4A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2006
HOUSING
Suicide policy ambiguous; friends crucial in prevention
BY MATT ELDER
As many as 1,100 college students are predicted to commit suicide this year alone, according to the Jed Foundation.
The foundation, which aims to prevent college student suicides, lists suicide as the second-leading cause of death among college students.
Because of this statistic, the University of Kansas Department of Student Housing is focusing on suicide prevention for its residents.
Several college campuses across the country have been fighting legal battles that stemmed from suicide attempts and their violation of housing policies. Some university's policies state that students must be evicted after showing suicidal tendencies.
She said that suicidal indications or attempts did not result in an automatic housing contract cancellation or expulsion from the University, unlike many other college campuses.
"You wouldn't want someone not seeking help because of a potential consequence."
Indications of suicide include roommates or friends noticing written or verbal evidence, like notes or a diary.
"I wouldn't say we have a suicide policy," Diana Robertson, interim director of student housing, said. "But we do have a suicide-indication policy because it's something we want to address as a problematic behavior."
Texas A&M University is one of the few Big 12 schools whose housing department looks at suicide from a "student welfare policy."
DIANA ROBERTSON Interim director of student housing
Robertson said that every case regarding a suicide attempt or indication was handled individually.
Students who have attempted or had suicidal tendencies must be cleared by the student counseling center before they are allowed to return to student housing.
"We feel that they obviously
are the experts." Kathy Collins, associate director of residence life at Texas A&M, said. "We work with them to determine if students will return to the campus population."
While substantial suicidal indications or attempts at George Washington University or Hunter College in New York have left college students removed from their student housing or even expelled, KU's policy aims at using prevention as a safeguard instead.
"Our goal is to get help for students for that very reason," Robertson said. "You wouldn't want someone not seeking help because of a potential consequence."
Robertson is aware of the effects of a student with suicidal tendencies living in a community environment,
such as student housing. She does acknowledge the well-being of the community, but most of the time it's a matter of an individual who needs help and treatment in student suicidal cases.
The housing department works closely with Counseling and Psychological Services, the Public Safety Office and other outside resources to provide help for students.
"We first do a risk assessment," said Pam Botts, interim CAPS director. "Depending on results we may choose to continue treating them here in our office or we may refer them for more comprehensive services."
Botts said CAPS worked closely with the housing department because of its direct contact with the large student population in each of the residence halls.
Robertson didn't recall a suicide in her time with the University, but said there have been instances where the housing department has been called upon to help a student.
"We can't count it, but if I was going to give a roundabout, a handful or few times a year we're working with someone whom we're actually concerned about their safety," she said.
Robertson said students who have suicidal thoughts and need assistance should contact CAPS at 864-2277.
Kansan staff writer Matt Elder can be contacted at melder@kansan. com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
CHILDCARE
Hilltop possibly to expand Added space would shorten day care's long waiting list
BY DANNY LUPPINO
KU students, faculty and staff with children could have expanded day care options on campus if the Kansas Board of Regents votes today to expand the Hiltop Child Development Center.
Pat Pisani, executive director of Hilltop, said the proposed expansion would add six classrooms and create space for 100 additional children. She said the addition was necessary to provide some relief for a waiting list that has expanded in recent years.
Though the proposed expansion would still leave a substantial waiting list, Pisani said it would make the center as big as it could possibly get.
"Now we have almost 350 kids on the waiting list, and we're not able to meet the University's needs," Pisani said.
Pisani said she thought the Board of Regents would approve the proposal because the University had documented a need for an expansion and outlined a funding plan.
"I've not been led to believe it won't be voted for" Pisani said.
She also said she thought parents would welcome the opportunity for more children to attend day care at the center.
Ethan Schmidt, graduate teaching assistant in history, has two children at Hilltop, one in his fourth year. He said he was extremely satisfied with the experience his children have had.
Schmidt said he thought the proposed expansion would allow more parents to feel as satisfied as he does.
"I wouldn't have them anywhere else," Schmidt said. "I think our children will have a real head start when they go to school."
"I think it's great because it's very hard to get into." Schmidt said. "The more kids that can have the Hilltop experience, I think, the better."
Kansan staff writer Danny Luppino can be contacted at dluppin@kansan.com.
CRIME
Edited by Mindy Ricketts
Parents kidnap pregnant daughter
BY KATHARINE WEBSTER ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALEM, N.H. — A Maine couple accused of tying up their 19-year-old daughter, throwing her in their car and driving her out of state to get an abortion was upset because the baby's father is black, a Maine sheriff said Tuesday.
Katelyn Kampf, who is white, told Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion that her mother "was pretty irate at the fact that the child's father was black, and she had made a number of disparaging remarks about that," he said.
If convicted of kidnapping, the Kampfs face 7 1/2 to 15 years in prison. Dion said he expects to bring charges in Maine also, after investigators consult with the district attorney Wednesday.
The Kampfs were apparently
taking their daughter to New York to try to force her to get an abortion there, police said.
The parents were arraigned Monday on kidnapping charges. The judge set ball at $100,000 each and ordered the Kamps to have no contact with their daughter.
Defense attorney Mark Sisti said Tuesday that a sworn statement by Salem police who interviewed both Katelyn Kampf and her parents said nothing about the father's race.
Katelyn Kampf escaped Friday at a Salem shopping center and called police, who arrested her parents, Nicholas Kampf, 54, and Lola, 53, both real estate developers from North Yarmouth, Maine.
mention in the sworn affidavit to the court about race being a factor in any way, shape or form."
"This whole race-card thing is ridiculous and objectionable," said Sisti, who represented both of the Kampfs for their arraignment Monday, but is now representing only Lola Kampf. "There wasn't any
Sisti also maintained there was no evidence a kidnapping had taken place in New Hampshire. The sworn affidavit said Katelyn described talking cordially with her parents during the trip from Maine.
But Salem Police prosecutor Ryan McFarland said in court Monday the Kampfs had their passports, rope, a rifle and ammunition in the car. He argued they posed a danger if released and could flee the country.
Dion said Katalyn Kampf told him her parents got upset when she called them Thursday night and told them she was pregnant. The Kampfs had met her boyfriend before and been friendly, but the pregnancy apparently "changed the dynamic," he said.
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