Volume 124 Issue 24 kansan.com Friday, September 23, 2013 BIG 12 COMMISSIONER DAN BEEBE GONE THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN e - a e - - - l. w g n y 2 2 s s' UDK EXCLUSIVE CONTENT @ KANSAN.com the student voice since 1904 FREE POSTER OF BASKETBALL LEGENDS PAGE 6 CLAIRE HOWARD/KANSAN The Big 12 seemingly escaped yet another apparent collapse, but this time the conference will continue under new leadership. According to a statement from the conference, the Big 12 Board of Directors and Commissioner Dan Beebe have reached a "mutual agreement" for him to step down from the position immediately. "I put all my effort into doing what was best for the Big 12. With fondness, I wish the Big 12 Conference a long and prosperous future." Beebe said in a statement. Beebe's interim replacement will be former Big Eight Conference Commissioner Chuck Neinas; he will start working immediately. Neinas served as Big Eight commissioner from 1971 to 1980. Neinas currently runs his own consulting firm, Neinas Sports Services, out of CATCH OF THE WEEK // KRIS VELASCO > A weekly peek at a fish in the KU sea. HOBBIES: Owling, noodling, bird watching, but above all else: WINNING! TURN-ONS: Someone who can talk politics, makes me laugh, is competitive and has a great jaw-line and collar bones. TURN-OFFS: Hipsters. They don't bathe, they have terrible clothes and they just look dirty. WHAT REALITY TV SHOW HE WOULD BE ON: 16 and Pregnant. Irony. CELEBRITY CRUSH: Adam Levine because he can sing to me, has great style and he has moves like Jagger. THREE THINGS HE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Laughter, clothes and America. IF HE HAD A THEME SONG THAT PLAYED EVERYTIME HE WALKED INTO A ROOM, IT WOULD BE: "What What In The Butt" by Samwell. I just think it's so hilarious. CONTACT Contributed Photo HOMETOWN: Wamego, Kan. MAJOR: Political Science INTERESTED IN: Men DEAL DATE: Something interactive, like Sunfire Ceramics, laser tag, a glow in the dark paint fight or paddle boating. CHRISTINE CURTIN HOW WE MET // LAYNE ALEXANDER & ALEX BABS > All great relationships had to start somewhere. Lol. G2G. Wuz^? AOL Instant Messaging is a craze of the past, but it was the spark that kicked off the relationship between Layne Alexander, a sophomore from Wichita, and Alex Babst, an alumnus from Wichita, seven years ago. As a sophomore at East High in Wichita in 2004, Alexander only knew of Babst as the popular and hot senior. What she didn't know was that Babst had noticed her too, and asked his sister for her screen name. When Babst first messaged Alexander, he decided to play it cool and pretend he didn't know who she was. "I acted like I didn't know how her screen name had appeared on my 'Buddies List,' like I couldn't remember who had given me the screen name," Babst says. Contributed photo The relationship only grew from there. "We used to chat online for hours at the beginning and it would be so fun and exciting." Alexander says. This past July, Alexander and Babst changed their title from girlfriend and boyfriend to fiancés. Babst took a day off work to drive to Dallas and retrieve the engagement ring. He Contributed photo Instant笑 KU senior Layne Alexander and KU alum Alex Babst started their relationship through AOL Instant Messaging. originally planned on making the proposal a weeklong event, but couldn't wait once he actually had the ring. He ended up proposing on Alexander's front porch, the same spot where they ended their first date. It's obvious Alexander and Babst's relationship was <3 at first instant message. CHRISTINE CURTIN 5 QUESTIONS // JASON CASTRO & ANDY DIETZ > Two people. Five questions. See how they stack up. JASON CASTRO > Singer who appeared on “American Idol.” I’m about to have my first kid, so I should probably start thinking down the road. At 54, I see myself having a nice big family where all of the kids have already gone off to college. I want my career to still be going, still touring with big hits and with people loving the music. The perfect day would be spent somewhere very secluded, maybe in the mountains or on an island with a big island with my best friends. We would do some fun things, like go dirt biking. I’m not big on surprises, but I feel like I have a surprise party every year. This year, I was on tour, but my present was probably my most exciting because I got to drive a Ferrari. I love cars. Probably Norway. It’s exotic, not in jungle sense, but just different than what I’m used to. It was weird because it looked so American, but everybody spoke this crazy language. It was just beautiful. I wanted to be an astronaut, fireman and paleontologist in elementary school. I also