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FLICKR.COM
ted Press
University should rethink approach to binge drinking
The college-students can-go-to-war but-cant-drink argument has become trite over the years, but one group is breathing life back into the age-old argument.
The group, called Amethyst Initiative, has 128 signatures from university presidents and chancellors and argues that it's time for lawmakers to reconsider the drinking age.
It is disappointing, however, that Chancellor Robert Hemenway and the University have decided to abstain from the initiative.
There is no need to argue that the alcohol culture among America's youth is unhealthy. Both Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the lobbying group that pushed for the higher drinking age in 1984, and Amethyst Initiative are in agreement about that. However, they disagree as to how to improve the situation.
MADD has become a "neo-prohibitionist group." And those words are Candy Lightner's, the group's founder. MADD refuses to have an open dialogue, and its zero-tolerance approach demonizes alcohol, effectively transforming it into a forbidden fruit.
OUR VIEW
A lack of discussion does not teach America's youth a healthy approach to alcohol. When young
adults finally come in contact with it, the results are devastating.
When irresponsible drinking among
students causes 1,700 deaths each year, something isn't working. When students all over the country buy fake IDs without even a twinge of ethical remorse, something is wrong.
Simply reducing the drinking age is not enough to change our destructive alcohol culture, but it is one of the steps necessary. The current misguided policy quashes new ideas — whether they are by schools, the government or families — that make sure young people deal responsibly with alcohol. A new approach is imperative.
These university presidents have acknowledged that need, and they should be commended for proposing a dialogue to reevaluate failed efforts.
It is a shame that our chancellor has decided not to be a part of that conversation.
Patrick De Oliveira for the editorial board
editorials around the nation
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Whistleblowers
deserve protection
A federal shield law for journalists has become essential in this era of trolling prosecutors and civil lawyers looking for shortcuts to make their cases.
Despite passing by a large margin in the House, the Free Flow of Information Act failed to get enough support to be debated on the Senate floor late last month.
The Society of Professional Journalists reported that the measure was held hostage by senators who were trying to force amendments onto an energy bill.
When senators return, they should pass the bill on its merits.
The shield law would give journalists the qualified right to protect confidential sources without the threat of going to jail except in certain situations
The exceptions include cases where national security is at stake. Journalists could be forced to testify when a court is convinced that all non-media sources are exhausted and the testimony is essential to the investigation or case, the SPJ noted.
Without the protection, whistleblowers would be far more reluctant to step forward, and Americans would learn less about how their government is actually functioning.
San Antonio Express News
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THE EDITORIAL BOARD
EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kanani Editorial Board are Alex Doherty, Jenny Hartz, Lauren Kaitch, Patrick Oliveira, Rivera Seebrecht and Ian Stanford.
Eating weapons of mass construction
Vitamin Water sucks.
Don't get me wrong: There's a lot to love about Vitamin Water. It tastes relatively good, especially for something termed "water", which really should not taste like anything at all. It is brightly colored, which allows it be elevated to the level of fashion accessory.
On the downside, it exemplifies everything wrong with food in America.
We want it to be high in vitamins, protein, calcium or whatever nutrient is currently in vogue. We want it to be low in calories, even lower in fat, and we don't care what we have to substitute to get it there. And we want it to come with microwave instructions.
Now Americans want two things from what they eat: nutrition and convenience.
Convenience may work in some instances, but it's clearly not cutting it in the realm of food. Paying faux-attention to nutrition in a gullible "if it says it's fortified with vitamin X it must be good!" sort of way is clearly not working in a nation populated with weight obsessed, vitamin-popping fad-environmentalists with health problems too numerous to list.
Which is what makes Vitamin Water so damn great. It takes two health buzz words that any person who knows a single thing about health (and only a single thing about health) cannot argue with, puts them together, and suddenly you have a product that is seemingly incredibly beneficial and guilt free. And convenient!
Vitamin Water is the icon of blind religious fanaticism for easy nutrition. Thou shalt not take into consideration how foods interact with each other when digested. Thou shalt ignore the empty calories on the backs of which these vitamins ride. Thou shall replace real food with things that are colorful and come in packages with witty sales pitches on the label.
When I go to the grocery store.
WHAT'S INSIDE?
I don't need my food to make me laugh. I guess that's why I'm not the target demographic for "Grapples," grape juice-infused apples.
Food has gotten so messed up it's no wonder we need health gurus to point us the way through the processed, over-sweetened, hydrogenated, whole grain, fortified, dyed, infused wasteland that is every grocery store across the country.
Glaceau Multi-V Vitamin Water Ingredients
Back in the day, you could read ingredients and understand what everything was. But then again, back in the day we cooked with lard. Ironically, though, we weren't lard-asses. Makes you wonder what
NATURAL FLAVOR
AKA: Stuff that makes something else taste good Vitamin? No, primary function is flavoring rather than nutritional, according to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations
CRYSTALLINE FRUCTOSE
AKA: Purified sugar
Vitamin? Only if potato chips go in the "vegetable" part of the food pyramid.
CITRIC ACID
AKA: Flavoring
Vitamin? No, but it’s
found in some fruits.
VAPOR DISTILLED WATER
AKA: Good ol' H2O
Vitamin? No, but we need the second part of the Vitamin Water equation.
