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GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Firefighters respond to a fire at Sigma Chi fraternity in the 1400 block of Tennessee Street. Investigation revealed the fire was accidentally caused by improperly disposed smoking materials. No one was injured.
CAUSE FOR ALARM
Sigma Chi fraternity fire emphasizes importance of Campus Fire Safety Month
ASHLEY BOOKER
@AshleyBooker27
DALTON KINGERY
@DaltonKingNews
The Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical Department arrived at Sigma Chi fraternity Tuesday at 11:36 a.m. after dispatch received a call about a fire at 11:33 a.m. The Fire Department gave the all-clear at 12:30 p.m.
No injuries were reported and all residents were evacuated safely.
"Investigation has revealed the fire was accidentally started due to improperly disposed smoking materials." Division Chief Shaun Coffey said.
Coffey said the fire started in a two-person sleeping dorm connected to a living area in the back of the threestory fraternity, damaging the building's exterior. The damage is estimated at $150,000.
A majority of the 74-member fraternity house, located in the 1400 block of Tennessee Street, has been turned over to the fraternity. The other section is still under investigation.
When officials arrived at the scene, all occupants were already evacuated. Additional units and an aerial truck were requested, Coffey said. Ten fire medical units and 29 personnel assisted in controlling the fire.
"We want to remind people to properly dispose their
smoking materials in a proper device and make sure you have working smoke detectors," Coffey said.
"Always be aware of what you're doing." King said. "It's imperative to know your surroundings."
King emphasizes the importance of staying near food that's cooking and never cooking or grilling near any
"A lot of students are coming to school for the first time and are used to having someone follow them around and take care of certain things," said Jim King, chief of Lawrence's fire prevention division.
There are many situations that can lead to fires, but King offers a few pieces of advice that should apply in every situation.
Sigma Chi was not able to comment before The Kansan publication deadline.
flammable objects. It is also important to be careful with candles and to extinguish them before leaving a room.
This month, Gov. Sam Brownback signed a proclamation declaring September as Campus Fire Safety Month. This is the third consecutive year Brownback has made this declaration in Kansas in response to the National Campus Fire Safety Month campaign.
Fire safety and prevention should be of importance to college students. Many of them will be living on their own for the first time in a residence
Kory Wilcoxson, executive director of the Reserve apartment complex on W.31st Street, said the complex has been lucky.
hall, apartment complex or house.
"The complex is protected by full sprinkler systems inside of each unit," Wilcoxson said. "The only fires we've had here were two grease fires."
Wilcoxson cautioned students to be careful with things like dryer lint traps and candles, with his main advice being, "don't leave things unattended."
In addition, King stresses the importance of checking the
batteries in smoke detectors and not tampering with them.
"Make sure that you're aware of and you take care of smoke detection devices," King said. "They are early warning devices and they are extremely effective when used correctly. Don't turn them off or take the batteries out of them for any reason."
Kathy Nguyen, a senior from Garden City, has a personal experience that shows how easily an accident can happen.
"I forgot to put water in my macaroni and cheese when I was cooking it. When I turned around, it was smoking and the fire alarms started going off,"
SEE FIRE PAGE 2
No new coalitions allowed in Student Senate re-election
The Elections Commission met Tuesday evening to determine the rules of the upcoming Student Senate re-election. The re-election would happen at the same time of the Freshman election on Sept. 9 and 10. This election would be only between candidates that were not disqualified during last spring's election. No new coalitions can be formed.
Daisy Hill construction cuts into parking
The parking lot in front of Ellsworth Hall is usually full because of the construction on Daisy Hill, which eliminated two Housing lots. Students who can't find a spot here must park at the Lied Center, across Iowa Street.
Mark Pacey, chair of the Elections Commission, said that this election will be an extension of the spring election, and not an entirely new election. He said that eligible coalitions do not need to re-caucus or re-file. Pacey said that if a senator qualifies last year when they ran, and they are still a student at the University, they are still eligible.
Eligible coalitions can begin certain campaign practices immediately.
The main issue still facing the Commission is voter eligibility. The commission will contact graduated seniors through their University email accounts and give them access to re-cast their vote. Pacey also said that freshmen would not be able to vote in the re-election, and would be able to vote only in the freshman elections held every year at this time. The Commission said that this is still an ongoing process with the University's information
MADDIE FARBER
@MaddieFarberUDK
When Kennedy Schnieders lived in Ellsworth last year, she never expected to feel unsafe walking from her car to her dorm room. This all changed after she had to start parking at the Lied Center when the construction on Daisy Hill began last spring.
SEE SENATE PAGE
MATT DWYER/KANSAN
"... you have to expect beforehand that you might not even find a spot, or if you're lucky enough to find one, you still might have to walk awhile to your dorm."
LEXI RIEDEL
Freshman from Shawnee
According to KU Parking and Transit, 600 parking spots have been lost due to the construction on Daisy Hill, leaving only 715. Since the
"We had to almost always park at the Lied Center if you ever left your parking space on Daisy Hill," Schnieders, a sophomore from Topeka, said. "Being a girl and sometimes coming home late, I never felt safe because I would have to cross the bridge [over Iowa Street] and would oftentimes call someone to come get me."
beginning of the construction, this is the first time the University has been unable to accommodate students living on the Hill.
Donna Hultine, Director of KU Parking and Transit, explained what the University
is doing to accommodate students affected by the construction.
"We ran a lottery process," Hultine said. "Anyone who was living on Daisy Hill got an email about the lottery, and any students who went through
new student orientation were informed about it. Students had to be living on Daisy Hill and have a car to be a part of lottery process."
Students who were hopeful for a parking permit on Daisy Hill needed their names on the
tottery list by Aug. 14. After this date, a computer program randomly selected the 715 students to receive a parking spot on Daisy Hill, (Lots 101-105 and overflow parking in
Index
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 7
CRYPTOQUIPS 7
OPINION 4
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 7
SEE PARKING PAGE 2
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
Don't Forget
Test your smoke alarms.
Today's Weather
Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain. Wind SSE at 10 mph.
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HI: 94
LO: 73
ep, still hot.
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