Look inside
Shannon Martin hearing
A court in Golfito, Costa Rica, will determine whether there is enough evidence to hold
three Golfif natives charged with the 2001 death of KU student Shannon Martin. PAGE 3A
BSU seeks members The Black Student Union will have its first meeting of the semester this week. Leaders of the group said getting involved early at the University was crucial to students' success. PAGE 3A
Lied Center celebration
The Family Arts Festival provided a wholesome atmosphere Friday at the Lied Center. PAGE8A
Let's kick it
Kickballers celebrated the end of their season with a party and all-star game near
Memorial Stadium. PAGE 1B
Athletics staff addition Jim Marchiony steps in as the new associate athletics director of external affairs. Kansas athletics director Lew Perkins brought Marchiony from the University of Connecticut. PAGE1B
Weather Today 10573
Vol.114 Issue No.4
sunny
Two-day forecast tomorrow wednesday 10474 10073
sunny
sunny
— weather.com
Tell us your news. Contact Michelle Burhenn, Lindsay Hanson or Leah Shaffer at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
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index
Briefs 2A
Opinion 4A
Sports 1B
Sports briefs 2B
Horoscopes 6B
Comic 6B
KANSAN
Report pegs Kansas 44th best in rankings lack of funding blamed for fall in stature
By Maggie Newcomer
mnewcomer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Chancellor Robert Hemenway's Opening Convocation goal of moving the University of Kansas into the top 25 public universities by 2010 took a blow Friday when the University was ranked 44th on U.S. News and World Report's 2004 list.
Monday, August 25, 2003
The Student Newspaper of the University of Kansas
University drops in rank
The University fell three spots from its 41st rank last year.
its 41st rank last year.
Provost David Shulenburger said insufficient state funding was a big reason for the University's drop in stature. The lack of funds resulted in lower faculty salaries, he said, which affected the rankings.
"A lot of schools in the Midwest just don't have the resources," Shulen-burger said.
Six of the Big 12 schools ranked in the top 50, and they all ranked lower this year than in 2003. All six schools' budgets were cut.
budgets were cut.
Shulenburger said without enough
But the University's top 25 goal is not a lost cause. The University scored well in graduation rates, retention rates and reputation. And the graduation and retention rates are improving, Shulen-burger said.
money from the state, it would be almost impossible to move the University into the top 25.
The School of Business ranked 33rd on the list of undergraduate business programs at public universities and the School of Engineering was 40th in undergraduate engineering programs, both up from last year.
Shulenburger said that there were many positive programs at the University that U.S. News and World Report doesn't use to rank the schools. Faculty awards, research grants and endowment were not considered, he said.
ment were not, director of University Lynn Bretz, director of University Relations, said one list that was overlooked by many was the 2004 Fiske Guide to Colleges. The Fiske Guide listed the University as one of its 22 best buys.
"We received four out of a possible five stars again."Bretz said. Academics,
"They can be somewhat fickle from year to year," Shulenburger said.
in to year, shulenburger said that the only things missing from moving the University to the top 25 were state resources.
U.S. News Best Colleges KU fell from 41 to 44 in the U.S.News college rankings There's an overall decline in ranking among these Big 12 schools.
Texas A&M and Colorado were the only other Big 12 schools in the Fiske Guide.
2002 2003
Texas 14 17
A & M 24 27
Missouri 28 32
Colorado 31 35
Iowa State 39 41
KU 41 44
colleges are the best
Although the University's drop is a setback, Shulenburger said the U.S. News list is not the final word in which
social life and quality of life are taken into consideration for the Fiske Guide.
Heat wave parches students, campus
Edited by Ashley Marriott
By Kevin Kampwirth
kkampwirth@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
Green grass in Lawrence is becoming harder and harder to find these days.
And with the prospect of yet another string of 100 or above degree days in store for this week, a patch of green grass should be considered a wonder of nature.
Last week, when temperatures in Lawrence reached triple digits seven days in a row from Aug. 16 to Aug.22, Lawrence was one of the hottest spots in the country. The heat wave was punctuated by last Thursday's nationwide high of 109 degrees — not including the heat index.
not including the next one.
"It's to the point where you can't even do anything outside," said Matt Rhoades, St. Louis senior, who noticed the high temperatures while walking down Massachusetts Street on Fridav.
Courtney Kunlew Akinshi Nathan Bammes, Topeka freshman, got a drink of water in the shade after playing Ultimate Frisbee yesterday afternoon in front of Allen Fieldhouse. Temperatures in Lawrence reached 103 degrees.
Temperatures stayed out of the 100s and in the mid to high 90s this past weekend, providing a small amount of relief, but today's high is expected to be around 103 degrees with the mercury forecasted to hit triple digits Tuesday and Wednesday as well.
Many students back for the first day of classes last Thursday who were not used to dealing with such high temperatures didn't know what to think.
didn't know what to say
"It's almost oppressive," said Chris Scolari, Boulder, Colo., senior. "By the time I got done walking to class, I was soaked with sweat."
Although physical exertion in such
SEE HEAT ON PAGE 7A
The Grass is Blue
ABOVE: Colleen Heine playe the role and Annette Koehler picks Fiddling and Picking Championships.
TOP LEFT: Gordon Riley strummed his guitar in the shade of a tree in South Park at the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships yesterday afternoon. When asked about the heat Riley said, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Fiddlers converge at contest
By Alex Hoffman
ahoffman@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The 23rd Annual Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships were held on two stages at South Park, 12th and Massachusetts streets. The event presented an array of concerts and contests on a sizzling afternoon.
Brad Levy, a Lawrence resident
who helped with the event, said up to 100 participants were scheduled to compete in the contests, an increase from previous years. Performers ranged from fiddler, banjo and mandolin players to fingerpick and flatnick guitarists.
All contests were open to those who did not take first place last year.
David Barnhill, Lawrence sophomore, entered the fat-pick contest and
has been playing for three years.
"I've always wanted to come play in this," he said.
Others across Kansas also tried their hand in the contest. Allan Standard of Wellsville returned after placing third in the flat-pick contest last year. He said the heat could give him hope to finish well this year.
SEE GRASS ON PAGE 7A