8A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008
STUDENT FEES
Boathouse fee keeps sports pass fee increases at bay
BY LUKE MORRIS
Imorris@kansan.com
Kansas Athletics said it would not raise the price of the student all-sports pass for next year despite the success of both the football and men's basketball teams.
Associate athletics director Jim Marchiony said that in 2006 the Athletic Department promised to keep the price of the sports pass the same as long as the students paid a $15 fee each semester that went toward the construction of the new boathouse for the rowing team each semester. Students also pay an additional $25 each semester that goes to women's and non-revenue sports.
Students can buy the $150 sports pass, which gives students tickets to all home football and men's basketball games, as part of their optional fees through the University's Enroll and Pay Web site.
"The only factor for now is we want to make it as affordable as we can for students to come to games," Marchiony said.
Mark Lienemann, Atchison Junior, said he was surprised that Kansas Athletics wouldn't raise the prices and that he wasn't aware of the pledge to keep the price the same.
"I figured the prices would go up because of the success of our football team," Lienemann said.
Lienemann said that raising the price wouldn't stop him from buying the sports pass unless the price became "ridiculous."
Kansas Athletics raised its prices for football tickets for non-student fans for the 2008 season. In 2007,
season ticket prices for public, faculty-staff and recent graduate fans were $275, $225 and $200, respectively. Next season these prices will be $300, $240 and $240.
Different universities have different all-sports pass definitions. Some only include football and men's basketball, while others include all sports. Universities like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Nebraska offer only individual season ticket options for sports.
The all-sports pass lets Kansas students into men's basketball and football games for the fourth-cheapest price in the Big 12 Conference, according to each Big 12 university's athletics ticket office. Only Texas, Texas Tech and Colorado have cheaper prices. Texas Tech's tickets are the least expensive, costing student $52
each. The priciest student tickets were Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State, which charge $275,$295 and $372.
Both Lienemann and Kelsey Adkins, Overland Park freshman, said they were surprised that Kansas tickets were so cheap.
"I thought wed be one of the higher prices because we have so much history and tradition with our basketball team," Adkins said.
Marchiony said that students should keep the quality of the different programs in mind when they look at the ticket prices.
"Considering our athletic program, it's a very good deal when you compare it to other members of the Big 12."
Edited by Nick Mangiaracina
Baylor includes tickets in student fees
** Pricing from 2007-08 school year
Source: university ticket offices
Former athletes find their places in campus ministries
》 RELIGION
Jon Goering/KANSAN
BY LUKE MORRIS
lmorris@kansan.com
Jon Goering/KANSAS Dan Coke, 2003 graduate and former KU football player, works as campus director for Midwest Student Ministries. He said he began preaching the Gospel to whomever would listen after a friend explained Christianity to him during his sophomore year.
Dan Coke used to start his day by lifting weights with his football teammates. Now he starts by lifting up KU students in prayer.
Coke, a Kansas football running back and safety from 1999-2003, graduated from the University in 2003, and now spends his time as a campus minister.
Coke is one of a few former athletes in the area who have traded in her or her cleats to preach the Gospel.
Coke began to get serious about Christianity during his sophomore year. Since then, Coke has been preaching to whomever will give him the chance. He started with teammates and his ministry eventually expanded to the entire campus.
"I'm up on campus three to four days a week doing some kind of ministry," Coke said.
Today Coke is the campus director for Midwest Student Ministries, which plays host to a weekly worship service called Plugged In on Thursday nights at the Hawks Nest in the Kansas Union.
Coke and his wife, Lauri, also a campus minister, open their house to students who they've met through their ministries.
"We do silly stuff like record 'American Idol' and have students over to watch it with us just to give them a break from studying." Coke said. "We let them hold our kids even if they've never held a baby before."
But Coke hasn't entirely quit his involvement with Kansas football. Coke speaks at pregame chapel services for the team and also has a Bible study group with a few of the players
Jesse Brinson, Coke's teammate from 1999-2001, also serves Lawrence
as a minister now. The former walkon fullback and defensive lineman ministers to middle and high school students in Lawrence.
Brinson, like Coke, became a Christian after coming to the University. Brinson said he jumped at the chance to minister to others when Coke's ministry was looking for a middle and high school minister.
Brinson said that some of his messages have come from his experiences in football.
"Teamwork is big with me, not just m
football, but everything," Brinson said.
Brett Williams, a former tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, serves as campus minister at UMKC and Avila College. Williams said that his status as a former athlete has helped him get people to listen to him.
"That's been a huge help for me because were in a society where pro
athletes are placed on a petestan, Williams said. "I don't agree with it, but if someone gives me a chance to discuss Jesus with them because I used to play. I'll use it."
Each said they felt that their ministry was important to the impact of the future of the world.
"The future leaders of the world are on college campuses. If they experience God's love and character and understand his word, it'll change not only their lives, but also it'll change their spirit of influence."
Coke said that even if he quits ministering on campus, he would still have a hand in campus ministries.
"Whatever I do, I will always have a hand in what God's doing on college campuses," Coke said. "My heart will always be there."
Edited by Madeline Hyden
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