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NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 2006
PROFILE
New director marches toward a better band
BY DARLA SLIPKE
At a morning rehearsal of the Marching Jayhawks, some people grumble to themselves, others race to their next starting positions with admirable energy, but everyone does his or her best to get through the motions efficiently. At this point in the day, the band has been practicing marching formations for three hours.
Through the heat and the fatigue that accompanies marching, one man's voice is heard calling out instructions and coaxing the band along; David Clemmert, the new director of athletic bands and assistant band director.
Clemmer, who came from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, has had to learn many of the traditions at the University of Kansas. He said they were some of the greatest traditions in college athletics and hopes to build on them.
"My arrival has been full throttie," Clemmer said. "I jumped on the saddle when I arrived."
Clemmer took over this month, succeeding James Hudson, who left the University of Kansas to pursue a job at Arizona State University.
"I was impressed with all the many facets of school spirit and pageantry," he said. "My intent is not to change any of that, but to strengthen
it. The pageantry that has always been will always be.$^a$
He is working to create a unique sound for the band, one that will serve as its identity.
"He's very picky about how each instrument sounds," said Aaron Briuzela, a Killeen, Texas, graduate assistant, who has known Clemmer for six years. "His concept of sound production is really simple, but really effective. I think the musicianship of the ensemble is going to go up a lot with Clemmer directing it."
In addition to improving on existing practices, Clemmer has added a few traditions of his own. This year the band will perform a pre-game concert. The band will still march
down the hill, but it will stop at the bottom to perform for fans before heading into the stadium. Also new this year, at the end of each rehearsal, the band will play the fight song as a way to end practice on an enthusiastic note.
"He's very positive," said clarinet section leader Meredith Allen, Shawne senior. "He has definite goals for us and he sees where he's going with us. So far it's been a lot of fun."
Kansan staff writer Darla Slipke can be contacted at dslipke@kansan.com.
—Edited by Travis Robinett
Ryan McGoonev/KANSAN
David Clemmer, director of athletic bands, shouts commands to the Marching jayhawks during Traditions Night at Memorial Stadium. Traditions Night was the band's debut performance for the 2006 season.
TERRORISM
Twenty-three suspects held for alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners
BY MATT MOORE
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
LONDON — A district judge ruled Wednesday that British investigators had until next week to investigate the suspects arrested in an alleged plot to blow up as many as 10 trans-Atlantic jetliners, saying they could be kept in custody without charge.
It was the first major test of a new terrorism law that allows suspects to be held for as many as 28 days without charge so investigators can solidify their cases.
The hearing, which addressed the cases of 23 suspects arrested in Britain's initial sweep last week, was held behind closed doors and attended only by the suspects' lawyers, investigators and government officials.
Scotland Yard said that 21 of the suspects could be detained for questioning through Aug. 23 and that another two could be detained until Aug. 21. No reason was given for the difference in the length of time.
The final suspect, who was arrested Tuesday, was not involved in the hearing, Scotland Yard said, adding that he remained in police custody.
Experts say police could use nearly a month to complete a probe primarily because of the complexity of investigations into the alleged plot to smuggle liquid explosives hidden in hand luggage aboard flights.
"You've got laptops, you have to bring in translators to translate all the documents in there, and sometimes it's inopportune to release all your suspects — particularly terrorism suspects — while all that is being downloaded and translated," said Cliff Knuckey, a retired police detective who has worked on terrorism investigations.
LAWRENCE
Lawrence to build new sewage facility
City council to hear proposal for location southeast of town, which could minimize odor concerns
BY MARK VIERTHALER
The proposed Wakarusa Water Reclamation facility faced a hurdle as the city commission addressed concerns with the facility's location.
The facility, proposed to aid the city of Lawrence as it approaches a population of 150,000, has been discussed by the city commission for the past several months. During a special session at City Hall, the city commission announced it would recommend a location less than a mile southeast of Lawrence.
The site is bordered by the Wakarusa River. The closest residential neighborhoods include the areas around Prairie Park in southeast Lawrence.
Lisa Patterson, Lawrence communications manager, said the largest concerns were odor and the environment. She said those involved would take pains to make sure there were no environmental infractions and no odor problems.
The city commission hired Black & Veatch, an engineering, consulting and construction company, to design the new facility. According to the company's proposal, the site is recommended because no residents require relocation, there are few close neighbors, the floodway provides a natural buffer to the north and east, prevailing winds minimize the odor, the waste water will drain downhill to the facility rather than being pumped in and the site provides room for expansion.
The site also has no apparent
environmental issues, Patterson said.
"This is a facility that will be used decades down the line," Patterson said.
Initially, the facility will process 7 million gallons per day.
Patterson said the site could be equipped to handle up to 50 million gallons per day after expansion
The site's proximity to homes isn't an issue either, she said.
"The current facility is less than a mile from city hall," Patterson said. "I would encourage you to go outside and take a big, deep breath. With our current facility, there are probably four, five, six days a year where odor is a problem."
The city commission will receive a list of public concerns, as well as
Black & Veatch's recommendation within the next several commission meetings. Patterson was unable to put an exact deadline on when the documents will come before the commission.
Mike Amyx, Lawrence mayor, said when the proposal came before the city commission it would look closely at the concerns of odor, environment and residency.
"We'll make sure that site works well." Amyx said. "We need to make sure we can serve as many future residents as possible."
Kansan staff writer Mark Vierthaler can be contacted at mvierthaler@kansan.com.
—Edited by Derek Korte
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