Thursday, April 16. 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 7
Offenders avoid trial with diversion plea
By Laura Roddy
lroddy@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
When faced with charges, such as possession of a fake ID, students may consider applying for diversion rather than going to trial or pleading guilty.
Legal Services for Students at the University of Kansas sees students every week regarding diversion programs, said Joe Hardesty, Legal Services director. Most of the cases involve alcohol, such as a minor in possession charge, a driving-under-the-influence charge or having a fake ID, Hardesty said.
Diversions also can be sought for offenses such as battery or shoplifting.
"Most of our clients are firsttime offenders," Hardesty said. "The diversion program is very good for them."
Aaron Perler, Lenexa senior,
said that diversions were beneficial depending on the circumstances of an offense.
"The first time, I was just young and scared," Perler said.
"Looking back, it was pretty
dumb to use it up."
Diversion programs may include community service, drug testing, alcohol education sessions and payment of fines. Hardesty said.
"It's a contract between you and the city," she said. "Six months to a year is pretty standard. Once you've done it, though, that's your chance. You're not going to get it again."
Once the diversion program is completed, charges are dismissed. If the program is not completed in the allotted time, prosecution will be initiated.
Hardesty said that if students were considering applying for diversion, they first should enter a not guilty plea at their arraignment. Then, they can make an appointment at Legal Services, 148 Burge Union, if they have questions. However, students seeking a diversion do not need a lawyer, Hardesty said.
Legal Services first checks the jurisdiction of the charge because diversion rules vary from court to court. The office also asks students for a copy of
DIVERSIONS
■ Designed for first-time offenders
■ Diversions apply to offenses such as drunk driving, use of a fake ID, shoplifting, minor in possession and battery
Legal Services for Students, 148 Burge Union, offers assistance at 864-5565.
- Charges are dismissed if diversion program conditions are completed by the offender within a specified amount of time
their police report, Hardesty said.
If the case involves alcohol, students must undergo an alcohol evaluation and turn it in with the diversion application.
"If it looks like it's something that can be challenged, we will try to hook them up with an attorney in Lawrence," Hardesty said.
However, diversions are not cheap.
A driving-under-the-influence diversion in Lawrence Municipal Court costs about $450, including fees for alcohol education sessions.
Local liquor store closes; searching for owner
By Chris Horton
chortion@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The future of a popular Lawrence liquor store that closed earlier this week remains uncertain.
Patterson Liquor, 846 Illinois St., closed Monday after the contractual owner of the liquor store and the previous owner dissolved their contract.
Andrew Rohrback / KANSAN
"We closed two days ago, and we will be closed until there is a new buyer or we obtain a license," said Shelley Ayres, owner of the store and the shopping center in which it is located.
Ayres, Fresno, Calif., resident, said she purchased Patterson's, previously known as Bennett's Liquor, on April 30, 1984. She sold the store on contract to Tom Dangermond, Lawrence resident, on January 2, 1997.
Ayres said she returned to Lawrence when she was notified that Dangermond had defaulted on the contract. She said she wanted to find a new buyer for the store.
"At this point, it's up for grabs," Ayres said. "There are several people who have expressed interest in purchasing it. If that works out, fine. If not, I'll run it again."
Ayres said she had applied for all the licenses necessary to reopen the store.
"Given the circumstances, I would like to find a buyer and go back to my husband in California," she said. "The last time I did this was 14 years ago."
Ayres said that defaulting on a contract could mean that the owner-under-contract failed to make payment or failed to maintain inventory.
Dangermond said he was unable to specify the nature
of his default because of a confidentiality agreement between himself and Ayres.
He said the liquor-store market in Lawrence was competitive, and he said he was sorry to see his ownership end the way it did.
"It's a lot like the apartment market in Lawrence — there's a lot of people trying to make money doing the same thing."
Jeff Jensen, Lawrence resident and owner of Jensen Retail Liquor, said his store had seen a slight increase in business since Patterson's had closed.
"It's been a little bit busier," Jensen said. "I'd imagine the other stores' business has picked up a bit."
Adrienne LeFevre, Aurora, Ill., senior, said she preferred shopping at Patterson's.
"I hope that they reopen soon," LeFevre said. "Hopefully, the new management will provide the same cheerful service they had under the previous management."
Films feature Latin America
Spring festival offers viewers elusive flicks
By Marcelo Vilela
Kansan staff writer
Latin America is on film this month.
The festival began April 3. So far, two movies have been shown, and six more are scheduled. The festival ends May 1.
The next showings will be at 3 p.m. today at 3 Lippincott Hall and 3 p.m. tomorrow at Dyche Auditorium in Dyche Hall. The movies are subtitled.
Sam Sommerville, project coordinator of Latin American studies, said the festival was an on-going spring event.
"It's been growing," Sommerville said. "Depending on the film and on the day, we have 30 to 70 people attending."
He said the goals of the festival were to expose people to Latin American movies, to help illustrate lectures and to offer exposure to Spanish.
Having someone introduce the feature presentations began two years ago, and it has added to the appeal of the movies, Sommerville said.
Sommerville will introduce today's feature, Tangos, the Exile of Gardel.
"We wanted to show movies in the Latin American area that are not available in commercial theaters." Sommerville said. "Some are not even available in video stores."
"It's more closely related to European movies," Sommerville said. "It's conceived more as art than Hollywood movies."
He said these movies showed a different perspective about how films were made in Latin America.
Diana Victor, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, sophomore, enjoyed
FILM FESTIVAL
Gardel - Argentine/France
Tomorrow: The Silence of
Today: Tangos, the Exile of
Thursday April Quilombo - Brazil Friday, April 24: Julio and His Angel - Mexico
Thursday, April 30: 8:A
watching movies that were not in the commercial circuit.
Tomorrow: The Silence of Neto - Guatemala
Friday, May 01 : A Place in the World - Argentina/Uruguay
"Festivals like these are extremely important because we don't have access to movies that are not from Hollywood." Victor said.
"They're movies that deal with reality and human issues in a different approach from the Hollywoodian ones."
Victor pointed out that the audiences were composed mostly of students from Latin America and Latin American Studies classes. Festival events are free and open to the public.
CAN YOU WALK BACKWARDS? Do you love KU?
We're looking for a few good Jayhawks. Are you out going or looking for a way to get involved?
Be a part of the 1998-99 campus tour group. Show prospective students and their families why KU is such a wonderful place.
Applications are available at 126 Strong Hall. Any questions call Kim Beeler or Tracie Schuler at 864-5418.
Priority deadline April 22nd @ 5 pm.
The University of Kansas Commission on the Status of Women and The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center present
Tuesday, April 21, 1998
8:00 p.m.
Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC
Keynote Speaker: Marian E. Washington
Head Women's Basketball Coach University of Kansas
STUDENT
SENATE
Reception following in the Malott Room, Kansas Union
Students for a Free Tibet & Amnesty International
letter write-a-thon for political prisoners use your voice for those who don't have one
Ecumenical Christian Ministries
1204 Oread
7:00-9:00 p.m. Thurs. April 16th
free pizza