OPINION
Coming Monday, October 29..
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2007 PAGE 5A
Simmermon: Too many televised crime shows wreak havoc on the imagination.
THE DURBIN DISPATCH
Sebelius' coal plant support flops
Early project support pulled by Kansas Governor preventing unnecessary greenhouse emissions
When it comes to politics, the term "flip-flipping" is usually associated with an underlying negative belief. In fact, during the last presidential election the term became a comic rerun for John Kerry's opposing nominees. However, Governor Kathleen Sebelius recently flip-flopped on an issue involving a coal-fired plant in western Kansas because of possible political purposes.
In December 2006, Sebelius supported a proposal presented by Sunflower Power Electric Corp. to build two 700-megawatt plants near Holcomb. Nonetheless, many believe that her decision stemmed from her potential positions in the 2010 elections, and her possible nomination for the U.S. Senate or a highly ranked position on the Democratic presidential administration. The question facing Sebelius was whether the Democratic Party would stand by her decision to allow the plants, or if political suicide was in order.
This year the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled that the greenhouse gasses being produced by the coal plants in this country are in fact an air pollutant, and can/should be regulated under the Clean Air Act; beneath this decision, many coal-fired plants nationwide have now been cancelled. Ironically, the plants facing decision here in Kansas would have emitted 11 tons of carbon dioxide per year. If Sebe-
hus did take over a top position on the Democratic administration operating under the new CO2 trouble, being attributed to part of the cause
(allowing the plants) would not have been in her greatest favor
the right one. During the past few months a number of environmental groups came forward arguing their opposition to the plants, and it was easy to see that their concerns were not being taken seriously by Sebelius until now. With growing concerns coming not only from the U.S. Senate, but from the large number of environmental groups, the issues surrounding the carbon dioxide emissions were taken into consideration according to Sebelius.
Nevertheless, whether or not the decision was politically motivated, or if in fact Kathleen Sebelius really does give a crap about the environment, her decision to deny the permits was
As a resident of the state of Kansas, I was outraged with the thought of allowing Sunflower Electric occupy part of our state and create an unnecessary amount of pollution. Not only that, but according to Sunflower Electric, Kansas was only going to get part of the electricity being generated while the rest of it went to a rapidly growing portion of eastern Colorado. This
decision marks a victory not only for environmental groups, but for the state of Kansas as well.
Being a conservative Republican stronghold, Kansas is not always considered a leading advocate for environmental causes, but the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has become the first agency in the US to cite CO2 emissions as a reason to reject an air permit for coal-fired electricity plant. Kansas is raising itself to new standards and possibly leading the way for other states to help fight the crisis of global warming. I believe that energy is obviously an important issue and it's something none of us can live without in this day and age, but using our resources the best of our ability is a must; wind power anyone?
Durbin is a Hays junior in journalism and English.
TEA AND CAKE, OR DEATH
Coastal schools synonymous with "highest" education
Midwest schools lack attention that comes with name prestige
Ever notice how there is a tendency for people to name the coasts and forget everything in between? This problem is no more evident than in academia and higher institutions of learning.
It seems the new provincialism calls itself "Ivy League" or any slew of expensive, lofty universities. But what about those schools not named New York University or Stanford? Schools in the Midwest continue to be passed over for laurels and laud. One caveat, the intent behind this piece is not to bemoan the fact that institutions like the University of Kansas are ignored, but rather question why so
many people place so much stock and prestige in a name brand.
For exam pple almost every medical journal published
about diet and health seems to originate from Duke University. Surely I'm not the only one who thinks that KU Med has students and professors just as capable as those who attend Duke. It's not surprising though, because this is a country obsessed with pristine and well known brands. People automatically assume that $40,000 a year tuition equals the best in every category possible. Ironically enough, Kansas State University has an exceptional engineering program and business school.
KU has a nationally renowned Western Civilization program. Not to mention the Jayhawks nearly always kick proverbial behind in debate and journalism, even when compared to the Ivies. All of these previous vexations of mine beg another idea. Do a majority of people in this country truly believe that only the best and brightest flock to or originate from coastal enclaves?
potential effectiveness of Ms. Miers based on her educational pedigree and not her innate ability or wisdom. On a side note, ask any Kansas students from Texas and I'm fairly certain they will affirm Southern Methodist University is a prestigious institution. I realize that so far my inner ramblings are very rhetorical question heavy, but these are issues that students who attend schools that are very public, very affordable and very Midwestern, have to wrestle with.
Sometimes, after being incessantly barragged with the supposed superiority and privilege of undergraduate programs at Harvard, I start to question the
Case in point, I seem to remember a certain nominee to the Supreme Court named Harriet Miers. There were editorials that literally questioned the
worth of my education.
After all, Bill Gates wasn't bending over backwards to give the commencement speech at the University of Missouri in 2007. But when those moments
of self-pity start to prey upon me, I remind myself that my school and many others in this region have highly competent professors, faculty and staff.
Empirically, there is no difference between the student who scored a perfect 36 on the ACT and chooses to attend KU than the person who scored a perfect 2400 and chooses to attend Brown. The true difference is only made apparent in the billions of dollars in endowment, political connections and academic attention given to places like Harvard and Brown. Ultimately, one (and by one, I mean me) needs to be content with the personal choices made and ignore the presuppositions of shallow, label-obsessed students of uppity colleges. What's even more humorous is that as I pen this article, I plan to apply to at least one Ivy for law school. Once bitten, twice shy anyone?
Williams is a Coffeyville junior in English and pre-law.
MAX RINKEI
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So I know pedestrians have the right of way, but when it's dark at night and cars can't see you, probably shouldn't walk out like you own the road because we will
Chemistry labs suck, period.
Since when does KU on Wheels not allow you to drink your coffee while riding the bus? I've never not been allowed to ride while having my morning coffee until
run you over, on accident.
today.
Somebody please tell the National Guard that they don't use paint balls in Iraq. They use bullets.
The very day the Kansan printed the story about how many deaths there had been in the Iraq war, the National Guard decided to come to campus. Bad timing on
I know KU has to have more students. But seriously, those groups of touring prospective students are too big! They almost ran me over today.
their part, maybe?
You know it's a bad day when you're watching TV and a Pizza Street commercial is on one channel, and when you change the channel to escape it, it's on the
Luckily South Park included Jesus as a figment of our imagination last night. That added to the joy of the day after attempting to steal bibles
and I stole 4 straight from a box.
One of the guys yelled at me when
I tried to take off with the box.
You think four Bibles is nice?
Try 18!
over today.
Damn I only ended up with 10
I'm going back to sleep.
Funniest thing to see on Wescoe: Somebody protesting the very people keeping them safe to protest.
I just farted and burped at the same time. That felt weird.
throwing a sneeze in. That's a trip.
To the person who farted and burped at the same time, try
It's two in the morning and I'm sitting in my boxes, still stoned, listening to techno. Don't judge
Welcome to Mario Kart!
Defense Minister, I must protest. This is my investigation.
To all those people who have posted on Facebook and use ellipse, learn how to properly use them.
Here is an example: In James Bond, the villain Drax says, "But I have improved upon sterility... Those same seeds now yield death."
TALK TO US
Period ends the quote. Three periods evenly spaced show omis sion. It's not hard people.
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Erick R Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen, Daria Srlpe, Kelsey Hayes, Bryan Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angelique McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith
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