8A
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY OF DARYA KASRAN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2006
》 SEPT. 11
Human remains still appearing
BY SARA KUGLER ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — As the city agency overseeing the removal of the World Trade Center rubble was wrapping up its work in 2002, several officials handling the painstaking recovery of human remains warned that things were moving too fast.
A utility crew stumbled upon body parts last week in an abandoned manhole along the edge of the site, and forensic experts have since dug down and found more than 100 bones and fragments from skulls, ribs, arms, legs, feet and hands.
They believed that more pieces of the 2,749 dead could be found, and that the city shouldn't be rushing such an important task. But they were overruled, two of those officials told The Associated Press this week.
During the past few days, dozens of bones have been discovered in underground passages at ground zero, more than five years after the tragedy.
The discoveries have angered and saddened relatives of the Sept. 11 victims. Of the 2,749 people who were killed that day, the remains of some 1,150 have not been found. That means that families of 40 percent of the victims have nothing — not a sliver of a bone — left of their loved ones.
The notion that rescue workers
were rebuffed by a city eager to finish the job could help shed light on why the remains are being discovered only now. The area where bones are being found is one where officials had raised objections.
The officials said they repeatedly aired their concerns to the agency in charge, the Department of Design and Construction, which was later praised for its speedy, under-budget cleanup of 1.5 million tons of trade center debris.
Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler, who is overseeing the renewed search, said a review of such issues would be premature, but noted that the Fire Department was designated as the lead agency for finding remains, and that DDC proceeded with its work only when the FDNY gave the go-ahead. The Department of Design and Construction had no comment.
According to the two officials, FDNY rescue workers were among those who resisted the Department of Design and Construction. However, Fire Department spokesman Frank Gribbon said Monday that reports of objections were exaggerated. Each day, DDC convened planning meetings with all the parties involved, including engineers, emergency responders and a range of other city agencies.
The project finished months ahead of city officials' yearlong prediction, and cost about $750 million — just a fraction of the initial multibillion-dollar estimate.
ELECTION 2006
Candidate contests appointing system
BY ROXANA HEGEMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
WICHITA—Republican gubernatorial challenger Jim Barnett says he wants to see a change in how Kansas Supreme Court justices are appointed, but Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said she favors the current system.
The two candidates debated Monday at a Rotary Club meeting in Wichita, during which Barnett argued that having attorneys involved in the Supreme Court nominating process creates a conflict of interest.
A nine-member nominating commission, five of whom are attorneys, screens applications from prospective justices and picks three finalists.
The final choice then rests with the governor.
Barnett also criticized some Supreme Court decisions, including a 2005 ruling on the constitutionality of the state's school financing system that forced legislators to increase spending. He said that decision led to the court essentially appropriating money.
Barnett proposed a system that
mirrors the federal system, in which the governor would appoint justices and the Senate would confirm them, with no nominating commission.
But Sebelius noted that the process was put in place in Kansas nearly 50 years ago to correct what was seen as an overly political system.
Pumpkin pride
Justices used to be elected to six-year terms, but voters changed the system in response to what became known as "the Triple Play."
Bebelius, who is seeking a second term, said it would be dangerous to change the selection process because people don't like the court's decisions.
The candidates also disagree on whether the State Board of Education should retain its power of education policy, with Sebelius saying again Monday that she would support a change.
The governor said the current school board isn't accountable to taxpayers, parents and business leaders. Its 10 members are elected and pick a commissioner to run the Department of Education.
Linda Anderson, a teacher at Journey Pre-School at First United Methodist Church, turns pumpkins in the pumpkin patch Monday so that they will dry and not rot in Harlingen, Texas. The church is selling pumpkins as its annual fundraiser to benefit the school.
Joe Hermosa/ ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAFETY
Overcrowded dorm elevator kills student
BY DOUG WHITEMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Twenty-four people had crowded onto a dormitory elevator before it pinned and killed an Ohio State University freshman, exceeding its weight capacity by as much as 1,100 pounds, a fire official said Monday.
He said the elevator had a capacity of 2,500 pounds. "If you take the average freshman college kid, you'd probably average their weight somewhere between 140 and 150 (pounds), so without a doubt it probably exceeded the weight," Smith said.
The count came from a medic who interviewed survivors immediately after the Friday night accident, said Doug Smith, a battalion chief for the Columbus Division of Fire.
However, authorities have not concluded that the extra weight caused the elevator to malfunction, and the case remains under investigation.
"We can't speculate or draw any conclusions at this point until we have all the facts." Ohio State spokeswoman Shelly Hoffman said.
Andrew Polakowski was the last person to enter the elevator on Stradley Hall's third floor when it began to descend with the doors open, campus police said.
Polakowski, 18, of Erie, Pa., was pinned when he tried to escape through a gap between the top of the elevator and the third floor, police said.
Polakowski had chest and abdominal injuries and died of asphyxia, Franklin County Coroner Bradley Lewis said.
The state Department of Commerce released documents showing the elevator had passed every safety test conducted by Otis Elevator Co. going back to 2003, including the most recent one, conducted July 24.
Some students said they have had minor problems with elevators in the 11-floor dormitory, which has more than 400 residents.
University President Karen Holbrook told school officials to arrange for an independent review of all dormitory elevators.
An interactive, multi-media experience that teaches about oppression.
Tunnel of op•pres•sion
Oppression can only survive through silence.
How long will you remain silent?
October 23 & 24 Lewis Hall 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
For more information or to vokn leer, call the Multicultural Resource Center 864-4350