THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
EDITORIAL BOARD
PAGE 7A
Those who do can teach more
After serving in the governor's office for the past year, Burdett Loomis, professor of political science, is returning to the University. His teaching ability, knowledge and happiness with his profession will be further enriched by his experiences, to the benefit of his future students.
Students need to have professors who have firsthand experience in their fields. The experience allows professors to teach for utility and not just theory. Loomis' sabbatical from teaching to practice what he preaches in the classroom will lend him even more respect than he commanded before, all because he's been doing what he teaches.
His knowledge of his field will be up to date and current and he will have developed
Loomis said in the Lawrence Journal-World that he was returning because he preferred the role of an academic. His students can take comfort knowing that he wants to be teaching, that he wants to work with them to make them the best in his field.
contacts with important people in the Statehouse and beyond. His value as a resource to students in that regard will be immeasurable.
The University should do more to let faculty take breaks from teaching. The benefits such breaks provide definitely seem to be worth any inconvenience such respites might cause.
— Ty Beaver, for the Editorial Board
Unsafe parking should warrant more concern
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I have a major problem with the parking at GSP/Corbin.
Two nights ago I was forced to park on a dark and dangerous street corner, Tenth and Ohio streets, behind the back lot of Corbin because the parking lot was full. There were no lights or blue phones around.
The next morning I found a ticket on my windshield for parking "on a public highway or street." Because of the lack of sufficient parking, I now owe $30 that I don't have. I do have a solution to the problem.
If students can bring cars to campus, the University of Kansas needs to be willing to accommodate the students who choose to do so.
residence hall. Instead of wasting money on the new dumbass logo, the administration should invest that money to improve parking conditions by vertically expanding that parking garage.
There is already a sad excuse for a parking garage near the
It would create a safer place for the women of GSP/Corbin to park and allow them to walk safely back to their hall.
It would also minimize break-ins because it would be better lit and patrolled.
Safety on campus should be a top priority and, honestly, I don't think the University has done its part to make me feel safe when it comes to parking my car and walking home.
Meagan Katelman
Omaha freshman
COMMENTARY
Kansas River deserves care from Lawrence residents
The Kansas River has made Kansas' list of impaired waters again. A body of water is deemed to be impaired when it fails to meet standards of cleanliness and general health approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. These standards are based, in part, upon the water's designated use*
Common uses include drinking water supply, wildlife preservation, primary and secondary contact recreation (e.g., swimming and boating) and agriculture.
The Kansas River supports all of these. In doing so, it is a part of the life of everyone in Lawrence. As such, it is the right and responsibility of every citizen — even those who only live here for part of the year — to enjoy and protect it.
The Clean Water Act is a major piece of legislation aimed at protecting the nation's waters.
Contaminants that threaten waterways are divided into two categories, based upon their respective origins. Point-source contaminants come from a single, identifiable point, such as a wastewater treatment plant. Non-point sources are generally the result of storm runoff.
Alison Reber, executive director of the Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance, a local non-
JEFF VINCENT
evinian@hancan.com
opinion@kansas.com profit organization that works to preserve and enrich the Kansas River Watershed, said the act had "allowed for incredible improvements in the quality of our waterways, but we still have a long haul ahead of us."
The act has been most effective at combating point-source contamination. Don Hamera, environmental protection specialist with the EPA, said "point source contaminants haven't been eliminated, but they have been dealt with to the extent that current technology allows."
Still, Kansas' impaired waters list consists of more than 1,600 segments of rivers, lakes and streams throughout the state. The primary cause of this is nonpoint source contamination.
The major difficulty in addressing non-point sources is the vastness of the problem. Non-point source pollution is washed into waterways from the entire area that drains to
We, the student body are in a unique position to carry knowledge and energy from the Lawrence community to our homes during breaks.
them, or to their tributaries.
them, or to their tributaries. In order to deal with such a problem, relatively simple practices need to be implemented, and their success monitored, on a grand scale. This is where we come in.
"We know what needs to be done, it's just a matter of getting out there and doing it," Reber said.
This includes things like planting trees and grasses along waterways in order to slow erosion and to filter runoff before it enters the water, and monitoring waters in order to measure success and thereby encourage more action.
There are many opportunities to become involved through this type of volunteer work. These are organized through a grassroots approach, in the form of conservation districts in every county in the state, as well as organizations such as the KVHA.
These entities coordinate the many interested parties, as well as educate and appeal to local populations of private landholders who are generally encouraged to implement environmentally friendly land management techniques.
We, the student body, are in a unique position to carry knowledge and energy from the Lawrence community to our homes during breaks. We can encourage our local communities to act for the preservation and enrichment of the State's waterways, which naturally lends itself to the enrichment of the Kansas River.
Other than volunteering, we have the power to effect real change by living conscientiously every day.
"Pick up after your pet," said Hamera. "It's not glamorous, but it makes a difference."
Maintain your vehicle to avoid fluid loss. This stuff ends up in the river.
However we choose to do it, and whatever level of energy we commit to it, it is imperative that we all become aware of this problem and address it in some way.
- Vincent is an Overland Park senior in English
COMMENTARY
Celebrities offer poor models
America has gone to the celebrities. We are obsessed. Hardly a day goes by when a hot new item of gossip about Brad and Angelina, or some other equally appealing celebrity, doesn't make headlines across the nation. I've even had conversations with people who say things like, I am more upset that Nick and Jessica broke up than I am that you and your old boyfriend split.
