Med Center neighborhood crux of safety problem
By BARBARA ROSEWICZ
KANSAS CITY, Kan—Crimes against people around the KU Med Center have put female students on edge, made employees more watchful and kept campus and city police occupied.
At night, isolated parking lots and dim side streets make people apprehensive. But crimes occur in the area even during daytime hours, and police are often not available. You have to be aware at all times during the day.
So far this year, according to Kansas City, Kan., police estimates, eight rapes and two homicides have been reported in a two-to-three-block radius of the campus, excluding any crimes in nearby Kansas City, Mo. Since May, there have been about 10 reports of aggravated assault, 20 reports of unaggravated assault and seven reports of indecent exposure in the area.
LAST YEAR a woman was raped in a restroom in one of the Med Center buildings.
Mike Thomas, who was recently appointed director of police for both the Kansas City, Kan., and St. Louis areas, served as president of the City Council.
reviewing the situation to improve the security measure at the Med Center.
He said plans could include expansion of an already-existing escort service and more stringent enforcement of a student, faculty and employee identification badge system.
Urban problems exist as well as security problems within Med Center buildings in the Med Center.
"The unique situation at the KU Med Center is that it's close to both Kansas City," Carl Hornbeak, a Kansas City, Kan., police sergeant, said. "We're in Kansas City, Missouri, along with those already in our city."
The Med Center with an enrollment of about 2,000, is one block away from the state line.
Hornbeak, who has patrolled the Med Center bean in the past, said lonely side-streets with a great deal of shrubbery and little traffic, and distant, isolated parking lots potentially were dangerous at night.
"WOMEN ARE more vulnerable," he said. "And KU has more women than men."
David Waxman, vice chancellor for students, said male and female students were warned at orientation to always try to be with another person, even
possibly possible to report
people not wearing identification
The picture ID system has been started at the Med Center, but so far hasn't been enforced strictly. According to some students and employees, most people don't wear the badges, and people without them, including someone who aren't Med Center employees, enter the hospital even at night.
THOMAS SAID the faculty, students and employees had been encouraged to wear the ID badges.
Jean Watson, director of the Undergraduate School of Nursing, said female nursing students specifically were warned during orientation about the crime in the Med Center area.
"They don't have to live in fear," she said. "But they need to exercise due caution and not be overly concerned."
She said that of the almost 170 female nursing students, many came from small towns and didn't know how to read.
SHE SAID they were advised never to walk alone at night, to be aware of people who might be nearby.
The Traffic and Security Department provides the escort service to walk or drive students and employees on request to their cars or to their homes. The Transportation Services subsidiaries haven't been determined for the service.
cars or homes when leaving the hospital after work or a late class.
Kris Gutt, president of the Student Nurse's Association, said a police officer gave female students a personal safety talk last week and a self-defense course to help them to help prepare them for possible problems.
"THIS JUST isn't a very good neighborhood," she said. "You hate to be paranoid, but you realize you can."
"New students soon realize that's the way you have to be around here."
She said that because many students were employed part-time at the Med Center, the prime problem time for employees and students was around 11:30 p.m. when the work shifts.
She said employees leaving work could use the esc service, but those just coming to work were
"POLICE patrol during shift changes," she said. But it's a big enough place that they can't cover it.
SHE SAID that administrators were aware of the problems and hadn't tried to hide them, and that after the rape inside the Med Center last year a memo was sent out that warned everyone to be careful. Composite drawings of the suspect also were posted in the hospital.
Hornbeak said the biggest problems around the Med Center were with assaulters and exhibitionists, or "flashers." He said that only about half of the rape and exhibitionism were reported to police.
He said women often called about a case of exhibitionism, but wouldn't leave their names for a
"THEY DON'T think it's that important," he said.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
See CRIMES page 10
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
If an exhibitionist weren't reported, found and prosecuted, he said, that person might go on to be convicted.
Wednesday, September 1, 1976
Vol.87 No.8
KU buildings lack fire insurance
By JIM COBB Staff Writer
Most of $367 million of buildings and facilities at the University of Kansas
The lack of insurance might surprise many people but is regarded as sound financial practice by Kansas state officials. They say insurance premiums would cost the state much more than replacement of damaged or destroyed buildings.
Private owners of buildings on or near campus, however, do purchase insurance to cover damage to buildings and personal property which result from fires or natural disasters.
