Volume 126 Issue 23
kansan.com
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
CHEERLEADING
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Kansas cheerleader performs at the Final Four in Dallas last basketball season. The team will not going to their annual national competition.
Kansas Cheer Team decides to opt out of national competition
AMELIA ARVESEN
aarvesen@kansan.com
Beneath the enthusiasm and spirit the cheer team represents, there is a sense of disappointment among members. This year, the team has opted out of the Universal Cheerleaders Association College Cheerleading National Championship that will take place in Orlando, Fla.
For the 15 years Catherine Jarzemekoski has Spirit Squad director, the cheer team has competed in the event and progressively improved over time. However, a scheduling conflict this season presented them with a problem. Two important games of the men's basketball season, Oklahoma State and Baylor, span Jan. 18 to Jan. 20, which is the same weekend as Nationals.
"They're always excited to represent the team on the road, especially because we have so many alumni all over," Jarzemkoski said. "Wed never been faced with this before. It's a unique situation."
The final decision to skip the competition was announced to the cheerleaders by Jennifer Allee, assistant athletics director of marketing and fan experience, in a meeting on Sept. 9. She directed the team to discuss questions and concerns outside of the meeting.
"I can say personally, I was the first one to shed a tear," said cheerleader Kelly Kerr, a junior from Denver who is part of the leadership team. "No one knew the right emotion to feel."
Hundreds of teams gather each year in Orlando to represent their
schools, where they are separated into groups based on divisions. The University's cheer team competes in one of the most prestigious divisions — Large Coed Division 1.
"When you step out on the floor wearing Kansas across your chest, it's such a proud moment," Kerr said.
Brushing disappointment aside, Jarzemkski and Kerr both said the cheer team expects a successful season at home and on the road. Jim Marchiony, the associate athletic director, said he was supportive of the decision.
"We believe the most important part of Spirit Squad is to support our team," Marchiony said. "We are appreciative of the Spirit Squad and all that they do."
On Nov. 12, the men's basketball
team will play Duke in Chicago, and the cheer team will follow. Additionally, the cheerleaders will accompany them to the "Battle 4 Atlantis" tournament in the Bahamas over Thanksgiving break.
Kerr said the team is looking forward to traveling. She said although the team's humble confidence and national pride helps them to feel welcomed anywhere, it is always nerve-racking to be away from home turf.
Fans can learn the cheers and celebrate the start of basketball season this Friday at Late Night in the Phog in Allen Fieldhouse.
"That feeling of 16,000 people wanting you to do well happens nowhere other than Allen Fieldhouse," Kerr said.
Edited by Duncan McHenry
NATIONAL
Government shutdown starts, affects many
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — From New York's Liberty Island to Alaska's Denali National Park, the U.S.government closed its doors as a bitter budget fight idled hundreds of thousands of federal workers and halted all but the most critical government services for the first time in nearly two decades.
children and preteens.
For many employees of the federal government, Tuesday's shutdown meant no more paychecks as they were forced onto unpaid furloughs. For those still working, it meant delays in getting paid.
A midnight deadline to avert a shutdown passed amid Congressional bickering, casting in doubt Americans' ability to get government services ranging from federally-backed home loans to supplemental food assistance for children and pregnant women.
Park Ranger and father-to-be Darquez Smith said he already lives paycheck-to-paycheck while putting himself through college.
"I've got a lot on my plate right now — tuition, my daughter, bills," said Smith, 23, a ranger at Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park in Ohio. "I'm just confused and waiting just like everyone else."
The impact of the shutdown was mixed - immediate and farreaching for some, annoying but minimal for others.
In Colorado, where flooding killed eight people earlier this month, emergency funds to help rebuild homes and businesses continued to flow — but federal worker furloughs were expected to slow it down.
National Guard soldiers rebuilding washed-out roads would apparently be paid on time — along with the rest of the country's active-duty personnel — under a bill passed hours before the
shutdown. Existing Social Security and Medicare benefits, veterans' services and mail delivery were also unaffected.
Other agencies were harder hit nearly 3,000 Federal Aviation Administration safety inspectors were furloughed along with most of the National Transportation Safety Board's employees, including accident investigators who respond to air crashes, train collisions, pipeline explosions and other accidents.
Almost all of NASA shut down, except for Mission Control in Houston, and national parks closed along with the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo. Even the zoo's popular panda cam went dark, shut off for the first time since a cub was born there Aug. 23.
since a clerot was born three years ago As the shutdown loomed Monday, visitors to popular parks made their frustration with elected officials clear.
"There is no good thing going to come out of it," said Chris Fahl, a tourist from Roanoke, Ind., visiting the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville, Ky. "Taxpayers are just going to be more overburdened."
going
Emily Enfinger, visiting the Statue of Liberty, said politicians need to find a way to work together.
"They should be willing to compromise, both sides, and it discourages me that they don't seem to be able to do that," she said. "They're not doing their job as far as I'm concerned."
Joe Wentz, a retired federal employee from Lebanon, Va., visiting San Francisco with his wife, bought tickets to visit Alcatraz on Thursday — if it's open.
wentz said he's frustrated that some politicians are using the budget to push changes in the Affordable Care Act.
OCTOBER SKY
The autumn sky fills with warm hues as the sun sets at Clinton Lake.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Index CLASSIFIEDS 7 CRYPTOQUIPS 5 SPORTS 8 CROSSWORD 5 OPINION 4 SUDOKU 5
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
Kansas Appleseed is a part of a network of 17 Appleseed "justice centers" throughout the United States and one center in Mexico. The centers help foster collaboration between community groups, attorneys and volunteers in order to assist marginalized citizens.
It seemed like an average day in Spanish 340 for Claire Maclachlan until a guest speaker came into the room to talk about volunteer opportunities with a new organization. His name was Benet Magnuson and the organization was Kansas Appleseed.
Don't October is Breast Cancer Awareness month forget
MARK ARCE
Nonprofit provides valuable experience, perspective
While it has existed since 1999, Kansas Appleseed came to campus in mid-August. Its office, located in Green Hall, consists of a board of distinguished staff and directors and specifically focuses on issues related to children, immigrants and an impartial judicial system.
marce@kansan.com
SERVICE
"My job is to coordinate the resources of my board, of the organization, of the community and get people organized and directed towards the social justice goals around kids, around immigrants.
One of the University's incredible resources is its students. Part of Magnuson's outreach effort is to recruit students as volunteers for Kansas Appleseed, which he has been doing through visits to different classes. Potential volunteers can contribute in a variety of ways, ranging from research and social media outreach, to development projects.
UNIVERSITY CONNECTION
Maclachlan, a freshman from Prairie Village, was a student in one of the classrooms Magnuson spoke to and was intrigued by what he had to say.
He said that Lawrence is the perfect city for this organization because of the students and its proximity to larger populations.
and around courts," said Magnuson.
"Lawrence is a great location because it's right next to Kansas City, it's right next to Topeka, and you have KU here, which is an incredible resource."
"I liked that they are focused on Kansas, they look at national issues
Today's Weather
APPLESEED PAGE 3
Sunny, 0 percent chance of rain, wind at 10 mph