NEWS
ARTS & CULTURE
SPORTS
Take a look at how much Student Senate coalitions have spent during the election
How a professor predicted Gonzaga in the championship
Frank Mason III continues to haul in postseason awards
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MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017 | VOLUME 133 ISSUE 21
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
TrueKU may lose senatorial slate DARBY VANHOUTAN @darbyvanhoutan
Caitlynn Salazar/KANSAN Student Senate presidential candidates debated in a casual meeting Friday afternoon in the Union. Questions focused on college affordability and other aspects of their platforms.
First Senate debate tests candidates DARBY VANHOUTAN @darbyvanhoutan
T
he first debate of Student Senate campaign season illustrated that although the grandiose platforms each of the four coalitions are running on are oftentimes very similar, they differ in minute details that are evidently brought to the surface with two things: good questions and pizza. The Friday afternoon debate, which was hosted by the Dole Institute of Politics Student Advisory Board (SAB), was not only the first time coalition presidential candidates
were given a publicized platform to ask each other questions, but also the first time these candidates were forced to answer questions surrounding controversial topics they sometimes avoid. “Your responses are great but I think alternative facts are just truly lies,” TrueKU presidential candidate Chancellor Adams said across the stage in response to a comment by Onward presidential candidate Chance Maginness. This was a response to one of the first hot-button issues, specifically the issue of where each coalition
presidential
“
candidate
Your responses are great but I think alternative facts are just truly lies.” Chancellor Adams TrueKU Presidential Candidate
stands in support of a $50 per semester fee over the next 30 years to fund Union renovations. Adams’ response came when Maginness, who once served as chair of the RedoYourU campaign,
answered with a definite yes and said people who doubt that the campaign is student-run, such as Adams, are wrong. The question was asked by SAB Pizza and Politics Director William Admussen who served as both organizer and mediator for the debate. In response to the question, KUnited presidential candidate Tomas Green answered no on the basis of not wanting to raise student fees. OneKU presidential candidate Mady Womack, who later said later she was voting no on the referendum, gave a long-winded answer to
the original question that in short said she would “support and defend” the decision of the student body. Throughout the rest of the event, Womack often cross-questioned the others on the stage, bringing up issues with feasibility and each candidate’s personal history. Green came under fire after receiving a question from Admussen regarding the plausibility of KUnited’s platform on disallowing guns in residence halls. ‘I think it’s important to acknowledge the fact SEE DEBATE PAGE 2
Fraternity org. aims to improve Greek life ANGIE BALDELOMAR @AngieBaldelomar
Fraternities around Lawrence have formed the Kansas Fraternity Landlords’ League (KFLL) to promote best practices among fraternities and increase the number of freshmen living in fraternity houses. Aaron Racine, the KFLL executive director, said that the organization was created by 10 large fraternities at the University to offer guidance on better practices and communication among them. “There was very little communication between houses, so alumni felt it was necessary to pull resources, create best practices discussions and have an open, regular line of communication,” he said. KFLL was created last summer but just recently finished signing up members and representatives of these house, said Don Pfannenstiel, the KFLL integrat-
ed and marketing communications director, which is why it just announced its existence. Nearly 1,000 undergraduates are living in the organization’s fraternities, according to a news release sent to the Kansan. In it, results of a survey made by KFLL showed that freshmen living in fraternity houses had better academic performances and success than their peers.
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There was very little communication between houses.” Aaron Racine KFLL Executive Director
Racine said the organization will hopefully improve what’s working and help address the issues within fraternities by giving recommendations based on its
INDEX NEWS............................................2 OPINION........................................4 ARTS & CULTURE..........................................5 SPORTS.........................................8
research. “The goal is to identify what’s been working, keep the good grades,” he said. Nick Reddell, member of the Phi Kappa Psi housing corporation board, said he feels the organization will help fraternities deal with a number of issues, including risk management, which refers to the process of identifying and controlling possible financial threats. Based on his perception, he feels it will help with communication among fraternities. “[It’s] not like an island anymore,” he said. “If something happened in a house, it felt like there was no one to reach out to.” He said that because he is one of the youngest members of a housing board, he is not removed from how it used to be at the University, and therefore, has better insight on issues within fraternities. “My expectation is to hopefully inform the com-
File photo/KANSAN Members of Sigma Chi fraternity play basketball at the court behind their house.
munity [about] what really goes on, and, in that way, get rid of misconceptions,” Reddell said. For Racine, the organization wants to change perceptions usually associated with fraternities by highlighting positive aspects and serving as the go-to entity for comments whenever issues arise regarding fraternities. “Many times, when issues with fraternities arise, the media won’t know who to go for comment,” he
KANSAN.COM GALLERY: FRANK MASON III Look back through Mason’s four years as a Jayhawk on Kansan.com
said. “We want to become a source of information, a querying house on fraternities.” At the end of the day, Racine said, the purpose of the organization is to get buildings to stay profitable. “We just want to get the word out — especially for prospective students — about the positives aspects of living in fraternities during the first year,” he said.
