UDK 3/21/19 by University Daily Kansan

INSIDE THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904

Lawrence City Commission revises ordinance to lower marijuana fine to $1 p. 2

SPORTS Northwestern Huskies

Architecture students’ design and construction bring more light to Nunemaker Center p. 3

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What does a fee cut mean for KU Athletics? For nearly 20 years, students have paid an athletics fee. Historically, this fee funded student positions. However, how much of a dent does $7 make?

Drone company aids businesses Alumnus Nathan Mize uses aerial technology to help local businesses grow their brands.

vol. 138 // iss. 16 Thurs., March 21, 2019

SEE BASKETBALL • PAGE 7

LUCY PETERSON @petersonxlucy SOPHIA BELSHE @SophiaBelshe

Kansas Athletics could cut an estimated 250 seats from the student section at Allen Fieldhouse following Student Senate’s cut of the $7 athletics fee for the upcoming fiscal year.

“I just want to be transparent in saying that it could happen.” Noah Ries student body president

During the full Senate meeting on Wednesday, March 20, Student Body President Noah Ries said in his officer report that Athletics responded to the proposed cut to the

athletics fee by saying it would cut seats in Allen Fieldhouse or raise the price of the All Sports Combo to make up for the $305,000 loss in funding the fee provided. “I just want to be transparent in saying that it could happen,” Ries said in his officer report. The cut from $7 to $0 passed Finance Committee on Wednesday, March 6, without any amendments to the fee. The fee increased $10 from fiscal year 2019 to $492.95. Ries, who supported passing the bill without the athletics fee, said the price of the All Sports Combo could potentially rise to $210 — a $55 increase. While presenting the required campus fees, Finance Chair Seth Wingerter said because Athletics is so revenue-driven, the $7 fee was an “unnec-

Instagram makeup artist to give tutorials and share thoughts on colorism at campus events.

Football has first padded practice

Chance Parker/KANSAN Northeastern senior guard Vasa Pusica dribbles the ball during an open practice.

Nicole Asbury/KANSAN Finance committee chair Seth Wingerter explains the decision to cut the Athletics fee from $7 to $0 during a full Senate meeting on Wednesday, March 20. essary subsidy left over from things necessary in the past.” “If it was taken away, it could be better allocated to other sources. It could more directly impact the lives of students,” Wingerter said.

According to Wingerter, KU Athletics has a $100 million budget each year because it’s so “revenue-driven.” While Athletics has not made any formal decisions, it is expected that it will take one of

those actions in response to the cut. “They’re not just going to drop $300,000 and not try and come back with anything,” said Chief of

BRADEN SHAW @bradenshaw4real

we did in those games and I think we’ll be fine.” In those two games, the Cylcones shot 13-of25 from deep, while the Red Raiders shot 16-of-26 from beyond the arc, and both resulting in lopsided victories. Kansas’ first opponent in the NCAA tournament is No. 13 Northeastern has also made a name for itself for shooting the three, something that could cause a little uneasiness for the Jayhawks. “I hope we defend Northeastern better than we did the other two,” Kansas coach Bill Self said with a laugh.

Self and Agbaji both said that those two earlier losses can help the Jayhawks prepare for the Huskies on Thursday, especially with Kansas getting “lit up on both occasions.” “I think from a mindset standpoint, we go from whatever your philosophy is to clogging the lane or making them score over the top, to now you have to make sure you are there on the catch and short closeouts, if any, and certainly your ball screen defense has to be great because they’re very, very

Danny Caine, owner of The Raven Book Store, has a new book coming out on Tuesday, and the bookstore is celebrating accordingly. The poetry book, titled “Continental Breakfast,” explores what it’s like to live, fall in love, practice religion and travel in a Midwest that’s largely controlled by brands, companies and cap-

italism. “It’s a bunch of different voices trying to find their way in a landscape totally run by brands,” Caine said. The release party for “Continental Breakfast” took place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 at the Eighth Street Tap Room. Caine will then move into a nationwide book tour starting on March 23 in Columbia, Missouri. After starting the book

in 2012, Caine has been developing the book to find its final identity. The result covers topics that Caine said many writers find unappealing. “Historically, people have been much more excited to write about the natural world or things that are generally considered beautiful,” Caine said. “I’m interested in gas stations and cheap hotels — parts of the country that many peo-

Samantha Hsu/KANSAN Raven Book Store Owner, Danny Caine, is releasing his first poetry book titled “Continental Breakfast.”

