tuesday. september 23. 2003
the university daily kansan 2
news
3A
Men's group studies gender, masculinity
By Zack Hemenway
zhemenway@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Pro wrestling's world of bodyslams, tights and chair-throwing isn't usually considered a commentary on American society. But director Jackson Katz's new film looks for hidden moral messages between the ropes.
The University of Kansas Men's Outreach program showed a film made by Katz and his colleague Sut Jhally, Wrestling with Manhood: Boys, Bullies, and Battering, at the Kansas Union last night. A group of more than 30 students watched and discussed the one-hour documentary.
The film examines professional wrestling and its effects on society's concept of masculinity. Men's Outreach program coordinator and The University Daily Kansan columnist Travis Weller said the documentary made strong connections between televised pro wrestling and problems such as domestic violence and homophobia. Weller said the video's message was closely related to the tenets of his organization.
"The outreach program is about exploring social institutions and how they affect masculinity," he said. "The pro wrestling industry is a major social institution right now."
In one section of the film, Sex and the Male Fantasy, Katz looks at how the role of women in wrestling reflects male stereotypes of idealized, perfect women.
"In pro wrestling, women are always objectified," Weller said. "Women are subservient to men in the ring."
Jessie Funk, Manhattan freshman, said she was interested film because it showed a relationship between popular culture and masculinity.
"I think it will provide me with a better view of why society attaches certain stereotypes to our gender ideologies," she said.
Brian Konic, Overland Park senior, who found out about the film through his psychology of women course, said he had looked forward to seeing the film.
"I think it'll be an eye-opener for some men," he said. "Wrestling probably contributes to some of the negative behaviors men exhibit."
Weller said the Men's Outreach program used part of its programming budget to purchase Wrestling With Manhood and Katz's other film Tough Guise: Violence, Media and the Crisis in Masculinity. Tough Guise will be shown next month in a similar event.
Weller said Katz's videos raised issues that were important to everyone on campus.
"Gender is a huge part of who we are and how we think of ourselves," Weller said. "We all need to be aware of that when we're making our decisions."
Edited by Scott Christie
By Amber Byarlay
abyarlay@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Pedometers give walkers a leg up
University of Kansas students may be walking five miles a day without realizing it.
Students with pedometers can find out just how many miles it takes to get from one end of campus to the other.
Pedometers are small instruments worn on the waistband that measure the number of steps the wearer takes. The instruments work by using a suspended lever arm. The lever arm is attached to the pedometer with a screw. It is balanced by a horizontal spring and when the pedometer is moved the spring will stretch. When it stretches it moves the lever vertically and a step is recorded.
Sidnee Dyke, Wichita senior, said she didn't use a pedometer when she exercised but could understand why people would.
"My dad uses one and he likes it. I’m never curious about how far I walk in a day." Dyke said.
Bobby Myers, Meriden senior,
also didn't use pedometers but
had seen other's wearing them.
"I don't see the need to at this point in my life." Myers said. "I think for some people it's motivating to see the results right in front of you."
New Lifestyles Inc., a company that encourages exercise and healthy eating, sells pedometers on the Internet and in Kansas City, Mo.
Theresa Vollenweider, the company's president and CEO, said the
HOOFIN'IT
Here is the average distance in steps and miles to a few places around campus. The distances measure from the fourth floor lobby doors of the Kansas Union to the main entrances of the buildings listed.
Doctors recommend college students exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day or walk about 10,000 steps.
Building Steps Miles
Wescoe Hall 856 .40
Templin Hall 2700 1.27
Smith Hall 140 .06
Watson Library 612 .28
Robinson Center 1567 .74
John Nowak/Kansan
instruments could record steps and miles and some could even record the number of calories a person burned. The more features a pedometer had, the more it would cost. Vollenweider said.
Pedometers work by using a suspended lever arm, which is shown above. The arm is connected to the pedometer and records a step when it moves vertically.
Brett Richter, Backwoods salesman, said the store didn't sell many pedometers but he had thought about buying one.
"I've been curious to see how far I walk to class and stuff," Richter said. "But as far as customers go I haven't had anybody ask me about them."
Pedometers range from $15 to $45 and can be bought in Lawrence. Backwoods, a store located at 916 Massachusetts St., sells a digital pedometer for $20.
Vollenweider said her company
"My dad uses one and he likes it. I'm never curious about how far I walk in a day."
Sidnee Dyke
Wichita senior
suggested customers walk at least 10,000 steps, or roughly five miles, every day. That number was determined by Yoshiro Hatano, a Japanese physician, who researched how many steps individuals should walk each day to maintain or improve their health.
Pedometers allow people to have instant feedback on how much they exercised in a day.
"Pedometers are showing the most promise of anything in getting people off their seats and on their feet," Vollenweider said.
- Edited by Andy Marso
Local
Body of drowning victim believed to be camper's
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office discovered what it believes is the body of 38-year-old Leavenworth resident Thomas B. Portenier Jr., yesterday morning in the Kansas River
The Sheriff's Office had been
searching for Portenier since he was reported missing early Sunday morning.
Lt. Ken Massey said the body was found about 200 yards north of the boat dock at Riverfront Park.
Portenier had reportedly been camping with friends near the river when he took a boat out at 5 a.m.
Massey, who was part of the search team, said Portenier's
-Joe Hartigan
boat most likely crashed into an overhanging tree,throwing him from the boat.The damaged boat was also discovered yesterday.
Student reports robbery at gunpoint in Lawrence
A 20-year-old University of Kansas student was robbed at gunpoint at 2:15 a.m., Saturday
Police were dispatched after a witness notified police.
morning on the 1300 block of Ohio Street.
According to police, the student was sitting on the west side of the street when two men in their 20s approached him. The victim told police it was a friendly conversation at first, but soon after felt a gun at the back of his head. The man told him to give
them his money, and he gave them the $50 he was carrying.
The police did not have any suspects as of yesterday.
-Johanna M. Maska
Man seen masturbating to sleeping woman
A 20-year-old woman was asleep when a man in his 20s was seen masturbating at her
window, according to police.
About 11 p.m. Thursday, the suspect was at the window of a house in the 1500 block of Kentucky Street. A neighbor notified the police. The victim had been asleep and was unaware of the crime.
As of yesterday, there was no suspect.
— Johanna M.aska
TRADITION KEEPERS APPRECIATION DAY
Wednesday, September 24
Spotters will be looking for Tradition Keeper T-shirts around campus to hand out prizes!
SPOTTED IN YOUR TRADITION KEEPERS SHIRT AND
TREATS on Wescoe Beach 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
If you payed fees to be a Tradition Keeper and haven't picked up your benefits bucket, do so before the 24th at the Alumni Center!
864-4760 • www.kualumni.org
Don't forget to pick up your BUCKET