Volume 124 Issue 33
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
kansan.com
LUKE RANKER
lranker@kansan.com
Lawrence traffic is far from the bustling streets of Los Angeles, but the city sees its fair share of traffic woes.
According to the Lawrence Police Department's website, in the past two months LKPD responded to 543 accidents, including three at
the intersection of Iowa and 23rd streets. Based on the LKPD's accident map, during this same time period, police responded to 83 accidents on 23rd Street and Kansas Highway 10, which also makes up part of Iowa Street south of town. A map provided by James King, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical division chief, indicated that between 2007 and 2011 about
500 injury accidents occurred in Lawrence city limits.
The area with the second highest number of accidents includes the blocks between Haskell and Silicon avenues, Natalie Sellers, a senior from Council Grove, said she believed heavy traffic on 23rd Street was to blame for an accident she was in on Sept.15.
"I saw the car coming and
thought 'Oh, my gosh, I'm going to be hit.' Sellers said. "I just gripped the steering wheel and prayed."
According to the accident report file by the Lawrence Kansas Police Department, Sellers was driving westbound on 23rd Street attempting a left turn when she was struck by an oncoming car. Sellers said that she couldn't see the oncoming eastbound traffic because traffic backed
up in the opposite lane blocked her view. She said that a driver stopped in front of the backed-up traffic signaled that it was safe so she proceeded to turn left. Sellers was struck on the passenger side of her car by a vehicle driving eastbound.
The impact totaled Sellers' car and left the other car slightly damaged. Neither she nor the other driver were severely injured.
"I had a few bruises and was stuff from the whiplash," Sellers said.
The area of Sellers' accident is just one of many along 23rd Street and throughout Lawrence that the city has marked as having frequent accidents. According to David Woosley, a traffic and transportation engineer, the intersection of
SEE STREETS 13
EDUCATION
Interns aid youths in good attendance
BILL DAEHLER
bdaehler@kansan.com
Skipping class isn't especially rare among college students, so it may come as a surprise to students and faculty alike that college students are acting as the last line of defense for local truant youths in danger of losing their educations, homes and futures.
The Truancy Prevention and Diversion Program is a local project that pairs student interns from the University's Applied Behavioral Science Department with local children in violation of truancy statutes. The program developed jointly in 1979 among the Douglas County District Attorney's office, Douglas County Schools, Social and Rehabilitation Services and the University of Kansas.
The state of Kansas considers a student truant if they are unexcused for a significant part of the school day and are between the ages of 7 and 17. The program aims to prevent these children from both missing an education and, ultimately, being taken into state custody.
"Rather than having a petition filed and going in front of the judge we offer a diversion program," said Jan Sheldon, director of the truancy program and professor in the Applied Behavioral Science Department.
The children meet with the student interns at least once a week for two to three hours at a time over the course of the 45-day diversion program. During these meetings, the interns attempt to develop a relationship and provide positive consequences for increasing school attendance.
"It's a really good thing for the community," said intern Kate Uxa, a senior from St. Louis. She meets with a boy each week and said he's already shown improvement. Uxa said that not only did his attendance improve but that his grades are better as well.
The diversion program served 43 youths in Douglas County during the 2010-2011 school year and saw 89 percent of them reduce unexcused absences by more than half.
CAMPUS
SEE TRUANCY 13
Renaissance man stays active
BRITTANY CLAMPITT bclampitt@kansan.com
Enter his office and it's evident Jeff Weinberg is a man of many talents and experiences. Photos of his travels and other foreign artifacts decorate his office. His own artwork hangs on the wall. Poetry books, a computer part from the 1970s and random papers cover a desk that hasn't been organized since his return from London. Soft instrumental music completes the scene.
In his first year of a three-year phased retirement, Weinberg currently works part-time at the University of Kansas as an assistant to the chancellor, a freshman seminar teacher in the honors program and as an honors program advisor.
Emerson James, a sophomore from Wichita, benefited from Weinberg's tutelage. Weinberg taught James' honors tutorial class and now serves as James' advisor.
"He's a very nice, helpful person who's experienced a lot and knows a lot about almost everything it seems and he's willing to help and share with others,"
Weinberg took his position in the chancellor's office because he would be able to teach and invest in freshmen.
James said.
"The real challenge is by the time they're juniors and seniors to keep them excited about the University and their life at the University." Weinberg said. "So it's wonderful, but it's a real challenge."
Aside from his work at the University, Weinberg is an avid reader, painter and traveler. Weinberg prefers to read at least three books at a time and has done his own research for a historical fiction novel in England and India. Weinberg's artwork is often inspired by his travels and readings.
"I carry a pen and pencil with me, and I'll write something down, and then I'll take those notes or that little drawing home and leave it in a tray down in the studio, and it becomes something else." Weinberg said.
His work with painted muslin was featured in the Kansas Union
SEE WEINBERG 13
MAX MIKIII FCKV/KANSAN
Jeff Weinberg, assistant to the chancellor, is pictured standing in his office. Weinberg recently had a showing of his artwork in the SUA Gallery in the Kansas Union. Weinberg has worked at the University of Kansas for more than 40 years.
Index
CLASSIFIEDS 7 CRYPTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 8
CROSSWORD 4 OPINION 5 SUDOKU 4
Don't forget
in contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
The GOP presidential race is the topic of discussion at Pizza and Politics at noon today at the Kansas Union. Free pizza will be served.
Today's Forecasts done by University students. For a more detailed forecast, LO:55 Weather see page 24
Forecasts done by HI: 87 University students. For LO: 55 a more detailed forecast, see page 2A Apparently August is back.