Junior forward David McCormack named to newly formed KU task force on community-responsive public safety

By Matt Tait     Aug 14, 2020

Nick Krug
Kansas forward David McCormack (33) pulls a rebound from West Virginia forward Emmitt Matthews Jr. (11) and West Virginia forward Derek Culver (1) during the first half, Friday, March 15, 2019 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

University of Kansas junior David McCormack has been named to KU’s Task Force on Community-Responsive Public Safety, joining more than 20 other students, faculty and staff members from across KU’s campus.

The newly formed task force will be chaired by professor Charles Epp and its mission will be to review KU Public Safety policies, practices and procedures, examine national best practices and proposals for change and make recommendations to the Office of the Chancellor regarding potential improvements to ensure respectful, transparent and community-responsive public safety services.

According to a letter from KU Chancellor Douglas Girod, the idea for the task force was born from the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and how that incident opened the world’s eyes to the “toxic impact of racism on communities across the country.”

Associate Athletics Director Dan Beckler will join McCormack in representing Kansas Athletics on the task force.

Originally from the Bronx, N.Y., McCormack grew up in Norfolk, Va., where he played multiple sports and became a McDonald’s All-American in basketball.

Those who know him best say he always has been a well-rounded and socially conscious person, with his exploits as a drummer and in ballet classes and his willingness to get involved with helping his community as the best examples of both.

His quote on his Instagram page reads: “You wake up with two things everyday, choices and consequences. Make the right decision.”

On the court, McCormack is entering his prime years at Kansas.

After playing in 63 total games during his freshman and sophomore seasons, McCormack enters his junior season poised to take on a bigger role with former KU center Udoka Azubuike no longer on the roster.

The 6-foot-10, 265-pound McCormack carries career averages of 5.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game into his third season as a Jayhawk.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.