THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
The University Daily Kansan
What’s New at
KU
Read these stories and more at kansan.com
Former KU football coach files lawsuit against KU Citing that KU Athletics failed to meet the terms of his contract in paying him $3 million following his firing, former Kansas coach David Beaty is suing the athletics program.
Students travel during break Study abroad students spent spring break traveling the U.S. due to the long distance home.
Zombie deer disease spreads A disease discovered over two decades ago is spreading faster than anticipated in Kansas.
vol. 138 // iss. 15 Mon., March 18, 2019
KU yearbook’s racist, sexist past ADAM LANG @superduperadaml The University of Kansas’ long-time yearbook, Jayhawker, is no exception to the surge of racist and sexist yearbook revelations. In fact, an entire page from the 1922 edition depicts the activities of the Ku Klux Klan in white hoods. In 1930, another racist illustration, right, depicts a group of black people with spears and puffy lips cooking a professor in a cauldron. The Kansan went through over 30 yearbooks at the Spencer Research Library and found any edition from before 1900 regularly featured illustrations stereotyping black people, but they didn’t stop there — they continued until the midto-late 20th century. After the Civil Rights Movement, these images disappeared from the yearbook — but sexist images didn’t. In the 1975 edition, an entire 11 pages is dedicated to a sexist comic depicting a male student trying to date two women at the
Contributed by Spencer Research Library same time. One of the two women falls asleep, and the man says “Wake up Katie! You can’t let me
down like this! We still have the night ahead of us!!” “I think we have to get
KU falls to Iowa State in Big 12 tournament Iowa State defeated Kansas 78-66 on Saturday to claim the Big 12 Championship. Contributed by Spencer Research Library
better at the way we take responsibility,” Interim Provost Carl Lejuez said. “We shouldn’t be apologizing for people’s feelings or how or if we’ve hurt someone’s feelings, we should be apologizing for what we’ve done.” Former Jayhawker editors could not be reached, despite multiple attempts. Yearbooks are meant to be a reflection of life on campus and remain one of the most accurate tools for understanding the time period. Within the past year, high school and college yearbooks
“[W]e should be apologizing for what we’ve done.” Carl Lejuez Interim Provost
have been used to dig into the past of a public figure and to judge that public figure’s character. The high school yearbook of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was famously used during the READ MORE ON PAGE A2
Pakistan, India conflict at KU
ADAM LANG @superduperadaml As conflict continues to rage between Pakistan and India, relationships between students studying abroad are tested when they arrive at their new schools, including at the University of Kansas. One would think that the conflict would cause discord between Pakistani and Indian international students, but, according to Pakistani business administration
freshman Asif Khan, the issues stay back in their home country. “I have a lot of Indian friends in my classes and we study together a lot,” Khan said. “We do message each other and say ‘Oh my god. This thing happened back home,’ and it’s not offensive to us or to them.” Pakistan and India have historically had a rocky relationship. Since the partition of British India in 1947, the two have had a strong rivalry
Contributed photo University of Kansas student Asif Khan is from Karachi, Pakistan.
with each other and have been in conflict for many of those years. The strongest catalyst for this conflict has been the fight for the Kashmir territory that is considered uncategorized land that lies between India and Pakistan. According to Khan, the fight for Kashmir is the real issue between the two countries. “If the fight for Kashmir ended, there would be no issue between us,” Khan said. Senior Paul Singh hails from Punjab, an area of India that borders Kashmir. Singh describes the political aspect of the separation as being across religious lines, with Pakistan primarily being Muslim and India being a mix of Hin, Sikh, and Buddhist. In addition to this religious divide, the two countries just want to govern their own way, according to Singh, bringing a lot of hostility in response to the other country’s choices. READ MORE ON PAGE A3
Rachel Griffard/KANSAN At a press conference on Sunday, coach Bill Self said he was shocked to be selected to be in the Midwest region of the NCAA Tournament.
Self ‘shocked’ by Midwest pick BRADEN SHAW @bradenshaw4real Even among all the speculation and projections, it seemed like it was a bit of an outside shot for Kansas men’s basketball to land in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament bracket, of which the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds will be held in Kansas City, Missouri.
But then, on Selection Sunday, the Jayhawks were chosen as the No. 4 seed in the Midwest. “I didn’t notice actually until the commentator said it,” redshirt junior forward Dedric Lawson said. And it took a little bit to get there, as Kansas’ region was the third region to be unveiled on the CBS Selection Sunday show.
“The anticipation was definitely there, just seeing where you land and your opponents or your possible opponents,” Lawson said. “That’s intriguing and you just want to get out there and start playing again.” But once the selection was made, it soon became clear that the Jayhawks READ MORE ON PAGE B2
news
NEWS
2
Monday, March 18, 2019
staff NEWS MANAGEMENT
Editor-in-chief Shaun Goodwin
Managing editor Savanna Smith
Digital operations editor Zach McGrath
Audience engagement editor Grant Heiman
Associate audience engagement editor Arman Alhosseini ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
Business manager Emma Greenwood SECTION EDITORS
News editor Sydney Hoover
Associate news editor Juliana Garcia
Investigations editor Nicole Asbury
Sports editor Maddy Tannahill
Associate sports editor Braden Shaw
Arts & culture editor Josh McQuade
Associate arts & culture editor Courtney Bierman
Opinion editor Aroog Khaliq
Visuals editor & design chief Huntyr Schwegman
Photo editor Sarah Wright
Associate photo editor Chance Parker
Copy chiefs Raeley Youngs Nichola McDowell
General Manager Rob Karwath
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 50 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS., 66045. The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4967) is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year except fall break, spring break and exams. It is published weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Annual subscriptions by mail are $250 plus tax. Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue.
KANSAN MEDIA PARTNERS Check out KUJH-TV on Wow! of Kansas Channel 31 in Lawrence for more on what you’ve read in today’s Kansan and other news. Also see KUJH’s website at tv.ku.edu. KJHK is the student voice in radio. Whether it’s rock ‘n’ roll or reggae, sports or special events, KJHK 90.7 is for you. 2000 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence, Kan., 66045
editor@kansan.com www.kansan.com Newsroom: (785) 864-4552 Advertising: (785) 864-4358
KANSAN.COM
K A N S A N .C O M / N E W S
Meet your Elections Commission LUCY PETERSON @petersonxlucy
With only one coalition running this election cycle, the 2019 Student Senate Elections Commission will primarily focus on enforcing Student Senate Rules and Regulations regarding elections and will work on outreach for student involvement. The commission’s role is to ensure elections run as fairly as possible. The commission also holds hearings when there have been violations by coalitions or individual candidates. “The biggest thing that I’ll try and make sure of is that the current Student Senate body is not interfering with the current election,” said Chair Kelsey Rolofson. Because only a single coalition filed to run, instead of holding a debate between candidates, the commission will host an audience-oriented Q&A later this month with the coalition. Currently, there are four members on the commission. Kelsey Rolofson, Commission Chair Rolofson is a sophomore from Wildwood, Missouri studying English and political science. She decided to join the commission because she wanted to get involved in campus government without being in a heavily competitive environment, she said. “I wanted to get involved in campus government in a capacity that combines both of my areas of interest,” Rolofson said. “I’m very much a mediator so I liked that the decisions I would be making would be unbiased and hopefully beneficial to the organization as a whole instead of just one side of it.” As chair, Rolofson will be working to run a fair election and make sure that the commission is acting in compliance with the elections code, she said. She will also be communicating with Senate and other organizations as the face of the commission, in order to organize events for the coa-
Lucy Peterson/KANSAN Elections Commission members Kara Kellogg and Hannah Ehmcke review the Student Senate Rules and Regulations during a violation hearing for Crimson+Blue Monday, Feb. 19. lition and individual candidates who are running. Before becoming chair, Rolofson did not have experience within Senate. “I’m excited to get involved in Student Senate because I haven’t been, and to assume an unbiased role,” Rolofson said. Hannah Ehmcke, Compliance Chair Ehmcke is a junior from Sioux City, Iowa studying marketing and business analytics. She decided to join the commission because she wanted a new perspective of Senate. As compliance chair, Ehmcke’s job is to preside over hearings and address violations that are filed during the election cycle. Most of her job this semester will be to report violations on her own, rather than responding to violations from competing coalitions. Ehmcke is the current Vice Chair of Finance Committee and has been involved with Senate for two years. “For the last two years I’ve been on the other side of elections being on a coalition running myself, so I’m really excited to make sure
everything goes smoothly and to make this process as easy as possible for anyone,” Ehmcke said. Sh’Kaiya Hutchens, Candidate Liaison Chair Hutchens is a freshman from Salina, Kansas. She is majoring in political science and minoring in Spanish with the intent of becoming a lawyer. Hutchens decided to join the commission because she wanted to try something new on campus.
