Monday, April 6, 2009
Statements by KU administration remain unclear about the nature of the threats posed to the Student Senate debate scheduled for Monday afternoon, which was canceled after the event’s door was outfitted with a metal detector.
University officials moved the debate, first scheduled to take place on the lawn of Stauffer-Flint Hall, to Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union early Monday morning. Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success, said the event was moved as a safety precaution, after hearing “unsubstantiated rumors.”
“It was just concern that there would be some kind of violence today in relation to the debate,” Roney said.
Video
Amid security concerns, which were enough to compel University officials to have metal detectors present, the Student Senate debate scheduled for Monday was canceled.
Kansas Union staff a assembled metal detector at the entrance of Woodruff Auditorium in anticipation of the Student Senate debate Monday. Lisa Kring, conference coordinator for the Kansas Union, said they usually set up a metal detector for an event that posed a potential public safety concern.
Brenna Hawley, Salina junior and Kansan editor-in-chief, visited Woodruff Auditorium before speaking with Roney about the necessity of the metal detector.
“I was strongly urged to cancel the debate,” Hawley said. “I would have canceled the debate anyway after I saw the detectors.”
Adam McGonigle, Wichita junior and student body president, said there were multiple threats made during the weekend to the KU Public Safety Office. Kansas Union staff placed a metal detector at the entrance of the auditorium at about 10:30 a.m.
Lisa Kring, conference coordinator for the Kansas Union, said the Union usually set up a metal detector for an event that posed a potential safety concern.
“If we have Public Safety requiring the use of a metal detector, we’re going to use it,” Kring said. “Safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.”
Roney said the metal detectors were not a response to any specific threats made. She said the rumors were unsubstantiated because the caller did not identify himself or herself or the targets, but the caller did imply a shooting in relation to the debate.
“If you’ve been paying attention to the news for the past two weeks, you’re aware that there has been an unprecedented level of violence in our country with numerous shootings and over 50 people killed,” Roney said.
Roney said she met with a group of KU officials Monday morning to discuss using the emergency text message system to alert students of the threats.
“Because there was no specific threat, there was nothing to pin down and send a text about,” Roney said.
Todd Cohen, director of University Relations, said the police had a way of determining which threats were legitimate and which were unconfirmed, and that the emergency text message alert system was implemented only in cases of an imminent threat.
“An imminent threat is something that people need to take action from, so if there’s no action to take, what’s the use of me alerting you?” Cohen said.
Student Senate coalition candidates were informed the debate was canceled Monday morning.
May Davis, Clay Center junior and vice presidential candidate for United Students, said the presence of metal detectors was a deterring factor.
“If it’s an event where we have to have metal detectors, it’s something we don’t want students to attend,” Davis said. “We don’t want students to feel unsafe.”
Alex Porte, Great Falls, Va., junior and Envision vice presidential candidate, said metal detectors in the Kansas Union alarmed him.
“I’ve been going to KU for almost three years now, and I’ve never been to a University event that required metal detectors of any kind,” Porte said. “That to me is very disconcerting.”
Kevin Hardy, Brianne Pfannenstiel and Kayla Regan contributed reporting to this story.
— — Edited by Tara Smith
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Comments
jarrodm (anonymous) says...
why?
April 6, 2009 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjschlag (anonymous) says...
what happen?
April 6, 2009 at 2:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leehuaitu (anonymous) says...
This is what happens when you've got a real awful case of the frakking crazy like me.
April 6, 2009 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jbr00ks9 (anonymous) says...
Pay attention to the last paragraph.
Another Kansan article talked about Tutu's youtube video (including the segment of him and a friend shooting guns) sparking concerns on campus. At the last full Student Senate meeting, there was an officer posted outside because of it.
He may be just joking around, but college campus don't (and shouldn't) take this kind of stuff lightly.
April 6, 2009 at 3:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mdo (anonymous) says...
Wow. This is nuts.
April 6, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nonsurly (anonymous) says...
I'd think the metal detectors would make people feel safer, no?
April 6, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
handy (anonymous) says...
I wouldn't have been concerned. I think it may have deterred students, though. No reason to cancel... I have no reason to think anyone was going to mow us down.
April 6, 2009 at 4:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
handy (anonymous) says...
Also, I am very glad that KDP is taking matters seriously, but Tutu is just a nice quirky guy who happens to enjoy firearms - it doesn't mean he is going to do anything lethal. If that was the concern.
April 6, 2009 at 4:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ForeverYoung (anonymous) says...
Handy, you mention that "Tutu is just a nice quirky guy who happens to enjoy firearms." That sounds like the description of the perpetrator of quite a few school shootings over the past 10-15 years. It seems like people always underestimate the ability of "quirky" individuals to enact some true damage at a university.
April 6, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ForeverYoung (anonymous) says...
And furthermore, there is a reason that Tutu Lee was banned from Corbin all of last year (I heard a rumor about all of Housing, but have no proof of that claim). This is incredibly serious business.
April 6, 2009 at 5:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JConnor (anonymous) says...
ForeverYoung,
I don't think anyone used the word "quirky" to describe individuals involved in recent school shootings. The guy from VT was just straight up scary and creepy, nothing quirky or funny. Also, that guy was Korean and Tutu is Chinese, so it's completely different.
April 6, 2009 at 6:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
handy (anonymous) says...
Chinese =/= Korean
ForeverYoung's argument is invalid.
April 6, 2009 at 7:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OhHappyDay (anonymous) says...
The second that someone makes any sort of threat toward or against any person or place, the University and police SHOULD step in. I think the officials in charge did a good job by canceling. Better safe than sorry and threatening is not a joke.
April 6, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ForeverYoung (anonymous) says...
JConnor, what does Korean vs. Chinese have to do with it? I never mentioned ethnicity.
April 6, 2009 at 9:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JConnor (anonymous) says...
That video is a classic. I can't believe a) Tutu was playing with the detection equipment and b) KUJH was there to film it.
April 6, 2009 at 10:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leehuaitu (anonymous) says...
I wonder how I made the above comment at 3:46pm when I had been at the police giving a statement during that time. Weird!
April 6, 2009 at 11:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
armadillo (anonymous) says...
It is really disappointing that the Kansas would publish in Today's paper that the event was moved in doors because of the weather. Now it comes that it was moved due to security concerns. Wonder why they would try and originally hide that there was a safety issue. Thats very disappointing UDK.
April 7, 2009 at 1:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
selliott (anonymous) says...
You know, Alex Porte hasn't been to enough of the multicultural events if he hasn't noticed the metal detectors. At several of the events for the Big XII Black Student Government Conference (did you know KU hosted?) the Public Safety Office set up metal detectors as "protection." I think that it's sad the Kansan never noticed that.
April 7, 2009 at 1:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
anon (anonymous) says...
I don't know anything for sure, trust me, otherwise I would have called the cops a while ago. All I know is speculation and the person that is currently the "prime suspect" and based on that information, I will not be going to classes tomorrow out of a fear for my life. I encourage you all to please err on the side of caution and not go to classes. Always remember, a spree killer is significantly different then a serial killer!
April 7, 2009 at 4:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
awood (Adam Wood) says...
This was obviously just someone trying to cancel the debate or get attention. So what do we do? Exactly what s/he wants.
Anon, I really hope you're joking. It is sad to me that so many people get so scared at so little.
April 7, 2009 at 12:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leehuaitu (anonymous) says...
Just for reference!
http://www.kansan.com/stories/2009/ap...
Succinctly yours,
Tutu Lee
April 9, 2009 at 6:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
toadg (anonymous) says...
from what i know mr. tutu is a real nutcase.
April 10, 2009 at 12:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )