THE UNIVERSITY DAHY KANSAN
N
news
NEWS MANAGEMENT
Editor-in-chief Trevor Graff
Managing editors
Allison Kohn
Dylan Lysen
Art Director Katie Kutsko
PAGE 2
ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
Business manager Mollie Pointer
Associate news editor Emily Donovan
Sports editor
Mike Vernon
News editor
Tara Bryant
NEWS SECTION EDITORS
Associate sports editor Blake Schuster
Entertainment editor Hannah Barling
Copy chiefs
Lauren Armendariz
Hayley Joiwik
Elise Reuter
Madison Schultz
Design chief
Trey Conrad
Designers Cole Anneberg Allyson Maturey
Opinion editor Will Webber
Photo editor
George Mullinix
Special sections editor Emma LeGault
ADVISERS
Web editor
Wil Kenney
Media director and content stategist Brett Akagi
Sales and marketing adviser
Jon Schlitt
CONTACT US
editor@kansan.com
www.kansan.com
Newsroom: (785) 766-1491
Advertising: (785) 864-4358
Twitter: @Kansannews
Facebook, facebook.com/thekansan
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 50 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS, 66045.
The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4967) is published daily during the school year except Friday, Saturday, Sunday, fall break, spring break and exams and weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Annual subscriptions by mail are $250 plus tax. Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue.
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What's the weather, Jay?
Check out KUJH-KTV on Knology of Kansas Channel 31 in Lawrence for more on what you've read in today's Kansan and other news. Also see KUJH's website at tyku.edu
weather.com
Scattered T-storms. 30 percent chance of rain.Wind SW at 12 mph.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16. 2013
Tuesday
HI: 86
LO: 61
HI: 80
LO: 65
Isolated T-storms, 30 percent chance of rain. Wind SSE at 10 mph.
Thursday
Rain, rain, go away.
Wednesday
Perfect for a lazy day.
Scattered
T-storms. 40
percent chance of
rain. Wind SSW at.
14 mph.
Thunderstorms are here to stay.
Monday, Sept. 16
What: Jewish Studies Fall Welcome Party
When: 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Where: Potter Lake
About: A celebration of the new academic year to meet the Jewish Studies faculty.
Tuesday, Sept. 17
What: Drop without a W
When: All day
Where: All University
About: Today is the last day to drop a full-semester class without marking withdrawn on transcripts.
What: Blurred Lines
When: 7 to 8 p.m.
Where: Sabatini Multicultural Center, SMBC Classroom
About: Video and discussion on masculinity
What: Japan Foundation Film Festival "Army" Screening
**Where:** Kansas Union, Woodruff Auditorium
**About:** Screening of the 1944 Japanese anti-war film.
When: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 18
What: LibArt Exhibit Opening and Awards
When: 3 to 4 p.m.
Where: Watson Library, Third Floor West About: Reception celebrating the third year of student artwork shown in University libraries.
ACADEMICS
What: Sexual Assault Candlelit Vigil
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Campanile
About: Vigil where the campanile will toll for every survivor helped by GaDuGi this year.
Thursday, Sept. 19
What: Business Career Fair
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Kansas Union, 5th Floor
About: Career fair sponsored by the School of Business.
What: Kristin's Story When. 7 a.m.
Where: Kansas Union, Woodruff Auditorium
**About:** Lecture by Andrea Cooper on her daughter's experience with sexual assault and suicide.
Kansas moves up in public university rankings
KATIE MCBRIDE
kmcbride@kansan.com
The University moved up to 47th in the 2014 U.S. News and World Report ranking of public universities released on Sept. 10.
The University's ranking last year was 51st, and this year the University shares the 47th spot with five other public universities. In overall rankings, the University tied for 101st with seven other national universities.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
which colleges to apply to
Students can read the rest of the U.S. News and World Report rankings for 2013 at usnews.com/rankings.
A University news release suggests that the shift in the University's ranking could be due to the implementation of Bold Aspirations, its strategic plan, and the KU Core Curriculum. However, the U.S. News staff writes that changes in ranking from last year to this year are most likely due to the changes made in the methodology of ranking or changes in other schools' performance, not just changes in the school's programs.
The rankings have been criticized for using college selectivity and reputation as measurements of school quality, writes the Lawrence-Journal World in a Sept. 13 article. Since the most effective and fair way to measure the quality of education at each school is highly debated, U.S. News updates its methodology for measuring data frequently.
Even though U.S. News includes factors other than college reputation, Emma Zink, a freshman from Durango, Colo., placed importance on this aspect when deciding on
"It probably shouldn't have mattered as much, but I applied to a lot of Ivy League schools, because of their reputation," Zink said. "I wasn't considering Kansas because I didn't think it was as good of a school."
Zink said when considering potential colleges to apply to, she also valued factors such as location, class size and financial resources.
Data is gathered about each college based on 16 areas of academic excellence, including the high school performance of students who attend, faculty resources and other factors. A weighted composite score is determined based on these factors in order to rank the schools.
The U.S. News staff recommends using their rankings as one tool when deciding on a college, but to also use other resources such as counselors, parents, websites and campus visits. In addition, many other factors should go into a student's choice about which college they choose, including the location, size, financial resources and personal preferences.
This year, U.S. News changed its ranking methodology to better represent the performance of each school. It increased the weight for SAT and ACT scores, and lessened the weight for high school class standing of newly enrolled students. This was mainly due to the fact that each year, the number of applying seniors with class rank on
their transcript is declining.
Another factor that was changed when determining rankings was graduation rate performance, which was widened to include all the Best Colleges ranking categories. Graduation and retention rates have a total weight of 30 percent in the ranking process, which is more than any other factor.
When trying to compile a list of potential colleges, the rankings provide reliable data to compare schools and help students to look closely at the differences between the specific factors that are most important to the individual.
"We do it to help you make one
of the most important decisions of your life," the U.S. News staff writes.
Zink says when trying to narrow down her list of potential colleges, rankings were not as much of a concern for her as the experience she would get out of the university.
"Just looking at rankings, you would never know the feel of the campus. There's a community that, even if you're not a part of it, you can walk around and see," Zink said.
She considered a small school in Connecticut, but when she went to the college for a campus visit, she discovered that despite its high rankings, well-respected academics
and picturesque campus, it was not a place she wanted to attend due to the limited social aspects of student life.
"It's a really good school, but it's a miserable place to be," Zink said. Due to this, Zink found that rankings are not always the best way to make a decision on a college.
"You can compare the academics and the statistics,but schools are different for each person," Zink said.
"You have to enjoy the place you're at to get more out of it, and that's more of a personal thing that statistics can't analyze."
Edited by James Ogden
CRIME
Turkey mistreatment investigation concluded
JOSE MEDRANO
jmedrano@kansan.com
On Friday, the Douglas County District Attorney's office released a statement concerning the animal abuse case involving the Alpha Nu chapter of Beta Theta Pi. The fraternity has been under investigation due to an incident linked with the abuse and killing of a turkey during a party at the fraternity's house.
"The Alpha Nu Chapter is pleased to resolve the investigation stemming from allegations of animal abuse at our annual winter formal last December. In addition to conducting our own internal investigation, the chapter has cooperated fully with both the Lawrence Police
"After an exhaustive investigation
ment. In a statement to the University Daily Kansan by Jackson Long, president of the Alpha Nu chapter, the fraternity responded with the following:
we believe there is evidence to suggest the turkey was mistreated," district attorney Charles Branson, stated in a news release concerning the conclusion. "However, our review of the evidence revealed conflicting accounts given by
Department and the Douglas County District Attorney's office throughout the duration of their investigation. We recognize that the allegations brought
"Fraternity leadership should use this time to restore the trust of the university and the public,"
The statement also contained sanctions with which the chapter has agreed to; 1,000 hours of community service as well as $5,000 to pay for the investigation conducted by the Lawrence Police Depart-
BERNADETTE GRAY-LITTLE University Chancellor
various witnesses, making it difficult to determine exactly who was responsible for the improper treatment of the bird," Branson said.
upon our chapter do not reflect our core values, and we have taken the necessary steps to ensure incidents like this do not occur in the future"
The conclusion of the investigation showed that officers of the fraternity were present during the incident. Conflicting media accounts and evidence reports by
witnesses on the scene made it difficult for investigators to pinpoint the exact perpetrators of the turkey's abuse stated the District Attorney's office.
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little also released a statement concerning the investigation. "As members of the KU community, the participants in this inexhaustible incident have embarrassed not only themselves but the entire university. The behavior reported does not reflect the principles or standards of conduct I expect from
our students. Fraternity leadership should use this time to restore the trust of the university and the public." Gray-Little said.
According to the District Attorney's office the investigation was delayed due to proximity the case had to winter break which caused a seven month delay. Branson also stated, "I hope other organizations holding functions will take notice of this and police their functions accordingly."
Edited by James Ogdem
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