NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4.2005
2A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN INSIDENEWS
Two sportswriters and one former professional football player spoke at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics last night for a panel discussion. They said their main concern with the recent baseball steroid scandal was the fallout with youth. PAGE 1A
Panelists share concern for youth
Insuring your future
Health insurance can be confusing for college students because they are uneducated about it. Coverage under a parent's policy eventually expires and young students often don't buy their own. PAGE 1A
Fraternities, sororities earn chapter excellence awards
Rules on emergency leave are flexible
Fraternities, sororites earn chapter excellence
Despite changes to the application process that may have discouraged some chapters from applying, five chapters took home awards this weekend. Ten seniors, five men and five women, were also recognized. PAGE 1A
When students miss finals because of death or injury in the family, students might expect that the administration would determine the consequences. An Evanresley associate dean of students, says it is actually the professor's responsibility. PAGE 2A
Company expects expansion to add student jobs
Company expects expansion to add student hours Pearson Government Solutions expects to add positions during the next 18 months at its Lawrence call center. An increase in contracts is driving the increase in jobs. PAGE 2A
INSIDEOPINION
Column: Education about learning, not GPA
Column: Education about learning, not GRAPH
Students focus too much on grades and not enough on learning. John Jordan tells why this is a problem and how students are missing out in their college education. PAGE 7A
Column: Free speech not so free in workplace
Column: Free speech not so free
You thought the First Amendment protected free speech, but Kathryn Anderson tells how sometimes opening your mouth can get you fired. She's says this is exactly what happened to an Omaha, Neb., police officer two months ago. PAGE 7A
INSIDEKULTURE
Tongue in beak
The last Tongue in Beak of spring features positively riveting, earth-shattering, ground-breaking and other fake news stories with overly elaborate descriptions. PAGE 8A
INSIDESPORTS
Victory gives Kansas its third consecutive 30-win season
Kansas defeated St. Mary's 8-3 last night, overcoming an early first-inning scare.
Twenty KU players, most of them freshmen, saw action in the game. The victory also improves Kansas' record to 30-21. PAGE 1B
Panelists hold steroids discussion at the University of Kansas
Panelists hold steroids discussion at the University of Kansas
Three panelists, a former KU quarterback and two sportswriters, talked about the use of steroids last night at the Robert J. Dole institute of Politics. The panelists agreed that the images of players caught using steroids would be tainted but that those who admitted to using them would receive more sympathy from the fans. PAGE 1B
Column: Steroids testing standards not strict enough
Jayhawks to meet Shockers once again
Column: Steroids testing standards not strict enough B.1. Rains thinks that the NCAA needs to enforce stricter standards for steroid testing in college baseball. If we eliminate the problem, he says, it won't carry over to the major leagues. PAGE 1B
Jayhawks to meet Shockers once again
The Kansas baseball team will face Wichita State tonight for the last time this season.
The Jayhawks are looking to tie the season series with the Shockers. Wichita State leads 2-1, PAGE 2B
Scoreboard heralds new age for Kansas sports
The giant scoreboard still under construction at Hoglund Ballpark demonstrates Kansar's ambitions for its baseball program. Will the $150,000 investment pay off? **PAGE 2B**
Soccer team to wrap up exhibition season
Soccer team to wrap up exhibition season
The Jayhawk soccer team lost last week's game against the Blue Valley All-Stars. But coach Mark Francis said the team's performance was the best he had seen this spring.
The Jayhaws play their final exhibition season game tomorrow. PAGE 3B
Softball team faces Missouri at home today
Softball team faces Missouri at home today.
Jayhawk coach Tracy Bunge says the team needs to be aggressive offensively in today's game at Arrocha Ballpark. PAGE 6B
Baylor retains No.1 spot in Big 12
Despite its series victory this weekend against the Kansas State Wildcats, the Jayhawks are still near the bottom of the Big 12 Conference. They take on the Wichita State Shockers tonight. PAGE 6B
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Emergency absence rule: It's up to the professor
BY NATE KARLIN
nklarin@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Two years ago, Anne Barker got a call from her mother before her 7 p.m. Western Civilization final. Her 11-year-old cousin had died after being hit by a truck.
Barker immediately left town to go back to her hometown, Minneapolis. Kan.
She missed all five finals.
Losing a family member is never easy, and having it happen during finals week does not make the situation easier.
University officials want to assist the student in this time of need, but communication between the student and the faculty is important, said Ann Eversole, associate dean of students.
