THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2005
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 9A
HOMECOMING
Jayhawks' perspective changes over years
JUNIOR PERSPECTIVE
It usually happens when I am walking to class on a beautiful spring or fall day, a good feeling rushes through me — I love it here at the University of Kansas.
Throughout high school, I eagerly awaited my college career, the time I would finally be able to leave Kansas. Kansas, the place I was born and raised, a place where I did not fit, a place I was ashamed of.
If I had any doubt that the University was different, they were disproved in the spring of my freshmen year when there was a drag show on the porch of the Kansas Union.
In-state tuition, though rising rapidly, was a bargain compared to other schools that I considered which cost five to 10 times as much.
I soon learned that although the University is geographically in Kansas, it is spiritually far, far away. It is difficult to know when I first realized this. It might have been when I saw people walking on a rope tied between two trees or maybe when I discovered that the majority of people held my political beliefs.
Since my realization, I began to value many different aspects of it. First, and foremost, it offers a great education, despite what the people at US News and World
RYAN KUSMIN
EDITOR@KANSAN.COM
Report think. The majority of KU faculty and teaching assistants are fine instructors and care about teaching and student success.
No matter what your interests are, the University has something for you. I fell victim to basketball fever my freshman year. I never really considered myself as someone who enjoyed sports, but Kansas basketball is the exception. KU basketball is rich in tradition and the University has one of the most successful college basketball programs in the nation.
Despite what some people tell you, life at the University does exist outside of basketball. For instance, though I am not a music major, I sing in the Men's Glee Club, one of the many music groups on campus that anyone, no matter their major, can participate in. I also have started to use the practically brand-new Student Recreation Fitness Center to get in shape.
One of the best parts of the University is the campus itself. It's beautiful and, at many times,
simply breathtaking. I think my preferred season is the spring when the campus is covered in tulips. I have got to hand it to Facilities Operations for keeping our campus gorgeous.
But perhaps my favorite feature of campus is the Campanile. It may be a little odd-looking, but I have come to rely on its time and enjoy trying to identify the songs played on it.
In my past two years at the University, I have come to appreciate a school that I came to with lukewarm feelings. I cannot believe I have less than two years left. Though some things have changed during my tenure at the University, the biggest change I have seen at the University is in me.
I have changed my opinions. Sure, Kansas has some wackos, a lot of whom are on the school board, but it has a lot of amazing people as well, as I learned by coming here.
And the University, despite my misgivings, is more than just a bargain, it is an outstanding school. I have come to accept and be proud that Kansas is my state, my university, my life. I love it here.
SENIOR PARODY
Editor's note: This column is an attempt at satire — featuring faulty logic, no research and altogether poor writing — and should be viewed as such.
- Kusmin is a Lenexa junior in political science
Muck Fizzou. Down with Missouri. Missouri is neither a proper place nor noun. We've all heard it before. We've seen it in the Free for All, we we've seen it in white writing on blue t-shirts, we've seen it scrawled on poster board in the stands of Allen Fieldhouse and Memorial Stadium.
At the University of Kansas, there is no shortage of unbridled hatred for the Tigers.
After I had infiltrated their lair, I began to ask around about the history of Mizzou.
Mizzou was founded in 1942 by Nazi sympathizers who were looking for a place to "spread
MATT SEVCIK
MSEVIKK@KANSAN.COM
But have any of us really taken the time to find out why we harbor such passionate disdain for the students, faculty, alumni and supporters of that institution of lower learning in Columbia? Well, friends, for the last eight weeks, I've been posing as a Mizzou student. I still feel unclean, like a skunk sprayed me, I've been secretly attending their "university," learning all that I can about their ungodly ways.
their hideous beliefs." They originally wanted their colors to be blood red and slime green, but they thought it looked too much like Christmas colors, and didn't want to be associated with a holiday that spreads cheer.
