THE UNIVERSITY OF DARY KANSAN MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007
NEWS
3A
BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
going to turn pro, leading Self to think that Rush was leaning that way all along.
"What I wish had happened was, if he knew all along what he was going to do, we'd be better off with him doing it," Self said. "If he made the decision three weeks ago, I think we would have had a good opportunity to replace him."
Because the door is still open for Rush to return, the Jayhawkes can't add another scholarship player just yet. Because of NCAA sanctions against the team, they have one fewer scholarship available than other teams next year. The team was at capacity under the sanctions, but Rush's departure would free one up.
To return to Kansas, Rush cannot hire an agent or accept any money or other benefits while he works out for NBA teams. He'd have to pay his own way to the NBA draft camps as well as any other events he wished to attend. Self also said that there's a large mental hurdle to clear as well.
"I think that whenever guys declare that are going to be high draft picks, I think it's difficult for a lot of those guys to come back," Self said. "Nothing would surprise me, but I told him that if he does this, he needs to go for it."
Currently, Rush is being projected as a late first- or early secondround pick. First-rounders receive guaranteed contracts, but players chosen in the second round have to make the team, then negotiate for their salary.
Rush can improve his stock with a strong showing at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, which takes place in Orlando, Fla., in the last week of May. It won't be his first time at the camp. Rush attended his senior year of high school, before he decided to come to Kansas.
"He performed really well the first time around," Self said. "I'm sure that's a high-anxiety event, and I'm sure he will be a little bit calmer because he knows what to expect."
Rush was not available to comment for this story. He said after making his decision that he would not be holding a press conference to discuss it.
NBA commissioner David Stern has called this year's draft the strongest since underclassmen first began jumping pro in the early '90s. Players across the country, including Rush's former teammate, Julian Wright, are going pro this year.
"You see people all over the country doing it," Self said. "It's a popular thing to do."
For Rush, age was one of the factors. He will turn 22, the age of a college senior, this summer. He's nearing the peak of his career and is ready to get some NBA experience under his belt.
That leaves next year's Kansas team with a mix of old and young players. Veterans like Russell Robinson and Darnell Jackson will mix with Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur. Several players on the team have NBA potential, but this year were unable to step up into a starring role because of Rush and Wright.
Newcomers Cole Aldrich and Tyrel Reed are also expected to be able to contribute minutes right away.
Self said part of the reality of coaching at Kansas is dealing with early departures for the NBA. Rush almost skipped being a Jayhawk to go pro straight out of high school.
"We were hopeful to get him for one year when we signed him," Self said. "To get two years was a bonus."
Kansan senior sportswriter Michael Phillips can be contacted at mphillips@kansan.com.
Edited by Ryan Schneider
for fraternity and sorority life. "They do a large amount of great things."
AWARDS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
As a new tradition, the Shirlie Anne Vaughn Outstanding House Director award was presented in memorial of a former house director of Delta Upsilon. Vaughn's son, David, took the
stage to share fond memories of her before the award was given to Bonn Allred of Delta Gamma and Alice "Bebe" Arbuckle of Phi Gamma Delta.
"My mother would have been really proud to know
The masters of ceremonies, Ryan Lonergan, Mission Hills junior, and Julie Niggle, Overland Park junior, congratulated all Greek houses for their excellence in academia. For the fall semester, the all-Greek GPA was 3.10, slightly higher than the all-University GPA at 2.92.
"The main thing is that we were able to recognize all the chapters that are contributing to the University of Kansas."
that the Outstanding House Director award had been named in her honor," Vaughn said. "It wasn't until after her death that we really got a handle on how much influence she had and all the people she touched."
Other awards included the Intramural, Blood Drive and Highest Grade Point Average awards.
RYAN LONERGAN Mission Hills junior
Six overall chapter excellence awards were given out, all to University sororities: Chi Omega, Delta G am m a , Delta Delta D e l t a , Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta
and Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Although women dominated the chapter excellence awards, the men of Beta Theta Chi won the most awards of any chapter. Eight awards went to the fraternity, which received first place in all three of the highest GPA categories for fraternities.
Only one award was not given this year, the M. Angela Carr
Greek Unity award. This award is based on nominations made by Greek chapters for other chapters on campus. Greek chapters were encouraged to nominate for the next year's awards ceremony so it could be given to a deserving chapter; no one was nominated this year.
