PAGE 1A
SAFETY
Photo illustration hv Vanessa Pearson/KANSAN
A student gets into a Safe Ride vehicle on Massachusetts Street. Some University of Kansas students have complaints about Safe Ride policies, and some students have had difficulty getting rides because they did not have proof they lived at their address.
Student complaints materialize concerning Safe Ride procedures
KU on Wheels tries to eliminate student misuse with new policies
BY DANNY LUPPINO
University of Kansas students, particularly those in sororities, are having a hard time getting home using KU on Wheels' Safe Ride service.
At least four students were unable to schedule rides home because they did not have proof they lived at the address they asked to be taken to when they called the Safe Ride operators.
Safe Ride policy prevents students from being taken anywhere but their residences. Jessica Mortinger, transportation coordinator for KU on Wheels, said the policy was necessary to ensure the safety of students.
"It is a Safe Ride policy to not take students to parties, drinking establishments and other venues that are not their homes," Mortinger said. "Safe Ride is attempting to look out for the best interests of students."
Because of that policy, Mortinger said Safe Ride does not bring males to GSP-Corbin Hall or sororites, or females to fraternities.
Some students complained that the policy had not been enforced correctly.
One student, who asked to remain anonymous, said she and two friends were repeatedly denied service from Safe Ride when trying to get from a party to the sorority house where they lived.
"They refused a few times to
They refused pick us up and wouldn't take us back," she said. "I was really confused."
The student said her friend
back and was told she would need to provide the driver with proof of her address. When she told the operator she did not have it with her, the operator hung up again. The student said this happened three more times.
In an e-mail complaint received last year by KU on Wheels, another student said she asked to be taken home from Fatsol's, 1016 Massachusetts St., but was told her house was too close for her to need a ride. In the complaint, the student alleged the operator told her to "fucking walk home" before hanging up.
Have you been denied a ride by Safe Ride? E-mail your story to the Kansan at dluppino@kansan.com.
was able, after nearly an hour, to convince the Safe Ride operator that the sorority house was, in fact, her residence.
The student said she then called
Mortinger said the behavior of the operator — if accurately portrayed in the complaint — was
According to the KU on Wheels Web site, students are required to show a KUID to ensure that only KU students are using the service. They are not required to show proof of address upon pick-up, though they may need to if they are dropped off at a suspicious address.
unacceptable.
the operators,
who are students
themselves,
are trained to interact
with other students,
Mortinger said.
"In order to serve the mission of only taking students to their home, if they do, in fact, live in a location that does not to appear to be a residence or the residence also appears to be a party, riders are, in fact,
asked to prove that they live there." Mortinger said. "Our intention is never to keep people from getting home. Our intention is to try and prevent abuse of Safe Ride."
She said acceptable proof of address would include a driver's license with the student's local address on it or a piece of mail with the address and the student's name.
Several people in the KU on Wheels office said an operator asking for proof of address before pickup was not in line with Safe Ride policy and was most likely acting in response to a particularly suspicious caller.
Mortinger said Safe Ride operators and drivers were not the only ones to blame for inconsistent service.
"There is a large problem with students trying to cheat the system and tell Safe Ride dispatchers that they live above a local establishment or the current location of a keg party." Mortinger said.
Kansan staff writer Danny Luppino can be contacted at dluppino@kansan.com.
- Edited by Derek Korte
SAFETY
McCollum, Towers lead crime statistics Three halls have far higher rates of theft, rape, alcohol and drug abuse
BY DAVID LINHARDT
Jayhawker Towers and McCollum and Oliver halls are the most dangerous residence halls on campus.
Police reports indicate crimes have been reported at or near Oliver and the Towers 40 times each since September 2005. McCollum was a close second with 39 police reports.
The discrepancy isn't much of a surprise to Capt. Schuyler Bailey, KU Public Safety Office
The three buildings far outpaced other halls like Hashinger Hall (12 total crime reports), Lewis Hall (10), and GSP-Corbin (19). Ellsworth came closest with 29. The safest place to live on campus is Templin Hall, which had a mere eight crime reports in the last year. Hashinger was closed for the 2005-2006 school year.
safety tips
Tips from the KU Public Safety Office for staying safe while living on campus;
Lock your doors.
Don't leave personal property unattended.
Lock bikes properly with a u-lock, not a cable lock.
Record serial numbers from bikes, cell phones and computers.
pokesman. Bailey said Oliver and McCollum tended to have a high number of freshmen, often away
SEE HOUSING ON PAGE 4A
》 ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
Infants younger than 2 must still have tickets Resolution suggesting policy change tabled at Student Senate meeting
BY NATE MCGINNIS
After 30 minutes of debate Wednesday night, Student Senate tabled a resolution calling for the Athletics Department to admit infants under the age of two into football and non-revenue sporting events for free.
The resolution stated, "We are grieved by the fact that infants (2 years of age or under) are charged full price for admittance at any events," and challenged the department policy that requires all persons in attendance to have a ticket regardless of age.
The resolution also asked the department to "take into account the needs of its patrons that have children who want to attend football or other non-revenue sports."
The resolution can be voted on
"We believe KU athletics should be promoting a family-friendly atmosphere."
ALEX TREASTER Author of the resolution
next at the full senate meeting in two weeks.
Alex Treastef, Shawnee junior and author of the resolution, said he thought the policy requiring tickets for all patrons was unreasonable.
"We believe KU athletics should be promoting a family-friendly atmosphere," Treaster said.
SEE TICKETS ON PAGE 4A
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© 2008 The University Daily Kansan
New club, old-school game KU student needs Student Senate funding for four square
BY NATE MCGINNIS
Students at Wescoe Beach could soon be reeling a childhood game if one KU student receives funding for a four-square club.
John Nguyen, Dodge City junior, said he was attempting to create the club to help students reduce stress and bring back the simplicity students felt in elementary school.
Nguyen plans to have the club meet on Wescoe Beach from noon until 4 p.m. in what he is calling "four-square Friday."
"You could see a whole playground on Wesco Beach if four-square gets popular," Nguyen said.
The idea began about a year ago when Nguyen started an impromptu game with his neighbors and roommates at his apartment complex.
Soon after they started playing, many of his neighbors joined the game. Then he got the idea to apply for funding and start a club.
Nguyen applied for funding from Student Senate last Wednesday, but his bill was not approved by the finance committee.
V
He said the committee wanted to see a list of group members before
She said that she wanted to join the club and that she was encouraging others who needed a break from classes to stop by Wesco Beach on Fridays for four square.
Rachele Vierhaler, Spearville junior, said she used to break out chalk and start games of four square with Nguyen in his apartment complex.
they approuved the bill to be voted on by student Senate.
SEE FOUR SQUARE ON PAGE 4A
Passing by Wescoe beach on
"It's a fun sport that reminds you of childhood." Vierhalter said.
Vanessa Poarson/KANSAI
John Nguyen, Dodge City junior, goes for the ball Melissa Murphy, Lee's Summit junior, hit to him during a four-square game Wednesday on Wescoe Beach. Nguyen is starting a four-square club and practiced with Murphy, from back left, Sasha Graybosch, Lincoln, Neb, Colin Feeney, Topeka junior, and Rachele Viertahler, Spearville junior.
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