Bookstore hires men to catch thieves
University adopts new shoplifting policy
By HOWARD PANCRATZ Kansan Staff Writer
A new policy concerning shoplifting has been implemented by the KU administration. Under the new policy, the offense will be kept strictly between the offender and his dean. The administration will try to avoid bringing in law enforcement agencies from outside the University.
Unlike previous years, however, students are not longer allowed to "beg-off" when caught. Formerly, many would be allowed to go after paying for the book or apologizing for their misconduct.
To implement the new policy and to help reduce the annual $30,000 loss, two men have been hired by the Union Bookstore specifically to apprehend shoplifters.
Jim Christman, acting manager of the Bookstore, said the Bookstore had no power to punish offenders. He added he would
refuse the power if offered to him.
Chrestman said he would give the student a chance to pay for the item and whether the student paid for it or not he still would be reported to Donald Alderson, dean of men, or Emily Taylor, dean of women.
"We also state whether they were hostile or not. Most students are pretty shaken on being caught so relatively few of them are hostile," he said.
Alderson said many of the cases that reach him are never submitted to the University Disciplinary Board (UDB). Cases are only presented to the UDB if the student continues to deny he was shoifling or if he thinks the punishment was too harsh.
Alderson said the University does not want to disrupt the education of first offenders. "This is not to say that we give everyone one chance to shoplift while they're here. Most of the students are sorry for what they've done and we feel that they learn
an important lesson from the experience. We consider such incidents 'learning experiences.'"
The usual punishment for first offenders is probation for one year. If another incident of shoplifting, vandalism or the breaking of University guidelines is committed, the case is reviewed.
"Normally, the student will be asked to withdraw if a second offense occurs," Alderson said.
"Shoplifting is not recorded on a student's transcript because such a notation can have an adverse effect on the student in later life disproportionate to the offense," Alderson said. However, the student's University file will contain a reference to the incident.
Class schedule in '70 means rush week bind
Next year's class schedule has created a problem for sororities and fraternities.
Fraternity Council (IFC) adviser. The IFC rush committee has come to no definite decision about the problem.
Because classes will begin Aug. 31, rush week will be during the summer.
Many students would find it hard to quit their summer jobs in mid-August to participate in rush, said Jay B. Strayer, Inter-
The Panhellenic Council is also trying to find a new rush period. Suzanne Cherot, Panhellenic rush chairman, said the rush council met and discussed the situation but no time for next falls rush week had been set.
Nov.7 1969
Spokesmen for both organizations said rush dates will be released as soon as possible.
Chrestman said he doubted that Americans realized the extent of shoplifting. He said after working in four university bookstores he was aware of the problem and it continued to depress him.
"The shoplifting here runs in a pattern and the accused students are sometimes lined up waiting to talk to me in the afternoon. The highest period of
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shoifloping occurs between 3:30 and 5 p.m.," Alderson said.
"After 3 p.m. business begins to drop and employees relax. The students seem to think they can get away with more because they are being less closely watched," he continued.
Chrestman said most students feel they are doing nothing worse than stealing green apples off a neighbor's tree.
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