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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014
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TEXT FREE FOR ALL
If you're feeling down about yourself, park in a handicap spot and people will start telling you how there's nothing wrong with you.
Text your FFA submissions to (785)289-8351 or at kansan.com
Walking around a fog-shrouded campus, expecting a ghost to appear any minute. *Spooky*
i nominate the band to do a Harry Potter tribute! Please it be 'd awesome!!!
Buses? Buses? Where for art thou buses? Im late now and its been like 20 minutes since the last one.
walking to class is instantly made more epic when one listens to the Pokemon theme song.
"Do you think they oversell the parking permits?" ... Hahaha of course they do.
Sun glasses in the fog? How much did you drink last night...
I know the hill is such a huge chore to walk up, but could you not drag your feet. #annoyingnoises
Can't pull up my psych reading because both Jayhawk and KU guest aren't working. >< .> <
How am I supposed to hide the crossword during class when it's XXL? Oh the humanity!
Why should I pay for STD testing at Watkins when I can go to another health clinic and get tested for free?
I'm losing socks at a terrifying rate.
One of my friends doesn't know what the FFA is... We've been students here for two years. So ashamed.
How am I supposed to impress the ladies when I'm sweating too much?
Every time I hear the whistle on campus, I imagine the howl of an undiscovered legendary Pokemon.
Just had my first Chick-Fil-A fix of the year and it felt good.
That awkward moment when you realize you aren't the only one hiding out in the bathroom
Swapped my effective business communications class for a sexuality in everyday life class, because why not right?
Props to the guy riding a unicycle around campus whilst carrying a pack back! You go Glenn Coco.
Here's a fun game: take a drink every time bus drivers are mentioned in the FFA. (Three drinks if it was something nice.)
Last semester, I was approached by each coalition early on in the campaign but remained neutral. I can no longer remain quiet about the problems confronting Student Senate, as it would feel irresponsible to do so.
Student Senate needs to remember its original purpose
Slowly making it through week two.
Political shenanigans and a petty culture of résumé building have stymied Senate for years. This last election cycle was even more damning to the institution's legitimacy. A few individuals have diminished our student government to a stale joke — the kind you tell to entice laughter, but instead only get eye rolls. In doing so they have revealed their true ambitions and willingness to
to be leaders on campus and not just senators. There is an infinite number of ways to serve our peers. If you don't win an election, you can still move the University forward in other ways — unless, of course, that wasn't your true motivation.
thing that ever has."
pursue them at any cost — to anyone. Plunging us back into the darkness of last year only further debases Senate's ability to lead and represent students.
Moreover, I fear the remaining segments of the student body still engaged with our government will tune out altogether, leaving only the worst offenders to run it. As we suffer through this unprecedented time of uncertainty, I cannot imagine anyone determined to progress the student body will want to join Senate (as it proves time and time again to revolve around the exact opposite).
I hope I am proven wrong as I am ready to stand with those who want to make the change we need. We need students to be represented, and for the integrity of Senate to be restored. We need to break this vicious cycle and debilitating culture surrounding our government. The cliché saying goes, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only
My friends, I know there are a finite number of seats in Senate, but I always thought you desired them
My experience on campus has convinced me that this is the truth and so I ask you, friends, make a stand for decency and an effective student leadership. Look toward the future and the victories that can be won for the students, not the political gains to be won in the moment. Focusing on the past will only stagnate the necessary progress and reforms the new Senate is primed to make.
Joey Hentzler is a senior from Topeka studying political science and Latin American Studies
FIFA should reconsider controversial 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts
The International Federation of Association Football, otherwise known as FIFA, is an international institution that organizes major soccer tournaments around the world. Its most notable tournament is the World Cup, which it hosted this past summer in Brazil (and was beautifully won by Germany).
Aside from organizational duties, FIFA makes a point to address issues such as racism, international cooperation, the environment and other various social ills through its competitions. For example, before kickoffs in the World Cup you might have seen the players holding up large FIFA banners with "SAY NO TO RACISM" written on them. FIFA also organized a "Handshake for Peace" in the recent match between India and Pakistan's Under-23 teams, in an effort to improve relations between the two countries.
People quickly learn about the World Cup host country's major social issues via mass media during this popular tournament. When South Africa hosted in 2010, FIFA avoided addressing issues of rampant crime, racism and poverty by carefully planning locations for stadiums to avoid being near impoverished areas. In Brazil 2014, we saw that favelas (slums) that were too close to tourist areas were forcibly evacuated and torn down. Even though the World Cup was able to mask certain social issues during its monthlong stay in both countries, the before-and-
after comparisons have seen no improvement. The social issues have not changed; poor populations that were promised improved conditions are still waiting, and now their governments are facing criticism as to why they hosted the World Cup in the first place.
