MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
PAGE 4
opinion
TEXT FREE FOR ALL
Falling asleep in class because it's so cold out so being in a warm classroom makes me sleepy...
I've been craving those turkey legs from ren fest. Anywhere else sell them?
Candy corn is worse than Dots. Candy corn is worse than everything.
Text your FFA submissions to (785)289-8351 or at kansan.com
FFA OF THE DAY
I'm not mad the Ghostbusters remake is all-female. I'm mad the New Ghostbusters movie is a remake!
It's amazing that people still think online petitions actually work. If you really want to change something get off the computer and take a personal approach.
Misremembering stories in everyday life: common.
Misremembering stories about the rocket propelled grenade that hit the helicopter I wasn't in: not common.
I MISS THE OLD BULL
Hey students, I have a great idea! Let's personally attack funding from an individual because we don't like him. Who cares that we are already hopelessly short due to state cuts
Biochemistry 2. The 8th circle of hell.
why does our student section have to ruin everything? The clap, "whoo" in the chant, "chiefs" in the national anthem. We can't even tell words off a sign right.
Shout out to all the people that just come to Bull when it's nice out. Leave.
Weight lifting girls about to be the hottest thing on campus.
Who likes Mario over Luigi?
Everybody, random FFAa.
Get on the bandage wjo.
Try and hang your wet clothes up in a one bedroom apartment in the middle of Kansas winter, then we'll talk.
I like to believe that if there's a God he/she makes ice just to see if we slip and fall and then laughs.
To the person complaining about ping pong and boxing taking over the soccer court GROW UP AND MOVE ON.
Response to the "Is Jake from the Underground single?..." FFA... String as a pringle. :) - Jake from the Underground
If you hate the cold, move and quit complaining!
Student voice would better state government
CHRIS NEAL/ASSOCIATED PRESS
A crowd of people that gathered to rally against Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback's rescinding of an executive order that offered protections on basis of sexual orientation Saturday, Feb. 14 break out in song with the lyrics of "take back, take back Kansas," after listening to speakers on the South steps of the Kansas statehouse in Topeka.
This has been quite a month for Gov. Sam Brownback. Within
a few short weeks, he not only announced plans to cut $44.5 million from the education budget to compensate for the state's dire fiscal conditions, he has also revoked anti-discrimination protections from LGBTQ state employees. Like most students, I was outraged at these events. Nevertheless, I cannot say they surprised me. By largely ignoring the responsibility of voting, young Kansans have played an important role in enabling the governor's actions. It is only through exercising our collective influence through political action that we can alter the dangerous path our state is on.
The political logic behind his second move is simple. The Kansas government is facing a budget shortfall of almost $250 million, according to The Kansas City Star. Brownback distracted the public from the deficit by revoking anti-discrimination guarantees in state employment. This has stoked a great deal of public debate, which ended up taking attention away from the state's balance sheet.
His decision to take a hatchet to the education budget calls for further analysis. Why does our government consistently target education spending? Why does Brownback pursue initiatives that are obviously unpopular, especially among young voters?
Based on the last election's results, Brownback knows he can win without their support. The 2014 elections appear to have affirmed this belief. Despite only receiving 38 percent of the vote among people ages 18 to 29, Brownback went on to claim
a narrow victory over Paul Davis, winning 50 percent of the vote, according to CNN exit polls.
Brownback was victorious despite the overwhelming decrease in youth votes, due to voter turnout. According to the same exit polls, voters between the ages of 18 and 29 accounted for only 11 percent of the Kansas electorate in 2014. Overall, this demographic group accounts for roughly a quarter of the voting-age population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Although it was within the power of young adults to oust the governor from
nis position, they simply did not show up in strong enough numbers. By largely taking themselves out of the electoral equation, Brownback doesn't cater to young voters. The opinion of young adults is irrelevant to his continuing support among the electorate and within the legislature.
Apathy among young voters also allows many lawmakers within the state legislature to freely support Brownback's policies with total impunity. Without the fear of being rebuked by voters, the legislature's potential check on the governor's initiatives is effectively
removed.
In order to change this dangerous status quo, young adults must begin to fully participate within their government, whether it be through voting, protesting or even running for office. We have enabled Brownback to drain Kansas schools of funding and strip anti-discrimination protections from an entire subsection of government employees. It is up to the young voters of Kansas to play an active role in reversing these policies.
Jesse Burbank is a sophomore from Quinter studying history and political science
My friend has had a crush on this guy for a while, but she doesn't know that me and that same guy have been talking recently. I really like him, but I obviously value her friendship. Should I tell her the truth or just drop the guy?
