friday, january 23, 2004
the university daily kansan
news
5A
Stickers prove effective in keeping windows closed
By Azita Tafreshi
atafreshi@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Money talks, and residence hall members at the University of Kansas are listening.
When resident assistants inspected the warning stickers on residence hall windows for signs of tampering for the first time at the beginning of winter break, they did not find any stickers that constituted a violation. Residents who had ripped or removed the sticker would have been charged a $125 fine.
The Department of Student Housing issued the stickers in late October and early November in response to the death of Eric Wellhausen. The Mt. Prospect, Ill., freshman died on Sept. 12 2003, after falling a ledge below his window ledge on the seventh floor of Oliver Hall.
The stickers were designed to identify whether residents had removed their window screens. One sticker, on the window itself, warns students to leave screens in place, while a smaller, tamper-evident sticker is affixed between the screen and the windowsill.
Ken Stoner, director of student housing, said for the most part the policy has worked and the stickers haven't been tampered with
"We're very pleased with the cooperation we've received from the students." Stoner said.
Amanda Beasley, Leawood freshman, said she thought the prospect of paying a fine had effectively discouraged students from removing their screens. "If you have to pay $125 to replace a sticker, then I think you're going to be more thoughtful about taking it off," Beasley said.
Ben Heath, Overland Park junior, said it's a good policy for safety reasons, but the sticker could be removed and reapplied easily.
recommended.
"If it was on the outside, maybe then people couldn't really get it off, but since they're on the inside people can mess with them," Heath said.
Catelyn Carter said she and her roommate had been concerned about the fine, but not because they had intentionally removed their sticker. When condensation from cold weather built up on the Leawood freshman's window, her sticker became loose.
"Until they get a sticker that actually sticks, it seems pointless to do these inspections," Carter said.
these inspections, Stoner said there had been no problems with residents removing the warning stickers, but in some cases the weather has had an effect on the tamper-evident stickers attached to the screens. The Department is investigating alternative sticker manufacturers.
"We attempted to get bumper sticker-type stickers," Stoner said. "We may have to swap those out for something more durable."
Stoner said the department will continue to monitor the situation while looking for a higher-quality material. He said the sticker inspections are a permanent addition to the check-in and check-out procedures resident assistants conduct with their residents. The next inspection will take place when the residence halls close for spring break.
"Now, since the weather's cold people aren't taking them off," Carter said. "I just really don't think there's been enough time to see if the policy is working."
Edited by Paul Kramer
Warning stickers have been implemented to discourage students from removing the screens in their residence hall rooms. If the screens are tampered with, a $125 fine will be charged to the student.
Foundation trustee disputes William Allen White award
By Rupal Gor
rgor@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
This year's recipient of the William Allen White Foundation award has left a trustee member angry.
Robert H. Giles, curator of Harvard University's Nieman Foundation for Journalism, is a William Allen White trustee member. He does not believe Marlin Fitzwater, this year's award recipient, deserves the award, which is designated for an American journalist who lives up to the ideals of William Allen White.
"I thought it was totally inappropriate for him to be a candidate, let alone to be selected for the award," Giles said.
Fitzwater was a press secretary for President Reagan for almost a decade and then worked as a public relations strategist for President
Fitzwater
George H.W. Bush. He is a consultant to NBC's The West Wing. Fitzwater also counsels students at the Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire.
Fitzwater started his career working on several Kansas newspapers, but shifted his focus to public relations when he began working for the Environmental Protection Agency in 1972. Public relations is a different
type of journalism than what was practiced by previous winners.
practices. Last year, the award went to Arthur Sulzberger Jr., publisher of The New York Times. In 2002, the recipient was Cookie Roberts, chief congressional analyst for ABC News. Roberts had worked in broadcasting for more than 25 years when she received the award.
years when he received the For Giles, Fitzwater doesn't measure up.
"This is an award for distinguished journalists, if you look at others before," Giles said.
Giles felt so strongly about the decision that he sent a letter to Harry Valentine Jr., president of the William Allen White Foundation. In the letter, Giles expressed concern about Fitzwater receiving the award. He wrote that he
felt disbelief and anger that Fitzwater received the award compared to past winners. Giles said he had also heard from seven or eight other trustee members who agreed with him. Valentine did not respond to his letter.
did not respond to his support
Valentine said he supported
Fitzwater's nomination because he
was nominated by the trustees for
several years without any objections.
Valentine said he did not
know why Giles had a problem
with this year's winner. He did not
receive other complaints about
Fitzwater, who he thinks was choosen because of his integrity.
"I would say he was a person of good integrity when he was press secretary," Valentine said. "When he was representing the president, he represented the press
and was outstanding. Rick Musser, professor of journalism, said he had attended festivities honoring the winners in the past. He said he would not be able to attend the festivities honoring Fitzwater this year because of a scheduling conflict.
"The man may be distinguished in his career in terms of what he's done as a press secretary," Musser said. "I've had other William Allen White candidates visit my classes—Bob Woodward, Cokie Roberts—and they're to me a different kind of distinguished at best."
Giles is trying to raise awareness of the purpose of the William Allen White Foundation award.
Allen White I commissioned
"I hope that the voting trustees are more sensitized to the purpose of this award and will act accordingly to the nominating selection of this process," he said.
Valentine said he had met with the executive board and the board will change rules and regulations regarding the voting process. In response to Giles' letter, he is putting together a committee to discuss specific qualifications for future candidates.
future concen Dana Leibengood, William Allen White Foundation administrator, said he could not tell how many of the trustees voted in the election of Fitzwater.
election of PARKS There will be festivities honoring Fitzwater on William Allen White Day, which will be held Feb. 13 at the Kansas Union.
Edited by Michelle Rodick