Thursday
August 22, 2002
Vol. 113. Issue No. 2
Today's weather
89°
Tonight: 69°
Tell us your news
Call Jay Krall, Brooke Hesler or
Kyle Ramsey at 864-4810
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KUInfo line could fold
By Kyle Ramsey
Kansan staff writer
University administrators are considering a plan that could do away with the KU Info phone line, the all-knowing hotline that has served the campus community for more than 30 years.
Chris Burket/Kansar
KU Info Program Director Susan Elkins, right, helps Julie Katz, Leawood senior, find an animal control facility for a caller who needs help getting rid of a bee hive. KU Info may switch from phonelines to online in the future
Mary Lee Hummert, interim vice provost for student support, said the University was developing a preliminary plan that could eliminate KU Info and shift the services it provided to the Web.
"It will not close," Hummert said.
"There will always be KU Info."
Hummert said KU Info's Web presence would be part of a "student portal." The portal would provide the same Univer-
SEE KU INFO ON PAGE 6A
Christie Rurkat/Kansan
Edward Thomas, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, and Mark Dupree, Kansas City, Kan., junior, hand out information about the Black Student Union. Alpha Phi Alpha also handed out free school supplies to students attending Wescoe Beach n Boulevard on Wescoe Beach.
Fraternity hands out school supplies
By Todd Rapp
kansan staff writer
Some students' school supplies lists got a little shorter at the Wescoe Beach'n Boulevard party Tuesday night.
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity handed out more than 100 packages of school supplies amidst music and dancing students during the Hawk Week activity. Each package contained a notebook, pens, pencils and information about Alpha Phi Alpha's history and the
role of the Black Student Union on campus.
Edward Thomas, vice president of Alpha Phi Alpha, said planning for the event began three weeks ago, when members decided to help students focus on education. "A lot of the time, people come to school, go to parties and clubs, and forget about books," said Thomas, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore. "We felt a good place to remind people about school was at a party."
The KU Bookstores provided some
"If it wasn't for the hard work of the members of the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, this event would not have been possible," said Anthony Brown, president of Alpha Phi Alpha and Grandview, Mo., sophomore.
materials for the packages. Members of Alpha Phi Alpha composed the remainder of the packets using the chapter funds they raised throughout the year.
Mark Dupree, treasurer of Alpha Phi Alpha, said turnout for the event was excellent and the packages created a lot
of interest. So much interest, in fact, that Alpha Phi Alpha members gave away left-over unfinished packages.
"People were so excited about it,it got to the point where we couldn't hand out the bags because people were snatching them away," said Dupree, Kansas City, Kan., junior. "When we shut down for the night,we didn't find a single bag left."
Contact Rapp at trapp@kansan.com. This story was edited by Adam Pracht.
Parking department hits road bump
Dale, a parking officer who preferred to maintain his anonymity, issues a ticket on campus.
Eric Braem/Kansas
By Nathan Dayani
Kansan staff writer
As the University of Kansas becomes inundated with new faces, the parking department is trying to educate new students on its policies.
"We're trying to pre-educate, going to different halls and dorms and training kids to give them a heads up on when they need permits," said Rita Jordan, field supervisor for the parking department.
Seth Fishman, complex director for apartment living, said the parking department's information campaign had gotten off to an early start by dropping off fliers a few weeks ago.
Jordan said several scholarship hall directors had been informed about parking policy, but those contacted Wednesday were not aware of the department's efforts to educate.
However, few students seem to take an interest in the parking department's push for policy awareness. Only a handful attended a Tuesday seminar sponsored by the parking department at the Kansas Union.
"You hope to have more students, but at least they'll know where to tell people to direct their comments and questions," Jordan said.
At the seminar, Jordan told students how to navigate parking rules and regulations.
Melaura Rose, Olathe freshman who attended the seminar, said she was not surprised by the seminar's low turnout because students weren't generally excited about parking issues, and many had been too busy to attend.
Many students who are uninformed about parking policy sometimes react harshly and unfairly after getting a ticket, lordan said.
Rose said students tend to scrutinize parking department employees.
"They're doing their job," she said.
"Like any other job, they do what they do and have no prejudice against you."
Contact Dayani at dayani@kansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Samuelson.
KU student dies in K-10 car crash
By Michelle Burhenn
Kansan staff writer
A University of Kansas student was killed Monday night in a one-vehicle accident while traveling on Kansas Highway 10 just east of DeSoto, Kansas Highway Patrol officials said.
Snauna Szymkowski, 21, Overland Park senior, was traveling westbound on K-10 when she lost control of her vehicle and crossed the eastbound lanes of traffic. Trooper Mike Gruber said.
The vehicle rolled multiple times and landed on the driver's side on the south shoulder of the eastbound lanes. A trooper discovered the accident around 9:12 p.m.Monday,Gruber said.
Szymkowski was partially ejected because the shoulder harness of her seat belt was tucked behind her seat. She was pronounced dead at the scene, Gruber said. The accident is still under investigation.
Majoring in elementary education with an emphasis in teaching English as a second language, Szymkowski was set to graduate in December and finish her teaching certification at Ottawa University.
She planned to attend law school after graduation,said her father, Jerry Szymkowski.
Szymkowski
"She was what I always called a classic over-achiever," he said. "She wasn't always the smartest, but I guarantee she outworked everybody."
Szymkowski most recently worked as a bartender at Louise's West, 1307 W. Seventh St.
Her father said she tried to juggle academics, work and a social life. He attributed her success to her grades and close friends.
She was driving to work at the time of the accident,he said.
"She was very bright," said Rodriguez who taught Szymkowski in a class last spring.
"She was a very serious student. She was always asking questions in class. She was very outgoing. She did everything well and took her academic roles very seriously."
Fred Rodriguez, associate dean of the School of Education, said Szymkowski was a dedicated student.
Szymkowski visited Harken's parents last year before leaving for a study abroad session in Great Britain.
Kari Harken, Leawood senior; attended Blue Valley North High School with Szymkowski.
Harken said she would remember her for her thoughtfulness and friendship.
"Before I went to study abroad she went over to my parents' house to give them a picture of me that she had blown up," Harken said. "She was so generous and compassionate. I mean, who does things like that? She did."
Contact Burhenn at mburhenn@kansan.com. This story was edited by Sarah Hill.
Services
Services for Shauna Szymkowski,
Overland Park senior, will be at 11
a.m. Friday at D.W. Newcomer's Sons
Johnson County Funeral Chapel,
11200 Metcalf Ave.
Burial will be in Johnson County Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf Ave.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m.
Thursday at the funeral chapel.
Memorials in Szymkowski's name
should be sent to Children's Mercy
Hospital, 2401 Gilham Road, Kansas
City, Mo. 64108.
5
9
3
A