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Engineers 1 are winners I as the NSF I regroups By Robert Reinhold Eg New York Times WASHINGTON - The National Sci- - ence Foundation, set up originally to H support basic research, will soon H be putting a strong new emphasis on H engineering and applied science, H according to its new director. EI The shift is certain to stir unease H among the nation's academic scien-- m tists, who long have considered the H agency as a kind of sacred institution if meant primarily to back fundamental inquiry that promised no quick practi-- P caldividends. If But growing pressures from Cor- - m gress, industry, the engineering pro-- m fession and now the incoming Rea- - k gan administration for more practical f; research aimed at spurring industrial i growth is forcing the foundation to pV re- exam- ine its traditional role. tk " The engineering societies have jp strongly proclaimed the need for im-- $ proved support to engineering re-- ' search, and the NSF unquestionably r has to deal with that," said the direc- - j: tor, John B. Slaughter. " It has to rec-- v ograze that these are valid concerns A and that some strong effort has to be -- ; made to provide support for the engi-neering community." He added that there would be : " strong emphais" on engineering and l technology at the agency, which doles out nearly $ 1 billion a year for re- - InsigM search and education, but said that he hoped this could be done by finding f " new funds" rather than by diverting them from other research. The 46- year-- old Slaughter, himself an engineer by" training, is the first ". black to head the science agency. Even though he was confirmed by the Senate last September, Slaughter has not yet been sworn in as the NSF director. That fueled speculation in Washington that, as a Carter appoin-tee, he was having second thoughts about taking the job. However, he at-tributed the delay merely to his obliga-tion to wind up affairs at Washington State University, where he is provost. He is scheduled to make the move shortly after the first of the year. Slaughter, who previously served as an assistant NSF director, said that gfe science, which traditionally has en-joyed bipartisan support, would" not suffer under the Reagan administra-tion. But be agreed that spending prio-rities would probably change to reflect " the different mood" of the new Con-gress and new administration. He intimated that Reagan aides strongly backed the shift toward engi-.- .' neering, although skeptics at the meet-ing wondered how this could be achieved, in an administration pledged to deep cuts in federal spending, with--?' out seriously underming NSF work in the biological, behavioral and other sciences. In fact, the engineering thrust has been building for some years. From its i founding after World War n, the agen- - ', cy had focused almost entirely on J " pure" research. But beginning in 5iV 1368, under pressure from Congress, it jS, began several years of fitful support, . amid frequent reorganizations, for re- - rSfe- - search- seekin- g solutions to practical J problems. Jj At present, about 10 percent of its re- ft-. r sources are tunneled through its engi-- 0 neering and applied science director. j Among recent projects were research jg on the fire resistance of epoxy sub-stances used to repair buildings dam-aged in earthquakes and a study of housing justice in small- clai- ms courts. Unsatisfied, Rep. George E. Brown, the California Democrat who heads the Science, Research and Technology subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Technology, has spon-sored a bill that would take a large chunk of money away from the NSF and set up a new National Technology Foundation. The NSF responded by proposing to reorganize itself and cre-ate a separate engineering directorate. " Slaughter attributed the pressures for a stronger engineering component to a widespread national feeling that the country's capacity for industrial in-novation has been weakened in recent years. Neglect in this area over the years, he said, had left many schools with poor facilities and instruments and un-able to attract good young professors. With a growing shortage of engineers, he went on, " would- b- e faculty' mem-bers are finding it much more attrac-tive to take positions in industry, where they can obtain salaries in a very brief time that are double or more" those in the universities. Ira town iodsfcy 2-- 5 pan. Youth Alternatives Center members will celebrate the New Year with a roller- skatin- g party at the Skate R Bowl, 2116 Vandiver Drive. Index Classified 12 Comics 14 Movies 15 I Opinion 4 I People 5 I Sports ...... .... M 1 Stocks .................................. 