THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLUME 118 ISSUE 26
》 RECORDS
University improperly discards private information
Anonymous source releases student, faculty, employee data to local media
BY SASHA ROE AND MARK DENT
sroe@kansan.com; mdent@kansan.com
University officials are investigating the unauthorized release of personal information and records of students, faculty and employees to local media, including the University Daily Kansan. The University Daily Kansan received two manila envelopes containing the personal information on Tuesday.
The envelopes contained fax reports, student tests, Social Security numbers, seating charts and credit applications. A cover letter from an anonymous source was attached to the documents. The letter said the information was from the department of mathematics and was
retrieved from recycling bins and a dumpster behind Snow Hall. The letter implicated Gloria Prothe, an employee of the department of mathematics, for not properly disposing of personal information.
Lynn Bretz, director of university communications, said she didn't know how the information was leaked, but that the University's primary concern was protecting students and preventing their information from further exposure. Bretz said the University was asking for the return of the documents to protect the students and to begin its investigation of the incident.
"This is an issue in society," Bretz said. "We've all been dealing with this for the last five, six, seven years — there's been web-
hacking. People all over the country are saying 'Better not use Social Security numbers as numbers for students at universities.' This is a long wake-up call for everybody."
The Kankas City Star and The Lawrence Journal-World received envelopes containing similar information.
Bretz said the investigation would be led by a team made up of officials from the Provost's office, the dean's office, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, human relations, and Jane Rosenthal, the University privacy coordinator and custodian of records. Bretz didn't give a timeline for the investigation.
Bretz said different departments took care of
Private information
envelope contents
found in the materials:
■ Social Security card and numbers
■ Credit card numbers
■ Phone numbers
■ Insurance information
■ Student grades
■ KUID numbers
■ Care of birth
Types of Materials:
- Graded tests
ARTS form
Death certificate
Marriage certificate
Transcripts
Marriage certificate
Divorce papers
- Immigration employ
Change of grade
personal information in different ways. Prothe said the department of mathematics typically shreds personal information.
Bill statement
Employment applica
Doctorate certificate
"If I considered it confidential and I didn't
Classroom seating
University salaries
Graduate tutor list
shred it, I would have disposed of it in a secure manner. Prothe said.
The University of Kansas and privacy leaks
SEE RECORDS ON PAGE 5A
April 2004
Computer hackers managed to view all prescription records from the Watkins Memorial health Center
server.
June 2005
Financial and scholastic information for 119 students was revealed in a mass e-mail sent by the Office of Student Financial Aid
Jan. 2006
the public.
Student housing information logged between April 29, 2001, and Dec. 16, 2005 was found to be accessible to
July 2007
Sept. 2007
The University Daily Kansan discovered graded blue books and essays, containing grades and identification numbers, in empty first floor offices in Warner House.
in Wescoe Hall.
The University Daily Kansan, Kansas City Star, and Lawrence Journal World received envelopes from an anonymous source containing personal information from Snow Hall.
STUDY ABROAD
Stephanie Hamby, Lawrence 1999 graduate, dances while balancing a sword on her head Wednesday afternoon in front of Stauffer-Flint Hall. She danced to promote the petition to allow Israel to be a study abroad destination. She has been dancing since 2001 for the Raghishdid Troupe and said she usually dances in groups.
Adam MacDonald/KANSAN
Students petition Israel study abroad program
Students gathered Wednesday on Stauffer-Flint lawn for Israel on the Hill. The event was sponsored by Hillel and included free falafel, a performance by a
Zac Pollock, member of Hillel, organized a petition that would allow the University of
belly dancer, a couple of hookahs and a giant interactive map of Israel.
The Israel study abroad program was canceled by the University in 2000, because of a policy after a travel advisory was issued by the US Department of State.
Kansas students to study abroad in Israel.
index
weather
Classifieds...5B
Crossword...6A
Horoscopes...6A
Opinion...7A
Sports...1B
Sudoku...6A
89 66
Isolated T-Storms
weather.com
FRIDAY
92 66
Isolated T-Storms
SATURDAY
92 65
Partly Cloudy
FULL STORY PAGE 3A
All contents, unless stated otherwise,
© 2007 The University Daily Kansan
LEBANON BOMB KILLS LAWMAKER
Car explosion assassinates anti-Syria party member
>>> FULL AP STORY PAGE 8A
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAWRENCE
Audio-reader to sell donated equipment at annual benefit
N
The University of Kansas Audio-Reader program is giving Lawrence residents the chance to find some new music and audio equipment for a good cause.
Audio-Reader will sponsor its annual "For Your Ears Only," a reference to the 1981 James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only," to raise money for the program.
Audio-Reader assists the blind and print-disabled by assigning volunteers to read newspapers, magazines and other media out loud.
"For Your Ears Only" will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
FULL STORY PAGE 3A
THEATER
Professor says theater became life-saving love
Dennis Christilles didn't let a heart condition stop him from being involved in theatre. After graduating from college he returned home to Texas and joined a local theatre troupe. He later found out he had a heart tumor. After recovering from surgery, Christiles, associate professor of theatre and film, went back to work.
In his 14 years at the University, he has helped produce many plays. His most recent is "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There." The play can be seen at 9:45 a.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Inge Theatre inside Murphy Hall.
FULL STORY PAGE 8A
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