2A
Wednesday, March 6, 1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GRADES: Athletic Department trying to focus on individuals, not teams
"I know it's stressed too much when they're bad and hardly mentioned when they're good," Mason said.
Continued from Page 1.
team's GPA.
Freshmen on the football, volleyball and soccer teams have a particularly difficult time their first semester at Kansas, Buskirk said. They start practices before classes begin and have little opportunity to get a feel for campus life, he said.
The fall semester also tends to be more challenging for student-athletes. Buskirk said he expected the overall 2.6 GPA of student athletes last fall to rise this semester.
Incoming freshman also enter college with varying academic backgrounds and study tools.
Since Kansas began compiling team GPAs in 1986, the spring semester has yielded a higher GPA than the semester preceding, with one exception. In 1993-94, the overall GPA was 2.71 during both semesters.
NCAA eligibility often becomes a question with the release of the team GPAs, and it is a complex issue, Buskirk said.
For returning student athletes to maintain continuing eligibility they must pass 24 credit hours that count toward a degree each year, which includes the summer semester. They need a minimum cumulative GPA of 1.8, and that number climbs as they progress in a degree program.
A good number went even higher than the University minimums. Even though three teams' average fell below a 2.5, 146 of the more than 450 student-athletes were named Jayhawk Scholars with a 3.0 or better. Of those, 26 had a perfect 4.0 last fall.
Most student-athletes shoot well above the 1.8 minimum because of their own academic expectations as well as the varying GPA requirements imposed by schools in the University, Buskirk said.
Despite the positives, steps are being taken to improve the low GPAs.
"The changes implemented are not wholesale," Buskirk said. "We have shortened the rope on certain individuals. We need to focus on individuals and not teams. Student athletes compete as a team but earn diplomas one at a time."
SPENCER: Suspect being investigated for thefts in Arkansas
Continued from Page 1.
Smith is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing at 1:45 p.m. March 18.
taken any special precautions.
KU police Officer Gayle Reecea said police were tracing the letters missing from Spencer Research Library.
"Officers may have an idea where the documents are and are following up on those leads," she said.
Arkansas State Police Sergeant
James Rainbolt said the police in Little Rock were also investigating Smith in connection with the library thefts in Arkansas.
"I know a couple of people who think that he has taken documents from them, but we can't prove it yet," he said. "We will probably have a warrant in a little while, but we don't have our case completed yet."
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville police Lieutenant Steve Meyer couldn't comment but said that the police there also were investigating thefts.
But for Pine and Ferguson, the missing documents are what's important.
"I just want my stuff back," Pine said.
Students to cast mock ballots
Students have a chance to make their voices heard in Washington.
By Nicole Kennedy Kansan staff writer
The Student Legislative Awareness Board is holding a National Student Primary today in an effort to make presidential candidates aware of campaign issues that affect young people.
Students can cast their votes for presidential candidates at polling sites on Wescoe Beach and in the Kansas Union today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Wescoe Beach site will be moved into Wescoe Cafeteria in case of bad weather.
Dave Stevens, issues coordinator for the Student Legislative Awareness Board, said all students, regardless of their political affiliation, should participate in the primary.
Candidates are likely to pay attention to young people who vote, Stevens said.
The voting ballot also asks students to indicate which issues they want to see the presidential candidates address in their campaigns and whether they plan to vote in the upcoming election.
Students also can register to vote at the polling sites.
"It's so easy; it takes five minutes," Stevens said.
Student Senate gave $300 to the Student Legislative Awareness Board to run an advertising campaign encouraging students to vote in the primary. Stevens said he thought many students would vote today.
"I expect that most KU students, since there isn't a Kansas primary, would like to have their voices heard." Stevens said.
Scott Shorts, Derby sophomore, said he planned to vote in the student primary.
Shorts said he thought the Republican presidential candidates were paying attention to the opinions of younger voters.
"The Christian Coalition is all older folks, and they're going to need to find another coalition of voters," he said.
However, Sarah Nichols, Kansas
Citv. Kan, freshman, disagreed.
"I don't think all the candidates pay attention to the young peoples' vote," she said.
About 50 universities nationwide are participating in the primary. Stevens said he expected the primary results for all the universities to be released Friday.
ON THE RECORD
The rear tire of a KU student's mountain bike was stolen between 3:30 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Monday in the east-side bike rack of Learned Hall. The tire was valued at $150. KU police reported.
Red Lyon Tavern
stolen, and the plastic face to a computer was damaged between 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 4:45 p.m. Sunday from room 202 in the Computer Center. The items were valued at $200, and the damage was valued at $25, KU police reported.
An IBM Ram Simm and a 486
3M3HZ processor were
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence
The University Daily Kansan (USPS 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 60045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and final periods, and Wednesday during the summer session. Second-class postage is paid in Lawrence, Kan. 60044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $90. Student subscriptions are paid through the student activity fee.
Postmaster: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045.
Weather
944 Mass. 832-8228
Office of Study Abroad win sponsor an informational meeting about summer studies in Golfto, Costa Rica at 2:30 p.m. today at the English Room in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Ellen Strubert at 864-3742.
ON CAMPUS
SOURCE: Chian-Well-Chang, Mike Rohlerder, KU Wetterer Service
SOURCE: Chian-Well-Chang, Mike Rohlerder, KU Wetterer Service
■ KU Karate Club will practice at 5:30 p.m. today at 215 Robinson Center. For more information, call Jon Sides at 832-1771.
tonight at the Curry Room in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Ruth at 843-3074.
Kansas University Gamers and Roleplayers will meet at 6 p.m. today at Parliars A, B and C in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Isaac Bell at 843-9178.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship will sponsor a manuscript study in the Gospel of Luke at 7 tonight at the Walnut Room in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Jason Brown at 749-2408.
ANAD will sponsor an eating disorders support group at 7
KU Sailing Club will meet at 7 tonight at the International Room in the Kansas Union. Call Eric Stehm at 864-8299 for more information.
- KU Libertarians will meet at 8 tonight at the Governor's Room in the Kansas Union. Call Ena Wheeler for more information at 842-4225.
ENOUGH!
Terrorist attacks in Israel have murdered more than 60 people and injured over 200 in just nine days. Months after Israel mourned the tragic loss of its hero, Yitzhak Rabin, it mourns the senseless murder of innocent lives.
Hamas is a murderous terrorists organization. Unlike most Palestinians who pray for peace, Hamas has staged a so-called "holy war" against Israel and against peace. With these murders, they have threatened the progress made in recent months toward peaceful coexistence among Israelis and Palestinians.
We are worried about our families and our friends in Israel, including several KU students and faculty members. We fear for the lives of Israelis, Jews and others who may be caught in the murderous web of intolerance, war, and hatred.
We urge people of faith, people of conscience, and those who choose life over the darkness of war and terror, to support all of those who strive for peace.
"Enough bloodshed. Enough tears." -Yitzhak Rabin
Paid for by the KU Hillel Foundation
7
4.