UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, September 26, 1996
3A
Brian Flink / KANSAN
Lynda Eakin, associate executive vice chancellor, and William Crowe, vice chancellor for information services and dean of libraries, spoke to staff members about glitches in the University's new biweekly payroll system.
Payroll glitches addressed by staff members
Forum focuses on communication as key to solving recent problems
By Eric Weslander Kansan staff writer
Crowe made his observation yesterday after a forum at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union. The forum gave more than 125 staff members in charge of payroll a chance to express their concerns to Crowe and Lindy Ealdin, associate executive vice chancellor.
William Crowe, vice chancellor for information services and dean of libraries, said communication was the key to solving the University's payroll problems.
Since the University switched to a biweekly pay schedule and new payroll software in January, employees consistently have been paid late or incorrectly. Besides frustrating those who have received incorrect pay, the system has frustrated those who work with it.
Beth Knapid, account specialist in the chemistry department, said she would take another job at a moment's notice if it provided equal pay and benefits because of the hassles created by the payroll system.
"You guys are losing so many of us because we've all had it." she said.
The two-hour meeting dealt primarily with how to improve communication between staff members and the computing center.
Some people complained of not knowing who was the right person to solve problems with the system. Some said that they had called the computing center and had received different answers from different people.
"This is a very technologically complex system," said David Gardner, director of computing services. "It's hard for any one person to understand all there is to know about this system. We see new things all the time here that perplex us."
Other staff members said the system was updated too often for staff members to adjust to the changes. Some said the training did not give them enough skills.
Ruth Hurst, personnel administrator for computing services, said that because she spent so much time trying to fix payroll problems, she was unable to work with personnel effectively.
"I feel like I've become a payroll person who does personnel on the side," she said.
Crowe said the staff members' efforts were heroic but that they should not have to be.
"This can't go on because you have other things to do," he said. "This is not why we hired you. We want you to save your heroic efforts for other things, too."
Crowe said that in addition to communication, he would look at how incorrect paychecks were processed and would hire extra staff who would help fix technical problems.
He said feedback was the most important thing, and many staff members agreed.
"I feel like maybe at least we're starting to be heard," said Kandi White, business manager in the division of biological sciences.
Theft prevention protects valuables
Engraving treasures, leaving them at home deters stealing
After spending a day with their families, Emily Heath and her roommates returned to their Lawrence house and found that their home had been burglarized.
By Ashlee Roll Kansan staff writer
Usually criminals don't steal items for their personal use but sell the stolen property. Hadl said.
"The good stuff should be left behind until students can afford proper security or move into a true and long-lasting home," Hadl said.
Students' most common mistake is bringing valuables to school, Hadl said. Items such as expensive jewelry and stereo equipment should be left at home.
There were two TVs and two stereos stolen," said Heath, Oskaloosa junior. "They had entered the house through a bad lock."
Students who do choose to bring expensive belongings to school are advised to engrave a personal number on it, such as a Social Security number, she said. They also should write down the item's serial number.
Without these steps, stolen property can't be identified even if it is recovered.
This is not an unlikely scenario for some students. Although there are no specific numbers on students who are victims of burglary, Sgt. Susan Hadl of the Lawrence police department said the influx of students every year affected the crime rate because it brought 20,000 potential victims.
"Usually there is no way to track it back to the owner." Hadl said.
Heath and her roommates lost $700 in property.
Norman John, insurance department manager for Stephens Real Estate & Insurance, 2701 W. Sixth St., said students needed to keep an inventory of their belongings with receipts, photos or canceled checks to receive a refund in case of theft.
Full-time students usually are covered if they're on their parents' homeowners insurance.
Other students can purchase renters' insurance for about $150 a year.
Pam Dishman / KANSAN
The KU police department loans engraving machines for free to students. Students who live in residence halls can use engraving machines provided at the front desk.
Had offered some suggestions to help students protect their property.
- make sure your house or apartment is well-lighted on the outside and on the inside.
"Make it look and sound like you are home," Hadi said.
Don't tell people you are not home on your answering machine message. Keep it short. Hadl said it was also beneficial to always answer the phone, in case the perpetrator was calling ahead.
Awareness is the most important aspect of safety. Hadl said. Being aware of surroundings and neighbors can protect you from being victimized.
Students hurry along Jayhawk Boulevard while trying to stay dry. Rain pelted the area yesterday, and not everyone was fortunate enough to be carrying an umbrella.
All wet
Police to auction nearly200 bicycles
By Liz Musser
Kansan staff writer
A strobe light, two lawn ornaments and a deluge of bicycles are just the beginning of a long list of items up for bid the next two weekends.
On Saturday the Lawrence Police Department will sell a variety of unclaimed items at its biannual found-property and bicycle auction. The department will hold a separate auction on Oct. 5 for used evidence. Proceeds from the auctions will go to the city.
The articles in the found-property auction, which include nearly 200 bicycles, are all items that were turned in to the police and never claimed by their owners.
Sgt. Susan Hadl of the Lawrence police department said that a lot of the property could not be returned to the original owners because it didn't have a serial number and could not be traced.
The quality of the merchandise varies, Hadl said
"It runs the gamut from $5 hunks of metal to really neat stuff." she said.
Tracy Elston, cashier for Elston Auction Company, has worked at past found-property auctions. She said that about 200 people typically attend the auction and that the deals were average.
"A lot of the bikes are like new, so the bids go up pretty high," she said.
The auction will be held at the former City Garage at Fifth and Mississippi streets. Viewing starts at 9 a.m., and bidding will begin at 10 a.m.
The Oct. 5 evidence auction will have more than 400 items ranging from coolers to electronic equipment to humidifiers.
Hall said that all the pieces of evidence came from cases that had been closed at least two years ago, which ensures that the items will not be needed again for appeals.
Tena Gleason, Omaha, Neb., senior, was intrigued by the idea of an evidence auction, she said.
The evidence auction will begin at 10 a.m. Oct. 5 at the Law Enforcement Center, 111 E.11th St.
"It would be cool to see things that have been used for a trial," she said. "If it was cheap, I would buy it just to say it was owned by a criminal."
ON THE RECORD
A KU student's wallet, bank card and driver's license were stolen from her purse at 12:30 a.m. Thursday at the O Street Tavern, 1344 Ohio St., Lawrence police said. The items were valued at $9.
A KU student's yellow parking permit was stolen between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday from a car in Lot 71, south of Allen Field House, KU police said. The permit was valued at $55.
Windows in the Memorial Stadium warehouse of the KU Bookstore were damaged between 5:05 p.m. Monday and 7:55 a.m. Tuesday, KU police said. The damage was
estimated at $50.
Thirty-two megabytes of computer memory and a 2-gigabyte hard drive were stolen from the School of Business between 5 p.m. Sept. 12 and 8 a.m. Sept. 17 from 418E Summerfield Hall, KU police said. The items were valued at $608.
A KU student's photographs were stolen and some food was ruined between 5:30 p.m. Sept. 13 and 8 p.m. Sept. 14 at an apartment in the 1700 block of Engel Road, KU police said. The items were valued at $11.
ON CAMPUS
■ KU Ki Akidok Club will meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at 207 Robinson Center. For more information, call Jill Woodworth at 864-1798.
KU Meditation Club will meet at 6 tonight at the Daisy Hill Room in the Burge Union. For more information, call Pamir at 864-7736.
KU Champions will have meeting and gaming from 6:30 to 10:30 tonight at the Kansas Union Parors. For more information, call Erik Lindsley at 841-4585.
Intervarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship will have Bible study at 7 tonight at the RegionalList Room in the Kansas Union. For more
Student Assistance Center will have a time management and reading workshop from 7 to 8:30 tonight at 330 Strong Hall. For more information, call the Student Assistance Center at 864-4064.
information, call Becky at 864-8039.
Icthus will meet at 7:30 tonight at the Burge Union. For more information, call Scott Nissen at 838-9719.
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship will meet at 7:30 tonight at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Jason Brown at 749-2408.