4A - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
MONDAY, MAY 5, 2003
STINSON'S VIEW
TALK TO US
Zach Stinson for The University Daily Kansan
Kristi Henderson
864-4854 or khenderson@kansan.com
Jenna Goepfert and Justin Henning
managing editors
864-4854 or jgoeffort@kansan.com and
jhenning@kansan.com
Leah Shaffer
readers' representative
864-4810 or lishafer@kansan.com
Amanda Sears and Lindsay Hanson
Amanda Sears and Lindsay Hanson opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com
Eric Kelting
business manager
864-4388 or adsales.kansan.com
Sarah Jantz
retail sales manager
4389 or adaales.kansan.co
Malcolm Gibson
general manager and news adviser
864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
Matt Fisher
sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or mfisher@kansan.com
SUBMITTING LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Amanda Sears or Lindsay Hanson at 864-4924 or e-mail at opinion@kansan.com. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the readers' representative at read-
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Maximum Length:
word limit
Include:
Author's name
Class, hometown (student)
Position (faculty member)
Also:
The Kansan will print guest columns that attack another columnist.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length:
Maximum Length:
200 word limit
Include:
Author's name
Author's telephone number
Class, hometown (student)
Position (faculty member)
SUBMITTO
E-mail:
opinion@kansan.com
Hard copy:
Kansan newsroom
111 Stauffer-Flint
PERSPECTIVE
Smokers aware of habit's stigma
When I first came to the University of Kansas, I told myself that someday I would make it into The University Daily Kansan. Two weeks from graduation, it's finally happened. Not for anything notorious, but for using the four dirtiest words in the English language: I am a smoker.
OK, so they might not be the dirtiest words around, but try saying that sentence and check out the range of looks that you get. What's wrong with being a smoker? Non-smokers say it's because it stinks. They are forced to smell and occasionally inhale our smoke as they sit, stand or walk nearby. It causes cancer and its habit-forming. They're right. I know all of this, but I keep on smoking
This is the part when I get asked, "If you know it stinks and isn't good for you, why do you keep smoking?" My answer: I do it because I want to and because I can. I've quit before – for five years to be exact — yet I still went back. Maybe it's because I work at a bar, and I'm around all the time. There is an almost endless list of reasons I went back, but the point is that I did and, much to my mother's dismay, I don't plan to quit any time soon.
Now, I've heard all the jabs that non
smokers have about smokers. Last week, I was told that being a smoker makes me less attractive. But my favorite jab has to be that kissing a smoker is like kissing an ashtray. Well, if you don't like smoking, then you shouldn't be with a person who smokes. I'm dating a smoker and honestly, I won't date a non-smoker as long as I smoke. Who wants to hear how nasty their habit is every time they get kissed? Not me. I think I'll stick with my smoker.
I feel for the nonsmokers who have to put up with my habit. It does smell, and I'm sorry about my smoke coming in your direction. You choose not to smoke and I'm infringing upon that choice. But please don't get upset with me because I smoke and then try to infringe upon my choice. I promise I'll try to be more courteous when I'm walking around on campus. Maybe I'll even try to quit again at some point. Until then, please don't tell me how bad smoking is for me, how unattractive it is or how I'm going to die sooner. I know all the facts and I know you don't like my habit. Just remember, I chose to be a smoker because I wanted to and, when I'm ready, I'll choose not to.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Autumn Jones is a Salina senior in journalism.
Demand fair gender depiction
Feminism has received a great deal of attention on campus this semester. The dialogue that has occurred in *The University Daily Kansan* on these issues has provided the opportunity for students to express themselves on an issue that is central in their lives and is often not openly discussed in other venues or with friends or classmates. We have a significant concern, however, in the "slant" these articles have taken and the unbalanced picture that has been presented on these issues. The *Kansan* has a critical role in informing students on these important topics and providing a forum for student opinions. In our opinion, the *Kansan* also has a responsibility to ensure that these issues are fairly represented, negative stereotypes are not reinforced and issues affecting women are not devalued or minimized.
We appreciate Leah Shaffer's "call to action" to address this concern in the April 22 Kansan. We all have a role in challenging media articles and images that do not represent our views and have a negative impact. We want to make sure, though, to correct an inaccuracy. It was stated in Shaffer's article that the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center and the Womyn's Empowerment Action Coalition were contacted to write a response to these articles. That did not occur. Our article today is a collective effort on the part of many of us who have observed both the negative short- and longer-term effects of this coverage to express our concern.
In a recent study of KU women students, a
majority (73 percent) of those surveyed did not identify themselves as feminists, but a comparable number believed there is not gender equity (73 percent) or pay equity (78 percent) in our society today. What conclusions can we draw from this? Some women do not identify with this label but understand the need to work for greater equity for women. Others have not directly experienced barriers in their lives or do not recognize the real danger in losing some of these hard-won freedoms that we take for granted (e.g., Title IX, affirmative action). Another conclusion we can draw is that individuals who live in a society in which inequality is present in both subtle and overt forms view this imbalance as acceptable and commonplace. This is where media representation is key. When myths and misrepresentations are presented as fact and stereotypical and/or demeaning images are subtly or overtly supported by the media, it conveys the message that these are endorsed and accepted.
