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Opinion
Wednesday, March 28, 2001
ents, contact Chris Borniger or Nathan Willis at 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
Point/Counterpoint
Qualified admissions at Regents universities
Our view: The Kansas Board of Regents' new policy will boost the quality of the University
Next year's freshman class will probably be the most acade
nically successful group the University has had in years. On average, the upcoming class will have higher ACT scores and GPAs, and high school curricula better suited for college-bound students.
These improvements are in part because of the adoption of new admissions standards. Kansas will be the last state to move away from open admissions when the new standards are implemented next fall at all universities governed by the Board of Regents. Under the new standards, Kansas residents must meet any one of three requirements: a score of 21 or higher on the ACT, graduation in the top third of their high school class, or at least a 2.0 GPA in a college preparatory curriculum established by the Regents.
The new GPA requirement will be instrumental in ensuring that high school students have graduated with the tools necessary for success at the university level. According to the U.S.News and World Report's rankings of the top 100 national universities, KU ranked 97th in freshman retention rate last year at only 78 percent. One reason for this high freshman dropout rate is a lack of preparation in high school. The pre-college curriculum prescribed by the Board of Regents will provide students with guidelines to help them choose a college preparatory schedule. These better-prepared students will be more likely to stay at KU past their freshman year until graduation, thereby enhancing the University's academic reputation.
stions is that it could exclude students who are truly motivated academically, but for some reason are unable to reach the required criteria. The new standards, however, have provisions attached to them with those students in mind. Under the provisions, Board of Regents schools will be allowed to admit up to 10 percent of its freshman class as exceptions to the new standards after reviewing their applications on a case-by-case basis. They will also be allowed to admit an unlimited number of students who don't meet the new standards on a conditional basis, requiring them to earn a 2.0 GPA and complete 24 hours their freshman year to gain full admission. Another provision states that any Kansas resident who earns a 2.0 in 24 credit hours at
One could argue that the danger of any system of qualified admis-
admitted. Community college, though often overlooked, is probably the best option for students who aren't quite ready for the academic expectations of a university
Based on these provisions, the new admissions standards should prepare motivated students for college, not prevent them from attending. As Gov. Bill Graves wrote after he signed them into law, "These standards shouldn't be looked upon as a barrier, but as a goal."
The new standard attainable goal one that will raise the quality of the University and its student body.
Dissenting view: Stricter admissions requirements will restrict some from the education they deserve
In 1996, the Kansas legislature passed a bill enacting qualified admissions for all Board of Regents universities. This fall will be the first semester that these qualified admissions standards are implemented.
The standards require that a student have a GPA of at least 2.0 in a pre-college curriculum, an ACT score of 21 or graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class. Although these new standards are not terribly stringent, they do send a message that we as a society are not interested in making our institutions of higher education more accessible.
Kansas high school could enroll in a Board of Regents university. Kansas was unique in that it was the only state in the United States with an open admissions policy.
For many teen-agers, high school is a time in their life that is loaded with restrictions, peer pressure and insecurity. If they do not succeed in this environment, then qualified admissions denies them
The new admissions standards set students up to fail. A person's achievements in high school often are not representative of their intellect or academic potential.
Kyle Ramsey / KANSAN
the chance to move on.
Andy Marso for the editorial board
Kansan staff positions open to every student
Perspective
And then the floodgates will open, and the entire Kansan staff will be appointed for next semester.
In a couple of weeks, next semester's Kansan editor will be chosen. Shortly afterward, two managing editors will be selected.
Reporters could become designers, photographers might start editing copy and a weekly columnist could become a reporter covering a beat.
The turnover at the Kansan every six months always means a rocky start to the next semester. People are learning new jobs, and mistakes sometimes occur.
But the turnover also brings new faces into the newsroom and fresh ideas to each position — both of which are invaluable to a newspaper that works to represent the changing student body at the University of Kansas.
What some people may
Leita Schultes readers' representative opinion@kansan.com
What some people may not realize is that they don't have to be a journalism major to be a part of their newspaper.
In fact, it might be better if they aren't, said Chris Borniger, opinion editor.
"At least on the opinion page, we try to get people who aren't journalism students because we want the page to reflect the voices of the student body as a whole and not just journalism students," he said. It's important that the people who work on the Kansan are diverse in opinion, background, race, political leaning — you name it. It's what allows us to take multiple perspectives and work toward fairness.
Technically, every position at the Kansan is open to any student at the University, said Lori O'Toole. Kansan editor
But realistically, some positions are saved for those students with journalism experience.
Still, that leaves plenty of opportunities — some paying ones — for regular students who want to influence the news published in 11,500 issues and online.
The Kansan needs columnists and cartoonists, feature writers and designers. We'll need editorial board members and illustrators, photographers and online producers.
The Kansan will flourish with increased involvement from the student body, but it's a reciprocal arrangement.
Working at the Kansan is a good way to get involved on campus and make both money and friends, O'Otole said. It's also a good experience to put on a resume.
"People are always saying that any type of writing experience is important," she said. "I think that potential employers could be interested in anything you've done, even if you're not going into newspaper journalism."
