WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29, 2003
OPINION
4A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
5A
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2003
TALKTOUS
Kristi Henderson
884-4854 or khenderson@kansan.com
Jenna Goepfert and Justin Henning
Jenna Goopefert and Justin Henning managing editors
864-4854 or igoopefert@kansan.com and ihenning@kansan.com
Leah Shaffer
readers' representative
864-4810 or lshaffer@kansan.com
Eric Ketting
business manager
864-4368 or adsaies.kansan.com
Sarah Jantz
retail sales manager
864-4358 or adsales@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson general manager and news adviser 864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
Matt Fisher
Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser 864-7666 or mfisher@kanan.com
EDITORIAL BOARD
Jayhawks to parade for charity
In the spirit of public art and charity, the Lawrence Con-
charity, the Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau decided last year to organize the creation of 5-foot tall, decorated fiber-glass Jayhawks to be displayed around town beginning in March and ending in October. Local independent and business donors so far have sponsored 31 statues, which will be designed by local artists. All proceeds will go to each donor's charity of choice.
Don't expect the Visitors Bureau to raise large sums of money, but the event will attract some outside visitors — probably sentimental alumni — and stamp Lawrence a little darker on the art-icon map.
Some examples of these recent art events include cows parading through Kansas City, Mo., in 2001. Snoopy's in Minneapolis, Minn., in 2000 and ponies in Arlington Heights, Ill., in 2000. It's a relief that Lawrence chose the Jayhawk for 2003.
Susan Henderson, bureau member, said the project would follow a wave of similar art-icon and charity events across the country.
When March Madness rolls around and the docile yet aesthetically pleasing Jayhawks begin popping up around town, get out of the house, and enjoy the sites. Support the newest forum for public art in Lawrence, a city dedicated to the cause.
Sean Pauzauskie for the editorial board. Olinique Hajros
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ITT TO
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- 111 Stauffer-Flint
opinion@kansan.com
MOORE'S VIEW
Chris Moore for The University Daily Kansan
PERSPECTIVE
Cell phone addiction makes for tough cultural transition
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.
Hi, my name is Louise, and I'm a cell phone addict. I never realized I had a problem until
I arrived in Florence, Italy, a few days ago. I began having withdrawal — reaching for my phone every time I heard one ring, wanting to check my messages. I felt nervous, left out.
Worst of all, I began having to walk. It was just down the street to see what friends were doing for dinner. But I hadn't done that since high school. It's bad. I should start a 12-step program.
COMMENTARY
Florence is wonderful, and joining this program is the best idea I've had since I decided to stop peroxiding a
It's a semester without peanut butter, ice in my drinks and a weekly dose of the Anna Nicole Smith Show. But cell phone withdrawal? No way.
Louise Stauffer opinion@kansan.com
stripe in my hair.
But Italians love to talk, and the heart of the Renaissance is crazier about mobile communication than America is. Whether on the steps of the Duomo or in the piazza of Santa Croce, a Florentine is gabbing away on a cell phone.
Without one, a person can get caught in some pretty embarrassing situations. The other night, I ended up at disco XOXO with a guy we met that evening, Rob from Texas, because my friends and I got separated, and I couldn't call to see where they'd gone. Luckily, I found my way home, but a cell phone would have reminded me that I live on Via de Benci faster. Rob offered to walk me home;
not guessing he'd have to explore half of Florence with me before I found my place.
The cell phone cravings got so bad that my five roommates and I broke down and rented one yesterday, which was like going from driving a Lexus to a Ford Festiva. But we had to. One hundred Euros and it was ours for a month. We call it the Zack Morris phone. It's big, it's yellow and it's heavy. But, oh, is it worth it. We don't even use it much, but as it's sitting here next to me, I feel much better.
Before cell phones were around, people were fine. Friends still met up, addresses were still found. Some of you out there are fortunate enough to still be cell-phone virgins. But there may not be hope for the rest of us. We'll have to work on it. Maybe we should try a campuswide "turn off your cell phone" day.
No, I don't need the challenge. I know I'd be the first one on the wagon.
Stauffer is a Holland, Mich., junior in journalism.
PERSPECTIVE
Students strapped for cash should consider careers in exotic dancing
Stripping? Are you kidding? Do I look like a stripper to you? These were my initial thoughts when someone suggested exotic dancing to me.
COMMENTARY
But the more I thought about it, the more appealing it became.
