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KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FRIDAY NOVEMBER2,2001
ISSUE 48 VOLUME 112
Kansas City anthrax case puts campus on lookout
By J. R. Mendoza Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas remained watchful for suspicious packages yesterday, one day after traces of anthrax were discovered at a Kansas City, Mo., postal facility.
Mike Russell, the University's director of environment, health and safety, said the University had not taken new precautions since the potentially lethal substance was found Wednesday, but that it was continuing to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Postal Service and the State of Kansas for handling anthrax threats.
"We're telling people that if we see something suspicious to stop, don't open it and call Public Safety," Russell said. "So far we haven't seen anything. We're doing OK."
In Kansas City, Mo., more than 170 people were taking antibiotics as a precaution yesterday after preliminary tests found traces of anthrax at a specialized Kansas City postal facility. No employees have become ill, and there was no apparent risk to the public, health and postal officials said.
KU faculty and staff were advised via email last month about precautions to take during the anthrax scare, weeks before yesterday's confirmation of traces of anthrax at a Kansas City, Mo., postal facility.
An e-mail sent to the faculty and staff listserv on Oct.17 listed safety precautions for handling mail. The e-mail was sent by Ralph Oliver, director of the KU Public Safety Office, and John Sayler, director of KU Printing Services and campus mail.
RU PRESSING The e-mail asked faculty and staff not to "overreact out of fear, but rather, be aware and alert."
The message provided links to Web sites to learn more information about anthrax and also lists ways to identify suspicious packages and letters, what to do if a suspicious letter or package was received and descriptions of anthrax and its symptoms.
Curtis Dixon, Kansas City, Kan., junior, said his mother, Andrea Terry, worked for a U.S. Postal Service bulk mail center in Kansas City, Kan. He said his mom told him she wasn't worried about the anthrax found at the Missouri facility.
Dixon said that officials at the center were taking the situation seriously, but that he wasn't concerned about the possibility of his mother contracting anthrax.
"I guess they are taking pretty good precautions." Dixon said about the center, although he said he wasn't sure what type of precautions were being taken. "It sounds like they have it under control. She hasn't had to take antibiotics."
But Dixon said it bothered him that the U.S. government wasn't sure who was behind sending the anthrax.
"It's being sent everywhere," Dixon said. "It sounds like it is never going to end."
Dan Torres, sales clerk at Mail Boxes Etc. on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union, said the business wasn't taking any precautions regarding anthrax.
"I don't personally feel there is a need," Torres said. "There's a very small chance it could get out here."
Torres said the business handled mostly campus mail and not mail from anywhere outside the University other than some dealing with credit cards.
than some cleaning wipes. The positive test results at the postal facility, announced Wednesday night, came from two samples in two locations in one trash bag where envelopes were discarded in the first-day cancellation section of the Stamp Fulfillment Services Center. The center is housed in a complex of caves in northeast Kansas City. No substance that would be visible to the eye was found in the center, officials said.
Contact Mendoza at 864-4810
— The Associated Press contributed to this story.
KU trails in online service
Every Big 12 university has Internet enrollment available to students except Kansas
By Paul Smith Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas is the only institution among the Big 12 schools that does not offer online enrollment for its students.
So at a conference of Big 12 registrar officers on Monday, representatives of the University won't have much to contribute to the discussion of online enrollment.
Richard Morrell, university registrar.
said that the University was aware of its poor standing among its conference fellows in web registration.
fows in web registration.
"It concerns me," Morrell said, "and ves. we are doing something about it."
Morrell said that the online enrollment project, which involves converting hundreds of thousands of student academic records to a new database, was costly, but had received ample support from Chancellor Robert Hemenway.
Don Foster, registrar at Kansas State University, said that its K-State Access Technology System to enable electronic registration was in its third year.
registration. "About 92 percent of our students use the online system," Foster said. "It's much more convenient."
The K-State Web site allows students
more options than just enrollment. They can change directory information, check fees, fill out add/drop forms and even receive electronic permission slips from faculty. The price for the software was almost $300,000, Foster said.