In 1869 Mizzou first tangled with the University of Kansas. One fateful Saturday morning, a few slack-jawed fellows from Mizzou thought it'd be "a bona-fide kneeslapper" if they were to sneak into Lawrence and steal our mascot. Of course, they didn't realize you can't steal a fictional bird.
So, they settled on puke yellow and sinister black.
After several hours of running about like lunatics with nets, trying desperately to "snag one of them the Jayhawkin' birds," a few kind-hearted KU students sat them down and tried to explain that the Jayhawk was mythical. I actually found a transcript of the meeting in the deepest, darkest corner of the Mizzou Library.
KANSAS STUDENT: So, you
see, you can't actually steal aja-hawk because they aren't real.
MIZZOU STUDENT. What you mean? I seen 'dem on deh picture box every Sunday!
KANSAS STUDENT. No, young man, those are actually cartoon representation of a fictional mascot. Like Toucan Sam. Toucan Sam isn't real either.
MIZZOU STUDENT What!? Toucan Sam? Not real? Well, now I know you's cookin' my grits. You's Kansas folks is always trying to pull a fast one on us humble Missourh peoples!
In 1976, Mizzou administration decided it would be the perfect time to move forward with one of their most dastardly creations ever. So they put an ad in the Mizzou newspaper requesting a new basketball coach.
FACULTY PERSPECTIVE
Well, Satan was kind of bored that day, so he decided to learn how to make spaghetti. He left it in the oven of Hell for too long, and it became an evil entity that could suck the souls out of mankindand effectively take a Big 12 basketball team to the NIT. That's right; Satan's spaghetti became the hair of Quin Snyder.
Sevcik is a Leavenworth senior in English. He is Kansan opinion editor.
First of all, this is too large a topic for such a small column; but I'll try. There's a lot I'll have to leave out, like the beautiful campus, the basketball, the great new gym (only $20 a month for professor!) Lawrence itself, the restaurants, India Palace, etc.
Largely what comes to mind are the resources afforded by a large university, the faculty in my department and the students.
I feel particularly lucky to teach at the University of Kansas because it is a world-class university and as such provides generous resources to support faculty research. It wants its professors to be the best, to be active in their
fields, to discover new ideas and to participate in international conversations.
To this end it assigns them only a moderate teaching load, so that they can devote substantial resources to their professional work. It provides entire facilities (in my case, The Hall Center) whose mission is to support faculty development, assist professors in identifying appropriate grants and applying for them.
The University allocates research fellowships, and matches outside grants, meaning that when faculty win a substantial grant, the University will donate an equal amount, so that the professor can devote an
REBECCA CURTIS
EDITOR@KANSAN.COM
entire year to research.
I particularly appreciate this as a fiction writer, as few jobs allow the time and space for writing.
Academia is famous for squabbling and petty jealousies within departments. This is not the case at this University. Everyone in the English department is extremely kind. From my first visit here I was welcomed with incredible generosity.
Although they were busy with their teaching, families and outside work, everyone went out of their way to invite me to dinner. They asked me about my interests and helped me to adjust to the University by offering to lend me teaching materials and giving me tips on organizing my time.
I feel so lucky to be part of such a happy, warm department with such brilliant, renowned professors.
Finally, perhaps most importantly, the students here are wonderful.
At this University, many of the students help pay for college, and most work an outside job; yet, or perhaps because
I feel so lucky to be part of such a happy, warm department with such brilliant, renowned professors.
of this, they really care about learning.
They are always polite, friendly and engaged. I've been shocked again and again when, even though students in my seminars are allowed to miss three classes for any reason they please, many of them miss none at all. (I was not this good as a student; I would
have missed the classes). Their attendance (in all senses) is not because I'm a great teacher; I'm not, though I try. It's because the students are great students.
They constantly inspire me, elevate our discussions to greater levels, ones I had not considered, and bring levity and excitement to the room. As writers, they have incredible talent.
I feel so lucky to be able to read their stories, novels and papers, and to laugh out loud or be moved. And I feel honored to have asked to do so.
Curtis is an assistant professor of English
everyday.