MONDAY,AUGUST 16,2004
NEWS
Political expression boundaries on campus laid out
BY JAY SENTER
jsenter@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The placards are beinginked the platforms developed and the speeches honed. With the presidential political campaigns under way this fall, America might witness some of the most partisan political debates in a generation.
But for a state school like the University of Kansas, ensuring the political expression surrounding an election allows both First Amendment rights and prevents abuses of power to be a tightrope walk.
power to On June 14, the Provost's office emailed students and faculty members an outline of the rules governing political expression on campus.
tall space.
State law forbids the use of campus mail or school e-mail to promote a political candidate or party. and University policy bans door-to-door solicitation in residence halls.
Specifically, the message spelled out acceptable uses of campus e-mail servers and public residence hall space.
Provost David Shulenburger said the message's intention is to reduce the likelihood that the actions of a campus organization or faculty member would draw the attention of state officials.
"We just don't want to be in a situation where the University gets penalized by the state either through a fine or through having appropriations reduced or anything else," Shulenburger said.
The Provost's office issued similar statements as recent elections have neared, mainly to prevent the recurrence of incidents in which University property was used to spread partisan political messages.
"They are state rules, and state rules we have to follow."
Shulenburger said that Universitye-mail servers and fax machines have been used for such purposes during previous elections. Punishments for such infractions don't usually make it to the jurisdiction of officials in Topeka.
onlmas say "We've generally said 'quit it,' and that has been effective." Shulenburger said.
While some students may balck at the impression that their right at free expression is censored by the
University policies, Ted Frederickson, professor of journalism, said the Provost's message is a way for the University to weigh two conflicting ideals.
"A state university has to perform a bit of a balancing act between adhering to those restrictions while still protecting the First Amendment rights of students and faculty to speak freely about politics, economics, philosophy or anything." Frederickson said.
Registered political student groups, like the College Republicans and Young Democrats, enjoy some protections under the guidelines. But even the remaining regulations do not appear to significantly hinder their campaign activities.
Josh Steward, College Republicans vice-chairman, said his organization's goals are not impacted significantly by the regulations.
"We can still use e-mail to send out notices to our members, and to try to get interested people to show up to our meetings," Steward said. "We wouldn't want to use mass e-mails anyway, because people don't read them."
n read them. Neither Shulenburger nor Frederickson expect the regulations to inhibit students and faculty members from participating in political discourse.
discourse. "Members of the campus community will no doubt continue to vigorously debate via e-mail and other campus media Bush versus Kerry and other races in the
copiers and computer
Jeannette Johnson, assistant to
the provost, said the office has had no major complaints with violations as of yet.
upcoming elections," Frederickson said. "They simply can't mount organized campaigns using University workers, offices, photocopiers and computer networks."
The only incident she remembered was the provost's office receiving a call that a person was contacted by a political candidate's office at work. Johnson told the person to inform the office to stop calling if it happened again.
Kansan staff writer Andy Hyland contributed to this story.
Edited by Ryan Greene
CONTINUED FROM PAGE1A
McCoy: Army takes KU athlete
man who has taken a unique path to Kansas. From days growing up in an Ohio town, changing the fate of his high school football team to joining the military and moving to California, friends say McCoy's story is an inspiring one about a great teammate who has always stood out. Growing Up
Richwood, a town of 4,800, is like most small towns: Football is central to the town's pride. Each week most of the community would be at the Friday night high school football game. McCoy became part of this tradition at a young age.
McCoy,a would-be senior,is the oldest of three children. All three grew up in the rural agricultural community of Richwood,Ohio.
"One night, John looked up at me and said 'Mama, when I'm bigger, I'm gonna play football,'" Mary said.
Mary McCoy, John's mother, said she took her son to the football games every Friday. Her husband was working, but the two of them made it a priority.
Although McCoy's father, Terry
It was clear at an early age that McCoy's passion was football, Marv said.
McCoy, couldn't make it to all the games, he coached his son through years of pee-wee football.
"When John was playing, he was completely serious," Mary said. "He just isolates himself from everything but the game. We could never be the parents who waved from the stands or yelled out 'Hi John!' He was focused."
