Opinion
United States First Amendment
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Editorial: Is the subcommittee survey on alcohol credible?
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--going
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
To the kid in the white Dodge Ram who almost hit me today: Watch where you're
I love having sex with two girls in one day.
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
I just caught my roommate watching "Hannah Montana" again
Ever since I got to college, I can't stop smoking cigarettes.
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
That's probably because you're doing it for attention.
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
Our instructor just barked, clapped his hands like a seal and gave us his "seal of approval."
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
Hey KU, see you on today. Love, the Tetris pieces.
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
$50 reward for the returners of a Billabong wallet that is red, yellow and pink.
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
To all the riders on the KU On Wheels buses: Nine times out of 10, the back door will not open on its own. The solution is not to stand there and stare at it; the solution is to push it.
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
I saw an old man take a free condom with a piece of candy. I can't figure out which one he wanted more.
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
I just got the high score on "Bejeweled" on Facebook. Suck it, mom!
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
It's good to know chivalry isn't dead ...
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
Is anybody else having a really hard time keeping up with the days of the week?
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
One of my friends had sex with my roommate, and now she doesn't come over anymore. Hilarious!
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
I remember the first time I confessed my lust to someone anonymously in the school
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
You can call me the "Sauce Master"
--some think it's a little crude and demeaning, at least Halloween is a sexually "liberating" holiday.
Oh, how I want a secret admirer.
EDITORIAL BOARD
A satirical look at what Halloween has become
Why should Halloween be the only "sexy" holiday? Halloween, it can be argued, is a holiday we outgrow at about the age of 13.
Of course, if that were true, we would never reach an age when women could wear risqué costumes such as the sexy surgeon or the sexy veterinarian. For much of the fairer sex, Halloween is little more than an excuse to dress a little furrier.
For much of the other sex, it's an excuse to dress like an ass. And really, is there a problem with that? So
please don't), while Sears sells a lacey and leathery "Devil Grrrl" for the pre-teen set.
So if Halloween is a holiday of deep feminist expressionism, then shouldn't the younger generation be able to join in? Plenty of costume stores are willing to help achieve this goal.
If anyone is insane enough to think this still hasn't gone too far already, be happy you live in America, where (one day a year) we have the freedom to take sexual liberation to the edge, push uncomfortably past all that is decent and head straight into sexual holiday absurdity. By selling sexy costumes for dogs
KANSAN'S OPINION
An online store will happily sell a costume to 8 year olds called the "Convict Cutie" (use your imagination ... or maybe don't, actually.
the Web site Consumerist.com displays a series of costumes such as the "Naughty French Maid" and the "Sexy Queen Bee" designed specially for canines.
As if dressing up animals wasn't already an affront to some long forgotten god,
Don't worry if you think you'll be left out, the series comes with matching human costumes, so both dog and owner can later share in the feeling of shame and regret.
Is there perhaps a reason that once a year we as Americans jump
at the chance to wear sexy Border Patrol and Finding Nemo costumes? (Yes, they really do exist.)
Maybe we're all just sexually repressed by a culture that happily consumes violent media of every kind and then flips out over a nipple being flashed during the Super Bowl. And if this hypothesis were true, it would mean only one thing: We need more sexual holidays, not fewer.
We could have sexy Thanksgiving, sexy Presidents Day or show some real common sense with sexy Labor Day. At this rate, every day of the year can be a day of sexual release and our culture wouldn't have to be so puritanical every second of the year. Of course, at least one day of the year would be needed as a day of rest and seclusion from all this sexual freedom, maybe a cold day in winter when most of the population is fed up with romance. Does Feb. 14 sound good?
— Clayton Ashley for The Kansan Editorial Board
ARG!
WHAT'RE YOU
FOR HALLOWEEN?
NICHOLAS SAMBALUK
EDUCATION
Sending the right message
Although the standards don't directly affect current students — we're already in, after all — raising admission standards could boost the University's prestige over time, something that's beneficial to students past, present and future.
In August, Gov. Mark Parkinson urged state universities in Kansas to pursue a greater degree of excellence. What has come out of that speech and is now the topic of discussion is the idea of raising admission standards at state universities, especially the University of Kansas.
I spoke with three American government classes — two standard classes and one Advanced Placement class — and while there were supporters and opponents in all classes, an interesting contrast emerged afterward when I was comparing the classes' opinions. A
Like my fellow columnist Tyler Holmes, whose article on education ran Oct. 22, I also visited my high school during fall break. I returned to speak with seniors about their opinions of possible changes to admission standards.
Although this was my first instinct, an experience I had over fall break caused me to wrestle with whether raising standards is actually the right thing to do.
This isn't very surprising. After all, it's only logical to expect that students in regular classes would be more likely to be challenged by a raise in the standards. But multiple students in the regular classes also raised the issue of affordability, theorizing that a more admission restrictive university would have fewer students, generate less money and this would result in an increase in the cost to attend.
majority of AP students supported raising the admission standards, while students in regular classes largely opposed the idea.