Breck Burkington, director of registration and classroom scheduling at the University of Oklahoma, said that the entire campus enrolled online just one year after online enrollment became available. Its program calculates fees and checks for prerequisites, and another database system allows Oklahoma students to check grades and transcripts.
"We feel we're behind the curve in a lot of ways," Turkington said, "But some things are working all right."
migs are working at Matt Nagl, Overland Park senior,
said that he didn't understand why KU had not yet implemented online enrollment.
Morrell said that when the University online enrollment program was set up — for Fall 2003 enrollment at the earliest — it would match the technology and options of every other Big 12 institution.
"I have studied information technology, and online enrollment is not the most difficult program to set up," Nagl said. "They should of had it a long time ago; it a pretty simple concept."
"The quality we'll have when we go online will be superb," Morrell said.
Contact Smith at 864-4810
Pirate House asked to limit gatherings
By Matt Norton Kansan staff writer
The Pirate House, located at 14th and Kentucky streets, was beginning to gain a national reputation for a place to hear live, underground punk music.
But not anymore.
But not anymore. Resident Dave Strano said he and his three roommates were asked by their landlord to comply with a number of demands beginning this week, including not having gatherings of more than 10 people.
ings of more than 20 people. The house was host of 30 music shows this year, and as bands from around the country started calling the house to book gigs and crowds began to grow, Strano said the trouble started.
He said The Locusts, a punk band from San Diego, drew almost 500 people to the house last June.
After the big show, Strano said the house received a lot more attention from police as well.
"Even when there was a stereo playing at one point, and there were five people here, the cops showed up," he said.
JAMIE ROPER/KANSAN
SEE PIRATE HOUSE PAGE 5A
JAMIE ROPER/KANSAN
Above: All-ages punk shows are a thing of the past at the Pirate House, 300 W. 14th Street. Left: Pirate punks and assorted friends rush the front room during a recent Short Bus Kids show at the Pirate House. The house accomodated scores of touring national and international punk acts before residents of the house were asked to stop earlier this week.
Family, friends and mourners take part in a procession along Oread Avenue for Shannon Martin. The University of Kansas student was murdered last May in Costa Rica.
J. E.WILSON/KANSAN
Tree, plaque commemorate memory of slain student
By Courtney Craigmile Kansan staff writer
About 40 people gathered at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave., to remember Shannon Martin.
An Indian Magic crab apple tree, standing about 6 feet tall, was planted to honor Martin, a 23-year-old student who was stabbed to death May 13 while on a brief research trip to Costa Rica. The plaque that will accompany the tree is not completed but will be finished and placed next week.
The ceremony began with a procession from ECM to the Kansas Union, around the Moses statue outside Smith
Hall and back to ECM.
"We're being very public about this because this is a dedication not only to her, but to her memory," said the Rev Thad Holcombe of ECM.
Her mother, Jeanette Stauffer of Topeka, spoke first, thanking ECM, the University and Martin's friends who showed support through the difficult time.
"There are a lot of things I am going to do," she said. "Shannon will not be forgotten."
Danny Umscheid, Manhattan senior, met Martin about a year ago and shared memories of her.
He said most of the time he spent with Martin was tagging
butterfly for the Monarch Watch program.
"It was one of those perfect days," Umscheid said. "I was able to capture a picture of Shannon releasing a butterfly."
Umscheid gave the picture to Martin's mother after her death. Stauffer told the crowd the picture would be etched in a monument for her daughter.
Holcombe closed the ceremony by inviting guests to sprinkle dirt at the base of the tree.
"Shannon Martin did not simply visit this world." Holcombe said. "Shannon Martin impacted our lives, and she will continue to do so."
Contact Craigmile at 864-4810
INSIDETODAY
ATTACK NEWS ...7A
HILLTOPICS ...8A
WEATHER ...4B
CROSSWORD ...4B
COMING IN MONDAY'S KANSAN
NEWS: Campus events highlight National Nontraditional Student Week.
SPORTS: Recap the Kansas-Nebraska football showdown.
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
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