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WEDNESDAY • JUNE 1 • 2016
KU: Alleged rape ‘tragic’ but university not liable By Sara Shepherd Twitter: @saramarieshep
In its first legal response to a lawsuit by a former student who said a football player raped her in Jayhawker Towers, Kansas University said the
incident was not the university’s fault and the suit should be dismissed. “That incident is tragic, but it is not one for which Title IX makes the university liable,” KU wrote in its response. The university is liable
only when it is aware of ongoing peer-on-peer sexual harassment and remains “deliberately indifferent” to it, KU attorney Mike Leitch wrote in the university’s motion to dismiss the suit, filed Friday in federal court. In Daisy Tackett’s case, ac-
cording to the document, there were no previous allegations of sexual assault by the same assailant at the time Tackett reported the alleged rape to KU, and KU also had an obligation to treat the accused man fairly. “KU investigated the
matter, provided Plaintiff an escort on campus, and expelled the assailant,” KU wrote. “Those actions demonstrate KU’s commitment to addressing cases of sexual violence — both Please see RAPE, page 2A
Tackett
AIDS STORIES IN STITCHES Legislators Memorial Quilt holding off sections to be put on display on school funding fix By Mackenzie Clark Twitter: @mclark_ljw
K
enny Comstock was a talented dancer, with the resume to back it up. His experience included time at the Gus Giordano dance troupe in Chicago and a one-year scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet; his true loves were modern and jazz dance. “Kenny was funny, he was smart, he was talented and beautiful, and the baby of the family, and the only boy, and everybody just loved him,” said his sister Laurie Comstock, director of special projects with Kansas University Endowment. Kenny was 26 years old in 1988 when AIDS prevented his recovery from pneumonia. He spent his final days in a Chicago hospital surrounded by family members who slowly pieced together what was happening. “Our whole family was close, but that doesn’t mean we always talked about everything that we should have,” Laurie said. “... No one really said AIDS for a while, so it took a while for everybody to really understand what was going on.” Kenny is one of more than Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo 94,000 individuals whose LIED CENTER EMPLOYEE MITCHELL EIFLER WALKS PAST a 12-by-12-foot section of the AIDS lives are commemorated in Memorial Quilt during the installation process of four sections Tuesday at the Lied Center. Many the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a of the panels on display were created by family members of local residents who lost their lives to 54-ton handmade tapestry. the disease. Of the six sections that will be on display in Lawrence until June 30, four will be at Please see QUILT, page 4A the Lied Center and two additional panels will be at the Lawrence Public Library.
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Some lawmakers willing to let districts shut down in defiance of court By Peter Hancock Twitter: @LJWpqhancock
Topeka — Kansas lawmakers will not try to address the latest Kansas Supreme Court ruling on school finance when they return to the Statehouse today, and public schools are being advised to make contingency plans for a possible court-ordered shutdown on July 1. Lawmakers return to the Statehouse today for the official closing of the 2016 session, a ceremony known as “sine die.” Senate President Susan Wagle Wagle issued a statement Tuesday that said the Legislature’s attorneys have not had time to analyze the court’s latest decision, which said lawmakers have until June 30 to come up with a new funding plan that distributes money to the state’s 286 school districts equitably. Please see LEGISLATURE, page 2A
Lawrence district plans City planning large projects in next 5 years for shutdown By Nikki Wentling Twitter: @nikkiwentling
Lawrence is looking to fund more than 250 large projects and purchases worth a total $318 million over the next five years. In coming weeks, the Lawrence City Commission will decide any changes it wants to make to a draft capital improvement plan released last week. The plan was arranged by city management staff and includes any upcoming projects costing
more than $75,000. When approved, the plan will go into effect Jan. 1, 2017, and run through 2021. Commissioners can make changes to it each year during the budget process. “I use the analogy that if there’s only one item in front of you to consider, you don’t necessarily turn into the best shopper,” City Manager Tom Markus said. “Having a capital improvement program that presents the whole array of capital improvements gives you choice and gives you the
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ed in the plan: l Lawrence Transit System wants to use $7.5 million from the public transit fund over the next five years for a new central transfer hub and new buses and amenities, such as shelters and benches. Lawrence and Kansas University applied for a federal grant in April to help fund a new transfer hub on KU’s campus. If the grant is awarded and commissioners approve of the hub, Lawrence’s portion of costs would be $4 million.
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By Rochelle Valverde Twitter: @RochelleVerde
If the Kansas Supreme Court orders a shutdown of schools on July 1, Lawrence school district leaders say they could only ensure the district continues to operate for another month. “If they allow us to write checks, and they allow us to pool the reserves that we have, we can get through the summer, which means June and July for us,” said Lawrence schools Superintendent Rick Doll. “We would not have the funds to start school (in August), and that’s the bottom line.”
Please see PLAN, page 7A
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opportunity to align what you want to get accomplished with your goals.” Mayor Mike Amyx said the draft plan was a “very good starting point.” Commissioners will review the projects for 2017 again in Markus’ budget presentation at a work session July 12, said City Finance Director Bryan Kidney. The commission will consider the full five-year plan either July 12 or at a budget meeting July 26, Kidney said. Here’s a breakdown of some of the projects includ-
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Please see DISTRICT, page 2A
Vol.158/No.153 40 pages