READ MORE ON PAGE 7

Provost launches CLAS dean search SOPHIA BELSHE @SophiaBelshe Interim Provost Carl Lejuez announced Tuesday he is now seeking nominations for the next interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, following an announcement that Interim Dean Clarence Lang will be leaving the University by the end of the year. “In light of this transition, I am reaching out to you to solicit nominations for an interim dean of the College,” Lejuez said in an email sent to all students, staff and faculty. Lejuez is looking for tenured faculty to serve over the next academic year, with hopes to announce the next interim dean by the start of April, according to the announcement. Lang accepted an offer to be the dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Penn State, and will begin his new responsibilities July 1, according to a previous announcement. “I appreciate all Interim

Interim Provost Carl Lejuez

Dean Lang has done during his time at KU and wish him good luck in his new role,” Lejuez said. Lejuez was considering offering the college dean position to Lang permanently in December 2018 via a direct appointment, but Lang declined the offer in January. Vice Provost of Diversity and Equity Jennifer Hamer will also leave the University after this academic year, but no announcement has been made about the status of that position. Names for the next interim dean of the college can be submitted through an anonymous feedback form, or by emailing provost@ku.edu. The deadline to submit is March 25 at 5 p.m.

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Thursday, March 21, 2019

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KYSER DOUGAN @KyserDougan

The Lawrence City Commission revised a previously proposed ordinance to lower fines for first and second-time marijuana offenses to $1 and lower the age limit 18 years old — rather than the initially proposed 21 years old — during its meeting on Tuesday, March 19. Regardless of the proposal, Mayor Lisa Larsen said the ordinance doesn’t legalize marijuana in Lawrence. “If you get caught, you’re going to get charged,” she said. “It’s going to go on your record. And it’s going to impact your ability to possibly get a job.” The commissioners voted 4 to 1 on the motion, with Commissioner Stuart Boley voting against. The first two offenses for marijuana possession are misdemeanors at the municipal court, and the commission has the ability to suggest penalties. But the third possession offense becomes a felony and goes to district court, where the commission has no control. During the meeting, Bo-

Johnny Meehan/KANSAN Commissioner Matthew Herbert motions to pass Ordinance No. 9568, amending the fines for first time and second time marijuana possession. ley said he was concerned about the second offense only being $1, and said he was in favor of having it be a higher amount. “There has to be some message that this path is progressively going to affect you,” Boley said. “I don’t want anybody to get

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City adjusts marijuana ordinance

Opinion editor Aroog Khaliq

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.

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Johnny Meehan/KANSAN Lawrence resident Laura Green explains to the council why the fine for first-time and second-time marijuana offenses should be lowered.

lulled into a felony.” City Commissioner Matthew Herbert said he was in support of the penalty being $1 for both offenses, but agreed with Boley that Lawrence residents need to be aware the Commission does not have control over the third offense. “We don’t have control over [the third offense] from where we sit, but it is my hope that what we do have control over can help facilitate change at a higher level,” Herbert said. Laura Green was one of community members who spoke to the commission in favor of the ordinance during the meeting. She said evaluations should be removed for first-time marijuana offenses. “This is just a possession charge and it doesn’t really warrant an evaluation unless it would be coupled with something more serious like drinking and driving,” Green said. Kirsten Kuhn, another community member in attendance, echoed what Green said and added more about the evaluation. “[The evaluation] really is a huge hindrance to peo-

ple as far as the expense goes… we don’t do any of this stuff for alcohol, this is definitely a pick and choose sort of issue,” she said. Glenn Hinkle, another community member in attendance, spoke against the ordinance. He said Lawrence should not jump on the bandwagon because other states are consider-

“If you get caught, you’re going to get charged.” Lisa Larsen mayor

ing it. “The weed you are contemplating sowing across our fair city will result in a harvest of pain, crime, desolation of families, denigration of children and increasing poverty among the poor,” Hinkle said. After public comment and discussion among members of the commission, the age was lowered to 18 and the fine made $1 for

the first two offenses. The commission is still working on the language of the ordinance in regard to the evaluation. The commissioners leaned toward having the ordinance’s language say the first offense “may” have an evaluation and the second offense “shall” have an evaluation, in order to give offenses a “stair step” approach. Commissioners first discussed lowering the fines for first-time and second-time marijuana offenses during a work session on Feb. 12. Initially, the commission sought a proposed ordinance which would lower the fine to $50, similar to Wichita, but after a motion from Herbert the commission voted in favor of lowering it to $1. During last night’s meeting, Larsen said this ordinance is about justice. “What I want to do with this is to bring some reasonable and equitable justice to this, that’s what this is about for me,” she said. The ordinance will come back for a second reading after language is decided on.

