4A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
THURSDAY,FEB.14,2002
TALKTOUS
Lenta Walker editor
864-4854 or lwalker@kansan.com
Jay Krail
Kyle Ramsey managing editors
864-4854 or krail@kansan.com and kramsey@kansan.com
Leita Walker
Clay McCuistion readers' representative 864-4810 or cmcuistion.ansan.com
Kursten Phelps
Brooke Hesler
opinion editors
064-810-10 or
kphelp@kanman.com
and bhesler@kanman.com
Kate Mariani
retail sales manager
864-4452 or
retailales@kananam.com
Malcolm Gibson general manager and news adviser 864-7657 or mgibson@kansan.com
Amber Agee
business manager
864-4014 or
addinfo@kanan.com
Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser 864-7666 or mfisher@ansan.com
ZACHSTINSON/KANSAN
PERSPECTIVE
Send all your love today, even if it's generic
Each year when Valentine's Day rolls around, the generalized differences between men and women are as obvious as the unicorns. Cupids and fairies in that dreamy backdrop you conjured up for you and that sexually appealing someone in your life.
sexually appear girls. Girls expect flowers, candy, and at least one thing with a pink heart somewhere on it.
Guys wake up and expect a clean pair of underwear. They have no idea that a slap in the face awaits them later in this oh-so-regular day.
Men are reading this and simultaneously remembering that they forgot to get flowers, dinner reservations and a wartime surplus of chocolate.
The women attached to those men are likely enaptured with love, anticipating a romantic interlude with their sweet-hearts. To aid my fellow man and to
improve the quality of any woman's day. I've created a generic love note, which can be customized for any relationship that may have been forgotten or neglected this Valentine's Day.
Dear (name of person you like/love),
Dear (name of person) you know,
When I look into your (body part that comes in pairs), I become (lustful adjective). I remember the first time we (insert activity from first date) and I held you in my arms. I want to take this day to tell you how (adjective) you are and why I still (love/like/talk to) you.
To me, it's the (little/big) things you (do/say/exaggerate) that makes me (smile/laugh/forget) your name when I tell my friends about you. I just (adore/despite/ignore) the way you (verb) when we (activity you do as a couple). Just the other day, I told (name of friend) about the time we (action from more recent date) and we
Justin Henning
opinion@kansan.com
COMMENTARY
ended up getting (arrested) for public indecency. I told him my (attraction/repulsion) to you was never stronger.
never strong.
Baby, I (love/ like/ tolerate) you. You mean the (world/ocean/universe/etc.) to me. So as I (sit/stand/knee/lay) before you, know that without your life would be (impossible/possible). You make my skies (blue/gray) and rainbows
(appear/disappear). Happy Valentine's Day.
(Love/sincerely/regards),
(Your name)
By now, I can only assume that you are enjoying a big wet kiss or tending to your wounds. Today is a tricky holiday. According to the online Catholic encyclopedia, newadvent.org, the holiday comes from a Middle Age belief that halfway through the second month of the year, birds would flock to their mates.
the year. And, as Middle Age logic would have it, people decided that they should also flock to their mates on this day as well, since the birds seemed to have a solid grasp on reality.
So go all-out on Valentine's Day. Express your eternal love, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask the birds for pointers.
Henning is a Leawood junior in journalism.
PERSPECTIVE
Original idea? All that's new has been done before
When I saw the movie A Beautiful Mind, one quote was stuck in my mind for the whole movie. Russell Crowe's character was talking to his roommate and said, "I need a truly original idea to distinguish myself."
This quote sums up the problem that plagues me and the rest of the creative world.
world.
As a writer, you are constantly looking for an idea that will blow the socks off anyone who reads it. Especially as a journalist, you are looking for that edge or story that will entertain, make people curious, or create social change. I have been struggling to find the perfect column topic ever since I started writing. But what if I have already written my best column and all my writing now just going downhill?
Originality sets apart the good from the bad and the leaders from the followers. Lately it seems the movie industry is a microcosm for this lack of originality that surrounds us. Let's take a look at some of the most popular movies of the
past year. Lord of the Rings is a book, Harry Potter is a book, Ocean's 11 is a remake, Black Hawk Down is based on a real event, Ali is a biopic of the living legend, A.I. was a short story, and let's not forget all the other thousand sequels that came out this year.
But I found it the most ironic, and the least original, that A Beautiful Mind is about a real-life Princeton professor.
The success of all these movies makes it even harder for truly original stories to make it to the big screen because studios are looking for a sure thing. How can you go wrong by making a best selling book into a movie? It's like selling tofu to a vegetarian; they can't save no
COMMENTARY
This recent problem with originality and innovation brings me back to a revelation that an art teacher in high school told me. She thought that the creative world had reached the pinnacle of thought and that there was no place else to go. Basically she was saying that everything had been done and now
Eric Borja
opinion@kansan.com
Has the world peaked creatively? When is the next Citizen Kane, the next "Guernica," the next Beatles' White Album, the next Catcher in the Rye going to come out? With a such a saturated marketplace of ideas, will a truly original and innovative idea ever surface again?
everything else will be based on some previous works. I laughed it off at the time but the more that I think about it, the statement seems to be carrying some truth to it.
There haven't been any prominent poets, artists or authors to come along that changed the world like Robert Frost, Picasso, and Ernest Hemingway did. Sure, there are lots quality works being put out in all the arts, but nothing that stands head and shoulders above the rest. That is because every idea has been taken and contorted every which way until you just have to blatantly copy it again.
Every conceivable movie plot has been done, every color or shape has been put onto canvas, and every style of music has been done, and every book genre has millions of writers.
Unfortunately for us that means we get to be bombarded with more reality shows, more John Grisham novels, more sequels, more rap/ rock groups, more Jewel poetry books and more Matisse reprints until someone can come up with something better.