Student Senate coalition TrueKU may be forced to run its campaign without a senatorial slate depending on the outcome of a violation complaint filed by Elections Commission Chair Garrett Farlow. The complaint, which was filed Wednesday by Farlow, claims that TrueKU violated section seven of Student Senate Rules and Regulations. The rule cited requires all coalitions running in a Student Senate election to file a coalition charter — a formal list of the signatures from candidates running with each coalition’s senatorial slate, by the Monday two calendar weeks before the election — which was March 27. “We have to own up to what we failed at and at the same time we have to keep moving forward,” TrueKU Presidential candidate Chancellor Adams said. “It was a mistake, but at the same time, it’s not hurting us.” According to Farlow, this particular violation has no precedent and therefore makes the decision regarding reparations against the coalition difficult, should it be found to have committed the violation. Farlow said the decision will likely be made on what he requested in his complaint, as well as the commission staying true to its responsibilities. The sanction requested by Farlow on the complaint is to disallow TrueKU from having senatorial candidates on its slate, then allowing the students who would have been on that slate — had the charter been filed — to run independently in the upcoming election. The senatorial slate comprises the student senators running under the coalition’s president and vice president, and typically are voted on alongside their associated coalition’s name on ballots. “I think that the most fair thing to do is to allow them to run as independent candidates in this election,” Farlow said. “It’s our job to be promoting an inclusive body and we shouldn’t be barring people from running. I’m hoping that this is a solution that can be SEE TRUEKU PAGE 2
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KU experts warn MIPs can risk future jobs EVAN LAY
@KansanNews
E
very year when spring break rolls around, new stories of underage drinking and its consequences emerge, with stories of student arrests coming from around the country. Now that spring break has passed, students must come back to reality. University officials strongly emphasize the importance of keeping a clean legal record for when students begin to look for jobs. David Gaston, executive director of the University Career Center, said students who may face charges “have to do whatever you can to get them off your record.” Gaston mentioned that this is because more and more companies are doing background checks. According to Cathy Schwabauer, Director of the University’s Ladd Engineering Career Center, the comprehensiveness of the checks varies depending on the job. “As part of a background check, employers can ask questions if a qualification is related to and essential to perform a job... If an employee will be required to drive a company vehicle as part of their position duties, then the background check may include information about an applicant’s driving record and license,” Schwabauer said. Jolene Phillips, assistant director of the Business Ca-
DEBATE FROM PAGE 1 ADVISERS
Chief financial officer Jon Schlitt Editorial adviser Gerri Berendzen
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KANSAN.COM/NEWS | MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017
that when guns are brought into concentrated living environments oftentimes the rates of suicide will increase and rates of discomfort and safety concerns will increase, especially for marginalized students,” Green said. “We need to be really cognizant of how we can really be sure that students feel safe where they live and that’s why we wanted to start in KU Housing.” Womack was the first, followed shortly after with similar charges by Maginness, to provide reasons why, in her
TRUE KU FROM PAGE 1
reached by the commission. If the commission decides on Farlow’s recommended punishment, candidates who have completed all other required work can still support TrueKU and identify themselves with that coalition, they just will not have “TrueKU” next to their names on the ballot, according to Farlow. The suggested sanction will have no effect on the status of Adams or vice presidential candidate Andrew Davis. The two will both stay affiliated with TrueKU. Adams said he takes nothing but ownership of the mistake made by his coalition and describes the complaint as “less than a bump in the road” for the goals his coalition is trying
reer Services Center, said that employers’ perception of the crime “will depend on a lot of factors such as the type of crime, how long ago it happened, how related it is to the job, [and] how many crimes are on the person’s record.” Gaston said the concept behind a favored style of interviewing employers use, known as behavioral interviewing, “is that past behavior predicts future performance.” If anything comes up in a background check the company may reconsider or do additional research, Gaston said. One good example Gaston compared these red flags to is professional sports. “You hear all this stuff about the draft: ‘This kid has a lot of upside, but he’s got this drug [charge].’ It’s the same thing. You don’t want to be that guy,” he said.
File photo illustration
One example Gaston briefly discussed was Johnny Manziel, whose notorious partying lifestyle eventually led to his exit from the NFL because
many teams felt he was too big of a risk to take. Gaston said employers avoid hiring people with red flags because of the risks of it predicting or affecting future behavior. “That proves that people were right to be weary. He had these problems … and it affected him. It was a precursor to his inability to perform,” he said. Another thing Gaston emphasized was that employers are ultra-conscious of their image, brand, and organizational culture. Employers will shy away from people to appear to be a risk to their image. If you do get a charge, however, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end to your future ambitions. Many misdemeanor crimes offer diversion programs to get the charge off their records to offenders under certain circumstances. Both the Engineering and Business Career Centers emphasized the impor-
tance of student’s cleaning up their image after an offense. “You don’t want to be limited when you’re 19 or 20 for the rest of your life and it keeps you from doing what you want to do, if you don’t get it off your record,” Gaston said. Schwabauer and Phillips suggested students to seek legal help, specifically from the University’s Legal Services for Students program, a free service for KU students. “Students should always seek legal advice when they get charged with any violation,” Jo Hardesty, Director of Legal Services for Students, said. “They may able to avoid a conviction. In addition, they should contact our office about having arrests or convictions expunged from their criminal record.”
