CU clamps down after stabbing

New employees now will undergo background checks

Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 29, 2007 at midnight

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BOULDER -

The University of Colorado put five workers with histories of mental illness on paid leave Tuesday as it launched a policy of conducting background checks on all new employees.

The five people work in food service and maintenance.

The move is part of CU's effort to tighten security following Monday's stabbing in front of the University Memorial Center.

Kenton Astin, 39, who worked as a cashier at the Alferd Packer Grill on campus for six months from October 2006 until April, is accused of slicing the neck of freshman Michael Knorps then stabbing himself six times.

Knorps, 18, of Winnetka, Ill., was released from the hospital after surgery Monday.

Astin was listed in good condition Tuesday at Boulder Community Hospital, where he is under 24-hour police watch.

Six years ago, Astin stabbed a man in a Salvation Army store in Longmont, but was acquitted by reason of insanity.

Astin got his CU cashier's job through Chinook Clubhouse, a program in Boulder that helps people with mental illness integrate into the community. But officials from the university and Chinook conceded that Astin's criminal background was not checked or disclosed before he was hired.

CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said CU officials relied on Chinook's psychiatric evaluations when placing Chinook clients in jobs.

Kitty DeKieffer, spokeswoman for the Mental Health Center, which oversees the Chinook Clubhouse and runs the residential facility where Astin lived, said she hoped CU's action wouldn't stigmatize people with mental illness.

"We've enjoyed a very good relationship with (CU)," she said. "This is one incident."

The lack of background checks surprised Rebecca Carr, of Indianapolis, who was helping her daughter, Courtney, a 19-year-old sophomore, buy books at the University Memorial Center on Tuesday.

Carr, who works in the mental health field, also said she was surprised that Astin was able to live freely in an area densely populated with students.

"It's worrisome," she said.

CU students clearly shared her concern.

While campus life seemed back to normal Tuesday, more than 4,000 students signed up for CU's new text-messaging system that will alert them to emergencies.

On Monday, about 1,300 students — out of nearly 29,000 — received a text message about the incident 38 minutes after it was reported. By late Tuesday afternoon, the number of subscribers had reached nearly 6,000.

While Michael Knorps was recovering off-campus with his parents, fellow students left their well wishes on a dry-erase board outside his 11th-floor dorm room on the east side of campus.

Feel better. You're one tough dude. Glad you're OKAY.

Danny Kruck, 19, whose room is next to Knorps', said Knorps called him from the hospital to say he was going to be allowed on the field for Saturday's CU-Colorado State football game.

"I kept asking when we'll see him again, even if he doesn't stay," Kruck said.

"We definitely don't want him to leave. He's a cool kid."

Staff writer Berny Morson contributed to this report. poppenj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5176

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