It seems that it has become the social norm in this country to know every little detail about all the A-List celebrites' personal lives.
Of course they are interesting, but at the same time I must wonder why it has come to this, especially when normal people want their lives kept completely private. This is most likely due to how accessible everything is in this technologically advanced age.
The Internet has become a tool to purchase anything and everything, and eBay has become one large marketplace to buy items that have to do with celebrities. Yes, autographs can be purchased, but people are
ERIN WILEY
opinion@kansan.com
actually buying more crazy items like T-shirts that are exactly like Brittney Spears wore, or even small pieces of a dress that she wore in a Pepsi commercial. I see no point in owning this stuff.
Print and broadcast media are also churning out information to the American public at a rapid rate. Without these outlets, no one would know who wore what outfit, what secret make-out session happened at a premier party and who dumped whom.
According to the Consumer Magazine Advertising Source, an advertising resource published by leading industry magazines, popular entertainment magazines such as US Weekly, Entertainment Weekly and National Enquirer sell
roughly 5 million copies through subscriptions and on the newsstands, on a weekly basis.
Shows like "The Fabulous Life Of," on VH1 and the "101 Countdown Entertainment Specials" series on E! Entertainment Television also give a rather intimate glance at all that is the celebrity glamour.
It seems like nothing in these celebrities' lives is kept from the general public. Not only the good stuff, the bad stuff is revealed too, which is another reason why it is hard to believe people leading normal lives emulate them.
Stars lead lives that are just as tough, if not tougher than the average person's life. Their drug abuse, eating disorders and tumultuous love lives are splashed everywhere.
In recent history, mega-stars like Lindsay Lohan and Whitney Houston have admitted to using drugs. In Female First, a women's lifestyle magazine from the United Kingdom, Kelly Osbourne blamed her drug abuse on fame. Lohan and Mary-Kate Olsen have
notoriously suffered from eating disorders.
I don't think I need to mention the quick flings, or long relationships that end in bitter divorces that plague Hollywood.
Average Americans, meaning non-celebrities, suffer from these problems too. Living life as a person not in the spotlight is tough to but, I do not understand why we witness these stars battling addictions and other problems yet still strive to mirror their lives.
We are young and experiencing quite possibly the best four, or five, years of our lives: College. So put down those gossip rags and stop trying to emulate celebrities.
Live your own life. Take the time spent here making memories, having fun, building relationships, making them work and living with what we have, instead of striving to be something that isn't all its cracked up to be.
- Wiley is a Silver Lake junior in journalism
Free All for
Call 864-0500
Free for all callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansas editors reserve the right tomit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
I wish the guys from Hawthorne Heights would either quit music or quit life.
(Editor's note: Free for All online at www.kansan.com)
Dude, someone needs to tell Julian Wright to take off those dorky white socks.
Six nights in Colorado, six nights I do not remember. Fall break is awesome.
(Editor's note: Winter break?)
Listen, I depend on KU Info to give me the drink specials for downtown, and it's winter break, and they are not working or operating or whatever. It's embarrassing. It's sad.
Why is it that I always want to laugh and smile
+
when I see a K-State fan? Pity or just... I don't know.
How does one actually get up naked in the morning after a night of drinking?
I just, I mean, who loses to K-state, honestly? I mean, come
on.
So, wait, this goes like right to the thing? It doesn't ring or anything? Oh. Wait, it already rang? Wait, when does it go to the thing? I thought you said this was some cool thing, dude. There's no answering
de. there's no answering machine, it's just blank.
Hey, do you remember that time we were at your house and we were playing Who's in My Mouth in the dark?
My Mouth In
Free-For-All, I know you're gonna probably get a whole lot of calls about how we lost to K-State today. I don't want to talk about that. What I want to talk about is my sick obsession with you. Yeah, that's what I want to talk about. Bet-
t I want to talk about. Better watch your back.
+
froze!
Come over, I love you. Bye.
Uh, um, yeah. Dang it. I'm not gonna lie to you, I had something funny in my head, but I completely forgot and I froze. I
Hey, someone handed me the phone to get directions, but, like, it went to your answering machine or scme shit like that. Boo.
say
Hey, what's up, eh? I was just calling to say that I should lay by the bay, or maybe we should eat some hay. I just may. What do you
Hello, opinion line. I just wanted to state my opinion that marshmallows are not very good drunk food. I'd much rather have some chips
or Micky D's or T Bell.
Fire Moody. No reason he should have missed those free throws. None whatsoever.
Dude, he totally just threw a munchkin at a car, and they followed us. And the car door's open!
Free-For-All, Whoppers when you're drunk are easily the best invention ever. You have a good night now.
I had sex with a girl named Ryan. My name's Ryan!
TALK TO US
Jonathan Kealing, editor
864-4854 or jealking@kansan.com
Joshua Bickel, managing editor
864-4854 or jbickel@kansan.com
Nate Karlin, managing editor
864-4854 or nkarlin@kansan.com
Jason Shaad, opinion editor
864-4924 or jahard@kansan.com
Patrick Ross, associate opinion editor
864-4924 or prox@kansan.com
Art Ben, business manager
864-4462 or eddlrector@kansan.com
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864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
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864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com
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Jonathan Knailing, Joehua Bickel, Nate Karlin,
Jason Shaad, Patrick Rose, Ty Beaver, John
Jordain, Malina Osborne
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5.