To the editor:

I read with bemusement Mr. Simons’ column on Kansas University’s slip in national rankings. I will agree that the state has been unwise in continually funding KU at anemic levels and some on campus have made misguided decisions. It is, however, unfair to lay the blame solely on decision-makers in Topeka, KU administration and faculty. Instead, I would argue that you look in great part no farther than the media in general and indeed, the Journal-World itself. I can say from first-hand experience, the local media (save KANU) systematically ignores the academic achievements and awards garnered by our hard-working students and faculty.

Last year, two-thirds of our graduates entered the state’s most important and largest manufacturing industry as winners of various international awards. We turned in the releases …and what did the J-W run on our students’ successes? When our students won the top award in the world for highly advanced graduate research did the J-W run anything? I just got word yesterday that one of our students won again this year. Hmmm, maybe someday balance will come to reporting.

So sure, there are many factors contributing to the general perception that KU is somehow not doing as well as it could in awards and national rankings, but I would argue that much of the blame needs to be placed squarely at the feet of a myopic media which often perceives KU as nothing more than a really fun basketball camp surrounded by parking police, a few tutors and tailgating young people.