TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2003
OPINION
4A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2003
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111 Stauffer-Flint
EDITORIAL BOARD
Kudos to the Election Committee for fending off a challenge to their vote of last year to bar Senate candidates from making speeches in class.
Student Senate is in an unenviable position. Students at the University of Kansas are remarkable for their apathy to their own legislature.
In return, the candidates should be content to allow us to listen to our sociology lectures in their entire uninterrupted splendor.
Student Senate is important—it does in fact control a vast pool of funds and makes decisions that affect all of us. Get out there and learn about the coalitions on your own. business
Matt Pirotte for the editorial board
A bill was defeated that would have allowed professors to make the decision on an individual basis. This is a good thing—we need to keep campaigns out of the classroom.
It was also suggested that candidates campaign "outside the door of the classroom." Refer to previous statement about the annoyance factor.
RERUNS OF OUR LIVES
No better evidence can be found than the recent full-page ads in The University Daily Kansas by the Senate administration extolling its own utility.
True, but they would probably be more destructive to the cause of the parties than beneficial.
Senators' speeches should stay out of class
Let's not forget the annoyance issue here. Who wants to drag themselves into an 8:30 class after a long night and listen to a chipper Senate candidate talk about the Multicultural Resource Center?
Some in the Senate object to the classroom ban. They say in class speeches will help them reach a greater number of people.
Education is the essential function of the University. For most people on campus, student government is peripheral to that. Bringing the Senate campaigns into classrooms is an encroachment upon this basic educational role. Campaigning wastes students' time and therefore their money.
However, the classroom is not the place to try to drum up support.
$ \textcircled{c} $ Mulka+Elmore, 2003
PERSPECTIVE
Hard travel, lessons learned during adventures in Europe
Editor's note: Stauffer writes a biweekly column about her experiences studying abroad. She is participating in the Humanities and Western Civilization program in Florence, Italy, and Paris.
COMMENTARY
As spring break in Barcelona with my mom wound to a close, we boarded an overnight sleeper train that would take us to Paris, where my classes would resume.
Louise Stauffer opinion@kansan.com
After four days of nonstop sightseeing like only a mom knows how to stand, I creaked open the door to our second class cabin and found it to be the size of a sleeper sofa, folded up. We were to be sharing it with two other women, and then I saw something that made my skin crawl: a baby bottle (enter Beethoven's Fifth). So, there were five of us.
Highlight one: After eight hours on a train, Mom and I arrive in Nice, and lug
After we had exchanged as much small talk as we could between French, Spanish and English speakers, we folded out our beds and turned out the lights.
As we hurdled toward Paris in the wee hours, I felt a smile creep across my face, despite the baby's cries. I remembered some highlights and lessons learned from spring break with Mom.
Highlight two: Once in Barcelona, we have a nice dinner with actual tablecloths and flatware. I order prawns and get four banana-sized ones, with the little legs and eyes still there. This would be ok, except my friend Lindsay told me the other day that "Shrimp are the rats of the
our diva-sized luggage out to a taxi stand, drooling over the thought of our hotel. After staring blankly at the 20 empty cabs for a half hour, some nice girl tells us they are on strike for the whole weekend.
It is Carnavale, and we join the parade accidentally while searching for the place. It is raining, our faces are covered in silly string, and everyone wants to kill me because my suitcase is running over their toes.
Lesson learned: Don't pack anything more than underwear, socks and a toothbrush if you want to travel in Europe.
sea, Louise."
I can't break the little legs off and end up turning green. The lady at the next table chastises me for my hesitation, and I want to throw the shrimps' eyeballs at her.
Lesson learned: Ask if eyeballs come with the meal.
Highlight three: As Mom and I search all morning for a travel agency to buy train tickets, we finally spot an office with pictures of exotic islands and forests in the window. Overjoyed, we burst in and explain exactly what ticket package we want, and I am so proud to be using my Spanish. The man just stares.
When he can get a word in edgewise he says, "Ladies, we move things, not people." He then points to the model moving trucks around the room. Oops.
Neil Mutka and Emily Elmore for The University Daily Kansai.
The smile stayed with me as I thought how lucky this baby girl inches away from me would be if, when she is my age, she gets to experience traveling with her mom too.
Lesson learned: Don't be blind out of desperation.
As she quieted down in her mom's arms, I whispered to my mom, "Thanks." It wasn't for the hotel rooms or the nice meals, but for the adventures.
Stauffer is a junior in journalism and English.
PERSPECTIVE
'Freedom fries' trend represents American patriotism gone awry
Editor's note: Ali Cullerton writes a bi-weekly column about her experiences while studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain.
Instead of excluding the artery-clogging munchies from the menu, however, their name has been cleverly changed to "freedom fries." A shiny sign sits in the window of Cubbies Restaurant reassuring its customers that the reason they serve these "freedom fries" is to show support for our troops.
A few restaurants on the east coast that have stopped selling French fries. Apparently, this move is a grand leap regarding the patriotism of our country.
With every greasy bite of nutritiously lacking snacks, we too can support our country. Forget voting, educating ourselves, or independent media. It's as easy as eating, and we all know Americans are good at doing that.
Perhaps this decision was influenced by the renaming of foods such as sauerkraut and frankfurters after World War I because of anti-German feelings at the time. Because France is choosing to
The difference between these two countries and our relationship with them, whether it be present or decades old, is tremendous. It's a difference between opting to remain a peaceful nation and dominating countries for power. In short, the comparison is obscure.
remain neutral in this war, anti-French sentiment is now polluting our country instead.
The trend of "freedom fries" is spreading as quickly as J-Lo jumpsuits. After Neal Rowland started serving freedom fries at Cubbies Restaurant in Beaufort, N.C., many owners across the nation have done the same.
country making vital steps in becoming whole. Being the outstanding citizens that we are, next time a visit to McDonald's is made and our No.3 comes with large "freedom fries," we can leave feeling good about ourselves.
So that's it kids, we can pat ourselves on the back and return to our reality television shows, because we are a strong
One man from West Palm Beach, Fla., Burt Aaronson, has made the change despite his anti-war stance. This idea of patriotism has even caused county commissioner Bob Weisman to bring up the resolution to officially change the name of all French fries to "freedom fries." The final tolls will be out this month.
It is easy to forget that McDonald's is a terrible corporation with too much control for a fast food chain, when even they are supporting our troops.
Supporting our troops and supporting the war are two different sentiments. While I am wholeheartedly anti-war, I cannot claim that I don't support our troops. The distinguishing line, however, is presently non-existent. It is important to recognize the pathetic attempts our country is making to reassure us that we are one nation under President Bush and are happy and whole.
So, be a good American and eat up. Now, aside from having to live up to being the most obese nation, we have to dislike the French as well. Long live "freedom fries!"
■ Cullerton is a Naperville, Ill., junior in creative writing.
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I just want to say that I'm in Las Vegas at a hotel with about 17 parking lots and this blonde girl wants us to come pick her up, and all she can say is that she's around a bunch of cars. And people wonder why blondes get so much crap.
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Michael Moore is a fat, dumb idiot.
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It's McCollum, I know, but does it really have to smell like rotten tune?
The first day back to class from spring break means the return of orange sorority girls.
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