NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY JANRY KANSAN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009
3A
DEBATE (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
partisanship in the past 20 years.” Childers said. “I don't know that it's particularly valid. People have argued poorly ever since they've been arguing, especially in politics. After that first moment of the founding fathers, everything else sort of devolves into political preemption."
In the 1820s, a representative from Buncombe County, N.C., named Felix Walker attempted to give a speech so inane that "Buncombe," or "bunk" for short, became
propaganda."
"We have to find a way to acknowledge that our beliefs are our beliefs..."
synonymous with nonsense.
Today the media catches flak for focusing on the bunk, or the loudest of voices on issues. Childers said he recognized the desire people had for an evenhanded exploration of ideas, but said he also saw how successful the media that focused on the largest commotion were. The Fox News program "The O'Reilly Factor," which often features heated debate, was the most viewed cable television show in 2008, according to mediabistro.com.
JAY CHILDERS Assistant professor
of overheated debate, as Childers explained, is a movement known as deliberative democracy, a term originally conceived in 1980 by Joseph Bessette. It is an attempt to remove all emotion from debate and to rely entirely on reason and logic. Childers said he
"The American people always say that they don't want to hear any more of this, that they want real people sitting down to argue and debate," Childers said. "But those shows do so poorly in the ratings. And then you've got Olbermann and O'Reilly making millions of dollars. Who's going to win that fight in a business?"
One response to the problem
wasn't sold on this tactic either.
"Cognitive scientists have begun showing repeatedly that we think with emotion," he said.
"So to take emotion and passion out of our reasoning brings into question
son. We need passion."
The key, Childers said, is to balance the influence of the heart and the mind. He said the ability to listen to another side with
understanding was equally important.
"We have to find a way to acknowledge that our beliefs are our beliefs and that we live in a pluralistic society and that
willing to accept others' arguments," Childers said.
"If you're going to make an argument I think it should be a little less polarizing."
attendees of this summer's volatile town hall meetings around the nation.
When groups feel their voices aren't being heard, they resort to more confrontation strategies, Scott Harris, assistant specialist in communications studies and the coach of the KU debate team, said. Harris said the same kind of strategies were also used by
PATRICK KENNEDY
Leawood sophomore
"Generally confrontational strategies are ones that are limited for those situations where there are no other options — where no one else will hear your voice," Harris said.
"Frequently it's the inability to make an effective argument that makes people resort to shouting and screaming," Harris said. "Either people can't express themselves or others won't listen."
The town hall meetings were misuses of confrontational rhetoric, he said.
Patrick Kennedy, Leawood sophomore and member of the debate team, said he saw flaws in Justice For All's method.
"It's a little graphic," Kennedy said. "I don't think it's a very effective long-term persuasive
strategy. If you're going to make an argument I think it should be a little less polarizing.
Tammy Cooke said the posters were not deliberately polarizing. She said the displays were large so that people could see them from
far away and so that the fetuses were magnified to a noticeable level.
Once people saw the pictures and came to the display, Cooke said, Justice For All was willing to listen. And all they wanted was the same willingness.
Edited by Nick Gerik
SEC (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Andrew Hoxey/KANSAN
Lauren Tullis, Carl Junction, Mo., senior, and Reanna Putnam, Salina junior, discuss their views on pornography and the role it plays in American culture at the Sexual Education Committee meeting Monday. The meeting featured a video that showed different forms of pornography and the effects it had on its viewers.
sexuality at the University, would present three lectures.
"People get excited," she said "He's a big figure, a big personality."
A religious organization talking about sexuality could be a turn-off for some people, but students who have attended the Real Person's Guide said they didn't see it that way.
"It depends on perspective," Stephane Meehan, Topeka graduate student and event attendee, said. "Everyone comes in with different background knowledge."
Students who attended the event said they focused on openness and acceptance of ideas.
"All perspectives are welcome," Andrea Sitek, Atchison sophomore, said. "We aren't exclusive."
