THURSDAY, APRIL 18.2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN * 3A
3A
Author bashes modern society
By Jessica Tims Kansan staff writer
Derrick Jensen hates Western culture. He boasts at the fact that he loves to 'bash science' and he's happy to admit he communicates with the earth and everything on it.
"He's a new voice in the environmental world," said Michael Martin, co-president of the Environmental Studies Student Association. "Most are afraid to say what he does. But he has the balls to stand up and say we're in trouble."
Last night Jensen spoke to a crowd of more than 100 at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union as part of Earth Week. He was sponsored by environmental groups in and around Lawrence and also gave talks yesterday on nature writing and inter-species communication.
Jensen gained notoriety with his first book, A Language Older Than Words, Martin said. His newest book, Culture of Make Believe, was released just last week.
In his books and lectures, Jensen shares his perspective on many aspects of modern life. His most hated topics include pop culture, science and school — issues he said people pay too much attention too.
"We talk about everything except the stuff that is in our faces." he said.
He said stories such as the Monica Levin
sky scandal and the O.J. Simpson trial received too much attention long after the issues were in the news. He asked why people thought about issues such as these instead of what happened to the earth and the environment.
But Jensen admits that even he has thought about these things.
"I have even found myself wondering if Kato Kaelin will ever get another date," he said.
Jensen says people should listen to what the earth, and not Western civilization, is telling them.
"Even the most indigenous Westerners listen to the earth, but only as a metaphor," he said. "But they don't listen to it for what it really is."
Jensen also spoke about inter-species communication and his personal connection to the earth and animals. He described a time when a coyote killed his chickens seven days in a row. On the seventh day he told the coyote if it stopped eating his chickens, he would give it what was left after he butchered the birds for his own consumption. After his friendly talk with the coyote, the killing stopped.
Nathan Hoffman, Overland Park sophomore, said he went to the lecture because Jensen's books were strongly suggested by author Daniel Quinn.
LINDSEY KILIANY/KANSAN
Author and activist Derrick Jensen recounts a story at his lecture on environmental and social justice as part of Earth Week. Jensen also gave various lectures and workshops throughout the day yesterday in the Kansas Union.
Contact Tims at tjms@kansan.com. This story was edited by Justin Guenley.
Thyroid may cause sex problems
By Summer Lewis Kansan staff writer
Women with sex drives that are stuck in park may have undiagnosed thyroid problems that are stalling their erotic desires.
Studies released at the end of last month suggested that as many as half of American women suffered from some type of sexual dysfunction, with lack of interest in sex at the top of the list. Although depression and other psychological issues were major contributors to low sexual desires in women, thyroid problems could also play a major role. The thyroid is located in the neck and regulates the body's metabolism.
Jan Morey, nurse practitioner at Lawrence Ob-Gyn Specialists, 330 Arkansas St., said that if women had low thyroid it could cause a lack of sexual interest.
"A low thyroid causes someone to be very fatigued," Morey said. "This could lower a women's sex drive."
She said many studies were being conducted on women's sexual desires, but no one had a definite answer.
"Clinics are popping up all over the country specifically dealing with this issue," Morey said. "A lot of studies are being published, but no single solution works for every woman. Some could have thyroid problems and some could just be tired from a busy schedule. No one has a good answer."
She said women should not feel that they were abnormal or that something was wrong with them if they did not desire sex as much as their partner.
"This is the hot topic in women's health right now," Morey said. "We see a lot of women of all ages come into the
clinic wondering why they don't have strong sex drives. Many women come to see us because their partner wanted them to get checked, but we don't have any good answers."
She said that this was not a new phenomenon.
"The issue of women's sex drives versus men's has been going on for years." Morey said. "The difference is that women feel more comfortable talking about it now."
Other factors besides thyroid problems could also be the culprit. Morey said that often sexual desires were linked to physical fatigue.
"Career, family and responsibilities cause women to be too tired for sex," she said.
Sexual desires often change as a relationship develops.
"A new relationship is always exciting," Meyed said. "After
you've been with a person for a longer period, sexual desires decrease. Couples have to try to create a sense of newness with emotional and physical excitement."
Kathy Rose-Mockry, director of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, said that this kind of problem could be linked to many different issues in women's lives.
"A lot of women might realize that the problem is not in their head, but something could be wrong in their body," she said. "If women are not feeling good about where they are in a certain aspect of their lives, it is always good to see a doctor or nurse practitioner."
Contact Lewis at slewis@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jeremy Clarkson.
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WOMEN'S Recognition PROGRAM
guest speaker Dr. Sally Frost Mason
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2002 7:30 p.m.
Big 12 Room, Kansas Union
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