THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 4A
opinion
Meditation during finals sounds nice, but honestly, I know I wouldn't be able to think about anything except finals.
Text your FFA submissions to (785)289-8351 or at kansan.com
I haven't slept in two days.
Teachers please don't call on me because I probably can't speak correctly right now.
You're paid to take care of the rec. Clean the courts. They're awful.
Why do classes take attendance? This is university, not high school.
I accidentally clicked "shut down" instead of "log off" on one of the computers in Summerfield, and it's been doing "update 22 of 94" since Monday...
Don't judge me for having my hands in my pants. My uterus isn't happy, it wants to be held.
I guarantee I would be just as unproductive the Friday before finals if Stop Day didn't exist.
NeverStopStepDay
I swear some buildings still have their A/C running ...#wearingacat incl #instclass #illcoold
Talking about finals makes me realize that it's that much closer to the end of the semester! Where has all the time gone??
I love finding a good book and getting so lost in it! People need to read for fun more often.
I don't understand my friends who work all the time and complain that they're broke. Like, where does all your money go!?
Bought a new pair of gloves the other day and I've already lost them!
When does Game of Thrones come back? I miss me some Tyron Lannister
BestCharacterHandsDown
This while bus situation is getting out of control! Don't be mean to our bus drivers!!
EricGarner
Victoria's Secret Fashion Show really makes me want to get my buns back in the gym.
I'm almost finished with all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls." I'm about to cry!
Not sure what everyone's fascination is with Harry Styles. Admit it... if he weren't a celebrity you all probably wouldn't think he's that hot.
Peking in alleys is a hobby of most students.
Need for police cams strengthened after Ferguson
By Gabe Sprague
@SpragueGabe
What has happened with Michael Brown's case in Ferguson, Mo., is tragic. However, what people are not realizing is that police brutality toward African Americans is extremely widespread. According to an analysis of federally-collected data by ProProPublica, an independent nonprofit newsroom, of 1,217 total police shootings, black males ages 15-19 were killed at a rate of 31.17 per million, while only 1.47 per million white males ages 15-19 were killed. One hundred and eighty-five more whites a week would have to be killed in those three years to equal that of
African-American deaths. Ferguson is just one of many examples of racially biased police brutality and further solidifies the need for police officers to wear cameras while on duty.
Forcing police officers to wear mandatory cameras while on duty would provide a level of objectivity allowing the judicial system to know exactly what happened in a citizen-police confrontation. Eyewitness testimonies cannot be understood as fact. Even in the court case of police officer Darren Wilson and Brown, eyewitnesses provided contradictory evidence. If Wilson had been required to wear a camera, a jury would have been able to easily decide whether
to indict him. They would have had a factual — and objective — account of what happened.
$263 MILLION
President Obama has called for $263 million to fund police body cameras in order to improve relations between police departments and minority communities.
Mandatory police cameras have been shown to be effective at reducing police
brutality. According to the Wall Street Journal, the first year of use of police cameras in Rialto, Calif., reduced the use of force by officers by 60 percent and citizens' complaints against police officers has dropped by 88 percent. These improvements could be from having an objective account of what happened or perhaps the psychological effects of having a third-party observer. Regardless, if the United States implemented these cameras everywhere, a lot of crime could be avoided.
On Dec. 1, President Obama called for $263 million to fund police body cameras in order to improve relations between police departments and minority
communities. This amount would help fund more than 50,000 cameras.
I'm glad President Obama has come to the conclusion that we need police cameras, but improving the relationship between police and minorities is too late. What happened to Brown and everyone involved has been happening to others for years. Police cameras will help, but racially charged police brutality will continue to be a problem that plagues our nation. Hopefully, police cameras will be a small step toward a police system that does not consider race when deciding to use force.
Gabe Sprague is a junior from Concordia studying English
Greek Life offers positive aspects to campus life
Based on past events and the rise of a negative perception across both campus and the nation, someone identifying as a fraternity or sorority member can meet a lot of disfavor these days. On a regular basis, anyone can find an article bashing this fraternity or that sorority, stating all the evil things they have done. It's true some members of fraternities and sororities act poorly, but when someone judges Greek Life they should look at all of the pieces involved in the system, rather than just the negativity displayed by only a few members.
