THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2009
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33
LAWRENCE
New bar makes safety of customers its top priority
Chance Dibben/KANSAN
Bar owners Frankie and Johnny are enacting measures to increase safety at their establishment, including security cameras, parking lot checks, metal detector wanding and a strictly enforced dress code. The owners say that with their experience in nightclubs and law enforcement, their establishment should be both a family friendly sportbar and exciting dance club.
BY ANNIE VANGSNES avangnes@kansan.com
A new nightclub owned by an Italian chef and a retired police officer is putting security at the top of its list of priorities. Some of the security measures include metal detector wands at the door, a dress code and walking customers to their cars at the end of the night.
Frankie and Johnny's, a sports bar and nightclub, will open around the time school starts. Owner John Perrine said he was stopping potential problems before they began by having extra security measures at the door and in the club. He said all the security measures were to ensure that everyone could relax and have fun once inside.
Perrine said that at the door, customers would be wanded and subject to a strict dress code before entering. He said the club would also crack down on underage drinking and fake IDs with a scanner that alerted the doorman if the same ID was swiped twice in the same night. This eliminates the possibility of "passing back," in which people allow minors to use their IDs to get inside.
"In the end, nothing replaces the human eye." Perrine said.
Purses will also be checked to make sure no alcohol is being snuck in, Perrine said. When customers of age enter the club they will receive a wristband, while underage customers' hands are marked with a black
light marker that cannot be washed off, he said.
"You have to control your door;" Perrine said. "That's where the happiness begins."
The club's rules state that if a minor is caught drinking, he will be photographed, detained by law and permanently banned from Frankie and Johnny's.
Perrine said there would be a lot of cameras, but wouldn't specify a number. He said 90 percent of the cameras would not be visible to customers.
"We're not trying to keep an eye on everybody," Perrine said. "It's for the safety and security of the customers."
Perrine said that the minimum number of security guards on any given night would be eight and that there would be more on a night with a concert or comedian. He said he hand picked and trained security personnel in crowd control, "verbal judo" and alcohol awareness.
"We're bringing in guys that have brains as well as brawn." Perrine said.
If a security guard sees someone who is too intoxicated to carry on, the club will find the person's friends or call a taxi, he said.
"We're going to make every attempt to get this person home safely," he said. "We want people to be able to come back."
Perrine said security wouldn't stand out and wouldn't be wearing security shirts.
"They'll blend in with everybody else." Perrine said. "They're going to be hiding in plain sight." Sergeant
Bill Cory with the Lawrence Police Department said any security measure to make things safe when people were out at bars and clubs was important.
Cory said the Lawrence Police Department wasn't working on anything in particular to crack down on bar security, but instead were responding to calls as they came in. He said the department provided training for bars every year for underage drinking and related issues, but that it was not mandatory for bar owners to attend.
Cory said it was good to see bars taking proactive steps toward cracking down on violence.
Mindy Pressman, San Diego gradu
ate student, said she didn't feel unsafe going out in Lawrence. She said that when she walked to her car after being at a bar she always made sure to walk with a friend.
"I'm not worried about in the bar," Pressman said. "I'm worried about leaving."
Pressman said that being walked to her car by a security guard was a nice offer, but that it would almost make her feel as though Lawrence was more dangerous than it was.
She also said she didn't like the idea of metal detectors where she was going. She said it made her wonder what kind of atmosphere the bar was expecting.
Frankie and Johnny's dress code for the club:
- No weapons
- No gang colors or pocket rags
- No athletic wear or jerseys
- Pants must be secured at the waist
- No baggy clothes
- No sleeveless shirts
- No plain white t-shirts
- No offensive symbols or writing on clothing
- No ripped or soiled clothing
- No do-rags
- No hats
- No large purses or backpacks
Customers are subject to search at any time.
Minors caught consuming alcohol will be photographed, detained by police and permanently banned from premises.
Annie Vangsnes
"I don't want to feel like I'm going through airport security when I'm going drinking." Pressman said.
Edited by David Ugarte
HEALTH
Students find alternative places to work out around Lawrence
BY DAVID UGARTE
dugarte@kansan.com
Trying to find a gym with the right hours, equipment and space to exercise is not always easy. The Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center is a popular choice for working out, but some students find it too crowded. There are options for students looking for places to work out other than the recreation center.
Gayla Fields, Bucklin senior, has worked at the Community Building. 115 W. 11th St., for 11 months. Fields said that she did not see a lot of students use the Community Building, a free community center, but that some came to play basketball sometimes.
"I think a lot of people don't actually know about the community center," Fields said. "But there's also less equipment here than the student Rec Center."
Fields said she used to use the Ambler recreation center once in a while, but did not go regularly. She now pays for membership to work out with Maximus Fitness and Wellness. 2339 Iowa Street.
Morgan Norwood, Lawrence senior, has worked at the Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W 27th Street, for 4-and-a-half years. She said many University students
"Id rather spend money on membership at a gym and have new equipment readily available than wait 30 minutes for a treadmill," Fields said.
used their facilities.
"Mostly they work out in the gym because it's a lot less crowded than the KU Rec Center," Norwood said.
Norwood said it was easier for students living near Holcom Park to go there instead of traveling all the way to the recreation center. She said it was also more convenient for students who were not enrolled in summer classes, because they would have to pay to use the recreation center, while Holcom Park is free.
Brittany Morin-Mezzadri, Bellingham, Mass., graduate student, uses the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive. She said she used to use the Robinson Center pool, but spent so much time on campus for schoolwork that she did not want to spend any more time
"You get to be not a KU student here," Morin-Mezzadri said. "It's a nice swimming environment. There's way more hours than Robinson, you can come here at 5 a.m. or 8 p.m."
there working out.
Morin-Mezzadri also said the aquatic center was open all day and on weekends, while Robinson was only open two hours certain days.
Drew Schelar, Lawrence junior, is working at the aquatic center for the first time this summer. It costs $4 for a day pass at the aquatic center, $20 for a 30-day pass, or $162 for a one year pass. Schelar said he went there to swim three or four times a week, and enjoyed the many lanes available in the center.
"It's a good facility to work at." Schelar said. "The KU Rec Center
is all right, but it could use some renovations."
Schelar said that the Indoor Aquatic Center was a newer facility, but that only a handful of students used it during the summer.
Morin-Mezzadri said her apartment complex had a gym, but said that there was hardly any equipment to use and that it was a small, uncomfortable space.
She said the University facilities were convenient because they were free for students and had lots of equipment.
"I love the RU rec centers," Morin Mezzadri said. "There are tons of things to do there."
Edited by Adam School