wanted to be was a truck driver. I would see those big 18-wheeler trucks with a bed in the back and I thought it was the coolest thing. Where do you see yourself in 30 years? Teaching history at a high school in Illinois or Kansas City. I want to be that weird, old, crazy-good teacher. I also will hopefully be coaching some sport, either football or basketball. Describe your perfect day. I’d wake up at 11 a.m. and maybe hit the gym. Then I’d eat a good meal of Italian beef from Portillo’s in Chicago. I’d go out with my friends, get some food, find a party and have a good time. What was your favorite birthday celebration? In sixth grade, one of my best friends and I had a combined “Fear Factor”-themed birthday party. We dug for worms, but there was gummy worms mixed with real worms. Some people ate the gummy worms and some people ate the real worms. What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever been? Probably Hawaii. I went there two summers ago and we saw different cultural traditions that make up the islands. It was really interesting. What did you want to be when you were younger? A cowboy. I wanted a gun and a badge. Miguel Camacho, president of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO), said these events on campus are important to bring exposure to HALO and the Hispanic community. month. HALO kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 16 by showcasing Hispanic dance and music, two things Camacho said are very important to the Hispanic culture. GROWING UP HISPANIC "Being the new student and being the minority student as well, I kind of tried to blend in as much as I could since I am lighter skinned," Velasco said. "Rather than just trying to challenge them and make them see the real side of being Hispanic, I didn't want to stand out Velasco knows all about the importance of these traditions, having Once Velasco and his family moved to Wamego when he was 15, that all changed. As one of three non-white kids at his new school, Velasco, for the first time, felt ashamed of his culture. grant parent. "Coming to KU it was really great to see not just Mexicans, but people from other Hispanic countries fully embracing their heritage," Velasco said. "It was really easy for me to accept my own culture when I saw so many people celebrating it and people I could identify with." The unity of Hispanic culture on campus is evident to non-Hispanic students as well. Sarah Stern, a junior from Lawrence, was vice president of HALO last year but now Culture in the Arab World. We help of Hispanic Heritage Month activities. for immigrant rights. Such values spending time with the Hispanic community on campus and in Lawrence and she wants every student to see how important this culture is. When you say Hispanic or Latino, there's so many different cultures within that from each country," Stern said. "Each one has its own really rich tradition and it's really important to recognize and distinguish between those different cultures and not just lump them all together as Hispanic." Edited by Sarah Champ University students tossed footballs and donated money outside the Kansas Union yesterday afternoon as part of the United Way of Douglas County's fundraising kick event. Kellen Bolt, a senior from Iola and co-director of the University Center for Community Outreach, encouraged students to contribute to the United Way's efforts in supporting Lawrence non-profit organizations. "I don't think many stu WITH/KANSAN to help with on campus in CRYPTOQUIPS 3 OPINION 4 mselves as rence com- SPORTS 12 SUDOKU 3 CLASSIFIEDS 11 CROSSWORD 3 Don't forget After several preliminary donations, including a $62,000 gift from Rock Chalk Review, the United Way is well on its ew Joseph munity — I really didn't until I started getting involved" he said. "I don't think they realize how much the United Way does and helps to make the Lawrence community as strong as it is. It's here making the city a more attractive place to live." ed for his assignment, on comes car under ense- ness has and K. the Big 12 of implo- xpansion, remaining allegiance ward. Gray-Lit- Sheahon saying "agreed tissue the moving the Big 12 fective as interests of fans," its agree- in to look at idify the ing." w schools television e confer- '0. Beebe at the Big rded him through ear. How- networks resultas' Long- boxed by ment. dk appar- animos- hat Texas theastern President vas' influ- sions for The Legends of the Phog basketball game is this Saturday. SEE UNITED WAY 12 All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan Today's weather Forecasts done by University students. For a more detailed forecast, see page 2A. HI: 72 LO: 50 Nice fall weather.