“[The commission] plays a big role in facilitating voter outreach...” Kara Kellogg Elections Commission Secretary
“I decided to join the commission to just simply see what it was about. I didn’t quite know what an elections commission was and figured it would be nice to try something new,” Hutchens said. Throughout the election, she is in charge of holding informational
meetings, hosting requested senatorial debates, and keeping track of registered candidates during the election. While she is looking forward to conducting a fair election with the candidates, Hutchens is most looking forward to the experience she will get as candidate liaison chair, she said. “This semester, I’m really just looking forward to the experience,” Hutchens said. “I wanted to know what [Senate] was all about and what my role could be and how I could contribute.” Kara Kellogg, Elections Commission Secretary Kellogg is a junior from Wichita studying finance. She has been on the finance committee for three years, and ran with a coalition her first year at the University. Kellogg was interested in joining the commission because she took a break from elections during the 2018 cycle, and she missed the environment. She was also looking to play a new role in elections. “I’ve been on a coalition before and I wanted a new perspective of the election
process,” Kellogg said. As the commission secretary, Kellogg’s role is to take minutes at meetings and hearings, while also keeping record of financial expenses and other documents for coalitions. She is also responsible for “upholding the transparency of the Elections Commission,” according to Student Senate Rules and Regulations. Kellogg’s priority for this election is to look for ways to increase voter turnout for the election, she said. She will be working with the commission in efforts to increase voter-outreach, especially to students who may not know much about Senate. “[The commission] plays a big role in facilitating voter-outreach which is one of the things I’m most excited for, finding new ways to get the student body more involved with the election process,” Kellogg said. The commission will be holding a coalition Q&A on Monday, March 25 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Union ballroom for students to get to know the presidential and vice presidential candidates. Senate elections will be held on April 10 and 11 this year.
RACIST YEARBOOK FROM PAGE 1 investigation into sexual assault accusations leveled by Christine Blasey Ford. Mere months later, the medical school yearbook of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam was brought to light depicting two young men dressed in a Ku Klux Klan hood and blackface makeup. Northam first apologized for the picture, but he then went back on his apology and stated neither of the men depicted were him. Many in Virginia have called for his resignation, but Northam remains in office. Despite having been around since 1873, The Jayhawker printed its last issue in 2011. This loss is not uncommon with the yearbook publishing in-
dustry’s sales declining yearly by over 4.7 percent since 2009, according to IBISWorld.
“I think as adults we acknowledge that we did things when we were younger that were hurtful...” Barbara Tholen yearbook editor
Even today, some editors run into situations where something seemingly harmless causes backlash. Barbara Tholen has been the editor for the
Lawrence High School yearbook, Red and Black, since 2010. According to Tholen, even high school yearbooks run by teachers are subject to offense. Just last year, a transgender student came to Tholen about feeling uncomfortable about a yearbook page dedicated to a yearly tradition put on by seniors where boys dress as girls. Even a funny activity to some can hurt the feelings of those who might be the butt of the joke. “I think as adults we have to acknowledge that we did things when we were younger that were hurtful regardless of whether we understood that they were hurtful at the time,” Tholen said. “Maybe it’s healthy for us to reckon with those things and acknowledge those things.”
Contributed by Spencer Research Library Photos from a Jayhawker yearbook show the University’s “KU-KU” club.
KANSAN.COM
NEWS
Severe tornado season expected
3
Break in Crime SOPHIE BELSHE @sophiabelshe
This is a weekly update from the Kansan. Check kansan.com on Mondays for more. While many students left Lawrence and thoughts of schoolwork behind over spring break, other individuals took the vacation to criminally damage bathrooms and smash a scholarship hall’s window.
PROPERTY DAMAGE IN CHALMERS
Associated Press Storm clouds hang in the sky near Wellington, Kan. in April 2016. Severe weather for spring 2019 is expected to be worse than usual. CHRIS NILGES @chrisnilges Tornado season is just around the corner, but this year could bring more severe weather than usual. Just days after a tornado killed at least 23 people in Alabama, the University of Kansas participated in the statewide outdoor siren test Tuesday as part of Severe Weather Awareness week. “We were hoping to give people an opportunity to practice their own severe weather plans,” said Dan Robeson, Johnson County director of emergency management. “The past week we have been promoting that the test will occur and encouraged people to consider where they would need to seek shelter in a tornado and take time to think during
Severe Weather Awareness Week.” As part of the outdoor warning siren test, the University tested its emergency text message alerts, email alerts and emergency public address system. There was a total of 45 recorded tornadoes in 2018 statewide, according to the National Weather Service. However, the 2018 season was low in tornado frequency for Kansas and the rest of the country because of storm patterns not conducive to severe weather, according to Chad Omitt, warning coordination meteorologist for the Topeka National Weather Service. “We typically average about 90 to 95 documented tornadoes. I think that is the 10-year average,” Omitt said.
PAKISTAN/INDIA FROM PAGE A1 “People in Pakistan and India don’t like each other at all. They always have to fight,” Singh said. “They are very protective of their own culture and they have the right to do whatever they want.” Recently, an Indian pilot who flew into Pakistan air space was shot down and taken into captivity. The pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, was returned back to India after being beaten by the mob that found him and kept in captivity for three days. According to Khan, the return of the pilot marked a wish for peace from the Pakistani government. Director of International Student Services Chuck Olcese advis-
es students from other countries, but claims to have never had to mediate disagreements between students of warring countries. “The students find [studying abroad] to be an opportunity they wouldn’t have any other time to communicate with each other on a personal level,” Olcese said. “It enhances those relationships.” According to Singh and Khan, issues from back home never come into conversation, choosing to study and work together in their school rather than discuss issues from back home. “We have this friendship between us,” Singh said. “We’d never talk about this because all of us we don’t like politics at all.”
Natalie Hammer/KANSAN University of Kansas student Paul Singh is from Punjab, India.
Additionally, Omitt said that the wet climate patterns from the past couple of months combined with spring weather could produce an increase in tornadoes. “If the climate that we are in right now persist
“We are so saturated right now, the ground is frozen and even when it thaws it is so saturated, it can’t take any more moisture.” Chad Omitt NWS warning coordinator
for another six weeks to two months, then yeah, I would agree that the risk for severe weather
and at some point tornadoes would [be] higher than perhaps otherwise,” Omitt said. Omitt said that there is always a possibility that the variability in weather could cause a shift that would make severe weather less frequent by May. However, tornadoes are not the main concern to Omitt right now. “Flooding is the one thing we are worried about right now. We are so saturated right now, the ground is frozen and even when it thaws it is so saturated, it can’t take any more moisture,” Omitt said. “I think that will be the immediate concern as we head into next week, is potential flooding issues, river flooding and just flooding in general.” Robeson said he hopes Severe Weather Awareness Week gives families
a chance to evaluate their emergency plan for the upcoming season. According to data from the National Weather Service, the most recent tornado in Lawrence occurred on May 8, 2003. The F2 tornado touched down around New Jersey and 8th Streets. Eight other tornadoes touched down in Douglas and Osage County that evening. The National Weather Service states that an emergency plan begins with having a safe, sturdy shelter, with minimal windows and loose objects in it. It also recommends having a battery powered weather radio, a map to track storms, car keys, identification, cellphone and shoes.
Someone criminally damaged a bathroom stall in Chalmers Hall on March 11 around 7 a.m. The estimated damage is $500, according to a police report. This case remains open.
SMASHED WINDOW IN PEARSON
A person smashed a window in Pearson Scholarship Hall on March 10 around 3 p.m., causing an estimated $400 in damage, according to a police report. This investigation is ongoing.
PHONE LEFT, LATER FOUND
A phone was reported stolen on the 1500 block of Irving Hill Road on March 11 around 3 p.m. The phone was later turned in to the University’s Public Safety Office’s lost and found and then returned to the owner. The case resolved itself.