FIFA has been heavily criticized for its ineffectiveness of addressing major issues of social responsibility, and it will continue to be criticized if the decision to change its hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup are not considered.
Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 present additional problems to FIFA's agenda. Russia, as we are reminded every day, is the center of a major international dispute that goes directly against FIFA's dedication to "international cooperation." Qatar's summertime climate is so hot that it is planning on constructing nine new, fully air-conditioned, open-air stadiums to combat the sweltering heat. Obviously, Qatar's plan goes directly against FIFA's "dedication to taking its environmental responsibility seriously." On top of that, it is rumored that two FIFA board committee members accepted multimillion-dollar bribes in order to secure Qatar's 2022 bid, making the
situation seem even more corrupt. Nevertheless, FIFA reviewed both situations and announced that it is not planning on changing the host nation for either tournament.
Is FIFA crazy? Does it believe satisfying Russia's desire to host the World Cup will cause Russia to shake hands with the West? Does it believe the most effective way to address issues of global warming is by taking part in one of the most ludicrous AC ventures in history? Worst of all, do only financial interests guide its ethical principles?
On FIFA's website, it claims the World Cup can be a powerful catalyst for constructive dialogue due to the international spotlight it creates, establishing the potential to act as a "force for good." While I find merit with this philosophy, it just hasn't proven to be effective. And though FIFA has no other obligation than to care about anything other than making money, I believe that it should think more on the effects its decisions can have on global issues.
I truly hoped for improvements in South African and Brazilian issues after their tournaments, but the only thing that seems to have resulted are the new stadiums. I love the World Cup, but it's hard to imagine that things will be different in 2018 and 2022 unless FIFA makes that change.
Sebastian Schoneich is a senior from Lawrence studying biochemistry and philosophy
CAMPUS CHIRPS BACK
What do you think about FIFA's 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts?
@anniebeth623
@KansanOpinion My feelings about the selections would take way more than 140 characters! FIFA is in need of an internal makeover.
@KansanOpinion I think Russia will enjoy the change of pace - they'll be fighting on their own turf for the first time since the 40's!
@ben samson
Appreciate life's mundane moments
The mundane moments in our lives seem to
lives seem to constantly bog us down. But I'm here to tell you there is comfort and perspective to be found in activities like doing the dishes. If you have followed my columns at all you'll remember that most of my ideas strike me when I am about to eat junk food or rub a smudge off my laptop screen.
While my orthodontist complimented my choice of the "punk" color scheme for my new retainer, I had an epiphany. The sluggish mass of nonsense and dullness that seems to make up most of our day is a blessing, curse and a blessing again — all of it is in disguise. The fact that I can have a "mundane moment" is simultaneously staggering and comforting. With the violence, unrest and chaos that continue to unfold all around the world, a mundane moment is a bubble of safety.
Lena Dunham, best known as the writer and breast-baring star of the HBO series "Girls," tweeted a similar sentiment a few days ago. She reassured her followers with a follow-up Tweet: "...We all have to keep doing us while trying to contemplate, support, raise awareness."
But what else is there to do besides trudging along? Even with all our irritable bowel syndromes and rusted-out bumpers, we have two massive oceans separating us from a world in upheaval.
While it's incredible to criticize and evaluate these events from afar, there comes a point where our schedules get in the way. Tests will loom overhead
and eventually stir more emotion than the daily death toll in Iraq. The road right in front of you is vastly more important than the distant scenery, no matter how catastrophic the view. But losing sight of the greater world leads to tunnel vision.
It's conflicting to preach against taking boring moments for granted when I do it all the time. Traffic makes me seethe, long lines give me headaches and waiting for Netflix to load might give me a hernia one day. But recognizing that selfishness, even if it's just every once in a while, strikes an important balance.
You might come away from this piece feeling let down. There weren't any sweeping political attacks or bumbling, pseudo-intellectual critiques of college life. It may seem like I preached to the choir for 500 words, and maybe I did. But the next time jerk number five cuts you off on Mass Street, hopefully you'll think of this column. Blame me for the traffic, blame karma or blame whatever you want. Just remember, someone very far away died for no good reason, and you were incredibly lucky to get away with a rude motorist.
Wil Kenney is junior from Leawood studying English
FFA OF THE DAY I need a butt massage.
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