MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2017 | VOLUME 134 ISSUE 01
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
New chancellor hopes to improve KU’s profile ANGIE BALDELOMAR @AngieBaldelomar
As the new University chancellor, Dr. Doug Girod wants to make the University a prime destination for students and faculty. His appointment was announced in a special Board of Regents meeting on May 25 at the Lied Center, during which the Regents voted for the new chancellor. “I’m deeply honored and privileged and humbled at this opportunity to lead this great institution,” Girod said during his acceptance speech. “The work we do changes lives and improves our world in very meaningful ways.” Girod, the current vice chancellor for the University of Kansas Medical
Center, said he hopes to strengthen the University in several different areas. “We will work to continue student recruitment, retention and graduation rates, we will focus on the overall student experience in our campuses,” he said during the speech. “We’ll strengthen our outreach across the entire state of Kansas and beyond.” State funding is one of the challenges he will face as head of the University, Girod said. He said his experience working with lawmakers during his time as head of the Medical Center will provide him with insights on how to better approach the legislature about university funding. SEE CHANCELLOR PAGE 3
Andrea Ringgenberg/KANSAN During his first press conference as the University’s 18th chancellor, Dr. Douglas Girod spoke about several topics, including the finances of the university, the most pressing issues and what his first steps will be as the new chancellor.
Jubilee Cafe closes for the summer for redesign DARBY VANHOUTAN @darbyvanhoutan
After 23 years of almost non-stop service, the costfree, restaurant-style Jubilee Cafe has briefly closed its doors. The cafe, run by the Center for Community Outreach (CCO), is a joint effort between individuals from
around Lawrence as well as many University students volunteering their time. Katie Phalen, University senior and executive director of CCO, said the CCO, must undergo a large revamping before the cafe can continue to serve meals to individuals in need. The Lawrence First United Methodist Church, where
the cafe is held, also needs to be redone. “The church is looking into ways to redesign their leadership structure and the service model we’ve been using so that Jubilee can be more supported moving into the future,” Phalen said. Volunteers to serve the estimated 50 people who
walked into the doors of the church on Vermont Street every Tuesday and Friday morning have also been lacking, so coordinators will also look at ways to build a strong pool of volunteers. The program is also in need of a consistent way of training new volunteers that will help it perform at its peak performance, said
church member Aileen Ball. It’s for these reasons that the church created a team who will oversee the cafe’s reopening. “The team has already identified a need to provide additional leadership from First United Methodist Church, as well as a greater share of the volunteer power,” Ball said. “We will also
need to design robust training for Jubilee Cafe volunteers and leaders.” Ball, who is head of the Jubilee Cafe redesign team, is focused on using the summer to implement new strategies that will help the cafe serve the community in SEE JUBILEE PAGE 3
NEWS
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KBOR votes to change KU’s weapons policy CHANDLER BOESE @Chandler_Boese
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OPEKA - The Board of Regents voted May 17 to take out a provision of the University’s concealed carry policy that would have required gun carriers to keep bags containing their weapons in their possession at all times. The University’s policy, which will go into effect on July 1 in conjunction with a state law allowing concealed carry on campus, was originally passed last November and December with no amendments. The main function of the policy is to bring rules on college campuses in line with that of the state’s law, which mandates that anyone over 21 years of age be allowed to carry a concealed weapon in any public building without security measures. At a March hearing in the state legislature, legislators and others expressed concerns that the University’s policy on
concealed carry would deter gun owners from bringing their weapons to campus. However, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, who testified at the May meeting, disagreed.