Borja is a Springfield, Mo., junior in journalism.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
In response to Andy Knopp's Feb. 13 letter to the editor, I would like to defend those who stood opposed to Student Senate funding of the American Red Cross Blood Drive. Knopp wrote, "Opponents just don't want to allocate money to something that is unfair." I'd like to elaborate, as an opponent, and that say it's not that I don't want to allocate student money to an event that is unfair. It's that it's my job not to do so.
BLOOD DRIVE DEBATE
Dear editor,
There are many events, organizations and opportunities here at the University of Kansas that are beneficial to some members of the community but will never receive student money to opperate because some students are excluded (for example, the Greek system; due to its selection process, not necessarily everyone can join). This is not saying in any way that these excluded entities are
In Knopp's letter he mistakenly compares the blood drive to the upcoming performances of the Vagina Monologues. This analogy was false, mostly because the Student Senate did not fund the Vagina Monologues. The Senate explicitly funded the lecture by Robin Morgan, Feb. 28, which is of course an open lecture that all students to attend.
Those of us who stand in opposition to student funding of the blood drive do so with a conviction that our gay peers are being excluded from an opportunity because of their sexual orientation, and that because of this we will take a stand and put our words into action: denying funding. The blood drive will still happen, and with wide participation. But now we can write stronger letters of protest with a message to back up our
bad or should end, but rather that student money can only be spent where all students can be equally involved and therefore no financial support by Senate can be given.
Breeze Luetke-Stahlman
words: Our student body will not fund blood drives on our campus until all of our community can fully participate. Heterosexual men are trusted to donate blood if they have practiced safe sex. The same trust is not afforded to gay men, and that is discrimination.
GTAC PROTEST
Olathe senior
Dear editor.
This alerted me to the apparent lack of awareness on the part of some administrators (including Faucher and Richard Morrell) about students' rights. As disconcerting to me was the lack of awareness about students' rights on the part of fellow students, including my fellow GTAC members. I specifically refer to Article 17, Parts A and B of the code, which guarantees the right to orderly and peaceful protests.
peaceful protests. There was order in Strong Hall and the event was peaceful. Unless there's information, it seems the undergraduate and graduate students representing and supporting GTAC were told to leave the building when they had every right to remain. Administrators, honor our right to protest. Students, know your rights and demand justice.
In response to Friday's University Daily Kansan article on the GTAC action of last week, and the Lawrence Journal-World's Friday article, it was reported that Ola Faucher, director of Human Relations, cites the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, which requires organizations to comply with the guidelines for University events and registered organizations before holding events on campus, as the reason for why GTAC was asked to leave Strong Hall.
Christine M. Robinson Lawrence graduate student
864-0500 free for - any topic they wish. 'kansan' editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
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for more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
Never thought I'd say this, but after reading Robert Chamberlain's article about Roy the other day I'm ashamed to call myself a Topeka native. Wait, no, I've always been ashamed to call myself a Topeka native.
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Hey Kansan, how do you spell Langston
Hughes?
I suggest Robert Chamberlain cite both sides of the story when he writes slanderous material. He just got blasted on 810 Sports Radio. Printing "Roy Williams won't go to that for the flag" after not hearing what actually occurred is shameful. Try again Chamberlain.
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Why can't Mardi Gras be on Friday instead of Tuesday, so I don't have to skip my morning classes on Wednesday?
The housing ordinance is a right to privacy, and so is the Kansas sodomy law.
I'm a TA, and I just wanted to let you know that flirting with your WA will not improve your grade, sweet though it is.
My anti-drug is pot. It keeps me from smoking crack.
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So, anyway, my Spanish class — apparently you have to take a lot in Spanish.
Why are all the newspaper reports about Bobby Knight's behavior so praising of his good behavior? To me, that's an indicator that this man has a serious problem.
Do you think that's bad that I have class with all the basketball players this semester?
I'm w wondering why the Kansan has had zero articles on Black History Month.
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I'm not one to complain. But, I think it's wrong how we have to pay all this money for tuition, and we get taught by undergrads who don't know what they're talking about and make you feel stupid every time you ask questions.
Corky, what do you think you're doing?
That one's for Rachel. Love you, girl.
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Hey moron, that is Drew Gooden in the "Holla Back" video.
Guys guys, here's a little advice for Valentine's Day: send your lady roses during the day, but then later that night show up with her favorite flower and tell her anyone deserves roses, but she's unique so she deserves a little bit more.
Hi, in response to the published 12-year-old in the Free for All today, I'd just like to say, go back to middle school, you little twerp. We don't want you here.
Yeah, this is to all those white people out there that like to look at black people when they walk by. Guess what, we're not a dying breed. We're here to stay. We don't like chicken, and not all of us play sports. That's all.
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Hi, I am the average woman, and I prefer brains over beauty, because I don't want to depend on the average man and his mediocre skills.
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Twelve year-olds should not be calling the UDK.
In response to the article that doesn't believe that black people should have a special holiday, why don't you paint your face in black and walk around, and then tell me what kind of justice you get, and then you'll want a holiday set for yourself.
The new Kansan.com blows.
Last night, I got high and watched the Joy
Luck Club. Beat that.
cops
My grandpa hates cops.
The Olympics are rigged. Canada was robbed...
While we're doing away with the Student Senate, why don't we just do away with all those slow, tedious legislative bodies and just go back to the lovely emperorship that we had in good old Greek and Roman times.
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Yo, to anyone watching the Villanova-Connecticut game before the KU game, we're averaging more than both these teams together.
Why does KU charge $20 for tickets when Lawrence charges $2. Hmm?
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What's this? A Power Cat logo on Kansan.com.
Taguitos rule at midnight.
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Overtime, what a pain.