Gray wants to play ball

Many on the IU campus have heard the rumor that being hit by a bus equals free tuition. Senior Bill Gray, former IU Student Association president, experienced this rare event but will not find out if the rumor is true. Instead, Gray wants something more unique.\nGray wants to play basketball with his friends for a couple hours at Assembly Hall in exchange for not suing IU. \n"I'm just a normal Indiana kid who's always wanted to play basketball in Assembly Hall," Gray said.\nEven though the bus hit him hard, Gray said, he walked away with only a few bumps and bruises. Gray was walking back from class when he crossed the intersection of 10th Street and Woodlawn Avenue on a green light. The bus turned right on red, skidded and hit Gray.\n"It hit me pretty hard," he said. "It definitely hurt. My leg is still cut up, and my head hurts from time to time."\nAs Gray only has four weeks left on campus, he said it would be pointless to try and get money out of the University.\nKip Drew, an associate of University Council, said she does not remember IU dealing with a student being hit by a bus before.\n"I have been here 10 years and don't remember this ever happening," Drew said. "I don't think that (playing basketball at Assembly Hall) is a legal resolution."\nThough many students would sue for tuition and be the one to prove the myth a fact, Gray doesn't want that.\n"It wouldn't do a lot of good," Gray said. "I only have four weeks left here. I'm definitely not out to grab money from IU."\nBlair Greenburg, former IUSA secretary and friend of Gray's, laughed when he heard about Gray's request.\n"First, I would like to say that Bill Gray is the only person with a hard enough head to get hit by a bus and walk away unscathed," Greenburg said. "I also think that his jump shot needs some work before he can play in Assembly Hall."\nInterim Media Relations Director Pete Rhoda could not comment directly on the case but did offer some information on the use of Assembly Hall.\n"All our facilities are for intercollegiate athletic teams," he said. "First, intercollegiate teams get first use of the facility. After that, we try to work in club and intramural teams."\nBut, as for Gray, he still dreams of playing basketball in front the 17,257 empty seats of Assembly Hall -- even if his jump shot does need some work. \n"I think it would be a fair option," he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Cecelia Wolford at cwolford@indiana.edu.