BASKETBALL SEATS FROM PAGE 1 Staff Zach Thomason. Some senators saw the decision from Athletics as a threat to students, should Senate choose to cut the fee. “In a lot of ways, it is a threat toward student body... It’s unfortunate, but if they want to try lash back at students for us trying to be fiscally responsible, that’s their choice,” said Trey Duran, director of Diversity and Inclusion and voting member of the fee review subcommittee. Chancellor Douglas Girod also has the power to reinstate funding to the bill, as then-Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little did in March 2014 when Senate voted to lower the fee from $25 to $0. GrayLittle reinstated the fee at $7. Student Body Vice

Nicole Asbury/KANSAN Student Body Vice President Charles Jetty tells full Senate he’s in favor of passing the current fee review bill as is. President Charles Jetty said he and Ries would make sure Athletics does not remove the seats in Allen Fieldhouse. He said the increase to the All Sports Combo would not

have as much of an effect on students as the $7 fee. “I think passing this is the best negotiation tactic we can possibly pursue,” Jetty said. Jetty argued that a $55

increase to the All Sports Combo, which he said remains the lowest in the Big 12 Conference, would not affect low-income students like keeping the $7 athletics fee would.

According to Brittney Oleniacz during the meeting, the fee review subcommittee discussed cutting the fee in half or reducing it to $1 or $2, but she felt the $7 from student fees would be insignificant to Athletics as a whole. “I think that most of the subcommittee felt that this is such an insignificant amount to them as a whole corporation that, giving them $1 is not worth it, it’s not worth our student dollars” Oleniacz said. The full fee review bill passed with 31 in favor, two opposed and two abstaining. Associate Athletic Director Jim Marchiony was not available for comment by time of press. This story is developing. It will be updated on kansan.com as more information becomes available.

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arts & culture Thursday, March 21, 2019

ARTS & CULTURE

K A N S A N .C O M /A R T S _ A N D _ C U LT U R E

Students help with Nunemaker renovations RYLIE KOESTER @RylieKoester An architectural design class works around the clock renovating Nunemaker Center, home of the University Honors Program, to create more transparency and provide more natural light to previously dark classrooms. “The classrooms were cave-like and uninviting. You wouldn’t [want to] be here unless you absolutely had to be,” said Trevor Hughes, a senior from Lawrence who’s working on the project. The class, “Dirt Works Studio” or “Architectural Design III,” began construction on Nunemaker Center at the beginning of the semester. Dirt Works Studio got its name because its first projects, including Chalmers Hall Cafe, were created using ram dirt, a construction material made up mostly of tightly packed soil and dirt. The project started after Bryan Young, the director of the University Honors Program, approached Chad Kraus, the professor of the Dirt Works Studio class, to renovate the spaces. Kivett and Myers, an architecture firm in Kansas City, Missouri, designed Nunemaker Center in 1970. The building is an example of brutalist architecture, featuring exposed concrete, which can make

the building feel cold, Kraus said. “The building is rather modest — it’s only 11,000 square feet, but it has a very strong architectural character,” Kraus said. The class started designing the plans for the renovations in Kraus’s design studio class, “Architectural Design III,” in the fall. They completed the designs and submitted all of the construction documentation to the University and state of Kansas to be approved over winter break. After break, the class began construction. The class used a few strategies to open the space and make the classrooms feel more inviting. The two classrooms being renovated are adjacent to the atrium — a common area in the center of Nunemaker that receives a lot of natural light. The class will replace the walls connecting the classrooms to the atrium with glass in order to borrow the natural light that filters into the atrium. “This idea of greater transparency — openness from atrium to classroom — and if possible to bring in more natural light, were probably two of the guiding principles,” Kraus said. The classrooms will also feature a light maple wood acoustic ceiling to create more warmth in the spaces. The wood will run down the walls of each

