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Today's and tomorrow's weather Partly cloudy today and tomorrow with highs near 80 and lows in the 50s.
The University Daily Kansan
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Friday, September 15, 2000
Sports: The football team returns home tomorrow against Alabama-Birmingham. SEE PAGE 1B
SEE PAGE 1B
Inside: Organizers announce the theme for this year's Rock Chalk Revue.
SEE PAGE 3A
(USPS 650-640) • VOL. 111 NO. 16 For comments, contact Nathan Willis or Chris Borniger at 864-4810 or e-mail editor@kansan.com
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Groups to protest, give out handbills at game
By Kursten Phlols
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Three campus organizations want to send the message that sexual assault is not a University of Kansas tradition.
Delta Force, KU Pro-Choice Coalition and the Womyn's Empowerment Action Coalition plan to distribute handbills at tomorrow's home football game that denounce the Athletics Department's handling of allegations of sexual assault
Last spring, a female soccer player accused two KU football players of sexually assaulting her. She initially approached coach Terry Allen instead of going to the police. Later, it was revealed that Allen punished the players by making them run extra stairs at practice.
Allen and the Athletics Department apologized publicly for the handling of
the case, and Lawrence police are investigating the soccer player's allegations.
"We've been talking about it since last year, and it really angered a lot of us," said Justin Mills, Lansing senior and Delta Force vice president. "We want to make people aware of what's going on, and thought that the first home game was the best means of getting people aware of the situation."
Delta Force President Ben Burton said he expected 15 to 20 people to distribute about 4,000 handbills at tomorrow's game.
Delta Force distributed a flier Monday on campus that questioned the department's actions in the case. The flier asked why Allen did not go to the police and why he has been allowed to continue coaching. It also questioned why he was not punished for "obstructing justice."
The flier includes a photo of Allen, with the words, "Sexual assault is not a KU tradition. Why is this man going unpunished?"
Frederick said the department had publicly admitted its error in handling the situation and had taken educational measures during the summer and this fall to make student-athletes aware of sexual harassment and assault issues.
Bob Frederick, athletics director, said the flier was inaccurate because Allen did not obstruct justice.
"Quite frankly, I think coach Allen is being unfairly attacked," he said.
But Sally Puleo, a coordinator of the KU Pro-Choice Coalition and a member of the Womyn's Empowerment Action Coalition, said the department's actions were not sufficient.
"There clearly seems to be a 'boys will
be boys' attitude in the Athletics Department," said Puleo, a St. Charles, Ill., senior. "I would like to see an extensive education program implemented. And by extensive, I mean not just one night at the Lied Center every now and then, but an ongoing effort to combat the attitude that results in the tolerance of sexual assault."
Burton said that although the group has not planned any future protests, it was not out of the question, depending on the outcome of tomorrow's handbill distribution.
"Nothing's planned yet, but if enough people are pissed off, I would not be opposed to doing it again on Parents' Weekend," Burton said. "It would let parents know what kind of university they send their child to."
— Edited by Kathryn Moore
Student renters question cleaning, damage fees
By Matt Merkel-Hess
Kansan staff writer
A bill totaling $1,500 for cleaning and damages was not what Kevin Savtelle and his roommates expected after moving out of Jefferson Commons last month.
Sawtelle, Topeka senior, and his three roommates were charged their $800 deposit plus an extra $700 for cleanup and repairs.
"When they did the walk-through, we were told places would need a touch up here and there," Sawtelle said. "I don't know how they came up with the numbers."
Braxton Copley, staff attorney with Student Legal Services, said it was a landlord's right to charge a tenant for any damage to the unit, fees that are listed and late fees incurred during the tenancy. Landlords cannot charge for reasonable wear and tear, he said.
He said a landlord had 30 days after a tenant moved out to either refund a deposit or charge for cleaning and damage.
He said students must meet all requirements in their leases.
"One thing that I'm seeing a lot of is that landlords in their lease agreements are putting things like, "Carpets must be professionally steam-cleaned at end of tenancy," Copley said. "It prevents student from renting a $20 rug doctor."
According to the Kansas Residential Landlord/Tenant Act, a landlord must deliver to the tenant an itemized note of damage or cleaning needed, but evidence such as cleaning bills and photographs were not required. Copley said.
"If you are over 18 and you sign a contract, you are deemed to have read it, understood it fully, and agreed to it fully." Couley said.
"Some landlords do provide it just to avoid a suit," he said. "But the landlord certainly is under no legal duty to provide that to the client."
Eve Horn, vice president and divisional manager for property management with
LANDLORD/TENANT PROBLEMS
Braxton Copley, staff attorney with Legal Services for Students, said if students had problems with landlords they could set up an appointment for free help. "We're available to anyone who is currently enrolled," he said. "We could help investigate if students think they have a problem."
Students can call Legal Services for Students at 864-5665.
the student housing division of JPI, which owns Jefferson Commons, said that if someone felt they had been unfairly charged, JPI would investigate on a case-by-case basis.
"If there was an error, we definitely will make that good with people," she said.
Before moving out, Sawtelle and his roommates received a general itemized letter spelling out what the costs would be if they failed to clean up properly. The list was distributed to all complex residents.