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I think it a very necessary change and I think it brings a lot of consistency to the policies.” Shane Bangerter Regent
“This is not a pretext to prevent gun-carrying, but rather one to ensure safety for our community,” she said during the meeting. In their final vote, after seeing the amended policy and discussing, the Regents voted 5-3 to change the policy. The amended policy says that the responsibilities of carrying a gun on campus “shall
include the obligation at all times to keep it secure and concealed from view when not in use for purposes provided by law.” Previously, it had included language about keeping the weapon or bag containing the weapon on one’s person. During the discussion, the Regents discussed the University’s compliance with the law and the need for consistency among all six Kansas universities. “I think it a very necessary change and I think it brings a lot of consistency to the policies, so that what’s allowed on one campus will be very similar to what’s allowed on another for a person who wishes to carry,” said Regent Shane Bangerter. Regent Dennis Mullin, who voted against the amended policy, said, since the University’s original policy was compliant with the law, there was no reason to change it. “Our job as a board is to put guidelines to
Photo illustration/KANSAN
our universities and the law and to give them the freedom to come up with their plan, rather than putting one unified plan on the board,” Mullin said. Gray-Little said after the meeting that she still stands by the original
policy and is disappointed by the Regents’ decision. “Obviously, they’re exercising what they see as their right and responsibility to approve or disapprove these policies,” Gray-Little said. “We disagree that what
we wrote was inconsistent with state law, we think it’s entirely consistent with state law.” The law allowed concealed carry on campus and the policy, as amended, will take effect July 1.
Legislature votes to block guns from KUMC, health facilities ASSOCIATED PRESS Kansas legislators have given final approval to a bill aimed at keeping concealed guns out of state hospitals and other public health facilities. The House approved the measure on a 91-33
vote Thursday, June 7, just hours after the Senate passed it on a 2416 vote. The measure will now go to Gov. Sam Brownback. A 2013 law requires public health facilities to allow concealed guns into their buildings starting in July unless the build-
ings have security such as metal detectors or guards. The bill would grant a permanent exemption to state hospitals, other public hospitals, mental health centers, some nursing homes and the University of Kansas Medical Center.
The Medical Center has been fighting to exempt its facility for months, saying they would even put forth the money for adequate security measures if they did not get the extended exemption. Brownback is a strong gun-rights supporter and
legislators weren't sure whether he would sign or veto the measure. The same law that would have allowed concealed weapons in health care facilities will also allow concealed weapons on college campuses starting July 1 unless the legislature passes anoth-
er law. An amendment exempting college campuses was proposed to be added to the bill passed Thursday during the Senate debate, but the vote failed. Chandler Boese contributed to this report.
NEWS
KANSAN.COM FROM CHANCELLOR PAGE 1 Girod was named to the position following an eight-month search to replace Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, who will step down July 1 after eight years in the position. The Regents selected Girod from a list of recommendations made by a search committee, including student, staff, administrators and community members.
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I think it’s a good match. He has a great work ethic and really good appreciation for students, and faculty and staff.” David Dillon Chairman of search committee
“We wanted someone who would embrace the whole place, the whole university and the whole state, and I think he fits that real-
ly well,” said David Dillon, chair of the search committee. Dillon said he is thrilled by Girod’s appointment because Girod’s experience as vice chancellor gives him an appreciation for the University and its work with students, the state and research. “I think it’s a good match,” Dillon said. “He has a great work ethic and really good appreciation for students, and faculty and staff.” Before becoming the vice chancellor of the Medical Center, Girod worked there as a faculty member since 1994, according to his biography on the Medical Center’s website. Girod specializes in head and neck surgery, and previously served as a department head, associate dean and interim dean at the Medical Center. A veteran of the Navy Reserve, Girod previously worked at the Naval Medical Center in Oakland, California.
KU’S NEWEST ADMINISTRATORS In May, the University announced five people who will take on new positions in the University’s senior administration beginning this summer. BUSINESS DEAN L. Paige Fields, the current dean of the School of Business at Trinity University, will take over the University of Kansas’ School of Business on July 1. The position has been vacant for almost a year since Neeli Bendapudi left the post to become provost.
SOCIAL WELFARE DEAN Arizona State University’s Michelle Carney, who currently serves as the director of social welfare there, will be moving to
FROM JUBILEE PAGE 1
File Photo/KANSAN After 23 years of almost non-stop service, the cost-free, restaurant-style Jubilee Cafe has briefly closed its doors for the summer.
