news
Thursday, February 8, 2018
staff NEWS MANAGEMENT
Editor-in-chief Chandler Boese Managing editor Erin Brock Digital operations editor Brady Maguire Social media editor Nathan Mize Associate social media editor Emily Juszczyk ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
Business manager Baylee Parsons Sales manager Cooper Scott SECTION EDITORS
News editor Emily Wellborn Associate news editor Katie Bernard Sports editor Shaun Goodwin Associate sports editor Michael Swain Arts & culture editor Josh McQuade Associate arts & culture editor Rachel Gaylor Opinion editor Danya Issawi Visuals editor & design chief Gracie Williams Photo editor Missy Minear Copy chiefs Gabby Cinnamon Emma Green ADVISERS
Chief financial officer Jon Schlitt Editorial adviser Gerri Berendzen The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 50 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS., 66045. The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4967) is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year except fall break, spring break and exams. It is published weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Annual subscriptions by mail are $250 plus tax. Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue.
KANSAN MEDIA PARTNERS Check out KUJH-TV on Wow! of Kansas Channel 31 in Lawrence for more on what you’ve read in today’s Kansan and other news. Also see KUJH’s website at tv.ku.edu. KJHK is the student voice in radio. Whether it’s rock ‘n’ roll or reggae, sports or special events, KJHK 90.7 is for you.
2000 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence, Kan., 66045 editor@kansan.com www.kansan.com Newsroom: (785) 864-4552 Advertising: (785) 864-4358
K A N S A N .C O M / N E W S
How secret is the Statehouse? The Kansas Legislature requires interns to sign a confidentiality agreement. Here’s what it applies to
TAYLOR W. SMITH @smithtaylorw Each semester political science students from the University intern in the Kansas legislature and, as the Kansas City Star recently revealed, sign extensive confidentiality agreements. Last month, the Star reported that, through an open records request, it had learned that interns at the statehouse in Topeka are required to sign a confidentiality agreement pertaining to activities that occur and subjects that are discussed amongst legislators and their staff. Catherine Gunsalus with the office of the Speaker Pro Tem told the Kansan that the intern confidentiality agreement, or non-disclosure agreement, applies only to policy-related discussions between a legislator, intern and other legislative staff. “The confidentiality agreement does not extend to sexual harassment complaints or any complaints regarding inappropriate behavior, nor does it supersede statutory protections or LCC policies,” Gunsalus said. “Interns are encouraged to immediately report any inappropriate behavior during their internship.” While the purpose of the agreement is not, officially, to limit avenues to report inappropriate conduct, employment professionals consulted by the Star expressed concern that the vagueness of the agreement could discourage students from reporting inappropriate behavior. With these concerns in mind, the Kansan set out to clarify what the the confi-
Miranda Anaya/KANSAN Law professor Mike Kautsch discusses an assignment with his class. dentiality agreement does and does not cover, to reiterate to current and prospective statehouse interns what their rights are, how to report inappropriate or illegal conduct, and to whom it should be reported.
WHAT IT COVERS:
When working with legislators, interns may be privy to conversations regarding the drafting and implementation of bills. This may include discussions concerning the content of a bill, how a legislator plans to rally support from their constituents or fellow lawmakers, and other legislative strategy. This, according to Mike Kautsch, professor of law at the University, is considered confidential information and is protected under a confidentiality agreement, but only “until action on the bill is taken,” or until it is formally introduced to the legislature. In addition to information conveyed to them by legislative staff, interns may
encounter what is known as “personally identifiable information,” which is defined by the federal government as “information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, either alone or when combined with other personal or identifying information that is linked or linkable to a specific individual.” If this information were disclosed to anyone outside of a legislator’s office, it would be grounds for termination.
WHAT IT DOES NOT COVER:
Sexual harassment, as defined by the state is, under no circumstance, protected by a confidentiality or nondisclosure agreement. If an intern experiences sexual harassment at the hands of a legislator or statehouse employee, they should immediately report such behavior to their supervisor, the office of the Speaker Pro Tem and their supervising instructor through their university.
Discrimination in the workplace is not protected by a confidentiality or nondisclosure agreement. As stated in the Kansas Act Against Discrimination, individuals in the state of Kansas are protected from discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry. This includes racial slurs or derogatory remarks based on the aforementioned categories, and should immediately be reported to a supervisor, the office of the Speaker Pro Tem and the intern’s supervising instructor. Finally, any other act that is illegal or criminal in nature must be reported immediately. This term may seem broad, but it is important. The term “criminal” may apply to conduct that is in violation of anything from campaign finance laws to conflicts of interest to unreported lobbying expenditures. If you suspect illegal or unethical behavior is taking place, you can verify the legality of the action with the
Kansas Government Ethics Commission by visiting their website or by contacting them directly. However, despite recent transparency concerns and outcry about the possibility of intern abuse, Mariah Black, a senior from Beaumont, Texas, and current intern with the office of Rep. Valdenia Winn (D-Kansas City), said that her experience with the legislature so far has been largely positive and empowering. “My personal experience is ... everyone’s ready to get to work. I think you especially see they’re trying to push more transparency in the Capitol ... from both sides, a bipartisan effort,” Black said. “For example, they do live-streaming now in committee meetings.” Ultimately, Black feels like public concerns regarding transparency are being taken seriously by the legislature and that steps are being taken to make sure everyone, students and staff alike, feel comfortable seeking help should the need arise. Additionally, Burdett Loomis, the political science professor who coordinates many of the University’s legislative interns, assures the Kansan that progress is being made and that increased concern from voters regarding the lack transparency and accountability within the legislature is leading to serious reform. “The legislature is in the process of revising its sexual harassment policies ... for everybody, not just for interns,” he said. “That has not been completed yet so ... there will be new policies but they’ll need to be put in place by the legislature.”
Student arrested in 6 vandalism cases EMILY WELLBORN @EmWellborn
File Photo/KANSAN The Stouffer Place Apartments have seen several vandalism incidents this winter.
A University student has been arrested for allegedly causing “tens of thousands” of dollars worth of criminal damage to properties under construction in the Central District. “In one case there was $7,000 (damage),” said Dep-
uty Chief James Anguiano with the KU Public Safety office. “In other cases there were $1,500, and it kind of goes up from there.” Cole Phillips, 19, from Middleton, Wisconsin, was arrested Monday night on six counts of criminal damage to property, six counts of burglary, two counts of possession of marijuana, two counts of use or possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of possession of certain stimulants, one count of theft by deception and one count of unlawful acts on a computer, according to Douglas County Jail booking logs. The six cases that KU PSO has linked Phillips to all happened on construction sites, including the Stouffer Place Apartments. Many of the sites had been tagged, had glass broken, and in one case, drug paraphernalia had been left behind. In another case, the suspect illegally used a “private computer to access por-
nographic content,” according to campus crime reports. The crimes began in December and were reported separately, including some reports on Saturday, according to Anguiano. “The officers conducted a criminal investigation since December and during the evidence and things like that,” Anguiano said. “That’s how they were able to piece together and come up with a suspect.” Since Jan. 7, there have been 13 property-related crimes reported to KU PSO, but Anguiano said that this is the only arrest that has been made. The investigation is still ongoing. Anguiano couldn’t say what motive Phillips allegedly had or if the damage would delay some of the construction projects’ scheduled openings. The case will now be turned over to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for charges.