Threats reported in Douthart Hall NICOLE ASBURY, SYDNEY HOOVER & JULIANA GARCIA @KansanNews Two individuals in Douthart Scholarship Hall received threats of bodily harm and a death threat through notes by an unknown suspect, police said. For the first individual, three notes were found in a bathroom, threatening bodily harm on Feb. 27, the report said. The note to the second individual said the individual was going to die, police said. One case had a bias indicator, said Deputy Chief James Anguiano from the University of Kansas Public Safety Office. “The way the hate crime statute works in Kansas is that if someone is caught for a crime that uses a bias indicator. Then it’ll come on the sentencing side. In one case there was bias indicated,” Anguiano said. Student Housing, alongside the University’s Public Safety Housing and the Office of Student Conduct, held meetings in the scholarship hall to investigate the reports, Director of Student Housing Sarah Waters said in an email to the
Sydney Hoover/KANSAN Two individuals living in Douthart Scholarship Hall received threats of bodily harm and a death threat. One of the cases had a bias indicator. Kansan. Additionally, Waters said anyone with information should share it with a staff member, so the person responsible can be held accountable. “Acts motivated by hate are unacceptable at KU, including within our on-campus housing facilities,” Waters said in an email. Anguiano said that in
cases like this, it’s better to report the incident to the police. “Sometimes it might not reach the level of a criminal report, but we still want to be able to get that information out and look into something so we can make that determination as well,” Anguiano said. Anguiano said anyone can call the University’s
Public Safety Office Crime Stopper’s number at 785-864-8888. “If anyone has any further information on the case, they can remain anonymous and give us that further information as well,” Anguiano said. Police said they do not have a current suspect. The investigation is ongoing.
4 ARTS & CULTURE
arts & culture Monday, March 18, 2019
KANSAN.COM
K A N S A N .C O M /A R T S _ A N D _ C U LT U R E
Spencer Research hires new art conservator RACHEL GAYLOR @raegay218 Jacinta Johnson has studied fine arts and nursing. Her background in science and the humanities contributed to her selection as the University of Kansas’ new conservator. Johnson officially began working in January after the University was awarded the Andrew W. Mellon Grant in February 2018 to bring a new conservator to join the staff in the new conservation lab at the Spencer Research Library. KU Libraries, in partnership with the Spencer Museum of Art and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, will use Johnson to help with the preservation and conservation of prints, drawings and fine art. “I really enjoy tearing through a difficult problem and using my hands,” Johnson said. “I enjoy working with the collections and the people. They are a type of community of people that I respond well to.” The University is the third school to receive the Mellon grant, joining the University of Washington and the University of Miami, where similar conservation efforts are underway. The University was the recipient in part because of the new lab, which opened in July 2018. The University had a conservation lab in the basement of Watson
Maggie Gould/KANSAN Jacinta Johnson works as the new conservator at the Spencer Research Library. She has worked to conserve books and paper and is continuing that on the KU campus.
“In conservation, you are always finding
something new that you didn’t know about,” Johnson said. “I love learning, and you are a perpetual learner. Every day is something new.” Whitney Baker is the head of conservation at the University and was chair of the committee that hired Johnson. She said Johnson’s expertise, interests and modern education elevated her above the rest of the field. “It’s exciting for all of us to learn from her,” Baker said. Johnson will also be teaching undergraduates at the University along with
doesn’t like to go back because he will overthink the final product. “Once you finish something, you don’t want to look at it anymore,” Spreer said. “When you release it into the world you say, ‘I wish I would have changed that,’ or ‘I wish I would have done that.’ So, I just try to focus on whatever’s present.” Nicholas Stahl is a local artist and friend of Spreer. He said Spreer brings a unique eye to his art thanks in part to his experience in the music business. “[Spreer] really understands the music culture and [his place] in that now has really developed,” Stahl said. “He’s stepped a little bit back from performing and playing but he’s still a huge part of that scene because he lived and breathed it.” Spreer enrolled at the University of Kansas with the intent to study painting but said he withdrew after a semester due to financial reasons. Though Spreer respected the program at the University, he didn’t want to study graphic design. “I thought it was annoying and too rigid, and there were too many rules,” Spreer said. “I quit KU and
decided to make art by myself — wherever that led me.” After designing flyers and posters for his band, Spreer discovered his love for product design and decided to pursue it as his career. “I never thought, since I didn’t go to college for [design], that it would be possible,” Spreer said. “I get to work on art every day and get paid for it.” Stahl said he enjoys seeing Spreer’s signature in the music scene of Lawrence, which shows the talent and impact Spreer has. “He is a huge part of what Lawrence music has looked like in the last few years,” Stahl said. “He’s found a way to use abstract resources, repurposing old, weird, kind of open sourced photos online and combining that with very modern approaches to how to use technology and textures.” Spreer has transitioned from doing one type of promotion to offering packages for both record companies and bands to choose from. “I’m not just a guy that can do flyers or album art or a logo,” Spreer said. “I want to be the guy, a person you can hire as a band to cover all the bases and make sure
Library for over 20 years, but the conservators specialized in books. Johnson was hired because of her expertise in print conservation.
“In conservation, you are always finding something new that you didn’t know about.” Jacinta Johnson conservator
handling their outreach initiative, using social media to help educate kindergarten through 12th grade students on the field of conservation and pique interest in the job of a conservator. “I’m hoping we can [inspire] K-through-12 students,” Baker said. “Maybe someone interested in chemistry might find this an interesting career. Those are areas we have always been interested in, but this grant is going to allow us to follow up on some of those ideas.” Johnson earned her
bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Portland State University before earning a Master of Science in art conservation at the University of Delaware. Johnson said a conservator position is usually separated into one of three fields: museums, libraries or private practice. At the University, Johnson is working with the first two fields, which was what attracted her to the position. “It satisfies my own personal interests in working with library and archive and fine art materials. I think there
are a lot of similarities but also differences like working with diverse collections,” Johnson said. “It makes a lot of sense to combine the conservation efforts within a University community.” Johnson’s biggest project involves Japanese woodblock prints. Johnson said there are hundreds, “if not thousands,” of prints she has to survey and identify next steps, whether it be leaving the prints or treating them. “I’m looking forward to actually treating [in the lab] and sharing with curators what is happening to the object, and I’m looking forward to sharing those objects with the public in a variety of different ways,” Johnson said. “I’m definitely excited about working with [the items] and sharing them.” With an overwhelming number of items to survey and treat, Johnson hopes to educate the University on preventative strategies to prolong the life of prints. However, the unknowns are the hardest part of the job, especially when working to restore artwork to its original form without the help of the artist. “You wish sometimes you could interview an artist and say, ‘What was your thinking behind this?’” Johnson said. “If the question can’t be answered, we try to come up with ways to intervene that are as informed as possible, and sometimes that just means not doing anything.”
Graphic designer, musician promotes local bands RACHEL GAYLOR @raegay218
Tanner Spreer’s band Psychic Heat was in need of promotional flyers. Spreer decided to design them himself — beginning his journey to becoming a prominent designer for local bands in the Lawrence and Kansas City area. Spreer is a self-taught designer, using YouTube tutorials to navigate software and gain knowledge in the world of graphic design. He only started freelancing for bands in the last couple years, but has already gained an impressive list of clientele, including High Dive Records, Love Garden Sounds, Kosmic City Records and The Burger Stand. As a musician, playing guitar and keys for Psychic Heat, Spreer knows how important flyers and prints are in band promotion. He is meticulous in making each piece of art unique. “Sometimes I’ll look at the lyrics and piece imagery out of that,” Spreer said. “You’re always trying to provide for the client, so I want to make sure [the art] vibes with the music.” Spreer said once he is done with a project, he
Rachel Griffard/KANSAN Tanner Spreer, a poster designer for bands in the Lawrence area, displays a piece of his artwork. [the product] looks good.” Stahl said Spreer has grown over the past few years as a designer and is
excited to see how his career progresses. “[Spreer] has grown a lot, as an artist, starting as
a musician,” Stahl said. “I think [the profession] is very natural to him, and he just cares.”
puzzles
KANSAN.COM
crossword
ARTS & CULTURE
sudoku
?
