+ opinion + Text your #FFA submissions to 785-289-UDK1 (8351) Overheard in the hallway: "Allen fieldhouse is Disneyland on steriods." School is like the weird aunt I never want to visit You know you're a basic college white girl when you have to move three bottles of wine out of the way to get to your milk. This weekend feels like the Sunday night of the semester I take my shoes off inside Allen Fieldhouse sometimes because it feels like home. 116 days until graduation. KANSAN.COM | MONDAY, JAN. 18, 2016 I don't buy school supplies until the third week of school judge me I don't buy school supplies I got a manaTEA for Christmas. It's in my puppy mug. It me. Getting gas in the winter is the equivalent to getting burned by your seatbelt in the summer Buzzfeed knows me better than I know myself. Peyton Manning still has a really punchable face My roommate won't stop hitting the dab. Please stop hitting the dab. It's not cool or funny. Just stop. If you want to cry you can think about the fact that the end of senior year is like the freshman year of the rest of our lives Finally, tom brady vs. peyton manning in the afc championship it's about time. I'm a second semester senior who has never been to the Hawk. Is it worth it? Going back to food at the dining hall is like reluctantly accepting death's cold embrace Following @foodpics was the worst decision of my life Read more at kansan.com @KANSANNEWS /THEKANSAN @UNIVERSITY DAILYKANSAN Political awareness is most important in election year As President Barack Obama's second term comes to an end, the time to elect the 45th president is growing near. RYAN LISTON @rliston235 While there is always a great deal of fanfare surrounding the national election, many Americans, especially young adults, are seemingly uninterested in politics. Approximately 38 percent of citizens age 18 to 24 voted in the 2012 election, according to the United States Census Bureau. The voting rate for this age group has seen a general decline since 1964. Although politics are not always entertaining or interesting, we owe it to ourselves and future generations to be educated on current political situations as well as the candidates running for office. In 2016, we will have a new president, and government holds large influence over many aspects of our lives, so it is beneficial to understand politics. Changes in federal leadership can bring about drastic changes in policy, which then affect Being politically informed can help ensure that our representatives govern for our best interests and advocate for our ideas. When people are uneducated about politics, it is easier for self-serving or unqualified politicians to win elections With a broader understanding of the political issues that face a country, citizens of that country can better interpret the implications of actions that attempt to address those issues. Citizens can then more effectively vocalize their concerns or desires to the government, leading to an increase in the accountability of the government towards its citizens. the majority of citizens. As citizens, we should care enough about the well-being of our nation to play an active role in our political system. Since our time at college is a period of learning and involvement, it is the perfect time to start. Ryan Liston is a freshman from Lawrence studying journalism. Straight Outta Nomination: 'Compton' deserved more Oscar noms MADDY MIKINSKI @miss__maddy Although 2016 is only beginning, awards show season is moving steadily towards its end. In February, the Academy Awards will mark the prestigious close to months of crossed fingers, red carpet appearances and press conference gaffes. The Oscars are the last stop, but certainly not the least. The O-word is constantly dropped throughout the year as a hint to a particular movie's potential greatness. Often times winners of this award rocket to another level of fame practically overnight. Since August, "Straight Outta Compton", a biopic that recounts the origins of renowned gangster rap group N.W.A, has been tossed around as a possible Best Picture nominee. Last year, "Compton" crashed into the box office with a whopping $56.1 million opening, according to the LA Times. During its stint in theaters, Box Office Mojo reports, the film made over $200 million worldwide. Released amongst the escalation of racial tension in the country as well as pressures for the Academy to diversify itself, "Compton" seemed, in an ideal world, like a shoo-in to win an Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role, at the very least. The buzz surrounding the film was deafening. "Compton" seemed to connect with everyone who bought a ticket. O'Shea Jackson, Jr., was meticulous in his portrayal of his father, former N.W.A. member and "Compton" producer Ice Cube. Jason Mitchell's moving portrayal of the late Eazy-E sealed the deal as an audience favorite. Manohla Dargis of began trending on Twitter. Many people feel as if actors such as Will Smith ("Concussion"), Michael B. Jordan ("Creed"), and, of course, the "Compton" cast were robbed of their nominations. The New York Times called the picture and its rags-to-riches storyline "as blissfully American as apple pie, low riders and gangster rap itself." Executive producer Will Packer wrote a Facebook post saying, "in 2016, it's a complete embarrassment to say that the heights of cinematic achievement have only been reached by white people. The Academy, which decidedly has the strength to change racial bias in Hollywood, has not been sending the correct message." Last Thursday, Oscar nominations were announced, and "Compton" managed only one mention - Original Screenplay. This year's nominees for the major acting categories are blindingly white. Many critics likened this discrepancy to last year's "Selma" snub. Last week the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite This year's "Compton" snub is equally annoying and baffling. The biopic resonated with critics and audiences alike.Likewise, the connection that the actors had with the film (and, yes, the screenplay) is obvious. The film also worked to showcase the birth of a music genre that, though it still gets criticism today, changed the industry as a whole. It's an unapologetic, uncompromising look at some of the early movers and shakers of the rap industry. For all of these things, "Straight Outta Compton" deserves the Academy's recognition and more. Maddy Mikinski is a senior from Linwood studying English and journalism. HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR LETTER GUIDELINES: Send letters to editor@kansan.com Write LETTER TO THE EDITOR in the email subject line. Length: 300 words 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 vickydc@kansan.com Gage Brock Business Manager gbrock@kansan.com Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Vicky Diaz-Camacho, Kate Miller, Gage Brock and Maddy Mkinski THE KANSAN EDITORIAL BOARD 1