Regardless of whether that claim holds any merit, it suggests an anxiety over whether higher standards would hurt students from lower income backgrounds. It's an anxiety that shouldn't be ignored. Yes, standards should be raised, but the Board of Regents should be extra careful not to limit the opportunities of potential students whose income status may
have contributed to poor work in high school, yet they still possess the ability to do well in college.
A good compromise would be to only raise the standards at the University of Kansas while keeping other schools as they are. If the Regents elect to take a harder line and raise standards at all universities, the legislature should pursue steps to strengthen the various community colleges around the state.
Kansas lawmakers must send the message that any standards change is not meant to cut off access to higher education. While the fact that 20 percent of freshmen at the University drop out in their first semester is unacceptable, so is the idea that a student's aspirations of higher education should end just because he or she fell one point short of the necessary ACT score.
If state officials and the Regents can send that message, then raising the standards should be supported.
On a personal note: Many thanks to McPherson High School teacher Rick Reed for allowing me into his classes.
Shorman is a McPherson sophomore in journalism.
MEDIA
The news we'll never forget
Welcome to the National Museum of Extremely Important
Media Stories. I'll be your tour guide today. This section of the museum is reserved for our recent additions.
Here we see talk show host David Letterman apologizing to his wife and network for his sexual encounters with former employees. Fortunately, for those of you who missed it, you can still read about his wife's reaction in any news outlet's top stories for the next month.
When you press this button, you can hear Kanye West interrupt Taylor Swift's award acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. We needed a lot of airtime for this story, and thankfully our pals at all the major networks were able to help us out.
We haven't quite finished the next room. It's serving as storage for all of the Michael Jackson documentaries that aired this summer, which reminds me, I need to watch all of those TiVo hours of Jackson specials so I can get into the pop culture loop.
If you'll excuse me, I'm getting a little nostalgic. It still amazes me how important these stories were in 2009, and I've yet to factor in the Balloon Boo hoax.
Did I see some of you look disgusted when I said these stories were important?
Well, what would you rather see covered on the news, the "War on Terror"? Please. Everyone knows that Afghanistan and Iraq are symbols from a previous era. There isn't anything new going on over there besides death. And who wants to hear about that? Unless, of course, the death in question is that of a pop singer.
The economy? Yeah, yeah. It's bad, but what can I do about it?
I'm just one little citizen in a
TRENT BOULTINGHOUSE
Do you have a question, sir? You're saying that these are issues my generation needs to address? Well, it's not my fault. I can't control what the television news presents to me. If CNN wants to report on Balloon Boy, that's what I, as the viewer, have to watch.
Health care? I'm 21. I won't even be thinking about health care until I'm at least 70 or 80. Even then sounds a little too soon. Why do I care about what the proposed plan is? That is something my parents and grandparents need to worry about, not me. So what if the San Jose Mercury News found that one out of every three adults ages 18-29 have no health insurance?
country of millions. Never mind that the national unemployment rate hovers close to 10 percent—its highest since the Great Depression. Next year, after I graduate from college, I'll be fine.
But you're saying that doesn't matter? You're saying I should be proactive in my search for relevant news? That maybe I have a responsibility to inform myself on the important issues of the day?
Well, fine. You can think that. Have fun reading about your boring health care plan. In the meantime, I'm going to go watch "The Insider."
Boultinghouse is a sophomore in journalism and history.
WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? Halloween costume advice
While shopping for a Halloween costume this year, I constantly caught myself thinking, "That would be so easy to make. Why would you spend money on this?"
There are so many simple costumes that most of us have components of, or could easily find at Goodwill or one of Lawrence's many thrift stores. This Halloween, don't waste money on an expensive costume you'll only wear a few times.
Instead, go to a costume store for ideas, think of what you already own and what you can get cheap and make your own costume. Stand out by wearing your unique Halloween creation and avoid being one of five French maids at the party.
Alex Esposito is an Overland Park sophomore in journalism and film.
Do pick out a costume that flatters your figure or hides the parts you don't want seen. Don't assume because a girl is wearing one of those "sexy costumes" that she wants you to make a move.
Costume stores don't exactly offer girls costumes like they used to when we were kids. It might be the coolest thing ever if you're a guy to offer a girl your jacket because chances are her costume isn't keeping her warm at all.
On that note, please choose a costume that will keep your naughty bits covered should you get a little too intoxicated and make a fool of yourself. At least keep your physical dignity if you can't keep your mental dignity.
Lauren Bornstein is a Lawrence senior in sociology and women's studies.
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THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Brenna Hewley, Jesse Sain-Baird, Jennifer Gorsuch, Carlton打黑蒂, Michael Holtz.