"John would tell me I pray God gets me through another game, so I can be the best I can be." Mary said.
Mary said. McCoy would tell her, "I just love the smell of the field," Mary said.
McCoy also carried a deep faith onto the playing field, praying before each game, Mary said.
McCoy worried that some people would object to his praying before games, but he told his mother that he would walk off the field before he would give up his prayers, Mary said.
"I told John that if he had to walk off the field, we'd walk off right behind him," Mary said.
Struggling to succeed
At North Union High School in Richwood, Ohio, McCoy
Mary, however, refused to let her child settle for football fame. She stayed up with McCoy until midnight or later before every test, Mary said.
brent Chapman, McCoy's high school coach, said he was not the only football player to struggle.
excelled on the field but often struggled in the classroom.
McCoy wanted to improve his grades so that he could play at college, Mary said, but the challenge was difficult.
He devoted much of his time to improving his skills on the playing field, often staying after practice to work on his speed.
"His teammates and his opponents respected the heck out of him," Chapman said. "John was a great guy; best linebacker I've ever coached."
McCoy's high school team went 9-1 his senior year, a big change from the team's record in the past.
McCoy's efforts also earned him honors as an individual. He was named the Central District player of the year his senior year and was the only unanimous all-district first team selection Chapman has ever seen, Chapman said
Coming out of high school, McCoy had the skills to play for a
Division 1-A school,but his grades were still not good enough.
Without a scholarship, McCoy had to find another way to pay for school, a responsibility he insisted he would take on himself. After discussing his options with his uncle, a member of the Air Force, McCoy decided to enlist in the Ohio National Guard.
He was gone within thirty days.
Off to California
McCoy's army training took him to California. And when he was complete, McCoy enrolled at Victor Valley Community College, a junior college in Novato, Calif. He became an integral part of the football team, coached by Doug Hoover.
"Before I came to Victor Valley, it was the worst junior college football program in the country." Hoover said. "During McCoy's two years here, we had two of the school's four winning seasons in its 50-year history of football."
At Victor Valley, McCoy worked hard to be noticed by major athletic programs. He was honored as an All-American his sophomore year, recording 114 tackles.
"I haven't been around a better athlete, a better person," Hoover said. "He was the real deal."
When Division 1-A schools
ing another sign. "He wanted to be part of building something," Hoover said. Coming to Kansas
began looking at McCoy,he was immediately attracted to Kansas because of the possibility of helping another struggling program.
As a reserve defensive end last season, McCoy played in 12 games and recorded 11 tackles. After going through an adjustment period last season, he excelled in this year's spring game. Going into this season, McCoy was first on the depth chart with junior Jermail Ashley listed second.
insert second With McCoy's impending deployment, Ashley will likely step into his starting spot.
step into his starting spot McCoy will maintain his final year of athletic eligibility, and Mangino has said that whenever McCoy can come back, he will have a spot with the team.
McCoy is expected to spend at least one full year in Iraq.
His teammates will miss his presence on the field.
"John McCoy is a great loss," said David McMillan, senior defensive end. "Sometimes he'd be my motivator. I'd see him running, and I'd try to run faster and catch up. He's a great loss, but we've got to move on from it."
An exercise science major, McCoy completed two years toward his degree at Victor Valley and one at the University of Kansas. Answering the call
In April, McCoy and the rest of his unit were put on alert for potential mobilization. In July, they were told that they would soon depart for Iraq.
"John's never said one thing negative about this entire thing. He's going to do what he has to do," Mary said.
His coaches and family repeatedly spoke of the determination and unwavering commitment McCoy gave to this assignment.
In the weeks since her son told her he was leaving for Iraq, Mary has found herself paying more attention to the news. While she knows what McCoy will be doing is dangerous, she takes solace in her son's outlook on the situation.
ment:
"This is my country, sometimes we have to think of our privileges," McCoy told his mom, the same night he told her he would be heading for Iraq.
"God bless America, that is his mentality," Mary said.
— Edited by Johanna M. Maska
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