THURSDAY,MAY 8,2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Revisiting semester's complicated consumer issues
As the school year winds down, it's difficult to put the entire year in perspective. It's almost over, yes, but we're still too close to take a step back.
Since this is the last day of classes, I thought it would be a good time to update some of the stories I have written recently, as well as touch on some I wish there was more time for.
Oh, yeah, I'm graduating
For the lazy soon-to-be-graduate, it's not too late to send graduation announcements to your loved ones. Jayhawk Bookstore can still make customized announcements in a day's time for $1.39 a piece or $1.29 a piece for 26 or more.
The Kansas and Burge Unions sell generic announcements in packages of 10 for $12.99. It won't say your name, major or anything
else personally relevant, but that's OK. You still want to rake in the graduation gifts, don't you?
Best Buy—soon
Yes, the building is up, but that "open" sign won't be for another month. Amy Schneider, customer service representative at the Topeka Best Buy, said the new store on the corner of 31st and Iowa streets would open June 13.
Nicole Roché
mroche@kansan.com
A reader posed the following question about my April 10 column: "My boyfriend and I are arguing over who should have claimed our son. We are not married and it seems like everybody says a different thing. Could you help us out?"
Who can claim our child?
Lawrence tax adviser Walter Klihm said tax law was a mess
when it comes to unmarried parents with children. Generally, he said, the custodial parent could claim the child. However, if the other parent pays more than 50 percent of the child's support, then that parent could claim the child.
Because Kansas recognizes common law marriages, Kihm said, the couple also has the option to file jointly. He said he encouraged the couple to investigate the matter further before filing next year.
Nudity is taking off
If you're looking for a summer trip that requires light packing, Castaways Travel may be the airline for you. Based out of Houston, the airline offered a clothing-optional flight from Miami to Cancun last week. Forget that summer-school class — according to www.castawaystravel.com, July 19 to 27 has been named one of three "Nude Weeks" for 2003.
The MP3 scandal continues
In my April 24 column, I wrote about a pending court case in which the Recording Industry Association of America had subpoenaed Internet provider Verizon to release the name of users who had downloaded more than 600 songs on its server. If the ruling was upheld, I noted, that could mean trouble for casual
downloaders who aren't even on the University server.
KaZaA users beware: U.S. District Judge John D. Bates ruled against Verizon Internet Services Inc., which claimed the act infringed on its right to keep online users' names and information private. Think it can't happen to you? Last week three U.S. college students settled with the RIAA after being sued for creating search engines on campus networks that helped students locate and share files on others' computers. The price tag — $12,000 to $15,000.
For those of us who can't live without our MP3s, the lesson might be as follows: Download, but keep it on the down low.
Memory a little fuzzy?
Researchers are pouring big
bucks into developing a new memory enhancement medicine, according to last week's Fortune article "Memory as Competitive Edge."
The medicine would enhance neurotransmitters in our central nervous system, thus allowing us to recall information in crystal-clear form.
Although memory and intelligence are not directly correlated, it is conceivable that the drug could improve other facets of intelligence, said Dennis Choi, chief of neuroscience research at Merck Research Laboratories.
The bad news? The medicine won't be available for prescription for at least five more years.
Family inspires new BSU president to value each day
Looks like you'll have to study for those finals after all.
Roché is a Wichita senior in journalism. Each week she covers a different consumer issue.
By Henry C. Jackson
cjjackson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Growing up, Trey Allen had a lot of eyes on him.
Wichita for that job.
Samuel Allen, Allen's father, was a middle school principal in the same district where his son went to school.
"I spent 33 years in the system, and I knew the majority of the teachers and administrators in the schools," Samuel Allen said. "I guess that helped keep him in line."
"I want our voice to be heard," Allen said, "If not just for myself, than for the rest of BSU. If it were someone else, I'd be right there backing them up."
Trey Allen, Wichita freshman, laughs at a joke during an executive board meeting of the Black Student Union. Allen was elected to be BSU's newest president.
Growing up in Wichita, Allen said, he rarely faced hardship. His parents paid close attention to Allen growing up.
These days Allen, Wichita freshman, has escaped the reaches of his father's influence—but he's still doing his best to stay in line. Last week Allen was elected as the Black Student Union's newest president. He plans to use many of the skills he picked up while growing up in
"It was fine for me," he said. "I really didn't come from that hard of a life."
"I would say she gets most of the credit for developing him," Samuel Allen said. "She cracked the whip on him."
Andy Samuelson/Kansan
Allen reacted to his mother's death with a flurry of activity, including spells when he would clean the house without prompting.
For his part, Allen's father is proud of the wav his son reacted.
That changed shortly before Allen's junior year in high school when his mother passed away from breast cancer.
"It was hard," Allen said. "After all that not knowing, when it affects you, that's when you really take notice and you stop."
Allen's mother played a huge role in his upbringing. When he was born, Allen's mother quit working to raise him.
"I'm not sure yet if he has worked his way through her death," Samuel Allen said. "I was waiting and waiting for him to crash — he never did. He never stood up and screamed and yelled."
Allen said he used his mother's passing as fuel for success.
"I know that she's probably watching every move that I'm making right now," he said. "It's made me strive that much harder because I know you have to make the most of every day on this earth."
For Allen, valuing every day starts with hard work in the classroom and being a good leader. But he still finds time to kick back.
He also plans to spend some time thinking about his vision for the Black Student Union.
I'm not seen as the supreme power," Allen said. "We all matter."
"I want an atmosphere where ___ Edited by Leah Shaffer