Answers can be found at kansan.com
cryptoquip
340 Fraser | 864-4121 www.psychCLINIC KU EDU COUNSELING SERVICES FOR LAWRENCE & KU
Students and Non-Students Welcome Confidential
5
6
opinion
OPINION
Monday, March 18, 2019
Text your Free For All submissions to (785) 289-8351
FFA of the day: Day 5 in Colorado: My roommate is yet to shower and has brought one pair of clothes which he both sleeps in and goes out in. I was having a good day and then I read that Dave Matthews band was the 50th best selling artist of all time. Episode 6 of Queer Eye season 3 DESTROYED me There’s nothing like spending your 21st getting hammered at a fancy dinner with your parents I just paid a $10 cover and I got kicked out like 30 minutes later trying to find proof of residence for a new id when you don’t actually pay bills at your permanent address is the biggest headache turning 21 is a sham Is peanut butter spilled or dropped? I hope to one day be rich enough to bribe my kids into college. I wouldn’t but I’d like the option. “Why are you cumming in your sink, bud?” I’ve decided to start judging people primarily based on their coleslaw opinions Just emailed the Freemasons to ask if they are lizard people. Will update when they reply. ya girl got an internship in Cali l8r winter “Venmo is the new Snapchat” the KU website is down and I have an internship email that is in my inbox but I can’t open it this is hell i’m finally watching the sex and the city movie and i’m feeling carrie’s whole “i have no will to live and i dyed my hair brown” aesthetic Someone please convince me I don’t need to buy an entire cookie cake for myself You don’t know fight or flight until you come face to face with your favorite celebrity Hot take: The Mona Lisa is very overrated I thought the new Aladdin trailer would impress me, but wow the disappointment it brought
KANSAN.COM
K A N S A N .C O M /O P I N I O N
Protect free press in MAGA era BRIANNA WESSLING @briwessling
Since the birth of this country, the press has been a necessary pillar of our society. The First Amendment is a right we hold in the highest regard because a democracy cannot truly exist without it. The press exists to inform the public, hold public figures accountable and report on stories people want to know most about. The Washington Post was doing just that when they first reported on an incident that took place on Jan. 20, when a video went viral of a white teenager wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat confronting a Native American elder. Many news outlets immediately jumped onto the story. As more details emerged, what seemed like a cut-anddry situation got a bit more complicated. Public opinion was quickly, and hotly, divided. Some stood by the Native American elder, later revealed to be Nathan Phillips, and some claimed the boy in the MAGA hat, Nicholas Sandmann from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky, was unfairly targeted by the media for his political affiliation and religion.
Frankly, the entire controversy seemed a bit blown out of proportion. However, as the news surrounding this controversy started to die down, a new story appeared. That of Sandmann suing the Washington Post, a publication with 47 Pulitzer Prizes to its name, for $250 million, according to the NPR. In the suit, Sandmann claimed that the Post defamed him for political reasons. There’s a whole host of issues with this suit, but at the core of it is a recent trend of attacking journalism for ulterior motives. This lawsuit comes in the midst of a presidential administration which has its foundations in attacking and undermining the press. President Donald Trump, time and time again, has claimed respectable publications, like the Post and The New York Times, are “fake news.” This is a dangerous game to play as the press is one of the few institutions holding Trump and other politicians accountable. Journalists at a national and local level are concerned by this undermining of the institution. Here at the University of Kansas, the Kansan’s funding was
Illustration by Philip Mueller/KANSAN slashed in half in 2016 by Student Senate, which resulted in cutting 13 paid staff positions. At the time, some student senators claimed this was a way to teach the Kansan a lesson about their content. This prompted the Kansan to sue the University, and funding was restored to the original amount for the 2019 fiscal year. While discussions between Student Senate and Editor-in-chief Shaun Goodwin are currently in
the works, the readership fee for the Kansan is still pending approval in full Senate. The Kansan is considering alternative methods to secure funding, and this situation is a terrifying reminder that securing our press rights is a constant, aggressive battle. This undermining of journalism, and by extent our democracy, has to stop. We have to demand respect from our representatives for the
free press, and we have to extend that same respect to the journalists who work to bring us vital information. Hold journalists to a high standard but recognize when they meet that standard, even if you aren’t a fan of the news, they’re reporting.
ferred, and when photos are used, make them unflattering. These types of changes are supported by an organization known as Don’t Name Them, a coordinated campaign made up of Texas State University, the “I Love U Guys” Foundation and the FBI. They state media coverage does raise the frequency of mass shootings through what is known as the “contagion effect.” When a shooting occurs, they find the media coverage that inevitably ensues creates a higher likelihood for an additional attack to happen in the immediate future. Groups such as “Don’t Name Them” hope to lessen this effect by encouraging media and law enforcement to change their reporting styles to be less sensational and more fact based.
cease to be popular. In fact, there are many psychological reasons we are enthralled by such gruesome events. Despite the mass availability of the genre and the ratings spikes that networks gain through broadcasting it, we must be responsible with our consumption. Irresponsible coverage has the potential to set off people who are already at risk of committing such atrocities, and killers can become emboldened by the immortality of fame. Ratings must not come before ethics. While we are curling up on our couches eating popcorn and binge watching the “Ted Bundy Tapes,” we must be conscious of how these people are portrayed in all forms of media. If you can’t cut it out of your Netflix schedule altogether, at least push for it to be strictly fact based rather than glamorized. In doing so, we stand a chance of reducing future violence. To learn more, you can visit www.dontnamethem.org to see how media, law enforcement and the public can focus the attention away from the killers, and on to the heroes and victims of these tragedies.
Brianna Wessling is a sophomore from Omaha, Nebraska, studying English and news and information journalism.
Shift media culture around true crime SCOTT JOHNSTON @Scottawatomie
There is a macabre fascination that has been building in the United States — one we as stream-happy college students are guilty of as well. It’s a fascination with killers that seems to be growing as more and more podcasts, Netflix series and documentaries are published. When a mass shooting occurs, the mainstream media is quick to broadcast the killer’s name and face for days. Often we know countless details about these murderer’s lives, careers, dreams and family situations, but we seldom know the name of even one of the people whose lives were senselessly cut short. To the viewers and the producers, this may be just harmless entertainment and guaranteed high ratings, but it is much more than that. If we want to be ethical in the media we consume, we must realize this glorification of “celebrity killers” only gives them the fame they often desire. We need a change in both the true crime genre and how killers are portrayed in the news. While docuseries like “48 Hours” have been around since the late 1980s, the true crime
Illustration by Philip Mueller/KANSAN genre has seen a boom in the past several years. “Making a Murderer,” “Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” and the upcoming “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” are all examples of this. Unfortunately, when entertainment such as this is made, it often plays into the fame and notoriety killers desire. According to Dr. Scott Bonn, a criminologist and news commentator, many killers seek fame and media attention. They write letters and manifestos that stroke their own egos, and we then publish them in the media and quote them in our documentaries.
how to submit a letter to the editor
LETTER GUIDELINES: Send letters to editor@kansan.com. Write LETTER TO THE EDITOR in the email subject line. Length: 300 words
The submission should include the author’s name, year, major and hometown. Find our full letter to the editor policy online at kansan.com/letters.
In addition to true crime entertainment, the way killers are portrayed in the media can often be gratuitous, with prominent pictures of the killers and gruesome details about their methods and motives. According to forensic psychologist Dr. Park Dietz, the “colorful, emotionally-arousing and biographical” accounts of killers leads to imitators and copycats. Dietz also lists several ways the media can be more responsible with how they report on killers. Some of these ways include short and to the point reporting without unnecessary biographical details. No photos on the front page are pre-
Unfortunately, when entertainment such as this is made, it often plays into the fame and notoriety killers desire. True crime stories about serial murderers and news coverage of mass killings likely won’t
contact us Shaun Goodwin Emma Greenwood Editor-in-chief Business Manager sgoodwin@kansan.com egreenwood@kansan.com
Scott Johnston is a senior from Berryton majoring in microbiology.
editorial board
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Shaun Goodwin, Savanna Smith, Aroog Khaliq and Emma Greenwood.
