Tuesday
August 27,2002
Vol.114. Issue No.5
Today's weather 89°
Tonight: 65°
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
Tell us your news Call Jay Krall, Brooke Hesler or Kyle Ramsey at 864-4810
HorrorZontals seek national title p.1B How KU plans to use new tuition money,p.3A
Apartment parties create problems for KU students
By Jenna Goepfert Kansan staff writer
Lara Kantack had heard rumors about Jefferson Commons' frequent parties.
But the Sioux Falls, S.D., junior, decided that the appeal of an already furnished apartment and minimal utilities outweighed the negatives of carousing.
After several weekend parties - and 13 arrests - at the apartment community, Kantack understands where the rumors come from. She said the real problems did not begin until residents started moving in.
"When everyone moves, that's when it gets bad," she said. "I was kind of hesitant to move here because of the reputation. It's been OK until now."
Officers from the Lawrence Police Department responded at 1:35 a.m. Sunday morning to complaints of a fight at a "large, out-of-control party" at the complex, 2511 W. 31st St., said Lawrence police Sgt. Mike Pattrick.
The officers were assisted by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the KU Public Safety Office.
A crowd of about 1,000 people had gathered in the complex's common areas, balconies and hallways, leading to charges of noise ordinance violations, public urination, alcohol in public, minors in possession of alcohol and disorderly conduct, the report said.
conduct, the report said. Members of the crowd began hurling bottles and cans at the officers, Pattrick said.
Police then asked residents to return to their apartments or their own homes. Most people complied, but several refused. Police advised the remaining party-goers that they would be arrested if they did not leave.
Police from all responding departments arrested a total of 13 people, including several KU students.
Aaron Hines, Evergreen, Colo., senior, has lived at Jefferson Commons since the complex opened three years ago. He said it was common for complex residents to have parties — especially at the beginning of the fall semester.
"During the first part of the year, whenever it's warm out is usually when it gets wild out there," Hines said.
He said the complex lives up to its reputation. In fact, he
SEE APARTMENTS ON PAGE 5A
Student falls from balcony
Topeka junior recovering after plunge from third floor
By Erin Beatty
Kansan staff writer
A University of Kansas student fell from a third-floor balcony onto a concrete sidewalk early Sunday morning, said Lawrence Police Sgt. Mike Patrick.
Blake Swenson, 20, Topeka, Kan., junior, fell from an apartment at 2:48 a.m. at Colony
Dennis Minich, senior media relations coordinator for the Med Center, said Swenson was in critical condition Sunday afternoon, but was updated to serious condition on Monday.
Swenson was taken by ambulance to the parking lot of Dillon's grocery store on 23rd Street, where he was taken by helicopter to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.
Woods.1301 W.24th St.
Mike Swenson, Blake's father, said his son was doing well Monday afternoon. Swenson no longer needed a neck brace and was not under constant sedation. Mike Swenson said it appeared Blake
"Some good things have happened today," Mike Swenson said Monday afternoon. Blake's doing pretty well, although we still have a ways to go."
Swenson said no one could comment on how his son fell because no one was there to see exactly what happened.
would have no serious spine problems.
Contact Beatty at ebeatty@kansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Samuelson.
John Nowak/KANSAN
By Matt Stumpff
Students with housing meal plans can now enjoy the convenience of using their plans to eat on campus between classes.
The $20 is a trial run to see whether students would rather have money or meals on the card, said Ken Stoner, director of student housing. The money can only be used for student meals, not in vending machines.
Kansan staff writer
By 2 p.m. yesterday, 30 to 40 people had used money from the meal plan to make purchases, Heikkilla said.
Meal plans this fall include $20 on the KUID to spend at the Kansas Union's food court, The Market, in addition to dining centers in residence halls.
number of meals per week and retrieve the Students with meal plans received $20 on their KU meals at the resi Card this year to purchase food at the Union. dence halls through their KUDs
"Slowly, people have been coming in and using it," said Chrissy Heikkila, Great Bend junior and cashier at the Union Market.
The department of student housing wanted students to have other places to use their meal plans on campus.
Currently, students get a fixed number of meals per week and retrieve the meals at the residence halls through UDs.
Tables sit empty at about 8:15 last night at Coco Loco, 913 Massachusetts St. The bar/restaurant will close in a week for renovations and will reopen in late September. Bartender Mike Abbleby, Lawrence junior, said the upcoming changes were a result of slow business in recent months.
other places to use them in these plants The plan originally called for students to have the ability to use the $20 at the Burge Union and Wescoe Terrace.
SEE UNION ON PAGE 5A
Coco Loco to change name, look
By Nathan Dayani
Kansan staff writer
Coco Loco Mexican Cafe is about to get a make-over and a new name.
"It's going to be completely remodeled," said Kelfel Aqui, owner and manager of the restaurant. "We're going to tear down walls, tear down the bar and do pretty major work."
Structural changes — including a lounge with a pool table and video games — will only be small components of the club's new direction, Aqui said. He said Coco Loco will become a European-style tapas bar that will serve appetizers
Aqui said Coco Loco would close in about two weeks for construction and renovation and would reopen in late September.
rather than main dishes. However, it will continue to serve main courses for lunch.
For entertainment, Aqui will set a consistent schedule of music theme nights, including an '80s retro night, blue-beat, hip-hop, and ska, punk and rock steady night.
Coco Loco has been known for its Latin and meringue dance nights.
Although the new theme nights signify a shift from its Latin style, Aqui said the club would continue to have a weekend Latin dance party and live music.
Coco Loco employee Shane Wilcutt, Overland Park junior, said competition from Latin clubs in Kansas City and Topeka influenced Aqui's decision to switch music themes.
"We're trying to emphasize different genres of music," he said. "Almost anybody can find something they want to do there, for at least one night a week."
Wilcutt said he thought the club which has experimented with theme nights during the past few years, had attracted a diverse crowd.
"You see not only every end of the spectrum as far as your college crowd goes, but you even see people of older ages." he said. "I think we appeal well for anyone in the 18 to 40 age group."
Aaron Jacobs, Leawood junior said Coco Loco had better sound quality for live music than house parties do.
"A lot of bands play in houses now," he said.
"There really needs to be more
established places for music, like Coco Loco."
In addition to Coco Loco's structural and venue changes, Aqui plans to change the business' name before it reopens. But for now, Aqui is keeping the new name on the down-low.
As a result of Coco Loco's upcoming changes, Aqui said he expected a slight change in patronage, and the core audience will be composed of people in their mid 20s to late-30s.
"That's a surprise. We're keeping that secret," he said.
Contact Dayani at
Contact Dayan at
ndayani@kansan.com. This story was
edited by Andy Samuelson.
Zach Straus/Kansar
Graduate teaching assistants Lori Heikes and Michael Schmitt help fellow GTA Nochool Park with the voting process at the GTAC table in the Kansas Union.
GTAC members say yes to new salary contract
By Molly Gise Kensan staff writer
Dan Carey handed out T-shirts in the Kansas Union yesterday emblazoned with the slogan, "Ask me about my new contract." He wore one himself, along with a big grin.
That's because the Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition yesterday unanimously approved a new three-year contract between GTAs and the University of Kansas.
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"It's a lot of hard work and dedication by a lot of people who volunteered their time," said Carey, a GTA in humanities and Western Civilization.
The ratification vote ends two years of
SEE GTAC ON PAGE 5A
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