THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009
NEWS
7A
CRIME
Students reminded to take precautions for Fall Break
BY BRANDON SAYERS bsayers@kansan.com
Law enforcement officials are asking citizens to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior this Fall Break, especially near student housing areas, which they say are targeted by criminals when class is out of session.
In an effort to prevent crime in the community, Kansas Attorney General Steve Six, Lawrence Police Department and University officials are encouraging residents to be vigilant, not only in their efforts to keep themselves safe, but also in their efforts to look out for others.
"We're encouraging Kansans to take extra safety precautions and report any suspicious activity to locallawenforcementimmediately." Six said in a news release.
Police say students have good reason to be alert during times off from class. A serial rapist in the Lawrence and Manhattan areas has targeted a majority of his victims during breaks at the University, and it appears criminals of all types thrive when fewer people are around to report crimes. Six said.
In an e-mail to all students Tuesday, Vice Provost for Student Success Marlesa Roney reminded students of aware of safety issues this fall break.
"I am writing to be sure you are aware that the Lawrence Police Department is investigating an active rapist whose previous attacks have occurred around University break periods, such as Fall Break." Roney wrote.
TIPS TO STAY SAFE THIS FALL BREAK
In the e-mail, Roney provides a list of personal safety tips and reminds students about the safety resources available to them.
Law enforcement officials are encouraging citizens to make extra efforts to be aware of their surroundings during fall break. Residents are urged to call 911 to report any suspicious behavior or crimes in progress. For the Lawrence Police Department non-emergency line, call 785-832-7509. Here are some tips that can help you stay safe during breaks:
Before you leave for an extended period of time:
Both Roney and Six said it was important for citizens to report any suspicious behavior to police.
"For those who do not travel during the break, it is important they pay close attention to the activities surrounding their homes."
All residences should have quality locks and peepholes installed. Lock all doors, windows, or other entrances to your residence before you leave for extended periods of time.
■ Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you expect to return.
Have your mail and newspapers stopped, or have a friend or neighbor pick them up. This can prevent prospective criminals from knowing you are likely gone for break.
Record all the serial numbers of your valuable items and keep this list in a safe place. This can be helpful to law enforcement if you become a victim of theft.
Never leave keys hidden under mats, above the door or near the door. This is especially important if you are leaving town for break.
■ Leave lights or a radio on a timer to give the appearance that someone is home.
Information from KU Public Safety Office and Office of the Vice Provost. More personal safety tips and resources available to students can be found at wwwku.edu/safety.
Six said in the release.
Follow Brandon Sayers at twitter.
com/bsayers.
Ashley Anstaett, spokeswoman for Six, said the office was unaware of any reported rapes or significant crimes during Kansas State University's fall break, which took place earlier this month.
Law enforcement officials said they thought 13 raps in the Lawrence and Manhattan area, dating back to 2000, were related. In the most recent Lawrence attack, a 19-year-old KU student said she was raped on Dec. 1, 2008, by a man who entered her home with a handgun.
All of the attacks were committed off campus late at night by an armed man with a covered face. Four of the five Lawrence attacks
took place while students were on academic break.
The attacker is described as a white man with slim build, approximately 6 feet tall and between 25 and 40 years old.
"We also believe he is doing some sort of surveillance before the attacks so that is why we are asking everyone to report any suspicious behavior they see." Anstaett said.
- Edited by Betsy Cutcliff
Deaths from unsafe abortions remain problem around globe
HEALTH
BY DAVID CRARY Associated Press
People sit under a sign pointing toward an abortion clinic in a government-run hospital on Tuesday in Kandatu, Nepal. Abortion is legal in Nepal and is performed in government and private clinics throughout the country. The sign reads "Safe Abortion Service available."
NEW YORK — Increased contraceptive use has led to fewer abortions worldwide, but deaths from unsafe abortion remain a severe problem, killing 70,000 women a year, a research institute reported Tuesday in a major global survey.
More than half the deaths — about 38,000 — are in sub-Saharan Africa, which was singled out as the region with by far the lowest rates of contraceptive use and the highest rates of unintended pregnancies.
The report, three years in the making, was compiled by the New York-based Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights and is a leading source of data on abortion-related trends.
The institute's president, Sharon Camp, said she was heartened by the overall trends since Guttmacher conducted a similar survey in 1999, yet expressed concern about the gap revealed in the new report.
"In almost all developed countries, abortion is safe and legal," she said. "But in much of the developing world, abortion remains highly restricted, and unsafe abortion is common and continues to damage women's health and threaten their survival."
The report calls for further easing of developing nations' abortion laws, a move criticized by Deirdre McQuade, a policy director with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.
"We need to be much more creative in assisting women with supportive services so they don't need to resort to the unnatural act
of abortion." she said.
Guttmacher estimated previously that the number of abortions worldwide fell from 45.5 million in 1995 to 41.6 million in 2003 — the latest year for which global figures were available.
"Legal restrictions do not stop abortion from happening. They just make the procedure dangerous," Camp said. "Too many women are maimed or killed each year because they lack legal abortion access."
The report estimated that 19.7 million of the 41.6 million abortions in 2003 were unsafe —
either self-induced, performed by unskilled practitioners or carried out in unhygienic surroundings.
The report makes three major recommendations:
- Expand access to modern contraceptives and improve family planning services.
Expand access to legal abortion and ensure that safe, legal abortion services are available to women in need.
Improve the coverage and quality of post-abortion care, which would reduce maternal death and complications from unsafe abortion.
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