THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, APRIL 18,2011
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLUME 123 ISSUE 134
WITHHELD WAGES
Papa Keno's ordered to pay
BY CHRIS HONG chong@kansan.com
Matt Gosselin's new career at Papa Keno's Pizzeria was supposed to be an easy transition. After two years as a general manager at Nick-N-Willy's Pizza in Kansas City, Kan., the owners decided to sell the restaurant. As a result, Gosselin was going to lose his job.
So in February of 2010, Gosselin applied at Papa Keno's, 1035 Massachusetts St., and he was hired. It was a nearly identical job-a general manager making the same $28,000 salary.
The transition was anything but easy, according to Gosselin. Although he worked as a Papa Keno's general manager for a month, he said he was never paid despite being owed $2,200. After asking Papa Keno's owner Gregory Keanan for his money several times, he said he filed a complaint with the Kansas Department of Labor.
According to Kansas Department of Labor records, Gosselin is not alone. Since 2008, 25 people have filed wage claim complaints with the Kansas Department of Labor against Papa Keno's and its owner. Of those 25 cases, the KDOL ordered Papa Keno's to pay 14 people and dismissed nine. Two more cases are pending. Of the 14 cases ruled
against Papa Keno's, the restaurant has payed eight.
In a University Daily Kansan random search of 12 Lawrence restaurants, three had wage claims filed against them since 2008, but none had more than Papa Keno's. KDOL received one claim against Yokohama Sushi in March 2008, one claim against Jefferson's Restaurant in March 2011 and four against Gumby's Pizza, which is no longer
open. The other nine restaurants did not have any complaints.
In 2010, 1,079 claim for wage complaints were filed with the KDOL against Kansas businesses. The complaints are available under the Kansas Open Records Act.
During two phone conversations and a personal meeting, Keenan declined to comment for this story.
SEE WAGES ON PAGE 3A
KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COMPLAINTS
PAPA KENO:25
1035 Massachusetts St.
GUMBY'S/FAT FREDDY'S: 4
1445 W 23rd St.
YOKAHOMA: 1
1730 W 23rd St.
JEFFERSON'S: 1
743 Massachusetts St.
ALADDIN CAFE: 0
1021 Massachusetts St.
BURRITO KING: 0
900 Illinois
BIEMERS BBQ: 0
2120 West 9th St.
EL MEZCAL: 0
804 Iowa St.
RUDY'S PIZZA: 0
704 Massachusetts St.
TRYYAKI: 0
701 W. 23rd St.
PYRAMID PIZZA: 0
1029 Massachusetts St.
PIZZA SHUTTLE: 0
1601 West 23 St. #119
Patrons sit outside Papa Keno's Pizzeria, 1035 Massachusetts St. The Kansas Department of Labor has received 25 complainst against the restaurant since 2008.
Travis Young/KANSAN
FUNDRAISING
Relay brings tears of gratitude, remembrance
BY ISAAC GWIN editor@kansan.com
Students raised more than $36,000 for cancer research in the Relay for Life this weekend.
"This has been a really great year for KU's Relay For Life," said Carolyn Haller, relay event chairwoman and senior from Alma. "We have 73 fundraising teams total, which is awesome because we had 70 last year and only 40 the year before that. We have also
Nearly 300 students and Lawrence residents gathered on the basketball courts of the Student Recreation and Fitness Center Friday evening for the Relay For Life, an all-night event in support of the American Cancer Society.
Virginia Carlson, a cancer survivor from Overland Park, helps hold the Relay for life banner next to her brother, Michael Carlson, a junior from Parkland. At the beginning of the ceremony, the cancer survivors walked a lap with someone who helped them through life with cancer.
a freshman from Wichita.
raised a little
over $36,000
as of tonight,
and with more
money still
coming in I
really think
we're going to
meet our goal
of $40,000."
Cancer survivorsbegan the 12-hour-long
The caregivers, individuals who gave selflessly to supported those struggling with cancer, then joined the survivors in the march. Finally, the rest of the participants united in the walk, which continued until
"It was predicted that I would get really emotional," Holmes said as tears began to well in the corners of her eyes. "I started to walk and I didn't know what to think at first, but then I started to think about how fortunate I am to be here and to be alive. I just started crying, and cried all the way around the track. I'm so thankful for my team and how supportive they have been and for the people who put on the relay. I'm really glad I did this."
"I started to think about how fortunate I am to be here and to be alive. I just started crying."
7 a.m.
COURTNEY HOLMES freshman from Wichita
relay by taking the first lap around the elevated track in the recreation center, a symbolic gesture of victory against cancer. It was especially moving for first-time Relay for Life participant and thyroid cancer survivor Courtney Holmes,
At least one person from each team was required to be on the track at all times. Those needing a rest were able to relax and play games in the makeshift sent city that
was assembled on the basketball courts at the south end of the recreation center.
placed them along the track in remembrance of their loved ones who had lost their battles with cancer. Proceeds from the bags, which displayed the names of those who had died, went to the American Cancer Society. Each
At about 10 p.m. the lights were dimmed for a special time of remembrance known as the luminary ceremony. Participants purchased white paper bags and
bag contained a candle that illuminated the path.
Emotions ran high as mourful onlookers walked silently around the track, reminiscing about lost relatives and friends. At the end of the observance, the DJ restarted
the music, rekindle the lighthearted fun of the evening through to the morning.
Edited by Helen Mubarak
Classifieds 11A
Crossword 4A
Cryptoguips 4A
Opinion 4A
Sports 12A
Sudoku 4A
INDEX
WEATHER
Cloudy
Forecasts by KU students. For a complete detailed forecast for the week, see page 2A.
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STUDENT SENATE
Bill Self among write-in candidates
BY JONATHAN SHORMAN
jshorman@kansan.com
Kansas coach Bill Self has led a basketball team to a national championship. Someone wants him to lead the student body as well.
Self was among an array of individuals who received votes for president and vice president in Thursday's Student Senate elections.
Members of the men's basketball team were popular write-in choices. Brady Morningstar received three votes (only 3,182 more votes needed to take the lead from KUnited).
Morningstar
Conner Teahan, Jeff Withey, Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor also received one vote each.
Though Bill Self received a vote, assistant coach Joe Dooley did not. Fake Joe Dooley — a parody Twitter account received two
Bush
KU alumnus and actor Paul Rudd also snagged a vote.
Rounding out the write-in field were "George 'Dubya' Bush," Mario and Luigi, Richard Nixon, "Michael Wade second term" and God.
In total, 74 write-in votes for president or vice president were cast. Write-in votes do not count because candidates did not file for the e'lection.
— Edited by Brittany Nelson
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