Take into account the numbers that come out of Greek Life here at Kansas. According to the 2014 Greek Life Annual Report released by the Student Involvement and Leadership Center office, more than 3,400 students (18 percent of the undergraduate population) participate in Greek Life. These students saw a higher retention rate than non-greek students. The class of 2013 freshmen persistence rate was 6.3 percent higher for greeks, and the older classes for greeks have seen persistence rates range between 17 and 20 percent higher than non-greeks. The average chapter GPA was 3.17, and the 2013 Fall Semester All-Greek GPA was 9.6 percent higher than the All-University GPA.
And it's not just internally where Greek Life is succeeding. In 2013, 60 percent of ExCEL nominees were a part of Greek Life, with the winner belonging to Alpha Tau Omega. The past five Student Senate presidents have also been greek. Fraternities and sororites also completed 84,708 hands-on service hours in Douglas County last year, and it's estimated that in 2013 alone, greeks raised more than $220,000 for charity.
If you wish to ban Greek Life on campus, think about what the University is going to lose if they do so. Most of the participants in Homecoming, the KU Dance Marathon and the Big Event are Greeks. Think of the housing and all of the food plans the University would have to provide if all of the chapters were banned and the Greek houses closed. Think of the number of donations Kansas would lose if it bans a system that has produced so many successful people.
Eliminating the system
would be detrimental to the success of the University and criticizing the entire greek system because a few of its members messed up is wrong. Also, in light of recent events, the greek community has stepped up to attempt to solve the problems that have recently plagued the community. In 2013, 100 percent of the chapters participated in council-sponsored risk management training, and the sexual assault task force formed by the greek community happened this semester.
It may be true, fraternities and sororities aren't perfect. It's understood that not everyone has a positive fraternity and sorority experience and it's true that it's not for everyone. However, the greek community is not some awful exclusive club that only keeps to itself and condemns those who aren't in it. Rather, it's a community that's trying to get the most out of the college experience through bettering its members and giving back to the local community. The greek community does much more good than bad, and getting rid of the community would not be in the best interest of the University.
Adam Timmerman is a senior from Sioux Falls, S.D., studying environmental studies
CAMPUS CHIRPS BACK
Should police officers be required to wear body cameras while on duty?
@KansanOpinion Absolutely. They should also be required to have them on at all times. Then we could celebrate good cops, and properly sanction bad ones.
@Sunnydaejones
Peaceful protests more effective in sending message
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
After a grand jury declined to indict former Officer Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown, the uproar across the nation did not come as a surprise. After a few destructive days, people have joined across the country to peacefully protest for what they believe in. It is our right to peacefully protest for whatever we stand for — and that right should especially be protected during difficult times.
Across the nation, a string of dangerous riots have occurred after the announcement. Ferguson was the first target of attack after the announcement; however, people have started to protest in San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago, according to USA Today. Although these protests could have been peaceful demonstrations, several ended in injuries and arrests.
Instead of causing more harm, it is time the media and the protesters support peaceful protests. There have been several acts of peace already, but to continue this pattern
These peaceful actions are examples of how we should demand change, but in a positive manner. Instead of putting others in danger by starting riots, people should be taking part in peaceful demonstrations. The best way to make a change without hurting anyone else is by standing for what you believe in with respect and peace.
In addition, these peaceful protests have started an upbringing of street art in St. Louis. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, businesses in the area boarded their windows in preparation for potential unrest. The boards were painted in bright colors with messages about healing, collaboration and peace.
Madeline Umali is a sophomore from St. Louis studying journalism
we need to let people know we appreciate their protests and acknowledge their message.
According to the Wall Street Journal, people in the St. Louis and Ferguson area have started to include members of the clergy in their protests to demonstrate that they have come in peace. The protests consisted of a sunrise prayer vigil and several familiar chants such as, "This is what democracy looks like!"
Send letters to opinion@kansan.com. Write LETTER TO THE EDITOR in the email subject line. Length: 300 words
187. 8
Emma LeGault, editor-in-chief elegautt@kansan.com
Madison Schultz, managing editor mschultz@kansan.com
HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The submission should include the author's name, grade and hometown. Find our full letter to the editor policy online at kansan.com/letters.
Hannah Barling, digital editor hbarling@kansan.com
CONTACT US
Cecilia Cho, opinion editor ccho@kansan.com
Cole Anneberg. art director canneberg@kansan.com
Christina Carreira, advertising director ccareira@kansan.com
Scott Weidner, digital media manager
sweidner@kansan.com
Tom Wittler, print sales manager
twitter@kansan.com
Jon Schlitt, sales and marketing adviser jschlitt@kansan.com
THE KANSAN EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan
Editorial Board are Emma
LeGaul, Madison Schultz,
and Christine Carrera.
and Christina Carrera.