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a sustainable way. According to Ball, these changes include better documenting volunteer training practices and enhancing the restaurant style experience that the cafe is known for. “We are starting by identifying the ongoing challenges of Jubilee Cafe,” Ball said. “Then defining what we believe a healthy, sustainable Jubilee Cafe would look like in the future.” The CCO and University are both a large part of the cafe’s future, Phalen
Lawrence to take over as the dean of the School of Social Welfare. The previous dean resigned last summer following student complaints about his handling of diversity and equity issues.
VICE PROVOST FOR DIVERSITY AND EQUITY After acting in the position for three months, Jennifer Hamer was named the permanent vice provost for diversity and equity. Previously, in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Hamer was the first associate dean
said. The redesign team will continue to work with the CCO to reopen the cafe as soon as possible, though it is currently set to open in mid-August. “Jubilee is such an important resource in our community, both as a source of food and of belonging for so many people,” Phalen said. “Our organization is strongly committed to working to reopen Jubilee as soon as we can.” More than food and belonging for those who eat at the cafe, she added, the program provides an opportu-
for diversity, equity and inclusion.
STUDENT HOUSING DIRECTOR On July 17, Sarah Waters, the director of residential life at Bowling Green University in Ohio, will take over as the director of the University of Kansas’ Department of Student Housing. Waters, a Leavenworth native, will oversee the opening of a new residence hall and apartment complex in the next two years. She will take over for Diana Robertson, who is retiring after 11 years.
nity for University students to get involved in the Lawrence community.
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Our organization is strongly committed to working to reopen Jubilee as soon as we can.” Katie Phalen Executive director of CCO
“Jubilee Cafe has always been one of the CCO’s more popular volunteer programs,” Phalen said. “So closing its doors will take
VICE PROVOST FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT J. Christopher Brown of the University’s environmental studies department will take on his first role working with the University at large as the vice provost for faculty development. Brown, a University alumnus, will take over for Mary Lee Hummert, who will return to a faculty role on July 1. Brown plans on using the results of the campus climate study in his new role, focusing on building belonging among faculty members at the University.
away some of those volunteer opportunities from students.” During the estimated two months that Jubilee Cafe is scheduled to be closed, Phalen said, she hopes both volunteers and those in need of a hot meal know there are other options. “To any clients of Jubilee Cafe who are looking for alternate food sources, we recommend visiting Just Food, Douglas County’s major food bank, open five days a week,” Phalen said. The Just Food food bank is located on 1000 E 11th St.
NEWS
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People with disabilities
KANSAN.COM
Employment ratio for populations with and without disabilities 2015 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Graphic by Chandler Boese
Disability program helps prepare people for careers ANGIE BALDELOMAR @AngieBaldelomar
For many people with intellectual and physical disabilities, finding competitive employment is one of the biggest challenges. In 2015, 17.5 percent of people with disabilities were employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared to 65 percent of people without a disability. Of that number, many people have menial jobs, meaning they are paid well below a living wage and work only a few hours a week. The Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT) was launched at the University in 2010 to help individuals with disabilities and their families gain meaningful employment after school. The program recently published a report that says the training workshops it offers have
been successful in increasing people with disabilities’ jobs expectations. Judith Gross, assistant research professor at the Beach Center of Disability and director of FEAT, said the program has been successful in making people and their families confident that they can get a meaningful and competitive employment. “We have data that shows that we’re increasing people’s expectations and increasing their knowledge of resources, and overall participants feel that it has made a difference in their ability to address barriers that they encounter and how they use resources or how they seek out solutions to the problems they’re encountering,” she said. The workshops help people with disabilities and their families understand the resources available. Gross said the complex ar-
ray of services, such as state and federal funding and employment resources, and how these are used can be hard to understand not only for parents, but for educators and providers as well. Families Together, a training and information center for parents of individuals with disabilities, is in charge of implementing the FEAT workshops across the state. Tami Allen, Families Together program director in Garden City, said they bring in people working in the community to talk about their experiences and show how participants can achieve that. Part of the program includes follow-up calls. “A lot of times, families get discouraged because of challenges they might encounter after leaving,” she said. “So, one of the challenges for us is to provide a continued support for fami-
