Tomorrow's weather
Kansan
Much cooler tomorrow and mostly sunny with a high in the lower 80s.
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Monday, September 11, 2000
Sports: Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight was fired yesterday after 29 years of coaching.
SEE PAGE 1B
Inside: Watkins Hall residents win lawsuit to provide them more information about their money.
SPS 650-640 • VOL. 111 NO. 13 For comments, contact Nathan Willis or Chris Borniger at 864-4810 or e-mail editor@kansan.com
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Campus police arrest student in Hashinger battery case
By Robert Pazell writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Residents of Hashinger Hall still have safety concerns, despite Friday's arrest of a male student suspected of sexually battering a female student in late August in the sixth floor lobby.
Kevin James Hoskinson, a 22-year-old Garden City senior and Hashinger resident, was apprehended by the KU Public Safety Office on Friday afternoon, shortly after a warrant was issued for his suspected involvement in the battery. Sgt. Troy Mailen said that tips from people who recognized the composite drawing of the suspect led to the arrest.
Meredith Lemon, Greensboro, N.C., freshman and sixth floor Hashinger resident, said that she and her hallmates were used to sleeping in the lobby and trusting each other, but since the assault they had been more skeptical.
"It definitely makes you more aware that you really can't trust everyone," Lemon said.
Police said that on Saturday, Aug. 26, Hoskinson laid down next to the sleeping female student in the sixth floor lobby of Hashinger. He then kissed her and touched her breasts. The woman awoke and confronted him, and he left the area.
"It makes me feel better, but there's still a lot of weirdos out there," said Sadeghi, who also lives in Hashinger. "I don't sleep anywhere but inside my room."
Lemon says students consistently hang out in the lobby, which has a big-screen television, couches, chairs and study tables. She said many students felt comfortable sleeping in the lobby before the battery occurred.
"We'd start movies at 11 or 12 at night, and by the time the movie was over, everyone would be asleep," Lemon said. "There's always people out there."
But the public safety office urges people not to sleep in public areas and to go to their rooms and lock the doors when they go to sleep at night.
Michael Lopez, Topeka freshman, said he didn't consider the sixth floor lobby a public place.
"It's almost like your living room at home." Lonez said.
Bo Roche, St. Charles, Mo., freshman, said he didn't understand why the University didn't have a security system — such as cameras — that could be a good way to monitor the lobby.
"They'd rather spend their money on athletic programs than keeping the dorms safe," Roche said.
—Edited by Kimberly Thompson
Anonymous survey points to 11 instances of sexual assault
By Darek Prater
writer@kansan.com
Kansas senior staff writer
Eleven of almost 300 student-athletes polled last spring reported that they had been sexually assaulted while attending the University of Kansas.
Of the 288 student-athletes who responded, three said they had been sexually assaulted by a student who was not an athlete, six said they had been assaulted by a student-athlete, and two said they had been assaulted by University faculty or staff. Sexual assault is defined in the survey as forced intercourse, acquaintance rape or other forms of nonconsensual sexual activity.
Bob Frederick, athletics director, said that he was concerned by the number of assaults reported and that the department was taking proactive steps to address the issue.
"If there's one, I'm concerned," he said. "I was concerned about the fact that it was a problem."
The Athletics Department conducts a survey each spring of returning student-athletes to determine how the department can better serve them. Last year was the first time questions about sexual assault and harassment were included in the survey.
More information
To see the full results from the KUAC Sexual Victimization Experienced by KU Student Athletes' survey.
Go to www.kunan.com
Frederick said he had planned to announce the results at the next Athletic Board meeting, which is scheduled for Friday.
The results of the survey come as Lawrence police continue to investigate two football players for allegedly sexually assaulting a soccer player last spring and as the department finalizes a policy for dealing with sexual assault and harassment.
Frederick said no other sexual assaults had been reported to the department and that he did not know if the soccer player was one of the student-athletes who reported being sexually assaulted in the survey.
About 550 student-athletes attend the University, and 152 males and 146 females participated in the anonymous survey. Of the 288 who responded, 288 answered questions about sexual assault and harassment. The gender of those who reported being assaulted was not specified.
Eighteen respondents said they had been sexually harassed by students who were not athletes, 21 said they had been harassed by student-athletes and four said they had been harassed by University faculty or staff. Sexual harassment was defined in the survey as making unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or sexually suggestive comments.
Frederick said that although he was concerned by the numbers, he did not think that sexual assault and
See ATHLETIC on page 6A
Eat this!
