TODAY'S WEATHER: Mostly sunny with a high of 93 FOURTH OF JULY: Campus will be closed tomorrow for the holiday
KANSAN
TALK TO US: Contact Emily Hughey or Kyle Ramsey at (785) 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
TUESDAY
JULY 3,2001
WWW.KANSAN.COM
ISSUE 140 VOLUME 111
Extra troopers on highways aim to keep drivers safe
New law also will stiffen penalties handed out to drunken drivers
Kyle Ramsey Managing editor Brett Wiard Special to the Kansar
There will be more troopers than usual on state highways this Fourth of July, and they'll be looking hard for drunken drivers.
This is because the Kansas Highway Patrol will be putting nearly all of its 255 officers on patrol over a 30-hour period during the July 4 holiday in an effort to keep drunken drivers off Kansas highways.
Rosalie Thornburgh, Kansas Department of Transportation Traffic Safety chief, said that during the holiday officers will come into contact with approximately 8,000 to 10,000 people and issue about 6,000 citations throughout the state.
"It is good, effective, aggressive enforcement." Thornburgh said.
Through funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation's (KDOT) Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), the Kansas Highway Patrol will have the money to put more troopers out on the road.
("STEP) gives us the extra ability to put more officers on the road," said Mark Engholm, Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper.
"We're basically offering more patrol on the road," Engholm said.
Engholm said the focus on drunken driving is a response to a July 1 change in the Kansas DUI penalties. Under the new law, first-time drunken driving offenders could face fines from $500 to $1000 and jail time ranging from 48 hours to 6 months. Before, the minimum fine was $200.
Brad Bruce, Overland Park senior said he was not pleased with the increase.
"I know the penalties were already stiff enough," said Brad Bruce, Overland Park senior. "I don't want to pay $500 as much as I don't want to pay $200."
The highway patrol began working with the STEP program last year to help reduce targeted traffic violations such as seat belt use and speeding. This latest effort focuses on keeping drunken drivers off Kansas roadwaves.
Thornburgh said funds for the STEP program come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. KDOT also offers these funds to local law enforcement districts.
Lawrence Police Sgt. Mike Pattrick said that the department would not be participating in the STEP program but would increase the number of officers throughout Lawrence during the holiday.
Abrand new'Bohl'game
Athletics director to focus on football, revenue
By Laurie Sisk Kansan staff writer
Allen Bohl wants to fill Memorial Stadium this year for KU football games.
Bohl, KU's newly elected athletics director, said last Thursday that filling the stadium was his top objective.
"I am aware that the attendance at football games is somewhere around 30,000, so that means we have another
20,000 seats that we need to get filled up," Bohl said. "I have the
attitude that we are going to fill up those seas."
"I am sure the reason I am sitting here today is I have an excellent track record in raising money and trying to fill
That track record includes serving as athletics director at the University of Toledo, assistant
Bohl: KU's new athletics director
up a football stadium," he said.
athletics director at Ohio State University and athletics director at Fresno State University.
For the most part, he's been successful.
Ohio State already had a dedicated football following, but at Toledo, Bohlhad to work a little harder to fill seats.
Last year at Fresno State, Bohl led a program that sold out all but one of its home games.
Bohl is confident about his chances for success.
"I am very committed to being very creative and trying to figure out how we can do marketing, selling tickets, and raising money to generate those dollars," Bohl said.
Yesterday, Bohl said he would do things to make the 30,000 fans who come year after year — through the good and the bad — to feel special, but also said he "was looking for 20,000 more people throughout the state of Kansas to buy season tickets."
"I can't play for Terry Allen," Bohl said. "But when that UCLA quarterback comes to Memorial Stadium to call signals, I want it to be loud enough to be intimidating when they hear 'Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk.'"
He said he would spend a short time wrapping things up in Fresno, then take a brief family vacation in Montana before
returning to Lawrence by the last week of July to begin work.
Football coach Terry Allen is optimistic about Bohl achieving his goals at the University.
"I think my first impression of him was that he is an aggressive, go-getter type of guy," Allen said. "I've talked to him today and it looks like he's going to be all over the state of Kansas, knocking on doors and building support. I told him, 'I want to be right next to you when you do.'"
Sisk can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com
PHOTO BY THAD ALLENDERKANSAN
An umbrella of sparks cascade around Jud Howard, who is a self-proclaimed fireworks addict. The Fairway junior spends up to $60 each year in preparation for the Fourth of July, some of which he shot off last night on Campanile Hill.
Celebrators psyched to set fires
By Luke Wetzel Kansan staff writer
For Jud Howard, the smell of a lit fuse is sweeter than the sweetest perfume. Howard, Fairway junior and selfproclaimed fireworks fanatic, spends up to $60 each year in preparation for that sabbath of the pyro world, the Fourth of July.