11 iiiiT - i. :: -- ; , CJJH2I.':, m-;- . o--- " 73rd Year No. 90 (; 0( M Morning! It's Tuesday. December 30, 1980 16 Pages - 25 Cents Robbery failed Columbia police handcuff a suspect in the at-tempted robbery of Lamb's Jewelry Store, 26 S. Ninth St. Two St. Louis men were arrested fol-lowing a standoff with police Monday night. CoQeenConbcs Store merchandise litters the sidewalk at the suspect's feet. Police said no one was injured in the incident and the store's property was recov-ered. For the complete story, see Page 16. Judge expects to rule this week on Trice request By Nick Wreden Missourian staff writer Circuit Court Judge EUen S. Roper said Monday she expects to rule this week on whether outgoing Boone Coun-ty Public Administrator William C. Trice will be appointed guardian for 20 estates worth more than $ 500,000. As public administrator, Trice has handled the estates of minors, the de-ceased and the insane for whom there is no private administrator or guardi-an. Under state law, Trice has peti-tioned the court to let him continue handling the 20 estates after he leaves office Wednesday. Judge Roper said she has asked Trice's attorney, Elton Fay, to submit a written brief so she can study the le-gal issues involved in changing the public estates to private guardianship. " I have some doubts about the legal status of changing guardianships, re-gardless of the other issues in the case," Judge Roper said during a hear-ing Monday morning. Public Administrator- elec- t Bill Kas- man- n, who defeated Trice in Novem ber's general election, said Monday that his attorney, James C. Butcher, will file a brief. Trice has been public administrator since his election in 1963. Earlier this month, Trice requested guardianship of 24 estates he handled as public administrator, telling the court he wanted to administer the es-tates because he has developed a " per-sonal relationship" with the parties in- volv- ed. Trice since has withdrawn four petitions. Judge Roper said she wants the brief filed as soon as possible. " I think it would be unfair to both Mr. Trice and Mr. Kasmann not to get this issue set-tled before Jan. 1," Judge Roper said. Judge Roper also asked that four ' court- appointe- d lawyers representing those whose estates are at issue visit their clients personally. Although testi-mony indicated many of the them would be unable to understand the is-sues in the case, Judge Roper said she wanted the attorneys to see if further evidence is required and to " see how ( See TRICE, Page 16) County has extended tax deadline to Jan 4 By Chuck Ervin Missourian staff writer If you're rushing to pay your 1980 county property taxes by the end of the year, relax a little. Boone County Collector Raymond Easley has extended the payment deadline until Jan. 4 because county of-fices were closed the days after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Pay-ments postmarked by midnight Sun-day will be accepted without penalty, he said. " It's more than fair to the public to offer them a couple of more days," he said. There is a catch, though: Paying the tax after Dec. 31 will keep you from claiming it as a deduction on 1980 fed eral income taxes, according to the In-ternal Revenue Service. Taxpayers who miss the Jan. 4 dead-line face a three percent penalty until the end of January, and the penalty gets higher each month that payments remain past due, Easley said. Taxpayers can protest bills by send-ing a letter of complaint with their pay-ment and lodging a formal protest in the courts, Easley said. In such cases, the payment is held in escrow until the dispute is resolved, he said. Easley's office was swamped with more than 100 protests last year after a lower court ruled the state merchants' and manufacturers' property tax un-constitutional, a decision that later was overturned by the Missouri Su-preme Court. Easley said two protests have been filed so far this year. Stipanovich heads home amid mystery By Brian Smith and Steven L. Yarbrongh Missourian staff writers The University basketball team's starting center, Steve Stipanovich, departed Columbia Monday af-ternoon with his father, leaving behind a mystery about his self- inflict- ed gunshot wound and the sug-gestion that he will return in a few days. Stipanovich, who claimed Saturday night that he was shot at his home by a masked intruder but Monday admitted he shot himself, seemed weary but in good spirits as he put two shirts, a pair of gym shoes, a suitcase and a 12- pa- ck of beer into the back seat of his father's Lincoln Continental. " I can't practice anyway, so I'm just going