THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TOM BROKAW VISITS CAMPUS
Former anchor focuses on student political involvement
ISLAM AWARENESS WEEK KICKS OFF
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'Islam 101' to take place todav
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2008
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WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLUME 118 ISSUE 130
REBUTTED RUMOR
SELF TO STAY
BY RUSTIN DODD rdodd@kansan.com
Kansas fans can finally exhale
Kansas fans can finally exhale. The Jayawards are National Champs and
similar situations that have taken longer.
The layhawks are Na their coach - well, he's coming back.
Self said he met with Oklahoma State Athletics Director Mike Holder on Wednesday night at a hotel in Johnson County to discuss the coaching vacancy at Oklahoma State.
Sitting between Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Athletics Director Lew Perkins at a Thursday afternoon press conference, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self squashed the rumor that he would be leaving for Oklahoma State once and for all.
"I don't see the finish line at all but I see the finish line being here. This is home now."
BILL SELF Kansas men's basketball coach
The trio announced that Self had agreed to terms on a potential deal that would keep Self as the basketball coach at Kansas "for a long time to come," Hemenway said.
As for the juicy contract details, none were disclosed on Thursday.
"Bill Self is exactly the right person for Kansas basketball," Hemenway said.
"Money never came up," Self said. "It never came up"
Self said he called Holder at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday and informed Holder of his decision.
"Today is not the day to talk about details," Perkins said. Perkins said he hoped the details could be hammered out within the next few weeks, but he admitted that he's experienced
The controversy over Self's occupational future began last week
when Oklahoma State fired its head basketball coach, Sean Sutton.
Self, who played basketball from 1981-85 and served as assistant coach from 1986-93 at Oklahoma State, was rumored to be the top name on Oklahoma State's coaching wish list.
Self said last week that he had not been contacted about that job and if he was, he would encourage Oklahoma State "to move in a different direction."
After Kansas won its third NCAA cham
pionship on Monday, the controversy swelled, buoyed by media reports that said influential Oklahoma State booster T. Boone Pickens would offer money that would allow Oklahoma State to woo Self with a signing bonus that could reach $10 million.
Self said his mind had been made up since the rumors started flying.
I don't know what the big deal is, Self said.
Self said he offered to assist Oklahoma State with its coaching search in any shane or form.
"I don't know what the big deal is." Self said.
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAN
Perkins said Oklahoma State was very professional regarding its interest in Self.
Although Self could not comment on specifics of a potential contract, he said it was fair to say that he would be getting an extension and a raise. Self's current contract pays him $1,375 million per year.
Coach Bill Self speaks at a press conference Thursday afternoon at Hadi Auditorium. Self spoke about his intent to stay with the Jayhawks for next season despite talks with the Oklahoma State about a coaching vacancy.
Self also spoke about the importance of maintaining and updating Kansas' basketball facilities, which may have played a part in the terms of his new contract.
"We've had good enough facilities to recruit good guys, and that's been proven over time," Self said.
"Facilities are arms race." Self added. "If we're going to recruit the best athletes we need to provide the best things for them."
"We just want to have the best of the best, so we can recruit the best of the best," Self said.
Self also said he consulted his wife and family before making any decision. Self's daughter will be a senior in high school, and his son will be entering the ninth grade.
With the fog around Self's future lifted, he said he was ready to start figuring out how to
win title No.2.
"I don't see the finish line at all, but I see the finish line being here," Self said. "This is home now."
Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird
》 STUDENT SENATE
United Students wins with 48 percent of vote
Referendums
Would you support a $20 per semester increase to the Campus Transportation Fee to create a fare free system that would allow any student to board any KU on Wheels bus by just showing their KUID?
Would you support a $1.50 increase to the SafeRide Fee to begin operating cars at 7:00 p.m.?
BY BRENNA
HAWLEY
bhawley@kansan.
Shouts of joy filled The Yacht Club when members of United Students heard their coalition won the presidency of Student Senate for next year.
Adam McGonigle and Michael Gillaspie of United Students celebrate after being elected student body president and vice president for 2008-2009. This is the second year United Students has won the presidency.
Students voted 48 percent in favor of Adam McGonigle, Wichita sophomore, for president and Michael Gillaspie, Ashland junior, for vice president.
Jon Gnerina/KANSAN
McGonigle said his mentor was current
The candidates received
2,005 votes, which was 200 more than ConnectKU's candidates received. Students of Liberty came in third with 305 votes.
McGonigle, who served as Student Executive Committee Chair this year, said the experience he received from the job prepared him for the presidency.
"This means good things for Student Senate," McGonigle said. "We will work to get things done for the University."
student body president Hannah Love.
Love, Dodge City senior, said she would work to make McGonigle's transition into office a smooth one. She said that even though McGonigle was going to be a junior, his age would not affect his ability to be an effective president.
"He is mature enough and has the skills he needs." Love said.
Gillaspie said it was exciting to win after talking all day to students passing by about platforms he wants to accomplish.
"I've been spending countless hours or
Rachel Anne Seymour/KANSAN
PRO-CHINA PROTEST ON WESCOE BEACH
Controversy over Olympics and Tibet reaches Kansas FULL STORY PAGE 2A
United Students won all 14 freshmansophomore CLAS senate seats, which McGonigle said showed how good a coalition it was all around.
Gillaspie's role as vice president includes chairing Senate meetings, which means keeping order and preventing meetings from getting out of hand. He said he has been in leadership roles before and was prepared.
campus," Gillaspie said. "I know all about lack of sleep."
index
Classifieds. ...3A
Crossword. ...4B
Horoscopes. ...4B
Opinion. ...5B
Sports. ...1B
Sudoku. ...4B
Libby Johnson, Lawrence freshman, won one of those seats and said that winning all 14 was amazing.
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© 2008 The University Daily Kansan
"It shows how hard we worked." Johnson said.
United Students won 30 Student Senate seats in addition to the presidency, ConnectKU won 26 seats, and an independent won one. Gillaspie said this will mean a split Senate, but he was ready to take on controversy.
McGonigle said he was going to visit ConnectKU members to shake their hands and talk about how to work together in the upcoming year.
Edited by Jared Duncan
CONTINUED ELECTION COVERAGE ON PAGE 5A
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