THE UNIVERSITY OF BANGLADEN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2006
NEWS
3A
TRANSPORTATION
Transit study results released
BY MARK VIERTHALER
Six months after research began into a coordination between KU on Wheels and the Lawrence Public Transit systems, a rough draft of the final recommendation has been made available.
Dan Boyle and Associates will present a pared-down version of its final findings Nov. 28 and 29 in public forums. Until then, Lawrence residents can view the first draft online.
All signs point to the recommendation of a consolidated system with a single governing body composed of equal representation from
the University and from the city. Students would make up half of the University's representation.
The 55-page report is available along with the results of the survey the group administered to riders including a transition plan, route profiles and public outreach activities.
"The purpose of the coordination would be to capitalize on what both systems have."
Go to kansan.com/bus to view the documents
Galante said he was interested in seeing what the city and University would do with the recommendations but that a large amount of student input would be considered before any decisions were made.
CLIFF GALANTE City public transit administrator
The most important factor to keep in mind,he said,was that both students and citizens were-getting a win-win situation.To do this, he encouraged people to visit the transit system's Web site to view the reports.
Cliff Galante, city public transit administrator, said after Boyle presented his final recommendations to the public, he would go before both the Lawrence City Commission and Provost Richard Lartviere with the same information. Both the city commission and the Provost would then decide what to do with the recommendations. "I really don't know what will come out of it," he said. "The purpose of the coordination would be to capitalize on what both systems have."
Danny Kaiser, assistant director of parking and transit at the University, said it was important to note that the document online was only the first draft. He said the final recommendations would be released at the public meetings.
Nick Sterner, chairman of the Student Senate transportation committee, said in a meeting Monday evening that the commission would discuss the final recommendation at a later date. Sterner said the commission would need adequate time to study and discuss the final recommendation.
Kansan staff writer Mark Vierthaler can be contacted at mvierthaler@kansan.com.
— Edited by Nicole Kelley
School bus crashes, kills three girls
ACCIDENT
Driver, 30 students among injured following wreck in Alabama
Mourners attend a prayer vigil Monday evening, Nov. 20, 2006, at Life Church International in Huntsville, Ala., for victims of the fatal school bus crash in Huntsville earlier in the day. A school bus packed with high school students smashed on a guardrail along an overpass Monday and crashed nose-first 30 feet below, killing three teenage girls and injuring at least 30 other people, some critically, authorities said.
BY DESIREE HUNTER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Glenn Baeske/ASSOCIATED PRESS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A school bus packed with high school students smashed through a guardrail along an overpass Monday and crashed nose-first 30 feet below, killing three teenage girls and injuring at least 30 other people, some critically, authorities said.
A car driven by another high school student apparently came close to or struck the bus, causing it to plow through the concrete rail on the elevated section of Interstate 565 and crash onto Church Street below, said Police Chief Rex Reynolds. Two girls died at the scene, and a third died at a hospital.
Students on the bus, which had no seat belts, were screaming when rescue workers arrived. "They were thrown all over the bus," said Fire Chief Dusty Underwood. Some had to be pulled from the crushed front of the vehicle.
More than 30 students and the bus driver were taken to Huntsville Hospital, which became a hectic trauma center with emergency physicians and staff called in to help as ambulances brought in the severely injured.
Christina Collier, 18, and Nicole
"This is a heartbreaking tragedy," Gov. Bob Riley said in a statement.
Frantic parents went to
Ford, 17, died at the scene, police said. A third. Tanesha Hill, 17, died at the hospital, a hospital official said.
Hospital officials said staff members had trouble identifying some of the more severely injured students who were unable to talk and had no identification on them.
Before help arrived, terrified stu-
"I was scared, panicking and just getting ready to cry."
the scene, where some students sat dazed or lay draped in white sheets, or went to the hospital to find their children.
LAWANDA JEFFERSON Student
dents tried to climb from the wreckage.
scared, panicking and just getting ready to cry"
"They were falling on each other. People were screaming, yelling, crying," said LaWanda Jefferson, 16, whose left arm was fractured and face was bruised. "I was
Some children called their relatives from cell phones shortly after
the bus hit the ground, Jefferson among them.