Emma Pravecek/KANSAN An architecture class, “Dirt Works Studio,” is renovating two classroom spaces in the Nunemaker Center. classroom. The back wall of each of the classrooms will be painted white opaque and will be used as a whiteboard. They will leave the concrete floors exposed, honoring the original design and character of the building. The students dedicate a lot of their time to the project. The class meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday

from about 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to work on the project. Students also come in whenever they have availability. The class plans to complete the renovations in the next few weeks, although there have been some snags along the way. “Virtually every step of the way, something has gone wrong,” Hughes said. “Everything in our design

Exhibit to unearth Spencer name

WYATT HALL @thewyatthall15 Despite the prominence of the Spencer Research Library and Spencer Museum of Art on campus, many people do not know the origin of the names. With the “Meet the Spencers: A Marriage of Arts and Sciences” exhibit now displayed in the Research Library, students can learn more about Kenneth and Helen Spencer. Kenneth Spencer was an engineer who graduated from the University of Kansas in 1926 and started Spencer Chemical Company in the early 1950s. After his early death in 1960, his wife, Helen, sold Spencer Chemical before creating the Kenneth and Helen Spencer Foundation. Her philanthropy had a significant impact on the Kansas City area through the next few decades. “Her generosity is the reason we have the Spencer Research Library and the Spencer Museum of Art,” said Marcella Huggard, one of the curators of the exhibit. “She also funded major purchases of art for the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City and construction projects for the University of Missouri, Kansas City.” The exhibit, which is the second half of the library’s 50th anniversary event, features personal items from

is connected, so redesign one thing, it’s a domino effect, and everything else gets redesigned.” Sydney Edmonds, a junior from Prairie Village, designed the wood ceilings in the classrooms. Edmonds said she has enjoyed seeing her classmates lead different aspects of the design. She said she’s looking forward to

RAVEN BOOK STORE FROM PAGE 1

Natalie Hammer/KANSAN Helen Foresman Spencer donated $4.6 million in 1976 to fund the Spencer Museum of Art.

“Her generosity is the reason we have the Spencer Research Library and the Spencer Museum of Art.” Marcella Huggard exhibit curator

the Spencers, audio recordings of Kenneth Spencer, as well as other small spaces that show the early history of the library and memorials to both Kenneth and Helen. “Any time you’re looking at history, it can be more interesting to be looking at the stories of individual people within the scope of the other big events,” said Caitlin Klepper, head of

public services at the Spencer Library. Expectations are high after the success of the 50 for 50 exhibit that opened the anniversary, showing favorite items of people in the community rather than the displays being chosen by internal curators. “The 50 for 50 did really great,” Huggard said. “The event had high attendance and we had a really positive

response.” The Meet the Spencers exhibit will open next week with a reception on March 26 featuring guest speaker Crosby Kemper III, the executive director of the Kansas City Public Library. He will speak on his experience as someone who knew Helen Spencer when he was growing up. The exhibit will then run until June 28. It is free and open to the public during the library’s regular hours. It will conclude the yearlong anniversary event. “Overall, the 50th anniversary has been a big undertaking,” Klepper said. “But it’s been really exciting for everybody here at the library.”

seeing the space once it’s finished because architecture is about designing a space for others. “I’m really excited to see other people in the space,” Edmonds said. “We’ve been in the space, and we’ve seen it at its worst, so it’ll be fun to see it at its best.”

to read compared to other works of poetry. “It’s really fun to read,” Anderson said. “Sometimes with poetry, depending on the work, it can be a bit of a task to dig into, but his work is really accessible, which helps the reader.” Despite Caine being new to releasing books, the process of publishing this collection has been fairly smooth. “We’ve had a similar view of what the final book should be,” Anderson said. “With that, it’s been a real harmonious relationship.”

Looking to the future, Caine is already working on getting his second book ready for a Spring 2020 release. The book will be called “El Dorado Freddy’s” and will contain a collection of poems that will function as both reviews of different chain restaurants as well as narratives involving said restaurants. To finish the trilogy, he’s working on a third book called “Flavortown” that will cover celebrity chef culture. The book can be purchased at The Raven or from the Mason Jar Press website starting Tuesday, March 19.

Samantha Hsu/KANSAN Danny Caine’s first book contains poetry describing what it’s like to live and travel in the Midwest.

