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Volume 124 Issue 106
kansan.com
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
LAWRENCE
NAISMITH'S RULES RETURN HOME WORDS BY MAGGIE YOUNG PHOTO BY CHRIS BRONSON $4.3 MILLION.
That was the price tag on the two pieces of paper containing the 13 original rules of "basket ball," which were written by James Naismith in 1891. The rules not only contain rich basketball history but are also part of the sport's tradition in Lawrence. For David and Suzanne Booth, that price tag was worth it for the legendary rules. In December of 2010, the Booths purchased the original rules and made the decision to donate them to the only place that seemed fit: the University of Kansas.
Naismith not only invented basketball but was also the first coach for Jayhawk basketball at the University. He spent the majority of his life in Lawrence, about 40 years, and died there in 1939. Naismith was a true Jayhawk, and Booth says he believes there is no place in the world for those rules other than Lawrence.
The 13 original rules were auctioned off at Sotheby's auction in New York City. Josh Swade, a KU alumnus who now works as a producer in the entertainment business in New York City, found out the auction was happening a few blocks down the street from him. Swade says that he felt compelled to get the rules back to the University from the moment he heard about it. "The rules represent Naismith's great contribution to the world and this comes to light the most at the University," he says. "That can never be taken away."
Swade began his mission to return the rules to the University by traveling the country and talking to different alumni about the rules. On his search, Swade contacted Booth and could tell that Booth immediately recognized the importance of the rules.
Booth, a chairman for Dimensional Fund Advisors, participated in the auction on the phone. He laughed and said it was pretty simple - all you had to do was bid higher than the other person. Booth purchased the rules for $4.3 million, and they currently reside in Austin, Texas, where he lives. The rules will stay there until the University decides how they will be displayed, a decision that requires a lot of thought.
Bill Self, men's basketball coach at the University, says that naturally, it would be best if the rules were placed in Allen Fieldhouse. Self emphasizes the pride that the alumni base will feel from this donation.
"We're very proud and certainly appreciative of what David and Suzanne and the rest of their family have done for this University," Self says. "The pride in having these rules here in Lawrence will last far longer than any of us will. It will last for many generations."
Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director at the University, says the display must highlight the importance of the rules. "It's terrific that the rules will end up in a place that respects the game, legacy and the man who invented it," Marchiony says.
Booth is a KU almunus, trustee for the Kansas University Endowment Association and donor of the Booth Family Hall of Athletics. Swade says he is the best alumnus a University could have.
"Those two pieces of paper cause so much excitement," Booth says. "When you stand over the rules, you think about how those two pages created a sport that touches so many people's lives."
37
infuse estrians
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN HAWK signals have created confu-
place to cross." Woosley said. her times it's pedestrian res., but we look at the number vehicles on the road to see if it's ole."
nutbury 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 use 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 using 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 Koetje 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.
Edited by Taylor Lewis
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%
"I hope the changes in the MCAT is an opportunity for all institutions to look at more holistic measures for admissions," Chumley said.
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.
to be relevant.
Do you think the changes to the test will better prepare students for medical school?
Don't forget
- Completely yes: 11%
- Generally yes: 62%
are students of the new m
— Yes; 67%
— No; 5%
— Not sure; 29%
— Refused to answer; 8%
CLASSIFIEDS 11 CRYPTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 12
CROSSWORD 4 OPINION 5 SUDOKU 4
— Generally no: 9%
— Completely no: 0%
— Not sure: 17%
Should pre-med programs revise their curricula in order to sufficiently prepare students for the new MCAT?
Which would you say is the most impor
What would you say is the most important admissions factor?
- MCAT score: 43%
- Undergraduate GPA: 28%
- Relevant experience: 19%
- Interview: 9%
- Letters of recommendation: 2%
- Personal statement: 0%
or contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Today is National Pancake Day.
Indulge in a few pancake stacks.
(On stacks, on stacks, on stacks.)
Today's Weather
Source: Kaptan 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.
A严
don't rain on our parade
2
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