Page 10 University Daily Kansan, October 14, 1981
False fire alarm danger cited
By LILLIAN DAVIS Staff Reporter
A prankster who pulls a fire alarm costs the city about $1 in gas, increases an already high risk of traffic accidents and strips the city of valuable fire protection, Jim McSwain, Lawrence fire chief, said yesterday.
McSwain said KU students just did not think of things like when they pulled the alarms as a joke.
He referred to an accident between a fire engine and a car this past weekend that happened when two engines were interlocked and out to be a fatal burn at Olive Hall.
A CAR SMASHED into the rear end of the second truck as it went through the intersection at 19th and Massachusetts streets. McSevain said.
Accidents are a problem and 19 to 24 percent of all firefighters who die while on duty in the United States, die in just such an accident, he said.
Although the fire department constantly faces this risk, false alarms only increase the risk, McMain said.
In statistics the department compiled, 46 percent of all false alarms in Lawrence were residential last year.
HOWEVER, McSWAIN said that almost 100 percent of those residential false alarms occurred at KU residence halls.
"People just don't realize that they're robbing the rest of the city of fire protection." McSwain said.
McSwain said a matter of a few minutes where a fire is concerned was vital.
However, McSwin complimented the University housing office and the way it worked to help the fire d-armmenturb the rash of false alarms over time.
"J.J. Wilson in the housing department has bent over backward to help us" McSwain said.
THE HOUSING office and the fire department created a joint $100 award for information leading to the con- dition of the firehouse, reporting a false alarm, McSwain said.
"However, it's really up to the students. They're the ones who can make a difference." McSain said. "We don't legislate cooperative behavior."
Wilson, KU housing director, said this past summer all alarms in the residence halls were equipped with
glass covers that must be broken before the alarm can be sounded.
"Having to break the glass first, slightly removes the temptation of someone just walking by and pulling the alarm," Wilson said.
WILSON ADDED that, while his office did not like going to extremes, it also had in the past placed an indelible dye on the alarms.
"In some halls last year the residents had to show their hands before gaining admittance after the alarm was over." And that kind of smacks of Lansing.
In addition to McSwain's fears of inadequate fire protection and accidents, Wilson said there was a serious problem when residents, who were conditioned to false alarms, did not respond.
"Chances of having a fatality and extensive damage are much more severe then," Wilson said.
He emphasized, however, that the students and hall leaders were acting much more responsibly this year than in previous years, as many false alarms were occurring.
HAWKS'S CROSSING
1 blk. N. of Union serving subs:
10-9 Mon.-Sat.
11-8 Sunday
Happy hour 4-7
$1.50 pitchers
OCTOGINTA'81
Oct. 16 thru 18 Mt.Oread Bicycle Club
A WEEKEND OF CYCLING ACTIVITIES
CAMPED WITH A CARRIER IN LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TOUR OF NORTHEASTERN KANSAS
Student Senate Elections
★56 Student Senate Seats
★Student Body Pres. & Vice Pres.
Architecture 1
Journalism 1
Social Welfare 1
Business 2
Law 1
Education 2
Allied Health 1
Engineering 4
University 1
LA&S 9
Graduate 12
Nunemaker 1
Fine Arts 2
Filing Deadlines
Off Campus 1
October 21 5:00 p.m. Student Body Pres.
October 30 5:00 p.m. Senators
Pharmacy 1
(applications available in the Student Senate
Office 105 B Union)
Fall Elections Nov.18 & 19
paid for by Student Activity fee
KBI continues Med Center manhunt
Law enforcement officials are still searching for the gunman who killed a doctor and a female bystander in the emergency room of the University of Kansas Medical Center seven months ago.
Investigators have re-released a description and drawing of the suspect with hopes that someone might recognize him, Jack Pearson, director of the Med Center police department, said yesterday.
"It's not so that people are withholding information," he said. "They are not aware that they have it."
SINCE THE drawing and description were re-released, the Med Center detective and the KBI agent who were assigned to the case part time have received four phone calls from people who believe that they recognize the man in the picture. Pearson said.
"Three of the phone calls have been investigated, and they turned out to be false leads," Pearson said. "The call is still being investigated."
One good lead comes in for every 20 phone calls, he said. Investigators have followed up on 149 separate leads, interviewed 308 people about the shooting and eliminated 159 potential suspects.
"We've gone through the entire case several times now," Pearson said. "We re-issued the description we've pretty much run out of leads."
NEVERTHELESS, he said, the decision to make another plea for help from the public is routine and not an act of desperation.
If no new leads develop, Pearson said the case could be declared inactive. However, there is no reason to believe that the Kansas, so the case would not be
"I don't believe that the number of murders, to begin with, is very large in Kansas," he said. "But at least 75 percent of them are solved."
closed until a suspect was found and successfully prosecuted.
Pearson said that the murders, which occurred on March 20, might never be solved.
TO AID law enforcement officials in solving the Med Center shooting, an $8,000 reward fund has been awarded at a Kansas City, Kan. bank.
Witnesses described the suspect as 25 to 30 years old, 150 to 155 pounds, thin build with dark brown, unkempt shoulder-length hair. He is believed to have been wearing a dress with lace laced boots during the night of the shooting. He may have been driving an early 1970 dark-colored Nova.
Anyone with a lead about the shooting may call the Med Center police at 913-588-2653.
JOIN US AND HAVE FUN!
We are sponsoring a trip to Maple Leaf Festival, at Baldwin City / Renaissance Festival, at Bonner Springs, on Saturday/Sunday, October 17/18.
Interested students are encouraged
to stop by at our office
during office hours
—for further details;
or call at 841-5799 after 6:00 p.m.
Since the transportation facilities
Since the transportation facilities are limited, you are encouraged to sign up immediately.
KU INTERNATIONAL CLUB
B115 Kansas Union
864 123
MAKEUP TO GO
A 831.00 value Just .88,50 with any Merle
Norman cosmetic purchase of $88.50 or more
MERLE NORMAN
701 Mass. 841-5324
This offer good through October 15, 1981, or while supply lasts.
. . . cotton flannel button-down from Bert Pulitzer . . . $23.50 khaki slacks with a double dress pleat from Breeches . . . $26.50
a ku tradition since '67
hours:
M-T-W-F-Sat
9:30-6:00
Th 9:30-8:30
Sun 1:00-5:00
920 Mass.
/