April 5, 2010 WWW.UNEWS.COM Vol. 77, Issue 27 BROTHERS GREEN page 13 Student’s UNICORN THEATRE SEASON LINE-UP page 13 body found INSIDE in dorm Jill Schleiden Aiming for a Staff Writer The afternoon of Feb. 20, campus police found the body of a student in his Oak Place Apartment bedroom. weapon-free campus The student’s father called the police because he was con- Alexia Stout-Lang Police found a total of four guns in cerned his son had not called News Editor the apartment. The student was taken for three days. n 2010, two reports have been into custody and will face trial. When an officer responded filed by the UMKC Police Eric Grospitch, assistant dean of to the student’s dorm suite, the Department involving guns. Students, said a message regarding the student’s roommate told the of- The first involved an un- incident has not been sent to students ficer he had not seen him since affiliated party visiting cam- living in the residential halls. Feb. 16. pus who was in an argument with a “We are responding to this on an in- The student’s roommates I dividual basis,” he said. “To broadcast student. The suspect left campus soon did not notify anyone of his after revealing the gun. this would be to give it more attention absence as he kept an irregular The second involved a student liv- than it needed. We have worked with schedule. ing in Oak Place Apart- the young women in the The officer then entered ments. “[Students] don’t apartment across to make the unlocked room to find the While the student was sure they were clear with student on the floor next to his cleaning his Springfield want to jeopardize what happened. … I have bed. XDM 9mm semiauto- their education by visited with a couple par- An investigation into the matic handgun in his being arrested.” ents. Those were the stu- exact cause of death is still in dorm bathroom March dents who were impacted.” progress. As the investigation 10, it went off, firing According to Missouri is still open, the student’s name MIKE BONGARTZ law and UMKC regula- and personal information are through the shower wall UMKC Police Chief and into the bathroom of tions, guns – concealed still unavailable. the apartment across the or otherwise – are banned Detective Emery, of the hallway. from campus. Kansas City Police Depart- He then called the police. Officers “The rule honestly right now is that ment, said the investigation discovered the students living in the there are no weapons allowed on cam- currently holds no evidence of apartment across the hallway were not pus,” Grospitch said. “There is really foul play. The investigation in- home during the incident. no wiggle room legally in that concept. formation is due for release in The only injury incurred was to the From the Residential Life standpoint, late April. suspect, who injured his finger when we have been clear with that as well.” The room in which the stu- the gun went off. The ban is noted in the University dent passed away will remain “In the moment of panic, his finger Rules and Regulations, in the Guide to closed for the remainder of the got caught in the chamber piece and it Group Living residential hall residents semester. cut the end of his thumb,” Grospitch His roommates were relocat- said. See GUNS I page 24 ed to a hotel for a week and then provided with new housing. [email protected] Living for racial equality Kate Lawler power hope we will not see. I think for immigration. Staff Photographer that Mr. Chavez would approve of this “He is like a combination of the Sí se puede. Or, yes we can. speaker.” Energizer Bunny and the gift that This phrase was the theme for Lovato is a writer and commenta- keeps giving,” Lovato said. “He just President Barack Obama’s 2008 elec- tor with New America Media. He has keeps coming and all you have to do is tion campaign. But it originated in worked for many publications includ- just use him to raise awareness. CNN 1972, when Cesar Chavez fasted for ing the LA Times, the San Francisco was making money promoting his ha- 24 days for labor unions. Chronicle, Huffington Post and his blog tred of Latinos and immigrants.” This was one of several topics dis- “Of America,” along with other nation- Another issue discussed in the cussed in the Cesar Chavez keynote al and international media outlets. evening was struggles Latino immi- address given by author, activist and grants face today. journalist Roberto Lovato March 23 “I saw him as what I would Lovato was also a forerunner in in Pierson Auditorium. the selection of speakers because he In celebration of Chavez’s birth call a lover of peace and knew Chavez. on March 31, the Department of Di- social justice, and was so “The Cesar Chavez that I first versity, Access and Equity hosts a until the last day we went to encountered was when I was a kid in speaker each March to comment on the ’70s,” Lovato said. “I saw him as his life work. bury him.” what I would call a lover of peace and Karen Dace, Deputy Chancellor social justice, and was so until the last of the Department of Diversity, Ac- ROBERTO LOVATO day we went to bury him. Social work cess and Equity, described the selec- Author, Activist and Journalist is about expressions and speaking tion process. out. He embraced non-violence like Photo KATE LAWLER “Each year, the committee looks He is most recently known for MLK and Gandhi.” Robert Lovato spoke March 23 in Pierson Auditorium. for a speaker who has, in his or her spear-heading the winning fight A final topic discussed was the own way, continued the work of Ce- against CNN commentator Lou phrase “Sí se puede.” Lavato de- sar Chavez,” Dace said. “Giving Dobbs for anti-immigrant and racist scribed the famous theme associated “I won’t use that phrase until we terms that are loaded with fire, spiri- voice to those who otherwise would comments backed by false statistics. with Chavez and how, through me- have powerful movements that really tual power and a great political legacy be silenced and drawing attention and Lovato spoke about Dobbs’ un- dia, the power is no longer behind the have the fire that gave birth to these – some of which I gave my life to.” shining light on injustices those in conscious ability to raise awareness words. terms,” Lovato said. “Because they are [email protected] 2 News April 5, 2010 www.unews.com Green thumbs kick off garden season Jill Schleiden ence, this year features a lot Staff Writer of community outreach. The UMKC Garden Col- “The idea is we produce lective is preparing for its more than we can eat,” second year of growth – both Mitchell said. “Last year, we in the soil and the commu- donated the extra to St. An- nity. thony’s Food Bank.” With a large backyard at Everything in the garden a UMKC-owned house just is recycled or compostable south of the Education Build- and all the produce grown ing, the Collective formed is completely organic – no last February when student chemical pesticides or fertil- Jessica Farmer rounded up izers. three other students and be- By partnering with Clean gan planting. Commute and the Environ- The summer ended with mental Studies Department, 10 students regularly work- the Collective will further its ing at the site. “green” aspects. James Mitchell, a dual The Collective begins major in Cello Performance planting in late March and and Environmental Studies, work continues through the has taken over as organizer summer and fall. Mitchell of the garden this year. He and his fellow gardeners hopes more students will get want the garden to be a hub involved. for other community organi- The UMKC Garden Col- zations. lective Facebook group drew Students don’t need to several interested students stay and work over the sum- over the winter, Mitchell mer to participate in the gar- said. den and reap the benefits. “Food and college stu- If anyone wants to help dents,” he said, “the two just but feels short on time, go together.” Mitchell said donations of While last year’s empha- seeds, supplies or even a sis was getting the garden bench are always welcome. started and gaining experi- [email protected] Photo KEVIN BRYCE Counting America Alexia Stout-Lang sound decisions about locations for recruiting, resentation in the U.S. House of Representa- the reasons why it’s so important to get the News Editor which could lead to jobs for graduates,” Whit- tives,” Whitcomb-Jenkins said. word out across campus.” It’s time to stand up and be counted. comb-Jenkins said. The Census Bureau will mail a census form Only students who live with their parents The U.S. Census of Population is being con- Each year, the federal government uses cen- to students who live off campus. during the school year should be included on ducted. The results will determine if Missouri Students should complete the form and the form received by parents. will lose a seat in the U.S. House of Representa- “Census data inform and support return it to the Census Bureau. Students who Whitcomb-Jenkins said this year’s census tives and millions of dollars in federal funding. live on campus will receive a census form from form is being touted as one of the simplest Appointed by Mayor Mark Funkhouser to important research done by their residence assistant (RA).