Anissa Fritz
@anissafritz
Think back on your biggest regret(s). The moments in our lives we look back on, wishing we had done something differently, stem from dangerous assumptions. Never assume you won't get the job. Never assume you know what will be on the test. And never assume your friend won't understand you and this guy developing feelings for each other. Assumptions like these lead to no job, a bad test grade and losing out on what could be a successful relationship
Getting through college would be nearly impossible if it weren't for friends. When the risk of losing one comes along, it can be nerve-wracking and uncomfortable. If you care about her this much, I can only imagine she cares about you, too. The cornerstone of a good friendship is honesty. She needs to know you care and want to be honest with her, which is why you are approaching her about this.
Tell her how much you value her friendship and how boys will never be more important than that. History has shown that boyfriends and girlfriends
leave, while friends stick around. Explain you would not bring this to her attention if the feelings between you and him weren't serious (and more than a one night stand. If that is the case, stop messing around with this guy, and be a decent friend). She needs to understand that you prioritize her friendship over him, and the only way you would continue seeing him is if she is 100 percent OK with it. If she isn't comfortable with you pursuing this guy because of her feelings for him, make sure you let her know you understand and respect her decision to the fullest (and mean what you say).
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As awkward as it may be, you need to be upfront with her. It shows you respect her and the friendship you two share — and in return she'll respect you for it. Don't cut yourself short by assuming how things will turn out and how she will react. You'll be amazed at how understanding people can be.
Vegetarianism has positive impacts on environment, body
Kanika Kshirsagar @sneakykaniky
I've been a vegetarian my whole life, and I have never seen a reason to change my decision. When I share this information, most drop their jaws in awe while furrowing their brows in confusion. I get asked questions like, "How do you survive?" or comments such as "I think you would change your mind if you had a burger." I tell them the reasons for my lifestyle choice are nutritional, ethical and environmental.
Growing up in an Indian-Hindu household instilled these beliefs in me. In the Hindu religion, every living thing has a soul and therefore has the right to live. Taking away these rights is viewed as unfair — especially because it is possible to live a healthy life without consuming meat. We may have more power over animals, but that doesn't mean we should exercise our power in this way. Unfortunately, we live in a time where self-satisfaction has the ability to easily overshadow ethics.
There are also comparisons between herbivores and humans that have drawn theories toward the belief that humans weren't meant to eat meat to begin with. Cardiologist William C. Roberts, who is the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Cardiology and medical director of the cardiovascular institute at Baylor University Medical Center, compared the characteristics of herbivores and carnivores to find that humans were more similar to herbivores.
Roberts compared the carnivore's intestinal tract to herbivores. Generally, an herbivore's intestine is 12
umes its body length, while a carnivore's is three times its body length. Humans, physologically, are similar to herbivores in this aspect. If we eat less meat, our bodies will have an easier time digesting food. Also, humans and herbivores have small mouths in comparison with their head sizes; carnivores,
that the mass production of meat pollutes the air and water, and is highly dependent on oil and coal. In fact, UN scientists, economists and politicians claim the way our farms run is giving rise to many interlinked human and ecological problems. Farmers mostly raise and
Farmers mostly raise and breed four species: cows,
on the other hand, have big mouths that are better for "seizing, killing and dismembering prey," said Dr. Milton R. Mills, a nutrition specialist who works as the associate director of preventive medicine for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. He found that humans and herbivores chew their food, as opposed to swallowing it whole, as carnivores do. Furthermore, humans just lack the natural abilities to be good hunters. Dr. Neal D. Barnard, PCRM's founder and president, said it was only with the advent of tools like arrowheads and hatchets that humans became capable of hunting.
"IF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS OF VEGETARIANISM DON'T CONVINCE YOU, CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ONE CAN MAKE BY SKIPPING THE BIG MAC AND MCNUGGETS."
If the physiological and ethical aspects of vegetarianism don't convince you, consider the environmental impact one can make by skipping the Big Mac and McNuggets. Global warming is a time-sensitive issue, and not changing your diet means you are adding to the deterioration of the environment. The Guardian reported
chickens, pigs and sheeps. These animals need a large amount of land, food and water to survive, grow and reproduce the way farmers intend them to. An overlooked fact is that these animals emit methane and other greenhouse gases and produce mountains of physical waste. In 2006, the UN reported the combined climate change emissions of animals bred for their meat were approximately 18 percent of the global total. That was more emissions than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together.
Being a vegetarian has helped not only me, but also millions of other people live healthy and positive lives. The benefits of vegetarianism strongly overpower the cons. If sustaining from a single craving can help improve lives across the world, I see no reason to change the way I live.
Kanika Kshirsagar is a junior from Overland Park studying chemical engineering
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