HURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 PAGE 4A opinion I hope Wiggins feels like he is back in his home country with all this snow! "Oh, Canada..." sorry that's all I know / TEXT FREE FOR ALL Go home, winter, your drunk... but you can stay for a few more snow days. Text your FFA submissions to 785-289-8351 or at kansan.com If you're procrastinating and you know it clap your hands. Right now. I don't care where you are. No sledding feat can beat that time I saw a frat guy sled down 14th in a trashcan lid with a six pack of beer on his lap. Surprised Stephenson hasn't turned into a parking lot yet. I know that you're using tumbir for your FFA material. The people in the apartment across the way have been playing Just Dance for 5 hours straight! How!? What is ASHRAE? I would like another snow day just so I don't have to wear real clothes again. I'm torn. I want today's paper but I don't want to go outside. Choices. You get the ketchup and I'll get the baseball bats. my favorite part about being snowed in is laughing at those people who have to be outside. Hot chocolate and nutella make for a pretty good snow day. I guess we'll have to draw straws to see who eats who first. At Walmart there are only hotdogs left... We need mo' of this snow. I declare that whosoever reaches the top of 14th street driving in the snow will be awarded Baby Jay's wing in marriage. Bros before snows My prediction: there will be several yards of yellow snow surrounding the scholarship halls by Wednesday morning. I wonder if the girls going to the bars right now have snowboots with heels so they can still drunkenly trip up 14th street tonight. FINANCF People started hiking down to the Hawk at 10am this morning. You know you have a problem when you choose the Hawk over sleep. Pope has the right idea about income inequality In its Global Agenda for 2014 the World Economic Forum names income disparity as one of the top problems facing the world. The magnitude of income inequality is staggering. Though it affects nations at all levels of economic development,it is is an increasing problem in highly developed regions. The World Economic Forum goes so far as to state that income inequality is the foremost problem facing North America. In addition to affecting the poorest in American society, it is increasingly hurting the middle class. Upward mobility is increasingly difficult, and middle class students are struggling to afford graduating college without massive student loans. While discussion on this issue is lacking in the United States, income disparity has been taken on aggressively by an unlikely figure: the pope. The Vatican, an ancient stronghold that reeks of wealth and power, has not addressed the issue head-on in recent years, instead defaulting to vague language about eliminating poverty. Pope Francis has changed this message drastically through his actions and publications, speaking for the need for more economic equality on a global scale. Though the pope holds the traditional Catholic opinions on issues such as abortion and gay marriage, he has stated that the Church has more important concerns to address. His rhetoric has focused largely upon the elimination of poverty. Since the beginning of his career, he has worked towards this goal, ministering in the poorest areas of his native Argentina even after he was named a cardinal. On assuming the papacy, he has abandoned much of the opulence displayed by his predecessors and those around him. He has criticized lavish spending by bishops and has been known to sneak out of the Vatican at night, dressed as a priest, to give alms and minister to the homeless of Rome. Francis, in his publications, has astutely attacked what he terms "unfettered capitalism." In particular, he criticizes the theory of trickle-down economics. He believes that such systems do not provide necessary resources for the poor, and that it is the mission of the Catholic Church "to eliminate the structural causes of poverty." Such comments have caused him to be labeled as a Marxist by some of his detractors. Though his views are anti laissez-faire, but they are certainly not socialist. The Pope merely wishes to end the disturbingly fast growth of the ultra wealthy and focus upon bettering the situation of the poor of the world. His message emphasizes moving economic thought away from a model of constant growth to a kind of economics that focuses on humanity and the health of society. The pope's message on inequality serves as a beacon of change, not only for the Catholic Church, but also for the discussion on the subject worldwide. Income disparity, whether it is in a third world country or in the United States, is an issue that needs addressing. In the United States, the ever-increasing disparity in wealth is now hurting the middle class, making it more difficult for vast numbers of young people to attend college and achieve upward economic mobility. The recognition of this issue is slowly trickling into the regular political sphere, as evidenced in President Obama's comments on the problem of increasing inequality in his State of the Union address. These sentiments need to be acted upon for the health of American and global society. HEALTH Ike Uri is a freshman from Concordia studying English and sociology. Shapewear creates more problems than it solves We all found out Lance Armstrong doped, Naked Juices do contain GMOs, and Snapchats aren't necessarily deleted. As unfortunate as it is to be the bearer of bad news, I have more displeasing news about one of the most widely used products among women, and now even men, Spanx. While Spanx and other shapewear tone, tighten and slim our bodies, they are awful to our inner parts. So awful, that I am willing to swear off Spanx and control parts for the rest of my life. If you've ever worn Spanx under your prom dress, or for an evening date, you know the miracles they create. Love handles disappear, thighs shrink, and an hourglass figure forms. If you're someone who doesn't own shapewear at all, you are either (A) interested in buying a pair now or (B) male. But I am here to convince you not to buy them. Other articles from the Huffington Post recently revealed just how torturous Spanx are to our bodies when they interviewed gastroenterologist Dr. John Kuemmerle, dermatologist Dr. Maryann Mikhail and chiropractor Dr. Karen Erickson. Shapewear is not good for our insides. They constrict movement and squeeze our organs. Anyone who's worn a pair knows this