2A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN NEWS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2. 2005 GET READY FOR THE BEAKEND BY MARK VERTHALER editor@kansan.com KANSAN CORPORATION Editor's note: As part of the new, daily 2A features, every Friday the Kansan will give you an entertainment preview. KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Students with a car and money for gas can head to Kansas City and enjoy a night of free art during the Crossroads Community Association's First Fridays. Suzie Aron, president of CCA, said that the nonprofit organization has tried to make the project a collaborative marketing With 60 galleries available First Fridays, and of CCA, was to keen artists in Kansas City. She added that the various activities hosted by the CCA have helped revitalize the downtown area. "There's been a really wonderful response," she said. "Kansas City is unique, other than maybe the coasts and Chicago, as a city that has this opportunity for artists." What: Crossroads Community Association's First Friday When: 7 to 9 p.m. Admission: Free Where: 18th and Grand Kansas City, Mo. movement between the residents, small business owners, tenants and employees of the Crossroads District, who also make up the committee. The district is located at 18th St. and Grand Ave. The CCA Web site described the coalition as a group of people whose goal was to advance, support, promote and encourage the district as a safe and thriving center of art. With those goals in mind, the Crossroads District began to grow and so did First Fridays. Aron said the event has grown from three galleries to almost 60 in six years and it has only been known as First Fridays for the last three years. to peruse, Aron said anyone who was interested in various artistic forms was sure to find something they liked. She also said the purpose of "When there are 60 venues you get everything from pieces to all performance pieces to all types of visual arts," she said. "It's a serious opportunity to get to know what Kansas City has to offer in the way of artists. "With a different gallery's opening every time, there's always something new every time you come." She said there are many local restaurants in the district that will be open during the First Fridays event. First Friday is free and open to the public. CCA hosts a multi-gallery opening, beginning at 7 p.m. The event runs until 9 p.m. The Web site said each First Fridays does not coincide with each gallery's opening. Edited by Kellis Robinett Paris promotes perfume Jacques Boissinot/The Associated Press Paris Hilton signs autographs yesterday in Toronto. The hotel heiress, actress, singer and reality TV star was in town to promote her new perfume called, "Paris Hilton." Sleuth keeps felons out NEIGHBORHOODS Local broker gives landlords vital statistics BY STEVE LYNN slynn@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER Steve Hicks might keep you from getting that perfect two-bedroom you've been eying. He might also keep you safe in that apartment. Hicks is the only broker in Lawrence who sells information on people's rental, credit and criminal histories to property managers and businesses. He asked that the name of his service be withheld for fear of retribution from those who have been denied in the rental and job application processes. "A lot of the people I see as applicants are students, in the nature of the demographics of this community," said Hicks, who has been in the business for 10 years. Hicks said students' histories were evaluated 15 to 20 percent of the time. "If it's repeated felonies, it should be taken into consideration. But if it's something someone did ten years ago, then it's not that big of a deal," she said. Tracy Cota, Sioux Falls, S.D., sophomore, said criminal background checks should be used. Adam Whitener, Overland Park senior, said that he didn't have anything bad on his record and that he hoped the service would make residences safer places to live. Every day, Hicks gets information on the nature of incidents, suspects and victims, including their names and addresses, from police reports and jail logs, he said. He said the landlord had discretion to decide if an applicant meets the dwelling's criminal and income criteria and if a client called to inquire about the background of a potential tenant, he searched his database and gave the landlord a copy of his findings. Hicks said he charged $25 for information about an individual and $40 for a married couple. He said his clients consisted mostly of smaller property management operations, which may own up to 100 units. Alicia Smiley, regional manager for First Management, Inc., said the firm had a company based in Kansas City, Kan., that it used to check past employment, credit scores, landlord histories and criminal backgrounds. First Management oversees approximately 1,000 units in Lawrence. "We do criminal background checks to help aid in the safety of our tenants." Smiley said. Hicks used to check only rental histories and credit reports, but after working in the business for a couple of years, a landlord asked him whether he could get criminal information. The landlord was worried that criminals might attract police too often and scare away other renters, he said. Domestic battery cases, especially, concerned landlords, Hicks said. A person may have committed battery several times without going to trial because