lies once training is done.” Debra Patterson, a parent who participated in one of the workshops in Garden City, said even though the information provided in the workshop is good, sometimes it is not viable in rural areas in the state. “My problem is that when you come into the real world, when you try to work with outside agencies to make everything come together, it’s not happening in southwest Kansas,” she said. For Patterson, there are other factors that stop people with disabilities from getting a meaningful job in small towns in Kansas, such as limited public transportation, lack of staff and independent living centers. Still, Gross said she thinks workshops have been successful in increasing not only people with disabilities’ expectations but also their families’ for
finding a competitive job. “Part of the thing that makes it more successful, I think, than other types of programs is that we focus on families, the individual with disability and their support network,” she said. In bigger cities, such as Lawrence, different programs work to aid students’ transition into employment. At the University, for example, the KU-Transition to Postsecondary Employment (KU-TPE) program has successfully completed its first year. This program aims to support students with intellectual disabilities, age 18 to 25, work toward a two-year certificate. “They take a minimum of six credit hours each semester, as well as being involved in work experience both paid and unpaid, on and off campus, as well making social connections,” Megan Heidrich, the KUTPE program coordinator,
said. Heidrich said that starting this fall, students will be able to live on campus in one of the residence halls. “It’s great that we have the residential component now,” she said. “It allows us to expand, and it allows students to make a lot of social connections and be a part of campus life.” The program was piloted with three students and, in the fall, the number of students will increase to 12. As the name states, the program focuses on helping students transition from school to obtaining competitive employment. “Not only are we looking for employment upon graduation, but it would be competitive employment, meaning students that graduate are paid minimum wage or higher working for 20 hours a week or higher,” she said.
OPINION
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Illustration by Roxy Townsend
Liston: Lawrence should commit to Paris climate agreement RYAN LISTON @rliston235
Standing on the balcony of my brother’s apartment, I can overlook Lawrence. I can feel the wind, hear the birds and see the seemingly infinite amount of trees that have contributed to Lawrence’s continued designation as a “Tree City USA” city. But on June 1, President Donald Trump endangered the environment, including Lawrence’s natural
beauty, by announcing that the United States will withdraw from the climate agreement made between 195 countries in Paris in 2015. In response to Trump’s ill-informed decision, cities, states and companies across the U.S. have declared their intentions to adhere to the Paris Agreement on climate change despite the federal government’s impending withdrawal. With such a staunchly conservative state
government, Kansas will almost certainly not pledge itself to the agreement. Lawrence, however, is a uniquely liberal place, and the local government is likely more concerned about environmental issues. Mayor Leslie Soden should join the quest to save the environment from the Trump administration by committing Lawrence to the Paris climate agreement. Although the significance of Lawrence’s
commitment may pale in comparison to the commitment of New York City or former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s decision to fund the Paris agreement with millions of dollars, protecting the environment from the devastation of climate change requires action on all levels of society. Lawrence can play an aiding role in combatting environmentally harmful practices and send a message to the state and
national governments that our community values environmental protections. Anyone who enjoys fishing in the Kansas River, walking in the shade of the trees in any of the various parks around town or simply breathing clean air should be concerned by Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris agreement. The environment surrounds all of us, and our community should not stand by as the current
administration undoes progress to address the dangers of climate change. Hopefully, the U.S. will rejoin the agreement in the near future. Until then, and even beyond then, Lawrence ought to live up to the name “Tree City USA” by protecting the environment.
Ryan Liston is a junior from Lawrence studying journalism and political science.
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OPINION
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Lenz: Kathy Griffin deserves backlash JARED LENZ
@jared_james11
H
umor often is used as an escape from the seriousness of real issues we face in the world today. At their best, successful jokes can ease the pain from hardship or tragedy. At their worst, well, we all saw what happened when Kathy Griffin made the decision to tweet a photo of herself holding Donald Trump’s bloody, severed head. I am arguably one of the most lenient individuals in the world when it comes to whether a joke is appropriate or not. I am not here to tell people what they can or can’t joke about. Griffin’s attempt to make people laugh is different for a number of reasons. First off, in order for something to be considered a joke, it has to be funny on some level. Or, at the very least, has potential to be funny. What is remotely humorous about our president’s head being severed? I may be going out on a limb here, but if your head is severed from your body, you are probably going to die. I think. I will get back to everyone on that. Regardless of how you feel about Trump, do you actually want him to die because you disagree with him on different issues? There is a vast distinction between making a joke in real time, i.e. live-tweeting your reaction to a real-world event, responding to a reporter at a press conference, etc. versus what Kathy Griffin did.