opinion, this proposal isn’t achievable. “As Student Senate Government Relations Director this year I devoted primarily my entire year to trying to change that law to not allow guns on campus. I can say that ultimately [Green’s plan] is not feasible,” Womack said. Inclusivity of Student Senate is another issue that came up repeatedly during the event. Adams said the lack of representation in Student Senate was apparent the first time he stepped into the chambers. “I didn’t know what being black meant until the first time I walked into Student Senate,” Adams said,
describing the first meetings as the “closest he will ever get to a culture shock.” This theme continued when Adams’ prior attitudes toward Multicultural Student Government were questioned later on in the debate. “We 100 percent support the Multicultural Student Government. What we want to do is work with them to create a bicameral government with us in Student Senate,” Adams said. Womack was quick to respond to Adams’ pledged support for MSG, asking how his attitude changed from last year’s debates within Student Senate
regarding a proposed $2 MSG fee where he said he did not. “At first I did not support but then, as a member of [Black Student Union] in representing those communities, that it was important to support it,” Adams said. “I changed my mind literally up there on the podium in front of everybody. You can go back to the records and read it.” The debate, which lasted over an hour and drew a crowd of more than 50 individuals, continued in this fashion - with candidates’ viewpoints and track records being questioned.
“
Employers can ask questions if a qualification is related to and essential to perform a job.” Cathy Schwabauer Director of the University’s Ladd Engineering Career Center
to accomplish. “A lot of people think we’re unorganized and underdeveloped and I think that’s not the case,” Adams said. “That doesn’t mean that we won’t have an organized team.” Although the recommended punishment being carried out would make TrueKU the only coalition running without a slate of senators, Adams said he is far from deterred. “A lot of people are confused because they like to do it the traditional way, but we understand and take pride in the fact that we’ve been doing things nontraditionally,” Adams said. The final decision will be left to the Elections Commission, minus Farlow, who must recuse himself as a voting member, at TrueKU’s hearing next Monday.
— Edited by Paola Alor
TUESDAY, APRIL 4TH
88ER Throw the Goat Hatchet Goat WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5TH
Pride FRIDAY, APRIL 7TH Andy Frasco & The UN
Kosha Dillz Lucas Parker Band SATURDAY, APRIL 8TH
KJHK's Farmers Ball Semi-Finals
SUNDAY, APRIL 9TH The Goddamn Gallows
Koffin Kats Viva Le Vox MONDAY, APRIL 10TH
Open Mic WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12TH
Jahman Brahman Zach Mufasa THURSDAY, APRIL 13TH
Sunsquabi Cloudchord FRIDAY, APRIL 14TH
Spoonfed Tribe Toxic Rhythms SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH KJHK’s Farmers Ball Finals
SUNDAY, APRIL 16TH
Smackdown Trivia
3
NEWS
KANSAN.COM
Senate coalitions all well below spending cap DARBY VANHOUTAN @darbyvanhoutan
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ith a little over two weeks remaining in Student Senate campaign season, all four coalitions running for elections have spent less than $700 combined, according to spending reports provided to the Kansan by the Elections Commission. The combined spending makes up less than a fourth of the coalitions’ combined spending caps. A commonly underreported topic on college campuses, the spending done in Student Senate elections, has become a point of conversation on campuses nationwide. Universities like Ohio State have been found to have major political groups contributing large amounts of money to student government elections in an attempt to increase conservative candidates in leadership positions. As recently as last year, these same discussions were brought to the forefront of the University following several years of no spending caps, unenforced spending caps or high spending caps. The current spending cap is $1,000 per coalition, which, although debated and amended higher and lower in years following, was put in place in spring 2014. Elections Commission Compliance Chair Harrison Baker is in support of the current cap, saying it’s “there for a reason,” referencing back to the 2013 Student Senate elections between Ad Astra and KUnited, where
each coalition spent upwards of $10,000, as a reason for supporting caps on spending. The four current coalitions, TrueKU, KUnited, Onward and OneKU, are required by Student Senate Rules and Regulations to report any spending to the Elections Commission each Monday by 5 p.m. Failing to report any coalition spending to the Elections Commission is considered an egregious violation. A typical and almost certain punishment for a violation of this, Baker said, is disqualification. So far, each coalition has obeyed this rule and is permitted to spend money, given they don’t exceed the $1,000 cap, up until the election on April 12 and 13.
COALITION SPENDING (as of 3/30)
$1000
(spending cap)
Chalk Buttons
$500
Office Supplies Website
$388.76
Advertising
$185.36 $70.34
$0
$0
Onward
OneKU
TrueKU
KUnited
Graphic by Grant Heiman/KANSAN
TrueKU So far, according to reports filed by their Elections Commission Liaison Constanza Castro, the TrueKU coalition has spent $0 — the only one out of the four to have not yet spent any money. Although isolated in that they have not campaigned monetarily, this doesn’t mean TrueKU has any less of a chance. This is because of the changing landscape of advertising in campaigns, according to Baker. “You can win an election, honestly, on less than $600 I would guess,” Baker said. “If you plan well, if you reach out to people well, if you use social media to your advantage, you don’t need to spend that much money. Today’s realm is a social media election.”
The same reports showed, however, that TrueKU is the coalition that has raised the most money thus far. A total of $796 has been collected by the coalition by means of a GoFundMe campaign. A similar method of fundraising was employed by the current Student Senate when they campaigned as OneKU in last years’ Student Senate election, according to Student Body President Stephonn Alcorn. The coalition raised $1,000 through GoFundMe, bringing them to the cap before ultimately winning. KUnited The KUnited coalition has spent a total of $70.34 in the almost seven weeks since their launch. According to reports filed by Elections
Commission Liaison Emma Anderson, the spending totaled up through the purchase of a website, chalk and Facebook ads. The reports show that, unlike TrueKU and OneKU, these expenses were not paid for through a GoFundMe. According to KUnited presidential candidate Tomas Green, initial costs at early stages of the campaign were paid for by himself, but fundraising from family and friends has gotten them to the halfway point of the $1,000 cap. They’ll receive the rest of the money through the Equitable Elections Fund (EEF), a fund created by Student Senate which provides up to $700 of a coalition’s funding if they raise at least $300 on their own and operate by
Student Senate Rules and Regulations. “We have fundraised about $500 from other sources which will help cover the rest of our costs. And with the EEF, we will be fully funded,” Green said. Onward Thus far, the Onward coalition has spent $185.36, according to spending reports filed weekly by Elections Commisions Liaison Ryan Billups. This money has been spent on chalk, index cards, paper and buttons, according to the same reports. Like KUnited, Onward has decided to not achieve this funding through fundraising or other means and instead has paid out of pocket for everything purchased. According to presidential
candidate Chance Maginness, these expenses are being paid by only himself and vice presidential candidate Logan Miller. “I don’t want to burden members,” Maginness said in regards to how they chose to get funding. OneKU OneKU has, so far, spent the most out of the four coalitions at $388.76, according to weekly spending reports filed by Elections Commission Liaison Charles Jetty. OneKU has used these funds to buy an easel pad, chalk, buttons and website registration. According to the same weekly spending reports, OneKU has achieved their funding, a total of $625 so far, through a GoFundMe, like TrueKU.
opinion FREE-FORALL ›› WE HEAR FROM YOU
KANSAN.COM/NEWS | MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017
Hoedl: Planned Parenthood still needed
I was only five minutes late, not to brag, but... I need a friend, OK, I need a friend! Wearing actual jeans to class isn’t so bad, don’t @ me I don’t need a babysitter, I just need a play mate. The wescoe stairwell ALWAYS smells like B.O. Will Smith’s rap is highly underrated. Sorry, I’m such trash. My Snapchat is a daily journal of how I’m handling adulthood so far. I’m calling an Uber to take me to my 8am. Sleep is the only thing I really want in the world. I’m doing shots tonight for every L I’ve taken this week. So far I’m up to 10.
Associated Press photo In this April 29, 2016 file photo, David Robert Daleiden, right, leaves a courtroom after a hearing in Houston. California prosecutors say two anti-abortion activists who made undercover videos of themselves trying to buy fetal tissue from Planned Parenthood have been charged with 15 felony counts of invasion of privacy. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the charges Tuesday, March 28, 2017, against Daleiden and Sandra Merritt. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)
Cappuccino is lyfe. [To Kansans that have Confederate flags:] If you’re going to be racist, at least be historically accurate. Homicidal Triad is the name of my next band. Is it still considered unproductive if I’m not paying attention in class because I’m applying for an internship? F*** student housing. Here’s hoping Oreos won’t let me down like I let my parents down. Last night was just a big ass April fools joke right? My claim to fame: I can hold 17 sour skittles in my mouth without crying.
ALYSSA HOEDL @AHoedl
P
lanned Parenthood has more to it than just abortions. The right-wing media likes to make it seem that all women go to Planned Parenthood to get rid of unwanted pregnancies, when in fact Planned Parenthood does way more than just abortions. Last summer, two anti-abortion activists illegally videotaped Planned Parenthood employees, and edited the videos to make it seem as though Planned Parent-
My life is waking up, looking at the clock and immediately cursing like a sailor.
To send in an FFA, text 785-289-8351
READ MORE AT KANSAN.COM @KANSANNEWS /THEKANSAN KANSAN.NEWS @UNIVERSITY DAILYKANSAN
women and men every year, only 3 percent of them are abortion services.
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Most people are going into Planned Parenthood to try to prevent ever having to decide whether to have an abortion or not.”
Many people attempt to demonize Planned Parenthood by highlighting the abortion services, when in fact Planned Parenthood primarily tries to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Over 2 million people are served by Planned Parenthood health centers in some way or another, and 80 percent of those who are served by them are going in for ser-
vices like family planning. Most people are going into Planned Parenthood to try to prevent ever having to decide whether to have an abortion or not. Many people in the U.S., however, only see Planned Parenthood from the eyes of organizations such as Breitbart News, which is notorious for spreading lies. While Planned Parenthood has never been charged with anything in regard to the investigations into the selling of baby parts, Breitbart puts out articles trying to scare people into believing that everything the activists videotaped is actually true. For those who say they don’t want to pay for someone else’s abortion because Planned Parenthood gets federal funding, there is no need to worry. You aren’t. Planned Parenthood is not allowed to use federal funding for abortion ser-
vices. Even though some parts of the media would like to make the public think differently, the fact of the matter is this: an estimated 579,000 unwanted pregnancies are avoided by Planned Parenthood contraceptive services annually. In other words, without Planned Parenthood, there would be more than a half million more unwanted pregnancies per year. Planned Parenthood helps millions of women and men get the care and services they need and should not be defunded. It is OK to oppose abortions, but what is not OK is to take away the resources women need to avoid the situation in the first place. Alyssa Hoedl is a freshman from Olathe studying journalism and political science.
Liston: Students need civic education
Who needs April fools when your whole life is a joke.
For this April Fool’s Day I’ll be attending University of Kansas because out of state tuition is a joke.
hood was selling the limbs of dismembered babies for a profit, which is illegal. There were investigations in 13 different states involving Planned Parenthood, but there were no charges brought up against Planned Parenthood. When people like these anti-abortion activists try and manipulate the way people see and think about Planned Parenthood, it takes away from all the immense good Planned Parenthood does for women and men around the country. For 100 years now, Planned Parenthood has been offering all kinds of services to women and men, including STI/STD testing and treatment, contraception, cancer screening and prevention, pregnancy tests, family practice services and abortion services. Out of all of these services provided to
RYAN LISTON @rliston235
American democracy arose from debates, discussions, compromises and conflicts between people who each had a different vision for how the country should operate. These deliberations molded the political and governmental systems within the United States. Under-
standing these systems without proper education may seem like traversing a foreign country without a map. As American citizens and residents, we all ought to understand how our government operates and how we can influence it. As college students, we have a unique opportunity to educate ourselves on American politics by enrolling in courses that focus on the topic, the most basic one being Introduction to U.S. Politics. According to Pew Research Center, millennials (those born between 19811998) and baby boomers (born between 1946-1964) were nearly tied for the number of voting-age individuals
in 2016: both generations contained over 69 million individuals. Yet, millennials consistently have significantly lower voter-turnout rates than older generations and are, therefore, not taking advantage of their political potential. Soon, millennials will surpass the baby boomers as the generation with the most voting-age individuals. However, if millennials do not become more engaged in the political process, baby boomers will likely continue to determine the outcome of the next election cycles. Research from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville suggests that taking political science courses in-
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creases political engagement. Through these courses, students may discover an interest in politics or in political causes that encourage them to participate in the political process.
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If millennials do not become more engaged in the political process, baby boomers will likely continue to determine the outcome of the next election cycles.”
CONTACT US Lara Korte Editor-in-chief lkorte@kansan.com
Tucker Paine Business Manager tpaine@kansan.com
Students may also feel more confident getting involved in politics if they have a solid understanding of the political and governmental systems of our country. Learning about American democracy can help us become more informed on the issues facing our nation, and on how we can influence the government. Since all of our lives are impacted by politics, all students should take a basic American politics course and apply that knowledge to political action. Ryan Liston is a sophomore from Lawrence studying journalism and political science.
THE KANSAN EDITORIAL BOARD Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Lara Korte, Christian Hardy, Tucker Paine and Vince Munoz.
arts & culture HOROSCOPES ›› WHAT’S YOUR SIGN?
Aries (March 21-April 19) Discuss domestic plans with family over the next few days. Fantasies abound, with Venus in Pisces for a month. Maintain mystery. Enjoy quiet time.
KANSAN.COM |MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017
How an associate professor predicted Gonzaga’s NCAA tournament run
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Get into conversation today and tomorrow. New developments require a response. You’re extra popular this next month, with Venus in Pisces. Share what you love. Gemini (May 21-June 20) The next few days get profitable. Take on more responsibility this month, with Venus in Pisces. Watch for higher-paying career opportunities. You can rise a level. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Set goals, and plan your next adventure. Travel, explore and study this month, with Venus in Pisces. You’re more confident today and tomorrow. Discover new worlds. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Review family finances this month, with Venus in Pisces, and discover ways to save. Increase your assets. Finish old projects and rest today and tomorrow. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Teamwork comes together today and tomorrow. Partnerships flow with greater ease this next month, with Venus in Pisces. Collaborate on creative projects. Compromise on details. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Abandon old fears. Plan for two days in the professional spotlight. Get into a fun, creative work phase, with Venus in Pisces. Get physical. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today and tomorrow are good for expanding your territory. You’re especially lucky in love, with Venus in Pisces. Share beauty with family and friends. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Make financial plans with your partner today for action tomorrow. You’re more domestic, with Venus in Pisces. Prioritize family. Your home can become your love nest. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) The next two days favor negotiations and compromise. Communications flow with ease, with Venus in Pisces for the next month. You’re especially brilliant. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Pick up the pace and get moving through tomorrow. The next month, with Venus in Pisces, offers profitable possibilities. Discover your peak performance zone. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You feel especially beloved this next month, with Venus in your sign. Try a new style or look. You’re irresistible, especially today and tomorrow.
Andrew Rosenthal/KANSAN Jonathan Templin, an associate professor in the school of education, developed a statistical model to attempt predictions of NCAA tournament games.
BRIANNA CHILDERS @breeanuhh3
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ith the 77-73 win over South Carolina Saturday, Gonzaga men’s basketball reached their first national title game in the school’s history. But, according to a statistical model built by Associate Professor Jonathan Templin, Gonzaga may have been destined to taste their first national title before the first tournament tipoff. Templin, an associate professor of educational psychology and longtime sports fan, created the statistical model to accurately predict the results of the NCAA’s March Madness tournament. He said he started working on the model about two years ago, but this year he actually put it to use. Templin said the model works by looking at the
scores of each team during a game, and then looking at each team’s offensive and defensive outputs. “We essentially try to model that directly and we model an offensive strength versus a defensive strength,” Templin said. He said it also looks at data like who is playing in the game and where the game is being played, whether at home or away. Another factor is how consistently a team is playing offensively and defensively. Templin used the example of Kansas and Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen. “For instance, KU is a very consistent team this year and we try to model how much variability there can be around that score,” he said. “So the model would think KU is very consistent at scoring but also scoring very consistently close to the other
teams and we make a prediction based on all of that.” Lesa Hoffman, associate professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said the model differs from other statistical models in that there is a reliance on actual previous performances to make predictions, rather than metrics that may or may not have any logical basis.
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We model an offensive strength versus a defensive strength.” Jonathan Templin Associate Professor
“Normally in research we want to use predictors to explain variability, without necessarily considering how the model makes predictions
for particular subjects or entities,” Hoffman said. As for the accuracy of the model, Templin said it’s currently at about 75 percent, which is what he expected. This year, his model shows Gonzaga coming out on top against North Carolina on Monday, April 3 in Phoenix. Despite the overwhelming accuracy already in place, there is still an opportunity to add factors not yet incorporated in the model. “Things like time in the season, changes of coaches, player injuries at certain games,” Hoffman said. “These things may affect a given game’s result beyond just which teams are playing.” Templin said he hopes by next year they can have the model at 80 percent accuracy and accessible for others to use. As for applying the mod-
el to other aspects of life and research, Templin said he would like to use the model to diagnose whether people have psychiatric disorders. “It’s a hobby so I enjoy it myself, but from the job angle, I think that what I hope would happen is spur more interest in how the model works and how to learn how to create something like that,” Templin said. Templin said what he thinks makes this model unique compared to others is that it’s the merging of predicting the result and how consistent that will be. “That consistency factor really does make the difference for me in that a lot of models out there tend to treat consistency as the same for everybody, and that’s just not the case in a lot of data or in life,” Templin said. “So if we can use that to our benefit we can make it better.”
Sam Smith cover wins KU’s Got Talent JOSH MCQUADE
@L0neW0lfMcQuade
In a night full of musical and visual performances from University students on Friday, March 31, only one competing team was able to come on top: singing and piano duo Wen-Ting Ong and Alexis Alfaro with Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down.” Twelve song, dance and Yo-Yo performances competed for the top prize of $400 at KU’s Got Talent Friday night in Woodruff Auditorium. A panel of three judges — Jon Sabillon, the communications coordinator of the University Career Center; Nikita Haynie, assistant director of the University Career Center; and John Dillingham, advisor at KJHK — observed and provided feedback for each performance. The master of ceremonies for the night was Zana Pascoe, a representative for Student Admissions. The 2016 champion of KU’s Got Talent returned to the stage once again in an attempt to reclaim his title using with his dance moves and Yo-Yo. Patrick Canny walked onto the stage with just a yoyo
in his hand as Pascoe introduced his act. As soon as the music started, Canny mesmerized the audience with his fluid, sharp moves. Each trick Canny performed had the audience cheering and gasping. “That is the loudest I have heard [the audience] all night,” Pascoe said after Canny’s performance. However, even though Canny was unable to reclaim his first place title, he was able to score second place and win “crowd favorite.” Before Canny, the night opened up with the two-man band of Jaden Nussbaum and Drew Hafling performing a cover of “Best for Last,” by Adele. Hafling’s smooth-yetloud piano melded well with Nussbaum’s powerful voice. Sabillon said the two seemed very comfortable with one another while on stage. One of the standout performances of the night was the hip-hop dance by Blair Armstrong, performing her routine to Nicki Minaj’s “Did It On ‘Em.” Armstrong’s performance was smooth, matching her body’s movements with the beat of the music. Dillingham said he en-
Savanna Smith/KANSAN Wen-Ting Ong (left) and Alexis Alfaro (right) won first place during KU’s Got Talent on Friday night.
joyed how her performance displayed her personality to the audience. Armstrong finished third in the competition. The champions of the night, Ong and Alfaro, were the second piano-vocal duo of the night, with a rendition of Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down.” Ong and Alfaro said that while they perform to win, they also aim to encourage and inspire with their act. While the song is familiar,
Alfaro made the song into his own using elements of opera and his wide vocal range. Ong’s performance on the piano matched well with the power of Alfaro’s voice. Ong went on to perform a short solo at the end of the song. Kylie Fogo, a freshman from Denver in attendance Friday night, said she thought the performances went very well and that some great talent showed up for the competition.
Fogo said Ong was her favorite performance of the night. Sabillon said he felt as if he was “riding a stallion through the desert” while listening to the duo’s performance. The night ended with first, second and third place receiving their awards, closing out the 12 performances that displayed the best of the University.