Such privately owned buildings include the Kansas Union, individual fraternities and sororites, Jayhawke Towers apartments, Naisim Hall and several buildings on west campus owned by the Kansas University Endowment Association.
LOUIS KRUEGER, director of the state division of architectural services, said yesterday that the state considered itself a "self-insurance agency."
"These buildings are in all parts of the state." Krueger said, "and for all of them the premiums would be absolutely horrrible. One year's payment would pay for one or two buildings destroyed in any five-year period."
Kruger said none of about 2,500 state buildings had fire insurance or extended coverage. She financed by revenue bonds and bondholders requested insurance. Extended coverage usually includes coverage for damages from all types of hazards, including hail, tornadoes and flooding.
MAX LUCAS, KU director of facilities and planning, said he didn't know which, if any, campus buildings were required by bondholders to have insurance.
Keith Nitcher, vice chancellor for
business affairs, has been in New York City supervising bond sales for the KU Medical Center clinical facility and wasn't available for comment.
The state also doesn't have liability insurance coverage. If someone is injured or harmed on state property, Kruger said, but the state does not insist the state and take the matter to court.
IF THE COURTS grant settlements in favor of the injured person, the legislature is asked to appropriate funds to pay damages.
Albough most campus buildings aren't affected, the costs of insurance such as car insurance are high.
Frank Burge, union director, said insurance rates rose dramatically after an arsonist fire to the Union in 1970. The fire caused extensive damage, and insurance renewal in 1973 carried a premium of $46.15.
declining, following the end of the campus
unrest of the late 1980s and early 1990s
Last week the state committee of surety bonds and insurance approved a new three-year contract with a premium of $14,894. Burge said the insurance was for fires and extended coverage on both building and contents.
"WEVE HAD a history in the last five years of having a high degree of safety
--consciousness," he said. "Students have been very aware and conscious of the potential hazards of fire. That is reflected in the recent bidding on premiums."
Inspector, Greek officials to discuss fire prevention
The safety standards of Greek houses at the University will be discussed Friday at a meeting of fraternity and sorority officials with a Lawrence fire department inspector.
Bob Turvey, assistant dean of men, said yesterday that he was concerned about fire safety in a few of KU's Greek houses. However, he said, every house at KU will have a permit within a few weeks that get better protection than required by state or local law.
Turvey said Lawrence inspectors in recent years had intensified efforts to check possible fire code violations. A better fire prevention system at KU has resulted, he
Following a fire disaster Sunday at Baker University's Kappa Sigma fraternity, where five persons died, the Interfraternity Council said it would possibly have hazards to every KU Greek house.
Roy Gilliam, a Lawrence fire inspector, said some older fraternities at KU have open stairways that should be enclosed. He said such remodeling could be expensive.
Apartment buildings in Lawrence also will come under the scrutiny of fire inspectors, Gilliam said. Such buildings have to comply with state requirements as fraternities or sororites.
Greek houses must have two exits from their second floors, Gilliam said, although some apartment buildings may be exempt from that regulation. Three-story apartment structures must have two exits from each floor.
Floyd Dibern, Kansas fire marshal,
has promised inspections of student
housing in Lawrence within a few weeks.
His announcement followed earlier
criticisms of fire-safety violations at
the Baker University fraternity.
Burge said that training every Union junior and engineer in fire safety methods and installation of electronic sensors for fire prevention had resulted in a good recent safety record.
Corporation boards of individual Greek houses purchase insurance for fraternities and sororities. Clinton Konaga, a vice president of Haas & Wilserson Insurance Agency in Kansas Md., said he knew the insurers had the best credit particular, had good insurance coverage.
KONAGA IS AN alumunus and board member of that fraternity. He said that, about five years ago, the fire insurance engineer of his firm conducted an appraisal of the house and found that its insurance, handled by a Lawrence firm, wasn't妥
"Based upon square feet of space, dimensions, materials and other things, we discovered the house was just 50 per cent larger than it should be. A agent said that was all they could get."
Konaga said that shortly after his firm took over the insurance for the Phil Delta Fire Protection work was done on the house. The work included remodeling, replacement of wiring, a fire extinguishing system in the building, and installation of fireproof cellings.
Konaga said that negligence on the part of the property owner, in this case, the tenant, would have been notwithstanding.
THE HOUSE NOW has about $500,000 worth of coverage, he said, in a package policy that includes payment for damages "micious muscid" and public liability.
