KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011 / NEWS
LOCAL
3A
Annual Lawrence crime cases rise again
BY PAT MUELLER pmueller@kansan.com
The Lawrence Municipal Court opened 14 percent more cases last year than in 2009. Most significantly, seat belt violations increased by 70 percent last year, from 752 violations in 2009 to
1,293 in 2010.
According to the annual report of the Lawrence Police Department, the city participated in the state-wide "Click it or Ticket campaign in June, as well as the Thanksgiving Click it or Ticket campaign in November. This may have influenced the increase of
seat belt tickets.
Minor in possession tickets were up 42 percent last year, and operating under the influence charges increased by 14 percent. The Lawrence Police Department participated in multiple campaigns last year to control illegal alcohol use, including a New Year's Eve
saturation patrol and the "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" campaign in September.
Annual gross court revenue from all crimes increased by 14 percent from 2009 to 2010.
Edited by Caroline Bledowski
2009-10 Crime Rates
University calls for return of students studying in Japan
INTERNATIONAL
BY MICHAEL HOLTZ mholtz@kansan.com
As concerns grow about Japan's leaking nuclear power plant, the University of Kansas announced today that it required 10 students studying there to return home.
University officials made the decision after the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning late Wednesday. The State Department "strongly urges" Americans to defer travel to Japan and recommends those in Japan to consider departing.
The University does not permit study abroad programs to operate in countries where travel warnings have been issued.
Relations. "If the State Department doesn't think it's a good idea for people to be traveling there, then we need them to come home."
Last Friday's destructive earthquake and the resulting tsunami devastated large areas of northeast Japan and severely damaged nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. More than 10,000 people are believed to be dead as a result of the twin disasters.
Nine of the 10 students are in Tokyo, more than 150 miles south of the damaged nuclear plant. The tenth student is even farther
"We want to make sure we don't take any risks with our students."
JILL JESS
Spokeswoman
"We want to make sure we don't take any risks with the safety of our students," said Jill Jess, a spokeswoman for University
KU professor and nuclear physicist Michael Murray said Tokyo residents weren't in immediate danger, but that it was the job of the University to err on the side of caution. He said a possible fire at the plant posed the largest threat.
Senior State Department official Patrick Kennedy said Wednesday that chartered planes would be brought in to help private American citizens wishing to leave, according to the Associated Press.
away in southern Japan. The Office of Study Abroad notified the students and said it would help them with travel arrangements, including financial assistance.
"It's going to take something like that to endanger Tokyo," he said. "If the wind is blowing in the right direction it could bring some
radiation into Tokyo."
"We actually have some who will be getting on planes today," Jess said yesterday.
Edited by Caroline Bledowski
LOCAL
Kansas officials offer safety tips, advice
BY ADAM STRUNK
astrunk@kansan.com
The Kansas attorney general's office and KU officials are warning students staying in Lawrence during spring break to take precautions to avoid becoming a victim of sexual assault.
During the last 10 years, five women in the Lawrence area and eight women in the Manhattan area have been sexually assaulted during school breaks with the last assault occurring in December 2008. In a press release Thursday the Kansas Attorney General's office stated that law enforcement had announced a connection between the sexual assaults.
"In the past, we have seen increases in crime surrounding universitybreaks," Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in the press release. "We encourage students and community members to be especially alert and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement."
"B e i n g aware is number one," Bailey said. "That's regardless of if
The advice given by KU Public Safety Capt. Schuyler Bailey echoed the Schmidt's statement.
of the folks are gone over break," he said. "We know that that's a time when folks who have bad intentions take advantage of the lax level of attention. What we have learned from past experience is that folks that enter apartments do some surveillance and look for opportunities to get in a door or a window."
"Being prepared in number one.That's always the first step in protecting yourself."
CAPT. SCHUYLER BAILEY KU Public Safety
your traveling or staying here in Lawrence or visiting family or friends. That's always the first step in protecting yourself"
DeSalvo said that following simple steps such as locking doors or windows, noticing and calling police if an apartment is disturbed or just keeping connected with others could help protect students from sexual assault.
"The best way to avoid all of this is to remain connected with somebody even if it's not your particular group," he said.
Bailey said if a student did see something out of place then it would be important to act and call the police.
Francis DeSalvo, associate vice provost for student success, said students, especially those staying behind in apartment complexes, need to be on increased alert during spring break.
"In apartment complexes a lot
While community members are concerned about the possibility of a serial rapist Kathy Rose-Mockry, program director of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, said that 75 to 90 percent of sexual assaults were committed not by
to point out that the majority of rapes occur between people that know each other and for that reason students should be informed on some of the ways they can increase their safety in relationships and in social settings."
strangers but by acquaintances of the victim.
"While it's critically important that we are concerned about the serial rapist in Lawrence, it's important
Rose-Mockry said students could become better informed by attending sexual assault awareness week events coming in April and by utilizing campus services.
— Edited by Samantha Collins
APARTMENT HUNTING IS A PAIN. WE CAN MAKE IT PAINLESS.