Friday, August 27, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
Fairness of Merit Scholarships questioned
By Nathan Willis writer @kansan.com Kansan staff writer
E. J. Reedy graduated from high school with a formidable academic resume.
The Topeka junior graduated first in his class of 230 at Topeka West High School. He had a weighted high school GPA of 4.53.
But he scored a 210 on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test's Selection Index his junior year — a good score, but two points less than the 212 required to become a National Merit Semifinalist in Kansas that year.
Those two points might have cost Boody thousands of dollars.
Had he become a Semifinalist, Reedy likely would have advanced to Finalist status about 90 percent of Semifinalists do. That would have locked him into the $5,000 in annual scholarships the University offers Finalists.
Instead, Reedy receives about $2,000 annually from the University — 60 percent less than what Merit Scholars receive.
Despite that, Reedy has continued to excel. He has a GPA better than 3.9 and is co-director for the Center for Community Outreach this year.
"I think it's silly for the University to place so much emphasis on one day of a person's junior year," Reedy said. "I think it's impossible to tell how to place all the scholarship based on such a specific event."
Cases such as Reedy's have led some students to question if the recent emphasis the University has placed on recruiting and handing out hefty scholarships to National Merit Scholars is justified.
"I know people I went to high school with who worked twice as hard and got better grades than me, but they weren't National Merit because they didn't score as high on a standardized test," said Wilson Miner, a Wichita freshman and part of this year's crop of 101 Merit Scholars.
Miner is just one of several Merit Scholars who said that although they were grateful for the scholarships, they thought Merit Scholars were sometimes
Here are four primary stages in becoming a National Merit Scholar. During junior year of high school
MERIT CRITERIA
During junior year of high school the student takes the PSATs. The student's score determines initial eligibility for semifinal or commended scholar status.
Semifinalists provide high school academic records, including extra-curricular backgrounds
National Merit Corp. sends letters to 35,000 college scholars. About 15,000 students continue in the selection process as seminalists
About 90 percent of the semifinalists become National Merit Scholars. Finalists who choose University of Kansas as their first-choice university receive a National Merit Scholarship and a corresponding $5,000 financial aid package from the University.
receiving attention at the expense of other students.
"I don't think they should focus quite so much on it and make such a big deal," said Susan Dunavan, a Charlottesville, Va., junior and Merit Scholar.
Administrators offered several reasons for the heavy focus.
One is that many universities give Merit Scholars lots of attention.
"We want to offer competitive packages," said Alan Cerveny, director of admissions and scholarships. "We're not interested in buying students, but we're not
interested in lo$ing students either."
"It's great advertising." Carlin said.
Diana Carlin, interim assistant provost, said Merit Scholars generated great publicity for the University and compared their recruitment to when KU basketball coach Roy Williams lands a McDonald's All-American.
Carlin also said that Merit Scholars were generally excellent students.
The trouble is they're not the only ones, Reedy said. And the ones are not Merit Scholars
pay for it,he said.
However, Cerveny said that a few students who were not Merit Scholars actually have bested the money Merit Scholars receive with a combination of University and outside scholarships.
"The University gives out more than $12 million in scholarships to students every year, and that goes far beyond National Merit Scholars." Cerveny said.
He said the National Merit award was higher than the other packages, though, which led back to the question of whether it should be used to determine who gets the University's top scholarships.
Although some students and administrators said they knew the National Merit system was somewhat arbitrary because the initial qualifier was a test score, many said no system could be completely fair.
"You have to have some sort of filter," Miner said. "No, it's not perfectly fair, but I don't know that there's anything better."
Edited by Chris Hopkins
Friends recall Baker's hobbies,achievements
Continued from page 1A
evening praise and worship meetings.
evening praise and worship meetings.
"Jarold always smiled," said Ron Hockney, KU graduate and band member. "I'm honored to play here because I know Jarold's having a great time right now."
Some people sang with their arms raised up, as Steve Swanson said Baker had done while listening to that music.
"This service is to help us foster memories and also to perpetuate them," Swanson, campus pastor and Chi Alpha director, told those gathered in the small church.
Several people offered memories of Baker.
Debbie Hall, church member, told the crowd how Baker taught her three young daughters how to fly a kite, make a pizza and build a fort.
Jason Topliff, Goodland senior and former roommate, recalled Baker getting sick on a ride at Worlds of Fun and cooking burgers together on Saturdays at Pearson Scholarship Hall.
While Jarold Baker's friends spoke of him, some touched upon his abrupt and uncertain death.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Department was still investigating the facts surrounding the drowning.
They included a high school salutatorian trophy, oil paintings he had done and an oak bookshelf he completed the week before he died.