Joshua Meyer, left, Overland Park senior, and Matthew Histop, Clio, Mich, junior, forcefeed Tom Picasso, Overland Park junior. Picasso was one of seven different people who were forceced during Saturday night's demonstration in Murphy Hall. See page 3A for full story. Photo by Brad Dreier/KANSAN
Melissa Carr/KANSAN
Meningitis death prompts education about disease
Bacterial Meningitis is an infection of the bloodstream and lining of the brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms usually occur within five days of contact.
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis include:
fever
headache
vomiting
stiff neck
rash
Meningitis can be spread by direct contact with discharge from an infected person's nose and throat. It can also be spread by sharing drinking glasses or occupying the same living space and classroom as an infected person.
By Melissa Davis writer@kansan.com Kansan staff write
A 4-year-old Lawrence boy's death from bacterial meningitis has pprompted University of Kansas and city health officials to inform parents and community members about the disease.
Mollosa Carr/KANSAN
The Douglas County Health Department said Jonathan Isiah Haggans became ill on Wednesday. He was taken by helicopter to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where he died Thursday evening.
Islaah, whom family members called by his middle name, attended the University's child-care program at the Dole Human Development Center as well as the Community Children's Center at 925 Vermont.
Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the bloodstream and lining of the brain and spinal cord.
CONTACT WATKINS
Watkins Memorial Health Center can answer questions about bacterial meningitis. Call 864-9500.
"The other 25,000 of us on the Hill are at no greater risk than we were before this event occurred," Rock said.
Randall Rock, chief of staff at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said people who had been in close contact with the boy since Aug. 29 should seek medical attention if they started to feel sick.
He said that preventive antibiotics were available at Watkins.
While not all people who are exposed to the disease become seriously ill, they may develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck or rash. The symptoms usually occur within five days of contact.
Matt Daugherty. Liberty. Mo..
Daugherty was in the Watkins waiting room when he heard that the boy had died.
senior, and University Daily Kansan photographer, lived next door to the boy. Daugherty, who became sick on Thursday with a high fever, went to the health center on Friday.
"The doctor said I didn't have any symptoms of bacterial meningitis, but the doctor placed me on a special antibiotic because I was in close contact with the boy," he said.
The Douglas County Health department has notified all parents of children who were in contact with the child, as well as teachers and physicians.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said in a written statement that KU was working with county health officials and advised that people educate themselves about bacterial meningitis.
— Edited by Clay McCuistion
Bv Leita Schultes
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Bar modifies controversial dress code
Thompson also stated in the letter that the
"I, Dannie Thompson, an African American, owner of Jack Flanigans Bar and Grill, would like to apologize to my fellow African Americans and other concerned citizens who may have felt that the dress code policy at Jack Flanigans was offensive or discriminatory," he stated in a letter Friday.
Damnie Thompson, owner and manager of Jack Flanigans, is an African American who said he was trying to run a safe bar. But last week's accusations of racial discrimination caused him to change the bar's dress code.
Thompson also state new policy fulfilled his commitment to the city to provide an environment conducive to public safety. Aside from this letter, Thompson refused to comment.
More information
Read Thompson's entire letter about the dress code.
See page 5A
"There was a point in time when we didn't allow cornrows in here," said Trent Glass, general manager of Tremors Night Club, 729 New Hampshire. "A lot of people come in, and they have their hair in corn rows. They want to look thugged out. They want to look hard."
The new policy avoids mention of FUBU brand clothing and braided corn hair styles, which were formerly prohibited at the bar, located at 804 W. 24th St. Many students felt such rules targeted and excluded African Americans.
Leigh Ann Lawrie, Kansas City, Kan. senior, said in most clubs the rules applied to everyone.
"You don't see white people wearing braids," she said.
Owner local bar owners said they could understand Thompson's rationale.
Glass said Tremors' cornrow rule proved ineffective, but sleeveless shirts were still prohibited — at least for men. He said the rule was in place because those who tried to show off their muscles might be challenged or confronted by others. Good security was the best way to prevent problems, although dress codes were effective, he said.
"But it depends on what your motives are behind the dress code," he said. "When people are dressed to have a good time, they don't cause trouble."
Tremors designate one night a week for hip-hop music, he said, and for that reason it is labeled by some as a "black" or even a "dangerous" club.
"In order for Jack Flanigans to not get labeled like that, he's trying to do everything he can." Glass said.
Kelifel Aqui, owner and manager of Coco Loco Mexican Cafe, 943 Massachusetts, was not ready to advocate power of dress codes.
"We encourage our customers to dress to impress," he said, "I totally oppose creating a policy of dress code on the basis of a brand."
Aquil said that there was no sure way to keep bars safe.
---
- Edited by Kimberly Thompson