robert Hemenway. Others who attended paid $15 per ticket.
"I know so many people here," Henry said. "After that many years, you're bound to."
Retiring faculty and unclassified staff members eat and talk at the annual retirement dinner. The event, last night in the Kansas Union Ballroom, honored 36 faculty and staff members for their service at the University of Kansas. Photo by Corie Waters/KANSAN
"People come together as an academic community because they believe in the idea of the University," Hemenwav said.
Hemenway praised retirees' dedication to improving the world through their work at the University.
"It's nice to be a guest," she said.
Jane Johnson, secretary to the chancellor, retired last month after 26 years of service at the University. She said she had helped organize the annual dinner for many years.
Other retirees said they had not slowed down after leaving the University.
Johnson said she planned to use her spare time to visit her children and take a break.
"I retired in the spring because the golfing season is starting," she said. "I'm going to take the summer to relax."
Joseph Collins, herpetologist and faculty emeritus, said that he had just finished publishing his 21st book, a guide to reptiles and amphibians. Collins said he planned to continue working on projects and travelling
"It's far busier than I had ever anticipated, but I love it," Collins said. "I feel like I have a couple more decades of professional productivity in me."
The retirement dinner was sponsored by the chancellor's office and the Endowment Association. A grant made by Walter Bohnstengel, 1910 KU mechanical engineering graduate, helps finance the event.
RETIREES
Maria Alexander, libraries
Len Alfano, journalism
Robert C. Beause, physics and astronomy
Jennifer Boon, Frances and Utiana
Juilli Merte Boon, French and Italian
Albert W. Burgstahler, chemistry
John Clark, environmental studies and history
- Kenneth O. Cogger, business
- Jack Cohn, English
- Joseph Collins, Natural History Museum
- John Easley, civil and environmental engineering
Joseph Collins, Natural History Museum
Henry Fullenwider, Germanic languages
and literatures
Edna Galle, education
Marlin Harmony, chemistry
Minnah Harmony, Elenianna
Nancy Harmony, Higuchi Biosciences Center
Nancy Harmony, Higuchi Biosciences Center
Jim Henry, University Placement Center
Jane Johnson, chancellor's office
Herman Leon, social welfare
Richard Kay, history
Robert Lewis, University Relations
VI enlager, communication studies
Edward Mattila, music and dance
Howard Mossberg, research and public service
University relations
Wil Linkugel, communication studies
Herman Munczek, physics and astronomy
Lynn Nelson, history
Edward Matilda, music and dance
Haworth Russell, music and dance
Carolyn Neuringer, English
- Richard Robinson, geology
- Hylne-Boulder University
Hartan Roeal, University Relations
Koel Reinhardt
Karl Rosen, classics
Jo Scannell, pharmaceutical chemistry
Anschiller, Museum of Anthropol
Ann Schlager, Museum of Anthropology
Gunther Schlager, biological sciences
Gunther Schlager, biological sciences
Guynn Smith, Kemper Cogeshall, life science
Owen Spitz, Kansas Geological Survey
Phill Walks, habitat and genetics and ecology
*Phil Wells*, botany and systematics and ecology *Watthews Wuttchett, biological sciences*
A. Hill, biology and systems and ecology
Charles Wyttenbach, biological sciences
Jerome Yochim, biological sciences
Crimestoppers may give caller $1,000 for tips in murder case
By Rannie Wachter
rwachter@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
A Lawrence resident may be rewarded as much as $1,000 today for tipping off CrimeStoppers in August.
Lawrence police officer Tom Moore, CrimeStoppers coordinator, said the individual gave information that led to the arrest last week of Deon Hale, the suspect in the 1997 murder of Robert Baldwin, Lawrence resident.
Baldwin was found dead July 23, 1997, underneath an I-70 overpass in northeast Douglas County, Sheriff Loren C. Anderson said. A coroner's report showed that he died of a gunshot wound to the head.
Anderson said that Hale became a suspect in the case in August and that he was arrested April 17 in North Dakota, partly because of the caller's tip.
"We had been looking at this individual on and off for several months," Anderson said. "We had to hold off while investigators gathered the information we needed to make an arrest."
Moore said the arrest was made possible because of the informant's call.
"This caller provided valuable information that helped investigators build their case," Moore said. "It's anticipated that the board will pay the largest reward in its history."
Moore said the record for a reward by the board was $500, presented earlier this year to an individual for information given in a 1997 kidnapping and aggravated burglary case. The maximum reward the Douglas County CrimeStoppers board may present is $1,000, he said. He said the individual had requested anonymity.
"We don't even tell the investigators the sex of the caller," he said.
Moore said that although he could not specify the nature of the information given, the amount of the reward being considered showed that the tip was vital.
"We use a reward-determination sheet that balances how valuable the information is with how much the caller gets." Moore said. "The more you get out of it, the more it goes up."
Moore said that the CrimeStoppers board, which was created in November 1994, included 18 local business people, administrators from area schools and a handful of University of Kansas profes-
He said members of the board preferred to remain anonymous for safety reasons.
"If we publish too much, then we blow the program," Moore said. "We don't want the people on the board to be worrying about being followed or watched."
He said he could not disclose how the informant would gain access to the reward if the person was given one.
Moore also said he was not certain it the individual would be given the maximum reward but that he thought the caller deserved it.
"I know I'm going to ask for $1,000," he said.
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Tenzin Lodae, The Dalai Lama's Nephew Gendun Gyatso Lama Tenzin Prof. Felix Moos, University of Kansas
special guest speakers:
928 Mass. Downtown
Students for a Free Tibet Invite you to come hear
The Story of Tibet
Friday May 1st.
7:00 PM.
Kansas Union
Alderson Auditorium.
STUDENT
SENATE