The University-Daily Kansan
After two students reported that a man was watching porn and masturbating at Watson Library on Oct. 25, University police have forwarded the case to the University administration, according to a statement from Capt. Schuyler Bailey of the Public Safety Office.
“Unfortunately, the reported incident did not meet the strict requirements of the statute on indecent exposure,” the statement said. “The complaint has been referred to the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success. However, any report from that office will not be public record.”
That’s news to the reporting students — Dylan Kingsley, a senior from Kansas City, Kan., and Emily Preheim, a junior from Overland Park — who identified the man on a photo lineup.
Although neither woman said they saw the man’s penis, they did witness him looking at porn on a computer on the fourth floor of Watson Library, in a computer lab, and masturbating. When the man got up to leave, there was a stain on his chair and his pants. Kingsley said the police swabbed the stain on the chair for DNA.
They said they last heard from police that the man would receive a notice to appear in court, and if he didn’t, a warrant would be issued for his arrest.
“I’m a little confused by it,” Kingsley said about the statement. “What measure is actually being taken?”
The women completed a two-week process of cooperating with the police’s investigation, they said. After an unsuccessful initial photo lineup made from mugshots, police made a composite sketch with Preheim. From it, they said, police had a lead, and the man was identified on a second photo lineup made from driver’s license pictures.
The women said they’re frustrated the many hours of cooperation — the composite sketch took Preheim three hours — didn’t lead to legal action against the man, especially after police found him.
“I think it’s bullshit,” Preheim said. “It was a waste of our time.”
— Edited by Abby Davenport
