RAPE (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
community relations for Lawrence Memorial Hospital, said only one certified nurse was on hand that day and the victims were sent to other locations where service could be more effectively provided.
"We believe that to ensure the legal case and to provide the best care, these nurses need to be
trained properly.
Early-Weas said. "When one of the trained nurses is not available, we send people to someone who is."
Branson said a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, or a SANE was
"For them to suffer yet another indignity at being turned from the emergency room is unconscionable."
CHARLES BRANSON Kansas district attorney
preferred for the collection of sexual assault evidence. SANEs undergo a 40-hour training session and period of observation.
Early-Weas said the hospital currently had five certified SANEs on staff.
On Sept. 19, only one SANE was available to collect evidence. The other four certified nurses were out of town or unavailable for reasons unknown to Early-Weas.
The SANE available on that day had already completed one rape examination that lasted more than five hours. She was completing another examination when the two other victims arrived for treatment. They waited several hours before being turned away. Mertz said this was often the case.
"If the SANE person is off-call, they must be called in," she said. "It is very often a lengthy process."
Early-Weas said the hospital never wanted to send patients to other locations, but that this transfer was recommended because it was in the best interest of the victim.
Early-Weas reported that 35 victims came to the hospital for collection of sexual assault evidence in 2008. Of these, six were transferred to other locations for better service.
Through August of this year, 39 victims of sexual assaults came to the hospital for collection of evidence. Four of these victims were transferred to other locations for better service.
In his letter to hospital leaders, Branson said the hospital should take precautions to ensure that victims of sexual assaults were not further humiliated during treatment and rape examinations.
and then must go to yet another facility."
"I do not believe transferring a patient to another hospital is ideal," Branson said. "There can be additional trauma to the victim when they report to the hospital
Branson also said a delay in examining the victim can result in a loss of evidence.
Branson said the hospital may transfer victims of sexual assaults to other locations if their injuries were exceptionally traumatic or if the hospital thought service
could be provided best elsewhere. The hospital refers any victims who are younger than 14 to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. Occasionally, local police will provide transportation, but it is on a case-by-case basis. Mertz said that one victim was transported by University
police while the other was transported by a family member.
Branson and Gene Meyer, president of Lawrence Memorial Hospital, met Thursday to discuss the district attorney's concerns.
"The hospital acknowledged they do not have full coverage for these issues," Branson said. "We agreed to work together to address the problem."
Early-Weas said the hospital was working to ensure that more nurses were available who are qualified to collect sexual assault evidence and that an additional SANE would be available in about two weeks. Other nurses in the hospital had volunteered to undergo the training necessary for this type of certification.
"We're going to step up our efforts." Early-Weaas said.
In his letter to hospital leaders, Branson said it would even be preferred that nurses without SANE certification conduct rape examinations if SANEs are not available.
Elise Higgins, Topeka senior and president of the University's Commission on the Status of Women, said the group first heard about the issue a few days ago and was happy to hear a public official took action to make improvements
Numbers to know: Support services for victims
The first entry of the Kansas Victims' Bill of Rights, K.S.A.
74-7333, reads...
If you are the victim of a sexual assault and you have an emergency, always dial 911.
"For a woman that has just been sexually assaulted, nothing could be more detrimental to
Here are some resources that can help victims of sexual assaults reduce inconveniences when reporting these types of crimes:
1. Victims should be treated with courtesy, compassion and respect for their dignity and privacy and should suffer the minimum of necessary inconvenience from their involvement with the criminal justice system.
Here are the non-emergency phone numbers for local police agencies:
Higgins also said she thought these incidents showed a lack of compassion for victims of sexual assaults.
University Public Safety Office (non-emergency)
(785) 864-5900
Lawrence Memorial Hospital- (785) 749-6162-Provides medical treatment and rape examinations around the clock. For more information go to www.lmh.org
Lawrence Memorial
Lawrence Police Dept
(non-emergency)- (785)
832-7509
"I think that it is unacceptable that rape victims are turned away, especially when that situation is so time sensitive," Higgins said.
make improvements.
Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center- (785) 864-3552- Provides informational services regarding issues on sexual violence. For more information go to www.etwrcku.edu
The University's annual security report and information on other safety services for students can be found at www.ku.edu/safety
GaDuGi 24 hour support (785) 841-2345 - Provides around the clock support for victims of sexual violence and their families/loved ones. Ask for a Rape Victim-Survivor Service (RVSS) Advocate. Victims can file anonymous reports of sexual assaults with the group if they chose not to report through police. For more information go to www.gadugisafecenter.org
Watkins Memorial Health Center- (785) 864-9500- Provides rape examinations and a variety of health and mental counseling services during regular operating hours. For more information go to www. studenthealth.ku.edu
her physical and emotional well being." Higins said.
"When one of the trained nurses is not available ,we send people to someone who is."
Higgins said she thought the hospital generally provided exceptional care, but she said she thought they could improve the way they handled the treatment of rape victims. She said she thought victims would be less likely to
JUNANCE EARLY-WEAS Lawrence Memorial Hospital
seek care at another location if they had already been turned away from one hospital.
