12
Wednesday, November 3, 1993
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Lab receives research grant
Wireless sending of information to be developed
By Kathleen Stolle
Kansan staff writer
Feeding from a smorgasbord of research projects, researchers in KU's Telecommunications Information Sciences Lab have kept comfortably full.
But when a $1.6 million federal grant recently was offered, they found room for dessert.
"We all have our plates pretty full," said Sam Shammangu, principal investigator on
the new project and professor in the department of electrical engineering and computer science.
The department, which operates the lab, was awarded the three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency. The grant, which may be increased by another half-million dollars depending on military budget allowances, is the single largest research grant in the department's history. The grant is not expected until the first of the year.
The grant will support the "Rapidly Deployable Radio Networks Project," Shannugan said. Researchers, including professors and students in the department, will develop technology to allow for quick, wireless transmission of large amounts of information in audio, video and data
"This is a real thing," Shamugan said. "It's not just a paper and pencil study."
forms.
The technology may be applied during natural disasters or during combat situations, when other forms of communication are down or unavailable, Shanmuang said.
During the first year, researchers will develop several card designs through computer simulation. Cards, which hold programmable chips, serve as the brains of a work station.A final design will be selected at the end of the first year.
During the second and third years, the researchers will actually build portions of the network.
Although the additional project will mean more weekly project meetings, subgroup meetings and supervision of several
labs throughout Nichols Hall, Shanmugan said the sacrifices were worth it.
"It's a good trade-off," he said. "This is definitely a worthwhile project."
Shannugan said the other six professors on the project would put in the most hours during the summer. The dozen graduate students involved would carry out most of the lab work during the next semester, he said.
Researcher Glenn Prescott, associate professor in the department, said he believed the department, which applied for the grant in June, was selected as a recipient because of its idea and work on two related projects.
"They liked what we proposed, and they were convinced we have the capability to get it done," Prescott said.
Leaving KU would be like leaving home for retirees
By Brian James Kansan staff writer
KU students who think their professors will flee from campus after retirement might be surprised when they see who lives at 1400 Lilac Lane.
The Sprague Apartment Building, hidden not more than a block away from Jayhawk Boulevard, is home to 12 retired KU faculty and their spouses, and widows of KU faculty. The complex allows only retired KU professors and family to live there.
The apartments offer the convenience of being close to campus for many of the faculty still active at the University of Kansas.
But many residents said freedom from household chores was what prompted them to move to the complex.
"The apartment is very much a hit with us," said Keith Lawton, former vice chancellor for campus development operations, who retired in 1983.
Lawton said that since moving to an apartment in 1988, he and his wife, Phyllis, have enjoyed a more laidback lifestyle.
"The nature of my work at KU restricted a lot of time spent for travel and leisure," he said. "When I retired, I was not interested in having the basic houseowner's chores, like mowing or yard work. They're not for me."
Sprague, which is owned by the Kansas University Endowment Association, has 10 apartments. Eight are rented to retired faculty or to their widows. Esther Murdock, the manager of the building, and a graduate student who assists with any general medical needs of the faculty, live in the other two apartments.
Daryl Beene, senior vice president of property management for the Endowment Association, said 20 to 25 retired KU faculty members are on a waiting list to move into Sprague.
Beene would not disclose how much the Endowment Association charges for rent, but he said rent is "considerably less than the normal market rate."
Lawton said he and his wife do not mind that their home is near campus.
"We've become accustomed to youth and youthful activities," he said. "We're very understanding of student activities — they're not a problem."
Walter Crockett, retired professor of psychology and communications studies, has lived with his wife, Helen, in the apartment building for two years. He said living in an apartment gave them more peace of mind when they went out for an evening or on an extended vacation.
"It's the kind of place where you can close the door and walk out." he said.
Several residents of Sprague are widows of KU faculty members.
Jeanne Moreau is the widow of Frederick J. Moreau, dean of the KU law school from 1937 to 1957.
She said that after her husband died in 1986, she was considering moving to California, where she had many good friends.
She said she made her decision to stay in Lawrence one night when she was attending a play with a friend.