It was a usual hand at a club until a wandering hand came out of nowhere and stuck a dollar bill in my top. Floored, I whipped around expecting to find some drunk guy, only to find the familiar face of a girl I sit next to in class. She explained that she worked at a local club and wondered if I would be interested in a job. She gave me her number, adding that she thought I'd be perfect for it. My initial thought: No thanks, sweetie.
For many college-aged women, exotic dancing is not just an exciting job choice, it's also an asset to fund a price college education. The hours are convenient, allowing students to remain on track in class by day and strip by night. Benefits include great pay and motivation to stay in flawless shape, not to mention the attention dancers receive while doing something they enjoy. When other options include carrying around greasy food for rude customers and enduring long hours for nearly nothing, the alternative becomes all the more tempting.
"Sasha," a dancer at a Lawrence club, attended classes full time and worked an internship on the side. She needed a job that could fund her education and living
Ashley Smith opinion@hansan.com
expenses early in her college career. When she applied for a waitress position at the club where she now works, the management mistakenly thought she was a dance applicant. The idea became more appealing to her as she watched dancing co-workers leave with $300 to $1,700 per night.
So "Sasha" seized the opportunity to make that kind of money and became a stripper herself. She has been dancing for more than two and a half years. Aside from the disputes it caused with her parents, she couldn't be happier with the decision. It has meant financial independence — without loans — and a great job experience.
"It is constantly both physically and mentally demanding and is in no way an easy way out," she said. "You must learn to deal with such a broad range of customers in this industry."
"Susha" said she liked the challenge striping presented.
On the other end of the scale, there are some who disagree with the idea. Anne
Marie Baker, mother of three college-aged women, said she saw stripping as an unacceptable option for any of her daughters. The Tulsa, Okla., mother said she hoped that with the values she had instilled in her children, they would not even consider stripping.
Baker said she feared that a young woman who entered the business could not have reached the maturity level to make the right choice on her own.
More importantly, Baker said, she worried that the girl would regret it later in life. There is always an alternative to the profession, she said.
But in "Sasha's" case, there were few other options if she wished to remain enrolled full time. To start an adult life with no financial dependability, she made it a goal to not acquire debt by taking out loans.
In college, personal decisions overrule those of Mom and Dad. Women who decide to strip must be willing to stand on their own, despite the consequences.
The girl from my class was one of the last people I would have expected to work as a stripper. She and others have transformed my prejudices about the line of work, and my own conclusion on this taboo topic surprised me.
Who knows? I might just call her back.
Smith is a Tulsa, Okla., freshman in pre-medicine and psychology.
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See now, weed motivates me.
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Moulaye, you have the prettiest skin ever.
Dinosaurs haunt my dreams and I don't know what to do about it.
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Hey, this is to the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. We love you, big brothers, from your little sisters.
After living in McCollum for an entire semester, I've noticed something. No handcapped parking spots. Isn't that against the law?
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Do you have e-mail, Supergirl?
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This is in honor of Stephen Shupe, looking like the comic book guy in The Simpsons. Worst analogy ever.
Congratulations and eternal love to Mike and Erin, who got married tonight We miss you.
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T. J. Ford's head looks like a male reproductive organ.
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Do we really want to put our futures in the hands of a little brat like George Bush?
I just wanted to say thank you to all the armed forces and reserves who are spreading fear and anger across the world, making us less safe at home. Thanks.
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Wake up, everyone, we have weapons of mass destruction, too.
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Someone pelted me with an orange on my way to Allen Fieldhouse last night, and I really want to know who it is because it really hurt.
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George Bush is a terrorist. It needs to be said.
What would Gore do? He'd say he invented war.
I'll tell you what Gore would do. He'd be crapping himself because we'd all be dead by now.
Why do women think that getting an abortion is only for the women? It involves the man too, and let's not forget the baby.
Assigning lots of homework does not make you a good teacher, okay? THNX. BAI.
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I really hate being tailgated by other walkers when I'm walking to class. If you want to pass me, take two seconds to get on the grass and pass me and go on your way.
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Remember at the end of E.T. when Elliott is so sad that E.T. has to go home that he touches his heart and says, "Ouch?" Well, that's how I feel every morning when I have to go into work.
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The new Jayhawk Bookstore commercials are retarded.
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Right now, 97.3 is playing Rolling Stones. It's only 'rock' n' roll but like it
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Yeah, this is a warning to whoever thought it would be funny to take a dump in Mrs. E's. You take a crap on my table and I will downsize your face with a shovel.
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All the people who ran out on the court after the Texas game should transfer to K-State so they can tear down the goalposts after every game.