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FFA of the day: I just bonded with a squirrel, so I guess I’m chancellor now? It’s above 50 degrees which means I no longer have to dress homeless this construction is enough to make me CONSIDER transferring to kst*te the espresso has hit and my consciousness is transcending space and time “I hate the ‘for men’ branding but I love the ‘for men’ smell” “Typical lesbian” “Yeah” “See that’s why I wanna get a vapehawk tattoo” i need to stop drinking dumb bitch juice Women don’t make mistakes i absolutely hate having friends in class because they always sit next to me and yap like PLEASE shut up i’m trying to not fail “i love my reformed yeehaw boyfriend!” I learned what frat tapping is today “I usually get so annoyed by rain but spring rain just hits different” “She’s really good at microwaving” Can someone cause an ice storm cuz I don’t wanna go to class tomorrow “when being choked, it’s a fine line between sexy and ‘im gonna pass out’” “i just want him to like, wash my hair in a loving way” “Being a poli sci major is just hoping the next reading you have to do is less racist than the one you just finished” “The only muscle women have is the brain” - some guy in Watson library just discovered my cat puked in my purse so i guess i’m just gonna off myself now Found an awesome place to live in Sacramento but turns out it is a senior living community so I’ll just wait 33 more years My valentine from 4th grade just got married

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K A N S A N .C O M /O P I N I O N

Student Engagement Center is a waste SCOTT JOHNSTON @Scottawatomie

At this point it’s an old and tired line, but the cost of higher education is frankly ridiculous. This has been illustrated time and time again over the past year, from the Board of Regents increasing tuition at the state level to our administration’s farfetched gamble on doubling our international enrollment (a risk that resulted in $20 million in emergency cuts). While this problem is composed of many variables, most of which are largely beyond our direct control as students, there is one group who determines spending that we do have direct control over: Student Senate, a body whose oversight totals more than $24 million. Unfortunately, Senate is proposing yet another increase to student fees, this time, in part, to build the proposed Student Engagement Center inside the Burge Union. The idea for the student engagement center was formed through consultation with several student groups, with proposed services including a KU Info desk, study spaces and an esports arena. While at face value this seems like a great concept, in practice it is an exercise

in redundancy. KU Info is a tradition-laden service here on the Hill, but it has a desk on Jayhawk Boulevard, as well as in the DeBruce Center. With these in person desks already in convenient locations, plus the ability to text, call, or search the online KU Info database, it would be a misuse of student fees to add another desk. Additionally, the increased study and meeting spaces are yet more chairs in a sea of campus lounges. The Burge Union’s own website boasts “new meeting and event space options” and “plenty of open spaces.” Why did we just finish this new building with apparently great seating, only to be asked to pay even more money out of our pockets to add additional study space? Nearly every building on campus, especially the new ones like the ISB, Burge, and DeBruce centers have space for general use by students. There simply isn’t a pressing need for such generic renovations. As for the esports arena — have the members of Senate already forgotten the one we already have? Two years ago, a group of University alumni contributed funds to create the Roll20 Esports Lounge on the first floor of the Kan-

Chance Parker/KANSAN The proposed student fee raise would fund the construction of an esports arena, a new KU Info location and additional study space in the Burge Union. sas Union. To force every student to financially contribute to a space that only a small fraction of students will use, for an activity that already has a brand new location, would also be an inadequate reason to increase fees. The coming increase in student fees to pay for all of this was billed as “literally the price of two McChickens per semester, once,” by Student Body President Noah Ries, referencing the fact that the fee would go from $3.25, to $1.25 after the initial construction. While this may seem like a drop in the bucket to Senate, it’s the latest drop

in a great stream of fee increases and tuition hikes. As reported by the Kansan, fees have risen 9.5 percent since 2014, and this includes an increase of $25.20 passed a year ago — the largest single increase in student fees since 2009. Simply put, this is not sustainable. In all likelihood, though, this cycle will continue. For a time, the University will continue to frivolously plan projects and spend our money, subsequently increase fees and tuition, and then columnists such as myself will continue to write about how it is unreasonable. But eventually there will be a breaking point.

The average student loan debt for a graduate with a four year degree is nearly $30,000. If costs keep increasing at the current rate, people will eventually decide that it simply isn’t worth it anymore, and enrollment rates will drop. We can’t be serious about combating the rising cost of college when we are simultaneously raising fees each and every year for unnecessary campus renovations. Instead, we need fiscal responsibility at all levels of University governance, and we need it yesterday.