KANSAN.COM
SPORTS
7
KU club hockey prepares for nationals
Emma Pravecek/KANSAN
Sophomore Dane Johnson controls the puck in a game against Missouri. Kansas won 7-3 Thursday, Feb. 21. ROSS KAINE @RossKaine24 On Feb. 20, the KU Hockey Club team learned it was the No. 1 seed in the Pacific Division and the No. 1 overall seed in the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament in Frisco, Texas. The Jayhawks led the pack in the ACHA D-III Pacific Division with a nearly perfect season of 20 wins and one overtime loss. For senior Preston McConnell, this meant one thing: Kansas hockey is going to nationals. After a 7-3 win over
Missouri on Feb. 21 at the Border Showdown, the Jayhawks are now shifting their focus toward their primary objective of becoming the new 2019 ACHA National Champions. “It’s win it or bust, and I believe we will win it,” McConnell said. “We haven’t met a team that’s able to stand with us, and I’m confident, with our abilities and the guys, that we’re going to do really well.” The Jayhawks have a long road ahead of them, as Nationals span five days with five consecutive elimination games. McConnell
stressed just how focused the team needs to be if it hopes to succeed. “We have to stay mentally in it,” McConnell said. “It’s gonna be a long stretch, we’ve never played more than two games back-to-back. We gotta get our school affairs together, while also not getting on each other and knowing our roles.” The strength of a team, according to McConnell, is how everyone knows his role and embraces it. “We all know our roles,” McConnell said. “We got Dane Johnson, who’s our primary scorer. That’s
Emma Pravecek/KANSAN Sophomore Dane Johnson celebrates after scoring versus Missouri at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence, Missouri. Kansas won the game 7-3 Thursday, Feb. 21.
what everyone on our team knows that he’s going to do, and everyone else fills in the plays to put him in that position to score.” McConnell also emphasized the bonds on the team as one of its primary strengths. “We’re a tight knit group, and we haven’t had that in the past like we do now,” McConnell said. “It shows with our record because everyone’s friends rather than just teammates on the same hockey team.” In terms of areas of improvement for the team, McConnell preaches that they’re practically flawless from a playing standpoint. McConnell still has his concerns about the future, however. “Something we really need to improve upon is how we’ll have five minute intervals of a lack of focus, which leads to mental breakdowns and us giving up a couple easy goals,” McConnel said. “For us to win nationals, we can’t have those five minute breakdowns, and need to be focused for those 60 minutes.” When it comes to leadership, McConnell tipped his hat to senior forward and team captain Brent Bockman. “He does a really good job of showing guys that this is the last time you’re
going to be able to play hockey,” McConnell said. “Whether it’s two more years, three more years, or four more years, we appreciate it.”
taking it too seriously and burnt out the players by not letting them be college kids,” McConnell said. “The beauty of this is being able to have fun and be com-
“It’s win it or bust, and I believe we will win it. We haven’t met a team that’s able to stand with us, and I’m confident, with our abilities and the guys, that we’re going to do really well.” Preston McConnell senior
More than anything else, McConnell stressed that commitment is the driving force behind the team’s winning streak. “Like anything in life, no matter what the level is, when you commit to something you need to show up and give it your all. We’ve had really good commitment this year, and the senior leadership has been a process since our very first year until now,” McConnell said. When asked about the coaching staff, McConnell had nothing but praise for head coach Andy McConnell, who happens to be Preston’s brother, as well as assistant coach Chase Pruitt. “On the club team before this, the coaching staff burnt out the players by
petitive, and our coaching staff understands that. We’re going to be good when it’s hockey time, but at the same time we need to have fun.” McConnell said he expects schools from more traditional hockey states to present a tall order for the Jayhawks. “Some of the northern schools that we don’t really play, such as Michigan, Michigan State, and a couple Canadian teams,” he said. “But I think that all the teams there will be a challenge.”
nationals
Frisco, TX March 26-30 Dr. Pepper Arena
Keeping the Hawks Rolling since 1974! Call Us Today!
[785] 841-4833
sports
SPORTS
8
Monday, March 18, 2019
KANSAN.COM
K A N S A N .C O M /S P O R T S
Hoppel wins 800-meter national title LAUREN HAWKINS @laurensidney_
While most students were heading home or on vacation for spring break, Kansas track and field junior distance runner Bryce Hoppel was busy winning a national championship. Closing out the indoor season, Hoppel ran a 1:46.46 800-meter to finish the season undefeated in individual events and claim his first national title. “The full gravity of it all hasn’t hit me yet,” Hoppel said, according to a Kansas Athletics press release. “The race was great. My plan was to get right behind [Texas A&M’s] Devin Dixon and let him lead it and then I knew I could get whoever was leading at the end.” Becoming the first Jayhawk to win a national championship in the men’s 800-meter run, he also broke the Birmingham CrossPlex facility record. “[Hoppel] really had an unbelievable race,” Kansas coach Stanley Redwine said. “It goes to show that hard work pays off, because he really is one of the hardest working people that I’ve ever seen.” The Midland, Texas,
Chance Parker/KANSAN
Junior Bryce Hoppel competes in the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular Friday, Jan. 18. native had a hardfought race as he found momentum in the last 100 meters of the race. Hoppel caught Marco Arop of Mississippi State at the last gasp, winning the race by 54-hundredths
of a second. “It was really good to end on that high note because up until that point we hadn’t been getting the things done that we were hoping for this weekend,” Redwine
said. “He showed that it could be done and he was the sunshine in the midst of the storm.” Kansas senior Sharon Lokedi finished her time as a Jayhawk with an 11th place finish in the
hawks picked up a win with a final score of 7-5 over St. Joseph’s. After Kansas put up one run in the first, the game wouldn’t see another run scored until the sixth inning when St. Joseph’s would put up three runs followed by the Jayhawks putting up one of their own on a double by sophomore infielder Skyler Messinger. During the last third of the game, Kansas erupted for five runs in the seventh following a grand slam off the bat of junior catcher Jaxx Groshans and another RBI from Messinger.
On Saturday morning Kansas matched up with Georgetown in what seemed to be a pitchers duel until the sixth inning when both teams got on the scoreboard. In the top half of the inning the Hoyas broke the 0-0 tie with two runs off a two run home run given up by junior pitcher Ryan Cyr. Although the two run shot would be the only runs Cyr would surrender in his seven innings, his best start of the season. In the bottom half of the inning the Jayhawks
would quickly retake the lead after getting the bases loaded and a timely error from Georgetown, making the game 4-2 going into the last third of the game. During the seventh Kansas would add on the last two runs scored of the game to eventually win 6-2. For the Jayhawks’ third game in Florida, they met with Ball State for another morning game on Sunday. The bats were going early for both teams in this one as Kansas was able to tally two runs in the top of the first and Ball State got just one. Similar to the performance of Cyr, freshman pitcher Eli Davis went seven strong innings while only allowing one run on four hits and six strikeouts. For the Jayhawks offensively, it was once again junior infielder Benjamin Sems leading the charge in RBI’s with three and two, respectively. Following its early scores, Kansas managed to scatter runs throughout the game in the fourth, eighth and ninth, ending the game as a 6-1 victory for the Jayhawks. This win marked the team’s seventh straight, its longest since April to May of 2017. The Jayhawks wouldn’t
5,000-meter run with a time of 16:06.21. Her efforts earned her second team All-America honors, her 10th All-American honor in her career as a Jayhawk. Lokedi additionally recorded the
seventh-best time in the history of Kansas track and field. The Jayhawks will open outdoor competition in Wichita at the Herm Wilson Invitational March 21-23.
KU baseball has mixed showing during spring break DARBY HAYS @derbhays11 After sweeping their way through the Snowbird Classic over the beginning of spring break, the Jayhawks limped through the second half of break, dropping all three games to St. Johns over the weekend. The Snowbird Classic sweep followed by the sweep by St. Johns means Kansas finished the break 5-3. In their first game of the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Florida, the Jay-
Kansan file photo Then-redshirt sophomore pitcher Ryan Cyr throws a pitch against Murray State on Friday, Feb. 16. The Jayhawks defeated the Racers 5-3.
athletes of the week
Brynn Minor Sof tball
In a 2-0 shutout of the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, senior pitcher Brynn Minor contributed a full seven innings to pick up her third win of the season. In the scoreless showing for Kansas, Minor collected six strikeouts. Minor threw seven more strikeouts and no walks the following day in yet another complete-game shutout over the Cornhuskers, this time 1-0.