painful feeling after an evening of wearing Spanx. Eventually you just long for the night's end so you can take the damn modern corset off! UK's Daily Mail and CBS News corroborate the study and highlight its effects on men. Though shapewear gives us smooth silhouette lines, according to Kuemmerle, shapewear compresses our stomach, intestine and colon. How can people be OK with this all for the sake of looking a little slimmer? Even more embarrassingly, Richard Bricknell, director at the Bristol Physiotherapy Clinic, warns that shapewear can also lead to urinary leaks. Even if you look great in your dress, that image will be negated if you pee yourself. For people with acid reflux and heartburn, Kuemmerle says that shapewear can heighten these adverse effects. Extraneous pressure on the abdomen can cause difficulties in the food digestion process. The pressure also inhibits the diaphragm from functioning properly. Hyperventilation and panic attacks can stem from these malfunctions. If you're seated in shapewear or tight skinny jeans too long, your legs start to tingle or go numb, says Dr. John Michael Li, a neurologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. thighs being compressed. Such tightness also decreases circulation and can even result in blood clots. If it continues on a regular basis, it can cause permanent damage. This is caused by the peripheral nerve in your Modern psychology tells us how much people notice about us isn't nearly as much as we notice about ourselves. The spotlight effect says we believe others are paying more attention to us than they are. So, do people even notice you're wearing Spanx? Do you look that much different? Stop squeezing your organs for the sake of looking marginally better. I propose we just stop wearing shapewear, even for those special occasions. Why should we conform to society's ideals and cram our bodies into uncomfortable modern-day corsets? Why not just select clothing that fits well without shapewear being worn underneath? Or if we are really dissatisfied with our bodies, workout and change our dietary habits to achieve our desired bodies without shapewear. After reading all this research, I am done donning Spanx underneath outfits. If you don't believe me, just ask the next time you see me in a dress. Anrenee Reasor is a junior from Thayer studying economics and East Asian languages and cultures ACADEMICS Research involvement leads to new interests Involvement in research shouldn't always be based on your current interests. Research allows one to explore new avenues and content areas. Research efforts add to the collective knowledge pool. To most effectively contribute while simultaneously enjoying yourself, research should match your interest but that's not to say that interest cannot be expanded. Enjoy the transition from winter to spring or summer to fall? There's research that you can involve yourself in about that. The USA National Phenology Network allows citizens to record phenological events (i.e. flowering time, the changing leaf colors and leaf emergence) and add to a database that helps scientists recognize and analyze pattern that will aid in understanding climate change. As stated in the USA National Phenology Network's vision statement, "The Network makes phenology data, models, and related information freely available to empower scientists, resource managers, and the public in decision-making and adapting to variable and changing climates and environments." Love the creatures in the ocean? Partici in the Whale Song Project. By going to whale.fm, you can listen to orca and pilot whale calls and match them to already logged whale calls in the same geographic area. Although you may love something other than the changing of seasons and whales, that doesn't mean you shouldn't explore. Scistarter. com has a search engine that allows you to search for participatory research opportunities based on your interests and offers opportunities to expand on those interests. Zooniverse. org has opportunities for citizens to partake in research on space, climate, nature, biology, and even humanities. Most of these online research opportunities are relaxed and do not require a concrete commitment. This fluid and relaxed environment allows you to explore the stretches of our galaxy and depths of the ocean. If you are looking to be actively involved in a hands-on research project, available resources for research extend beyond the internet to your very own campus. The Center for Undergraduate Research is an amazing resource if you are looking to start research in your field or in a newly acquired interest. The center offers services such as advising, skill development financial support, and recognition. Being involved in research allows you to be active and informed in your university, regional, national, and global community. Exploring outside of your comfort zone opens new doors and sparks new thoughts. As said by Mahatma Gandhi, "The expert knows more and more about less and less until he knows everything about nothing." Why place limits on your learning? Go discover what the world has to offer. FFA OF THE DAY Superman grew up in Kansas and wears red & blue.Not a coincidence. CAMPUS CHIRPS BACK Follow us on twitter @KansanOpinion Tweet us your opinions, and we just might publish them. HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR Send letters to opinion@kansan.com. Write LETTER TO THE EDITOR in the e-mail subject line. What was the best part of Tuesday's basketball game? **length:** 300 words The submission should include the author's name, grade and hometown. Find our full letter to the editor policy online at kansan.com/letters. @KansanOpinion does it need to be said? Wiggins killed it with that 3/4 court shot!!! Katie Kutsko, editor-in-chief kkutsko@kansan.com Allison Kohn, managing editor akohn@kansan.com @baileybells Lauren Armendariz, managing editor larmendariz@kansan.com Anna Wenner, opinion editor awenner@kansan.com Kolby Botts, sales manager kbotts@kansan.com Sean Powers, business manager spowers@kansan.com @BadBuddhist4 @KansanOpinion The shock on the face of the Baylor fan dressed as Green Lantern after Wiggins' buzzer-beater. CONTACT US Brett Akagi, media director and content strategist bakagi@kansan.com Jon Schittt, sales and marketing adviser jschittt@kansan.com $ \therefore $ THE EDITORIAL BOARD Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Katie Katke, Allison John, Lauren Armendariz, Anna Wnner, Sean Powers and Boly Botts. +