OPINION
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
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The breast for a with a voice, nation.
ROCK TALK
basis.mitted on In Its and to
the theatre device theatre and criminal and
ERICA PRATHER
eprather@kansan.com
Spread love to friends, family today
In case you couldn't tell by the glazed-over expressions on lovestruck students, today is Valentine's Day. While many see this as a day to appreciate and spoil that special someone in their lives, some seemingly content singles have come to loathe this so-called holiday.
The history of Valentine's Day is unclear, but it was originally believed to be a pagan fertility festival called Lupercalia, according to www.historychannel.com. This festival included whipping young women on the behind with the hides of sacrificed animals. Women desired to be whipped because the action was thought to bring them a fertile year.
The Roman Catholic Church later reintroduced this day as St. Valentine's Day to commemorate the saint who wrote notes of love and encouragement while in prison, prior to his martyrdom.
The single girls living in sororities or GSP-Corbin Hall really don't care about the history of Valentine's Day when they are greeted by flowers, balloons and candy destined for someone else. The feeling is only temporary, but it makes for an interesting point: Valentine's Day can be downright exclusive. This day of celebrating so-called love can actually be a "Singles Awareness Day," making some feel isolated for not celebrating because they don't have a love interest
But this holiday no longer recognizes any historical facts. Rather, it has become a "Hallmark holiday." In fact, card sales for Valentine's Day rank second only to Christmas, according to the Greeting Card Association.
There are alternatives to this day, such as making it inclusive instead of exclusive.
Love is multi-faceted and covers a wide range of feelings, so why should this day be limited to lovers? Why not go out to dinner with friends and celebrate filial love? Or call your parents or close family members to tell them how much you care? Don't let one day make you feel lonely if you are content being single the other 364 days of the year.
For the hopeless romantics out there, today is a great excuse to finally ask out that guy or girl you've been eyeing since the beginning of the semester. And if you haven't been eyeing anybody, hit the bars — all the "taken" prospects will most likely be at restaurants or at home.
On a positive note, you could also use this day to serve others. Send a valentine to the custodian who cleans the bathrooms in your residence hall, the desks, your resident assistant, your neighbors or people living around you. You can even send valentines to soldiers overseas through Operation Dear Abby at anyservicemember.navy.mil.
It's nearly impossible to ignore the mushiness of this day. But if you truly hate the diaper-clad angel of love, you can get through the day by not celebrating or recognizing it as a day different from any other.
The bottom line is that Valentine's Day can be celebrated by anyone, whether you're single or not. Love is one of those bittersweet things that we don't understand and never will.
The late John Lennon was famous for the onliner, "All you need is love; love is all you need." Perhaps this phrase became so widely embraced because Lennon never specified a certain type of love.
So transform Valentine's Day to encompass more than just romantic love. Use it as an opportunity to remind all the special people in your life just how much you care.
◆ Prather is a Wichita sophomore in English.
▼ LANG'S PERSPECTIVE
DougLang/KANSAN
Basketball fans should keep it clean at games
EDITORIAL BOARD
When the Missouri Tigers venture into Allen Fieldhouse to take on the Jayhawks, anything can happen. The two schools share one of the fiercest, longest running rivalries in all of collegiate athletics. In the latest installment of the Border Showdown on Jan. 31, tensions were out of control and sportsmanship was lost.
It wasn't until a postgame interview that Kansas men's basketball, coach Bill realized there was a vulgar chant coming out of the KU student section. The students chanted a remix of the well-known "Muck Fizzou" slogan, and Self told reporters he thought it was inappropriate. He asked the student section to quit such a classless act.
witty satire. The company that paid for the insert to be an advertisement for themselves disliked the add and has threatened to pull all advertising from the Kansan.
Self was right to be critical of the obscenities. The climate of sports today often leaves little to the imagination. When players and fans are seen brawling at a game, one has to wonder when things have gone too far. Administrators on both sides of the Kansas-Mizzou rivalry decided last year to change the image of the feud. Even though the change was based on the current military climate and not the ferocity of the rivalry itself, it was still attention that attempted to change the demeanor of the rivalry.
With all of this negativity going on at the same time, has the "Border War/Showdown" has gone too far as well? The answer, despite all of this, is no. This rivalry didn't stem from a win or a loss in any athletic arena.
The line between spirited and out-of-control fans needs to be drawn, especially during games against border rival Mizzou. Fans should realize when they go too far.
The title isn't the only portion of the "Showdown" to draw questions lately. The prominence of "Muck Fizzou" shirts and sweatshirts around campus has drawn criticism from those who believe the slogan promotes obscenities from fans.
The bitter feelings between Kansas and Missouri began during the Civil War when Lawrence was burned by a bushwhacker named William Quantrill.