University policy does not excuse any absences for any reason. If the situation occurs during the final weeks of the semester, faculty members will make the final decision about grades on a case-by-case situation, Eversole said.
Barker contacted the administration and her professors because she didn't know how the system worked.
"We try to put a human face on the University, but at the end of the day, it is really about the relationship between the student and the professor."
"If something happened today, it might be nearly impossible to complete the semester," she said.
Students' performances in the
Ann Eversole Associate dean of students
classroom is critical in case by case decisions, said Jane Tuttle, assistant to the dean of students.
the goal of school. The University administration will inform the student's professors of the situation, Tuttle said. The student should also contact his or her professors, she said.
sors, she said.
For example, a professor might tell a "C" or "D" student who has missed several classes to withdraw without consequences. Likewise, the professor might excuse an "A" or "B" student from the final exam and give him that grade.
"Being humane and keeping academic integrity are really important," Tuttle said.
Barker's Western Civilization teaching assistant gave her the "A" that she had before finals and allowed her to forgo the test.
her to forge the test. Medical emergencies, such as major injuries or a death in a family, are common at the University of Kansas, Eversole said.
"We try to put a human face on the University, but at the end of the day, it is really about the relationship between the student and the professor." Eversole said.
But situations involving the death of a grandparent are different. Tuttle tells those students to bring in proof of the death, such as a funeral program, she said.
gram, she said. Too often, the student is lying if he has to miss one day for a grandparent's funeral, Tuttle said.
"You wouldn't believe just how many grandparents die," she said.
Barker said the University and her professors were helpful in her situation.
"The University made it very easy because I didn't have time to deal with it." she said.
Counseling and Psychological Services is also available to assist students through the remainder of the semester.
-Edited by John Scheirman
BTK KILLINGS
Suspect arraigned, going to trial; prosecutors say no to plea bargain
BY ROXANA HEGEMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WICHITA — Prosecutors vowed yesterday there will be no plea bargain in the case against a former church leader and city employee charged with 10 counts of murder in the BTK serial killings that terrorized Wichita since the 1970s.
"I look forward to a trial of this case because it is important after 30 years for people to know and for people to understand and appreciate, not only the work of law enforcement, but to be able to say, 'It's over, it's over.'" District Attorney Nola Foulston said after the arraignment of suspect Dennis Rader.
Demis Rader.
Rader, 60, stood mute during the brief hearing, leaving it to District Court Judge Gregory Waller to enter a not guilty plea for him. Waller set trial for June 27 — a date likely to be postponed.
packages to media and police.
and police
Authorities have declined to say what led them to Rader.
Rader, a former city compliance officer from suburban Park City, was arrested Feb. 25 and charged in 10 deaths linked to the serial killer known as BTK, which stands for Bind, Torture, Kill." The killings began in the 1970s and made headlines again last year when the killer started sending cryptic messages and
Prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty because all the crimes were committed before 1994, when Kansas passed its capital punishment law.
Rader
But in a dramatic moment at the arraignment, Foulston stood across the table from Rader and looked him in the eye as she handed him a court document seeking a harsher sentence for the most recent of the 10 killings.
killing. Foulson told Rader she would seek a so-called hard-40 sentence for the death of Dolores Davis, 62, who was abducted from her Park City home Jan.19,1991,and found strangled two weeks later.
The sentence means Rader, if convicted, would have to serve at least 40 years without a chance of parole.
years worse.
As Rader was being taken out of the courtroom, one of victims' family members yelled out to him:
"Don't worry, you won't last that long."
In the other nine killings, Rader would have a chance of parole after 15 years even if sentenced to life in prison under law on the books at the time of those crimes.
Foulson told reporters she wanted the case to go to a jury trial to determine Rader's guilt or innocence.
"Without that we still will wonder and live with the question for the rest of our lives in this community — and there isn't a book, there isn't anything that can make sense of this case — without a jury making a determination." she said.
Rader's defense team is considering seeking a change of venue but had not made a final decision, Osburn said, adding attorneys do not anticipate making Rader's competency a part of the defense.
Defense attorney Steve Osburn said Rader, despite his lack of cooperation in the courtroom. "cooperates with us. We are able to work with him and he is able to help with his defense."
Prosecutors have listed 247 potential witnesses, and the public defender's office has said a trial is likely more than a year away. Rader last month waived his right to a preliminary hearing, meaning prosecutors will not have to reveal details of their case until trial.
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