UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, October 31, 1996
3A
Building the ties that bind
Natural Ties gives disabled friendly bonds
Suad Kandeel, Saudi Arabia sophomore, teaches folklore Saudi dances to Natural Ties member Scott Pfannes, Lawrence resident. The lesson was just one event at a Halloween party yesterday in the Frontier Room at the Burge Party. The party was sponsored by Natural Ties, a campus organization run by students that incorporates 19 organizations, including fraternities, sororities and individual volunteers. The organization helps integrate people with developmental disabilities into college organizations.
Tder Wirken / KANSAN
By Ashlee Roll Kansan staff writer
Peter Pan, Captain Kirk and Dick Tracy all made appearances last night at the Frontier Room in the Burge Union.
Well, they weren't really there, but at the second annual Natural Ties Halloween party, there were costumes, dancing and, naturally, candy corn.
Natural Ties is an organization that helps integrate people with developmental disabilities into college organizations. By engaging in common activities, people with and without developmental disabilities can meet new friends.
"Because of the program, I am friends with someone I never normally would be friends with," said Anne Hayes, Mission Hills senior and a coordinator of Natural Ties.
The campus group is run by students, and 19 student organizations are involved. The groups range from the KU Bioethics Club to fraternities.
"After formal education, there is little in the community that provides a social outlet with people with disabilities." Hayes said.
Natural Ties was established in 1988 at the University and has grown into a national organization.
the group includes people with a broad range of developmental disabilities. Susie Wilcox, Gettysburg, Penn., senior and a coordinator, said that everyone with disabilities could function well.
"We don't discriminate against anyone," she said. "When we plan
activities, we keep everyone's disability in mind."
There are about 75 people in the organization.
The organization has activities every Wednesday, but one member's favorite function is going to the Cadillac Ranch, 2515 W. Sixth St.
"The Cadillac Ranch is a neat place to go," said Kathy Lobb, Lawrence resident. "Like to go dancing."
For those benefiting from the program, Natural Ties is a positive thing.
"It has improved my life," Lobb said. "It is more enriching, and my self-esteem has gotten better. And I
have made many, many friends."
For Cathy Skrtic, Lawrence resident, the organization has changed her life for the better.
"I have been in it for five years," she said. "I like it a lot and meet a lot of really nice people."
Matt Payne, Oklahoma City, Okla., freshman, is a new volunteer with Natural Ties who joined the organization with his fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi.
"I felt it was a good way to touch the life of someone less fortunate," he said. "It also has helped me understand myself better by bringing me in touch with reality, so I don't take things for granted."
"Because of the program, I am friends with someone I never normally would be friends with."
Anne Hayes
Mission HillsSenior
Police say freshmen admit to crime
Sonic robbery plans reportedly made during orientation
By Andrea Albright Kansan staff writer
Yesterday's preliminary hearing revealed that the two KU freshmen accused of armed robbery and kidnapping at Sonic made their initial plans at University orientation.
Michael A. Horner and Dominik D. Kilpatrick, both of Lawrence, were arrested two weeks ago in connection with the August robbery of Sonic Drive In Restaurant, 3201 W. Sixth St., and with the kidnapping of two employees and a customer.
Detective Michael Brown of the Lawrence Police Department said an anonymous tip led police to Kilpatrick and Horner, who were then questioned individually in mid-October.
Kilpatrick, who at the time of his arrest was a pledge at Phi Delta Theta and lived in the fraternity house at 1621 Edgehill Road, was questioned for five hours and 20 minutes on Oct. 12, beginning at 10:42 p.m.
Horner, a graduate of and former football player for Lawrence High School, 1901 Lousiana St., was questioned for nine-and-a-half hours Oct. 14.
Brown said the men made written and taped confessions of the crimes, in which the suspects stole almost $7.000.
Brown said each man confessed that the idea for the crime originated at University orientation, where the two had become acquainted and had discussed how they both were short on money.
Brown said Horner admitted to suggesting that he and Kilpatrick rob the Sonic. Horner had worked at the restaurant before and knew its layout and procedures.
Kilpatrick originally did not agree to commit the crime. Brown said, but later called Horner back to meet again and create a plan.
That plan took them to Sonic just before midnight on Sunday, Aug. 11.
Brown said the men planned to meet at Kilpatrick's house, where they would pack dark clothing and face coverings in backpacks, and they would load the bags and their
bicycles into the back of Horner's truck.
Brown said the men took two guns to the restaurant: a 9 mm pistol and a squirt gun that they had painted black for realism.
Brown said that in the confessions, the men said they drove the truck to Horner's former apartment on Apple Lane and parked in front.
The men then rode their bicycles to a field behind Sonic, where they changed into dark clothing and face masks, Brown said.
Jeremy Waldbauer, a 16-year-old Lawrence High School junior, said he was walking home from Sonic just before midnight on Aug. 12 when he ran across the suspects by the dumpster at the south side of the parking lot.