home for a few days," Stipanovich said. His left arm, the one injured in the shooting inci-dent, was stiff at his side underneath a jacket, and his father drove the car. But the 6- foo-t- ll Stipano-vich was not wearing a sling. " It's still pretty sore," he said. " I'm feeling bet-ter now. There just isn't much I can do right now." That short conversation with a Columbia Mis-sourian reporter was one of the few public contacts made with Stipanovich since the bizarre series of events started Saturday night when he checked into Columbia Regional Hospital's emergency room for treatment of the flesh wound in his shoulder. He would not comment on the cause of the shoot-ing or what motivated him to fabricate the story surrounding it. But before driving away, his father indicated Stipanovich would return to Columbia by the end of the week. " He's just coming home for a few days," the eld-er Stipanovich said. The Tiger basketball team, which has not played a game since Dec. 21, practiced twice Monday, the second day the Tigers have been without their star sophomore. Missouri is not scheduled to play until Saturday night at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. Coach Norm Stewart said Stipanovich would not practice until further notice and that he was not sure if Stipanovich would be available for Satur-day's game. Stipanovich had been scheduled to be examined by Dr. Glenn McElroy in Columbia Monday af-ternoon but did not show for the 1 pjn. appoint-ment. He left with his father for their suburban St. Louis home about 3 p. m. Sam Stipanovich said Monday evening that his son would see a St. Louis area doctor today. The younger Stipanovich left Monday without clearing up details of the events that started with a shooting incident at his home Saturday night. Stipanovich first told police a man wearing a ski mask had smashed the front door to his house at 1803 Sunrise Drive, entered his bedroom at the rear of the house and opened fire with a rifle. He said three bullets struck the mattress on which he was lying. Stipanovich then told police the man pulled a revolver, shot him in the left shoulder and fled. He said he called teammate Mike Foster and told him he was shot and wanted to be taken to the hos-pital. The desk receptionist at the hospital said two men, one clutching his arm, came in about 11 pjn. asking for the emergency room. She said she found out later it was Stipanovich. According to Bob Brendel, University assistant sports information director, Stipanovich left the emergency room to spend the remainder of the night at Coach Stewart's house. Police said the original story did not ring true from the beginning, primarily because Stipanovich " had powder burns on his shoulder. They said this in-dicated the gun had been fired at close range. Stipanovich had given police what he said was a detailed description of the alleged assailant, saying he had been wearing a light blue rainbreaker, a red- checker- ed flannel shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots. Teammate Foster said that, when he ar- - ( See STIPANOVICH, Page 16) Mfeseertan file photo Steve Stipanovich Incident remains a mystery Threats to former M. U. player surface By Steven L. Yarbrough Missourian staff writer Tiger basketball player Steve Stipanovich's short- live- d hoax concerning his self- inflict- ed gun-shot wound brought to light a story involving life- threateni- ng phone calls made earlier this fall to a former University teammate, Lex Drum. Last October, University police investigated calls made to Drum, a 21- year-- old center from Poplar Bluff, Mo., and also vandalism of his car in the Hearnes Center parking lot. Major Jack Watring of the University Police said . Monday that Drum had reported on Oct. 13 that he had received four threatening telephone calls and that the top of his car had been slashed. Drum, who quit the Tiger team Dec. 9, citing " personal reasons," told police he received the first call Sept 1 and that the caller told him, " It would be an advantage to your health not to play basket-ball this year." Two subsequent calls warned Drum he was not taking the first call seriously because he was continuing to attend practices. Drum told police that, in a fourth call on Oct. 8, he was told, " Dont be on the court on Oct 15, or you wont be around for the first game on Nov. 21." Watring said Drum authorized a phone company trace on his home phone to determine the source of the calls. , O" O- - 9, the caller made his final call, but police said the attempted trace was unsuccessful because the caller did not remain on the phone long enough. Police said the slashing incident occurred Oct 