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December 2, 2002
Vol. 113. Issue No. 68
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Tar Heels, Gators and internal issues defeat 'Hawks in Preseason NIT p.2B
'Big Brother is us'
Security camera use on campus may infringe on student rights
An inconspicuous security camera sits high above Memorial Stadium. This camera is part of a new $20,000 security system the KU Athletics Department and the KU Public Safety Office installed in mid-November. In addition to monitoring the stadium's stands, the cameras also have a clear view of the parking lots, the Campanile and other public areas.
John Nowak/Kansan
By Lindsay Hodel
lhodel@kansan.com
Kansanst writer
They watch you when you walk through the Kansas Union and work on computers,when you eat at Mrs.E's and pay a parking ticket. And now, even sports fans are under their gaze.
At least 40 security cameras monitor students on campus today, and the number keeps growing. The threat of being under constant watch may be only a recollection from George Orwell's book 1984, but the University of Kansas is no exception to a national trend toward increased surveillance of citizens.
Ten years ago, cameras watched students in places like Learned Hall and outside the KU Public Safety Office. Since 1995, security cameras have appeared elsewhere, such as in the Kansas Union, Allen Fieldhouse, Mrs. E's and the parking department.
Although some may think that surveillance makes us safer, the use of security cameras endangers personal liberties, said William Staples, University of Kansas professor of sociology.
"There is an issue of where we are going as a society," said Staples, the author of Everyday Surveillance: Vigilance and Visibility in Postmodern Life. "It seems to me like we are on a slippery slope if we start to decide that everything people do must be watched."
Signs warn about cameras in use, but many students still do not realize how much their lives on campus are recorded. Sam Lane, Leavenworth senior and member of The University Daily Kansan's editorial board, said he had no idea cameras were monitoring him.
"It's security overkill," he said. "I don't like to be catalogued that much. It's invasive."
Some students work under the unblinking gaze of the cameras. Renee Horinek, Topeka junior, is a Hawk Shop employee in the Kansas Union.
"I just don't like to be watched," she said.
On Nov. 1, a new $20,000 security camera system was installed in Memorial Stadium. The two new cameras have monitored tailgating and football games since Nov. 2. They can pan, tilt and zoom, catching in their view parts of the parking lots by Potters Lake, the tunnel entrance to the Kansas Union and Campanile Hill, said Chris Carey, assistant director of police operations.
Police use the cameras to monitor the crowds and record officers entering the
stands. Besides assuring police safety, the tapes have helped prosecute offenders, said John Mullens, assistant director of the KU Public Safety Office.
"We would just show the defense lawyer the videotape and the cases rarely went to court," he said.
Whether video evidence seals a suspect's fate depends on what the tape shows, said David Gottlieb, University of Kansas law professor. "In the case of Rodney King, the tapes weren't enough for that jury to convict."
When he attended the Nov.2 football game, Tim Bredehoft did not realize security cameras monitored the crowd, but said he does not have a problem with the security system.
"It seems to me like we are on a slippery slope if we start to decide that everything people do must be watched."
William Staples
Professor of sociology
"I don't think it's a big deal," the Lawrence senior said. "It's meant to help people on the whole."
Cameras can help authorities enforce rules, but should be used only
Minority faculty goal unmet
By Ashley Arnold and Amy Potter apotter@kansan.com Specials to the Kansan
Keesha Middlemass is among 168 minority faculty members out of 1,472 at the University of Kansas. The assistant professor in political science said even though her colleagues' doors were always open something was missing.
"The social isolation is very evident. There are a lack of role models and mentors going through the specific things I am dealing with," Middlemass said.
Middlemass said the isolation she experienced as a minority stems from the lack of overall minority faculty at the University. Chancellor Robert Hemen-
kansan.com
For a break down of the number of minority faculty members by department, head to kansan.com
way set a goal to have 200 minority faculty by 2000. In 2002, the University is 32 minority faculty members short of Hemenway's goal.
Hemenway set the goal in 1995 when there were 125 minority faculty members at the University. Although the numbers have increased since then, Hemenway said the increase was not enough.
"We have been operating from the premise that we have to have a faculty that represents the face of America," Hemenway said.
Hemenway said the unmet goal was due partly to some minorities holding doctorates in some disciplines such as mathematics and engineering. Other universities are also looking to increase their minority faculty, and this competition makes the demand high and increasing salaries are needed to accomplish this goal.
Hemenway plans to continue working to meet the goal of 200 minority faculty members. He said that a diverse university created a learning environment
SEE MINORITY ON PAGE 8A
Bus partnership on hold
City bus system to seek more riders with promotions
By Vonna Koemanyvong
vkeemanyvong@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Although ridership on the Lawrence Transit System continues to grow, city officials say they think the system could be marketed better.
Last December the city bus system saw 600 riders per day. The numbers now indicate an increase to 900 riders per day. Karin Rexroad, the city's public transit administrator, said limited marketing was the reason for low ridership.
"I think that was probably one of the areas that we didn't put much attention on as we should have," Rexroad said. "We were so worried about the nuts and bolts of the system that we didn't do as much publicity in the paper or radio. I think
SEE PROMOTIONS ON PAGE 8A
City, University officials face hurdles to implement affordable shared-ridership program for students
By Vonna Keomanyvong
vkeomanyvong@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Five months ago, KU on Wheels and Lawrence Transit officials attended a conference in Massachusetts to learn how other university and city systems worked together. Mike Appleby, director of KU on Wheels, said he learned from the conference that other universities' bus systems were different from KU on Wheels because it was privately owned, and that a lot of work would have to go into merging the city and KU systems.
A partnership between KU on Wheels and the Lawrence Transit System has been in the works for two years, but students are still waiting to reap the benefits.
Appleby said because KU on Wheels was privately owned, its buses did not have to provide wheelchair access. To work with the Lawrence Transit System.
"Our main mission right now is to get students from home to school and back again," Appleby said. "We're not here to take you shopping or to work but it would be nice if we could."
KU on Wheels would have to comply with the Federal Transit Authorities' American Disability Act regulations for public systems.
"Because KU on Wheels is a private system and has a less stringent set of ADA guidelines to comply with, we can't take on ridership from the city or issue transfers between the two systems," Appleby said.
KU on Wheels also did not comply with the ADA standards for public system because it already had LiftVan, which picked up physically handicapped students at their homes, Appleby said.
"We derive 60 percent of our funding for operations from the sale of bus passes and we derive the other 40 percent from a transit fee that is built in everyone's campus fee," Appleby said. "We have enough funding to keep things operating so there's no reason for us to apply for federal funding. So there's no reason for us to meet those ADA requirements."
Rachel Magaro, Sao Paulo, Brazil, senior, has been blind for 19 years. She said she wished that KU buses were
A Day Without Art Statues covered for AIDS day
Jared Soares/Kansan
Art pieces on campus, including the Jayhawk in front of Strong Hall and the Uncle Jimmy statue in front of Lippincott Hall, were wrapped in cloth yesterday to recognize World AIDS Dav.
A Day Without) Art began in 1989 as a national day of action to mourn the loss of AIDS victims.
Organizers wanted to draw atten
tion to the plight of AIDS sufferers by disguising prominent art pieces.
According to the Visual AIDS Web site, since the event's founding an estimated 8,000 museums, galleries, art centers, service organizations, libraries, high schools and colleges have taken part internationally.
George Schutz
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