Early-Weas said she hoped that the recent news of these issues would not discourage women from pursuing treatment at the hospital.
tered nurse with Watkins Memorial Health Center, said resources were available on campus for victims, who often struggled with knowing what to do and where to get help after such a traumatic experience.
"Women don't know where to go, but students should know we are available," said Guth, who is SANE certified.
Kathy Guth, regis-
Watkins provides evidence
Guth said she applauded Branson's letter to the hospital and community officers taking the initiative to address gaps in services to sexual assault victims.
collection and refers sexual assault victims to other campus services such as the KU Public Safety Office, Counseling and Psychological Services and Student Legal Services — but only during regular business hours.
"It's a topic that's just not talked about." Guth said.
One in four college-aged women will be the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime, according to national statistics cited by Kathy Rose-Mockery, director of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd., Rm 400.
Sarah Jane Russell, executive director of GaDuGi SafeCenter, said Branson's accusations were an opportunity for the community to ask the hospital and the community as a whole. "Are we doing the best job we can do to help sexual assault victims?"
Edited by Brenna M. T. Daldorph
RESEARCH
Professor makes study of coffee shop chain
BY KATHY MATHESON
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — If Bryant Simon owned a coffee shop, it would not have conversation-killing Wi-Fi. It probably wouldn't offer to-go cups. But it would have a big, round table strewn with newspapers to stimulate discussion.
Seattle-based Starbucks had nearly $10.4 billion in revenue in 2008. Simon, however, argues the true cost of macchiatos and frappuccinos is much greater — that Starbucks, a private corporation, has enriched itself in part by taking advantage of Americans' impoverished civic life.
That sense of community is what's missing from Starbucks, a conclusion Simon reached after visiting about 425 of its coffee shops in nine countries. And yet millions of people patronize the outlets each day.
Simon writes that while people once were able to find meaningful conversation and debate at libraries, recreation centers and parks, those public spaces have become less available — and less desirable — since municipal resources are focused elsewhere.
Simon, a history professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, has spent the past few years figuring out why. His new book, "Everything but the Coffee: Learning about America from Starbucks," is meant "to be part of a public debate about what our purchases mean ... (and) how consumption shapes our lives even when we don't intend it to," Simon said.
Starbucks has filled that void, according to Simon. Or has it? After spending up to 15 hours a week in various Starbucks over the past few years, Simon said he witnessed very few spontaneous discussions or interactions. The couches, plush chairs and tables all seemed to be used for planned meetings or solo work on laptops.
"Rarely ... do these different people doing different things actually talk and exchange ideas, but talk and ideas are crucial to the making of community," he writes.
"Given that we seem so reliant on Starbucks as part of the urban infrastructure and suburban infrastructure," Grazian said, "we should be interested in thinking about what it means when so much of our public sphere is taken over by a private enterprise."
Simon's observations are already being debated in college classrooms. David Grazian, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is using the book in a class on media and popular culture.
Still, it's clear that Starbucks is giving people what they want, Simon said. Customers line up for lattes for any number of reasons: to treat themselves; to carry a status symbol; to support coffee growers in underdeveloped nations; to relax in a safe haven; or to taste a bit of comfort far away from home, he writes.
But he questions whether Starbucks keeps people from doing the hard work necessary to build better communities.
CRIME Wichita police arrest alleged gang member
TULSA, Okla. — Federal officials say an alleged gang member from Tulsa who is accused in a slaying has been arrested in Wichita, Kan.
Lawrence Ballard has been listed by authorities as a most-wanted suspect. He was arrested Saturday at a home in northern Wichita on a murder charge.
Ballard is charged with first-degree murder in the April shooting death of Colby Harris. The U.S. Marshals announced the arrest in a news release.
Investigators say that Ballard had fought with Harris about money shortly before the shooting.
Earlier this month, Ballard was named to the Justice Department's national list of most-wanted gang suspects.
FIRE
Authorities find body of man in burning home
Associated Press
ARCADIA — Authorities responding to a domestic dispute have found a man's body in a burning southeast Kansas home
Banning southeast Rhode Island. The cause of death for 29-year-old Justin Schmitz of Arcadia was not immediately known. The Crawford County Sheriff's Department said in a news release that he also had sustained a gunshot wound.
His wife, Amber, told authorities she called her mother and asked for a ride after arguing with her husband. She was leaving the home early Sunday when he came outside and opened fire, striking the vehicle three times. Neither mother nor daughter were injured.
Deputies noticed smoke coming from the home while setting up a perimeter. After making repeated and unsuccessful attempts to contact Justin Schmitz, they entered the home and found his body.
Associated Press
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
GET INVOLVED
Celebrate the culture and country of Saudi Arabia September 24th, 8am-4pm, Kansas Union Hosted by Saudi Students Association
National Day Celebration
The Volunteer Fair offers you the opportunity to find out about volunteering, both while and school and afterwards. Representatives will be available to visit with you about their programs. Stop by and learn how you can get involved!
Date: October 1st, 2009
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Kansas Union 4th Floor
s? Email ahartlev@ku.edu
Volunteer Fair
Questions? Email ahartley@ku.edu
Lee National Denim Day
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is raising money to fight against breast cancer all over KU Campus. Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2009