Monday, August 21, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section D · Page 11
Commission targets party houses, drinking
By Phil Cauthon and Karen Lucas
Kansas staff writer
The City of Lawrence adopted a measure this summer to control party houses and as of August 2, was considering a keg registration ordinance.
On June 20, the Lawrence City Commission adopted an ordinance allowing the city to shut off utilities at "disorderly houses" and to require the eviction of tenants from such houses.
The restrictions on disorderly houses — property on which city and state alcohol, noise and others laws are violated twice in a 365-day period require a house's owners and tenants to meet with city officials and enter an agreement to end the nuisance.
The agreement may require eviction
Erv Hodges
of identified individuals, use of leases requiring eviction for criminal activities and improvements to the property.
If the owners and tenants fall to meet with city officials or if the nuisance persists after the meeting, the
Commissioner
"Obviously neighborhoods are negatively impacted when the house next door is essentially an open saloon."
allowing minors access to beer. The key registration proposal is also intended to curb large parties by discouraging a party's host from allowing underage drinkers access to keys.
But at a June 6 City Commission meeting, that proposal was put on hold until city officials could tailor the ordinance to address several public objections.
KEG REGULATION FOES ARGUE:
Among the faults some retailers and distributors found with the proposal were
- that it could potentially send employees to jail for a clerical error if a retailer's records were found to be inaccurate.
- that customers serving alcohol to minors would simply remove the ID tag and steal the keg rather than risk the larger fine and jail time.
city can prosecute the owners and tenants of the house. Penalties for violating the ordinance include fines and up to a year of probation.
- that retailers would have too much power and responsibility in the application of the keg registration law.
David Corliss, Lawrence's director of legal services, said the ordinance gave the city a formal legal remedy against owners who tolerate disorderly tenants.
"Obviously neighborhoods are negatively impacted when the house next door is essentially an open saloon," said Commissioner Erv Hodges. "For those houses that every year have weekly parties that last until 3 or 4 in the morning, we need some way to hold those people responsible."
Another proposed ordinance would require retailers to trace key sales with a customer file and key ID tags in an effort to discourage buyers from
As currently drafted, the ordinance would require keg-selling retailers to maintain a file that lists each keg's ID number with the customers who have used the keg during the previous six months. Each store's file will hold signatures from keg-buying customers acknowledging
that they will be held liable for minors drinking from the keg.
The penalty for violating the law would be a minimum $250 fine and up to six months in jail. Tampering with the keg's ID tag would result in forfeiture of the sale's deposit.
But the proposal ran into stiff opposition from state and local beverage dealers who said the law was too vague.
"We appreciate this idea, but it has real problems," said Chuck Magerl, owner of Free State Brewery, 636 Massachusetts St., echoing many retailers' concerns. "The only penalties are likely to be against (liquor) license holders."
Corrliss said the city was still studying the proposal at the beginning of August.
Help is nearby for sexual assault
A man and woman have been drinking together at a bar. Knowing that she is drunk, he takes her home with him and they have sex. She has been raped.
Bv Kate Treacy
Special to the Kansan
Under Kansas sexual violence law, a woman has been raped if she is too drunk to consent to intercourse.
"It's never a woman's fault for getting too drunk," said Kathy Rose-Mockry, program director of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center.
Not all sexual assault is rape by a stranger in a back alley.
Many students have said 'something felt wrong but I felt I was overreacting. I felt like I was jumping to conclusions, like I was being paranoid," Rose-Mockry said.
Short of sexual intercourse, assault includes things like the unwanted touching of another persons intimate parts for the purpose of sexual arousal, she said.
Many community organizations provide services to victims of rape and sexual assault, as well as preventative education.
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP
Randall Rock, physician at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said Watkins deals with questions and concerns about assault several times a semester. He said Watkins should be considered a resource for students on several levels. The center gives assault awareness presentations during orientation and provides peer advising as part of its continuing education program.
Rock also said students , think they might have been assaulted or slipped a date-rape drug should go to Watkins as soon as possible.
"As soon as there is a question, one should present it," he said. "We're here to answer questions. The clock is ticking once you ask that question and you don't need to wait alone."
Watkins has been staffed with three physicians who have sensitivity training for assault victims and deal with most assaults, Rock said. He also said that the examination and evaluation after a sexual assault was covered by University health care. Rock said Watkins also referred victims to Counseling and Psychological Services on the second floor of Watkins.
Watkins has a supply of clothes for victims whose clothing is needed as evidence.
The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, Room 22 Strong Hall: 864-3552
The KU Public Safety Office: 864-5900 or 911.
Watkins Memorial Health Center: 864-9500.
Counseling and Psychological Services:
864-2277.
Douglas County Rape Victim-Survivor Services: 841-2345 or 864-3506.
The Lawrence Police Department: 8324 5700.
Lawrence Memorial Hospital: 749-6100.
Watkins would make accommodations for testing for sexually transmitted diseases and offered treatment to minimize exposure. Watkins also offered a morning-after contraceptive.
The hours at Watkins are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday; and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
"We may be more appropriate for a first choice financially and the medical records and experience are kept confidential."
Douglas County Rape Victim-Survivor Services provides a 24-hour confidential hotline for survivors of sexual assault, rape and sexual harassment. Service advocates will accompany victims to the hospital, police station or court. They also explain legal options and provide emotional support.
Sarah Jane Russell, executive director, said more than half of those seen by the services are college-aged students with a high percentage of freshmen and sophomores. Those incidents are usually date and acquaintance rape and generally involve alcohol, she said.
"Students need to know that someone will always be there to help," Russell said.
The KU Public Safety Office provides trained officers to assist on-campus victims of sexual assault in reporting a crime, which enables the police to undertake a criminal investigation.
The Lawrence Police Department also provides trained officers to help victims of rape and sexual assault report the crime.
The Lawrence police accepts anonymous reports and information, but legal action can't be taken until a formal report is filed.
"You don't want to wait to report because if you wait a lot of that information will be lost," Detective Catherine Born said.
Born heads the crimes against persons unit at the police department. She is paged anytime a victim is treated within 72 hours of the crime at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine St.
The Police department offers free self-defense courses for women.
The course is informational and focusing on self-awareness and prevention skills, such as hat to do if approached on the street, Born said. Five or more residents can schedule a course through Born at 832-7541.
Lawrence Memorial Hospital provides specialized medical care to victims seeking attention. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners work with the Lawrence Police Department, the KU Public Safety Office, Rape Victim Survivor Services and the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center. Nurses' record histories, take head-to-toe assessments, do detailed genital examinations and collect forensic evidence. Nurses are on call at the hospital 24 hours a day.
A victim's privacy will be honored on request during initial questioning and medical treatment. Victims may also request to be accompanied through the medical procedures.
Someone who is sexually assaulted has many options and methods of treatment and recovery, Rose-Mockry said. A victim over the age of 18 is never required to file a formal police report.
"There are no set rules," Rose-Mockry said. "It is important to assess the situation and look at the resources you have."
The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center provides information, support and advocacy for KU victims of sexual assault regardless of when the crime occurred.
According to the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, rape and sexual assault refer to a range of specific behaviors that are predominantly directed toward women but can be directed toward men as well.
All of the community service organizations listed assist women and men.
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