Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BROWN: STUDENTS SHOULDN'T HAVETO SACRIFICE ON GAME DAYS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009
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--join?
Every time I go out, it reminds me why I don't date.
--join?
Is it a bad sign when I have a dorm-wide reputation of doing calculus problems drunk at Templin?
Who cares about the Oscars?
Why does lettuce taste great on everything, but I gag if I eat a plain piece?
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I don't want to grow up. I want to be a college drunk. Take that. Toys' R Us
I walked to both of my classes today to have both of my teachers not show up.
I was just thinking, do you think my teachers fell in love and are making babies?
My stomach just made a really weird sound and I think everyone around me thinks I just farted
--join?
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I found out that I wore highwater pants today and I didn't even know it.
Really, a leopard print string bikini? What were you thinking, guys? What was I thinking?
Is it always Black History Month?
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I just took a quiz and it was just like my women — short and easy.
To the girl who got caught freestyle on the biontron at the game Wednesday night: My friend and I want to start a live hip-hop band. Want to
Leggings are not pants and sorority people need to stop wearing them.
Dear White Honda Driver:
Maybe you should try not doing paperwork while you're driving so you don't almost hit me. Sincerely, Biker.
I just saw White Owl doing his laundry. I don't know what he could possibly be washing though, since he wears the same outfit every day.
It's 2 a.m. on a Friday and I keep getting woken up by the SafeBus and all the drunk people on it.
To the girl who stole my Mardi Gras hat at Brother's: That hat looked terrible on you.
ENTERTAINMENT
Readers should look beyond best-seller's Christian genre
An article in the Topeka Capital-Journal on Feb.7 addressed the book "The Shack" by William P. Young. The article discussed conflict surrounding the best-selling book, which some say takes too free a hand with traditional Christian theology. The scriptural inaccuracies caused controversy, especially because the book was introduced to Bible-study groups in Topeka. To some, "The Shack" is nothing more than Christian fiction. But by reducing the book to a theologically inaccurate work of Christian fiction, readers miss out on the deeper and more beneficial applications.
"The Shack" is about a father, Mack, whose four-year-old daughter is abducted by a pedophile during a family camping trip. Four years later, he receives a note from Papa, the affectionate term his family has for God, inviting him for a weekend at the very shack where his daughter was presumably murdered.
During the weekend, Mack embarks on a spiritual rollercoaster with Papa, portrayed as a large.
black woman; Jesus, a laid-back carpenter; and Sarayu, an Asian woman. Mack confronts his loss and grief during his healing process, while at the same time posting the age-old question, "Where is God in a world so filled with pan?"
My dad recommended this book to me. He had received it from one of my aunts following the unexpected death of my 31-year-old brother. After reading it, I immediately understood why he had suggested it. Both my father and I were able to find comfort in a story that so closely resembled our own. And, unfortunately, a lot of people have been able to identify with the story of a parent losing a child. A woman who had lost a son commented on the Topeka Capitol Journal's Web site, without bringing up the
SEE THE TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL ARTICLE AT:
http://www.jconline.
com/stories/020790/
re_l83557015.shhtml
book's genre or religious aspect, that she had found this to be an "excellent book."
By looking deeper than the Christian fiction label, readers are able to experience a book based on its message, not genre. In getting past the labels and scriptural inaccuracies, this book has a comforting, identifiable story."The Shack" has the potential, if readers throw out religion and politics, to be a thought-provoking work, while at the same time calling forth personal — not solely spiritual — musings about relationships with others in times of great tragedy.
McNaughton is a Topeka senior in journalism and English.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
IS THIS A TIGHT BELT?
NICHOLAS SAMBALUK
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Last week's items you might have missed. Check out Kansan.com Roundup for full stories.
Minutes of exercise per day needed for weight loss, according to a recent study by the Center of Physical Activity and Weight Management. The study contradicts older research that determined 30 minutes was the minimum for weight loss.
THE CONTEXT
Sebellius
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
THE CONTEXT Number of students currently in KU Honors Program. A record 2,601 high school seniors have already applied to enter the program next year. The Honors Program may have to raise its standards in the face of high application rates and the possibility that some honors classes may be eliminated because of budget cuts.
Chance Dibben/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
THE CONTEXT
THE CONTEXT
The number, in millions of dollars, to be redistributed in the state's bank account. Gov. Sebellus requested the money at a meeting of the State Finance Council. The redistribution enabled the state to pay income tax refunds and state employees last week. The compromise ended a conflict between Sebellus and the Legislature that threatened last Friday's paychecks for state workers, including University faculty and students employed on campus.