Snowbird Classic
results
7-5 6-2 vs. St. Joseph’s
vs. Georgetown
5-7 10-8 7-4 vs. Ball State
C. Conn. State
stop there, winning a shootout on Tuesday morning against Central Connecticut State, 10-8. After taking a 4-1 lead over the first two innings highlighted by a two RBI double by redshirt freshman infielder Dylan Ditzenberger. Following a scoreless third inning from both teams, the Blue Devils got to freshman pitcher Hunter Freese by putting up six runs in the inning. In spite of the swing of momentum, a slew of Kansas relievers would halt Central Connecticut State long enough for the offense to regain the lead and hold on for the win. After leaving sunny Florida, the Jayhawks traveled to Queens, New York, to square off against St. John’s. The first of a three game series would be a pitchers duel until the bottom of the 10th when the Thunderbirds scored on a wild pitch, ending the game.
Brett Vosik
Seton Hall
Junior pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn threw eight scoreless innings only allowing one hit and five walks, matched with six strikeouts. The second matchup once again lacked offense as the Jayhawks dropped their second in a row, 3-1. After scoring a run in the opening inning, the offense went silent, only tallying two more hits after the inning. Credited to scattered runs from the Thunderbirds, they earned the series win in this matchup. The Jayhawks wrapped up their series and road trip on Sunday, losing the final game of the series 113, moving to 12-7 on the season.
next game
at WSU Wed., March 20 6 p.m.
Baseball Junior left fielder Brett Vosik became the first Jayhawk since 2014 to execute a perfect 5-for-5 performance at the plate on Tuesday against Central Connecticut State. Recording two RBIs and two runs for Kansas in its 10-8 victory over the Blue Devils in the Snowbird Classic, the junior contributed four singles and a double in the breakout effort. Kansas finished the Snowbird Classic 5-0.
BRACKET
BASH
udk
Vol. 138 Iss. 15 Mon., March 18, 2019
2
KANSAN.COM
BRACKET BASH
Matchup Analysis: KU vs. Northeastern JAKOB KATZENBERG @KatzInHatz10
Chance Parker/KANSAN Freshman guard Quentin Grimes shoots the ball against Iowa State. The Jayhawks fell to the Cyclones 7866 during the Big 12 Tournament Saturday, March 16.
The March Madness Bracket is officially set. Kansas will be a four seed in the Midwest region, the lowest Kansas has been seeded since 2006. The Jayhawks will be taking on the winner of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, the No. 13-seeded Northeastern Huskies. While Kansas is expected to be a heavy favorite there are several factors that make this matchup intriguing. The Northeastern Huskies last made the tournament in 2015, where they nearly upset then three-seed Notre Dame 69-65. Last year, the Huskies were very close to the big dance but fell to the College of Charleston 83-76 in an overtime thriller in the NCAA Tournament. This year, Northeastern brought back essentially the same team from a year ago as it returned their top six scorers from 2018—seniors Vasa Pusica and Anthony Green, juniors Shawn Occeus, Donnell Gresham Jr. and Bolden Brace and sophomore Thomas Murphy. The Huskies have started two seniors and three juniors all year long. Kansas on the other hand will likely be rolling out its four-freshman starting lineup that has been playing since the absence of senior guard Lagerald Vick. Another factor that makes this matchup interesting is that on paper, Northeastern could exploit areas where Kansas is weak. Throughout the year,
the Jayhawks have struggled to defend the threepoint line. Northeastern has five players on the roster that shoot 39 percent or above from three. In the first half of the CAA Tournament championship game against the Hofstra Pride, Hofstra initially defended the Northeastern’s three-point attack well, but when shots started to fall the tide of the game
Northeastern has five players on the roster that shoot 39 percent or above from three.
turned. After missing its first three attempts, Northeastern knocked down seven of its next twelve threes to close the half. Because of this, Northeastern found themselves up 16 points at halftime. If Kansas can’t run Northeastern off the three-point line don’t be surprised if this game is closer than expected. On the flip side, Kansas has the weapons to run Northeastern out of the gym. The Huskies typically start a four-guard lineup which could put them at a disadvantage against the Jayhawks. Northeastern hasn’t faced a forward tandem like freshman David McCormack and first-team All-Big 12 junior Dedric Lawson all year. It will be interesting to see if Northeastern chooses to steer out of its comfort zone in order to make up for the size discrepancy.
BILL SELF PRESSER FROM PAGE A1 will have a bit of an advantage should they make it out of the first weekend of the tournament. Granted, the first weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, is still a tough draw, with the Jayhawks first up against No. 13 Northeastern and potentially the winner of the game between No. 5 Auburn and No. 12 New Mexico State. “To me, that’s hard,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “Auburn’s arguably as hot as anybody, and New Mexico State took us to the last possession in the Sprint Center, which is technically a home game.” Self also said that he was “shocked that we’re in the Midwest.” “But I like that we’re in the Midwest,” Self said. “It would have been nice if we could’ve driven to Des Moines or Tulsa also, but usually when you’re a four seed, you don’t get everything catered to you like we have sometimes in the past because we’ve been a one [seed].” And while Self and Lawson both have that “one game at a time” mentality in the extremely unpredictable NCAA tournament, it’s hard not to be
intrigued by that second weekend. Should the Jayhawks make it to the Sweet 16, both an immense challenge and reward awaits them. There’s the aforementioned chance to play at the Sprint Center, but also the fact that three of the winningest programs in college basketball are in the Midwest (No. 1 seed North Carolina, No. 2 Kentucky and No. 4 Kansas). Not to mention No. 6 seed Iowa State who is notorious for drawing large crowds. “I’m not going to think about this, but if favorites win according to the seed line, having [North] Carolina and Kentucky in one regional, that sounds like a Final Four [more than] a regional [semifinal],” Self said. Self also pointed to how much of a “pretty significant advantage” playing North Carolina in the second round in 2013 at the Sprint Center was. And that of course directly relates to the Kansas fans, who are now anticipating those potential blue blood matchups, according to Lawson. “That definitely will give us a little edge to play for, give these fans something that they want: a
chance to come to another NCAA [tournament] game and show their support,” Lawson said. “I know they’re dying for us to make that happen for them.” Also, for Lawson, the idea of playing against his friend again — Kentucky forward P.J. Washington — adds another wrinkle. He said that “we both have enough to worry about,” but that back in Lexington, Kentucky, on Jan. 26, they both wanted a rematch down the line. “It’s always great to see the ‘what ifs’ or the possibilities, but our focus is that first game against Northeastern, so we’re just going to do everything we can do to prepare for them,” freshman point guard Devon Dotson said. “Just take it one game at a time.” So again, there’s a ways to go before those “what if” matchups. With all that in mind, and the fact that Kansas is playing as a four seed for the first time since 2006, it’ll be a little different road to that potential second weekend. “With the one seed, whether you want to admit or not, there comes pressure if you haven’t dealt with it before,” Self said. “Everybody believes
Rachel Griffard/KANSAN Redshirt junior forward Dedric Lawson addresses the media following Selection Sunday on March 17. they’re playing with house money, and you believe you have to do something.” And whether it’s the first or second weekend, this will all be new for the majority of the team outside of sophomore guard Marcus Garrett and junior
forward Mitch Lightfoot, who were both on the 2018 Final Four team. So drawing on any experience, particularly last week’s Big 12 tournament, will be crucial for these future big-time matchups. “Playing on that type of
court and in that environment helps get us acclimated to what we’re going to see in the [NCAA] Tournament,” Dotson said. “That definitely helped out a lot. We’re pretty young but we’re prepared for the moment.”
KANSAN.COM
BRACKET BASH
Bracket Predictions 1 DUKE 16 NDSU / NCCU 8 VCU 9 UCF 5 MISS. ST. 12 LIBERTY 4 VA TECH 13 SAINT LOUIS 6 MARYLAND 11 BELL. / TEMP. 3 LSU 14 YALE 7 LOUISVILLE 10 MINNESOTA 2 MICHIGAN ST.
15 BRADLEY 1 GONZAGA 16 FDU / PVAM 8 SYRACUSE 9 BAYLOR 5 MARQUETTE 12 MURRAY ST. 4 FLORIDA ST. 13 VERMONT 6 BUFFALO 11 ASU / SJU 3 TEXAS TECH 14 N. KENTUCKY 7 NEVADA 10 FLORIDA 2 MICHIGAN 15 MONTANA
MADDY TANNAHILL @MaddyTannahill
DUKE
VIRGINIA VIRGINIA
DUKE
MISSISSIPPI
VCU DUKE
VIRGINIA OREGON
MISS. ST. KANSAS ST.