See KU INSURANCE page five
TM coordinator
Staff photo
Tom Newmark is the coordinator for the Students International Meditation Society here which spreads Transcendental Meditation throughout campus. Newmark says the practice requires a deep connection with oneself.
By MARY MYERS Staff Writer
World enlightenment goal of TM officer
In a Spartan basement office of a Lawrence real estate agency, local officials of an international organization are laying their plans for the take over of this area.
The organization's goal is the world.
Kansas Union renovation nears completion
When renovation of the Kansas Union joby is completed, probably around Sept. 11, KU students will see a new outside entrance (top) and a new look inside the main hallway (right). The outside canopy of brick, steel and shale will cover the front, northeast entrance. A ramp, paved with nonslip bricks, will extend from the curb to the door. Inside, three permanent stations have been set up on the right side for use by campus groups. In the background, a giant picture window has been installed, replace the center west staircase. And there has been additional remodeling of the student area lobby to the left.
The new look
The new look of the Kansas Union lobby, the main Union renovation project, should be completed by Sept. 11 when football fans gather there for the first game of the season. Frank Burge, Union director, said yesterday.
The lobby and northeast entrance have been undergoing remodeling since May 25.
Burge said, "This is our continuing effort to improve the Kansas Union as a durable, attractive, functional facility for the goods and services students require in their everyday lives."
The improvements include the removal of the lobby's north wall near the administrative offices, which will create space that will extend from what was the music and browsing room to the Union gallery. 80 additional seats will be placed in that area. Carpeting, fabric wallcovering and several plants will help create a quiet study atmosphere. Pat Wolfe, Union administrative assistant, said.
"You can't sell anything at the stations," Wolfe said, that you'll be very attractive and very visible.
ALSO, THREE stations that can be reserved by campus groups have been constructed to replace tables.
\ brick, steel and slate canopy will cover the northeast
entrance, and a ramp paved with nonslip bricks will extend from the door to the curb.
The southeast entrance also is scheduled to be covered by a similar canopy.
FOUR-HUNDRED square feet of additional floor space has been created on levels two through five by the removal of the center west stars. Picture windows will allow for views of the campus and football stadium. Wolfs said,
The $437,400 lobby, entrance and stairway remodeling cost will be covered by Union Repairs and Improvements Fee Accounts and Union sales. Wafle said the student fees from student fees that had been saved for a few years.
"We HAD THE SPACE, we just had to make it more formal, if you did it doing it (remodeling) when we were in front for the meeting."
The Hawk's Nest and Prairie Room have been remodeled at a cost of about $4,000.
Work on a delacettess and souvenir shop in the Trail room won't be completed until next spring and is expensive.
Student organization offices on level three and an SUA office on level five have been renovated for improving atmosphere and security. Wolfe said. Those projects, too cost about $4,000, will be financed by Union funds.
Newmark, who works with SMS, gave a lecture about TM last night at the Kansas Law School.
"Nothing else will satisfy us," the coordinator of the midwestern operations said.
The organization is the Students International Meditation Society (SIMS), the National Institute for Mental Health (TM) throughout the world. The coordinator is Don Wester. For the age of 18 and older.
Newmark said that each year, 600,000 people around the world and 1,000 students at the University of Kansas learned the TM technique.
TM is a twice-daily, 20-minute meditation technique introduced by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, an Indian monk. The technique involves the silent repetition of a mantra, which is a syllable or group of syllables.
"WE WILL NOT feel satisfied until the entire world has risen to experience the Age of Enlightenment—until every individual is able to enjoy the full potential of human life."
Mediators say the process reduces stress and increases efficiency and creativity. Scientific studies have demonstrated, among other things, that it reduces blood pressure, improves academic performance and raises resistance to diseases.
In TM's basement office at 801 Tennessee
Newmark was confident that TM will manage
the business.
"And the dawn is always followed by full sunlight," he said.
A FEW MEN brought about the Enlightenment in the 17th century, he said, and mediators are bringing about the dawn of another one.
He said one case that illustrated the benefits of TM was an experiment SIMS conducted at Folsom Prison. Sixty inmates were trained in TM, and the results included a decrease in violence and drug use and an increase in library use, he said.
"The inmates can't believe they can all be in the same room with their eyes closed," he
NEWINER The Folsom experiment,
Newman's said, 50 more primes have asked
them to prove that $p$ is prime.
He said West Point Military Academy offered regular TM courses, and the Army said TM could be taught at any of its facilities.
See TRANSCENDENTAL page three