An insert from The University Daily Kansan meant for students to hold during player introductions used Donald Trump's likeness to taunt Missouri's head coach, Quin Snyder. The inserts are a tradition at the University, and they are known for their
It is doubtful that many current students still hold a grudge for that attack, but it is undeniable that it is a
rivalry that was spawned from something meaningful. No matter the results of games, there will always be signs pointing back to the origination of the feud. For students and alumni on both sides of such a long-running rivalry, it's possible to find examples of bad feelings that span generations. It would be impossible to tell everyone involved that the "Showdown" doesn't matter anymore and expect tensions to simply fade. It's too deeply rooted in the history and tradition of both schools.
There is nothing wrong with rivalry. It is what makes collegiate sports so great. At the University, we're lucky to be a part of one so rich in tradition. Being a student at the University should involve, in one form or another, disliking Missouri. Camp out for the game and scream like crazy. Just make sure you do it with class, because if there's one thing we don't want, it's to be unsophisticated like those border ruffians to the east.
+Erick Schmidt writing for the editorial board.
▼ AS I SEE IT
BOB JOHNSON
bjohnson@kansan.com
Freedom means right to privacy
Leave me alone. If there is no probable reason to suspect me of illegal or dangerous activity, I should not be bothered. Our privacy is being invaded at an ever-increasing and alarming rate in this country, and steps need to be taken to insure that it is protected. This is the United States of America, after all, not Stalinist Russia.
The Turo, Mass., Police Department kicked off a campaign to collect DNA samples from its male residents recently. The police are attempting to locate the January 2002 killer of fashion writer Christa Worthington by matching a DNA sample found on her body to the DNA of one of the Turo residents. Worthington was stabbed to death in what CNN.com calls her "isolated" Turo residence. Semen was found on the body but police have yet to make a positive DNA identification. As a result, a widespread drive for DNA sampling of local male residents has commenced. Cape Cod prosecutor Michael O' Keefe has commented that the names of those who refuse to have a swab taken of the inside of their mouth will be recorded.
Not surprisingly, the American Civil Liberties Union has stepped in and called for an end to the sampling drive.
"The mass collection of DNA samples by the police is a serious intrusion on personal privacy that has proven to be both ineffective and wasteful," said a letter from ACLU Executive Director Carol Rose and ACLU Legal Director John Reinstein to O'Keefe and Truro Police Chief John Thomas.
I can only wholeheartedly agree. According to CNN.com, mass DNA testing has experienced some success in identifying suspects in parts of Europe but has proved fruitless in similar cases in Louisiana, Nebraska and Virginia. Beyond its subpar success rate, this practice is a blatant and detestable invasion of privacy that can implicate those who choose not to comply merely because they wish to protect their own privacy. Just because I don't want somebody sticking their fingers in my mouth, I am placed on a list of suspicious characters? No, thank you. If there is no other reason to suspect me in a crime except for my geographic choice of residence, don't come knocking on my door. It is an insult to credibility and flat out embarrassing.
By the way, Kansans, our state is by no means isolated from these disturbing practices. If you think that such tactics will never reach into your community and affect the lives of people you know, you are mistaken and naive. According to Dick Kurtenbach, executive director of the ACLU of Kansbas and Western Missouri, mass DNA sampling has begun in the Wichita neighborhood where the latest victim of the BTK serial killer was discovered. Like in Massachusetts, those who refuse to participate are placed on a list that Kurtenbach worries many could construe as a "suspect" list.
Practices like mass DNA testing should be illegal. If police departments are not adept enough at doing their job without resorting to such desperate measures, better detectives need to be trained. Being an American means freedom and freedom means a right to privacy. I am not free if Big Brother is constantly peeking over my shoulder. So, like I said, leave me alone.
"There is no evidence that I am aware of where broad-based DNA gathering has been helpful to an investigation," Kurtenbach said. "Beyond that, there are obvious privacy concerns. This is much different than keeping a database of fingerprints. Not only is a DNA database invasive, the process of collecting the DNA is invasive as well. There are some very serious doubts about this practice."
Johnson Edmond, Okla., senior in journalism.
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So it's a good thing that Lawrence doesn't have humanized patholes and that I'm not sitting on the side of the road right now with a flat tire. Thank you, Lawrence. You should be paying for this, not me.
My favorite suspected Communist died today. I will miss you, Arthur Miller.
Yeah, me and my roommate just hit a pothole and the windshield wipers stopped working.
I just found a popcorn kernel in my teeth, and I honestly can't remember the last time I had popcorn.
To the kid who just pulled the fire alarm in Wescoe after Religion 104, next time, do it before class.
this town?
What's a guy gotta do to get a girl in
This is Mr. Two-and-a-Half Hours again. Yes, ladies, I'm available.
The way I see it, if I don't sit my writers on Valentine's Day, it's been a pretty effective day.
TALK TQ. US
Andrew Vaupel, editor
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Steinert and Marissa Stephenan
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EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
David Archer, Viva Bolova,
John Byerley, Chase Edgerton,
Wheaten Elkins, Ryan Good,
Paige Higgins, John Jordan, Doug Lang,
Kevin McKranian, Mike Mostafa,
Erica Prather, Erick Schmidt,
Devin Sikes, Gaby Souza, Sarah Stacy
and Anne Waltmer
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