δΈ€ SPORTS: The Kansas men's basketball team rallies to beat the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners, Page 11. THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN VOL.102, NO.77 THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1993 ADVERTISING: 864-4358 (USPS 650-640) Search for student continues By Mark Kiefer and Joe Harder Kansan staff writers Thirty-two days ago, Alexis Dillard and a group of about 15 friends went out for a "last hurrah," a night to celebrate the end of the semester and four-and-a-half years of friendship. About half the group was planning on graduating in December, said Doug Draper, Grandview, Mo., senior and one of Dillard's roomsmates. NEWS:864-4810 "We just sat around laughing about all the funny stories in the past years, basically what any friends would do," he said. "Nobody was getting depressed or sad. We just knew that we'd all be going our separate ways soon." But the separation came sooner than anyone had planned. No one has seen or heard from Dillard since about 12:15 a.m. Dec. 11, when he was outside Johnny's Tavern, 401 N. Second St. A widespread search effort by local authorities and Dillard's friends has turned up few clues about his disappearance. "The fact that there's no closure on the situation makes it tougher," Draper said. "We just don't have any idea where he is." Alan Lowden, a Lawrence senior and one of Dillard's roommates, said he and Dillard's other rooms became concerned when they awoke later on Dec. 11, and Dillard was not in his bed. After contacting other friends to see whether he had spent the night elsewhere, they filed a missing persons report with the Lawrence police department. Fifty of his friends and fraternity brothers gathered in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house, 1540 Louisiana St., the next day and split up to search for Dillard. They distributed about 2,500 filers printed with Dillard's picture and description, Draper said. "We spent the week searching through all the woods and parks in north Lawrence and down to the riverbank," he said. "We didn't find anything." Lawrence police Sgt. Mark Warren said the efforts of Dillard's friends were helpful to the department's Story continued on Page 14. Paul Kotz / KANSAN Friends of Alexis Dillard, Wichita senior, seek answers to his disappearance. Snow, ice greet students' return Renee Knoepber / KANSAN Facilities operations handles weekend's 10-inch accumulation By Todd Selfert Kansas staff writer One of the biggest snowstorms to hit Lawrence in five years greeted students returning for the spring semester, but the worst may be yet to come. Jin Dudley, a KU weather forecaster, said a new storm, producing freezing rain mixed with sleet, hit Lawrence yesterday afternoon. After a few runs down Campanile Hill on his makeshift sled, Saul Skroki, Evanton, ill., sophomore, waits for his friends. Skroki's trees were wet and cold despite the garbage bags he stuffed in his shoes to keep them warm. The National Weather Service placed Lawrence in a freezing-rain warning and did not expect the storm to move from the area until late today. "We could see the freezing rain last until noon," Dudley said. "After that, we could see more snow." He said that an additional one to three inches of snow were possible through tonight and that the snow with ice underneath could lead to dangerous conditions. This weekend's storm dumped about 10 inches of snow throughout the city. Despite the large amounts of snow, KU police Lt. Vic Strnad said that relatively few problems resulted from it. "We've had a lot of cars struck and a couple of sleeding accidents," he said. Strand said one person, Bailen Brandt, suffered internal injuries as a result of a sledding accident on Campanile Hill. Brandt ruptured his spleen in the accident and was admitted to the intensive care unit at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was moved yesterday from intensive care and was listed in fair condition. Strad said problems were kept to a minimum because of the work done by facilities operations. Stephen Helsel, associate director of facilities operations, said crews began plowing the snow at about 4:30 a.m. on Saturday and finished about 6 p.m. The crews also worked from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. "Actually, the best streets in town are campus," Hesil said. "we have smaller area to work on than the city. I think that's part of it." He said he agreed that the parking lots were the biggest problem areas. Drifts in the campus lots forced facilities operations and the Parking Department to call in a Lawrence contractor, W. A. Dunbar & Son Trucking & Excavating Inc., to haul the snow. University crews have used between 155 and 165 tons of ice-melting chemicals, salt and sand to melt ice so far this winter. Helsel said. Facilities operations only used between 10 and 195 tons all last winter. The increased use from last year has caused a shortage of salt. "With what we've got left, we're trying to use it quite sparingly," Helsel said. "That's why we waited to spread chemicals until all the snow was removed from the streets. We're not going to get more for two weeks. If the weather gets bad like they say it's going to be, we could have some problems." Dan Schauer / KANSAN Acacia chapter may prosecute for vandalism By Will Lewis Kansan staff write Prosecution could be the next step in dealing with vandalism the Acacia fraternity house endured at a party in December after the fraternity learned