Lonergan said he and Niggle began planning for the award ceremony in January and were pleased with the result.
"The main thing is that we were able to recognize all the chapters that are contributing to the University of Kansas," Lonergan said. "We put in a lot of time, but it's good to see it done."
Tanner Burns, Wichita junior and Interfraternal Council vice president of public relations, said it was pleasing to see Lonergan and Niggle's hard work pay off.
Kansan staff writer Katy Blair can be contacted at kblair@kansan.com.
"It was great to see we had a lot of attendance," Burns said. "The night turned out really well."
Edited by Carissa Pedigo
HAPPINESS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
continued in English, occasionally stopping for word clarification from a translator.
Rinpoche said to achieve happiness, people needed to stop listening to their "monkey mind." He said everyone had self-created suffering because of their monkey mind, which was constantly talking and telling them what to think. He described someone looking into a mirror, complaining of differing cheek sizes, crooked nose and a forehead pimple.
"You say to yourself, 'What should I do? I'm ugly,'" Rinpoche said. "And your neurons say, 'Yes, you're ugly.' And the other neurons in your brain all agree, 'We think you're ugly too.'"
He said these feelings increased as each week passed, and people became more and more self-conscious about their flows
which affected their studies, relationships, actions, fears, thinking and appearance. The monkey mind changes our perception of ourselves, making us unhappy.
Rinpoche said.
To counteract this talkative monkey mind, Rinpoche suggested meditation exercises and concentration.
"If you recognized your own perception, that is the best way to liberate yourself from this suffering."
"If you recog- nized your own perception, that is the best way to liberate yourself from this suffering."
MINGYUR RINPOCHE
Tibetan Buddhist author
Rinpoche explained his first experience with meditation and how it balanced his own monkey mind. He said that he started having panic attacks when he was 6 years old
On a three-year retreat in India as a teenager, his panic attacks worsened, and he tried meditation to battle them.
"I looked at panic face-to-face and used that image for my meditation." Rinpoche said.
Rinpoche said that after recognizing his panic and addressing it through concentration, he had inner peace and a stable mind. He said we should not confront our negative emotions, but change our perception of them through recognition.
Audience member Leigh Ann Livingston, Lawrence graduate student, said she had been non-spiritually meditating since 1988. But when she started experiencing panic attacks in 2002, meditation helped her overcome them like Rinpoche
had.
She said she experienced panic attacks because she would feel overwhelmed with her family, her house, her job and maintaining success in all of these areas.
"When I wake up, I'm calm," Livingston said. "But at night the whole world starts to fall apart. It all caves in."
She said that before she went to bed it negatively affected her to think of solutions to her problems, or to try to find answers. Instead, she said she allowed herself to say, I'm okay, I'm experiencing panic right now'. If she recognizes the problem instead of trying to fight it, she becomes calm.
"This happens to a lot of people," Livingston said. "We want control. Fear isn't something that we are comfortable with. We can all learn to have this calm abiding in the face of uncertainty."
In times of extreme happiness or extreme suffering, Livingston said those emotions are short-lived, and people shouldn't run toward the emotion.
"Whichever of the two occurs, be patient," Livingston said.
kansan staff writer Danae DeShazer can be contacted at ddeshazer@kansan.com.
Edited by Carissa Pedigo
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
YOUR AD HERE
Attention Student Groups:
If your student organization is registered with the Student Involvement and Leadership Ceneter, you may get FREE ADVERTISING here in the Kansan through Student Senate!
Email rachhawk@ku.edu for more information!
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
Salon Nouveau:
Promiscuous Girls and other topics in modern music
Join the Commission on the Status of Women for music videos, coffee discussion, and more!
At the Hawk's Nest (1st Floor KS Union) 8pm to 10pm, Tuesday May 1st
April 30th,2007
KU ROTARACT
KU Rotaract is a new club on campus interested in personal and community development through community service! This club gives you an opportunity to get involved in the KU and Lawrence communities as well as network with those who are part of the International Rotary organization.
If you are interested or would like more information, please e-mail KUrotaract@hotmail.com
funded by:
STUDENT
SENATE