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FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012
opinion
FREE FOR ALL
Text your FFA submissions to 785-289-8351 These squirrels understand me.
Let's all be honest, if the football team got in a fight, it would start West Side Story style with fierce snapping.
At Park and Ride, there's a sign that says, "Reserved for bus rodeo." Yes, please!
Does anyone else read "laboratory" like a British man because of "Dexter's Laboratory" or is it just me?
If you write "sense" instead of "since," then yes, you deserve to be crapped on by a bird.
Does anyone else see the "wet paint" signs and automatically want to go touch it to see if it's dry?
Who wants to run through the sprinklers outside of Allen Fieldhouse with me?!
Can anyone explain why a KU police officer on a Segway just got on the elevator?
Don't break the rules in Haworth Hall. They have security guards on Segways!
I finally realized what's been missing from my life: A Segway.
My best friend just informed me that her boyfriend was walking around campus in a Speedo today. The worst part is, I remember checking Speedo-boy out.
A squirrel just came out of a trash can.
What the hell?
How to make someone's day: 1. Change the FFA's number in their phone to yours.
2. Reply.
Editor's Note: Please send these in!
Just saw a dude on a bike ride by with braided pigtails. I didn't knowvikings had bikes.
Does anyone get nervous when the track guys are practicing the shot put? I feel like they will get a surge of power and hit my car.
There's an ice cream truck? Heck yeah!
Does anyone else think its awkward that when you stand up in the bathroom stalls in Fraser you can see yourself in the mirror?
Comparing the male reproductive system to foods like spaghetti and oranges makes me never want to eat again.
To the girl that came to economics discussion after showering, your hair smells good!
My professor yells so loud when she lectures, I want to raise my hand and ask her to use her inside voice.
It slightly concerns me that the biology building does not invest in antibacterial soap.
When did Watson Library become the "talk really loud to your neighbor sitting right next to you" library?
Did you really just say YOLO? Oh no.
Is it just me, or does summer time seem to make girls more attractive?
EDITORIAL
What's up with everyone thinking they are the clothes police? Hey girls; wear what you want. You look hot.
'Common book' can reach everyone
When was the last time the University of Kansas was over
taken by a book; one book that everyone knew about and had an opinion on Chances are, probably never.
But what if it actually happened? What if you could shout, "Time and distance overcome!" as an inside joke? If you've read "Notes from No Man's Land," you'll get that.
Starting over the summer, the University will be encouraging incoming freshmen and current students and staff members to read "Notes from No Man's
Land" by Eula Biss.
The initiative of starting a "Common Book" program is designed to foster feelings of inclusion for freshmen and boost the freshmen retention rate. Although this may or may not be the best idea the university's ever had, it's definitely not a bad idea.
At some other colleges, the common book is a part of a class that freshmen have to take. But the University of Kansas has made it convenient for upperclassmen to participate as well. They're even planning on bringing the author in to talk to
students.
By drawing on her experiences and research Biss creates a book that everyone can learn from.
While this isn't the most riveting way to involve students, "Notes from No Man's Land" is actually quite good. Sure, it's no movie, but through elaborate examples, Biss makes her points in a way students can relate to. In her first chapter she used the history of the telephone and telephone poles to illustrate the unintended consequences of their growth in a rough period in American history.
nected by everything surrounding them.
Gray Wolf Press, the book's publisher, describes the book on its website as "Eula Biss explores race in America. Her response
to the topic is informed by the experiences chronicled in these essays."
The book deals with more than racial relations in America. Although Biss uses her experiences as a teacher in Harlem during 9/11, a reporter for an African American newspaper and a spectator in Iowa during the days following Hurricane Katrina, she also addresses the ever present issue of finding one's place here. Regardless of where you are in your life, inclusion plays a role in our lives. Biss questions the idea that Americans aren't already con-
Regardless of your grade status, interests, and opinions about the program, "Notes from No Man's Land" is a read you should definitely check out this summer. Personal growth and a good book go hand in-hand, and the university has just handed you a summer starting place.
LIFE
Angela Hawkins for the Kansan Editorial Board.
Add adventures to summer plans
Do you remember when summers meant adventures? Including discovering buried treasure with the neighborhood kids outside and watching cartoons during lunch?
Somehow that adventure some spirit disappeared from my summers. Well, I want it back.
I've devised a plan, a bucket list if you will, for my summer.
It's a fairly simple idea and easy to come up with. I encourage you to write your own, or steal my ideas and add some spice to your summer as well.
GO ON A PICNIC
I've always wanted to go on a picnic. The red checkered blanket, sandwiches and quality time with a good friend or significant other and the whole shebang sounds like fun. Just make sure it's a nice day and the chosen park, beach or field has a comfortable place to dine.