Illustration by Gracie Williams
Griffin conceivably planned the whole thing out. One day, she decided she was going to make this attempt at humor, then organized the photo shoot, reviewed all the photos and still thought, “you know what, a picture of our president’s bloody and severed head would truly be captivating and awesome.” This was not an instance where she said something she didn't mean in a heated moment or got her words tangled up. She had ample time to make the decision whether or not the tweet should be published. Next, instead of putting out the fire, she poured gas-
oline on it. Griffin, the same woman who publicly fantasized about murdering our president, held a press conference to announce that she is actually the victim in this situation. “A sitting president of the United States and his grown children and the first lady are personally, I feel, trying to ruin my life forever,” Griffin said in the press conference. She continued by saying she was being bullied, and that she believes her career is now over. Don’t you just hate when people say you are being disrespectful for posing
with an ISIS-like photograph of the president’s severed head? I am going to be honest, I am at a loss for words on what to say. Is she actually being serious? The victim card has gotten really old. In no way, shape or form is Griffin the victim here. She brought all of this hate upon herself. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from the repercussions that may stem from comments of poor taste. In the press conference, Griffin stated she would never hurt a child. This is contradictory to what she said in an interview with Vulture magazine in 2016.
“I’m happy to deliver beat down to Donald Trump — and also to Barron,” Griffin said in the interview with Vulture. “You know a lot of comics are going to go hard for Donald, my edge is that I’ll go direct for Barron. I’m going to get in ahead of the game.” Her edge is to go after an 11-year-old boy? I am casting my ballot now, Kathy Griffin is heading to my Comedic Hall of Fame. But, hey guys, maybe this was another one of her hilarious jokes. Whether you're Trump’s biggest critic or his biggest supporter, I think we all realized something. Trump is
still a human being. He has a family. He is the father to an 11-year-old boy. Kathy Griffin absolutely deserved the backlash she received for this. She is no victim. Jared Lenz is a junior from Andover studying journalism and finance.
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TV Stock: Summer shows off to great start with ‘Master of None,’ ‘Samurai Jack’ and ‘Twin Peaks’ GUS HUNNINGHAKE @gushunninghake
Well, folks, it’s time. My reprieve from the Stock couldn’t be stifled for long, and luckily for all of us TV watchers, the content being released has yet to slow down in quality. “MASTER OF NONE”: TRENDING UP
Whenever a show as acclaimed as this one gets picked up for another season, my nerves almost always kick in. Shows, like films, almost never hold their value or improve upon what them made, especially if the narrative formula is unique or different, like “Master of None.” With season two however, creators Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang took almost two years to create another season, indicating time and care were taken to ensure a story worth telling. The series kicks right off of where season one left viewers, with Dev in Italy learning how to make pasta and trying to sort out personal life struggles. His eventual move back to New York leads Dev on a path that opens up discussions about religion, Thanksgiving, first dates, working with all kinds of different people and falling in love with a woman who’s already taken.
Ansari has honed in on his craft as a storyteller, once again delivering a batch of 10 short stories that all share small connections in one way or another. His ability to write season-long character arcs is unparalleled, and each episode delivers an emotionally resonant story that puts “Master of None” into a level of quality all its own. “SAMURAI JACK:” TRENDING UP Perhaps one of the finest examples of how well animation can deeply reflect human themes, “Samurai Jack” concluded its final season just a couple of weeks ago. I last talked about this show after its premiere a couple of months back, and my surprise and awe with the season’s track continued all the way to the series finale. Jack’s adventure in the future devastated by Aku feels lived in and dirty, and every time the end looks obvious, various twists occur that keep viewers guessing. Jack is a truly lonely man, and each episode reflects the pain he endures while dredging through the hand he was dealt in life. New characters affect his view on the world, but the series’ end still finds a way to tug at viewers’ heart strings and lets us know that even
Associated Press Producer Sabrina S. Sutherland, second left, Emily Stofle, director David Lynch actor Kyle MacLachlan, and Desiree Gruber, left, pose for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the TV show “Twin Peaks” at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, France, Thursday, May 25, 2017.
