Daily Iowan (Iowa City, Iowa), 2007-05-09
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THE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868 The Daily Iowan WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2007 WWW.DAILYIOWAN.COM 50¢ Babcock SECOND IN A TWO-PART SERIES Those accused of ignoring abuse deny any wrongdoing gets 50 years for murder BY KELSEY BELTRAMEA THE DAILY IOWAN Larry Babcock will spend at least 35 years behind bars after being convicted of sec- ond-degree murder in the 2001 slaying of his neighbor Timothy Becker, a judge decid- ed on Tuesday. Judge Denver Dillard sen- tenced Babcock to serve 50 years in prison, but he could get out 15 years early on parole. A jury convicted Babcock, 41, of second-degree murder on April 2, finding him guilty of a crime charge than the ini- tial first-degree murder charge, which carried a mandatory life sentence. Police arrested Babcock in April 2006 on first-degree mur- der charges near his home in Highlandville, Mo. — five years after Becker was found face down on his waterbed in his southeast Iowa City trailer. Babcock must now pay attorney fees and compensate Timothy Becker’s estate with $150,000 in restitution. He Ben Roberts/The Daily Iowan will also be responsible for Former Regina student Mike Dalton stands outside St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tipton, Iowa, on April 21. After settling a sexual-abuse claim against former Regina Principal pecuniary damages to cover Lawrence Soens in 2004, Dalton has supported some of the allegations made by additional Soens accusers through affidavits to the courts. Though he doesn’t subscribe strict- the costs of cleaning the crime ly to Catholic teachings, he said he still sees value in the social aspects of church and faith, despite his experiences. scene and burying Becker. SEE BABCOCK, PAGE 3A THE OTHER SIDE OF Graduating Seniors JOE RODEMEYER Classy PARADISE out of BY MARGARET POE AND MASON KERNS • THE DAILY IOWAN Through court documents and interviews with accusers and witnesses, The City. The report states that during a diocesan Daily Iowan has re-examined the annals of alleged sexual abuse by former Iowa investigation, Father Ken Kuntz, a pastor at St. Mary’s in Iowa City, “reluctantly relayed a story class City Catholic priest Lawrence Soens, who served as principal of Regina High he heard third-hand about a boy who went into School from 1958-67. Soens, now 80 years old and facing civil claims brought by Fr. Soens’ office to get his brother, and Fr. Soens grabbed at his crotch.” 14 former students, denies all wrongdoing, as do Regina faculty, secretaries, and A variant of the phrase “watch out for L.D.” — A UI senior students who support the former principal. In 1983, Soens was named bishop of short for Lawrence Donald (Soens) — arose in the Sioux City Diocese by Pope John Paul II; he has since retired. The DI has numerous interviews. Cynthia Seelman, a 1968 discovers the Regina graduate who filed an affidavit support- discovered that many students — even non-accusers — believe ‘everyone knew ing the accusers, told the DI that abuse was advantage of abuse was going on.’ In the second article looking at Soens’ reported rampant. transgressions, the DI investigates that contention and highlights the changes “There was no morality, no one to defend [stu- being active — dents], no one who would listen,” she said. 40 years have brought to Catholic schools. Seelman, who was not a victim, said she fre- very active. quently discussed Soens’ advances on Regina males with her brother, brother-in-law, sister, and BY JOE AUGUSTINE L.D. is a queer / a stinking queer is he / when suggesting that students knew Soens fondled boyfriend at the time. he is walking down the hall / he will pinch your tit boys behind closed doors. THE DAILY IOWAN “Every student in the school knew what was with glee Several interviews point to Regina faculty and going on,” said Seelman, who now lives in Cos- As a UI senior, Joe Rode- enowned clergy-abuse psychologist staff’s inability or unwillingness to intercede grove, Iowa. meyer has accomplished a Richard Sipe, who evaluated against Soens’ alleged actions. She also recounted the experiences of great deal in the classroom Lawrence Soens’ tenure at Regina In his testimony, anonymous Regina Student two brothers — two of her best friends in the and in the community. But High School and the subsequent No. 10 — one of many former students who have school — whose names the DI has chosen to he’s the first to admit that his allegations of abuse, found that sued Soens, the diocese, and Regina for damages keep confidential. involvement outside of the Regina students often chanted this stemming from the alleged abuse — said one “[They] had both been called into the ‘sick classroom during his first R song on school-bus rides. would “have to be blind and just not paying room’ — Soens would fondle students and ask, three semesters on campus In anti-gay vernacular more accepted at the attention to be [at Regina] for two weeks and ‘Do you feel better?’ — and groped while in was limited. time, the students may have been referring to not know what was going on.” He would later there,” she said. “Maybe it was because, I don’t say, “You found this out on the school bus going Besides his studies and the Soens’ common practice of “purpling” — or twist- know, maybe it’s because they had lost their to school when you were in ninth grade: Watch occasional dorm activity, his ing boys’ nipples to induce a purple bruise. While father [to death] that Soens picked on them. out for him.” activity list was more than a sometimes painful, the practice was considered “But honestly, it seems like everybody I knew A confidential diocese report that is now a little bare. That all changed in more playful than sexual by most students. was being approached, like he was trying to get But through interviews, the psychologist deter- piece of evidence in the Soens cases indicates spring 2005, when he interned a piece of everyone. Well, I saw their mother go mined that some of the children’s language that accounts of abuse may have been swirling with the Democratic Senatori- into [Soens’] office and make it known to every- revealed more serious offenses. When students around the school, either during Soens’ tenure body that she knew they’d been abused.” al Campaign Committee in emerged from the principal’s office, Sipe reported or after, while the former principal was promot- Washington, D.C. that peers would ask, “Did he queer you?” — ed up the diocesan ladder and as bishop of Sioux SEE REGINA, PAGE 4A SEE RODEMEYER, PAGE 3A BLAST OFF COAL SHOULDER FLAG AT HALF-STAFF INDEX 77 25 C Hawkeye softball player Emily An environmental group sues The Old Capitol flag will be flown at half-staff today in memory Arts 7A © © Nichols could always hit for MidAmerican Energy, contending that of Sharon McMillan, who was a nurse in the medical genetics Classifieds 4B department. She died May 4 following a lengthy illness. The Crossword 6B 59 15 C power. This year, she’s added the company’s new coal-fueled power Mostly sunny, consistency to her blasts. 1B plant violates the Clean Air Act. 5A flag will also be flown at half-staff in memory of Pfc. Brian A. Opinions 6A light breezes Botello, 19, of Alta, who died on April 29 while serving in Iraq. Sports 1B 2A - The Daily Iowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, May 9, 2007 NEWS The Daily Iowan Barron stays atop admissions Volume 138 Issue 198 BREAKING NEWS STAFF Phone: (319) 335-6063 Publisher: E-mail: [email protected] William Casey. 335-5788 Editor: Fax: 335-6184 Michael Barron describes the ever-changing field of admissions Meghan Sims. .335-6030 CORRECTIONS Managing Editor: Call: 335-6030 Jane Slusark. 335-5855 and the need to stay flexible to succeed. Policy: The Daily Iowan strives for Metro Editors: accuracy and fairness in the reporting Erika Binegar. .335-6063 multinational corporation.” Seung Min Kim. .335-6063 BY ASHTON SHURSON of news. If a report is wrong or mis- Ray Mattson. 335-6063 THE DAILY IOWAN But to succeed in the admis- leading, a request for a correction or a Opinions Editor: sions field, flexibility is key, he clarification may be made. Laura Michaels. .335-5863 Students are introduced to said. A given college’s admis- PUBLISHING INFO Sports Editor: the wonders of the UI via sions department used to be The Daily Iowan (USPS 143.360)is Charlie Kautz. 335-5848 Arts Editors: Michael Barron, who welcomes campus-based with prospective published by Student Publications Inc., Jenna Sauers. 335-5851 newcomers in his thick Texas student counseling centers, but E131 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa accent at the beginning of each Louis Virtel. 335-5851 now, offices reach out to stu- City, Iowa 52242-2004, daily except Copy Chief: Orientation session. dents at home with the help of Saturdays, Sundays, legal and universi- Beau Elliot. .335-6030 But greeting students is just technology, he said. ty holidays, and university vacations. Design Editor: one part of Barron’s job as UI “Successful admission offices Periodicals postage paid at the Iowa Brittany Volk. 335-6030 Graphics Editor: admissions director — a job he recognize the shift with new City Post Office under the Act of has held for the past 20 years technology and new attitudes,” Nelle Dunlap. .335-6030 Congress of March 2, 1879. Photo Editor: and one for which he has recent- Barron said, adding that e- ly garnered acclaim.