Monday, August 17, 1998 The University Daily Kansan 144 Section A · Page 9 Avoiding crime important part of fall semester Safety is key to remember on moving day ay Kolli Rayborn Kansan staff writer Students adjusting to life on campus also will have to adjust to crime on campus. The University of Kansas Public Safety Office, which includes the KU Police Department, will distribute pamphlets and present information on campus during Hawk Week to increase students' awareness of campus crime and of students' roles in its prevention. "We want to try to make them understand that this isn't home anymore," KU police officer Anthony Augusto said. Many students from small towns may not be prepared for the size of the campus population and the possibility of crime at the University. "We want to try to make them understand that this isn't home anymore." Anthony Augusto KU police officer "It's an adjustment," Augusto said. Crime on moving day can force students who fall victim to thieves to make this adjustment quickly. The majority of crimes on campus are property crimes and often involve personal property left unattended, said Sgt. Troy Mailen. "On moving day, there is a lot of high-dollar property laying around," Mailen said. "Computers, televisions, micwaves ... and a thief will take just about anything." Burglaries increased from 266 in 1996 to 348 in 1997, according to the KU Public Safety Office. Students should never leave belongings unattended and should secure their rooms at all times, even when they are home. Malen said. A lot of theft occurs when students leave a room unlocked even for a few minutes to go to the bathroom or vending machines. By securing their residence hall rooms, students could prevent a lot of theft on campus, Maileen said. "All you have to do is lock the door." he said. In case property theft does occur, students should have basic information about their valuables recorded in a safe place. "When something is stolen, we're going to ask for serial numbers," Augusto said. "It makes our job easier in trying to recover that property." Among the information the Public Safety Office will be handing out during Hawk Week is a theft-prevention flier with a chart for recording the serial numbers, brands, models and engraved numbers of their valuable property. Students also should keep track of their KUID cards, Augusto said, because the cards' cash function cannot be canceled. If stolen, the value the student has put on the cards will be lost. When students are victims of or witnesses to crime, they should notify the Public Safety Office. "It's important that if something happens, they report it," Malen said. Students can call the office at 864-5900 or can call its Crime Stoppers Hotline at 864-8888. On that line, students can give information about crimes anonymously. For most University of Kansas students, the first couple of weeks of classes are filled with adding and dropping classes, buying books, getting living arrangements finalized and getting acclimated with the usual day-to-day grind of University life. By Keith Burner Kansan staff writer But for KU students with children, there is an additional challenge of finding someone to care for their children when they are in class - a decision that could affect the health, or even life, of their children. being investigated as an accident. Police would not comment on the cause of the child's death, and Topeka Coroner Erik Mitchell said that he was not done examining the body. Last Wednesday, a six-month-old Lawrence child died while in the care of another, Lawrence Police St. George Wheeler said. The death occurred in the 2700 block of Lawrence Avenue and still is Angle Bird, the woman who was taking care of the child at the time of its death, also would not comment on the incident. The Douglas County Child Development Association advises parents to check into the safety of daycare centers. According to the list, parents should check for things such as safety caps for electrical outlets and the existence of smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. It has published a list of questions that parents should ask before leaving their children. Parents also should check for adequate first aid supplies and manuals, CPR Trained staff members and personal-hygiene policies for both the staff and the children. The association also recommends that parents ask about the experience of the caretakers and their policies on sanitation, nutrition, napping and discipline. Stephanie Keller, director of Ballard Community Center, a daycare center, said that communication among parents and staff also was important in choosing safe child care facilities. "The single most important thing in child care is to have an open line of communication between the staff who works with the parents and children," Keller said. Keller said that a good example is in the area of discipline. It's important that the parents know what the daycare's standard Who will be caring for your child? Are the policies about nutrition, Questions about child care What will you do? Are the policies about nutrition, toilet training, napping and discipline consistent with your own? Do the children receive the kind of individual attention you would like for your child? Do the care gives relate to and converse with the children in a warm and understanding way? Does the staff take time to talk with you about your child? Source: Douglas County Child Development Association punishment procedures are and that staff members are aware of the parents' views, she said. Summer crime decreases; fall increase expected "It's very important to make sure that a child isn't punished unjustly," Keller said. Bv Keith Burner Kansan staff writer While most University of Kansas students concerned themselves with internships, jobs and classes this past summer, the Lawrence Police Department was busy fighting crime, but no more than in summers past. Lawrence Police said that for the most part, the number of crimes committed in Lawrence last summer decreased. Last summer, there were 35 aggra- vated assaults, 32 motor vehicle thefts, 11 armed robberies and three arsons. Wheeler said that toward the end of the summer a couple of peeping toms were reported. He advised students to lock and hang curtains over their windows to deter would-be peepers. Burglary topped the list of crimes committed in Lawrence last summer, and Lawrence police said they expected a further increase