+
opinion
Text your #FFA submissions to 785-289-UDK1 (8351)
Have had two professors now tell emotional/inspirational stories. I'm not emotionally prepared for this today
*screams*
KANSAN.COM | THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016
I'm at the point in the semester where I'd rather commit coldblooded murder than let my lazy group project members get a good grade
When you forget to dress up for a presentation and look like like slob of the group. woo
I think I'm going to bring a pillow to class and just sleep
how intensely can I stare at my inbox until someone replies to me
Class really flies by when you watch cooking videos on Facebook the whole time
the beginning of may smells like sunshine and freedom
That feeling when you complete your final homework assignment ever. #Graduation2016
It's a beautiful day to skip the last day of class
the last day of classes should only consist of pizza parties and evals
Just had my last college class...and now I'm sad
My time as a FFA contributor is coming to an end. Thank you for all the features and non-features
Almost feel bad for my prof because no one is paying attention. Almost.
READ MORE AT KANSAN.COM
@KANSANNEWS
/THEKANSAN
KANSAN.NEWS
@UNIVERSITY
DAILYKANSAN
Burbank: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report recommendations require action, not 'conversation'
▶ JESSE BURBANK
@|Burbank1
ast week, the Diversity Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Group issued a report detailing its recommendations for making the University a more open and inclusive institution.
The report begins powerfully, asserting, "The lack of diversity, equity and inclusion at the University is not the result of a lack of information and knowledge
about existing concerns and grievances, or misperceptions on the part of students and personnel with grievances. Rather, the challenges stem from errors of commission and omission, and longstanding institutional inequities that have been documented previous to this group."
This report has already elicited many conversations about how to correct institutional injustice, bring more voices to the table and fix issues that have festered for decades. But it's important that we don't let "conversation" excuse the University from actually acting on these recommendations.
Dialogue, discourse, debate and conversation are all popular methods of exoneration. They allow us to pat ourselves on the back and be proud that we even dared to speak of such issues as
+ .
Conversation alone does nothing to solve the problem. It does nothing to address radically higher dropout rates among minority students, with only 50.4 percent of black freshmen entering in fall 2014 remaining here after three semesters, mentioned in the report. It cannot change the fact that less than 7 percent of full professors at the University are Hispanic or black.
institutional injustice, while at the same time taking no action on them. They allow these issues to slip silently below the surface once again, leaving them to fester for future years.
Conversation will not fix this.
Jonathan Kozol writes in his book "Savage Inequalities" of how difficult it is to change inequitable educational institutions through simple public discourse. He
remarks, "Even the most thorough exposition of the facts within the major organs of the press is neutralized too frequently by context and a predilection for the type of grayish language that denies the possibilities for indignations. Facts are cited. Editorials are written. Five years later, the same facts are cited again. There is no sense of moral urgency; and nothing changes."
Conversation
alone does nothing to solve the problem. It does nothing to address radically higher dropout rates among minority students."
This report must provide us with our own sense of moral urgency. The University can implement many of the report's recommendations quickly, like adding courses related to equity and inclusion to the KU CORE beyond Goal 4, or expanding hardship funds through Endowment for first-generation, low socioeconomic status students. Others are long-term goals to begin working toward now, like seeking out diverse faculty and targeting student needs.
The DEI report's recommendations cannot languish in conversation. This school year has been full of conversations about these issues. It's now time to act.
Jesse Burbank is a junior from Quinter studying history,political science and economics.
Gonzales: Fixing the epidemic of opioid addiction and abuse starts with education
► RACHEL GONZALES
@Rachellnoel
Authorities investigating the death of music legend Prince found prescription opioid medication in the star's Minnesota home, where he was found unresponsive on April 21, according to CNN.
Although it is still early in the investigation, CNN reports that so far investigators have found no indication that Prince had a valid prescription for the medication. While it was confirmed that Prince was taking opioids, whether or not they directly caused his death is still undetermined. Regardless, Prince's tragic
death serves as a high-profile reminder of the dangers of pain killers and other opioid prescription drugs.
Many people, even some who are prescribed opioid medication, are unaware of how dangerously addictive opioids are. Without the right supervision and education, prescriptions for opioids may have adverse effects on a person's well-being. Addressing America's addiction to opioids must begin with education about the potential effects that come with even legally prescribed opioids.
Most opioid prescriptions are associated with treatment of chronic pain. Opioids are a form of narcotic pain medication which include OxyContin, Percocet, morphine and the illegal drug heroin. From 2000 to 2014, the rate of opioid overdose deaths increased by 200 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2014, 61 percent of U.S. drug overdose deaths
involved opioids.
The rise has been attributed, in part, to the increase in prescriptions for opioid painkillers. Prince's death highlights the need to push doctors to prescribe less addictive and safer painkillers instead of proliferating the over-prescription of opioid medication.
It is no secret that opioid addiction has become an epidemic in the United States. The solution to this problem must begin at the source. Less overdoses will only result from more responsible dissemination and oversight of opioid prescriptions.
There is no reason not to mandate these new guidelines. This crisis doesn't discriminate.
Recently, the CDC issued new guidelines that call for doctors to try less addictive painkillers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, before prescribing opioids to patients. The guidelines, which are not mandatory, recommend that opioids be prescribed mainly for short-term pain episodes of three to seven days.
"It touches everybody men and women, young and old, rich and poor; urban, suburban, and rural alike," President Barack Obama wrote about opioids in a statement published by the Omaha World-Herald.
We must address this epidemic like we would any other disease. This means implementing effective regulation, prevention and treatment. Implementing safer use of opioids will begin with education about the dangers of the drugs.
The Obama administration has recognized and begun to address this epidemic. Noting that more Americans now die from drug overdoses than those who die in car accidents, Obama explains opioid addiction is a problem that may very well hit close to home for far too many.
"This is a crisis that could touch any of us. These kids are our kids. These folks are our parents, our brothers
and sisters, our neighbors and friends" writes Obama. "We should treat them that way. We should take on this issue for their sake. If we do that, we'll not only help our loved ones but also help strengthen our families, our community and our country."
Americans need to open their eyes to the serious and pressing nature of opioid addiction and overdose in our country. Only by educating people about the problem will more people be motivated to fight for the solution. Prince's death was an undeniable tragedy, but we can make it even more meaningful by using the popularity of the music legend to propagate awareness of the dangers associated with opioids.
Rachel Gonzales is a junior from Fort Collins, Colo., studying journalism and sociology.
Edited by Skylar Rolstad
"IT'S COMING FOR US"
HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
HOW TO SUBMIT
LETTER GUIDELINES: Send letters to editor@kansan.com. Write LETTER TO THE EDITOR in the email subject line.
Length: 300 words
or
The submission should include the author's name, year, major and hometown. Find our full letter to the editor policy online at kansan.com/letters.
CONTACT US
Vicky Diaz-Camacho
Editor-in-chief
vickyde kansan.com
Gage Brock Business Manager gbrock@kansan.com
THE KANSAN EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Vicky Diaz-Camacho, Kate Miller, Gage Brock and Maddy Mikinski
+