"I was sitting there in Crafton-Preyer Theatre, and I realized how many friends I really had here," she said. "I realized I belong here at KU. I always get a warm feeling when I think about the people who live around me."
Walter Crockett, retired professor of psychology and communication studies, rests at his campus apartment. He and 11 other retired faculty or the widows of retired faculty live in Sprague Apartments, 1400 Lilac Lane.
John Gamble / KANSAN
Co-defendant in beating trial pleads guilty
Plea agreement spares man prison time for Denny assault
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — A man who was cleared of most charges in the beating of truck driver Reginald Denny pleaded guilty yesterday to felony assault, the one charge on which the jury had deadlocked. The plea agreement spared him a prison term.
Co-defendant Damian Williams, convicted of felony mayhem in Denny's beating, was denied lower bail. He returned to jail to await sentencing.
Henry Watson pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury. His plea came in an attack on trucker Larry Tarvin, who like Denny was pulled from his rig and beaten during last year's riots.
"I'd just like to apologize to Mr. Tarvin and Mr. Denny and all the other victims that were there at the intersection on April 29, 1992." Watson said.
The jury convicted Watson on Oct. 20 of misdemeanor assault on Denny and acquitted him of all other charges. Like Williams, he had served 17 months in jail awaiting trial, more than his possible sentence for the Denny assault.
Watson was released pending sentencing Dec. 7. The plea agreement will place him on probation until January 1997 and require community service.
Watson's lawyer, Earl Broady, said prosecutors had told him they planned to retry the unresolved case. On Monday, they offered a deal that was too good to refuse.
"No time in custody? Of course it was in his best interest," Broady said. If convicted, Watson could have drawn seven years behind bars.
Williams, 20, was acquitted of the most serious charges in the attack on Denny but was convicted of felony may-bein and four misdemeanion assault counts. Prosecutors have said they will seek the maximum 10-year prison term.
Superior Court Judge John Ouderkirk refused to lower Williams' $580,000 bail to $35,000, saying he was a danger to society.
williams was videotaped hurling a brick at Denny's head. The scene became a symbol of the riots that erupted after four white police officers were acquitted of most state charges in the videotaped beating of motorist Rodney King.
Williams issued a statement yesterday afternoon calling Ouderkirk's decision unfair and noting that two police officers convicted of violating King's federal civil rights were allowed to be with their families throughout their trial and pending sentence.
District Attorney Gil Garcetti said that meetings with jurors and calls from public officials helped him decide to strike a deal with Watson, even though he felt it would not be popular.
"Given the political nature of the case, realistically the chances of getting a conviction were not going to be great," he said.
He said Watson's age, 29, his status as a father of two and an honorable discharge from the Marines led him to believe that "we are not going to see Mr. Watson again in the criminal justice system."
THE NEW HARBOUR LIGHTS
lowa full service bar after 57 years of downtown tradition
Open Acoustic Night Original Music by Local Artist $1.50 Well Drinks Now open 7 days a week from noon until 2am 1031 Massachusetts
Wake Up To CEDARWOOD APTS
Now Leasing
Winter & Spring
Newly Redecorated Units
Air conditioning & Pool
Close to Mall
1 Block from KU Bus route
Studios
1 & 2 Bedroom Apts
Duplexes (3 & 4 Bedroom)
call Pat today 843-1116
2411 Cedarwood Ave.
KU STUDENTS ONLY!
$1 OFF COUPON
BASKETBALL TICKETS
ATTN: STUDENTS REDEMPTION PERIOD
Group #1
NOVEMBER 1- NOVEMBER 10 (EXCEPT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY) 8.00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
GAMES:
NOV.16 - MARATHON AAU
NOV.29 - AUSTRALIA NATIONALS
DEC. 1 - TEMPLE
Athletic Ticket Office East Lobby Allen Fieldhouse 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
*YOU MAY ONLY REDEEM ONE COUPON PER PERSON.
**YOU MUST HAVE A BLUE FALL 1993 FEE STICKER ON YOUR KUID TO RECEIVE YOUR TICKETS.
***WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR STOLEN COUPONS.
1