Libby Marie Napoli/KANSAN FILEPHOTO
THE CONTEXT
Average hours of tutoring per week that KU athletes received last fall. The Athletics Department is building a new facility for student athletes to study and receive tutoring.The facility will be in the Wagnon Student Athlete Center.
THE CONTEXT
Amount of increase in campus fees for next academic year. Student Senate chose not to raise fees in consideration of students who are already having a difficult time, Adam Gonigle, student body president, said.
ENVIRONMENT
Green groups fight for more than environment
H have you noticed recently that there seems to be an abundance of
be an abundance of environmental groups on campus? Barely a week goes by without seeing tabling at the Kansas Union by Environs, the oldest organization, or Students for Bar Recycling, the newest. With all these groups trying to save the world, you've got to wonder what the world needs so much saving.
The answer can be found in the changing role of these environmental groups. Environmentalists are no longer just focused on the spotted owl or killer whales. Groups are making connections between the environment and human welfare. Indeed, they truly want to save the world, but they have begun to understand that it's not the physical world that really needs saving — it's us. As the comedian George Carlin said "Compared to the people, the planet is fine ... The planet's not going anywhere — we are."
Good examples of groups that have combined social and environmental issues are those that have made the connection between our environmental degradation and social inequality. The student group Eco-Justice and the Center for Community Outreach program EARTH are good examples. Eco-Justice is a new group on campus that focuses on how environmental degradation disproportionately affects the poor. EARTH grows food on campus — not just for sustainability, but for the poor in our community that lack proper nutrition.
It's not just environmental groups that have made the connection between social problems and the environment. Social groups, whose primary interest is in saving people, have realized the connection between saving people and saving the planet. Oxfam America, a human rights group, views global warming as integral to the problems facing the world's people. Anna Hoard, recipient of the 2008 Sustainability
Leadership Award and former outreach coordinator for Oxfam KU, said climate justice and social justice were essentially the same issue, and the people hit hardest were often those who could do the least about it.
These groups understand that the time has passed for privileging short-term economic gains that lead to long-term environmental damage. If we fail to protect the environment, we fail to protect ourselves and those around us.
For too long we have marginalized the environment with our mandate for disposable products, which encourages copious consumption. We've allowed the interest of economic progress to outweigh our needs for a sustainable and clean environment. We've allowed a false sense of achievement to degrade our communities, which has lead to the forfeiture of long-standing social and environmental structures for temporary gains.
We have disenfranchised the weak in other nations, and have exported both our waste and our poverty. Those who have the means to do so cry, "Not in my backyard," while the poor both nationally and abroad are voiceless against the disproportional weight of our consumer economy.
Let's also give a big thanks to the student groups that are helping us work toward a better future.
It's time for students and social movements to challenge business and consumer practices that accept environmental degradation and disproportionately affect the poor.
Kenny is a Leavenworth senior in civil and environmental engineering.
Government shouldn't help make Hummers
With the current stimulus plan that passed, I think we should hold back bailout money from General Motors. In a recent statement, GM declared that it is willing to phase out
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I just read in The Wall Street Journal that General Motors Corporation is asking the government for more bailout money. The future looks grim, and the options have come to this: bailout or bust. GM has already taken action to slash more than 45,000 jobs, but in the end, there is still not enough financial backing to continue. Now, I know it sucks that the major car companies are going through hard times, but at some point we have to ask ourselves how much more money we are willing to shell out for problems that cannot be fixed by money alone.
— Sushu Wang is a freshman from Manhattan
Hummers, Saabs and Saturns, if needed, in order to stay afloat. Though Saturns and Saabs are acceptable, I have always held a strong dislike for Hummers. The big, clunky cars are horribly inefficient and spew toxic gases into the atmosphere. Also, Hummers are originally designed for military purposes, so why the heck are civilians even driving them around? They are a hazard to pedestrians and other cars. They steal parking spots and spill over into other spaces, leaving the rest of us compact cars out in the cold. So, if we hold the bailout off the next few months, then GM will have no choice but to stop producing Hummers. This will be better in the long run for the environment and our consciousness. So, join me as I declare: Death to all Hummers!
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THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansai Editorial Board are Brenna Hawley, Tara Smith, Mary Sorrick, Kelsey Hayes and Rox Stewart.
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