8A
KULTURE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2007
Kate D'Avanzo, Oceanside, Calif., sophomore, colors in a Little Mermaid coloring book while she camps at Allen Fieldhouse early Tuesday morning. D'Avanzo and five other friends have been camping since 10 Monday morning. Allen Fieldhouse opened for camping groups Sunday. I got here at 6 a.m. and I'll be here until noon. That's what happens when you have a small camping group." D'Avanzo said. Camping groups can be as large as 30 people.
Anna Faltermeier/KANSAN
irina Yakhins, Overland Park sophomore, talks on the phone while camping for her group in Allen Field Monday evening. Camperws at the fieldhouse from 6 a.m. to 10 o.g.
"It's the epitome of KU culture. It shows our support for our sports teams and lets them know the students are behind them all the way."
NAOMI RICCI Boston freshman
KU fans continue camping rituals of those who went before them
BY ZACH RAINEY
Students enter Allen Fieldhouse at 6 a.m. the morning after a home basketball game to take part in the Kansas Basketball's biggest tradition — camping.
Hundreds of KU students gather in groups with hopes of scoring the first spot in line to get tickets for the next home game. In order to get them, the groups draw numbered poker chips. For every five members of the group that are present it gets one chip; each has a number on it that determines where they will be in line. However, no group could have more than 30 people present. If a group gets more than one chip, it gets to keep the best spot drawn. If a group does not get one, it has to sign up at the back of the line.
Following the lottery, at least one member from every group must be present. A roll call is done at random times between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends. If a group is not present, it is bumped to the back of the line.
Danielle Englert, Wichita senior, said that the necessities of every shift are pillows, blankets, air mattresses, some form of entertainment and comfy clothes.
"The best part is that no one is going to judge you for showing up in raggedy clothes or because you did not shower yet because the sun is not even up when you get there." Englert said. "No one really can judge you for that because they're all in the same boat as you."
Looking around the fieldhouse, the things the campers bring and wear seem to be part of the tradition. Arin Bernard, Overland Park freshman, was camping on an air mattress and chatting online via the fieldhouse's wireless Internet connection.
"It's a big tradition," Bernard said. "Everyone from years past has been doing it so we carry it on as best we can."
Naomi Rice, Boston freshman, said. "It's the epitome of KU culture. It shows our support for our sports teams and lets them know the students are behind them all the way."
Rici spends most of her shifts sleeping in a tent that her group, the Oliver Fourth Floor Fight Club, pitches. When they're not asleep, the campers do their homework, read, Facebook or watch movies on their computers.
However, once homework is done, the real fun begins.
"For the Texas A&M game my group and the group next to us started talking," Ricci said. "We ended up playing charades with each other."
Bernard said he has had several reamions with old friends while camping out.
Whether you knew them before camping or not, all campers share a common bond.
"Everyone is as big of a fanatic as you are" Englert said. "Who else would spend 15 hours a week just for a two hour basketball game? We're all obsessed and we're not afraid to show it."
Another thing about camping that everyone seems to like is students have complete control of what goes on.
"It's definitely the furthest way to get tickets. It shows that we are not out there to screw over other students because we are all equal here. Everyone has an equal chance to get good seats." Englert said.
Photos by Anna Faltermeier/ANSA (Top) Aaron Stallard, County Texas, freshman, takes a nap while camping for his group "South Oak Cliff-KU Pipeline" in Allen Fieldhouse Monday evening. South Oak Clark is the name of the high school Darrell Arthur attended in Texas.
Edited by Stacey Couch
These equal chances do not come easy though. Some students, such as Englert, average tour or five hours a day while others, like Ricci, have had shifts as long as seven hours.
Kansan correspondent Zach Rainey can be contacted at editor@kansan.com
Whether they are first or last in line, every camper is in it for the same reason: They want to show support for their lajhawks and carry on the tradition into the future.
Photos by Anna Faltermieer/KANSAN
(Bottom) Kelsey Ediger, Hutchinson graduate student, and Frank Hartman, Hutchinson senior, play cards while camping for their group 'Julian Jams it Wright' in Allen Fieldhouse Monday evening.
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