Scott Johnston is a senior from Berryton studying microbiology.

KU programs vital to protect rural healthcare NICOLE D’SOUZA @KansanNews In the past month, three hospitals located in rural Kansas shut down due to insufficient funds, which is, unfortunately, consistent with the national healthcare trends. For the foreseeable future, various factors will likely combine to worsen healthcare access in rural America. A low volume of patients and a higher cost of delivering care have compounded to make healthcare expensive and difficult to administer in areas with low population densities. To improve access to rural healthcare, a comprehensive overhaul of the American health system is needed, and part of that solution includes policies that the University of Kansas Health System is currently implementing. Hospitals in rural areas will naturally serve a smaller number of patients than hospitals which are located in more densely populated regions. Critical Access Hospitals, a federal designation which denotes a hospital that is at least 35 miles away from any other hospital, receive federal subsidies to help offset the low-revenue model of serving so few patients. However, even with government subsidies, it can still be prohibitively expensive to operate these hospitals. Insurance further com-

Kansan file photo University of Kansas Medical Center offers many opportunities for students to learn about and focus on rural medicine both in Kansas City and other at campuses, such as Wichita and Salina. plicates the rural health crisis. Rural areas tend to have high rates of patients who are either uninsured or using Medicare or Medicaid. Therefore, hospitals in these areas receive lower reimbursements. Furthermore, in states like Kansas which did not participate in the recent Medicare expansion, the cost of healthcare has become even higher. States that did not participate in the expansion have fewer insured patients, and therefore hospitals that operate in non-Medicaid expansion states receive lower insurance reimbursements. Rural hospital closings matter to individuals across this nation; healthcare is a necessity for survival. Allowing a community’s main

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source of healthcare to be priced out of operation is denying those individuals a basic human right. Furthermore, these closings often affect vulnerable populations, such as elderly, poor and minority persons the most. So, hospital closings are an issue of social equity as much as social justice.

To improve access to rural healthcare, a comprehensive overhaul of the American health system is needed... In Kansas, the KU School of Medicine and the University of Kansas

Health System are serving a critical role in expanding healthcare in rural areas. In 2011, the medical school opened a campus in Salina. The purpose of the Salina campus, which is considered to be the smallest four-year medical school in the United States, is to train physicians who can serve the healthcare needs of rural Kansans. More recently, the University of Kansas Health System entered into a partnership with HaysMed, to make “comprehensive, high-quality, cost-efficient healthcare” more accessible across the state. Additionally, the Scholars in Rural Health Program guarantees admission to the University School of Medicine, contingent on meet-

ing certain GPA and MCAT minimums, for students from rural areas who want to practice in rural areas after graduation. Since physicians from rural areas are more likely to maintain a practice in those areas than non-rural physicians, this program makes primary care providers in rural areas more accessible. Through a variety of programs, initiatives through the University of Kansas suppress the rise of health care collapse in rural Kansas. Maintaining quality healthcare in rural areas will require multi-faceted solutions. Some ideas are transitioning to a value-based reimbursement model for insurance, which values the quality of service over the number of patients served. Advocates also suggest increasing the presence of telecare, where patients will be able to monitor conditions by having appointments over video chat instead of having to travel to and from distant hospitals, and making insurance more accessible. Long-term solutions to the rural health crisis are complicated, and in the interim, the University of Kansas Health System will, and should, continue to fill the gap.

Nicole D’Souza is a sophomore from Overland Park studying chemical engineering.

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Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Shaun Goodwin, Savanna Smith, Aroog Khaliq and Emma Greenwood.

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SPORTS

Northeastern: ‘We don’t care who we play’ The Northwestern Huskies may be a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they’re not afraid of facing No. 4 Kansas SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK SALT LAKE CITY — The Northeastern Huskies didn’t travel all the way from Boston to Salt Lake City to simply take photos or talk into a microphone for a couple of days. They didn’t end the regular season with seven straight victories to clinch the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title and book a ticket to the Big Dance to lay down at the feet of their first opponents. No, the Huskies aren’t going to go down easy in Thursday’s NCAA Tournament first round matchup against Kansas. Now, this can be said for any team looking to go far in March, but there’s something different about the plucky No. 13 seed that is playing in its first NCAA Tournament since 2015. “We’re not looking at the name on the front of the jersey,” Northeastern junior guard Shawn Occeus said at a media availability on Wednesday. “At the end of the day, you tie your shoes the same way as we do, you put on the jersey the same way we do.” “And we don’t care who we play,” he said. “It happens to be Kansas, and hopefully we will be able to execute tomorrow and put up a game plan and be ready to play.” In 24 of the 34 years since the tournament expanded to a 64-team format, at least one No. 13 seed has defeated a No. 4