"All I could hear was screaming in my ears;" her grandmother, Doris Harris, said. "Screaming and crying and her saying something about the bus."
The bus was taking students from Huntsville's Lee High School to the Center for Technology, where students can receive special science and math credits.
At least three survivors were in critical condition, hospital officials said.
A Toyota Celica driven by another Lee High School student was the only other vehicle involved, and investigators had spoken with the car's driver as well as witnesses,
The bus driver was in critical condition, authorities said, though the police chief said hospital workers were able to speak with the driver.
police spokesman Wendell Johnson said.
The damaged car was still at the crash site Monday afternoon.
Jefferson told the AP that before the crash, the passengers had been talking, joking and laughing. Then she saw a car speed by to the right, and suddenly she was flying across the bus, she said.
"The bus went to the side, and I guess it went over," she said. "When it was falling ... I was just glad when it hit the ground."
She said that if there had been seat belts on the bus, "most folks would not have gotten injured like this."
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the wreck. The agency has said that school buses are designed to protect occupants without the need for seat belts.
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
JAYWALK!
What is JayWalk?
Have you ever felt unsafe walking alone at night on campus? Wish someone could walk with you? Jaywalk can help!
JayWalk is a service available to all students who want a JayWalk volunteer to WALK them to their residence hall or car, or to wait with them for the Night Campus Express Bus or SafeRide.
Where is JayWalk?
The JayWalk station and volunteers are located inside Anschutz Library.
When is the service available? JayWalk runs Sunday through Thursday from 8pm to midnight.
Who walks with me?
One male and one female will escort you to a specific location.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER FOR JayWalk? Call us at: 864-3222
JayWalk is giving away an IPOD Nanol Every time you use our service or volunteer with JayWalk, you get your name in the drawing, which will be in December!
Volunteers are greatly needed and appreciated! While you are assisting KU students you can also study and do homework! Pick up forms in room 410 in the Kansas Union! If you have any questions regarding the service or about volunteering, please email Safety@ku.edu
Alternative Breaks
Alternative Breaks is a service learning organization dedicated to giving students hands on opportunities with service work. Every year we provide volunteer trips for more than 200 students through our Winter, Spring, and
Weekend Break programs
Get an application from www.ku.edu/~albreaks
November 21, 2006
Applications should be turned in to the Alternative Breaks office, 425 Kansas Union, in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center
DRADURSE FOR THE SPRING BREAK PROGRAM APPLICATION IS DEC. 1ST
The Fair Trade Holiday Sale is coming up. Gifts at the sale, from chocolate to scarves and jewelry, are hand made by artisans from all over the world, as well as local producers. Support local producers and artisans in developing regions of the world by shopping at the Fair
KU Students for Fair Trade
Trade Holiday Sale!
Fair Trade Holiday Sale at Ecumenical Christian Ministries (ECM)
Nov. 24 & 25: 9am - 7pm
Nov. 26: 1pm - 7pm
Nov. 27-30: 11am - 7pm
funded by:
SENATE
PAID FOR BY KU
Student Senate
Interested in the political process?
Make a difference today . . . Apply for the Student Senate Elections Commission. Applications are available in the Student Senate office, Room 410 (Kansas Union 4th floor).
Contact Andrew Payne at npsyne@ku.edu if you have any questions.
The Center for Community Outreach Challenging. Educating. Empowering.
Students Tutoring for Literacy
Interested in tutoring kids and adults? Volunteers are needed for Students Tutoring for Literacy Programs are available with groups or one-on-one throughout the Lawrence Community.
Students Tutoring for Literacy (STL) helps native and nativive English-speaking youth and adults obtain best GED, learn English as a second language, read best first book, or fill out a job application.
email uil@ku.edu if you are interested
CREATE
STUDENT SENATE
The Student Senate is looking to fill the following empty senate seats: 1 Business, 1 Pharmacy, and 4 Graduate. If you are interested in filling one of these open spots, pick up an application in the Student Senate office, Rm 410 in the Kansas Union or online
studentsenate.ku.edu.
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