the victim may have refused to file charges, he said. "So the only record that there is some kind of problem going on there, you know, that there's screaming and hollering and throwing of dinnerware in that place, is that the guy is arrested so frequently." Hicks said. Bill Staples, chairman of the department of sociology at the University of Kansas, said this type of information gathering could have "collateral consequences," meaning a person who committed a crime may not be the only one punished. "Let's say a guy gets in a fight downtown and he has a wife and two kids. If his family can't lease an apartment, it's guilt by association," Staples said. Hicks said he helped law enforcement, as well. He said sometimes law enforcement agencies lost track of sex offenders and if he encountered one in the public record who had a standing warrant, he informed the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. "There's a great quotation from an icon of American literature, William Faulkner; it was central to his novels. 'The past isn't the past yet, it's not even over.' And I think that is so true," Hicks said. Tow truck trouble - Edited by Patrick Ross Taylor Miller/KANSAN A tow truck picks up one of the vehicles involved in the accident at Memorial Stadium yesterday afternoon. Two other vehicles were also involved, including a green Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Honda Civic. PEOPLE Jennifer Lopez crosses over SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Jennifer Lopez was in Puerto Rico this week to record a reggaeton song with rapper- producer Pharrell Williams. The 37-year-old singer-actress arrived Tuesday to work on the track, which will be produced by top reggaeton duo LunyTunes, ElVocero and El Nuevo Dia newspapers reported. Lopez and Williams are the latest U.S. artists to cross over into reggaeton, a mix of Jamaican dancehall, hip-hop and Latin beats that is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Williams forms half of the Grammy-winning production duo The Neptunes with Chad Hugo. N.E.R.D., which fuses hip-hop, rock and funk, is a side project of the duo. Lopez released her latest album, "Rebirth," in March. - The Associated Press Spears prays for hurricane victims NEWYORK - Britney Spears, who was raised in Kentwood, La., says she is praying for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In a posting on her Web site, the 23-year-old pop star writes that her "thoughts and prayers go out to everyone" in the states along the devastated Gulf Coast. "All of my family members there are safe and thank you to all my fans for your concern," says Spears. The Associated Press Tell us your news Contact Austin Caster, Jonathan Keeling, Anjali Saini, Ty Beaver or Nate Kairin at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com Kansas newcomer 111 Stauffer-Film Hall 1435 Jayhawk Blvd. Laverne 60045 817-239-8144 MEDIA PARTNERS NEWS KUJH For more news, turn to KUJH on TV on Sunflower Calculation Channel 31 in Lawrence. The student-produced news airs at 5:30 p.m.; 7:30 p.m.; 9:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.; every Monday through Friday; check out KUJH online at tku.edu. KJHK is the student voice in radio, and the student news is news, music, sports, talk shows and other content made for students, by students Whether it's rock'n roll or rug- aes, sports or special events, RKH 90.7 it for you. The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 119 Stauffer Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045. The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4962) is published daily during the school year except Saturday, Sunday, fall break, spring break and exams. Weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Periodical postage is paid in Lawrence, KS 66044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $120 plus tax. Student subscriptions of are paid through the student activity fee. Postmaster: Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 119 StauFFER-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045 ET CETERA Interested in Zen Buddhist Philosophy and Practice? and Practice? FOUNDATIONS OF ZEN Tuesdays, September 6th and 13th 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Kansas Zen Center 1423 New York St., Lawrence, KS Foundations of Zen offers information for beginners in Zen Buddhist Philosophy and Practice. Members of the class are also encouraged to participate in a one day retreat on September 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Orientation for the retreat will begin at 8:15 a.m. The retreat will be led by Guiding Teacher Judy Roitman. Cost: $30 - class only STUDENTS $55 - class and retreat $15 - class only $25 - class and retreat For more information or to register for the class and/or retreat, call Kansas Zen Center at (785) 331-2274 or email info@kansasenzencenter.org Payment can be made at the first class. You may also register at the first class. Visit our website at www.kansaszencenter.org. FRI BU 3220 Iowa St 843-8400 M such the emp Log gas p Minr in di will o cause he m again "T trol, no this this. 1410 Kasold 841-8444 H KU sive liver he d hou Wit ting ing prob land Gun St., Mr. Goodcents Subs & Pastas FREE bag of chips "ally "I g time if I unc our ing to f with the purchase of any sub and medium drink at regular price Expires: 9/18/05 Valid in Lawrence only. One coupon per customer, per visit. A !