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Dzwierzynski: On opening day, hope springs eternal BRENDAN DZWIERZYNSKI @BrendanDzw
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or all the splendor and entertainment that a myriad of major sporting events bring about, Major League Baseball’s opening day still stands out above all others. The grandeur and ceremonial nature of opening day brings hope to even the most cynical fans and the most miserable teams. Even though it was passed long ago by professional football as America’s favorite sport, baseball is still nicknamed “America’s pastime.” Opening day perfectly encapsulates why this is still the case. It’s a symbol of hope, a reason to get intensely excited all over again, just as you did the spring before. After a winter of no games and a short, almostmeaningless slate of spring training games, the bevy of games on opening day can satiate even the most ravenous baseball hunger. The beautiful thing about hope on opening day is that it applies to all fans. For fans of terrible teams, there’s hope that this is the year your team finally executes a rebuild correctly. For fans of mediocre teams, there’s hope that this is the year your team finally makes it to the postseason. For fans of teams that are good but not the best, there’s hope that this is the year your team finally makes a serious run at a title.
Associated Press The 2017 Major League Baseball season started on Sunday, April 2, with a game between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
For fans of teams like the world-champion Chicago Cubs, who just broke a 108year run without a World Series title, in case you forgot, there’s hope that this year will bring a second-straight championship. As if we needed another reason to get excited about opening day, it signals that summer is near. The weather gets warmer, responsibilities dwindle (in some walks and stages of life, anyway) and
there are no other major sports to focus on.
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It’s a symbol of hope, a reason to get intensely excited all over again, just as you did the spring before.”
The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final are done
before the calendar turns to July, and important football games don’t begin until well into the dog days of summer. As those other sports wind down or slowly get started, baseball is in full swing, grasping the complete attention of sports fans across the continent (don’t worry, Canada, your beloved Toronto Blue Jays aren’t forgotten). The start of the MLB season always elicits
memories of playing catch with a parent, or pickup games with your friends or memorizing stats on the back of your favorite player’s card. It harkens back to delightful moments, and promotes faithful, or borderline irrational, optimism for the future. There’s a simple beauty in opening day. There’s a whole season to debate about front office moves, the relevance of sabermetrics and why
your ace pitcher completely lost his ability to locate his fastball. But, for that one day (either Sunday or Monday, depending on your team of choice), it’s nothing but pure bliss surrounding the return of our national pastime. As it always does, hope springs eternal on opening day. For a nation of baseball fans, it couldn’t get here soon enough.
Bill Self chosen for basketball Hall of Fame AMIE JUST @Amie_Just
Kansas coach Bill Self has been selected for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Hall announced on Saturday that Self, a first-ballot inductee, would be entering the prestigious group. Two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, former UConn women’s standout Rebecca Lobo, Notre Dame women’s coach Muffet McGraw and Texas high school coach Robert Hughes join this year’s ballot.
“I’m very honored and very humbled because I know there are so many people out there that this game has been their life to them or they have based their entire life promoting and having great success at the game,” Self said in a Kansas Athletics news release. “I feel humbled that I was remotely considered in that group.” After graduating from Oklahoma State, Self began his assistant coaching career at Kansas under Larry Brown in 1985-86. His assistant coaching career continued at
his alma mater from 19871994. There he coached under Leonard Hamilton and Eddie Sutton. He had his first head coaching position at Oral Roberts from 199497. He coached at Tulsa from 1996-2000 and Illinois from 2001-03 before coming to Kansas in 2004. Self is the 20th person with ties to Kansas basketball to be selected for induction. Fellow Kansas coaches in the Hall of Fame are Brown, Phog Allen and Roy Williams. James Naismith — the Hall of Fame’s namesake — was in-
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ducted for contribution to the sport, rather than coaching. “Bill has earned this honor,” Kansas Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger said in the release, “with his passion, his ability to teach, develop and adapt, and his consistency of excellence at the highest level over a long period of time. He has indelibly made his mark as a wonderful steward of the great tradition of Kansas basketball.” The induction ceremony takes place in September at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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Associated Press Bill Self answers questions at the Basketball Hall of Fame news conference, Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz.
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Mason wins 3 national player of the year awards AMIE JUST @Amie_Just
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rank Mason III is going to need a bigger trophy case. Since Kansas’ season concluded, Mason has won the AP Player of the Year award, the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Naismith Trophy, in addition to earning consensus AllAmerican status. Mason averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds during his senior season, and sits No. 6 alltime in Kansas program history in both points and assists. Mason is the first player in Jayhawk history to end their career ranked that high in those two categories. Only three times in the past 20 years has a point guard swept the AP, Naismith and Robertson accolades. Michigan’s Trey Burke did so in 2013 and St. Joseph’s Jameer Nelson achieved the feat in 2004. The Petersburg, Virginia, native won the AP Player of the Year award on March 30, marking the first Jayhawk to win the award since its inception in 1961. “It is such a great honor and privilege to be here,” Mason said after being presented with the AP trophy. “I have to thank my parents for putting me in this position and helping me become the man I am today.”
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Frank basically led us through every tough moment, which is what separates him from so many and makes him worthy of this award.”
Bill Self Kansas Coach
Associated Press photo Associated Press Deputy Director of Sports Products Barry Bedlan hands Kansas’ Frank Mason III his AP Player of the Year trophy at a news conference Thursday, March 30, 2017, in Glendale, Arizona.