But last night, his friends and family placed the focus on Baker's hobbies and accomplishments, visible through several items that were displayed in the church's foyer and sanctuary.
His mother, Shirley Baker, brought a photo collage she made, a portion of which Jarold Baker made for a project during high school.
The collage included pictures of Jarold Baker as a chubby-cheeked child in blue overalls, an adolescent feeding cows on the family farm and a glowing high school student in a tuxedo.
There was also a recent picture of him wearing a royal blue KU sweatshirt.
His father, John Baker, said that he, his wife and Jarold Baker's 27-year-old brother visited him in Lawrence two weeks ago.
John Baker said they went to Kansas City, saw the Runaway Bride, ate at K.C. Masterpiece and visited Jarol Baker's new apartment.
"It was a really fun trip," John Baker said. "We'll always remember it."
— Edited by Darrin Peschka
Better retention goal of grou
By Derek Prater
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Representatives from a host of different University of Kansas administrative offices gathered yesterday to address a growing concern at the University: retention of minority students.
Though the University as a whole has a strong student-retention rate of about 70 percent, minority retention hovers at about 48 percent, said Robert N. Page Jr., associate director of Multicultural Affairs and HAWK Link committee chair.
In April, the HAWK Link committee was formed with the goal of improving minority retention and matriculation.
"We knew that this is a trend at many universities, and we had to address this issue," Page said.
At yesterday's meeting, which drew about 40 people, the theme was collaboration. The HAWK Link committee presented its HAWK Link 2000 Students of Color Retention Strategy and
Mary Ryan, director of New Student Orientation and HAWK Link committee member, said that the strength of the committee was in the singularity of its purpose.
stressed the need for input from varying departments, staff and students.
"It's a great group working together that isn't concerned about what office they represent, but about how we can work together," she said.
The HAWK Link proposal outlines a plan that should make minority students more aware of the resources available to them and more comfortable and connected to the University.
It starts with recruitment and makes sure that the recruitment process educates students on barriers to their success at the University, such as financial problems. Though recruitment of minorities has been up, the process has not been effective in preparing students for life at the University, Page said.
dents involved with orientation earlier was the key to being successful in preparing them for university life.
Though the University has one of the best orientation programs in the country, more could be done to help minority students take advantage of the program, he said.
The proposal also highlights improvements that can be made through advising, mentoring, workshops, student involvement and housing.
Ryan said that getting stu-
The program will be assessed throughout the year by the HAWK Link committee to identify areas of success and needs for improvement.
Faculty and staff posed questions at the meeting and offered input on how the program could be effective. Page said he was encouraged by the involvement.
"KU has everything in place," he said. "All we need to do is pull it all together." Page said that student involvement is a key to success.
Season Titus, Newton junior and HAWK Link student coordinator, said that it was important for students to help their peers get involved.
"I want all students of color to feel comfortable on campus," she said. "We want them feel that KU is the place that they want to be."
—Edited by Chris Hopkins
Hunsucker maintains innocence in rape trial
by Katie Hollar
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Flickering lights and rumbling thunder punctuated Gregory Hunsucker IT's testimony yesterday afternoon.
While the storm surged outside, the Douglas County Law Enforcement Center, the defendant in the ongoing rape trial, took the stand in Division II court.
The rape charges against Hunsucker, an Olathe sophomore, stem from events Oct. 17 at Ellsworth Hall. A female resident of the hall said Hunsucker overpowered her, penetrated her vagina with his finger and fondled her breasts without her consent. This is Hunsucker's second trial for these charges; his initial trial in June ended in a hung jury.
Before Hunsucker's testimony, defense attorney Don Smith moved for an acquittal. It was denied by presiding Judge Jack Murphy.
While on the stand, Hunsucker adhered to his original statements last October. Hunsucker said he and the alleged victim kissed, engaged in mutual oral sex and vaginal intercourse Oct. 17. He said all actions were consensual.
During cross-examination of the defendant, prosecutor Dave Zabel focused on Hunsucker's background in wrestling - his size, strength and ability to pin. Murphy allowed the questioning despite an objection from Smith.
Earlier in the day Zabel had called a number of witnesses, including the alleged victim's mother, roommate and neighbor, as well as the KU Public Safety Officers who filed the original report.
The alleged victim's roommate was in the room asleep during the event. She said she did not hear anything. However, she said it was not uncommon for her to sleep through noise and voices. Their neighbor said she did not hear any noise the night in question.
The alleged victim's mother said she noticed a change in her daughter's personality after the weekend of Oct. 17.
a "rape kit" — evidence collected by medical personnel — was not used in the case; both officers said they did not deem it necessary in this situation.
The trial will resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Smith said he expected closing statements and a verdict tomorrow afternoon.
- Edited by Julia Nicholson
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