Opinion
The University Daily Kansan
Laura Roddy, Editor
Sarah Hale, Managing editor
Kristi Elliott, Managing editor
Tom Ebien, General manager, news advisor
4A
Shauntae Blue, Business manager
Brad Bolyard, Retail sales manager
Matt Fisher, Sales and marketing adviser
Scott Valler, Technology coordinator
Monday, May 8, 2000
Seth Jones / KANSAN
Editorials
Saving lives should be first priority in debate about fetal tissue research
Recently, a moral debate about the use of fetal tissue for research has been surfacing more and more in the headlines. There is one side that is advocates the research because of the potential for finding cures to Alzheimer's disease and various spinal cord problems. On the other side are those who feel it is morally wrong to use unborn fetuses as research. Despite overriding moral issues, the potential to find new cures for serious medical conditions makes the use of fetal tissue a good way of testing for possible cures. Like the controversy surrounding abortion, it simply comes down to whether one is for abortion rights or an abortion opponent.
One side views the issue as taking lives
Using unborn fetuses holds potential for finding new cures to serious medical conditions
of the unborn and the other views it as saving the lives of someone else. The promise of using fetal tissue for research is limitless. Using fetal tissue is important because the tissue divides and grows rapidly, therefore it accurately mirrors the effects of human development very closely. Jonas Salk used fetal tissue when he was developing the polio vaccine.
Today, fetal tissue is injected with vaccines to see whether they lead to infec
tions. About $110 million in grants have been awarded in the last six years for fetal tissue research, largely for diabetes study and for research on digestive, kidney and nerve diseases. Those opposed are scared that with all the recent advancements, fetal tissue will become a material used for sale and profit. But federal law prohibits the sale of fetal tissue organs. Also those opposed see it as a lack of humanity because they think the unborn fetus is being used as raw material. But if the cells of something that is not even technically a human can further important medical research, so be it. The lives of millions are more important than the tissue of an unborn fetus.
Eric Borja for the editorial board
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Victim resources available
Our concern for the female athlete who has spoken out about allegations of abuse as well as our concern for all survivors of sexual violence prompts us to write this letter. It takes great courage, even in this day and age, to speak out about such issues. We are reminded when reading the comments during the last few days that sexual violence is profoundly painful and upsetting and may impact all of us in ways in which we are not aware. The impact on those who are survivors is significant. It is common to feel depressed, outraged, demoralized and/or confused. In addition, it is important to recognize the impact sexual violence has on those close to survivors as well as the community at large. On an individual level, these crimes can generate feelings of anger, pain, helplessness and despair. On a broader level, we all are impacted by the climate of fear and distrust that is perpetuated when these incidents occur.
If you or someone you know is
affected by sexual violence, please reach out for help. There are many services on campus and in the community that are here for you. Whether you are female or male, in a gay or straight relationship, a survivor or a friend, we can provide assistance and resources. Some of the on-campus services, available year-round, include the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center at 864-3552, Counseling and Psychological Services at 864-2277, Watkins Memorial Health Center at 864-9500 and the KU Public Safety Office at 864-5900.
Allen reinforced behavior
In the community, year-round services include Rape Victim Survivor Services at 841-2345 and Women's Transitional Care Services at 843-3333.
Kathy Rose-Mockry
Sarah Jane Russell
Laura Montgomery
Amy Wolf
Stephanie Petersen
Laurie Hart
Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center staff
Rape Victim Survivor Services staff
Regarding the horrific event that came to light last week, two points need to be brought up. First, the message that coach Terry Allen has sent to all women on campus is alarming. He is in a much larger position of power than he realizes. Sexual misuse is a big problem in our culture. It is men like Allen who can help get the message across to sexually unhealthy young men that this sort of behavior is wrong! Men and women who sexually misuse people need help and worthy punishment. By not stepping in responsibly, Allen reinforced this behavior instead of doing something to stop it. Second, I hope the men in the Athletics Department who do not treat women this way speak out and let their teammates know that they do not approve of that behavior. I am proud to say I go to a University where so many people have spoken up to let this woman know that we do care and that it wasn't her fault.