We encourage the women and men on this campus to challenge existing norms and stereotypes regarding gender. While these images abound in most media sources, the Kansan can take the lead in presenting more enlightened views. Articles espousing that women are incapable of competing in the work force because of a biological "predisposition" to be "more nurturing, and less ambitious and aggressive than men" (Arrah Nielsen's editorial, March 13) are dangerous, outdated and incorrect. Articles that state that sex roles stem from biological factors, assigning
men and women to prescribed roles (Matthew Dunavan, April 11) are inaccurate and give permission for inequity and unequal opportunity to exist.
We also challenge the Kansan's practice of including articles and cartoons that have the effect of demeaning women and/or reinforcing harmful, negative stereotypes. Examples include the "What's Hot" column in Jayplay in which students were rated exclusively on physical characteristics and the Tongue in Beak article on April 10 entitled "Freshman girl regrets decisions from night before." a satire about a woman who has a questionable sexual experience while ingesting a large quantity of alcohol. Body image, date rape, unprotected sex and alcohol abuse are serious concerns for our students. It is irresponsible to portray them as humorous. And what about the way women are portrayed in Kansan cartoons? The recent concern about the "sweater meat" cartoon that ran on April 18 has been addressed, but it is not the first to portray women in sexist, stereotypical ways. Women in cartoons are often portrayed with large breasts, small waists and revealing outfits, promoting objectification, oversexualization and unhealthy body image.
We also must comment on misleading information on dating violence and eating disorders in another recent editorial (Arrah Nielsen, April 11). Sexual violence continues to be one of the most common and underreported crimes on college campuses. Women between 16 and 24 experience the highest rates of violence by current or former intimate partners (Department of Justice). Eating disorders are also documented as a serious concern for college women and, increasingly, men as well. Recent studies indicate that as many as 7.9 percent of women suffer from anorexia or bulimia. And of all of those diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, 10 to 15 percent are men.
Let us all take a role in challenging the Kansan as well as the outside media to promote more enlightened views of women and gender. We all deserve better.
Kathy Rose-Mockry, Director, Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center Corrina Beck, Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Coordinator, Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center Shelby Coxon, Program Coordinator, Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center Ann Cudd, Director, Women's Studies Program Tony Daniels, Associate Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs Frank DeSalvo, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services Mary Lee Hummert, Interim Vice Provost Office for Student Support Sarah Jane Russell, Executive Director, Rape Victim Survivor Service Melissa Smith, Director, Health Promotion Department, Watkins Memorial Health Center Sarah Terwelp, Executive Director, Women's Transitional Care Services Travis Weller, KU Men's Outreach Coordinator Womyn's Empowerment Action Coalition members
Free for All
Call 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about 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.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com
图
Professor Joseph, with all your knowledge and degrees, can you please explain to me how consumerism is a niche market?
---
I sure hope this sex ed class controversy is cleared up soon, because I cannot watch The O'Reilly Factor much more.
-
This is a public service announcement to let you know that Quixit is just a cover name for Amway Corporation. One of their main products, LOC, that's liquid organic compound, and it was sold by Amway. They're just sucking you in with another name.
What the hell happened to the sex column?
懂
To my roommate. Air conditioners are much more efficient when you close your windows.
Anybody who read the Oracle today can blatantly see why all greeks decide to go into strategic communications instead of news and information. Frankly, it's probably the worst thing I've read in my entire life, with the exception of Ulysses.
留
Has anyone else noticed how bus 240 has smelled like urine for the past two weeks?
图
This is your mother, and you haven't called me in two months. You're in big trouble.
图
]
If you guys could keep your mindless, misogynistic hip-hop at home, or at least off Wescoe Beach, I would really appreciate it.
Could someone please explain to me why there's no sex in the champagne room?
-
My girlfriend just left for the weekend to visit her family in North Carolina and she told me I'd have to stay and play with myself. I feel like I'm having déjà vu.
I'd just like to thank Stephenson Hall for upholding their image of the ugly redheaded stepchild of the scholarship hall system. I'm assuming they meant to put 7 p.m.-12 a.m. with their sidewalk chalk; however, it says 12 p.m. Way to go, guys.
图
-
It's Thursday night and I'm naked
-
Do the editors of the Oracle drink and then edit, or drink and not edit?
George W. Bush and Bill O'Reilly only help to further prove the fact that all conservatives are idiots.
How can anyone respect the opinion of someone like Bill O'Reilly, who doesn't respect the opinion of anyone else?
榴
George Bush is a dangerous man, and God is not on his side.
It's pretty sad when you start selling yourtextbooks two weeks early so you have money to go out.
图
I just read that The Hawk got best drink specials in Top of the Hill. Who are you people? They have the most expensive drinks in town.
图
I like it when Michelle Tanner from Full House says, "Time to limbo."
图
Just where in the Constitution does it give you the right to violently murder a child?
图
Jefferson's is defacing dollar bills every day. I want to know why the Lawrence police aren't doing anything about it.