4A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2006
WWW.POSTERSALE.COM
Student charged with sex crime
》 CRIME
Heasley heads to court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing
BY DAVID LINHARDT
The 20-year-old University of Kansas student charged with sex crimes against a 15-year-old girl he met in an Internet chatroom will have a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
saran Swain was appointed to serve as Heasley's attorney.
Alexander R. Heasley, who is enrolled at the University for the Fall 2006 semester, was charged Thursday in Douglas County court with two counts of indecent liberties with a child and one count of criminal sodomy.
Charles Branson, Douglas County district attorney, said Heasley and the victim had
Heasley pled not guilty to each charge during his first appearance in court Thursday afternoon. He was released on $25,000 bond.
The Douglas County court docket and Lawrence Police Department said charges included lewd fondling or touching a 15-year-old girl at a residence in the south part of
Lawrence.
the victim had met on a Kansas-related Yahoo chatroom. The contact occurred between July 11 and July 22. Branson and Lawrence police spokeswoman Kim Murphree said Heasley and the victim knew each Charles Branson, Douglas County district attorney, said Heasley and the victim had met on a Kansas-related Yahoo chatroom. The contact occurred between July 11 and July 22.
incident but declined to elaborate further on their relationship.
ae did not have enough information Friday afternoon to comment about the case.
Douglas County court officials will prosecute the case. said Angela Wilson, assistant district attorney,
Heasley was arrested Wednesday morning at his Lawrence apartment.
Heasley's parents did not return calls requesting comment. Heasley's friends declined to comment on the charges.
officials did not release any further information.
Kansan staff writer David Linhardt can be contacted at dlinhardt@ kansan.com.
Edited by Kate Shipley
》 ENROLLMENT
GAP helps connect cultures
BY COURTNEY HAGEN
The coordinator of the University of Kansas Global Awareness Program said she hopes a slew of e-mails she sent this month could help recruit more students to the program.
"Many students may not know that they already possess one or two of the components needed for certification in the program," said Jane Irungu, coordinator of the Global Awareness Program. "The e-mails were a good way to outreach to them."
The program aims to provide international experience to undergraduate students through foreign language programs, study abroad and international activities.
GAP.
GAP was implemented at
Julio Castillo, Bolivia junior, has been an ambassador with GAP for two years. Castillo said the program has brought a global perspective within reach.
"The whole purpose of the program is to motivate people to get interested in different cultures and societies," Castillo said. "I've been able to meet and interact with people from all around the world. This allows me to get a different idea of their cultures and ways of living and motivates me to go to their countries
"The whole purpose of the program is to motivate people to get interested in different cultures and societies."
JULIO CASTILLO Bolivia junior, GAP ambassador
In addition to the e-mail campaign, Irungu also attended each summer orientation session to encourage students to register with
the University in the fall of 2004 and has been growing since then. Irungu said about 1,000 students participate in the program and about 224 have completed the program in the last few years.
and experience their cultures."
Certification is open to any student in any major. To complete the program and receive certification, students must fulfill at least two of three different criteria, including
participating in a study abroad program or maintain status as an international student at the University; completing at least two semesters of foreign language or international study courses or complete KU English proficiency requirements; or being involved in at least 60 units of participation in international related clubs, programs or activities.
Students who complete the program receive special designation on their transcripts and can list the certification on their resumes as they search for employment after graduation.
Irungu said she thinks participants will have an advantage in the job market because employers will realize their international experience. She thinks participants will have a greater understanding and awareness of issues that employees face in a diverse market.
"The world has become more of a small village," Irungu said. "Everyone is interconnected, everyone walks with other societies, so our goal with GAP is that undergraduates are prepared to walk in that global society after graduation."
Interested students can register online at www.international.ku.edu and then follow the requirements on their own. The program is free to all students and sustained by student tuition enhancement.
Irungu said she expects to see the results of the campaign this fall and hopes more students will sign up for the program.
Kansan staff writer Courtney Hagen can be contacted at chagen@ kansan.com.
Edited by Kristen Jarboe
CRIME
Suspect in JonBenet case travels in luxury
BY JOCELYN GECKER ASSOCIATED PRESS
ABOARD THAI AIRWAYS TO LOS ANGELES — John Mark Karr, the suspect in the death of 6-year-old BenJenet Ramsey, sipped champagne and ate fried king prawns in business class Sunday after being put aboard a flight to Los Angeles to face charges in the United States.
As Karr wined and dined in style and chatted with the three U.S. officials escorting him, another bombshell emerged: Reports that Karr
His Thai Airways International flight took off about 8 p.m. (9 a.m. EDT) for the 15-hour flight to Los Angeles. Karr's journey will eventually end in Boulder, Colo., where he is expected to face charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault in connection with the young beauty queen's 1996 killing.
sought treatment at a Thai sexchange clinic.
Karr, dressed neatly in a red, short-sleeve, button-down shirt and black tie, was not handcuffed while being whisked through Don Muang
International Airport in Bangkok. At the departure gate, he talked amiably with fellow passengers.
The 41-year-old teacher sat in a business class window seat next to Mark Spray, an investigator with the Boulder County District Attorney's office. A U.S. Embassy official and an agent with "Homeland Security" on his T-shirt were also part of the escort party.
Before takeoff, Karr took a glass of champagne from a flight attendant and clinked glasses with Spray, who sipped orange juice.
A