13. Drum returned to his 1974 Fiat convertible after class and noticed the hood ajar and a 9- in- ch ( 22.5- centimet- er) tear in the top. Watring said Drum feared someone had planted a bomb in his car. Off-icers checked the vehicle but found no explosives or other tampering. Watring said police advised Drum to park his ve-hicle near the police office at future practices and sent a plainclothes officer to make sure nothing went wrong at the Tigers' Oct. 15 practice. James Drum, father of the former Missouri play-er, said Monday by phone from bis construction business in Poplar Bluff that he was surprised to hear the Stipanovich shooting was fabricated but was sure threats to his son's life were real. " I'm sure this was actually happening to Lex," he said. " I think there was very much sincerity in this fellow's approach." Watring said Drum did not seem overly con-cerned. " He wasn't to the point where he was letting it af-fect him. He was very level- head- ed about the whole thing," Watring said. Drum's father said his son received several calls after the Oct. 12 call but the caller only made heavy breathing or " tsk, tsk, tsk" sounds into the phone. Major Bill Whitehead of the Boone County Sher-iffs Office said Monday that University basketball coach Norm Stewart had asked his office to watch Drum's apartment, but that he had no other infor-mation on the case. The elder Drum said his son, who missed all of last season due to an academic suspension, has not received additional threatening calls since leaving the team. He said Ms son plans to leave the Univer-sity for another college but has not yet decided which one. The elder Drum said he did not thu the calls to his son were a consideration in his decision to leave the team. " You have to take these things with a grain of salt," he said. IGbMtrlufitepMo Lex Drum October phase calls reported
Object Description
Title | Columbia Missourian Newspaper 1980-12-30 |
Description | Vol. 73rd Year, No. 90 |
Subject |
Columbia (Mo.) -- Newspapers Boone County (Mo.) -- Newspapers |
Coverage | United States -- Missouri -- Boone County -- Columbia |
Language | English |
Date.Search | 1980-12-30 |
Type | Newspapers |
Format | |
Collection Name | Columbia Missourian Newspaper Collection |
Publisher.Digital | University of Missouri Library Systems |
Rights | These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for distribution or publication. |
Contributing Institution |
State Historical Society of Missouri University of Missouri--Columbia. School of Journalism |
Copy Request | Contact the State Historical Society of Missouri at: (800) 747-6366 or (573) 882-7083 or email contact@shsmo.org. Some fees apply:http://shsmo.org/research/researchfees |
County |
Boone County (Mo.) |
Description
Title | Full Page |
Date.Search | 1980-12-30 |
Type | page |
Item.Transcript | Engineers 1 are winners I as the NSF I regroups By Robert Reinhold Eg New York Times WASHINGTON - The National Sci- - ence Foundation, set up originally to H support basic research, will soon H be putting a strong new emphasis on H engineering and applied science, H according to its new director. EI The shift is certain to stir unease H among the nation's academic scien-- m tists, who long have considered the H agency as a kind of sacred institution if meant primarily to back fundamental inquiry that promised no quick practi-- P caldividends. If But growing pressures from Cor- - m gress, industry, the engineering pro-- m fession and now the incoming Rea- - k gan administration for more practical f; research aimed at spurring industrial i growth is forcing the foundation to pV re- exam- ine its traditional role. tk " The engineering societies have jp strongly proclaimed the need for im-- $ proved support to engineering re-- ' search, and the NSF unquestionably r has to deal with that," said the direc- - j: tor, John B. Slaughter. " It has to rec-- v ograze that these are valid concerns A and that some strong effort has to be -- ; made to provide support for the engi-neering community." He added that there would be : " strong emphais" on engineering and l technology at the agency, which doles out nearly $ 1 billion a year for re- - InsigM search and education, but said that he hoped this could be done by finding f " new funds" rather than by diverting them from other research. The 46- year-- old Slaughter, himself an engineer by" training, is the first ". black to head the science agency. Even though he was confirmed by the Senate last September, Slaughter has not yet been sworn in as the NSF director. That fueled speculation in Washington that, as a Carter appoin-tee, he was having second thoughts about taking the job. However, he at-tributed the delay merely to his obliga-tion to wind up affairs at Washington State University, where he is provost. He is scheduled to make the move shortly after the first of the year. Slaughter, who previously served as an assistant NSF director, said that gfe science, which traditionally has en-joyed bipartisan support, would" not suffer under the Reagan administra-tion. But be agreed that spending prio-rities would probably change to reflect " the different mood" of the new Con-gress and new administration. He intimated that Reagan aides strongly backed the shift toward engi-.