Report: Haskell student died of alcohol poisoning

A Haskell Indian Nations University student found dead in September at a friend’s Lawrence home died of alcohol poisoning, according to an autopsy filed earlier this month in Douglas County District Court.

At the time of her death Sept. 28, DeAnn Ridesatthedoor, 37, had a blood-alcohol level of .35, according to the autopsy by Donald V. Pojman.

By comparison, drivers are considered intoxicated under Kansas law if they have a blood-alcohol level of .08.

Ridesatthedoor was found dead on the floor in the garage of a friend’s house in the 1600 block of West 21st Street, according to the coroner’s report. She had been drinking at a bar and at the home the night before, according to the report.

Former KU professor vying for UNC job

A former Kansas University professor is a finalist to be dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina.

William Andrews, who taught in KU’s English department from 1989 to 1996, is one of six finalists for the post. All teach at UNC.

Andrews has been at UNC since leaving KU. He also taught at Texas Tech University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Finalists will participate in a series of community forums in January in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Blood donors can bring children to meet Santa

Santa Claus will take time out from getting ready for Christmas to encourage parents to donate blood at the Community Blood Center, 1410 Kasold Drive.

Santa will be at the center from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. today. Children can have their pictures taken with Santa and receive free candy canes. Parents who donate blood will receive a free holiday T-shirt from the center.

Blood supplies have been low lately, center officials said.

“We need donors to be aware that the need for blood doesn’t stop during the holidays,” said Eric Edwards, the center’s recruitment director for Douglas County.

KU professor wins national prize for book

A Kansas University professor’s book about the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has won a $10,000 national book prize.

Robert C. Rowland, professor and chairman of communication studies at KU, co-wrote “Share Land/Conflicting Identity: Trajectories of Israeli and Palestinian Symbol Use” with co-author David Frank of the University of Oregon.

It won the Kohrs-Campbell Prize in Rhetorical Criticism from the National Communication Assn.

The book traces the conflict through the past 100 years and focuses on the last 10 years. It discusses the symbolism of the conflict in the Middle East.