Thursday, August 19. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Officer's role in bike accident investigated
By Katie Hollar
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Douglas County District Attorney's Office is still reviewing reports of last week's accident involving an off-duty police officer.
Bicyclist Steve Mitchell, 22, was struck by a Jeep Wrangler driven by off-duty Lawrence police officer Micah Stegall, 24, the evening of Aug. 14.
Douglas County District Attorney Christine Kenney Tonkovich said yesterday she was unsure when her office would reach a decision.
Mitchell said he had been on his way home from a concert, riding down the sidewalk on Eighth Street. Stegall was traveling south on Vermont Street when he turned left onto Eighth Street and swerved to the south sidewalk, colliding with the bicycle.
"There wasn't really any reaction time, it just happened so fast," Mitchell said. "I just looked down and my thumb was totally, totally thrashed."
Mitchell said Stegall helped him up and asked if he could help.
"He asked me if there was anything he could do," Mitchell said. "I just said 'I need to go to the hospital now.'"
Mitchell accepted a ride from Stegall to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released later that night.
Stegall is on administrative leave from the police department. Sgt. George Wheeler said departmental action was pending on results of blood-alcohol tests from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
"We're trying to make sure we handle this case like any other case." Wheeler said.
Stegall could not be reached for comment
After a series of corrective surgeries, including plastic surgery on Monday, Mitchell has limited use of his right hand. A bass player with the Lawrence-based band PBJ, Mitchell said he had regained some mobility but still had some difficulty with certain strumming techniques.
"I still can't play slap style," he said. "I don't know if it's ever going to be possible."
Mitchell, who has no health insurance, said he would not be able to work for at least another week.
"It really sucks, because I have a lot of bills coming up," he said.
Mitchell has not decided whether to press charges against Stegall or the police department.
"I'm not a money-hungry pig, but at the same time I feel I should be compensated," he said. "I'm at a moral battle."
—Edited by Jamie Knodel
Workers broke ground at the University of Kansas' newest women's scholarship hall, Amini Two. The hall is set to open in the Fall 2000 and will sit in the shadow of the original Amini scholarship hall. Photo by Kate Leven-son/KANSAN
Scholarship hall construction begins
Bidding problems delay early work on 'Amini Two'
by Lori O'Toole
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Phil Garito, Department of Student Housing assistant manager, said that the department anticipated spending $1.9 million on the scholarship hall, the majority of which was funded by a $1.5 million donation from KU alumni Margaret and K.K. Amini.
Workers broke ground on the University of Kansas' newest women's scholarship hall Tuesday two months behind schedule because of financial setbacks.
required an additional $600,000. Garito said the additional cost would be paid by the housing department and the Endowment Association.
However, the lowest bidder, B.A. Green Construction Co., 1207 Iowa.
Garito said that the delay would not prevent the hall from opening for fall 2000.
Eye said that the contractor planned to finish the foundation of the building before winter, but that the work was complicated since a portion of the foundation would rest on columns and other portions would rest on foundation walls.
John Eye, design and construction management project manager, was not as confident about meeting the building's completion date, which was set for next May or June.
Eye said precipitation could make
"They'll be drilling nearly into bedrock to support it," Eye said. "It's a big undertaking. The contractor doesn't seem worried. Frankly, I don't know that much at this point because the weather is such a big factor."
soil conditions unsuitable for work, but that the temperature probably would not be a factor.
Like most of the building's architecture, the foundation would be nearly identical to that of Amini Scholarship Hall's, Eye said. Architects said the two buildings were designed to be mirror reflections of each another.
Garito said there would be some small differences between the two buildings. Architects created Amini with pointed and triangular architectural elements, but designed the new scholarship hall with rounded elements.
Architects also planned for the new building's bathrooms to have privacy walls to divide the sinks from the remainder of the bathroom.
"Most of the changes we've made were results of suggestions from Amini men and students already living in scholarship halls," Garito said.
The new scholarship hall is not named but has been referred to as
Amini Two. Garito said it may be named after Margaret Amini but that the donors would most likely choose its name from a list suggested by University officials.
Fifty women will live in the new building. The additional hall will even the number of men's and women's scholarship halls at KU to five apice.
Alicia Reed, Miller Scholarship Hall president, said she had considered moving into the new scholarship hall next year to fill a leadership position.
"I'm concerned about it being behind schedule," Reed, Great Bend junior, said. "A lot of people choose to come to KU because of the scholarship halls since it's cheaper and it's such a great living environment. When there's not room, some people choose not to come to KU. By being behind schedule, I was worried that we may cut some women out of coming to KU."
Edited by Matt Gardner
Jayhawk Bookstore 21 Years Serving KU!
- Free Parking, Longer Hours Than Other Bookstores
- New & Used Textbooks
- Engineering & Architecture Supplies
- Web Services at: www.jayhawkbookstore.com
- The Private Store Professionals Giving You the Edge