TODAY'S WEATHER: Warm, but spring storms with a high of 73. SPORTS: Kansas will face Colorado at noon today at the Big 12 tourname.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
TALK TO US: Contact Leita Walker, Jay Krall or Kyle Ramsey at (785) 864-4810 or editor@kanans.com
KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
FRIDAY
MARCH 8,2002
ISSUE 108 VOLUME 112
Budget threatens faculty jobs
By Cássio Furtado Kansan senior staff writer
10PEKA-- As many as 175 staff and teaching positions in the Lawrence campus and from 80 to 100 in the University of Kansas Medical Center could be eliminated if the University's budget for next year is reduced, Chancellor Robert Hemenway told the Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday.
Hemenway told the legislators that as many as 30 faculty positions, 50 lecturers, 50 graduate teaching assistants and 45 staff would have to be cut in the Lawrence campus to make room for the estimated cuts.
"We simply couldn't get through without giving people pink slips," Hemenway said.
Hemenway said that if the current budget situation remained unchanged, the University would face a $15.4 million shortfall next year. That includes $9.6 million in a base reduction and $5.8 million in unavoidable costs like fixed employer costs and increases in health insurance premiums. The state's dramatic budget situation will likely reduce the University's budget because it faces a $426 million shortfall for the 2003 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
"The overall quality of KU education will decline."
The chancellor said the budget shortfall could have other consequences for KU students. Fewer and more crowded classes, the elimination or severe reduction of basic services for students such as
museums and public service units, and shutting down academic and outreach programs were some of the possible ways of saving money, he said.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway
or saving money. The Medical Center would also cut its physical therapy program conducted at Pittsburg State University via distance education and a nursing program in neonatal care.
KIMBERLY THOMPSON/KANSAN
"The overall quality of a KU education will decline," Hemenway told the committee.
He said it was a paradoxical moment for the University because while its academic reputation was strong, the University was vulnerable because of the possible budget cuts.
"It's not only a budget for this year, but for many years and many lives to come," Hemenway said.
The chancellor also used his testimony to urge legislators to fund a 4.5 operating grant increase proposed by the Board of Regents and to ask them to continue funding Senate Bill 345, which provides money for increases in faculty salaries.
SEE BUDGET ON PAGE 5A
Chancellor Robert Hemenway points out the $5.8 million unavoidable costs to maintain the University of Kansas' current level to Sen. Stephen Morris. Hemenway talked to the Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday in Topeka to explain why KU's budget should not be cut.
AARON SHOWALTER/KANSAN
Lawrence resident Kathy Lafferty looks through a table of T-shirts at the Kansas Union Bookstore. she bought a "Big 12 Champions" shirt for her 16 year old daughter, who wanted one because of the basketball team's success this season
Businesses prosper as 'Hawks succeed
By Lauren Beatty
Kansan staff writer
When the Kansas Jayhawks were declared the Big 12 Champions, Brent Ruggles felt good. So good in fact, he went out and bought a Championship T-shirt for himself and his sister.
"After I saw the game and saw the team wearing them, I wanted to be a part of that." said the Augusta junior.
"Everybody loves a winner," Dobbins said.
The success of the men's basketball team is not only reflected in athletic bragging rights, but in dollars spent in Lawrence.
He's not alone. Doug Dobbins, manager of Jock's Nitch, 837 Massachusetts St., said the Championship T-shirts were the most popular item at the store right now.
Dobbins said he ordered about 230 of the "Undefeated" t-shirts. He is also preparing to order a shipment of Big 12 Tournament shirts. He said tournament time propelled March sales so much that it had become the third biggest sales month at Jock's Nitch, after December and August.
"It's not so much a decline as a plateau," he said. "It doesn't kill us, but we sell more when we're winning."
Jon Francis, owner of Sportcenter, 840 Massachusetts St., said the Championship T-shirts were also one of the biggest selling items at his store, where
No matter how the team plays, though, the desire for Jayhawk wear is usually there.
Dobbins said when the team looses, he doesn't see a drop in sales.
SEE SALES ON PAGE 5A
Food, beer, big TVs essential elements for Hawk parties
Jessica Tims Kansan staff writer
March Madness has entered the crimson — and blue blood of Kansas basketball fans. A cure: attending the Big 12 Conference tournament.
Big 12 Conference But fans who can't make it to Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., to watch the Jayhawks play can find solace by throwing a Big 12 tournament party.
Dave Bednarczyk, Delta Chi fraternity social chair, said his fraternity would have a party with 20 to 30 guests. He said he thought inviting the right group of sports fans was the key to making the party successful.
"You need to invite people who are interested in watching the game, so no girls," Bednarczyk, a Kansas City, Mo., junior, said with a laugh. "It is kind of like watching Friends on Thursday at the Crossing. All the girls tell the guys to shut up and you have bruises on your arm from the charlie horses you get all night."
Sparky Parks, manager of Spirit Party Shop and Liquor, 600 Lawrence Ave., said the most important ingredient for the perfect Big 12 party was a clear view of the television.
"You need a couple TVs set up." Parks said. "You need a good viewing section. You can't crowd around and watch a 13-inch TV."
Parks and Bednarezyk agreed that alcohol was a must. Bednarezyk said Delta Chi would have two kegs for its celebration.
Chris Wiltfong, manager of Hy-Vee. 4000 W. Sixth St., said he noticed a boom in sales during tournament season.
"We sell a ton of potato chips and Tostitos," Wiltfong said. "We go through a lot of salsa and pop. We also sell a lot of frozen pizzas."
Wiltfong said Hy-Vee prepared for the Big 12 tournament by ordering an extra truck load of soda and extra chips and crackers. But not all fans would throw parties with just chips and dip, Wiltfong said.
"Some get steaks and potatoes," he said. "Things that you can throw on a grill."
From the standpoint of a caterer, Wiltfong said fans who planned to serve a meal should prepare one-to-one-and-a-half servings of a main dish for every guest.
Contact Tims at jtims@kansan.com. This story was edited by Brooke Hesler.
CHRISTINA NEFF/KANSAN
Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi sororites perform "Doin' Time" for Rock Chalk. The first all-female cast in the revue's history debuted last night.
Rock Chalk Revue brings down house
By Caroline Boyer Kansan staff writer
More than 300 participants of the Rock Chalk Revue packed into the hall outside the dressing rooms of the Lied Center last night, 10 minutes before the beginning of the show.
Angela Agustin, executive director, called for attention, and all cast members chanted in unison "Right leg, right leg, break a leg! Left leg, left leg, break a leg!" followed by the Alma Mater and Rock Chalk
Jayhawk chant
"It's been a tradition ever since I've been involved with Rock Chalk, which is about 1998," Agustin, Wichita senior said.
The 53rd annual Rock Chalk Revue then began with an opening speech from Chancellor Robert Hemenway and an appearance by Miss Kansas Lindsay Douglas, a former KU student.
About 1,500 people laughed and clapped for the
INSIDETODAY
SEE REVUE ON PAGE 5A
NATION NEWS ...2A
HOROSCOPES ...2B
WEATHER ...4B
CROSSWORD ...4B
COMING IN TOMORROW'S KANSAN
SPORTS: Read results from this weekend's Big 12 tournament
CULTURE: Brazilian Carnaval will fill Lawrence with a samba beat
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