THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904 VOL. 116 ISSUE 12 ThURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 WWW.KANSAN.COM t SIGMA NU Fraternity under investigation National headquarters explores potential violations BY LOUIS MORA which is ongoing, Beacham tive contributions,” said Scott University of Kansas in 1884, [email protected] said. Shorten, president of the Inter- has been under investigation for Kansan staff writer “We still have some more fraternity Council. incidents related to hazing. work. We’re in the early stages,” While no punishment has In October of 2003 the frater- Representatives from the na- Beacham said. been issued, any incidents of nity was placed on probation as tional headquarters of Sigma When reached for ques- hazing would be handled by a result of an investigation con- The lower level Nu fraternity are looking into tions, Jason Shaad, president the University of Kansas in ducted by University staff and of the Sigma Nu allegations of hazing at the local of Sigma Nu, said he had no addition to the national orga- members of IFC. house, 1501 Sig- chapter. comment. nization. That hazing incident, which ma Nu Place, is Brad Beacham, executive na- Others in the greek com- Incidents other than haz- occurred Aug. 13, 2003, in- dark last night, tional director, confirmed that munity see the investigation as ing would be dealt with by volved a tradition where mem- while lights burn representatives were in Lawrence casting a negative light on the the IFC judicial board, Short- bers of the house threw a pledge upstairs. Sigma investigating the fraternity. organization. en said. into the air. Nu is under “We are looking into allega- “Even accusations such as “We have full faith in the Sig- On that occasion, the pledge investigation tions with the risk management this can really have a negative ma Nu national organization,” was thrown out a window and by its national policy,” Beacham said. image on the greek community, he said. suffered a head injury. chapter. There was no timetable for which makes it all the more im- This is not the first time the Kristin Driskell/KANSAN completion of the investigation, portant to publicize our posi- fraternity, established at the — Edited by Anne Burgard t GREEK LIFE t HURRICANE KATRINA Pi Kappa Phi fears losing house to returning fraternity BY LOUIS MORA The lease will end in a year, [email protected] and though the members of Al- Kansan staff writer pha Tau Omega would like to re-establish their fraternity, Pi Pi Kappa Phi is growing con- Kappa Phi would like to buy the cerned about its housing as the house. men of Alpha Tau Omega are mak- “We’re going to try and ac- ing a push to return to campus. quire the facility,” said Charlie Pi Kappa Phi currently leases Mitts, housing corporation pres- the house at 1537 Tennessee St. ident for Pi Kappa Phi. “Frater- from Alpha Tau Omega, which nity and sorority life buildings left the University of Kansas in are hard to find in Lawrence.” 2001. Now that the fraternity Zimmerman said it would be is making an effort to return to difficult for the group that owns campus, Pi Kappa Phi could the house to re-establish. soon be looking for another “It’s a tough situation,” Zim- place to live. merman said. “You want to see “I really don’t try to think the greek community thriving about it too much. I know it’s in at KU but at the same time if it the back of my mind,” said Zack could be a threat of our living Zimmerman, Wichita senior and conditions then I don’t want to president of Pi Kappa Phi. see that happen.” The members of Alpha Tau Despite Pi Kappa Phi’s plans, Omega signed a three-year lease Alpha Tau Omega plans on with two one-year renewals, al- moving back in to the house. lowing the men to live in the house for five years. SEE FEARS ON paGE 4A Aghast over prices Jim Hudelson/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Evacuees have filled a gym on the campus of Louisiana State University in Shreveport, La. Classes are canceled at the university indefinitely. The Uni- versity of Kansas has agreed to open its doors to college students whose universities were closed because of Hurricane Katrina. University to accept students p.m. yesterday and asked about Late fees waived being admitted to the Univer- Kansans urged to stay home sity, said Lisa Pinamonti Kress, sities to the Gulf Coast region for those from director of admissions and Kansas Emergency Man- include the U.S. Coast Guard, scholarships. agement is urging Kansans the Federal Emergency Man- campuses hit Pflaum, who has sought shel- concerned about Hurricane Katrina not to head to the Gulf agement Agency, the Depart- BY FRANK TANKARD ter in Galveston, Texas, said Coast but rather to stay home ment of Transportation, the [email protected] she was waiting for Tulane to and donate to the American National Guard, the Depart- Kansan staff writer announce if and when classes ment of Agriculture and the would resume before deciding Red Cross and other profes- sional aid organizations. American Red Cross. A week ago, Laury Pflaum what she would do. She said she “We know that their hearts The Lawrence Journal- was getting ready for her junior was originally scheduled to start are in the right place, and there World reported yesterday that year at Tulane University. Now classes yesterday. will probably be opportunities four local Douglas County Red Pflaum, an Overland Park na- Pflaum, a finance major, was for people to volunteer. But Cross volunteers were headed tive, may be looking for a new worried that some of her busi- right now, we need to let the to the Gulf Coast this week. school. ness classes wouldn’t transfer professionals do their jobs, Joy Moser, spokesperson for For students from Gulf Coast and that she wouldn’t be able to assessing the situation to see the Kansas Adjutant General’s colleges that were damaged by make up for lost class time. what is needed and where it Department, warned against un- Hurricane Katrina, that new “I’m still holding out,” she is needed,” Major General trained Kansans heading south. school could be the University said. “I’m hoping the university Tod Bunting, Kansas adjutant “We’re not encouraging of Kansas. will make the announcement general and director of Kansas people to do any volunteering Hurricane Katrina has shut soon. It’ll be hard for a univer- Emergency Management, said other than through profession- down several colleges, including sity to accept us because we in a statement, al organizations at this point,” Jared Soares/KANSAN Tulane, and forced thousands of started so late. Hopefully they’ll Organizations currently she said. Kay Patterson, Johnson County Community College sophomore from Over- students to find new places to make a decision in the next cou- providing food, water, medi- land Park, pumps gas at the Phillips 66 on Ninth and Louisiana streets. Driv- study. ple days.” cal supplies and other neces- — Frank Tankard ers filled up there for $2.85 a gallon yesterday. The increase in gas prices have Nearly 30 students had called affected many people who travel from Lawrence to Kansas City. the University of Kansas by 2 SEE ACCEPT ON paGE 4A Today’s weather Jayplay One in the win column Index Instant messages have become an integral part of Though it wasn’t always college communications. Their brevity and penchant Comics. 6A pretty, the KU soccer for abbreviation can cause problems, however. Classifieds. 9A 84 55 team got its first vic- Sunny and Comfortable tory last night against Crossword. 6A — Alex Perkins KUJH-TV Horoscopes. 6A Tomorrow Saturday The Caribbean in January Missouri State. Kansas freshman Jessica Bush Opinion. 5A 86 60 88 60 A University of Kansas professor is organizing a Mostly sunny Partly cloudy trip to the island of Bonaire during winter break. collected the first goal of Sports. 12A Students will scuba dive and earn three credits in her collegiate career. All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2005 The University Daily Kansan marine biology. P AGE 1B PAGE 2A 2A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 t MIDDLE EAST What? do you Evacuation affects students ? BY MALINDA OSBORNE similar value and a job offer in the [email protected] places that they move,” Ravid said. THINK Kansan staff writer He said he agreed with the ar- BY MEGAN PENROD gument that because of security [email protected] Images of Israelis wailing and risks, it wasn’t worth it for Jew- Kansan correspondent protesting the evacuation of people ish settlers to remain in Gaza. Editor’s Note: As part of the new, daily 2A features, every from the Gaza Strip hit close to “The ball is now in Palestine’s Thursday the Kansan will have a “What do you Think,” which home for Zohar Ravid, Overland court,” Ravid said. will ask students about a recent news topic. Park junior, who was born and But Kahlil Saad, Wichita se- raised on a kibbutz in Israel. For- nior and a Lebanese-American, How do you feel about the Lawrence ordinance that may mer classmates of his are in the Is- said it was “ridiculous” to as- reduce the penalty for people caught with marijuana? raeli army overseeing the pullout. sume the Palestinian authority “I think it’s a great idea. They did it in Columbia, “One friend had to tell an older could take control immediately. Mo., and I know a couple of friends from there and woman to move and she asked Saad said the evacuation was not they said it’s worked out better because marijuana is him to sit down and explain to about bringing stability to Gaza.