MISS. ST.
KANSAS ST.
VA TECH EAST
TENNESSEE
DUKE
SOUTH
MARYLAND
VILLANOVA VILLANOVA
MARYLAND
PURDUE
LSU DUKE
MICHIGAN ST.
TENNESSEE CINCINNATI
LOUISVILLE TENNESSEE
MICHIGAN ST.
MICHIGAN ST.
TENNESSEE
DUKE 76-73
GONZAGA
UNC
GONZAGA
UNC UTAH ST.
BAYLOR GONZAGA
UNC
TENNESSEE
AUBURN
MARQUETTE MARQUETTE
AUBURN KANSAS
VERMONT ASU
WEST
GONZAGA
UNC
MIDWEST HOUSTON
TEXAS TECH
HOUSTON
TEXAS TECH TEXAS TECH
HOUSTON
NEVADA
WOFFORD MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN
OHIO ST.
KENTUCKY KENTUCKY
VIRGINIA 1 GWU 16 MISSISSIPPI 8 OKLAHOMA 9 WISCONSIN 5 OREGON 12 KANSAS ST. 4 UC IRVINE 13 VILLANOVA 6 SMC 11
PURDUE 3 OLD DOM. 14 CINCINNATI 7 IOWA 10 TENNESSEE 2 COLGATE 15
UNC 1 IONA 15 UTAH ST. 8 WASHINGTON 9 AUBURN 5 NMSU 12 KANSAS 4 N. EASTERN 13 IOWA ST. 6 OHIO ST. 11 HOUSTON 3 GEORGIA ST. 14 WOFFORD 7 SETON HALL 10 KENTUCKY 2 ABILENE CU 15
3
4
BRACKET BASH
KANSAN.COM
KANSAN.COM
BRACKET BASH
5
6
KANSAN.COM
BRACKET BASH
Bracket Predictions 1 DUKE 16 NDSU / NCCU 8 VCU 9 UCF 5 MISS. ST. 12 LIBERTY 4 VA TECH 13 SAINT LOUIS 6 MARYLAND 11 BELL. / TEMP. 3 LSU 14 YALE 7 LOUISVILLE 10 MINNESOTA 2 MICHIGAN ST. 15 BRADLEY 1 GONZAGA 16 FDU / PVAM 8 SYRACUSE 9 BAYLOR 5 MARQUETTE 12 MURRAY ST. 4 FLORIDA ST. 13 VERMONT 6 BUFFALO 11 ASU / SJU 3 TEXAS TECH 14 N. KENTUCKY 7 NEVADA 10 FLORIDA 2 MICHIGAN 15 MONTANA
BRADEN SHAW @bradenshaw4real
DUKE
VIRGINIA VIRGINIA
DUKE
OKLAHOMA
UCF DUKE
WISCONSIN
LIBERTY
WISCONSIN WISCONSIN
VA TECH
KANSAS ST.
VA TECH EAST
TENNESSEE
MICHIGAN ST.
SOUTH
MARYLAND
VILLANOVA VILLANOVA
LSU LSU
PURDUE MICHIGAN ST.
MICHIGAN ST.
TENNESSEE CINCINNATI
LOUISVILLE TENNESSEE
MICHIGAN ST.
MICHIGAN ST.
TENNESSEE
TENNESSEE 84-79
GONZAGA
UNC
GONZAGA
UNC WASHINGTON
SYRACUSE FLORIDA ST.
UNC
TENNESSEE
AUBURN
MURRAY ST. FLORIDA ST.
KANSAS KANSAS
FLORIDA ST. WEST
BUFFALO
FLORIDA ST.
KENTUCKY
MIDWEST IOWA ST.
TEXAS TECH TEXAS TECH
HOUSTON
TEXAS TECH
KENTUCKY
FLORIDA
WOFFORD MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN
IOWA ST.
KENTUCKY KENTUCKY
VIRGINIA 1 GWU 16 MISSISSIPPI 8 OKLAHOMA 9 WISCONSIN 5 OREGON 12 KANSAS ST. 4 UC IRVINE 13 VILLANOVA 6 SMC 11 PURDUE 3 OLD DOM. 14 CINCINNATI 7 IOWA 10 TENNESSEE 2 COLGATE 15
UNC 1 IONA 15 UTAH ST. 8 WASHINGTON 9
AUBURN 5 NMSU 12 KANSAS 4 N. EASTERN 13 IOWA ST. 6 OHIO ST. 11 HOUSTON 3
GEORGIA ST. 14 WOFFORD 7 SETON HALL 10 KENTUCKY 2 ABILENE CU 15
KANSAN.COM
BRACKET BASH
7
Expectations shouldn’t be high for KU FULTON CASTER @FCaster04
The NCAA Tournament is here. This time of year usually involves dreams being crushed, miracles occurring and fans being in states of either pure joy or utter devastation. A lot of basketball is about to be played, and the No. 4-seeded Kansas men’s basketball team now somewhat knows its path to national glory. This season has been a rough one for Kansas. The Jayhawks have lost three of their projected starters for chunks of the season, with senior guard Lagerald Vick now being gone for good and junior center Udoka Azubuike having been out since January. Kansas also has been without sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa the entire season due to an NCAA eligibility investigation. With this being considered, Kansas powered ahead for a 25-9 overall record and 12-6 in conference. The 14-year Big 12 title streak was snapped and while Kansas had a solid showing in the first two games of the Big 12 Championship, the Jayhawks went ice cold against Iowa State and lost the title game. And now with 2019’s bracket revealed, what does Kansas need to do to consider this tournament run a successful one? To be completely honest, I think everyone knows this Kansas team just is not built for a championship run. In
Chance Parker/KANSAN Redshirt junior forward Dedric Lawson blocks a shot against Iowa State. The Jayhawks fell to the Cyclones 78-66 during the Big 12 Tournament Saturday, March 16. spurts, the Jayhawks can be a high-level program that can hang with the best of them. Other times, they lose their shooting stroke and
defense can become an extreme liability. The Jayhawks need to play within themselves. They need to just focus on what they do well
State, Georgia State, Seton Hall and Abilene Christian all pose as threats to knock off the higher seed in their matchups. Although with lower seeds than usual — Kansas boasting a No. 4 seed and Iowa State as a No. 6 — the regional semifinal will run through a building both programs ultimately control when appearance is evident. After Sunday’s Big 12 championship resulted in the Cyclones overcoming the Jayhawks by double digits, it was well apparent home court advantage is something these two rivals share each time out at the Sprint Center. However, a rematch of the conference championship game could not possibly occur until the Elite Eight, assuming both teams overcome the two prominent blue bloods North Carolina and Kentucky. The last time Kansas managed to meet North Carolina in Kansas City was back in March 24, 2013, when the No. 1 seed Jayhawks defeated the No. 8 seed Tar Heels in the second round. Kansas has also won the last three matchups in postseason play against former Kansas coach and now-North Carolina coach, Roy Williams — one in 2008, another in 2012 and finally in 2013. With the potential of a regional final game against Kentucky, Kansas
fell in Lexington earlier this season in the Big 12/ SEC challenge. The last time the Jayhawks participated in the postseason in Kansas City, they were bested by Jordan Bell and the Oregon Ducks in the Elite Eight during Frank Mason’s senior season. Likely to continue running four freshmen out there in the starting lineup, Kansas will suffer from a lack of experience — experience that carried them through the tournament for the better part of five seasons. Without a true senior on the floor and few options from the reserves, finding ways to pull off wins in March will have to come from ways other than redshirt junior forward Dedric Lawson and freshman guard Devon Dotson. Emerging as the Midwest champion will be a daunting task for any seed as they make their way through two cities before stopping in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As for the Jayhawks, with all the doubts and negativity slung in their direction over the past couple months, they will receive a fresh start at 0-0. The odds are stacked against them, but the magic of March is bound to have impact for someone in the bracket.
and forge ahead as a team. What Kansas fans need to do is realize the expectations that are rational for this edition of the NCAA Tournament.