Robertson himself presented Mason with the Oscar Robertson Trophy on March 31. Like the AP award, Mason was the first Jayhawk to take home the brass. “Frank has had a terrific four years at Kansas. He has become better and matured each year, culminating with the best season that I’ve ever had a player have that I’ve coached,” Bill Self said in a Kansas Athletics news release. “He was the leader, the personality and the most consistent performer on a very good team, averaging close to 21 points and more than five assists per game. More importantly, Frank basically led us through every tough moment, which
is what separates him from so many and makes him worthy of this award.” On April 2, Mason was awarded, yet again, with another accolade. This time around it was the James Naismith Trophy. Mason is the second Jayhawk to win the award, as Danny Manning took home the hardware in 1988. “Dr. Naismith invented the game of basketball and we walk by his original rules every day in Allen Fieldhouse. He was Kansas’ first coach so winning this award with his name on it and playing at Kansas brings this full circle,” Mason said in a Kansas Athletics news release. “There is no way I could have won the
Naismith Trophy without great coaches, like coach (Bill) Self, the rest of the staff and great teammates. We accomplished a lot this season and this would not have been won without my teammates and coaches.” Awards season isn’t over yet. Mason is still up for the Wooden Award and the Bob Cousy Award. The Wooden Award is presented to the best player in college basketball. The Cousy Award is given to the best point guard. The winner of those awards will be announced on April 7. — Edited by Paola Alor
FRANK MASON III’S ACCOLADES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Associated Press Player of the Year Bleacher Report Player of the Year James Naismith Trophy NBC Sports Player of the Year Oscar Robertson Trophy Sporting News Player of the Year USA Today Player of the Year Consensus First-Team All-American Associated Press First-Team All-American Basketball Times First-Team All-American NABC First-Team All-American Sporting News First-Team All-American Wooden Award All-American USBWA First-Team All-American Big 12 Player of the Year First-Team All-Big 12
KU baseball narrowly defeats Texas, wins series MITCH GEORGE @MitchLGeorge
It was the most electric moment at Hoglund Ballpark this season. With a runner on second base and two outs in the ninth inning, senior closing pitcher Stephen Villines commanded the mound with hopes to preserve the victory over the Texas Longhorns – a victory that would etch his name into the Kansas baseball record books. The batter, Texas sophomore Tate Shaw, grounded a single through the left side of the infield. With the runner sprinting upon contact, a strong, accurate throw from sophomore left fielder Devin Foyle was needed in order to maintain the Jayhawk lead. A strong, accurate throw is exactly what the Jayhawks got. Foyle delivered the ball to freshman catcher Jaxx Groshans on a one-hop off the turf, and Groshans narrowly applied the tag to the backside of the Texas runner to send Kansas home with its second Big 12 win by a final score of 2-1. “That was a crazy play.
That was awesome,” Villines said as his smile stretched ear-to-ear. “I had a front row seat, it was pretty sweet.” Kansas coach Ritch Price also spoke regarding the play by Foyle, saying, “He made a really nice throw… and [the play] was about as close as it can be.” Villines was credited with the save, moving him into a tie with 2006 graduate Don Czyz for first place in Kansas baseball history with 31. He broke Czyz’s record on Sunday. “The legend of Don, we all still talk about him, with [Paul] Smyth and [Jordan] Piche’, they’re all great guys up there,” Villines said. “To be even considered with those guys is a big honor.”
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They’re all great guys up there, to be even considered with those guys is a big honor.” Stephen Villines Senior Closing Pitcher
The ending of the game was memorable, but the game would not have been as close if the team hadn’t received the superb contributions put forth by junior left-handed starting pitcher Taylor Turski. Entering the game ranked fourth in the Big 12 in opponent batting average, Turski added another quality start to his résumé as he pitched six scoreless innings, surrendered only three hits and struck out eight Texas batters. He occasionally found himself in jams, but he worked himself out of them all and continued pitching his masterpiece. “As a pitcher, it’s all about the composure,” Turski said. “If you hold yourself well up there and you know you’re good enough to get out of it, you’ll get out of it.” Turski has posted five quality starts this season, three of which have come against then-ranked opponents — No. 16 Virginia, No. 23 Stanford and No. 3 TCU. A quality start is quantified as a pitcher completing the first six innings of a game while allowing three or fewer
Caitlynn Salazar/KANSAN Sophomore outfielder Rudy Karre makes his way to the base in Kansas’ 2-1 win over Texas. The series is split 1-1.
runs. “He’s got great make-up and he’s got great maturity,” Price said. “He came here to pitch against Texas and TCU, and the rest of the great programs that we play.” In the bottom of the fourth inning, junior first baseman Owen Taylor stepped into the batter’s box to the tune of his signature walk-up song, the opening sequence of Star Wars. With two strikes in the count and the bases load-
ed, Texas pitcher Morgan Cooper planted a pitch into Taylor’s leg, which forced in Kansas’ first run of the ballgame. Texas escaped the inning without further damage, but Kansas struck again in the sixth when freshman right fielder Brett Vosik drove in fellow freshman Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi to extend the Jayhawk lead to two. The Longhorns’ only run came in the ninth when
Villines allowed a runner to score before Foyle made the game-defining play. The Jayhawks are aiming to add to their repertoire of wins against quality Big 12 teams – a list that now includes both Texas and TCU. “I really like this team,” Price said. “I love the athleticism of the young guys.” Kansas won the series, defeating Texas 5-4 on Sunday.