Roommate Ben Robinson, Prairie Village sophomore, said the move-out experience was unorganized compared to other apartment complexes he had lived in.
"I cleaned everything they gave us on the list to what I thought was perfection," he said. "The way I see it is the four of us left the apartment cleaner than when we moved in."
The roommates were charged $125 for the cost of cleaning the kitchen. Another roommate, Jeff Barnett, Kansas City, Kan. senior, said he was charged $100 for the cost of cleaning his bathroom, which he said was ridiculous.
The property was brand new when the students moved in," she said. "Basically, the bottom line is if we had to incur costs to repair the unit we charged the resident."
"My definition of reasonable and their definition are totally different," he said. Horn said that students were taking a chance by living in new apartments.
Slip-sliding away
— Edited by J. R. Mendoza
Brad Schoonover, Olathe sophomore; Riki Orrick, Overland Park junior; and Brian Edwards, Wichita sophomore, slide down a homemade water slide yesterday afternoon in front of the Pki Kappa Tau fraternity house. The fraternity had 22 tons of sand brought to its house, and members spent three days bagging and building their water world. Photo by Christina Neff/KANSAN
New garage shuttle to aid parking fans
By Rob Pazell
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas football fans who plan ahead don't have to worry about getting around at tomorrow's home opener.
Sgt. Troy Mailen of the KU Public Safety Office said careful planning could shorten delays and help fans find a good parking spot.
"Those people coming to the game need to plan ahead and arrive early," he said. "The closer you get to kickoff, the more congested it gets."
The Parking Department will charge $10 to park in the east garage near Memorial Stadium and $5 to park in the west garage near Allen Fieldhouse. A shuttle will be available and will cost $2.
Students will also have an easier chance to get to the game. The Athletics Department is sponsoring a free shuttle bus for students from the residence halls on Daisy Hill and Jayhawker Towers.
Rick Mullen, director of promotions, said students who participated in focus groups said it was a hassle to get to the game.
"Our effort is to get the students to the games," Mullen said. "If it can alleviate the hassle for some students, than it is well worth it."
The shuttle will pick up students from the residence halls on Daisy Hill and drop them off in front of Strong Hall. Students can then walk down Campanile hill to Memorial Stadium. The shuttle will stop at all stops from Daisy Hill to Strong Hall.
Mullen said the department had one bus rented for game days, which will run two hours before the game, but only twice after.
When traffic gets heavy, officers will close Mississippi Street between the Spencer Art Museum and 11th Street and Jayhawk Boulevard between the Chi Omega fountain and Sunflower Road. Officers will direct cars to alternate routes.
KU public safety officers will be directing traffic beginning at about 3 p.m., and will direct traffic flow after the game.
There will be two lanes of southbound traffic on West Campus Road, making neighborhoods north of the stadium accessible.
"It is important that people living in neighborhoods next to the stadium get home if they need to before the same ends." Malen said.
He said that it generally took 30 minutes for traffic to calm down, but that the Jayhawks' performance could change that. He said that if the 'Hawks played well and more fans stayed to the end, that would keep more roads open and more traffic flowing in one direction.
— Edited by John Auldhelm
University raises prices in campus vending machines
Bv Melissa Davis
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Students who buy food from campus vending machines might be surprised that their "snack attack" is really feasting on their wallets.
David Mucci, director of the Kansas and Burge Unions, said the University initiated the price increase — the first in three years — to meet the demands from Treat America, the company that stocks the vending machines.
Not only have the price of Coca-Cola products gone up, but now the University of Kansas, along with Treat America, has increased prices for snacks in vending machines on campus.
"The institution was responding to a request from Treat America to meet cost increase," he said.
The partnership council, which is in charge of the price increase, consists of Klinkenberg and Mucci, along with Jim Long, assistant provost for facilities management and planning; Pat Warren, associate director of athletics; Victoria Silva, resource conservation manager; and representatives from Coca-Cola and Treat America.
Theresa Klinkenberg, University director of administration, said the price increase ranged from 6 to
20 percent,depending on the item. For example,a package of M&M's in campus vending machines now costs 75 cents, which is up from last week's price of 60 cents.
Mucci said the purpose of the council was to address issues related to the University's contracts with Coca-Cola and Treat America.
David Ambler, vice chancellor of student affairs, said the University received a certain amount of money up front and a percentage of both companies' sales.
"Last year we got 10 percent commission, which equaled $30,000," Klinkenberg said.
She said the increase was consistent campus-wide and the vending machines accepted smart cards.
Bill Griffith, Chicago junior, said the price increase was unbelievable.
Klinkenberg said students who used their smart cards on vending machines would receive between a 10 and 15 percent discount.
"I didn't like the increase because 85 cents was outrageous for a Coke, then it goes up to $1," he said.
Griffith also said that although he was against the increase, he understood the University's motives.
"It's all part of a business. The University is a business," he said. "If we're stupid enough to still buy the vending machine food, then we can't blame them for raising the price."
— Edited by Shawn Hutchinson
Amber Ratiff, Chanute senior, buys a bag of M&M's in Wescoch Hall. Prices in campus vending machines were recently increased by the University of Kansas. Photo by Justin Schmidt/KANSAN
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