in good times, Jack will always find struggle, which feels oddly reflective of the world we live in now. It’s sad to see such a good show end, but on the flip side of that, it’s good to see a show know its limits and end on as high of a note as possible. “TWIN PEAKS:” TRENDING UP Damn, I forgot how absolutely insane this series was. For those
who’ve never seen the original seasons of “Twin Peaks,” I do highly recommend watching them before the new episodes. That said, don’t go in expecting anything. Don’t read up on the show, don’t learn about characters — just go in blind. It’s the only way to truly appreciate the genrebending mystery series. Spoilers ahead. Premiere episode “Part 1” reveals that Dale Cooper is still trapped in
the Black Lodge. His evil doppelganger is traveling through South Dakota, picking up Ray and Darya, associates of an unknown connection. Sam Colby is in New York, watching a glass box for unknown reasons and the Log Lady tells Deputy Chief Hawk that something relating to Cooper has gone missing. If this sounds confusing, don’t worry. I’ve seen the original seasons, and I’m no less lost than anyone else who
just read my attempted summary. That said, the show’s continued mystical elements have returned in fine fashion. Creator David Lynch’s direction is on point throughout the episode, the overarching mysteries of past seasons have come back in full swing and the series looks to continue being its weird, self-absorbed, auteurfocused self for its limited Showtime run.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Professor dedicates 15-year-long project to his late mother JOSH MCQUADE
@L0neW0lfMcQuade
Joseph Harrington, an English professor at the University, has been working on a project dedicated to his late mother, who passed away when he was 12, for about 15 years. Harrington’s mother, Elizabeth Peoples Harrington, died due to breast cancer in 1974, a time Harrington said he does not remember well. However, many would recognize the date Harrington’s mother passed as the day President Richard Nixon resigned due to the Watergate Scandal. Harrington’s first part of the project was released in 2011, titled “Things Come On (an amneoir).” Ashley Hocking/KANSAN University Senate President Joseph Harrington facilitates discussion of a proposed amendment to a bill at the The book is written as a biography University Senate meeting on Feb. 23 in Green Hall. of his mother, while also discussing the Watergate scandal. According to KU News, Watergate is how the passing of his mother sits in Harrington’s memory. “Things Come On” brought together a collection of materials that Harrington said either helped him better understand his mother or reminded him of her. Harrington also searched for materials created by his mother, as, according to Harrington, she worked as Albert Gore Sr.’s personal secretary. “I went to the Gore archives at Middle Tennessee State University, the Tennessee State Library, and they had stuff that was typed by her, written by her,” Harrington said. While researching for and creating “Things Come On,” Harrington said he decided to write the piece as a combination of a biography and elegy, a poem or song that is most often written to express praise for a lost loved one, coining the work as a “bioelegy.” The combined two offer a more personal take on a biography, taking a twist on the normally heavily academic point of view for biographies. “I came up with the term ‘bioelegy,’ which is also like biology, which is a connection between family,” Harrington said. Much of Harrington’s work follows the format of his coined “bioelegy,” including a previous book that focused on early 20th century poets like the late Wallace Stevens, author of “The Snow Man.”
“
Harrington said that his bioelegy format resembles a collage of works, I went to the bringing together relat- Gore archives at ed materials that best Middle Tennessee remember the subject. State University, The University prothe Tennessee fessor writes primarily non-fiction, but said he State Library, and likes to tie in creative they had stuff that writing into his non-fic- was typed by her, tion writing. written by her.” “There’s a whole field of creative writing Joseph Harrington called creative nonficEnglish professor tion,” Harrington said. “Within [that field] there’s been the emergence of this form called lyric essay, which is essentially research based but it employs a variety of different storytelling techniques.” Harrington said he has not stopped working on his mother’s “bioelegy” since starting it 15 years ago, and will continue to tell her story to his best ability.
