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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009
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VOLUME 120 ISSUE 125
PRO POTENTIAL
THE BIG QUESTION
Will Kansas' star players continue to lead, or will the allure of the NBA Draft steal the heart of the team?
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer.kansan.com
Sherron Collins is coming back to Kansas for his senior season — if he had to decide right now.
Problem is, the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NBA Draft isn't until April 26. So Collins, a junior guard, still has more than three weeks to debate returning to college or declaring for the draft. Collins said the only way he could envision leaving was if Kansas coach Bill Self thought it was best for him.
"Some things would have to happen," Collins said after Kansas' 67-62 Sweet Sixteen loss to Michigan State. "Coach would have to tell me something. If Coach doesn't tell me nothing, I'm coming back. Whatever he decides, that's what I'm going to do."
STEPHENSON TO ANNOUNCETODAY
Collins said he had no financial concerns or family problems that could sway his decision. In fact, the only other factor Collins shared was the decision of sophomore center Cole Aldrich, who could also declare for the NBA draft.
Collins said he hoped to confer with Aldrich before either made a definitive statement.
"I love him like a little brother" Collins said. "So Cole will play a big part in what will happen with me next year."
Lance Stephenson will reveal where he will attend college today in Miami at
Both players were honored by the Associated Press on Monday, Collins was named a third team All-America, and Aldrich was given honorable mention
While Collins was open in discussing his future after the Sweet Sixteen and throughout the NCAA tournament, Aldrich offered little insight into how he felt.
He set no criteria for his decision. He gave no indication of which way he was leaning. When the NBA Draft questions came up after the Michigan State defeat, Aldrich quickly changed the subject.
"I'm not worried about that right now," Aldrich said. "It's going to take me a good while to get over this one because this one really hurts."
Self said he would gather information about where Collins and Aldrich would likely be drafted and present it to them and their families. Self went
SEE DRAFT ON PAGE 3A
the McDonald's All-American Game.
Stephenson, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from New York, has narrowed his choices to Kansas, Maryland and St.
John's. He could also decide to play professionally overseas for a year.
Rivals.com ranks Stephenson as the No. 9 player in the class of 2009.
He led Lincoln High School to four New York City championships while in high school and is the city's all-time leading scorer.
Stephenson is expected
to announce his decision at around 10:45 this morning during a media session at the All-American Game.
Case Keefer
STUDENT SENATE
Campus media sponsors debate
BY RACHEL BURCHFIELD rburchfield@kansan.com
Students pay approximately $450 in student fees annually. Why not have a say in the process?
That is the thinking behind The University Daily Kansan, KUJH-TV and KJHK's second annual Student Senate debate, scheduled to take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Monday, April 6 on the lawn
of Stauffer-Flint Hall. "If students don't vote, they have no say in where the money goes, and it's important that
students spend their money wisely," said Brenna Hawley, Salina junior and editor-in-chief of The Kansan.
This year's debate is designed to appeal to the everyday University student who may or may not know much about Student Senate, Hawley said. Last year, the debate was in the evening, the candidates were dressed formally, and the audience consisted mostly of student senators. This year, candidates will be speaking to students midday on campus in casual clothes, and this, Hawley said, will hopefully attract as many students as possible.
"The more people we get interested in what the candidates have to say, the better the election could possibly be," Hawley said. "That is definitely the goal."
Yelena Pavlik, Plano, Texas, senior and managing editor of KUJH-TV, said it was the student media's duty to inform students about the upcoming election.
"Being a campus media, we feel it's a very integral part of our job to sponsor the Student Senate election debate so that we help create awareness about it to students on campus," Pavlik said.
Malcolm Gibson, general manager and news adviser for The Kansan, said students typically failed to realize the importance of elections.
SEE DEBATE ON PAGE 3A
ADMINISTRATION
Athletics Department conducts self-study
BY ADAM SAMSON asamson@kansan.com
Frank DeSalvo, associate vice provost for student success and chair of the Self-Study Steering Committee, said the purpose of the report was to document the areas of excellence and areas for improvement within the department. In addition, DeSalvo said the self-study would provide the
The Athletics Department held a public town hall meeting Monday afternoon to discuss its draft of an NCAA self-study.
Every 10 years, the NCAA requires Division I athletics departments to carry out self-studies, and DeSalvo said that Kansas was the first institution to be reviewed in this 10-year cycle of self-studies.
University and the general public an overview of the athletics program and provide a transparent look at the affairs of the department.
Steve McAllister, professor of law and member of the panel, identified the operating principles, or the main criteria, of the self-study and said the report was a culmination of the principles and not the success of the University's athletic teams.
"There are things you obviously know about athletics like the Orange Bowl, the Insight Bowl and the National Championship, but that's not really what this report is about," McAllister said. "The NCAA is measuring the department on lots of things that don't have to do with success on the field or on the court."
The study focuses on the areas of governance and rules compliance, academic integrity, gender issues,
diversity issues and student athlete well-being. McAllister said the study's improvement plans included the monitoring of academics for the men's track and field team, a gender equity plan and a diversity plan.
The gender equity plan focuses on establishing equal facilities for both men and women's sports, and the diversity plan will bring an auditor to address diversity issues within the department.
Another issue addressed at the
SEE ATHLETICS ON PAGE 3A
Cancellor Robert Hemenway, center, speaks about the relationship between athletics and the University at a town hall-style meeting Monday afternoon. Hemenway said athletics had an important role in the University because a large segment of the population shared an interest in them. Associate athletics directors Chris Howard, left, and Jim Marchiony, right, also addressed concerns of the crowd.
Rachael Gray/KANSAN
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