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NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANADA
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2006
From the mouths of babes
Mike Hutmeacher/THE WICHTA EAGLE Aidin Campbell, 5, tries to blow a butterfly from grandmother Jennifer Campbell's hand during a butterfly release at Wichita's Botanica Gardens on Tuesday. The public was invited to assist in the rescue of 350-400 butterflies in the Butterfly House at Botanica that had been collected from Powell Gardens in Kingsville, Mo.
Mike Hutmacher/THE WICHITA EAGLE
IMMIGRATION
Wichita businessman pleads guilty to fraud
BY ROXANA HEGEMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
WICHITA — A Wichita manufacturing company, its owner and a general manager pleaded guilty Wednesday to knowingly hiring illegal immigrants and agreed to pay a total of $210,000 in fines. The company's foreman pleaded not guilty.
Bob Eisel Powder Coatings and its owner and president, Bob Eisel, pleaded guilty to a single count of making false written statements to the government after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors in the case. General manager Kenric "Butch" Steinert also pleaded guilty to the same charge.
"There is a message here for law-abiding employers," U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren said in a news release. "Knowingly assisting illegal aliens to appear qualified for employment in this country is a crime."
Company foreman Troy Hook entered a not guilty plea earlier in the day to the same 28-count indictment that had initially faced all the defendants in the case.
Melgren said the company singled itself out for criminal prosecution by deliberately trying to get around federal laws requiring workers to verify their right to work in this country.
Eisel and Steinert acknowledged they intentionally made false statements between 2002 and 2005 to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"Here in the interior of the United States, we're focusing on employers who systematically violate the laws against hiring illegal aliens," Melgren
According to the superseding information, the men told authorities that Francisco Javier Avila-Garcia, also known as "Poncho," presented employment documents that were genuine when in fact they knew the documents were fraudulent.
said. "Everyone in Kansas should be aware this enforcement effort is ongoing."
Neither the defendants nor a defense attorney commented to reporters after the hearing.
The single count to which the defendants pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to seek the low end of sentencing guidelines. The company also agreed to pay a $175,000 fine. Eisel agreed to pay a $25,000 fine while Steinert agreed to a $10,000 fine.
The judge is not bound by the plea agreement when he sentences the men.
The original indictment included eight counts of making false statements to the U.S. government, eight counts of misusing Social Security numbers, eight counts of receiving false documents as evidence of stay or employment, three counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of harboring illegal aliens.
Wood, who has not reached a plea agreement, still faces those charges.
When the company began receiving periodic letters in 2002 from the Social Security Administration notifying it that several of its employees were working under suspicious Social Security numbers, the company told employees they would have to obtain different numbers to continue working, according to the indictment.
The company would then "rehire" the same worker using the new identification, while allowing the worker to retain any benefits such as vacation or sick leave tied to length of service, the indictment charges. Prosecutors have said many of the same employees worked under as many as five or six separate false identities over a period of years.
Let's Talk About SEX On The Hill
The Kansan needs writers for Sex On The Hill, a provocative special section of the UDK. Bring yourself and a few great ideas to room 100 Stauffer-Flint Hall at 8:30 PM Thursday, August 31.
Email kjarboe@kansan.com with any questions.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ELECTIONS
Poor turnout prompts study
BY JOHN HANNA ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOPEKA — In light of record-low participation in this month's primary elections, Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh will study the idea of holding them at some other time of year.
It's one of those things we continually look at, but we'll probably take a little harder look at it this time." Thornburgh said Wednesday. "We can't ignore the horrendous turnout from this
last primary and anything we can do to try to make a difference with that, I'm willing to look at."
Thornburgh commented after he, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Phill Kline's chief deputy certified the results from the Aug. 1 balloting.
Turnout totaled just 18.2 percent, or 229,000 of the state's more than 1.6 million registered voters. The previous low for a statewide primary was 25.8 percent, in 2002.
FREE (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
'I'll worry about it later.'
But not all students are quick to accept the free t-shirts offered by credit card companies soliciting on campus.
There are other options. Commerce Bank at the Kansas Union offers credit cards with a $1,000 limit to help protect its student customers from overdrafting their checking accounts. Commerce addresses students at New Student Orientation, shows a power point presentation during Academic Success Week and offers pamphlets at its locations about how to use credit cards and manage credit.
Lindsay Feil, Russell freshman, said that she learned from the mistake her brother made when he was a student and that she hadn't filled out any credit card applications.
"Nothing's ever free," Feil said.
Kansan staff writer Jack Weinstein can be contacted at jweinstein@kansan.com.
Edited by Derek Korte
Funding for the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center came from a combination of sources, including the University of Kansas, student fees and a gift from the Frank Sabatini family.
Nupez said she thought the new Sabatini center would blend in well with the Union and the nearby Docking Family Gateway.
"That part of campus will be one of the highlights," Núnez said.
Sabatini and two of his sons graduated from the University.
nansan staff writer Nate McGinnis can be contacted at nmcgninis@kansan.com.
zation, the Asian American Student Association and the First Nations Student Association will have meeting space and resources specific to their needs in the new center.
Edited by Natalie Johnson
BUILDING (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
LOT (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
"We don't think it's a bad thing." Hultine said. "In retrospect, we're kind of glad we didn't sell that huge number right away. It's letting us take time for scheduling and figuring out the ebb and flow of classes."
Hultine said she didn't expect many more students to buy Park and Ride passes at this point in the school year, which would make the current total close to final.
Students who do use the lot, however, enjoy the amenities the new system offers.
"The buses are way nice," said Krista Miller, Richlands, Va., senior. "They're air conditioned so I don't have to sweat on the way to classes, which is a big plus."
Miller said she would recommend the Park and Ride lot.
"At peak times they come frequently enough." Miller said.
She said she was also happy with the bus route and the number of spaces in the lot, as well as the bus schedule.
Kosmala also said that delays were not a problem.
"You've just got to know what time to get here," Kosmala said.
Park and Ride passes can still be purchased for $205 through the parking department.
Kansan staff writer Danny Luppino can be contacted at dluppino@kansan.com.
— Edited by Travis Robinett
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