THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2006
NEWS
3A
》 HOUSING
Center opening delayed
Vanessa Pearson/KANSAN
A construction worker from BA Green Construction Co. works on the Crawford Community Center, 1346 Louisiana St., Monday. The center will serve as a multi-purpose building for scholarship hall residents and will include a park, apartment and office.
Additional renovations postpone scholarship hall facility
Scholarship hall residents will have to continue patiently awaiting the opening of the Wilma "Willee" Crawford Community Center, 1346 Louisiana St.
The center was scheduled to open this fall. After a series of delays, the center's opening will be postponed until the spring semester. The center will serve as a multi-use facility for scholarship hall residents. The centralized location will allow the community to gather for both meetings and social activities.
The building was donated by Reginald and Juanita Strait who lived near the scholarships halls. The couple befriended many students during the past several decades by providing home-cooked meals and piano lessons.
"She became like a grandma to a lot of the students," Avila said. "We
have adults now that say they used to go there when they were in college decades ago."
Construction crews intended on replacing only portions of the house's foundation, but later determined the building would need an entirely new one, said Diana Robertson, interim director of student housing.
Robinson said that because the new foundation took more time and money to fix, they had to reassess financing. This included a combination of private donations and state money.
"It had to go through some red-tane." Robertson said.
While inside renovations continue with electrical and sheetrock construction, the landscape surrounding the center will progress in the next few weeks as well. Vince Avila, associate director of housing maintenance, has overseen the construction of the center's park, Strait Park.
"It's going to look real sharp," Avila said. "They've tried to keep everything, especially the outside, looking just like the original house."
Robertson said that the new park will include an outdoor fountain and patio with a sitting area, that will accommodate residents' needs for barbecues and other outdoor functions.
The center will also house an upstairs apartment and office for the complex director of the scholarship halls, something Robertson is excited to have.
"We've got a complex director living in every complex except for there," Robertson said. "We really wanted to make that happen."
Kansan staff writer Matt Elder can be contacted at melder@kansan. com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
Commission reviews laws
LAWRENCE
BY MARK VIERTHALER
The city commission will consider an expansion of city concealed weapon laws after receiving a review of 17 city codes and possible problems.
City staff attorney Scott Miller presented the study after David Corliss, interim city manager, asked him to find codes that may cause the city to be at odds with the state. The study included the state of the current law and Miller's suggested proposals.
The commission approved to move the study to the consent agenda, which will pass the law changes barring any public comment on the subject.
"There have been times when Lawrence city ordinance has been at odds with state laws," Miller said. "This list is an attempt to be proactive and stop any more laws from coming into contradiction with
One law under review was the city's concealed weapon ordinance
each other."
Currently, only law enforcement officers and deputies are allowed to carry concealed weapons within Lawrence city limits.
Under the altered law, private detectives licensed to carry concealed weapons, members of the armed forces while engaged in duties and people authorized under the Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act would be allowed to carry weapons.
This would put Lawrence on par with the Kansas law regarding concealed weapons.
To be approved for a concealed weapon permit, a person must submit to a background check and have no previous history of mental illness.
Discharging of firearms in city limits is currently only allowed by national guardsmen and law
enforcement officers. Miller suggested allowing exceptions for those lawfully defending his or her person, property or dwelling.
Miller suggested the city code defining window peeping should be improved. Currently, the law states anyone illegally on property with the intent to look into any sort of portal into the home is in violation of the law. The law does not clearly define "loitering" or "wrongfully observing," leaving loopholes when prosecution comes around.
City Commissioner Dennis "Boog" Highberger suggested a review of the city's dumpster diving ordinance. He said he didn't feel the current law was clear enough.
Kansan staff writer Mark Vierthaler can be contacted at mvierthaler@kansan.com.
Edited by Brett Bolton
TRANSPORTATION
Skateboarders argue for policy revision
BY MARK VIERTHALER
Long boarders and skateboards alike can raise their voices in hope after efforts to allow skateboarders on campus have taken another step in the right direction.
Casey Millstein, Baldwin senior, came before the Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday to argue the legalization of boarding on campus after Student Senate told her to talk to the city. City commissioner Sue Hack, after receiving an e-mail from Millstein, forwarded the argument to the Traffic Safety Commission. It is now under review.
"I'd like to take this all the way until someone says 'yes,'" Millstein said.
that students on campus use their boards for transportation, not for public disturbances.
Millstein began her crusade to legalize long boarding on campus earlier this month after receiving numerous tickets. She aruges
Campus has banned boarding for the past 12 years. Areas of campus that are forbidden from board traffic include West Campus Road to 13th Street and 1,000 feet on either side of Jayhawk Boulevard.
Originally arguing only for long boarders, Millstein and her friends realized it was too much trouble to have people differentiate between long boards and skateboards.
Commissioners told Millstein that although the city doesn't have jurisdiction over campus ordinances, they are the ones who enforce the codes. Therefore, the city can make recommendations to the University.
David Corliss, interim city manager, said after the Traffic Safety Commission had time to review the issue of boarding on sidewalks.
they would approach the University for a joint discussion on the proper course of action.
Millstein presented the commission with the ordinances from other colleges including Kansas State University and Fort Hays State University. Both colleges allow boarding on campus, provided the users give right-of-way to foot traffic and do not take their boards airborn.
"We've actually received national support for this cause," Millstein said.
Mayor Mike Amyx said he felt it was an important subject that needed to be addressed. The commission has yet to set a date for review.
Kansan staff writer Mark Vierthaler can be contacted at mvierthaler@ kansan.com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
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