- .' neering, although skeptics at the meet-ing wondered how this could be achieved, in an administration pledged to deep cuts in federal spending, with--?' out seriously underming NSF work in the biological, behavioral and other sciences. In fact, the engineering thrust has been building for some years. From its i founding after World War n, the agen- - ', cy had focused almost entirely on J " pure" research. But beginning in 5iV 1368, under pressure from Congress, it jS, began several years of fitful support, . amid frequent reorganizations, for re- - rSfe- - search- seekin- g solutions to practical J problems. Jj At present, about 10 percent of its re- ft-. r sources are tunneled through its engi-- 0 neering and applied science director. j Among recent projects were research jg on the fire resistance of epoxy sub-stances used to repair buildings dam-aged in earthquakes and a study of housing justice in small- clai- ms courts. Unsatisfied, Rep. George E. Brown, the California Democrat who heads the Science, Research and Technology subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Technology, has spon-sored a bill that would take a large chunk of money away from the NSF and set up a new National Technology Foundation. The NSF responded by proposing to reorganize itself and cre-ate a separate engineering directorate. " Slaughter attributed the pressures for a stronger engineering component to a widespread national feeling that the country's capacity for industrial in-novation has been weakened in recent years. Neglect in this area over the years, he said, had left many schools with poor facilities and instruments and un-able to attract good young professors. With a growing shortage of engineers, he went on, " would- b- e faculty' mem-bers are finding it much more attrac-tive to take positions in industry, where they can obtain salaries in a very brief time that are double or more" those in the universities. Ira town iodsfcy 2-- 5 pan. Youth Alternatives Center members will celebrate the New Year with a roller- skatin- g party at the Skate R Bowl, 2116 Vandiver Drive. Index Classified 12 Comics 14 Movies 15 I Opinion 4 I People 5 I Sports ...... .... M 1 Stocks .................................. 11 iiiiT - i. :: -- ; , CJJH2I.':, m-;- . o--- " 73rd Year No. 90 (; 0( M Morning! It's Tuesday. December 30, 1980 16 Pages - 25 Cents Robbery failed Columbia police handcuff a suspect in the at-tempted robbery of Lamb's Jewelry Store, 26 S. Ninth St. Two St. Louis men were arrested fol-lowing a standoff with police Monday night. CoQeenConbcs Store merchandise litters the sidewalk at the suspect's feet. Police said no one was injured in the incident and the store's property was recov-ered. For the complete story, see Page 16. Judge expects to rule this week on Trice request By Nick Wreden Missourian staff writer Circuit Court Judge EUen S. Roper said Monday she expects to rule this week on whether outgoing Boone Coun-ty Public Administrator William C. Trice will be appointed guardian for 20 estates worth more than $ 500,000. As public administrator, Trice has handled the estates of minors, the de-ceased and the insane for whom there is no private administrator or guardi-an. Under state law, Trice has peti-tioned the court to let him continue handling the 20 estates after he leaves office Wednesday. Judge Roper said she has asked Trice's attorney, Elton Fay, to submit a written brief so she can study the le-gal issues involved in changing the public estates to private guardianship. " I have some doubts about the legal status of changing guardianships, re-gardless of the other issues in the case," Judge Roper said during a hear-ing Monday morning. Public Administrator- elec- t Bill Kas- man- n, who defeated Trice in Novem ber's general election, said Monday that his attorney, James C. Butcher, will file a brief. Trice has been public administrator since his election in 1963. Earlier this month, Trice requested guardianship of 24 estates he handled as public administrator, telling the