UN I V E R S I T Y DA I L Y K A N S A N
Wednesday, February 12, 1997
Three in a row: Watson Library is a victim of theft once again
Third attempt to steal hardware is unsuccessful
Stephanie McDuff
Kansan staff writer
This Sunday marked the third straight weekend that someone has attempted to steal computer equipment from Watson Library.
Sunday evening someone attempted to gut a Microtech Pentium computer in the Clark Computer Lab at Watson.
Anna Attkisson, Manhattan sophomore and student supervisor for the circulation desk, said as she checked the lab around 11:45 Sunday night she found a computer in the lab that had been disturbed.
The cover of the computer had been removed, but none of the components had been stolen. The only items that Watson librarians discovered missing were the screws that held the case together, Attkisson said.
The computer was located in the first row next to the lab's far right wall.
Attkisson said because of the placement of the computer, it
would have been difficult to see the opened computer case at first glance. She said in order to notice the disturbance someone would have to be in the room with the door shut.
Attkisson said that because nothing had been stolen from the computer, it appeared that the individual might have been interrupted while trying to gut it.
The first Watson incident occurred between Jan. 17 and Jan. 21, when someone gutted three Microtech Pentium computers, stripping them of their hard and floppy drives, and the ethernet and video cards.
The hollowed shells of these computers were left behind in the library's stacks. The stolen equipment from the three computers was valued at $3,600.
The stolen computer equipment was valued at $1,300.
The second computer theft at Watson occurred between Jan. 24 and Jan. 27 when the Central Processing Unit from one of the Microtech Pentium computers was stolen from the fourth floor of the Periodicals section.
KU Police Sergeant Chris Keary said that while the investigations continued, there were no known suspects at this time.
Organizations await to help with filing students' and community tax returns
Ann Premier Special to the Kansan
Filing tax returns can be a painful experience that many students must face alone for the first time.
But with free assistance from some University of Kansas organizations, these problems can be alleviated.
Legal Services for Students, a student organization financed by the Student Senate, provides tax return aid for students.
"We saved students $48,000 by doing their tax returns," said Jo Hardesty, Legal Services director.
Hardesty said she obtained the figure of $48,000, the amount that legal services saved students, by averaging the fees that private companies in the Lawrence area charged to complete income tax forms.
The average fee ranged from $65 to $95 for basic forms, and foreign students were charged $100 per hour because of the complexity of their returns, she said.
The law school and legal services are offering help now, but the accounting club won't offer services until Feb. 17.
The KU Accounting Club and the law school are providing tax return services for students, and also for the Lawrence community as well.
All services will be offered until April 15, when tax returns must be postmarked.
Legal Services only conducts tax guidance by appointment, but the accounting club and the law school provide services for students, and those with basic tax returns, on a first-come, first-serie basis.
These organizations are able to file income tax returns for students and the Lawrence community through an Internal Revenue Service program called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
"We've saved
students $48,000
by doing their tax
returns."
Jo Hardesty
Legal Services director
The program, with the help of volunteers, provides communities with free tax help. The program was designed to help those with a low income or fixed income and those with simple tax returns.
"It's really for anyone with a
basic tax return," said Jill Lederfine, VITA program co-chairwoman for the accounting club.
Last year, the accounting club assisted 424 people and the law school helped 120 people.
The law school, however, is looking forward to helping more people. It increased its volunteers from seven to 30, said Jason Wiske, a law student and the director of the VITA program for the law school.
Wiske said that most student's returns are simple, so the law school can do the refunds as well as a private firm.
"Our goal is to do over 300 returns." Wiske said.
Hardesty said legal services helped approximately 600 students file their income tax returns last year.
Hardesty said that only the attorneys at legal services provided basic or complex tax return service.
The attorneys complete students' tax forms, but also instruct students about how to complete forms so they may learn how to file income taxes themselves.
Organizations and volunteers directed by the VITA program are approved by the IRS.
Wiske said that most students were eligible for refunds, so they should file early.
Tax Help
Locations for walk-in tax help from the Law School from now until April 15:
ECKAN center, 1600 Haskell Ave Monday 12-2 p.m.
Tuesday 9-11 a.m.
Thursday 8-10 a.m.
Friday 9-11 a.m.
Law School
Law School
Thursday 6-8 p.m. in room 107
Saturday 9-1 p.m. in room 109
First United Methodist Church,
946 Vermont
Monday 7-9 p.m.
Ninth Street Baptist Church, 847 Ohio St.
Monday 6-8 p.m.
Locations for walk-in help from the Accounting Club from Feb. 17 to April 15:
Lawrence Indian Center,1423 Haskell Ave.
Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Haskell Indian Nations University, Stidham Hall, 23rd and Barker streets
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
All locations will be closed during Spring Break
Geoff Krieger / KANSAN
Jay Hinrichs, assistant general manager for the Kansas City Royals, displays a rejection letter he received before finally getting a job.
Royals assistant GM offers help to students
By Laurie Fletchall
Special to the Kansan
This is the message Jay Hinrichs, assistant general manager of the Kansas City Royals, gave to an informal gathering of graduate and undergraduate business students Thursday night at Summerfield Hall.
