TUESDAY,APRIL2,2002 NEWS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A Campus mood somber after loss By Jessica Tims Kansan staff writer It was a Monday morning like most others. Students groggy from little weekend sleep stumbled to class. But there was a noticeable sense of upset in the air. "It was a somber campus," John Farver, Topeka freshman, said. The disappointment of the Jayhawks' loss to the Maryland Terrapins Saturday in the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta had sunk in. Anger had turned to disappointment, and the fact that KU would not be playing in last night's championship game had been accepted by most students. Some fans wondered how the team could lose the game. Farver said he was disappointed in the Jayhawks' defense. "We just didn't pick up our 'D.' he said. But Chris Farris, Topeka sophomore, said the team played its heart out, but the loss affected the campus mood. "If we would have won, there would have been more excitement," Farris said. "At first I was just pissed off and mad," Farver said. "But it has set in, and I have settled down. Now I just have respect for the guy for getting us this far in the tournament." Skyler Myers, Topeka sophomore, said the hardest part of the loss was that it was senior guard Jeff Boschee's last game. Myers added that it may have been the last game for junior forward Drew Gooden, who might pass on his senior year for NBA play. "It was heartbreaking and hard to accept," Myers said. "I have been waiting nine years for another Final Four, and we still don't have a national championship." Focusing on next season and the promising talent of next year's squad is a helpful way of coping with the loss, Myers said. "There isn't anything I can do," he said. "I am just waiting nine months for next season. We will have Collison and Hinrich leading the team, and Simien, Langford and Miles will have a year of experience on them. And if God loves me enough, Gooden will be back." Contact Tims at Contact Tims at jtims@kansan.com. This story was edited by Sarah Smarsh. Final Four gear on shelves By Lauren Beatty Kansan staff writer Jayhawk Final Four wear is being sold at full price even after the basketball team's loss to Maryland. Lawrence stores and street vendors got in on the team's successful run by selling 'Hawks gear. Megan Christian, manager of The Palace, 843 Massachusetts St., said the gift store had been stocked with Final Four T-shirts since the team made it to the semi-finals. Christian said the shirts had been selling steadily every day except yesterday. She said The Palace would not mark down the merchandise. "We haven't sold any today," she said. "But all our other KU merchandise is selling." At Weavers Department Store, 901 Massachusetts St., the 'Hawks loss had not affected business much. Final Four T-shirts were not discounted there either. "They have been selling and will continue to sell as souvenirs," Joe Flannery, president of Weaver's. said of the Final Four T-shirts. "If they had played in the championship game, sales would have been better, but sales were still great just because they made it to the Final Four." Casey Hampe, Milwaukee freshman, said she was considering purchasing a Final Four T-shirt. Tents also spotted up around town selling KU Final Four gear. "I'll probably buy one because it was such a big deal," she said. All American Enterprises, a business based in Lawrence, put up a tent in the parking lot of Checkers Foods. 2300 Louisiana St. An employee said the tent would stay open until the end of the week. Phil Minton, president of Jock's Nitch, Inc., said time was probably the only thing businesses had lost because of the team's early exit. He said no one he knew printed KU championship T-shirts or memorabilia prematurely. Contact Beauty at i beauty@kansan.com. This story was edited by Joanna Miller. CHRISTINA NEFF/KANSAN American Rivers, a Washington, D.C.-based group, released its list of the nation's 11 most endangered rivers. The Kansas River placed No.4 on the list. Group says river in danger Bv Adam Pracht Kansan staff writer A conservation group said today that the Kansas River is in trouble because of livestock pollution. American Rivers, a Washington. D.C.-based group announced its picks for the nation's 11 most endangered rivers, placing the Kansas River at No.4. The group also called on the federal Environmental Protection Agency to decertify the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's water quality enforcement program. Eric Eckl, director of Media Affairs of American Rivers, said the rivers selected by the organization were not the nation's worst or most polluted rivers. He said American Rivers took nominations from conservation groups around the nation and selected the ones under the most "urgent and imminent threats." "Some of the rivers are in pristine shape, but something bad is about to happen to them." Eckl said. Gov. Bill Graves signed Senate Bill 204 into law in April 2001, which Eckl said was a threat the Kansas River. Termed the "Dirty Water Act" by conservation groups, the law reclassifies about 40 percent of Kansas streams so they do not have to meet the standard of being fishable and swimmable by the Federal Clean Water Act. Eckl said it allowed livestock to graze and relieve themselves in the small tributaries and streams that wash into the main stream of the Kansas River. He said the Kansas Department of Health and Environmental Protection reported levels of fecal bacteria to the federal EPA that were 10 to 50 times that allowed by the state. "The danger is to the river, to the wildlife that lives in the river, to the people who want to use that river." Eckl said. He said the rivers exempted were dry for most of the year and But Don Brown, press secretary for Graves, said the term "Dirty Water Act" was an unfair label that didn't reflect the true purpose of the law. it made no sense to match a fishable and swimmable standard for a dry stream. Brown said the law did not reduce the quality of any rivers and allowed regulators more flexibility to emphasize specific areas of concern. He said the environment was a priority for the Kansas government. "To say that our waterways are in any way endangered is probably a disservice to our state and those who utilize our natural resources," Brown said. "There's really no rhyme nor reason to it except that they want to get attention and they feel that they can get a media hit in Kansas," he said. 841-PLAY 1029 Massachusetts Brown said the list from American Rivers was released every year, and that it's primarily a lobbing tool. Brown said those seeking recreation in the Kansas River were in greater danger of drowning than of experiencing ill effects from bacteria. He said a certain amount of microorganisms were always present in rivers. Joann Freeborn, house environment committee chairwoman, said Kansas appeared to have worse water, but it was only because the state's testing methods were tougher. She compared the way one teacher might grade the same test tougher than another because of higher standards. "What I see that bill doing is allowing us to put our money where we get the most benefit for water protection," Freeborn said. We Buy, Sell & Trade USED & NEW Sports Equipment Laura Calwell, president of Friends of the Kaw/Kansas Riverkeeper who nominated the Kansas River to American Rivers, said the river was safe for healthy individuals to go boating if they avoided swimming and washed their hands before eating. She also said people should not eat the fish. Brown said despite the criticism, he thought efforts of groups like American Rivers helped make Kansas environmentally conscious. Contact Pracht at apracht@kansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Gassaway. PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS 7th & Florida NOW LEASING FOR FALL 2002 7th & Florida Studios, 1BR, 2BR 3 BR w/ 2 baths & 4 BR w/ 2 baths - Furnished Apt. Available * Gas heat & water * Fully equipped kitchens including microwaves * W/D in select Apts * Private balconies & patios * On-site laundry facility * Pool * On KU bus route * On-site Manager * Currency Maintenance - On-site Manager - 24 hr. emergency Maintenance Models Open Daily! For more information call 785-841-5255 Sun. 1pm-4pm. 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