Chance Parker/KANSAN Northeastern guards junior Shawn Occeus and senior Vasa Pusica talks to the media on Wednesday, March 20 preceding the round of 64 in NCAA Tournament. seed, and a lot of experts are picking this year’s upset to come in the Midwest region. And it’s not too hard to see why, either. The Huskies rank 16th in the nation in three point field goal percentage (38.8) and three point field goals per game (9.8), which matches up nicely with Kansas’ 141st-ranked three point defense in the nation. The Jayhawks allow

“We’re not looking at the name on the front of the jersey.” Shawn Occeus Northeastern junior guard

on average 25.4 opponent three point field goal attempts and 8.5 opponent made field goals. But it’s not just a couple of hot hands that make the Huskies dangerous.

It’s resilience and a will to bounce back and perhaps most importantly experience. Northeastern currently boasts a squad with no true freshmen and has a full starting lineup

of upperclassmen — a team that bounced back from a devastating CAA Tournament championship loss last season to defeat the top two seeds in this season’s conference tournament to guarantee it’s spot in the NCAA Tournament. “That made us better, made us more experienced, more calm in the situation like we had in the last week and stuff,” Northeastern

redshirt senior guard Vasa Pusica said. “So really, we’re not thinking about it no more. Next game mentality, that’s it.” Northeastern is lead by veteran coach Bill Coen, who is in his 13th year with the program. The 57-year-old was a 2019 Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year finalist, and despite being less than a year older than Kansas coach Bill Self, Self sees a younger version of himself in Coen’s playstyle. “He does take me back to my earlier days when you’re playing four guards and they are all tough as nails and playing around one big and having about as much fun as you can have,” Self said. “His career path is certainly on an upward tick, you know,” Self continued. “I do think he’s thought of to be a very well respected and one of the better coaches in our business.” As for Coen? He’s not even thinking about the fact that his side are facing one of the winningest programs in college history. “I don’t think we’ve talked much about whether we’re an underdog or not,” Coen said. “I think what we talk most about is just being true to ourselves and how do we play our best brand of basketball, how do we play Northeastern basketball and what does that look like, what does that feel like, how can we envision that on the brighter stage. Our guys are excited about that.”

THREE POINT FROM PAGE 1 good scoring off of that,” Self said. “It is a challenge,” Self continued. Northeastern sits at 16th in the nation in three-point percentage (38.8 percent), 24th in three-pointers made per game (9.8) and average 25 three-point attempts per game. “That’s who we are,” Northeastern guard Vasa Pusica said. “We have

has given up 20-plus three-point attempts in 30 of its 34 games this season, as well as 30-plus attempts in eight games. And as Self said, Northeastern can shoot efficiently. “I don’t know if anybody has mentioned, [Northeastern’s] releases are quick,” Self said. “That’s the thing that’s unbelievable. Not very often you see in college basketball where you see kids that don’t have to

“Not very often you see in college basketball where you see kids that don’t have to dip to shoot...it makes it harder to close out because when you think you’re there, you may not be there in time.” Bill Self Kansas coach

multiple guys in the team that are shooting good percentages and can make it. We are not focused on that, we are trying to play our game, we will try to get easy open looks.” And that can bode plenty of trouble for the perimeter defense of this Kansas team. The Jayhawks have given up nine-plus threepointers in 16 games this season, going 11-5 in those contests. Those 11 wins include the overtime game against Stanford on Dec. 1 when the Cardinal shot 12-of-34. On top of that, Kansas

dip to shoot, and they got guys that don’t dip to shoot so it makes it harder to close out because when you think you’re there, you may not be there in time.” Granted, Kansas has shown to be effective when needed in guarding the three-point line — holding opponents to 33.6 percent from beyond the arc this season — something that Northeastern coach Bill Coen has noticed. “If you go really, really big, they have an answer for that,” Coen said. “If you go small, they have an answer for that. Their