Contributed photo University English professor Joseph Harrington has spent the last 15 years working on a project dedicated to his late mother.
SPORTS
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Saad thrilled to be back with Sporting Kansas City SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK
Thailand is not the first place one might think of when competitive soccer is brought into a conversation. Typically, a person’s mind will stray to the superstar-flooded leagues of Europe or the closer-to-home MLS. But for forward Soony Saad, his two years spent playing in the Thai Premier League served as a good opportunity to explore the Asian soccer community and build himself as a player. Saad signed with Sporting Kansas City in 2011, then went on to play in 58 games, scoring eight goals. After an offer from Thai Premier League club BEC Tero Sasana, Saad headed to Bangkok to explore Asian soccer. In his first season in Thailand, Saad didn’t play a single game for the Fire Dragons due to an injury, as they finished just two points clear of relegation. In 2016, Saad was loaned to newly-promoted club Pattaya United. “They had a small stadium, kind of like an intimate atmosphere, similar to the U.K. probably, and it was nice, really nice,” Saad said of Pattaya’s stadium Nong Prue Stadium. This was in contrast to BEC’s Boonyachinda Stadium, which, to Saad, was not as intense or intimidating. The stadium, which only held a little over 3,500 people, was also used for other
events such as track and field — which meant it included features such as a large track surrounding the field. This separated the field from the fans. Although the league is not as well-known as MLS, Saad said he definitely thought the league represented different challenges. “It’s a bit more technical and I wouldn’t say it’s as physical. MLS is very physical, you have to be athletic to be involved,” Saad said. “I would say you need that in the Thai Premier League, but it’s a bit more ball-at-yourfeet and creating things.” The Thai Premier League certainly showed more similarities to many of Europe’s biggest leagues, where quick thinking and quicker feet are required to make an impact in the game. It was this kind of play
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We feel that bringing Soony back at this time is a great fit for us.” Peter Vermes Sportning Kansas City coach
that allowed Saad to make 28 league appearances for the Blue Dolphins and score nine goals. Despite his success in Thailand, he always kept an eye on the progress of Sporting Kansas City, despite being 8,714 miles away. “I’ve still kept friends
with most of the guys on the team,” Saad said. One of those players was fellow forward and former roommate Dom Dwyer, who joined Kansas City in 2012 — a year after Saad. The pair were often seen together before Saad left for Thailand — they were the jokers on the team. “It’s great, it’s good banter all the time,” Saad said. “We hang out a lot — we watch Champions League together. We picked up where we left off, but he’s grown the family by two — he’s got a wife and kids, so I think we’ve both matured.” The connection can still be seen between the two players on the field and in the dressing room. The pair are locker-room neighbors and are constantly sharing jokes and messing around after the game. When Saad returned to Sporting Kansas City, some murmurs could be heard regarding coach Peter Vermes’ decision to bring back the striker to Kansas City. “We feel that bringing Soony back at this time is a great fit for us,” said Vermes at the start of the 2017 season. “There are certain aspects of his game that can really help in areas of the field where we need additional support. We are excited to see how his game has matured over the past two years.” After 15 games in 2017, he has logged 326 minutes on the field and scored three goals and with an assist. Although a majority of
File photo/KANSAN Soony Saad of Sporting Kansas City eyes the ball during a matchup against the Houston Dynamo played at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
his appearances have come off the bench, Saad did get a start on Saturday afternoon against Minnesota United. Sporting Kansas City was welcoming Minnesota to Children’s Mercy Park for the first time in MLS history, having lost to the Loons at the TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on May 7. Sporting Kansas City lost that game 2-0, but Saad and Kansas City got their revenge, as they defeated Minnesota 3-0. “If a team beats us, it’s
something we take personal. We want to go back and take revenge,” Saad said. “We did a good job about that today. I think the score could have easily been a bit more if we put away some chances.” Saad could have had a goal himself in the 55th minute, firing a shot from 20 yards out that bounced off the underside of the crossbar. Although the ball appeared to bounce over the line and back out, midfielder Jimmy Medranda made sure
of the goal. “I guess it’s unfortunate we can’t go back and change it, but on the positive side of things, we got that second goal,” Saad said. “That was important to give us a little bit of a cushion.” Saad’s contract will run through the 2018 season. He also has an option to extend his contract through 2019. But until then, Saad is just happy to be back playing in front of the crowd that first gave him a chance on the professional stage.
