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VOLUME 118 ISSUE 131
STUDENT SENATE
Students vote for far-fetched candidates
Batman, Abraham Lincoln, Mario Chalmers and Ronald McDonald all made appearances on last week's Student Senate ballot. Write-in candidates can help students voice their disapproval of registered candidates but also give people a place to be funny when writing in candidates.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 3A
PHILANTHORPY
Campus Center gives chances to volunteer
This week KU's Center for Community Outreach presents Into the Streets Week, a week of activities that raises awareness for volunteering. Today's events include the Empty Bowl Project on Wescoe Beach from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a Mentors in the Lives of Kids recess day.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 6A
AWARENESS
Free HIV tests to inform students
Confidential HIV testing for students is available on campus today, Tuesday and Wednesday.
15 Seconds, a student group that promotes HIV/AIDS awareness, the Douglas County AIDS Project and Student Health Services will sponsor the free testing.
CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE
Sexually active students should get tested every six months.
FULL STORY ON PAGE 3A
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TEXAN WINS MISS USA IN LAS VEGAS
FULL AP STORY PAGE 4A
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Taylor Miller/KANSAM
THE PARTY'S NOT OVER
Jayhawks of all ages gathered in crowds of tens of thousands on Massachusetts Street for a parade celebrating the Jayhawks victory in the 2008 NCAA Championship. The float included the Haskell Color Guard, the University Band, Cancellor Robert Hemmenway, Athletics Director Lew Perkins and the coaches and players of the men's basketball team.
Alumni, fans fill the streets for 'family-oriented' celebration
Taylor Miller/KANSAN
BY ANDY GREENHAW AND
LUKE MORRIS
agreenhaw@kansan.com
lmorris@kansan.com
Sophomore forward Darrell Arthur gives fans high-fives during yesterday's parade down Massachusetts Street to celebrate the Jayhawks' 2008 NCAA Championship victory. Arthur scored a team-high 20 points in the 75-68 victory against Memphis in the championship game last week.
A wave of screaming praise followed the KU men's basketball team down Massachusetts Street Sunday as an estimated 40,000 fans from all over the country showed up at a parade to honor the 2008 NCAA National Champions.
The basketball players threw up countless high fives as the train of convertibles they rode in inched its way through the crowded sea of blue shirts that came to commemorate the Jayhawks for their terrific season.
The Marching Jayhawks and Spirit Squad led the parade. The basketball coaches followed, then the players. Junior guard Mario Chalmers, whose final shot in regulation against Memphis tied the championship game, received the loudest ovation from fans. Senior guard Russell Robinson lifted the NCAA Championship plaque high above his head as he passed by the cheering masses.
It took more than 22 minutes for them to travel just three blocks from Seventh Street to 10th Street. The parade ultimately ended at 19th and Naismith streets.
Chalmers said it was a great feeling to see all the fans.
"We really appreciate all the support," he said.
It was assistant basketball coach Danny Manning's second time in 20 years being in a Jawhawk championship parade.
When asked how it felt, he said, "Are you serious? You can't be serious. It's great. It's awesome. It's whatever you want to insert to make me sound like the happiest man alive."
Downtown Lawrence was a constant pep rally all day as Rock Chalk chants and songs periodically erupted from the crowd.
Most fans in the crowd wore Jayhawk apparel, and even a few dogs sported Kansas jerseys.
Aaron Schuster, Andover junior, said the atmosphere was a lot different from Monday when the Jayhawks beat Memphis for the championship.
"It's definitely a lot more family-oriented," he said. "It was a lot more planned out, so it's not quite as nuts."
Paul Schapker, Prairie Village junior who plays the snare drum in the KU band, said he couldn't be happier to march in the parade.
"It's like a dream come true playing in the championship parade," he said. "I'm proud of the team and coach Bill, and I'm glad he's sticking around. And if he ever wants his own private parade to get from his car to the fieldhouse or wherever he might be headed, we'll be there."
The parade also gave business owners on Massachusetts Street another reason to celebrate. Many fans filled stores along the street that sold Jayhawk merchandise. Jock's Nitch, 837 Massachusetts, was filled with fans waiting to buy Jayhawk gear, even during the parade.
"Today has been insanely busy," said Ryan Owens, Jock's Nitch manager. "For the first time ever, we had to limit the number of people coming into the store."
awards ceremony
For full coverage of the awards ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse that followed the parade, see 1B.
Owens said that employees from the store's seven other locations came to Massachusetts Street to help out. He said the rush at the store started around 10 a.m.
"We're in the perfect location for something like this", Owens said. "So many people are here from out of town, and they're checking out the store."
"We're KU fans; we don't cause trouble," he said. "We were used to winning."
Deputy Sheriff Jay Armbrister said the atmosphere brought back memories from when the Jayhawks won the championship in 1988 when he was 12 years old. He said that people causing trouble were the last thing on his mind.
KU alumni traveled from all over the
country to celebrate the 2008 championship.
Josh Talbott, 1953 graduate, came to watch the parade with his grandson, who he said attended the University of Kansas. Talbott said he had been a Kansas fan since 1948.
"That was when we got beat by Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl because we fumbled the ball on the one-yard-line with one minute to go," he said. "For all the close losses we've had over the years, this year was our time to win."
Jason and Katie Gorman, both 2001 Kansas alumni, said they thought it was the Jayhawks' destiny to win.
"I was here in '88, so it's really cool to be back here again." Katie Gorman said.
Lawrence resident Gary Grob said that this year's parade was better than the championship parade in 1988.
"It was the greatest thing to ever happen to Lawrence, Kansas," Grob said. "I wish it would've been bigger, but that's okay"
Grob and his family sat in the back of his truck, which was parked on Massachusetts Street. Grob said his family parked the truck there at 4 p.m. Saturday to get the prime spot.
2
Edited by Jessica SainBaird
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