court he wanted to administer the es-tates because he has developed a " per-sonal relationship" with the parties in- volv- ed. Trice since has withdrawn four petitions. Judge Roper said she wants the brief filed as soon as possible. " I think it would be unfair to both Mr. Trice and Mr. Kasmann not to get this issue set-tled before Jan. 1," Judge Roper said. Judge Roper also asked that four ' court- appointe- d lawyers representing those whose estates are at issue visit their clients personally. Although testi-mony indicated many of the them would be unable to understand the is-sues in the case, Judge Roper said she wanted the attorneys to see if further evidence is required and to " see how ( See TRICE, Page 16) County has extended tax deadline to Jan 4 By Chuck Ervin Missourian staff writer If you're rushing to pay your 1980 county property taxes by the end of the year, relax a little. Boone County Collector Raymond Easley has extended the payment deadline until Jan. 4 because county of-fices were closed the days after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Pay-ments postmarked by midnight Sun-day will be accepted without penalty, he said. " It's more than fair to the public to offer them a couple of more days," he said. There is a catch, though: Paying the tax after Dec. 31 will keep you from claiming it as a deduction on 1980 fed eral income taxes, according to the In-ternal Revenue Service. Taxpayers who miss the Jan. 4 dead-line face a three percent penalty until the end of January, and the penalty gets higher each month that payments remain past due, Easley said. Taxpayers can protest bills by send-ing a letter of complaint with their pay-ment and lodging a formal protest in the courts, Easley said. In such cases, the payment is held in escrow until the dispute is resolved, he said. Easley's office was swamped with more than 100 protests last year after a lower court ruled the state merchants' and manufacturers' property tax un-constitutional, a decision that later was overturned by the Missouri Su-preme Court. Easley said two protests have been filed so far this year. Stipanovich heads home amid mystery By Brian Smith and Steven L. Yarbrongh Missourian staff writers The University basketball team's starting center, Steve Stipanovich, departed Columbia Monday af-ternoon with his father, leaving behind a mystery about his self- inflict- ed gunshot wound and the sug-gestion that he will return in a few days. Stipanovich, who claimed Saturday night that he was shot at his home by a masked intruder but Monday admitted he shot himself, seemed weary but in good spirits as he put two shirts, a pair of gym shoes, a suitcase and a 12- pa- ck of beer into the back seat of his father's Lincoln Continental. " I can't practice anyway, so I'm just going home for a few days," Stipanovich said. His left arm, the one injured in the shooting inci-dent, was stiff at his side underneath a jacket, and his father drove the car. But the 6- foo-t- ll Stipano-vich was not wearing a sling. " It's still pretty sore," he said. " I'm feeling bet-ter now. There just isn't much I can do right now." That short conversation with a Columbia Mis-sourian reporter was one of the few public contacts made with Stipanovich since the bizarre series of events started Saturday night when he checked into Columbia Regional Hospital's emergency room for treatment of the flesh wound in his shoulder. He would not comment on the cause of the shoot-ing or what motivated him to fabricate the story surrounding it. But before driving away, his father indicated Stipanovich would return to Columbia by the end of the week. " He's just coming home for a few days," the eld-er Stipanovich said. The Tiger basketball team, which has not played a game since Dec. 21, practiced twice Monday, the second day the Tigers have been without their star sophomore. Missouri is not scheduled to play until Saturday night at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. Coach Norm Stewart said Stipanovich would not practice until further notice and that he was not sure if Stipanovich would be available for Satur-day's game. Stipanovich had been scheduled to be examined by Dr. Glenn McElroy in Columbia Monday af-ternoon but did not show for the 1 pjn. appoint-ment. He left with his father for their suburban St. Louis home about 3 p. m. Sam Stipanovich said Monday evening that his son would see a St. Louis area doctor today. The younger Stipanovich left Monday without clearing up details of the events that started with a shooting incident at his home Saturday night. Stipanovich first told police a man wearing a ski mask had smashed the front door