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A Marching Jayhawk’s bracelet follows the meme WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK
Contributed photo Marching Jayhawk Deva Freeman’s bracelet, which she bought as a reminder of David Beaty’s first Big 12 win, references a popular Twitter meme.
It was the highlight of the season for Kansas football, it’s become a commodity on Twitter and Marching Jayhawk Deva Freeman still wants you to remember it. The highlight she doesn’t want you to forget: Kansas defeated Texas 2421 in overtime on Nov. 19. “KU beat Texas in football,” Freeman’s bracelet reads on a tiny metal plaque. It’s easy to see why it’s so difficult to forget.
After the November game, Kansas coach David Beaty had his first Big 12 win, the field was stormed by students, extra security was needed and a field goal post was taken down. Since, the Jayhawks’ win over the Longhorns has been used as a running joke for many University students on Twitter. Freeman, a baritone in the band, recently purchased a customized silver bracelet to remind herself, other Kansas fans — and even Texas fans — of the Jayhawks’ improbable win that day.
“A lot of my friends in the KU marching band have told me how much they love it,” Freeman said. “And a few Texas fans have come at me on Twitter saying that [Kansas] fans will never shut up about this win.” Well, Texas fans might be right about that. Many fans are still jokingly talking about the game, with tweets and memes coming as recently as Monday. Although the Jayhawks took a step forward in the 2016 season, they finished in last place in the Big 12
for the fifth time in the last six seasons. However, from a 2-10 season with Beaty’s first success since he came to Kansas, there came a silver lining: Kansas beat Texas in football. She custom ordered the bracelet on Etsy, an online handmade goods store, where she typed in the five words. Although Twitter has kept the running joke alive for six months, Freeman now has her permanent reminder.
Sheahon Zenger signs extension with KU Athletics WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK
During his tenure which has been highlighted by the construction of Rock Chalk Park and the DeBruce Center, as well as renovations of Memorial Stadium, a contract extension given to Kansas Athletics director Sheahon Zenger by the program will see his contract run for another four seasons, through June 2021. Zenger signed the extension on May 28. “I’m very pleased that I will have the opportunity to continue to represent this great university and work alongside the outstanding coaches and student-athletes we have here at KU,” Zenger said in a Kansas Athletics news release.
“I have really enjoyed sharing in the tremendous accomplishments so many of our teams have achieved over the past several years. Likewise, we are committed to doing everything we can to raise the level of success of every one of our teams.” Zenger’s base pay will increase from $619,000 to $700,000. Former University chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little offered continued support for Zenger. “Since Sheahon’s arrival in Jan. 2011 Kansas Athletics has enjoyed success on and off the field,” Gray-Little said in the release. “We’ve had a team win a national championship, two teams reach NCAA Final Fours and multiple NCAA tournament appearances
by other sports. “We’ve seen some $90 million in construction and renovation, from Rock Chalk Park to Memorial Stadium to the DeBruce Center. And academically, Athletics’ Graduation Success Rate and APR marks put us in excellent standing with the NCAA. I am confident that under Sheahon’s leadership Athletics will experience even more success in the coming years.” Zenger’s new contract will also have perks — with an emphasis on improving the football program’s success — according to the Lawrence Journal-World. Those perks will include a $40,000 bonus if the football team has a winning record, a $5,000 bonus if the women’s basketball team has a winning record
File Photo/KANSAN Kansas Athletics director Sheahon Zenger speaks before coach David Beaty’s introductory press conference.
during the regular season and $5,000 if the men’s basketball team reaches the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.
Kansas football has won just nine games in the past five seasons. “This is home for me, and I truly believe we’re
poised for even more success in the near future,” Zenger said in the release. “And I can’t wait to share in that excitement as well.”