+
NEWS
KANSAN.COM
土
be less likely to work at the University if concealed carry is allowed.
Approximately 54 percent of survey respondents said if the current law isn't amended, they want their respective universities to invest in "adequate security measures." Williams said adequate security measures are defined as walk-through metal detectors or electronic wands typically used at airports.
He said the cost of installing proper security at the University would prove problematic.
cost."
"We already know that the cost is prohibitive," he said. "The numbers that KU has been using for estimates that is over $30 million for the installation of the device...That also includes the cost of the personnel to manage those stations. A significant ongoing cost for that would be the personnel
Williams said security measures would likely be put in place at Allen Fieldhouse and Memorial Stadium for sporting events, though they would be temporary and moved in and out on an event-to-event basis.
In the student survey, only 23 percent of University students said they were willing to pay a fee to install adequate security measures across campus. Thirty-seven percent of students said it would depend on the amount of the fee.
Another concern regarding security measures at the University is the logistics of moving large numbers of students through the security devices in the amount of time between scheduled classes.
"There's no way you're going to pass 2,000 people through metal detectors in
10 minutes, the usual time we have between classes," Williams said. "So, even if we put metal detectors in every doorway, which we're not likely to do, the reality is that will so completely mess up the scheduling of classes... The logistics of that are just outrageous, and there is no way that is going to happen."
The student survey, which was administered to 76.559 students at the University, as well as Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and Washburn University, registered about a 26.9 percent response rate.
Overall, 55 percent of respondents to the student survey said they want the current law amended so guns are not allowed on campus, however, a majority of survey respondents at Kansas State, Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State responded in favor of keeping the current law and allowing the exemption to expire, or keeping the current law but extending the exemption for colleges and universities past July of 2017. Seventy percent of University students said they wanted the law amended so guns were not allowed on campuses.
Williams, who also chairs the Weapons on Campus Committee, said he and committee members will be generating a survey specifically for University staff and faculty that better addresses concerns related to specific positions beyond teaching. He said questions in the Docking Institute survey were applicable mainly to professors, and could not be applied appropriately to all staff positions.
"We had a lot of feedback from KU staff that they didn't think the survey that came out from the Fort Hays people did an adequate job of really questioning the concerns that staff people had both here and over at Edwards Campus," he said.
At the conclusion of the spring semester, the University should have a definitive plan of the official policies that will be in place regarding guns on campus, Williams said.
"The important thing that we are working with, is that by the end of this semester, the [Weapons on Campus Committee's] recommendation will be merged with what is coming and being discussed at the administration level," he said. "By the first of summer of this year, we should have an idea of what kinds of procedures are going to be in place if nothing else changes with the law."
Williams added that the policies will likely go into effect before the exemption to the Personal and Family Protection Act expires in 2017 to allow the University time to adjust to new security measures.
"We have to plan on entering the fall of 2016 as if it will be like 2017. The intention is that we'll have our policies and procedures ready to go, and we'll start to implement them that far ahead of when the actual exemption will expire..." he said. "I think it would be terribly optimistic to think that this particular legislative session will produce any dramatic changes [to the law]."
- Edited by Michael Portman
US Supreme Court reinstates death penalty cases to Kansas
ROXANA HEGEMAN Associated Press
The U.S. Supreme Court sided Wednesday with Kansas officials seeking to reinstate death penalty sentences for three men, sending their cases back to the state's highest court.
The justices ruled 8-1 that the Kansas Supreme Court was wrong to overturn the sentences of Jonathan and Reginald Carr, and Sidney Gleason, who was convicted in a separate case.
The Carr brothers broke into a Wichita home and forced the three men and two women there to have sex with each other and withdraw money from ATMs. The women
were raped before all five were taken to a snow-covered soccer field and shot in the head. One woman survived a gunshot wound to the head. Gleason killed a Great Bend woman and her boyfriend in 2004 after the woman witnessed a robbery.
Wednesday's ruling reignited criticism that the Kansas Supreme Court has shown it simply opposes capital punishment. Its decision to overturn the Carrs' sentences in 2014 prompted a campaign endorsed by Gov. Sam Brownback and the state GOP chairman by victims' family members that came close to removing two justices that year.
Here are reactions to Wednesday's decision:
"We're glad that the U.S. Supreme Court actually made their ruling but very disappointed in the Kansas Supreme Court with the fumbling of the case and creating delays and additional expenses for the courts and the state of Kansas." Larry Heyka, father of Carrs' victim, Brad Heyka.
"I am concerned that this is now going to go back to the court, (which has shown) they
don't like death penalty. They tried to pick the case apart, so I do have concerns. I am worried. I am not sure what they are going to do with it. I don't have a lot of faith in that court, so that is where my concern lies." Amy James, girlfriend of Brad Heyka.
"I am pleased the victims and families no longer face the horror of reliving these terrible acts through a retrial." Brownback.
eral Derek Schmidt.
"Disheartening." Sarah Johnson, an appellate attorney representing Gleason and Jonathan Carr.
"Justice was served today in the United States Supreme Court." Kansas Attorney Gen-
"Obviously pleased for the victims for them to have to go through this again would be difficult." Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.
"This is further evidence that the Kansas Supreme Court has lost its way as once
again the U.S. Supreme Court rejects its arguments and conclusions." Kansas Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, a Republican.
"I continue to be dismayed at how the Kansas Supreme Court places its political agenda above the rule of law." U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo, a Republican.
"The Kansas Supreme Court will review the U.S. Supreme Court's decision and determine what is the next appropriate step." Lisa Taylor, high court spokeswoman.