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? THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS BRIEFS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2004
CORRECTION
Ex-Marine Denounces Military
The July 7 edition of The University Daily Kansan contained some errors. Sgt. Chris White did not serve on peacekeeping missions in the Middle East, he served on safety missions. The 1981 massacre in El Salvador was committed by U.S.trained counter-insurgency forces with the El Salvador army, not guerrilla forces. There were 1,000 victims of the massacre. White does not denounce the U.S.military, he speaks out against the unjust practices of its leaders. White does not travel to mostly hispanic and black neighborhoods, but to rural areas throughout Kansas.
Vials of protein, which were to be used in cancer research, were stolen from Malott Hall sometime between midnight June 28 and 10 p.m. June 30.
CAMPUS
Schuyler Bailey, KUPD captain, said there were no suspects yet in the case but an investigation was ongoing. He said the 50 vials were taken from a locked room. There were no signs of forced entry.
Malott Hall robbed of vials used in cancer research
Police are in the process of interviewing faculty and staff.
— Amanda O'Toole
Award winning Sci-fi authors sign books at Kansas Union
A group of award-winning science fiction and fantasy authors gathered on Saturday afternoon for a book signing at Oread Books on the second floor of the Kansas Union.
The authors who attended the signing were Brian Aldiss, Robin Wayne Bailey, Greg Bear, Gregory Benford, Harry Harrison, Kij Johnson, Jack McDevitt, Frederik Pohl, Pamela Sargent, Donna Shirley, Joan Silonczewski, George Zebrowski and James Gunn, University of Kansas professor emeritus of English and director of the Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction at KU.
Alisha Ashley, Halstead junior, who has been a science fiction reader for years, said she was most excited about meeting Frederik Pohl.
"I'm from a really small town and the academic environment wasn't very challenging so science fiction was like an outlet," she said.
Joan Slonczewski, who has participated in these sort of signings for 20 years, said she always enjoyed getting together with other authors.
"It's exciting to share with so many stimulating minds about the possibility of science fiction writing," she said.
J. C. Stoner, Lawrence graduate student, said he was interested in coming even though he wasn't familiar with
many of the author's books.
The signing is being held in conjunction with the annual Campbell Conference, the John W. Campbell and Theodore Sturgeon Awards for science fiction and this year's inductions into the Science Fiction & Fantasy Hall of Fame. The Campbell Conference always concludes the annual Writer's Workshop.
— Marc Ingber
LAWRENCE
Female KU student assaulted while playing frisbee at party
A 20-year-old female KU student reported a sexual assault to Lawrence Police July 11. According to a police report, the woman was playing frisbee at a party around 3:30 a.m. July 11 when an unidentified man came from behind her, grabbed her with one arm and touched her inappropriately with his other hand. The victim was able to put the suspect in a headlock before the unidentified male escaped. The incident happened on the 1000 block of Illinois St. Police do not have a suspect.
Amanda O'Toole
Lawrence Police identify suspect in rape of KU student
A 21-year-old female KU student reported a rape to Lawrence Police July 9. Sergeant Dan Ward said the victim and her roommate brought two males home with them after leaving a local drinking establishment. The victim and one of the males were on a couch in the victims home around 2:25 a.m. and the male touched her in an illicit manner. The way the suspect touched the victim qualifies as a rape. Police have identified the suspect as a 23-year-old Lawrence man and are still investigating.
Amanda O'Toole
Device destroyed on Mass. St. not bomb according to police
Overland Park Police have said the device which it remotely destroyed Monday on Massachusetts Street was not a bomb, according to Dan Ward, Lawrence Police sergeant.
The device, which was described as a red portable CD player with wires protruding, was used in an attempted aggravated burglary Monday at the Blackbird Trading Post, 1011 1/2 Massachusetts, around 11:15 a.m.
Bonnie Alkoi, co-proprietor of Blackbird Trading Post, said Kevin B. Voth, 27, communicated with her by way of writing notes because the suspect claimed to be deaf and mute.
The man was interested in a guitar and had written to Alkoi that he intended to buy it.
Alkoi said it was obvious that Voth was a "street person."
The man then took the device out of his pocket and placed it on the counter and gave Alkoi a piece of paper which said, "This is a bomb."
"I treated him very kindly," Alkoi said. "He could have had the $250 for the guitar, how should I know? He apparently didn't."
Alkoi followed Voth down the block after she dialed 911. She said Voth ran out of the store after she picked up the cordless phone.
The man was apprehended in the Sister Cities Friendship Garden located off of Massachusetts and 11th streets.
Lawrence police called the Overland Park Police Department for assistance around 1 p.m.
Jeff Hobson, Overland Park Police sergeant, decided to destroy the device after about 20 minutes of investigation.
Voth is being held in the Douglas County jail awaiting charges.
Alkoi said the amount of homeless people in downtown Lawrence was a problem.
"A business district shouldn't have to put up with it," she said. "Business is hard enough without unsavory people scaring everyone away."
— Amanda O'Toole
STATE
KTA announces fare increase to fund capital improvements
It will be more expensive to drive on the Kansas Turnpike beginning August 1. Fares will increase by an average of five percent.
Lisa Callahan, public relations director for the Kansas Turnpike Authority, said the increase would raise $3.5 million annually, "to keep us in sound financial condition and to help us get ready for two capital improvement projects."
According to a KTA news release, one project will add one lane in each direction between the East Topeka and Lecompton interchanges. It is expected to cost $92.3 million. The second project, with an estimated cost of approximately $125 million, will replace the bridges over the Kansas River near Lawrence by 2012 and make improvements at the East and West Lawrence interchanges.
An article in the July 2004 Kansas Turnpike News stated there have only been six toll increases since the turnpike opened in 1956.
"The Turnpike has always tried to maintain a balance between reasonable tolls and giving customers the best and safest roadway possible," Michael Johnston, KTA President and CEO, said in the Kansas Turnpike News. "Even with the increase, the overall toll structure continues to be below the average of other toll roads in the country."
According to Callahan, the total traffic on the turnipke in 2003 was about 31.6 million vehicles and the KTA's annual revenues from tolls were about $67.5 million in 2002 and about $68.5 in 2003.
John Scheirman
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