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Volume 124 Issue 106
kansan.com
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Campus politics
Young Democrats and College Republicans prepare for caucuses PAGE 2
CAMPUS
LAWRENCE
U fans both young and otogive the University a reputation for strong athletic teams and an even stronger sense of community. One of the most
One of the most memorable fans in KU history is Jimmy Neil Tucker, called "White Owl" in the KU community, a 64-year-old diehard Jayhawk fanatic with a long white beard. He is known for shouting pro-Jayhawk chants on the stairs of Wescoe Beach on campus and showing off his dance moves in the stands of Memorial Stadium. Crowned "Wild Fan of the Game" by Fox Sports Network in 2007, controversy followed White Owl during his reign as one of the University's most outrageous enthusiasts. After a series of complaints about his loud, sometimes disruptive, antics, White Owl was banned from campus in 2009. However, it is safe to say that the memory White Owl left behind will not soon be forgotten.
Older generations aren't the only
ones who express their undying love for the University in wacky ways. Fans flock to Allen Fieldhouse by the thousands, decked in gorilla suits and carrying signs with clever sayings like "Gettin' Withey With It." Then, after each basketball game, a group of faithful student fans wait patiently for hours to catch a glimpse of their favorite campus celebrities.
The fan base at KU is so strong that US News & World Report ranked the University as one of the best colleges for basketball fans. Jim Marchiony, the associate athletics director at the University, agrees that some credit for the Phog's reputation "is due to our fans, in particular our student fans. It intimidates opponents, and it jacks up our team, making Allen Fieldhouse one of the best places in the country for basketball."
Some of the more seasoned fans may have a long history with the team, like 104-year-old Olive Vorse, who celebrated her birthday by attending her first
basketball game in Allen Fieldhouse this year, after having followed the team on TV for years. But the younger fans show just as much dedication.
Chris Williams, a freshman from Olathe, is a long-standing KU fan who goes to great lengths to make sure his camping group always gets prime location in Allen Fieldhouse.
"My parents both went to KU, so I was raised crimson and blue," Williams says.
Williams has sported several off-the-wall outfits at Memorial Stadium, including a painted bare chest and a KU yeti costume. Williams says fans have a significant place in KU culture.
"They play a huge role. We have the best home court advantage in the nation because of 'em."
Brandon Peper, a sophomore from Jefferson City, Mo., is another dedicated fan, but with twist: he was raised in a house full of Missouri Tiger fans.
"Growing up, I wasn't a KU fan because my parents were graduates of
Mizzou and raised me to be that way also. Around seventh grade, I became a KU fan, and my love for KU has grown since then."
Peper still remembers when he endured the worst of weather conditions, with freezing temperatures and icy wind, in order to save his camping group's front row seats.
"My group had drawn number one at lottery, and we were super excited to have front row seats, because KU and KSU were both high-ranked teams, and Wayne Simien's jersey was being retired that night," Peper says. However, he had to work for his camping group, getting up at 6 a.m. to walk through deep snow and ten-below weather.
Both Williams and Peper agree that the University would not be the same without the support of the students. "Without a strong student population, KU would not exist as we know it today," Peper says.
59
nfuse restrians
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN HAWK signals have created confu-
place to cross," Woosley said. er times it's pedestrian res, but we look at the number nicles on the road to see if it's ole."
ntucky and Tennessee streets between 7,000 and 10,000 day, a number not surprising by Benson, a nearby resident former University student. we were excited when we saw were putting them in at first there are so many cars, they just fly by," Benson said. I guess I don't understand they couldn't put up a sign what each signal means."ough puzzling at first, Gaines he would rather the signals be sing than unsafe.
lo like having them there just use it does slow down traffic, see so many people using walking to campus," Gaines "It's definitely better than g someone get run over or thing."
Edited by Max Lush
Changes to MCAT will affect incoming students
MARSHALL SCHMIDT mschmidt@kansan.com
Freshmen pursuing pre-medical education at the University of Kansas will face a significantly different MCAT on their road to medical school this fall. Although recently announced changes to the MCAT will not affect current pre-medical or medical students, they do reflect a shift in the medical community to emphasize a more holistic approach to treating patients.
"Doctors need to be effectively trained in working with real people and the complex factors they face," said Dr. Jeff Koetje, the Kaplan national director for pre-health programs. "Historically, doctors have been criticized with dealing with patients as organ systems or diseases."
Changes to the MCAT will include more upper-level biology and chemistry to the biosciences, elimination of the writing portion and a new section covering behavior and social sciences, Koetje said. The added section intends to convey the complexity of factors affecting patients' health, including language, culture, economics, value systems and ethics.
While Koetie cited that 73 percent of surveyed medical school admission officers approve of the change, only 50 percent believe that undergraduate programs will have enough time to make the necessary curriculum changes.
Paul Crosby, pre-medical advisor for the University, is excited for the coming changes but is concerned about the changes to pre-medical
All sections will be longer, lengthening the test from five-and-a-half to seven hours.
"Having custom courses sounds great," Crosby said. "However, it's very expensive, and this would place a great burden on small colleges. Overly specialized courses would not prepare students as well for further learning and other career possibilities."
course work.
Heidi Chumley, senior associate dean for medical education at KU Medical Center, sees the changes as long awaited. While medical school admissions will have to recalibrate the weight MCAT scores have on admission standards, Chumley sees other aspects of admission, such as grades, the in-person interview and written answers, as continuing
The MCAT has been part of the medical school admission process for 73 years, and this is the fifth revision of the test. The last changes were made in 1991.
Last year, 173 KU students applied for medical school. Koetje encourages pre-medical students to keep up to date with changes, which are slated to go into effect in 2015.
Koetje said students can find additional information at kaplan-cat.com, or by following @kaplan on twitter and "liking" Kaplan on facebook.
"I would encourage students at the University of Kansas to stay tuned and follow along." Koetje said.
"I hope the changes in the MCAT is an opportunity for all institutions to look at more holistic measures for admissions," Chumley said.
Edited by Taylor Lewis
to be relevant.
The Kaplan Test Prep surveyed admissions officers at 69 universities with Association of American Medical Colleges accreditation about how the new MCAT format will affect test and medical school preparation. Some of the highlighted results to questions of the survey are given below.
Based on what you know, do you support the recommended changes to the MCAT set for 2015?
- Completely yes: 18%
- Generally yes: 52%
- Generally no: 3%
- Completely no: 0%
- Not sure: 27%
Do you think the changes to the test will better prepare students for medical school?
- Completely yes: 11%
- Generally yes: 62%
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 4
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
Don't forget
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 4
Should pre-med programs revise their curricula in order to sufficiently prepare students for the new MCAT?
- Yes; 67%
- No: 5%
- Not sure: 29%
- Refused to answer: 8%
— Generally no. 9%
— Completely no. 0%
— Not sure. 17%
Which would you say is the most important admissions tractor?
— MCAT score: 43%
— Undergraduate GPA: 28%
— Relevant experience: 19%
— Interview: 9%
— Letters of recommendation: 2%
— Personal statement: 0%
Today is National Pancake Day. Indulge in a few pancake stacks. (On stacks, on stacks, on stacks...)
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Today's Weather
Source: Kaplan Test Prep's 2011 Survey of Medical School Admissions Officers
Overcast skies, 70% chance of showers. South winds 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph
Don't rain on our parade
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