during the upcoming weeks as students return to the University. Wheeler said that the best way students could take away the opportunity from burglaries was to keep the doors to their residences and cars locked while moving in. "We're going to get a lot of burglaries, and it happens every year about this time. The thing about larceny and burglary is that they are crimes of opportunity." Wheeler said. "You can save yourself from becoming a victim by taking away the opportunity." Last year, burglary was by far the most frequent crime committed at the University, surpassing the next most reported crime, drug violations. by 310. According to the department of student housing, there were 924 burglaries at the University's Lawrence campus during the last three years. There were 348 burglaries last year, a 31 percent increase from the 1996 total of 266. Kenneth Stoner, director of the department of student housing, said that he did not expect an increase in thefts from students rooms this year, but that the department of student housing had created two brochures that explain safety precautions students can take to avoid becoming victims. A less frequent, but more serious crime that is a threat to students, is rape. There have been 14 on-campus rapes reported to KU police in the last three years, half of which were reported last year. In one of its brochures, the department of student housing outlines some precautions that students can take to avoid becoming victims of sexual assault. Students should: walk in well-lighted areas, never walk alone or hitchhike, have their keys ready when they approach their car and drive on well-travelled roads, according to the brochure. Stoner said the brochures were available at the Office of Student Housing in Corbin residence hall. New Internet system allows personalized advertising The Associated Press Many individual Internet services have begun collecting information about who uses their sites and how they use them, the newspaper said. NEW YORK — Information about the reading, shopping and entertainment habits of users of the World Wide Web soon will be used to target advertising to them — often without their knowledge. The New York Times reported yesterday. Among the Web sites participating in the effort by CMG Information Services will be the Lycos-Tripod site — visited by 14.8 million people last month — and the Geocities online community, which attracted 14.2 million visitors last month. The system, called Engage, does not record the names, e-mail addresses or credit card numbers of the people it gathers information from. Instead, it keeps track of users by placing a special identification number on the hard drive of computer users. The ads would then be fed to the Internet users as they browse sites. For example, a user who looks up tourist information about England on a travel site in the network could be shown ads for hotels in London. write proponents of the system say Engage will allow companies to send precisely directed advertisements to users, advocates of privacy rights are worried. "Engage has done many good things to protect privacy, but my worry is they are firing the starting gun in the race for the bottom," said Jason Catlett, president of Junkbuster Corporation, a privacy consulting firm. NATURALWAY @ NATURAL FIBER CLOTHING @ NATURAL BODY CARE - 820-822 MASS. * 841-0100 KU RECREATION SERVICES INTRAMURAL SPORTS INTRAMURAL SPORTS With over 30 activities throughout the school year, the Intramural Sports program offers a variety of recreational activities. The sports include baseball, basketball, soffball, and volleyball as well as various individual/dual sports like swimming, golf, wrestling and others. Entries open for activities beginning 8/24/95. Managers' Meetings begin in 8/28/95. Stop by the Employee Database. K. U. FIT TEAM Computers INFORMAL RECREATION Come down to Robinson and stay physically active in the following recreational activities: Rock Climbing, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Basketball, Walleyball, and Badminton. In addition,various pieces of sports equipment are available for check-out. With little emphasis on competition, participants can concentrate on having a good time. Exercise is an important component of living a healthy lifestyle. The K.U. Fit Staff is available to make working out fun, safe, and enjoyable for KU students, faculty, and staff. The KU FIT Team offers over 60 fitness classes a week. Students can participate in a water, boxing, weights and personal training. Sign-up starting 8/24/98. Workouts will begin 8/1/98. Come Join us for some health fun! SPORT CLUBS If you are interested in a student organization which involves sport, this is your activity. Sports and/or activities within the Sport Club Program can be competitive, recreational or instructional in nature. Sport Clubs can represent the University in intercollegiate competition or conduct club activities such as practice, instruction, or social play. Stop by the Robinson Center and discover the 25 sport clubs Recreation Services currently offers. If you would like additional information concerning any of the above programs, please stop by the Recreation Services Office in Robinson 208, call 864-3546, or look us up on the web @ www.raven.ukans.edu/~recserv Computer Store Owner Arrested for Criminally Low Prices The employees of UnI computer were treated to a rude surprise when they found that their ridiculously low prices on both new and used computers represented a threat to their competition. With UnI's wide selection of both Macintosh and PC's as well as a top notch certified sales & service staff it's easy to see how a large computer conglomerate would feel threatened by UnI's professional staff and friendly service Charges were dropped soon after the arrest and UnI is again open for business buying, selling, and servicing all major brands. Asked if this incident would make them raise their prices, Charles Jones the owner said,"We don't need any stinkin high prices." 1403 W.23rd 841-4611 Red Lyon Tavern 944 Mass.832-8228 COPY CENTER COPY CENTER • Full Service Copies • Sorting • Stapling • Double-Sided • Hole-Punched • Full-Color Copies • Binding • Laminating • Fax Service • Engineering Copies • Spec Books ★ DISCOUNTS ON LARGE ORDERS HOTZ BUSINESS SYSTEMS The Malls Shopping Center 711 W. 23rd Street Lawrenceville, NJ 07885 (789) 842-4134 COPIERS • FAX • ENGINEERING COPIERS SALES • SERVICE • SUPPLIES