to his house at 1803 Sunrise Drive, entered his bedroom at the rear of the house and opened fire with a rifle. He said three bullets struck the mattress on which he was lying. Stipanovich then told police the man pulled a revolver, shot him in the left shoulder and fled. He said he called teammate Mike Foster and told him he was shot and wanted to be taken to the hos-pital. The desk receptionist at the hospital said two men, one clutching his arm, came in about 11 pjn. asking for the emergency room. She said she found out later it was Stipanovich. According to Bob Brendel, University assistant sports information director, Stipanovich left the emergency room to spend the remainder of the night at Coach Stewart's house. Police said the original story did not ring true from the beginning, primarily because Stipanovich " had powder burns on his shoulder. They said this in-dicated the gun had been fired at close range. Stipanovich had given police what he said was a detailed description of the alleged assailant, saying he had been wearing a light blue rainbreaker, a red- checker- ed flannel shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots. Teammate Foster said that, when he ar- - ( See STIPANOVICH, Page 16) Mfeseertan file photo Steve Stipanovich Incident remains a mystery Threats to former M. U. player surface By Steven L. Yarbrough Missourian staff writer Tiger basketball player Steve Stipanovich's short- live- d hoax concerning his self- inflict- ed gun-shot wound brought to light a story involving life- threateni- ng phone calls made earlier this fall to a former University teammate, Lex Drum. Last October, University police investigated calls made to Drum, a 21- year-- old center from Poplar Bluff, Mo., and also vandalism of his car in the Hearnes Center parking lot. Major Jack Watring of the University Police said . Monday that Drum had reported on Oct. 13 that he had received four threatening telephone calls and that the top of his car had been slashed. Drum, who quit the Tiger team Dec. 9, citing " personal reasons," told police he received the first call Sept 1 and that the caller told him, " It would be an advantage to your health not to play basket-ball this year." Two subsequent calls warned Drum he was not taking the first call seriously because he was continuing to attend practices. Drum told police that, in a fourth call on Oct. 8, he was told, " Dont be on the court on Oct 15, or you wont be around for the first game on Nov. 21." Watring said Drum authorized a phone company trace on his home phone to determine the source of the calls. , O" O- - 9, the caller made his final call, but police said the attempted trace was unsuccessful because the caller did not remain on the phone long enough. Police said the slashing incident occurred Oct 13. Drum returned to his 1974 Fiat convertible after class and noticed the hood ajar and a 9- in- ch ( 22.5- centimet- er) tear in the top. Watring said Drum feared someone had planted a bomb in his car. Off-icers checked the vehicle but found no explosives or other tampering. Watring said police advised Drum to park his ve-hicle near the police office at future practices and sent a plainclothes officer to make sure nothing went wrong at the Tigers' Oct. 15 practice. James Drum, father of the former Missouri play-er, said Monday by phone from bis construction business in Poplar Bluff that he was surprised to hear the Stipanovich shooting was fabricated but was sure threats to his son's life were real. " I'm sure this was actually happening to Lex," he said. " I think there was very much sincerity in this fellow's approach." Watring said Drum did not seem overly con-cerned. " He wasn't to the point where he was letting it af-fect him. He was very level- head- ed about the whole thing," Watring said. Drum's father said his son received several calls after the Oct. 12 call but the caller only made heavy breathing or " tsk, tsk, tsk" sounds into the phone. Major Bill Whitehead of the Boone County Sher-iffs Office said Monday that University basketball coach Norm Stewart had asked his office to watch Drum's apartment, but that he had no other infor-mation on the case. The elder Drum said his son, who missed all of last season due to an academic suspension, has not received additional threatening calls since leaving the team. He said Ms son plans to leave the Univer-sity for another college but has not yet decided which one. The elder Drum said he did not thu the calls to his son were a consideration in his decision to leave the team. " You have to take these things with a grain of salt," he said. IGbMtrlufitepMo Lex Drum October phase calls reported |