2A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
The Inside Front
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2002
News
from campus, the state the nation and the world
CORRECTIONS
A story in yesterday's Kansan incorrectly stated that Take Over the Beach on Wescoe Beach was Tuesday. It was Wednesday.
A story in yesterday's Kansan incorrectly attributed a quote to Jerree Catlin, associate director for Academic Computing Services. It was actually Jennifer Schwertfeger, Budig Hall computer lab assistant, who said, "I think Webmail's a lot easier to use. We get a lot of 'What is it doing?' around here."
CAMPUS Men beat male student, fail to steal from him
A 22-year-old University of Kansas student fought three men during an attempted robbery and aggravated battery Tuesday morning in the 1200 block of Tennessee Street, said Lawrence Police Sgt. Mike Patrick.
The male student told Lawrence Police he was walking home between 4 a.m. and 4:05 a.m. Tuesday when he was attacked by three males he did not know. The student said the three men had beaten him as they tried to steal his wallet, Patrick said. He was punched in the face and while facedown, the men punched and kicked him.
The male student said he had begun to fight back, and the three men had run away without his wallet. The student went for assistance at a nearby house and then was driven to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Pattrick said. Lawrence Police were dispatched to the hospital.
Patrick said the victim described the three males as follows:
The student suffered cuts to his lip, which required stitches, a dislocated jaw and dental damage.
Hispanic male, 18 to 25 years old,6 feet tall, 200 pounds, chunky, black hair.
Black male, 18 to 25 years old, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, 180 to 190 pounds, muscular and thick build.
Black male, 18 to 25 years old, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall. 190 to 200 pounds, muscular build, short hair.
Michelle Burhenn
STATE
Piper superintendent resigns after cheat scandal
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A school dis
trict superintendent that became embroiled in a plagiarism controversy has resigned, district officials said.
The Piper school board accepted Michael Rooney's resignation Tuesday evening as part of a settlement agreement, board attorney Louis Clothier said Wednesday.
Rooney, 60, will be on a paid leave of absence until his contract expires June 30 and his resignation takes effect.
The three-page settlement agreement approved by Rooney and the board gives Rooney until Tuesday to revoke it. It prohibits the board and district administrators from commenting on Rooney's character or job performance and assures that he cannot sue the district.
Rooney became a key figure late in Piper's plagiarism controversy after depositions taken by the Wyandotte County district attorney revealed that Rooney — not the school board — suggested in a closed-door session Dec. 11 that Piper High School teacher Christine Pelton change the failing grades of 25 students she had accused of plagiarism.
Pelton, who resigned in protest, said Rooney told her the school board ordered the change.
On April 2, the board settled a civil complaint filed by Wyandotte County District Attorney Nick Tomasic. Board members agreed to pay a fine and publicly discuss the plagiarism. In return, Tomasic dropped his complaint, which alleged that the board violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act on Dec. 11.
On Wednesday, the leader of a parents group that had asked the board to fire Rooney said she was "greatly encouraged" by his departure.
"He was a loose cog," said Pam Ruth, whose group also is seeking to oust two board members. "While the board didn't do its job and say, 'No, don't do this,' he's the one who said, 'This is what I am going to do,' and that's what he did."
Election decision reversed after computer problems
The discovery of a computer glitch reversed one outcome from this month's primary elections in Kansas, and an unsuccessful candidate in another race has based his request for a special election on alleged technical difficulties.
showed challenger Roy Jennings defeating incumbent Jerry Mayo by 22 votes.
In Clay County, computer results from a County Commission primary
The hand recount, completed Tuesday, revealed Mayo as the winner — and by a landslide, 540 votes to 175.
In one ward, which Mayo carried 242-78, the computer had mistakenly reversed the totals. And in the absentee voting, which originally showed a 47-44 edge for Jennings, a hand count found Mayo winning 72-19.
"I'm sorry everyone had to go through that, but glad to see the will of the voters carried through," Mayo said.
Jennings, whose attorneys walked out of Tuesday's election panel hearing, said he had reservations about the recount.
"The ballots and counting machine and program chip were open to anyone with access to the (county) clerk's office, mostly active opponents to my campaign," Jennings said.
In Great Bend, a fossil hunter who sought a seat in the state Legislature is seeking a special election, alleging problems with a machine that scans ballots opened the door for possible tampering in the primary election.
Alan Detrich lost his GOP primary bid for the 112th District seat to the incumbent, Rep. John Edmonds of Great Bend, by a margin of 2 to 1.
Detrich, also of Great Bend, wrote to Attorney General Carla Stovall and Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh on Monday with concerns about how ballots were handled on election night.
"I have no evidence that any ballots were tampered with, but the fact that the ballot boxes were outside Barton County for approximately five hours in two separate vehicles with unknown occupants raises serious questions," Detrich wrote.
After the optical scanner failed to read some ballots, sealed ballot boxes were loaded into a private vehicle and a prisoner cargo van from the jail and taken to Saline County, the nearest location with the same equipment.
Election workers eventually discovered the problem was with a piece of electronic equipment created to read Barton County's ballots. The equipment wouldn't read advance ballots and ballots from three rural precincts.
Barton County Clerk Donna Zimmerman defended the county's election safeguards. She said she rode in the van and could see the other vehicle for the entire trip.
The Associated Press
ONTHERECORD
A 19-year-old KU student told Lawrence Police that he was injured between 2:30 to 3:30 a.m. Sunday at Delta Chi Fraternity, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said. The student told police that he got into a verbal argument with two other males and then the argument became physical, Pattrick said. He was treated at Lawrence Memorial Hospital because of a cut on his chin.
A 19-year-old KU student was booked into Douglas County Jail at 3:13 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana and paraphenyl, Patrick said. Lawrence Police were dispatched to Naismith Hall, 1800 Naismith Drive, in reference to a suspicious smell. Lawrence Police made contact with a second-floor resident and were allowed access into the room. Marijuana was visible when police entered the room, Pattrick said. The student was released from jail at 5:03 a.m. Thursday after posting a $1,000 bail.
A 23-year-old KU student reported the theft of his Motiv 21-speed mountain bicycle between 4 p.m. Sunday and 1 p.m. Monday in the 900 block of Arkansas Street, according to Lawrence Police reports. The bicycle was valued at $100.
ON THE RECORD
New Student Orientation will have a Graduate and Professional Student Information Fair from 5 to 6 p.m. today at the Ballroom in the Kansas Union. Contact New Student Orientation at 864-4270.
New Student Orientation will have a Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center Open House from 3 to 5 p.m. today at the rotunda in Strong Hall. Contact New Student Orientation at 864-4270.
Student Union Activities will sponsor a Totally Awesome 80's Bash from 9 to 11 p.m. tomorrow in the Kansas Union lobby and plaza. Contact Salon Farokhi at 864-7469.
- Organizations and Leadership will have an organizational fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.today at the lobby in the Kansas Union. Contact the Q&L office at 864-4861.
The Lied Center will have a Family Arts Festival from 6 to 7 tonight at the Lied Center. The Festival will be follow by a free outdoor concert from 7 to 9 p.m. Contact the Lied Center at 864-2787.
KU Ki Aikido Club will meet from 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow at Room 207 in Robinson Center. Contact Jason Ziegler at 843-4732.
Camera on KU
Chris Burket/Kansan
Brooks innes, Auburn sophomore, asks Kansas Union Bookstore employee Jeff Stein where to find his biochemistry book. Students are finishing buying their books as the first full week of school approaches.
Et Cetra
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 the Kansan business office, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045.
The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4952) is published daily during the school year except Saturday, Sunday, fall break, spring break and exams. Bi-weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Periodical postage is paid in Lawrence, KS 65044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $120. Student subscriptions of $2.33 are paid through the student activity fee.
Postmaster: Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, 1425 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 60405
The University DailyKansanprints campus events that are free and open to the public. When information is submitted, the event's sponsor, name and phone number must be on the form, which is available in the On Campus mailbox in the Kansas newsroom, 111
Stauffar-Fint Hall items must be turned in two days in advance of the desired publication date. Forms can also be filled out online at www.kansan.com — these requests will appear online as well as the Kansan. On Campus is printed on a space available basis.