THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2005
VOL.116 ISSUE 10 POLICY
City considers reeferendum
Ordinance would change severity of first offense
WWW.KANSAN.COM
BY TRAVIS ROBINETT
trobinett@kansan.com
trobinett STAFF WRITER
The Drug Policy Forum of Kansas will present its case to the City Commission next Tuesday for an ordinance banning the possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Lawrence.
If the ordinance passes, an adult caught and charged with possession of marijuana or paraphernalia would be issued a ticket and notice of a court date, rather than being arrested and taken to the county jail.
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"Society needs to conserve its resources in terms of police and district attorneys," said Laura Green, executive director of the Drug Policy Forum of Kansas.
PROPOSAL
Green said that making a city ordinance would divert marijuana prosecution to the Lawrence Municipal Court instead of the Douglas County District Court, allowing district attorneys to prosecute more serious crimes. Second offenses would still be prosecuted in the District Court.
Green said the accused would have the same type of hearing in the Municipal Court as they would in the District Court, and the penalties would remain the same.
Adult Possession of Marijuana Ordinance Proposal
$\diamond$ The ordinance would direct the Lawrence Police Department to issue a mandatory Municipal Court appearance for possession of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia.
She said one of the main differences between the two courts would be that students would not lose federal financial aid if found guilty of a first offense in Municipal Court because the
If an adult is found guilty for possession of marijuana, the penalties would be the same as they would be in the District Court.
offense would not show up on their records.
According to a letter Green wrote to the City Commission, a 1998 revision of the education act included a provision that makes students ineligible to receive financial aid after being convicted for possession of drugs. The period of ineligibility is one year for the first offense, two years for a second and indefinite for a third.
Andrew Belgum, Kimball, Neb, freshman, said he thought Municipal Court was the proper place to prosecute marijuana citations.
"I don't think marijuana is that big of a deal, and you shouldn't lose financial aid over it." Belgium said.
Nationally, more than 160,500 students have lost their federal aid since the Higher Education Drug Amendment was added in 1998.
Green said this ordinance would keep people from losing federal aid, housing, food and job training after their first drug convictions.
The 1996 Welfare Act denies aid or assistance to persons convicted of a felony drug offense, she said.
Marijuana possession would be a low priority for the Lawrence police department.
Persons charged with a second marijuana possession, which is a felony, would be prosecuted in District Court.
Source: Drug Policy Forum of Kansas
The ordinance also would make marijuana a low priority for the Lawrence Police Department.
Sgt. Dan Ward of the Lawrence Police Department said even though his comments were premature because he didn't have all the details, the change would not seriously change anything.
Commissioners David Schauner and Mike Amyx both said they had not decided how they would vote.
"I guess my opinion is I'm trying to find out what the effect will be on the Municipal Court," Amxv said.
"Student aid is tough enough to come by, and I hate to see them lose it for any reason," Schauner said. "My jury is still kind of out on this. At this moment I need more information."
Amyx said he did not think Lawrence would break new ground if the ordinance passed, because other cities in Kansas have passed similar ordinances, including Topeka, Overland Park, Wichita, Manhattan, Olathe, Leavenworth and Winfield.
— Edited by Theresa Montaño
TRANSPORTATION
KU transit task force to give bus proposals
Three ideas to be presented for approval
BY JOHN JORDAN
jjordan@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
A task force for improving transit on campus is prepared to promote several different ways to improve the bus system on campus.
Danny Kaiser, chairman of the group and assistant dean of students, said the report would recommend three systems for buses: a system ran entirely by the University; a transit authority formed with representatives from students, the city and University; or a system contracting bus services from the city to expand and coordinate with KU bus routes.
Scott McMahon, Omaha senior waits for the bus outside of Murphy Hall last week.
The three recommendations are equally viable, Kaiser said.
The report also recommends the University hire a consultant to work with the task force on
Taylor Miller/KANSAN
The document will go to the Parking Commission and then to the provost and the chancellor.
Kaiser said members of the task force would vote on approving the recommendations this week.
details of each of the plans.
tom Mulinazzi, parking commission chairman and professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering, said
PROPOSALS
The task force on KU transit will be presenting three different recommendations to the parking commission and provost to improve campus transportation. Here are the three choices:
- Work with the city by contracting buses and coordinating routes to create a more unified system.
- Form a new transit authority that would have representatives from students, the city and the University.
- Maintain KU on Wheels as a separate campus transit system.
after seeing a draft of the report, the parking commission was unlikely to make changes.
Source: Task force chairman Danny Kaiser
with our online poll on the recommendations
SEE TRANSIT ON PAGE 4A
WEATHER
Gas prices are on the rise again, nearing three dollars per gallon for ultimate unleaded at the BP Amoco at 2301 Louisiana St. The rise in price in response to Hurricane Katrina.
Gas prices continue to rise following Hurricane Katrina
President Bush may tap oil loan from reserve
BY GABY SOUZA
gouza@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Students may need to bring out the bicycles as gas prices are on the rise once again.
This time it is due to Hurricane Katrina, the storm that devastated the Gulf Coast yesterday.
The United States government's oil supply is located underground along the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast. The storm already caused the shutdown of more than one million barrels of refining capacity along the Gulf Coast, which limits the amount of oil ready to be used.
Anne Brand, the manager of the Louisiana BP Amoco at 2301 Louisiana, said that gas prices would probably be raised at 3 p.m. yesterday.
She said she guessed prices would be raised by 10 cents. Regular unleaded prices yesterday were at $2.69 per gallon before 3 p.m.
The storm already caused the shutdown of more than one million barrels of refining capacity along the Gulf Coast, which limits the amount of oil ready to be used.
"Got to love a hurricane," Brand said.
Molly Athricks, an assistant at Presto Convenience Store at 1802 W. 23., said she was hoping that she would not have to raise gas prices.
The price of regular unleaded at Presto was $2.59 at 3 p.m. yesterday.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed." Athricks said.
Casi Evans, Des Moines sophomore, said that it was probably a good thing that she had filled her gas tank about three days
ago. Now she will probably start carpooling and limiting her activities.
Nate Miller said even though he was low on gas, he didn't plan on filling up any time soon because gas prices are so high.
The Salina freshman also said he didn't plan on driving much this week and that he would wait until it was absolutely necessary before filling up.
Anonymous administration officials have confirmed that President Bush is likely to authorize an oil loan from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
But the loan still remains in question as no official decision has been made.
The last time oil was loaned from the reserve was in September of 2004 after Hurricane Ivan hit the Gulf of Mexico. The oil was repaid by April of 2005.
President Bush made verbal emergency disaster declarations for Louisiana and Mississippi yesterday.
The declaration allows for federal funds to be used for disaster relief and recovery.
The Associated Press contributed to this story. Edited by Erick R. Schmidt
All contents, unless stated otherwise,
© 2005 The University Daily Kansan
Snow Hall's elevator to be fixed
After weeks of inconvenience for students and staff, repairmen should have the elevator working again by the end of the day. PAGE 2A
Mangino announces his first string
Mangino announces his first string With the Jayhawks' season opening game against Florida Atlantic approaching, coach Mark Mangino named his starting quarterback. PAGE 12A
One with everything
19
One with everything Kansan reporter Frank Tankard looks into the life of graduate student and Kung-fu club president Frank Liu in the premiere of On the Boulevard, a new feature that puts the spotlight on students, faculty, and staff. PAGE2A
Index
Classifieds... 7A
Comics... 6A
Crossword... 6A
Horoscopes... 6A
Opinion... 5A
Sports... 12A
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