"Especially on the opinion page," O'Toole said. "That kind of goes beyond journalism. They can express their opinions; they can suggest things that the University should change. They can point out problems with Lawrence or campus."
But the most gratifying part of working at a newspaper is having the chance — through publishing what you think — to make a difference.
So do something different next semester. Take a chance and put your voice out there. Drop by the newsroom and apply.
Schuttes is a Roffe, Iowa, sophomore in journalism and religious studies.
free all for 864-0500 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. The Kansan reserves the right to edit submissions, and not all of them will be published. Slanderous statements will not be printed. For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
All the tree huggers on campus should just stay at the community Merc and not bother anybody.
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Just in case you were wondering, Karrigan Bork, the new Truman scholarship winner, is a Beta Theta PI. Why not mention that he's part of the Greek system? Thanks.
I just wanted to say that marijuana should be legalized, and girls suck.
I'd just like to thank Kirk Hinrich for making my birthday perfect by coming to Mrs. E's on Monday. Thank you, baby. And Nick Collison, too.
are equal. Education advocate Jonathan Kozol dedicated an entire book, Savage Inequalities, to the study of discrepancies between public schools in middle- and high-income areas and those in low-income areas. If all students in public schools are not receiving the same caliber education, then admissions standards based on this education also will be unequal.
Microwave burritos rock my world.
Why do chicks dig soap opera? Does it occupy their minds or something?
Hmm. Let's check Chenwihn's line. No shots taken, 0 for 2 at the free throw line, two rebounds. Hmmm. That's a great way to end a college career, isn't it, Chenwihn?
--are equal. Education advocate Jonathan Kozol dedicated an entire book, Savage Inequalities, to the study of discrepancies between public schools in middle- and high-income areas and those in low-income areas. If all students in public schools are not receiving the same caliber education, then admissions standards based on this education also will be unequal.
I think Homicidal Platypus would be an excellent name for a band.
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As much as I would hate for Drew Gooden to leave for the NBA, it would be fun to see how much the Free for All would be full of blasphemous comments about Drew Gooden.
I would like to report a missing Mr. Potato Head from my room in Naismith Hall. If anyone knows where he is, please give him back.
I just got back from Colorado over spring break, and it was colder here than it was there. I'm protesting the Kansan, and I plan to boycott.
The campus sidewalks need more elevators. As a student, I believe in the rights of the elevators versus sidewalks. There has to be a certain ratio. This ratio has to be at least 5.3. If not, it's just not acceptable in my point of view.
I want to be the first person to get in the Free for All column twice.
are equal. Education advocate Jonathan Kozol dedicated an entire book, Savage Inequalities, to the study of discrepancies between public schools in middle- and high-income areas and those in low-income areas. If all students in public schools are not receiving the same caliber education, then admissions standards based on this education also will be unequal.
Hey, it's me again. I was wondering if I did it.
Was I the first person to get in the Free for All twice?
Exactly what beliefs do tree huggers have?
Please, educate me.
--are equal. Education advocate Jonathan Kozol dedicated an entire book, Savage Inequalities, to the study of discrepancies between public schools in middle- and high-income areas and those in low-income areas. If all students in public schools are not receiving the same caliber education, then admissions standards based on this education also will be unequal.
I think the leash laws in Lawrence need to be tighter because the guy who lives next to me has a monkey, and it runs around, and it's outrageous. Outrageous!
In addition, state universities are financed by tax dollars. Qualified admissions will force some taxpaying parents to support schools that their children cannot attend.
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A common argument is that students who did not succeed in high school have an option other than a university: community college. This argument strongly supports a two-tiered system of education only for students who had advantageous high school careers and who advanced to four-year universities.
However, the only real measure of how well a student can do in college is how they actually do in college. A successful high school career does not guarantee a successful college career and vice versa. The privilege of college should not be awarded based on these criteria.
The essential idea of a public university is that it should be available to the entire public, not just a select portion of it.
State universities should be about education, not image. We should not just educate a select few so that our numbers look good and so that we appear to be serious academics. College is, after all, a privilege.
Kate Williams, dissenting
I crush the rhinoceros and make dust of the elephant. I am invincible.
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It's a good thing I have to work right now because my roommate's on a date with a boy from her Western Civ class in my apartment. Thought you'd like to know.
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Sleeping is the bomb.
Have you ever used the phrase "big puncher"
or "little punishers" to describe someone,
then you reduce it to big pun and little pun?
Try it. It's fun.
My roommate just looked in the phone book and found that Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison live together. Isn't that cute?
I saw four mullets today.
It's a good thing we can't see farts because if we could, some scientist would probably create some fart look like substance, can it and sell it at Spencer's. Then some wise guy would probably spray it at me and accuse me of farting. Then everyone in class would think I farted.
Are they considering minority enrollment to be raised on campus since all these sorority girls came back from the islands, and they don't exactly look White anymore?
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I just got off the phone with Cleo, and she told me that I would find Mr. Rogers very attractive. I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but she said Mr. Rogers, with that red sweater and those shoes, is the hottest person I'd ever see in my life. I don't know; help me out.
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