THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ACTIVITIES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1993
Club sports allow athletic outlet
KU offers any sport you can think of
SECTION E
By Dan England
Kansan staff writer
N not everyone has the speed and agility of Kansas' all-time leading rusher Tony Sands or the sharp-shooting skills of Jayhawk guard Steve Woodberry.
Not everybody likes football or basketball. Some people would rather rghush their teeth with the big boys in rugby, parry their way to victory in fencing, or sail and water ski on Clinton Lake.
For closet athletes, a club sport could be the best option. There are 34 different club sports, including volleyball, soccer and rowing at KU.
"We've got any sport you could think of," said Venita Mitchell, club sport director.
Club sports are formed by KU recreation services. Mitchell acts as an administrative liaison, but the sports themselves are organized by students.
Faculty advisers for each sport are required, and an application must be turned in if a student wants to start a new club.
Clubs are starting every year, she said. Rock climbing was started last year, and handball and rifling clubs will be new this fall.
Club sports receive some funding through student fees that are allocated by Student Senate. Some clubs hold fund raisers, and others charge their members dues in order to cover costs, Mitchell said.
Although some of the sports are seasonal, like sailing, many of the sports continue throughout the academic year. Fall club sports begin as soon as school starts Aug. 23.
Club sports usually have two or three teams that are formed based on athletic ability, but every team gets a chance to compete with other universities. Club sports are always looking for new members, and the teams will take anyone regardless of ability, Mitchell said. Matches and tournaments are scheduled by the team leaders, usually with other Big Eight universities or area colleges.
But some clubs travel to other states or even other countries. The best team in the rugby club made a trip to New Zealand.
Rick Renrof, who has been involved with the rugby team since 1974 and is a member of the coaching staff, said this was the first time everyone on the KU squad was able to earn money to make the trip. The rugby team travels overseas every two years.
"We didn't match up too well with them, because that's their sport over there, but it was a good experience." Renfro said.
Tim Lattimer, Lawrence sophomore, played on the second team of the volleyball club last year.
"I thought I was good coming out of high school, but I found out I didn't know anything." Lattimer said. "The guys on the team were awesome. I learned a lot, but it was a heck of a lot of fun too."
How to join a club sport:
A list of clubs is posted at the Recreation Services office in 208 Robinson.
The list will contain the name of a student leader for each club who can be contacted for information on how to join.
- **Fees are usually charged, and they range from $20 to $150. Tryouts may be held for the first team of the club.**
Afew good men
ROTC provides career training and scholarships for many KU students.
See story, Page 4.
Student leaders
Lance Wright, former student body vice president, addresses the Student Senate. Senate is the campus voice for students.
See story. Page 6.
KANSAN file photos
At top: Lacrosse is one of the many club sports at KU.
At right: The KU bowling team plays its home matches in the Jaybow at the Kansas Union. The bowling team, like many of the club teams, plays teams from the Big Eight Conference and other regional opponents.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST BENEFICIAL ORGANIZATION ON CAMPUS?
"I would say SUA because they organize campus activities and make sure everything goes right."
Alissa Oatman
Alissa Oatman
Denversenior majoring in journalism
“Student Senate — it' s the voice of the students. ”
Grant Naugle
Wichita senior majoring in mathematics
— we get over billed on our tuition, so we went to their office. The registrar came to our class and helped the entire class because we were charged with $10 late fees we weren't supposed to have."
Todd Renyer
Topeka senior majoring in architecture
Kristin Rosebrough
St. Louis senior majoring in architecture
"I would say the Graduate Student Council. It is the strongest advocacy for graduate students." Chris O'Brien
Lawrence graduate student majoring in history
Multicultural groups help minority students
Organizations encourage students to stay at KU
By Lia Cosmillo and Carlos Tejada
Kansas staff writers
Adjusting to a predominately white college can be a difficult adjustment for minority students, but KU offers several multicultural organizations to make students feel at home.
Many minority students attending KU for the first time find going to school with a 78 percent white student body intimidating, said Terry Bell, Tampa, Fla., senior.
The biggest problem facing African-American students is retention, said Bell, president of Black Student Union. Many students are overwhelmed by the number of white students compared to the number of African-American students, and they leave.
About 2.5 percent of the Lawrence campus is African American.
The number one goal of BSU is to encourage students to remain at KU, Bell said. One way in which this is accomplished is by encouraging a feeling of belonging.
"My focus is to bring everyone, being the Black student body, together," he said.
BSU holds meetings, support groups and social gatherings.
"BSU was established to enhance a beneficial means of communication with administrators and fellow students, to promote activities to further educational growth for all students," Bell said.
In addition to BSU, other minority groups have student associations on campus, such as the Asian American Student Union. Arthur Chiu, Joplin, Mo., senior and president of the group, said AASU played many roles.
"We are a support group and we try to advocate education of multicultural diversity on campus and throughout the community," he said.
Asian Americans make up 2.4 percent of the student population.
Chin said membership was not restricted to Asian Americans. Any who are interested in Asian concerns can join.
The main emphasis of AASU is on the Asian American Festival to be held in March, he said.
Story continues. Page 5.
RU's multicultural groups give minority students a voice on the University's predominantly white campus.
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