If Kansas makes it to the second weekend — the Sweet 16 — that can be deemed a success. This team has struggled mightily away from Allen
Fieldhouse, and you cannot expect them to run through teams even on neutral floors. As soon as Kansas makes it to the Sweet 16, if it even makes it that far, then the Jayhawks are playing with house money. Caution can go to the wind, and the team can do its best to surprise everyone and make it to Minnesota for the Final Four. The NCAA Tournament is always random and difficult. Kansas fans are used to believing their team can make a deep run, but they must realize this year is different. The first weekend is the stressful one. Dropping a game early would be a disappointing cap to a rough season, but the moment the Jayhawks advance to a regional site then all that needs to be thought of is the pure joy of basketball, the belief that Kansas has done what they must and that now it is time for the fun to begin. Kansas has the lowest tournament expectations it has had in a long time. The Jayhawks don’t need a deep run to be successful. They just need to win their first two games and then the pressure is off. That moment, if it comes, could lead to something special. Teams with nothing to lose are more often than not the ones other teams don’t want to see as an opponent in March.
Breakdown of Midwest Region in NCAA Tournament JACK JOHNSON @JohnyJ_15
Breaking out the complete Midwest Region bracket on Selection Sunday, Kansas found itself heading to Salt Lake City, Utah, as a No. 13 seed to take on Northeastern. On first glance, three of the five traditional blue bloods, North Carolina (No. 1 seed), Kentucky (No. 3 seed) and Kansas (No. 4 seed), can run the table as potential representatives for the region in the Final Four. The Jayhawks will open as a 10.5 point favorite over Northeastern on Thursday. If Kansas proceeds as expected, the next opponent in Salt Lake City will either feature the SEC tournament champ Auburn, or a familiar face in, New Mexico State, which the Jayhawks held off in the 63-60 thrilling win at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Dec. 8. Revisiting that same arena would be next on the docket for Kansas, assuming it remains unscathed from the first weekend. Possible matchups include North Carolina, Iona, Utah State or Washington. The bottom of the bracket, headlined by the Kentucky Wildcats, presents fellow Big 12 opponent Iowa State, and American Conference winner Houston. Ohio
Chance Parker/KANSAN Sophomore guard Marcus Garrett dribbles the ball against Iowa State. The Jayhawks fell to the Cyclones 78-66 during the Big 12 Tournament Saturday, March 16.
8
KANSAN.COM
BRACKET BASH
KU’s history as a 4 seed in the tournament JACK JOHNSON @JohnyJ_15
Following the loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday evening, the Kansas men’s basketball discovered its fate as to where it would be slated to play in the NCAA tournament. Securing the four-seed in the Midwest region against No. 13 Northeastern, Kansas will take its nine losses into postseason play and attempt to return for a chance to cut down in the nets in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 8. Surrendering the impressive 14-year run of consecutive conference titles and failing to claim the Big 12 tournament crown, the Jayhawks were given their lowest seed since 2006. Seeing as Kansas hasn’t dropped below a two seed in 10 years, let’s take a deep dive into the archives on the team’s success as a four seed under the reign of coach Bill Self. Dating back to the first year under Self in 2004, also known as the last time the Jayhawks were unable to lock the top spot in the conference standings before this season, Kansas was stamped with a four seed, showcasing its 22-9 overall record. The word luck would be too weak to sum up the Jayhawks’ journey to the Elite Eight that season. After pummeling the
No. 13-seeded University of Illinois at Chicago by a hefty margin of 78-53, Kansas was greeted by another double-digit seeded. The No. 12-seeded Pacific Tigers managed to eliminate No. 5 Providence in the first round, presenting the Jayhawks with an easier path on paper to the Sweet 16. Ending the cinderella hopes of the Tigers with a 78-63 rout, Self’s first year would witness even more good fortune in the ensuing round. Slated to matchup with the top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats in the regional semifinals, fate once again was in favor of Kansas. Assuming a rival blueblood would confront the Jayhawks by much of the nation, it turned out to be No. 9 UAB after a thrilling one-point victory over the powerhouse of the south. Stunting the worn out legs of the Blazers remarkable run, Kansas dropped 100 on UAB in a 26-point win to advance to the Elite Eight. There, the plethora of underdog foes the Jayhawks were faced with came to end at the hands of a Jarrett Jack-led Georgia Tech squad. With the Yellow Jackets’ win, Kansas’ run came just shy of a return to the Final Four. Two years later, the Jayhawks were upended by Bradley in the first round, 77-73. This occurred in the aftermath of a defeat by a 14-seeded Bucknell team the previ-
Chance Parker/KANSAN Kansas coach Bill Self glares off into the distance during the game against Iowa State. The Jayhawks defeated the Cyclones 80-76 Monday, Jan. 21. ous season. The 2018-19 Kansas team was riddled with injuries, off-court investigations, failed expectations and the leave of absence from the group’s only senior, but those issues are
now behind them. History isn’t technically on Kansas’ side with zero Final Four appearances as a four-seed in the Self era; however, for the first time in a long time, a tremendous amount of weight
has been lifted without the expectation of a trophy. March Madness is defined by the stunning upsets, dancing bench players and shirts covering teary eyes that signal
the end of one’s career. Unfortunately for Kansas, if history repeats itself, the lasting image of this year’s bunch will not be one of numerous smiling faces, but more tears of disappointment.
ANALYSIS
KU men’s basketball’s seed is correct and deserved ARMAN ALHOSSEINI @PERSIAsGREATEST
Chance Parker/KANSAN Freshman guard Devon Dotson drives the ball against Iowa State. The Jayhawks fell to the Cyclones 78-66 during the Big 12 Tournament Saturday, March 16. Jayhawks defeated the Cyclones 80-76 Monday, Jan. 21.
Kansas men’s basketball is heading to an alltime record 30th-consecutive NCAA tournament – but as one streak continues, another sees its end. After nine straight seasons as a top two-seeded team, Kansas earned a four seed in the Midwest region of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, the lowest for the team since 2006. As a squad ranked number one in the preseason AP poll, the four seed was anything but expected. Yet after a 3-8 record on the road, concluding the season without a Big 12 regular season championship for the first time since 2005 and being without three quality players by the end of the season, the four seed is more than rightfully deserved. But how did Kansas get here? The Jayhawks started the season with seven wins over NCAA Tournament teams, including neutral site wins over eventual two seeds Michigan State and Tennessee. However, as good as those nonconference wins were, later losses on the road were what derailed the team from their premier beginning. Three of Kansas’ eight road losses – the program’s most in 27 seasons – were to teams who are either competing in the
First Four or missed out on the tournament altogether: Arizona State, West Virginia and Texas. This continued with double digit losses against the likes of Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Iowa State, with the latter being in the Big 12 Championship Game. Those losses dropped Kansas to third in the Big 12 standings, in what was expected to be a 15thstraight regular season conference title. However, the team that was picked to finish first had three quality playmakers who the Jayhawks did not finish the regular season with: sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa, junior center Udoka Azubuike and senior guard Lagerald Vick.
In retrospect, barring all of the negativity, this Kansas team still prevailed regardless of its rigorous expectations. With each having different unparalleled reasons to their own endings, this may be the biggest, yet least talked about, reason for why this Jayhawk team is different from five months ago: it is without two five-star post players and a guard who still continues to lead the team in three-point field goals
with 11 less games played. In retrospect, barring all of the negativity, this Kansas team still prevailed regardless of its rigorous expectations. Starting four freshmen since Vick’s absence, the team went 8-3 in addition to snapping their four game road losing streak. Three players received all-Big 12 honors, which included spectacular individual seasons by redshirt junior forward Dedric Lawson and freshman guard Devon Dotson. Alas, Kansas still made it to their 14th Big 12 championship game, with both above mentioned players making the all-tournament team. Through this roller coaster season, the Jayhawks played 14 NCAA Tournament teams (19 games), compiling the toughest schedule in the nation. Wins against seven teams seeded six or above gives the Jayhawks more reason than not to be considered as one of the best 16 teams in the nation. The losses, on and off the court, both subtracted from what could have been an even more outstanding season. Yet, the four seed is nothing for the Jayhawks to hold their heads down for; since 2010 four seeds have the third most Final Four participants. With one tournament left in this decade, the Kansas Jayhawks might as well add to it.