RUN A 5K
Last summer, the highlight was a 5K I ran with a friend. Every morning for the month before the run I woke up early and ran. This gave me a purpose. I had something that I had to do. Not to mention that afterward I felt like I'd accomplished something.
DISCOVER A HISTORICAL LOCATION
I've grown up within a two-hour radius of my house. Although I've explored several museums in the Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City areas, there's bound to be one that I've missed. The United States are filled with history and finding one new area to explore shouldn't be too hard or unreasonable.
READ A GOOD BOOK
During the semester, it's hard to read for fun. I'd miss
READ A GOOD BOOK
By Angela Hawkins ahawkins@kansan.com
so many good books if I didn't have the summer to try to catch up.
GO ON A ROAD TRIP
SHOPPING SPREE
Ok, you caught me; I'm a broke college student and I don't have enough money to go on a real shopping spree. But I do have a lot of fun looking! One of my favorite parts about strapped for money is taking friends on a hunt for the best deal. Finding just one great buy and the quality time among friends make all the work worth it.
Despite my (somewhat) adventurous spirit, I've never traveled outside of the Midwest. It's time to change that. The change of scenery, maybe some mountains or an ocean might do me some good. Not to mention, it'd be bundles of fun to go on with a few friends to spend a few days with non-stop laughing.
TAKE A PERSONAL DAY
Like a lot of other students, I plan on being busy this summer. With jobs, internships, family, and summer classes, there's plenty of things to do. But let's not forget that it's summer. Relaxation has to be on the list somewhere, so why not here?
Okay, so maybe I have a lot of plans and things.I want to do, but at least I have no excuse to be bored this summer. I'll be creating adventures. I plan on making this my most successful summer yet; what will you be doing?
Hawkins is a sophomore in journalism from Scranton, KS.
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Send an email to kansanopdesk@gmail.com to write a column for the University Daily Kansan opinion page next fall.
FITNESS
Running can improve people's well-being
"It seems weird that people run today for a hobby when it used to be more a function of getting somewhere. Why do people run in their free time?"
If you ask people whether they like to run, you typically either get one of two responses: "I love it," or "I hate it," usually with the latter being the more common response. Running is a behavior that works very intricately in our culture and therefore what motivates one individual doesn't necessarily motivate another. It's likely, however, that running generally motivates people by helping them take control of the challenges in their lives and improve their health to boot.
People enjoy running because it simulates life and its challenges, victories, and everything in between. This was clear when looking on the website of Runnersworld.com, the number one site for running. The site has a current reader contributed segment called, "Why Run." One of the first responses given was from a women saying, "I have a disabled daughter and I started running so I could do the Pleasant Prairie triathlon, which raises funds for her therapeutic recreation program. I began running when I was 42 and ran my first marathon at 48. Why I run? For my beautiful girl, Christine, who can't!" Maybe the best overarching explanation came from one man who said, "I want to discover what that limit is. I'm 58; I have finished all 23 marathons that I started; I PRd (personal record) 5 years ago. Now I'm out there running to enjoy my ability and find my limit. Life is a point-to-point course and we have no idea what the distance is."
It's clear that running symbolizes and eventually becomes a representation of confidence, achievement, and overcoming of personal goals. The behavior of running generalizes to many other aspects of life where personal initiative is necessary and the ability to overcome obstacles is just as crucial. Performing such tasks while running symbolizes such accomplishments.
Another crucial detail to why runners run is the physiological component. When running, and especially after a consistent schedule is followed, runners get what is a called the "runner's high," which is essentially a mix of endorphins and other chemicals making the runner feel great. This great physiological feeling is paired with the previously mentioned behavior of accomplishing goals and breaking personal records. This is vintage classical conditioning which is illustrated by Pavlov's dogs. Pavlov would ring a bell right before or during giving his dog's meat and therefore the dogs associated the previously neutral bell with the reward of meat. Something similar happens with humans when very pleasurable experiences (physiologically and chemically speaking) occur during certain behavior (i.e. running).
When you add in the health benefits and increased life expectancy it begins to seem pretty sensible to pick up your old sneakers and head out for a short run. When you feel great physiologically while you achieve goals, you might surprise yourself with your own ability, and you'll feel more apt to do so with other goals in life. Maybe that's why it's a common expression to say, "I'm a runner for life."
Sofis is a senior in applied behavioral science from Pittsburgh, Penn.
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Theory just so I could have a very attractive neighbor named Penny.
Ian Cummings, editor
864-8181 or editor@kanan.com
Lisa Curran, manager, editor
864-8181 or curator@kanan.com
Jon Samp, opinion editor
864-9294 or editor@kanan.com
CONTACT US
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864-7667 or mgibson@kansas.com
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THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Nexan Editorial Board are Ian Cummings,
Lisa Curran, Jon Samp, Angela Hawkins and Ryan Schlesinger.