Having a diverse resume and good internships are what help applicants get their feet in the door in the world of sports management.
Hinrichs, a KU alumni, spoke to the group of 20 students about what it takes to get a job in sports.
"It's important to find the right job and the right internship if you want to get noticed." Hirnicks said.
Hinrichs, 38, received his MBA from the University and is a member of the mentoring program for the School of Business. He spent three years in charge of the intramural department at Robinson Center while he was earning his degree.
Hinrichs used himself as an example of the importance of having a sports-related job on your resume. He sent out dozens of resumes to baseball clubs after he got his degree, and all of them rejected him, including the Royals. he said.
He went to work for Volume Shoe in Topeka when he got the call from the Royals saying they had a job opening in Stadium Operations if he was still interested.
"The reason I got the job was because I had the experience from Robinson" he said.
The key is to not limit yourself to just the ball clubs, he said. It is also important to see that you have worked in the sports relations departments with companies such as Nike and Pepsi because this will show that you have been around the sports scene and know a little about what is going on, he said.
Hinrichs said a great way to get experience was to work in the minor league system. There are usually internships available in one of the Royals' seven minor league affiliates in the areas of marketing, accounting, human resources, public relations and operations.
"If you're any good at all you will accelerate fast," Hinrichs said.
Students listening to his speech thought that Hinrichs did a good job of giving them some direction in sports-related business.
"I think he helped out a lot of us. Many of us were on the wrong track and he has set us straight," said Bobby Arnold, Lawrence senior.
Jason Bogolin, Manchester, Mo., graduate student, said that it was helpful for him to hear someone in a high position give advice about how to get in the business.
Adoption center allows people to sponsor wild animals
Environmental awareness important for endangered lives
By Osvaldo Munoz
Special to the Kansan
Targhee, a grizzly bear, has a safe place to roam at the Yellowstone National Park thanks to ties at the University of Kansas.
Targhee, along with other endangered living organisms such as wolves, wildcats, dol
phins, manatees and the rain forest in Costa Rica, is supported by the KU Friends of the Environment adoption center.
The adoption center, located in the Natural History Museum's gift shop, works with many conservation programs around the world providing food, security and habitat to these animals.
Erin Hodges, co-manager of the gift shop, has sponsored Targhee for a year. She said she has loved bears since she was a little kid.
"I have a collection of 200 bear-things in my house," she
said.
"That's why I thought I've got to do something. I chose Targhee because he was the one I liked the most. He was abandoned by his mother, and he did not have anyplace else to go."
"I receive information four times a year from them," she said. "I've also got a map indicating to me the area where he is."
Hodges said that the up-to-date information she got from the Yellowstone Grizzly Foundation was valuable.
Hodges said the adoption center concentrated on endangered
animals, hoping to keep them from adding to the growing list of animals that are extinct.
Leonard Kristalka, director of the museum, said that it was important that the public be aware of these endangered animals because becoming a foster parent for these animals was a form of conservation.
"It's very little humans do that is not drawn on by biodiversity." he said.
Beth Huerter, membership and visitor services director at the museum, said that the adoption center began this project last summer.
"The sponsorship kit costs $20, lasts for a year and includes a sponsorship certificate registration card you have to mail in," she said. "And after you have chosen the animal, you will receive an official sponsorship certificate with a photograph of the animal or the rain forest."
Ideally, the adoption center plans to continue this project year after year.
"You can change the kind of animal and its name if you want to." Hueter said.
Huerter also said a good example is the International Marine
Mammal Project, an organization that lets people choose the kind of dolphin they want to sponsor.
"A friend of mine picked a dolphin that was pregnant," Huerter said.
Rocio Summers, Lawrence resident, said she would like to sponsor a manatee, a herbivorous aquatic mammal that has paddle-like front flippers.
"This animal is different," she said.
Anonymous HIV Testing
If you think you might be HIV-positive, you need to know for sure. Those with HIV,the virus that causes AIDS,who get early and consistent medical care live longer, healthier lives.
Anonymous HIV Testing is by appointment only, no record is kept, and you use any first name. Bring $19 cash when you come for the test and in 2 weeks we'll give you the results—in person only. Testing includes pre- and post-test counseling.
Appointments: 864-9507
//www.ukans.edu/home/watkins
Kansan Classifieds Get the Results You want
At the Top of the Hill
Museum of Anthropology
Gift Shop
American Indian Silver & Turquoise Jewelry Kachinas, Fetishes; African Sapstone & Wood Carvings, Masks, Baskets; Mexican Folk Art and Textiles; Books for Adults and Children; and Much More!
Wanda Aragon · Mel Cornshucker
Pottery by American Indian artists:
Special Feature
Pam Lujan-Hauer • Pahponee
Selection of unique gift items from Ten Thousand Villages
KU Museum of Anthropology, Spooner Hall, 14th & Jayhawk,
Lawrence, KS 66045 (913) 864-4245; Monday-Saturday 9-5, Sunday 1-5