Waldbauer testified that he was so startled, he didn't hear what the men were saying, but that they asked him for money.
Waldbauer said he dropped his food and instinctively threw down $30 dollars that he had in one of his pockets.
Waldbauer said Horner and Kilpatrick used him to gain entry to the restaurant and then locked him and two employees into the cooler for
Brown said that during the robbery, the men wore Sonic uniform jackets so they would not look suspicious to passing motorists. The men also gave jackets to the people they had locked in the cooler, Brown said.
Michael Madsen, owner of the restaurant and manager the night of the robbery, said he could not see much after one of the men forced him to lie on the floor and open the register.
Madsen testified that while the men waited 15 minutes for the time-lock on the safe to open, the telephone rang incessantly, and one of the men became so agitated that he answered the phone.
"He answered it, 'Sonic on Sixth, how may I help you,' that's when I knew it was an ex-employee," Madsen said. "That's how I train them to answer the phone."
After the suspects had gotten the money, Madsen said, one of the men ran out the back door, but the other was still outside and saw Madsen get up to call the police.
He was out front by the trash." Madsen said. "When he saw me, he threw the lid off the bin, brought in the trash, and said, 'I thought I'd help you out.'"
SUA sponsors celebration for All Hallow's Eve
By Cameron Heeg Kansan staff writer
It is going to be trick or treat and a whole lot more at the Kansas Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.
Student Union Activities and the Burge and Kansas unions are giving students a chance to get a jump on the festivities by sponsoring a Halloween open house.
"There are always people coming in and out of the Union, and now they can get involved and have some fun doing it," said Teresa Vaezey, vice president of University relations for SUA. "The open house is a good chance for students to dress up in costumes and act young for a while."
With the $2,000 allocated from SUA funds, Union employees will be passing out free treats such as sour balls, candy corn, pumpkin bread and spiced apple cider.
SUA and the unions have been holding Halloween open houses for the last 10 years.
"We want students to get the chance to become part of the experience rather than just picking up free candy," Veazey said.
From 12:30 to 1 p.m., students
who come dressed in their best Halloween garb can enter the costume contest. Winners will be picked by an SUA committee and can receive one of the following prizes: a $20 gift certificate from the Union's Prairie Room, a sweatshirt from the KU Bookstores, tickets to haunted houses or one pound of candy. Prizes will be awarded at 1:30, after the judging is complete.
In addition to the costume contest, students can get involved by having their picture taken for free in a coffin. There also will be more than 70 pumpkins waiting for decoration at the SUA-sponsored "Paint a Pumpkin" table. Students can keep the pumpkins they paint.
One of the main attractions at the open house will be fortune teller Lee Welenics from Lee's Summit, Mo., said Raziya Daniels, University relations officer for SUA.
"It is something that people don't take real serious, but it is still a lot of fun," Daniels said. "Not everyone can run to the phone and afford to call a psychic hot line, so now students can find out what the future holds for them for free."
KU student running for state Senate seat
By Neal Shulenburger
Kansan staff writer
Chris O'Brien, Lawrence graduate student, is a candidate without a campaign.
He declined to attend the candidate forum on Oct. 22 on campus. Articles in the local newspaper are filled with the phrase "no comment."
No yard signs, speeches or advertisements broadcast that O'Brien is running for state senator.
"I am running only as a place holder to give people a Democratic name on the ballot," O'Brien said. "I am not running an active campaign. I'm just giving people an opportunity to choose a Democrat on the ballot."
Forrest Swall, assistant professor of social welfare and chairman of the Douglas County Democratic party, said O'Brien put his name on the ballot without asking the party for help or financial support.
"Really, it was an independent action on his part, never coordinated with the Douglas County Democratic party," Swall said.
O'Brien's Republican opponent, Sandy Praeger, has held the office for one term. During that time, she led two committees.
"Sandy Praeger is so strong, and she is well-liked in the community regardless of party affiliation,"
Swall said. "She's not invincible; a strong candidate could beat her, but none came forward this year."
Burdett Loomis, professor of political science, said that placeholder candidates were not uncommon in elections, especially when the incumbent was popular.
"I think that O'Brien is taking it to extreme, but then again, you sometimes hear of candidates who leave the country before the election," he said.
Loomis said such candidates could get a significant percentage of the vote despite not having a campaign.
"If there's any party loyalty at all, a person might get 30 percent just having a 'D' after their name, but they are unlikely to win," Loomis said. "Of course, there is always the chance that the other candidate dies of a heart attack or something equally strange happens."
Swall agreed with Loomis.
And if O'Brien wins?
"All his being on the ballot will probably do is give some people who just really dislike Praeger someone to vote for," he said.
"Then he represents the district for the next four years," Loomis said. "There's always a chance you will win if you run. For the most part, place holders don't win even one out of 100 times, but occasionally they do."
To do, October 31:
Fimd beard for ZZ top costome.
Mix voodoojuice for tonight
Buy candy carns for little pukes.
Finally buy a computer.