Dora Naughton senior in theater and film
Kansan staff
News editors
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Nadia Mustafa . . . . . . Editorial
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Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"The only thing you take with you when you're gone is what you leave behind."
How to submit letters and guest columns
Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
— John Allston
Guest columns: Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
All letters and guest columns should be e-mailed to opiainion@kansan.com or submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111- Stuffler-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Nadia Mustafa or Seth Hoffman at 864-4924.
Ryan Devlin staff writer
Pursuit of pop queen ends in bar with glass of scotch
Most of the time, they are nothing more than pranks from overgrown teen-agers. But you have to follow them up, because what if they're true? Then you've missed a great story and your editors are likely to take you outside, tie you to a tree and beat you with sticks.
This was the situation I faced last week as I trailed rumors that teen-pop product (that's
Perspective
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924.
As a reporter, you get used to getting tips from crackpots and rumor mongers. Most of them are goofy.
what she really is, isn't she?) Britney Spears was coming to the KU campus to check out the school.
It all started last Monday. I had just gotten over a fit of inaccuracy, during which I misquoted a senior KU administrator. I walked into the Kansan newsroom and sat down at my desk. I hadn't been there but three minutes before I was descended upon by two savage editors.
"Guess what you get to do?" they asked. When they say that, it's never good.
They handed me the story, "Britney's coming!" they said. Great. I tried to escape, but the whip had already fallen. Sq this was my punishment for the misquote, I thought. Fine. I'll do my penance, write the story and have it done with.
Suddenly, I was the butt of jokes in the newsroom. I was to be the Kansan's new "teen beat" reporter. A colleague came by to tell me he had just been informed that the members of 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys were all coming to the University of Kansas. They were going to start an all-boy-band fraternity. I told him I'd get right on it.
I called Student Body President Ben Walker, who claimed to know nothing. I called the recent winner of the Britney Spears Dance Camp essay contest, Thomas Franklin. Franklin, a journalism student senator wouldn't give me a straight answer.
I must have talked to 50 people that day. Many swore it was true. They had heard it from a friend whose cousin worked at the Office of Admissions. Britney was, in fact, coming to the University. She was going to play Division I volleyball. She was going to coach the football team. She would major in ceramics with a minor in genetics and would do it all tuition-free on the condition that she would perform at all the chancellor's parties.
But when the smoke finally cleared, there was no concrete evidence that Britney was coming. I wrote my article, and on my way home, I
It was all over, or so I thought. I felt as though I'd just been released from prison.
Then Friday came. Someone called. This person said that Britney was coming again this afternoon. Our esteemed journalism student senator, would be giving her the tour.
11:30 a.m. — Entered the newsroom and received the rumor that Spears would be visiting again today. Will this punishment ever end? Placed calls to Walker and Franklin. Neither were in.
stopped at my favorite bar and had a double scotch.
I've always been a fan of film noir and detective stories. It is in that spirit that I wrote the following notes on Friday while searching for the elusive pop queen.
11:50 a.m. — Arrived at the Visitor Center and asked the nice woman behind the counter if Britney was scheduled for a tour. "We have no Britney," she politely replied. She informed me that three female Britney fans came in a few minutes earlier looking for Spears. Is this what I've been reduced to? Feeling like a common groupie?
11:40 a.m. — On the trail of Britney. Mounted a bus for the Visitor Center. Asked the bus driver if he had seen Britney. He replied, "What does she look like?" I resisted the temptation to say, "Like every 16-year-old boy's wet dream."
12:15 p.m. — Back at the newsroom. Walker returned my call and said he didn't know anything about it. Franklin reportedly went home for the weekend. Was it all a clever ruse?
1:30:20 p.m. — Searching. Asking everyone I saw if they had seen Britney. One guy said he thought he saw her at the Spencer Art Museum. "If you see her again, call the Kansan," I replied. He suggested I call him if I 'found Britney. He wanted to ask her out.
2:35 p.m. - Back at the newsroom. Was informed by my fellow reporters who had the luxury of going to The Wheel for a beer that they had seen Walker there, sans Britney.
3:00 p.m. — Got a call saying that Eric Chenowith had just left the Office of Admissions. He said that his friend had seen a limo on campus and wanted to know if Britney was here. Maybe Chenowith and I could pool our resources.
