24 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Student athletes juggle academics, competitions
Breaking stereotypes key to academic success future personal objectives
By Saju Ng'alla
sngalla@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas has more than 500 student athletes and $99.5\%$ of them plan on being professionals in areas other than sports, according to the athletic department.
Throughout the 2002-03 basketball season, the NCAA carried out a campaign to explain how student athletes balance the requirements of their academics with the pressure of athletic competitions.
Paul Buskirk, associate athletics director of student support services, said such stereotypes were not based on enough facts.
The message was simple. Student athletes across the nation can successfully balance both the pressure of sports and the rigors of academic studies.
In a 30-second television spot, a swimmer said, "I swim the 200. I study sociology. I grind out laps. I cram for tests. I race nationals. I take finals. And when I finish, I'll be ready to start."
It has often been the notion that students with athletic scholarships do not perform well because of the demands of their athletic obligations. If they do extremely well in their sport, it's thought their studies suffer.
"Certainly there are some students who are so focused on trying to achieve their athletic goals that they leave the rest of life's goals to slide," he said.
Former Jayhawks, Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich are prime examples. Besides excelling in college basketball, both players graduated in four years.
Buskirk said student athletes were often more than capable of succeeding in both academics and sports.
"A lot of non-student athletes don't even graduate in four straight years," Buskirk said.
When students are busy,they don't have extra time to waste,they have to learn to use their time and get the job done, Buskirk said.
Kim Clark Elkhorn, Neb., junior, is a biochemistry major and middle distance
runner. She will compete in the NCAA track and field nationals this summer. This year she was awarded the Verizon Academic Big 12 Regional Award for outstanding work in the classroom as well as in track.
Maggie Mason, Elmira, Canada, senior, is a member of the Kansas soccer team and during the spring semester was involved with five organizations. Mason said it was all about being disciplined and organized.
After practice Mason is supposed to have down time to relax and do homework, she doesn't. Mason plays active role in number of organizations — the Big Brother, Big Sister program, American Cancer Society and the Big 12 Student Athletic Advisory Committee, among them.
She said it was important for her to balance athletics, academics and community work.
"It just makes me a stronger athlete and prepares me for the future," Mason said.
Student athletes can be found in a variety of majors that require grueling hours of studies.
Lindsey Morris, Overland park junior, is a powerful right-side hitter for the Kansas volleyball team and majors in mechanical engineering. Like the other athletes on the team, Morris practices everyday during the season.
She grinds out hours at the gym, jogs and sprints to ensure her conditioning is at peak level. And somehow, Morris is able to maintain a 4.0 grade point average.
"It is all about staying focused," Morris said, "If I did not have volleyball then I would probably leave my homework 'til the last minute."
On the court, Morris is extremely aggressive. She said she had to be in order to block or spike the ball effectively. She carries that same aggressive nature with her into the classroom and enjoys the challenge of problem solving in her math classes. When Morris graduates, she plans to pursue a profession in engineering.
The NCAA said it hoped people would understand that student athletes were not one-sided. Just like any other student, most of them are preparing for life after sports.
— Edited by Annie Bernethy