Howard grew to love shooting off fireworks with the kids in his neighborhood.
"We had a lot of crazy things happen." Howard said. "We'd have stuff fly into houses. One time we hit a neighbor in the knee with a Roman candle."
For the past few years, Howard has been safely shooting off fireworks at his
aunt's house near Kansas City International Airport. His years of experience have taught him a thing or two about the pastime.
"You have to spend your money wisely." Howard said. "Buying more small things will last you longer and give you more time to experiment."
Fortunately for do-it-yourselfers like Howard, there are several fireworks stands just outside city limits. Pat Everley's family runs a tent in the parking lot at Diamond Roofing Company, 2200 E. 23rd St.
Everley's parents began running the stand 20 years ago to make money for their kids' college. Relatives come from as far away as Wisconsin and Florida to help.
"It's hard work,"said Everley, who graduated from KU last spring. "It's also a good way to get people together and have some fun."
Part of the responsibilities include making trips to wholesalers in Missouri, stocking the store before it opens at 8 a.m. and removing all the goods for storage each night after 11. City ordinances allow the stands to stay open from July 2 to the Fourth.
A public fireworks display will be held at 10 p.m. tomorrow night at Burcham Park, Second and Indiana streets.
Wetzel can be reached at 864-4810 or
writer@kansan.com
Regents increase employee salaries,propose budget
Hemenway gets $12,000 raise
The Board of Regents raised Chancellor Robert Hemenway's salary and proposed a 2003 budget that increases the University of Kansas' general operating budget last week.
By Brandy Straw
Kansan staff writer
The Regents approved of a 5.75 percent salary raise for the
The increase makes Hemenway's salary $219,420, almost $12,000 more than he made last year.
six leaders of the regents schools last Wednesday and Thursday. Faculty salaries also rose by 6 percent and staff salaries by 3 percent.
Hemenway remains the highest paid among the leaders of all six regents schools. Jon Wefald, Kansas State University president, will get $208,820; Don Beggs, presi-ident of Wichita State University, $183,652; E Hammond, president of Fort Hays State University, $158,270; Kay Shallenkamp, president of Emporia State University, $147,639; and Tom Bryant, president of Pittsburg State University, $145,270.
"It sounds like a lot, but he does a good job," said Kim Marstall, Wichita senior.
The proposed budget for 2003 gives the University a 5.6 percent increase in its general
Hemenway declined to comment on his raise.
operating budget and gives faculty a 5 percent raise.
Marlin Rein, director of governmental affairs and budget, said that of all the proposals discussed this was the best one.
Teresa Klinkenberg, University director for administration, said that KU finances its budget from tuition and a base amount appropriated by the Legislature. She said the University then asks the Legislature for increases in different areas that make up the budget, such as salaries.
"I think it will be good for us in the long run," Klinkenberg said. "I think it will simplify the process."
Hemenway said the increase was fair, but he said this will be a difficult fiscal year.
Straw can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com
Local police seek to stop contraband fireworks
By Julie Carter Kansan staff writer
Fireworks cannot be purchased inside the city limits but can be found nearby.
Lawrence residents celebrating Independence Day with fireworks only have a limited time period to do so.
City ordinance states that fireworks can only be used from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. tomorrow and from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday.
The city allows for several days of fireworks to give people ample time to celebrate the holiday, Patrick said.
"We have to have time limits or else the noise becomes bothersome to people," he said.
"There are tents right outside of town," said Sgt. Mike Patrick of the Lawrence Police Department. "They sell them in places that aren't actually annexed into Lawrence."
Police will give a notice to appear in municipal court to anyone caught using fireworks after the given time periods, Patrick said, and the fireworks will be confiscated.
"We see a lot of alcohol-related crimes over the holiday," he said. "Things like DUIs and disorderly conduct are pretty common."
Sgt. Mark Warren said the Lawrence Police Department will have more officers on patrol. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office will not, said Major Bill Shepard.
Because of the safety hazards associated with the Fourth, the department will make changes.
Anyone can use fireworks, but some common fireworks are illegal in Kansas.
"Bottle rockets are illegal in Kansas," Pattrick said. "Any type of fireworks with a stick that is propelled into the air is illegal."
These fireworks are illegal because they are a potential fire hazard.
COMING IN NEXT WEEK'S KANSAN
The ordinance will not stop some students from having fun with fireworks.
"I am heading out to a friend's party," said Katie Glatz, Lawrence senior. "They went over to Missouri to buy some fireworks, smuggled some bottle rockets across state lines. It should be a good time."
Carter can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com
INSIDETODAY
WORLD NEWS ...2A
WEATHER ...5A
CROSSWORD ...5A
FROM HASKELL TO THE HILL: Haskell Indian Nations University students transfer KU.
OFF TO THE BIG LEAGUES: Four former KU baseball players sign with minor league teams.
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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 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
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