THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2008
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLUME 118 ISSUE 128
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Hawk rally
Team returns to University; fans happily greet
Members of the Kansas basketball team look to the crowd during Tuesday's national championship celebration at Memorial Stadium. Fans gathered at the stadium to welcome the team back to Lawrence. Bill Self and players thanked the fans for their support. The Jayhawks returned to Lawrence from San Antonio after Monday night's 75-68 porttime victory against Memphis. This is the team's third NCAA title and the first title since 1988.
BY CALEB SOMMERVILLE
csommerville@kansan.com
Thousands of fans gathered at Memorial Stadium to welcome the KU basketball team back from their 75-68 victory against the Memphis Tigers.
A replay of the championship game played on the large screen in the south end zone while fans waited for the team.
Caleb Sommerville/KANSAN
Near the beginning of overtime on the replay, the team arrived at the stadium and waited behind the stands while the basketball introduction video, which is usually played at Allen Fieldhouse, was played for the fans.
After the video, the players walked out to a stage set up in the middle of Kivisto Field. Senior Rodrick Stewart, who broke a kneecap Friday during practice, was driven to the stage in a Gator.
appearances.
Max Falkenstien, former radio announcer for the Jayhawks, hosted the short ceremony.
"Only one other time in history has one school had a team win a BCS football bowl game and the national championship in the same year," Falkenstien said.
"Guess what? Last night, we got our swagger back!" Perkins said.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, former player and current assistant coach Danny Manning, Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Athletics Director Lew Perkins made
Coach Bill Self also made a speech, giving all the credit to the players and fans.
"These guys, other than playing, have had zero fun. All they've done is watch tape, sleep and eat. And play a little bit," Self said, jokingly.
Self then had a few players stand up and say a few words. The players thanked their teammates, the fans, and even the band and pep squad.
Self introduced junior Mario Chalmers as "Mr. Clutch," who made "the biggest shot in the history of Kansas basketball."
"We love you all," Chalmers said.
Self also emphasized how much he loved being at Kansas.
"I can't imagine there being any place that's better to coach or play at than the University of Kansas," Self said.
Fans flocked to the stadium despite 40-degree weather and scattered showers.
"I was here 20 years ago, and I'm here again today," Linda Donnelly, Topeka resident said.
Jon Gregor, Leavenworth resident, said he brought his son, Thomas, because he went to the 1988 championship game and pep rally and wanted Thomas to experience it.
"I love the Jayhawks," Thomas Gregor
said.
Josh Blaisdell, a high school senior from Eudora, said he had been waiting 18 years for KU to win the NCAA Championship. He said he planned to attend KU this fall.
"I'm so excited to go now, it's gonna be awesome next year," Blaisdell said.
The weather didn't deter fans from supporting their team.
"We want to support our boys," said Ashley Katowske, Tonganoxie freshman in high school.
Blake Canter, Hutchinson freshman,
and a group of his friends braved the rainy
weather.
"I'm out here in shorts and a T-shirt, I don't care, I'm here for them 100 percent," Canter said.
Edited by Madeline Hyden
SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 6A-7A
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WINE TOUR INTRODUCED IN ALABAMA
Churches are against the initiative to attract tourists
weather
FULL AP STORY PAGE 12A
Students line up in front of Stauffer-Flint Hall Tuesday to pick up a copy of The Kansan. Because of high demand, 15,000 additional copies of the newspaper were printed and can be purchased in 119 Stauffer-Flint today.
index
Weston White/KANSAN
60 48
Partly cloudy
68 38 Strong storms
49 35 Windy, cloudy
Classifieds. .9B
Crossword. .8A
Horoscopes. .8A
Opinion. .9A
Sports. .1B
Sudoku. .8A
All contents, unless stated otherwise.
© 2008 The University Daily Kansan
》 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
More issues of Tuesday's Kansan available
It's been a great year for the men's basketball team, and a good one for The Kansan, too. We ran out of papers yesterday morning and many people were unable to get a copy. Our phones and office were buzzing with requests from students and alumni. We're sorry that many of you were not able to pick up newspapers from our racks.
We want papers commemorating this
In anticipation of a greater demand for papers caused by the hype surrounding Monday's game, we printed 1,500 extra copies of Tuesday's paper. But even that wasn't enough, so we decided to print 15,000 more copies — which totaled more than twice our usual amount — when we ran out on Tuesday. Those papers are now available in our business office, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, and on Kansan.com.
great event to be available to everyone. As is our policy every day, students can receive a free copy, and up to four additional copies for 25 cents each. Copies are available for the general public for 25 cents, with a limit of two. We will have sales representatives on hand in our business office from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Thursday to handle requests. Orders placed online will include a $5 shipping and handling fee.
We've also posted newspapers for sale for 25 cents on eBay. That was done to thwart other people from selling them for exorbitant prices. Someone took 121 copies from our distribution racks Tuesday morning and posted them for sale on eBay for $10 each. They were removed from the site after our general manager contacted the seller and threatened to pursue legal action. Everyone is entitled to have a copy of the paper, but within limits. The Kansan will take action against anyone who tries to profit from our product. It is unfair to other students who came to campus to get a copy but were unable to obtain one because some individuals took stacks of papers. The money we make from our sales goes to support the cost of our daily production.
Our staff is working to produce a special section commemorating the season, which
will come out as a special insert in the paper sometime during the next few weeks, and will be available on our Web site as well. We will have other memorabilia available for sale soon, including commemorative posters. Check out The University Daily
Kansan or our Web site, www.kansan.com for further details.
Slipke is a Bristol, Conn., senior in journalism. She is editor of The Kansan.
ELECTIONS
Vote today online or on campus
STUDENT SENATE
Student Senate elections start today. Vote online or at one of the polling stations around campus.
one community, many voices.
Look at Kansan.com for more information on:
Platforms: "Coalitions offer their platforms to campus" in the April 1 Kansan
Presidential candidates: "A look at Student Senate hopefuls" in the March 24 Kansan
Vice presidential candidates:
"Examining the Student Senate VP Candidates" in the March 13 Kansas
CRIME
Police make sure celebrations don't get out of control
SEE FULL STORY ON PAGE 5A
Kansas fans flooded Massachusetts Street yet again Monday night damaging lighted business signs and breaking windows. Sgt. Paul Fellers, of the Lawrence Police Department, said the destruction could have been worse considering how many people came out to support the Jayhawks.
health
The first ever University of Kansas Smokeout will take place on campus today.
**Who:** Student Health Services is sponsoring the smokeout
**What:** A moratorium on smoking for the day.
Where: Campus-wide, with an informational table set up on Wescoe Beach between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
When: April 9
Why: To raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco and promote KU's smoking cessation program, KanU Quit, for any student thinking about kicking the habit.
❤️
1.