quickness and overplay defense generates turnovers for them and we’ll have to be cognizant of their line-up and what defenders they have in and take advantage of it.” To add to that, Agbaji and freshman forward David McCormack said it’s important to “really pressure them” and push back on their four guards. “Knowing they are a great three-point shooting team, we will have to press up because they like to play fouron-one in,” McCormack said. “So we will have to make sure we take away all first-thought shots and make sure that we are communicating and switching when we need to and things of those sorts.” The versatility is there for Northeastern, as the Huskies are a team that, on paper, are built to beat the Jayhawks. “Obviously, we probably need to make some against Kansas tomorrow, but we are not worried about it,” Pusica said. “It is a team sport and I think we are a really good team as a whole so we don’t care who takes them or what kind of shots we get, we’re trying to get good looks and that is what we are focused on tomorrow as well.”

Chance Parker/KANSAN Northeastern senior guard Vasa Pusica shoots the ball during open practice preceding the round of 64 in NCAA Tournament Wednesday, March 20. THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

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Basketball Gameday Thursday, March 21, 2019

K A N S A N .C O M /S P O R T S

Kansas vs. Northeastern, Thursday, March 21, 3:00 p.m.

Freshmen Ochai Agbaji and David McCormack talk to the media Wednesday, March 20 before the round of 64 at the NCAA Tournament. MADDY TANNAHILL & JACK JOHNSON @KansanSports

Beat Writer MADDY Predictions: TANNAHILL

77-63

KANSAS 25-9 (12-6 BIG 12)

75-65

NORTEASTERN 23-10 (14-4 CA)

Dedric Lawson

Vasa Pusica

★★★★

senior guard

redshirt junior forward

Named a member of the Big 12 All-Tournament team, Lawson averaged 19.3 points per game through tournament play, including a 24-point outing against West Virginia on Friday. Having reached the conclusion of the regular season as the only player in the Big 12 averaging a double-double, Lawson additionally found himself named to the US Basketball Writers Association All-America Third Team on Monday.

From Belgrade, Serbia, the 6-foot-5 guard Pusica is the team leader in points (17.8) and shooting percentage from the field (49.7). Collecting 20 plus points in three of his last five games, Pusica has the capability of posing as a nightmare matchup for the Kansas guards. Racking up 34.9 minutes per game, the senior guard will be constant game adjustment for his counterpart of freshman guards Quentin Grimes and Ochai Agbaji.

Devon Dotson

Jordan Roland

★★★H

★★★★

Quentin Grimes

Tomas Murphy

★★★

juior guard

freshman guard

The only other Jayhawk featured on the Big 12 AllTournament team, Dotson has arisen as one of Kansas’ most consistent sources of offense, recording an average 15.7 points through the three tournament matchups. Though only a freshman, Dotson appeared unphased by nerves in his first postseason performance, something that the Jayhawks will need to continue to see out of the young guard if they hope to make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

The teams second leading scorer at 14.7 and leader in free throw percentage (90.3), Roland brings a solid offensive weapon to the table from the ever so experienced backcourt. Notching a season-high 35 points in a game against Harvard early in the season on 7-10 shooting, calling the Syracuse, New York, native an excellent guard would be a drastic understatement.

sophomore forward

freshman guard

Following a largely underwhelming regular season, Grimes contributed a near-season-high five three-point baskets in the Jayhawks’ semifinal matchup against West Virginia, surmounting to an 18-point outing for the freshman. Recording only 7.8 points per game up until the Big 12 Tournament, Grimes’ production climbed to 13 points per game through the three tournament games.

quick hits

JACK JOHNSON

Chance Parker/KANSAN

The Jayhawks’ most problematic matchup comes a player who doesn’t play in more than 20 minutes a game. Murphy, a 6-foot-8 sharpshooter records the highest clip from beyond the arc at 46.2 percent. The leading cause that resulted in last year’s Kansas squad championship aspirations coming to a close against Villanova, defending a frontcourt who excels at three-point shooting is not a strong suit of the 2018-19 team.

MEN’S BASKE TBALL

WOMEN’S GOLF

TENNIS

MEN’S BASKE TBALL

Number of times KU has lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in the Bill Self Era

Kansas’ finish at the Briar’s Creek Invitational

Senior Anastasia Rychagova’s ITA national singles ranking

Number of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances by the Kansas, leading the NCAA

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