3:30 p.m. — I give up. Back at my favorite bar, sitting comfortably in front of another double scotch.
So that's it. Were the rumors that Britney was here on Friday real? We may never know. But do me a favor: If you see Christina Aguilera on campus Monday, don't call me.
Devlin is an Overland Park senior in journalism and English. He covered administration for the Kansan this semester.
Study abroad humbling for privileged American
Matt
Merkel-Hess
columnist
opinion@asaan.com
Compostela, where the apostle, St. James (Santiago in Spanish), supposedly is buried. Santiago, a close friend of Christ, was said to have evangelized in the Iberian Peninsula circa 40 A.D. He later was martyred in Jerusalem, and through a series of miracles and the guidance of an angel, two friends are said to have brought his body by boat to the rocky coast of Galicia, and to have buried it a short distance
Although his tomb wasn't rediscovered until the ninth century, the saint quickly became a rallying point for the small Christian kingdoms tucked into Spain's northern mountains. They needed everything they could muster in their battle against the Muslims to the south. As the Christian kingdoms pushed south, the area became safer and pilgrims poured over the Pyrenees to visit the tomb of the apostle and receive indulgences and dispensation.
inland. The burial site was forgotten until a star falling in a field marked the spot, hence Compostela, or Campo de la Estrella, which translates to "The field where the star fell."
O f the 60 million visitors to Spain every year, a growing percentage come to follow a path that has led people to these lands for more than a thousand years.
In the Middle Ages, pilgrims began making their ways to the town of Santiago de
Pilgrims came from all across Europe and from all walks of life, usually making the trip as their productive years drew to a close. The pilgrimage rewarded a long life of toil, was a time to make peace with one's maker and a chance to travel beyond the horizon. At that time, the west coast of Galicia was Finis Terrae, the end of the known world.
After Jerusalem and Rome, Santiago de Compostela became the third most important pilgrimage site in Christiandom. All along the Camino de Santiago (Road to Santiago) churches, monasteries and hostels sprang up, ensuring the physical safety and spiritual guidance of the pilgrims. Many of these buildings still hold some of the wonders of Spain's history, from Romanesque art to stained glass to wonderfully ornate Baroque alter pieces.
This semester, I traveled parts of the
Camino in a small bus with a class that studied the pilgrimage, medieval life and the art along the way. The study tours blew me away with the beauty of the buildings and landscape, the devotion it took to make all these monuments and the importance of the Camino in the history of Spain. The millions of pilgrims who traveled into Spain brought ideas, money and political influence from the north into the kingdoms that eventually became Spain. The Camino is one of Europe's cultural highways, which is why the entire way was named a part of the World Patrimony by the United Nation Education, Science and Cultural Organization.
Today, pilgrims still walk the Camino for religious reasons or just to take a good hike. It's 500 miles across Spain alone, more if you start somewhere in France or beyond. Tens of thousands crowd the hostels in Holy Years when Santiago's feast day, July 25, falls on a Sunday. This is an explosion from just 30 years ago when only a handful walked into Santiago de Compostela with calloused feet, bronzen skin, pack, broad-brimmed hats, staffs and scallop shells — the symbols of the pilgrimage. The Camino de Santiago, like any pilgrimage, whether to Graceland, the Holy Land or to Mecca, forces tough questions. What is your road in life? Why are you following this one? What is your personal "Santiago?"
These are questions that I faced numerous times during the past year while studying abroad. I've seen amazing things, had great experiences and encountered people and ideas that challenged my beliefs – and I came out the better for it. Through it all, I've constantly been reminded of how fortunate my life is and how lucky I am to be able to travel and to have the options in life that I do. It's a feeling most of us as over-privileged Americans should feel when we see how other people live.
The only answer I've found to any questions is to simply follow the example of the multitudes who have spent months crossing Spain's mountains, central plateau and the moist, green valleys of Galicia: Choose a goal, take a step, keep walking. When you get to your destination, a new road will become the right way to go. Follow your dreams. Be a pilgrim.
Merkel-Hess is an Iowa City, Iowa, junior in environmental studies and journalism. He is studying in Madrid, Spain, this semester.