6A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2003
Popular low-rise jeans could be health hazard for women
Low-rise jeans just might be the new corset.
Women have been cutting off their circulation for centuries in an attempt to appear thin and cramming their bodies into clothing primed to burst at the seams.
Depending on a person's size, wearing these jeans may be a social risk — especially when bending over means those Gap jeans live up to their name. But even worse than a flash of crack or thong, these trendy denims may be a health hazard.
Last week, a Canadian doctor warned that low-ride jeans can pinch a sensory nerve under the
hipbone and cause a tingling or burning sensation.
Paul Morte, a Lawrence neurologist, said he had seen more than 1,000 cases of the condition in the 29 years he has been practicing — about 1.5 cases every two weeks.
The tingling sensation is known as meralgia paresthetica, Morte said. It can occur as a result of pregnancy, diabetes, obesity and constricting clothing.
Morte said recent cases were likely a result of fashion trends
COMMON CENTS
"I see a lot of people wearing tight, low-cut jeans," Morte said. "If you wear something
Nicole Roché
nroche@kansan.com
very tight, especially low-cut,
that nerve can get compressed
Morte said years ago he had seen a Las Vegas dancer with meralgia paresthetica. The woman wore a belt made with silver dollars that compressed the nerve and caused a burning sensation.
Meralgia paresthetica is not a
serious condition, Morte said, and about 95 percent of the time symptoms will go away on their own.
"Usually the treatment is loosening the clothing." he said.
In some instances, a numbing injection may be needed, and surgery may be required in rare circumstances.
Men should also be aware of the potential problem, Morte said, because heavy tool belts often compress the nerve.
Men aren't immune to lowrise craze either. Jeans manufacturers have expanded their lines to include men's jeans.
"I don't think we have any
jeans that aren't low-rise now," said Matt Donahoe, store manager at Abercrombie & Fitch, 647 Massachusetts ST.
Unlike women's low-rise jeans, which focus on decorative thongs and glimpses of derriere. Donahoe said men's low-rise jeans were designed to show off taut abdomens. He said low-rise boxers for men were also becoming popular.
Donahoe said low-rise women's briefs were a "sexy but sophisticated" complement to trendy jeans.
That is, if you don't mind having half of your behind exposed to wind and other elements of nature.
The briefs leave little to the imagination. Target's Garfield panties for 5-year-olds would provide more coverage.
While low-rise jeans may be a health risk, the only risk of low-rise underwear might be a frosty fanny. Besides, low-rise women's underwear may signal a move away from the jeweled "Foxy" and "Flirt" thongs.
"I hope so," said Allison Scott, associate manager at The Gap, 643 Massachusetts Street. "I don't think they were ever cool."
Roché is a Wichita senior in journalism
Senior trades comfort for Corps
By Megan Hickerson
mhickerson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
A University of Kansas student is packing his bags for a 27-month trip to West Africa.
Beau Jackson, Wichita senior, will leave behind his family, his band Filibuster, and the comforts of his Lawrence lifestyle when he begins his Peace Corpstraining this summer.
After completing an extensive application process that included a personal interview and dental exam, Jackson will fulfill his desire to serve his country.
"I want to make a sacrifice for my country," Jackson said. "I'm not a military guy, and doing this fits my ideas."
Jackson had toyed with the idea of joining the Peace Corps since his sophomore year, and Paul Bammel, Jackson's roommate, knows he's making the right decision.
"This is going to fit him well because he's a tree-hugger hippie," Bammel said.
Aline Hoey, Peace Corps coordinator, realizes that on top of the
excitement, volunteers are sometimes apprehensive about leaving the comforts of their lifestyle. The Peace Corps has 52 KU student volunteers.
"Volunteers are most nervous about living without running water and electricity" Hoey said.
Joining the Peace Corps is a far cry from Jackson's internship this past summer. He spent three months at the U.S. Senate, researching for the offices of Sen. Sam Brownback and Sen. Pat Roberts. But he can kiss his coat and tie days goodbye — at least for 27 months.
Though Jackson has adventures to look forward to, he regrets leaving some conveniences behind.
Zach Straus/Kansan
"I'm really going to miss the electricity of Lawrence and the spirit of KU," Jackson said. "I'll have to figure out a way to watch the KU basketball games. It may be difficult."
Jackson, a fraternity member of Phi Delta Theta, plans to spend his last few months in the United States taking advantage his privileged lifestyle.
"I'm probably going to play golf and soak up the country-club life
Beau Jackson, Andover senior, is joining the Peace Corps after he graduates with a Political Science degree. In the Corps, Jackson said, he wants to teach English somewhere in Africa. before I depart," Jackson said.
Jackson said he wanted to learn a foreign language and gain international experience while abroad. After he serves his term in the Peace Corps, he plans to go to law school.
Edited by Melissa Hermreck
Alumnus donates $100,000
Biology department receives donation, creates new award
Amy Potter
apotter@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
Benjamin Hall will always remember his mother for her love of plant life. His family would go camping during the summers of his youth, and part of the trip always consisted of finding new and unusual plants.
"My mother had a plant press and she collected specimen when we went on trips.
I didn't really appreciate what it was all about at that time, but I do now," Hall said.
Hall, a 1954 graduate of the University of Kansas and professor of botany and genome sciences at the University of Washington, said his mother's love for plants inspired him to give $100,000 to the biology department to create the Mary Harkey Hall Award in Plant Biology in
"I wanted to have a sort of remembrance for my mother.She was a strong supporter of KU and an outstanding graduate in her field."
Benjamin Hall University of Kansas 1954 graduate
honor of his mother.
His mother Mary Hall, studied botany at the University of Kansas and graduated in 1924. She was the wife of former Natural History Museum director E. Raymond Hall.
"I wanted to have a sort of remembrance for my mother. She was a strong supporter of KU and an outstanding graduate in her field," Hall said.
The award will go to either undergraduate or graduate level students who are studying any aspect of plant biology, said Craig Martin, professor and
chairman of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology. Award money could be used to pay for a research project, airfare to Costa Rica or help in the purchase of equipment for research, he said.
"I realize it's pretty useful to have a source of money to support a student so they don't have to get a summer job. They can pursue their interests," Hall said.
There are about a dozen awards in the department named in honor of individuals, Martin said. There are four awards available for plant biology but none the size of the Hall award.
Martin said he was blown away to receive the donation from Hall.
"The generosity of previous folks associated with KU is overwhelming," said Martin. "That kind of money donated is a very impressive statement that someone values what KU has to offer. The award is a fantastic gesture in honor of his mother."
—Edited by Andrew Ward
Not all drugs are good. Some of them are great.
KU Students for Sensible Drug Policy Meeting Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003, Pine Room Kansas Union, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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