its charter was being suspended. in we need that the damage done can be pinpointed to certain individuals, that is an option we may pursue," said Darold Larson, executive director of the fraternity's international headquarters. At the Dec. 11 party, vandals disabled the house's fire system, broke out windows, damaged interior walls and exit signs and stole furniture. A value estimate for the amount of damage has not yet been determined. been determined. Mike Dutton, treasurer of Acacia's Kansas Corporation Board, said the house was boarded up Dec. 23 to prevent entry. because of problems including excessive debt, low membership and a poor campus image. Acacia fraternity's KU charter was suspended, Larson said in a letter to the chapter. Andy White, sophomore, a member of the former chapter, said the damage was done by unwanted guests who attended the party. chapter: Although no one has yet been accused of vandalizing the house, Dutton said he thought active members in the house were responsible for the damage. attain a third position. White said that the actives in the house were successful in keeping the party under control for a while but that things got out of hand. "We tried to put a stop to it because we knew it was our name that would be damaged," he said. He said the members realized the fraternity's corporate board and the international headquarters offered little assistance to the chapter. White said the KU chapter voted to close the chapter before it received the letter from headquarters. assistance to the chapter. "The nationals and the corporate board were more of enemies than friends to us," he said. "We were pretty much on our own for most of the semester." Last fall, representatives were sent from headquarters on two different occasions to review operations at the chapter. Larson said. He said reports from these representatives, as well as reports from KU officials, prompted his decision to cease all operations. Operations. He also said the chapter had incurred many debts "They owed a large amount of money to the national headquarters," he said and added that they have failed to pay back these debts in the past two years. Bill Nelson, assistant director at the Organizations and Activities Center and coordinator for Greek programs, said the suspension of Acacia's charter might damage the reputation of the Greek community. "When any chapter does anything that is negative, it has potential to be damaging to all the groups," he said. "I do not believe the situation with the Acacia chapter house and former membership is indicative of the quality of operation and membership of the rest of the Greek community." The charter will be suspended until the next International Conclave in 1994, where representatives will be able to appeal the decision. "There are a lot of things that are going to have to happen before they appeal it," Dutton said. "I'd like to see Acacia back on campus." Cashing in Lawrence stores had modest success in selling Aloha Bowl memorabilia. But basketball still slam dunks football in the merchandising game. resolved to exercise Many students are resolving to get in shape in the new year. This time of year, exercise salons fill up with people working to cut down. See story. Page 14. 'Marry me' on ABC wins a ringing 'yes!' KU yell leader pops the question during bowl game By Jess DeHaven Correspondent writer Kansan staff writer The sign read "Kim Claxton, will you marry me?" Claxton, Lawrence senior, was at her parents' home in Hutchinson watching the game with family and friends when her boyfriend, Tony Schleich, a KU yell leader, appeared on the television holding up the sign. "I'd been seriously thinking about it since Thanksgiving," said Schleich, Owatonna, Minn., senior. "My aunt came up with the idea, and at first I kind of blew it off, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it! Claxton said the style of proposal "I don't think I was even looking at the TV," Claxton said. "I had to look at it three times before I understood what was going on. Everyone was screaming and going crazy." Schleich said that getting on television was not as difficult as he thought it would be. "We got to the game about an hour and a half early, and I started talking to every cameraman that I could," he said. "I talked to the guy who does the football highlights for KU, and he talked to the ABC producer. Also, the guy who was filming the cheerleaders said that he would try his darne dest to get me on." Claxton's twin sister, Jennifer, knew about Schleich's plan, and she had the ring, which she immediately showed to Kim. "Ihad no idea. We hadn't even looked at rings," Kim Claxton said. "He did everything himself." Claxton said that she and Schleich planned to get married July 10 in Hutchinson. She finally got to talk to Schleich about 8 that evening. "It was a really bad connection so we didn't get to talk for long, but of course I said 'yes,'" Claxton said. "Mom is so excited. She started planning the wedding right away," Claxton said. "They're very happy because they love him." "I had tried to set it up so she would call me after the game," Schlech said. "At first she didn't believe it was me, then she said yes, yes, yes." She sounded really excited. It was really cute." Members of KU's Spirit Squad gather around Tony Schleich, Owatonna, Minn., senior, as he proposes to Kim Claxton, a Lawrence senior, via the television airwaves during the fourth quarter of the Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day.