Lawrence Journal-World 05-11-12

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L A W R E NC E

JOURNAL-WORLD ®

75 CENTS

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LJWorld.com

City, KU collaborate to improve student behavior By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

Kansas University may not just track students’ grades in the future. In some cases, it may track where students had their last drink as well. Both city and university officials confirmed they’re in

Pleasant

High: 80

Programs would keep track of certain off-campus activities discussions to put several new programs in place for the next school year aimed at improving off-campus behavior of students. The discussions include

creating a unique database of drinking-related crimes or accidents throughout the city that could be used by university and city officials to spot problem bars or party houses.

The database is one of three programs city and KU leaders are contemplating for the next school year. “There is a great deal of promise to improve the quality of life

Stage set for new theater

Low: 54

Today’s forecast, page 10A

INSIDE ‘Goofy’ haircuts lead to suspensions Three Lawrence High School students who administered “goofy haircuts” in a private home to their younger brothers and friends have been suspended and will have a record of the disciplinary action on their school transcripts. A couple of the boys’ parents say the school has gone too far in classifying the incident as hazing. Page 6A

— Danny Lewis, director of alumni programs for the Kansas University Alumni Association, on getting a KU license plate issued in the state of Missouri. A sponsor for the bill has been found, and the Missouri General Assembly could approve the measure next year. Page 3A

COMING SATURDAY We’ll be at Haskell’s commencement ceremonies.

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INDEX Business Classified Comics Deaths Events listings Horoscope Movies Opinion Puzzles Sports Television Vol.154/No.132

10A 5B-10B 9A 2A 10A, 2B 9B 4A 8A 9B 1B-4B 4A, 2B, 9B 36 pages

Gov.’s tax talk ignites political firestorm Brownback’s comments criticized as arm-twisting By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo

MARY DOVETON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THEATRE LAWENCE, addresses those gathered prior to a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Theatre Lawrence building Thursday in the Bauer Farm development near Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive. The building, which will house a 300-seat theater, dressing rooms, offices and an education wing for classrooms, is expected to be constructed within a year.

Groundbreaking is latest act for community-produced plays By Alex Garrison acgarrison@ljworld.com

It was a first rehearsal of sorts — an event to mark the beginning of movement toward the biggest opening night ever. That’s how Theatre Lawrence board member (and event emcee) Bob Schwartz described the groundbreaking at the group’s planned new location at the Bauer Farm development in west Lawrence. Years of campaign fundraising and planning culminated in a curtainraising for a new act for the 35-year-old community theater group’s history in an event Thursday afternoon. Staff, volunteers, supporters and property developers gathered at 4660 Bauer Farm Drive near

Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive to mark the ceremonial beginning of construction, which they hope to complete within a year. Mary Doveton, Theatre Lawrence’s executive director, said she’d “been in theater too long to believe in any kind of ‘one-person show’” and thanked the supporting actors in this big production — the donors who helped raise the $6.5 million needed for the project. That capital exceeded the group’s $6.2 million goal, but, as board President Cindy Johnson put it, “there’s still some way to go” on funding for internal furnishings and equipment. Still, it’s a big day — and big accomplishment — for everyone

involved in Theatre Lawrence and the construction of its new space, Johnson said. The group had its first performance at its current location at 1501 N.H. in 1985. In recent years, they’ve outgrown it. The new space will include a bigger performance area and classrooms for its outreach and educational programs. City Commissioner Aron Cromwell talked about the group’s contribution to Lawrence and the importance of finding funding for the arts in difficult economic times. Both the Lawrence city and Douglas County commissions have committed $100,000 to the project over the next five years. “Theatre Lawrence

gives back to the community — (that’s) why I think the community gives to Theatre Lawrence,” he said. Before the spade turning and a solosaxophone rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Doveton closed the ceremony with a story about a letter from a former volunteer who wrote about the importance of Theatre Lawrence’s work in expanding the cultural and emotional lives of the community members involved. “We’re embarking at expanding our physical space,” Doveton said, “so we can continue to help expand inner spaces.” — Reporter Alex Garrison can be reached at 832-7261. Follow her at Twitter.com/alex_garrison.

TOPEKA — The political explosion over tax cuts that rocked the Kansas Legislature was detonated by Gov. Sam Brownback and continued Thursday to produce fallout. On Wednesday, as the Senate was getting ready to debate an income and business tax cut bill that was composed by a HouseSenate conf e r e n c e committee, Brownback told Republicans in the House to approve a larger tax cut package to apply pressure to Brownback moderate Republicans in the Senate. “I think it would be better if we did the conference report, but I am not the least bit confident that’s going to get to me, and then we’re left with nothing,” Brownback told the House GOP caucus just before the House came into session. “I think it would help stimulate the legitimate discussions and negotiations taking place between the House and Senate on taxes if you were to concur with the Senate package that is in front of you today. I think that would be a better route to go.” His comments were recorded by a reporter for the Please see GOVERNOR, page 2A

SRS grilled over conditions in anti-violence program By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

Energy smart: The Journal-World makes the most of renewable resources. www.b-e-f.org

Please see STUDENTS, page 6A

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QUOTABLE

As you can imagine, you don’t have too many Missouri representatives too willing to sign a University of Kansas license plate application.”

in neighborhoods near the university,” said City Commissioner Hugh Carter, who has been the city’s lead spokesman in the

TOPEKA — Several legislators on Thursday criticized state welfare agency officials for conditions put into a contract aimed at helping victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence last week said it was withdrawing

from the contract proposal with the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services because the requirements that SRS was putting on the contract would jeopardize the safety of victims. On Thursday, several legislators during a Senate committee meeting grilled SRS officials about those conditions. One of those would require that victims of do-

mestic violence and sexual assault have jobs after 18 months of assistance. Kathe Decker, director of economic and employment support at SRS, said it was important to help the victim become self-sufficient. Decker said she knew of a woman receiving assistance who bragged about still receiving services and not having to work while also being on a

roller derby team. “ S h e told us she didn’t have to do anything because she was a victim,” Deck- Schmidt er said. That brought a sharp response from Sen. Vicki Schmidt, R-Topeka. Schmidt said it was inap-

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propriate for Decker to tell such a story because she had no firsthand knowledge of what the woman said. Joyce Grover, director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, said putting job requirements and time limits on services are problematic because the needs of victims are complex and Please see SRS, page 2A


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