ASOCBIC ACID
AKA: Vitamin C
Vitamin? Yes, protects against diseases like scurvy
TOCOPHERLY ACETATE
AKA: Vitamin E
Vitamin? Yes, often used in skin creams to protect against UV rays
RETINOL PALMITATE
AKA: Vitamin A
Vitamin? Yes, but this is typically found in fish oil and dairy products.
The goal of this series is to make sense of what should be a nononsense subject: food and eating. If all goes well, as you bite into your next value meal, you'll have a slight twinge of fear that you're destroying all that used to be good and holy and holy all, simple.
McConnell is a Dallas junior in English.
we're doing wrong.
Americans should pay actual attention to what they're ingesting, which is what this column is for: reiterating food lessons.
The dirt on the turf: keeping up with KU Athletics
NICK MANGIARACINA
Welcome to the wide world of college sports. I'm Nick Mangiaracina, your host. Joining me tonight is Bob Bobbins.
"Hello Lawrence, we have got a great show for you tonight."
"Yeah, let's start with coach Mark Mangino. This guy last season lead the team to a 12-1 record overall, capping its phenomenal season with an Orange Bowl victory against Virginia Tech. Talk about a powerhouse coach — his attitude has been 'take no prisoners,' and they've done just that."
There's so much to talk about with this Kansas football program.
Well, where to start, Bob?
Not only that, Bob, but Mangino's wife is simply the greatest woman in the world. I can't say enough about what a great person she is. She's just so great.
"Yeah, truly a wonderful woman. Let's talk about the fans, though. Without the support of the fans, would the layhaws have flown as high as they did last year?"
"Yeah, I couldn't agree with you more. Since we're talking about the fans, let's talk for a minute about Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony, a guy who's been under fire from fans recently."
their service to this world. They are great people.
No doubt they wouldn't have. I've been all over the country, and I can honestly say that these are the best fans in the nation, not only in their support for the team, but in
I hate to say this, but Marchiony is not a fan favorite and has been playing like a rookie lately. Marchiony is a veteran in the field of making nothing out of something, but lately he's been in a slump. He's getting old and just can't keep up with the younger guys anymore. There's been talk that he should retire, though some are worried he'd just come back. Like Brett Favre, he just loves the game too much. He just can't give up the plattitudes, clichees and disregard for the will of students.
"I don't think it's a slump. This guy's been on the decline for a while. First there was the guarantee that the new practice fields wouldn't cost any parking spaces on campus, and then there was his gleeful response after local business owner Larry Sinks was fined $127,000 for using the color blue and the word "hawk" on his sports T-shirts. In both cases the fans have booed Marchiony and booed him loudly."
As for the booing, maybe he thought they were saying. "Woo" You know, the two are pretty close. Regardless, Marchiony will continue not to care what the fans
have to say as long as he can say that he cares about what the fans have to say. To his credit, he definitely cares about what the rich ones have to say. This year, for the first time ever, for only $2,500 fans can watch the game from near the sideline while sitting in a red leather recliner. Talk about lifestyles of the rich and famous!
"Yeah, he may be no Robin Leach, but the fans view him as at least a leach. Still though, the fans are not happy about losing 222 parking spaces to a practice field that won't be used."
Well, not exactly. For $90,000, trees are going to be planted around the perimeter since the new field is visible to the public. Though Marchiony said the team knew this before construction began, he said, "It's not keeping anybody awake at night." Hey, it's a lot cheaper than the $30 million the new athletic complex cost to build. At least they won't have trouble with any dads attempting to watch their sons practice anymore.
"Hey, he could've been a spy from Mizzou who dressed like the player's father."
"It looks like another interesting year of KU football."
And that's all the time we have for today. Enjoy the rest of the Olympics reruns.
Haha. Good one there.
Mangiaracina is a Lenexa senior in journalism.
To contribute to Free for All, visit Kansan.com or call 785-864-0500.
My ex-girlfriend is coming to Lawrence, and she wants to meet my new girlfriend.
--late.
The Athletics Department needs to stop being so accured
--late.
--late.
I have to wonder why the non-fraternity are so self-conscious and can't stand the fact that fraternity people are so much better than them.
Sorry for all of you who have to take COMS 130. I took debate in high school.
--late.
When did KU replace toilet paper with paper towels? My butt hurts.
--late.
I live in a house with 10 other guys. How long before we go insane?
--late.
I haven't been on a bus this week that has been less than 10 minutes late. The worst was one that was 25 minutes
posted time.
--either.
--either.
To the bus complainer:
Buses are considered to be "on time" if they get to the stop within 5 minutes of the timed time.
Hey, lonely people on campus, don't be afraid to open up and socialize.
--either.
If you are going to wear flip flops to campus, pick up your feet. The next person I hear dragging their sandals is going to have a thong up their ass. And I don't mean the underwear kind of thong
--grade.
The guys who invented Rock Band obviously never lived in a dorm.
--grade.
Note to people who buy snacks and drinks on campus, pay attention to what you're paying at different places because its cheaper to buy things from vending machines and to hawk stop store in the Union.
--grade.
Welcome to college, where you actually do have to do work outside of class. The professor doesn't give a shit about you. He just has to provide you with the information, and however you take it and process it is what gets you the
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Can someone for once write something clever?
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Hey hotte in the Hawks Pointe parking lot: It's two in the morning. Turn your Miley Cyrus shit off.
An estimated 87 percent of Free for All comments are posted by freshmen who anonymously have crazy imaginary adventures.
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