The event series will continue until Nov. 16 and is free and open to the public.
LECTURE SERIES SCHEDULE
Edited by Abby Olcese
October
5 — "How homophobia hurts all relationships" presented by Dr. Bob Minor
12 — "Communication and Fighting Fair" presented by Dr. Dennis Detweller
26 — "Intimacy" presented by Dr. Dennis Dailey
19 — "Influence of Family on Sexuality" presented by Dr. Dennis Detweiler
2 — Jealousy presented by Dr. Dennis Dailey
9 — "Compulsory monogamy" presented by Dr. Ayu Saraswati
2 — "Jealousy" presented by Dr. Dennis Dailev
16 — "Dyadic Relationships" presented by Dr. Dennis Dailey
All events will be held at 7 p.m. Mondays at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries building, 1204 Oread Ave.
November
Visiting professor to give speech on rape reporting
LAW
Teresa Collett, professor at the St. Thomas University School of Law, will give a speech this afternoon titled "Sex, Jurisprudence and Rock and Roll," in which she will discuss the constitutionality of mandatory rape reporting laws.
Most states have some form of mandatory rape reporting laws, and many human rights organizations have questioned the constitutionality of this type of legislation.
2007, certain professionals must file a report if there is "reason to suspect that a child has been harmed" by any type abuse, including sexual assault. Kansas has similar laws for elders, making it mandatory that all types of professionals, from bankers to dentists, report instances of abuse that they may be aware of. However, there are no state laws requiring professionals to report instances of rape if the victim is competent and does not want to file a report.
According to the Kansas Code for Care of Children, revised in
California is the only state that requires medical personnel and other professionals to report all they know regarding the suspected rape of a competent
adult, according to a report from the American Prosecutors Research Institute. Massachusetts is similar in that it requires professionals to report these type of suspected incidents, but the state does not use the information to prosecute suspects and never asks for personal information about the victim.
Jelani Exum, associate professor of law, will also speak at the event, which was organized by the KU chapter of The Federalist Society. It begins at 12:30 p.m. in 104 Green Hall and is free and open to the public.
Brandon Sayers
LOCKERS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
and that she wouldn't pay for one.
Black said students should have the option of free lockers, but also said she understood how it could be an alternative way for the recreation center to make money.
Chappell said the money made from these rental charges would be used to maintain the locker rooms, including paying for
locks. Students using free lockers have always had to bring their own locks or to go without, but the recreation center provides locks to students who rent lockers.
"One of the goals, too, that we hoped to do was that it would keep people from taking their items upstairs and leaving them in all different places," Chappell said.
The recreation center has a total of 100 lockers — 50 in the men's locker room and 50 in the women's locker room. Twenty lockers in each locker room are now reserved for renting.
Of the 40 lockers,31 are currently rented out.Nine lockers are still available in the women's locker room.
Edited by Jacob Musemann
INTERNATIONAL
Bees attack those involved in car crash
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ANKARA, Turkey — A van carrying beehives crashed into a truck on Monday, and huge swarms of bees broke free and stung the injured and rescue workers at the scene.
In the end, about 20 people were taken to hospitals, six of them injured in the crash and the rest rescue workers who were stung by the bees, said the state-run Anatolia news agency.
One of the crash victims later died, but it was not immediately known if he had been killed by the impact of the accident or the insect attacks, said local Gov. Ahmet Aliparmak.
The rescue workers — including local beekeepers summoned to the scene — used hoses, blankets and rags to try to ward off the bees. But it took about an hour for them to remove the crash victims from the chaotic scene, Anatolia said.
The van hit the stationary truck on a road near the Mediterranean resort of Marmaris in southwestern Turkey, injuring four people in the van and two in the truck, Anatolia said.
The impact burst open the bee hives in the van.
The bees swarmed over the injured and police, medics and firefighters who responded to the accident, forcing authorities to seek the help of about 50 beekeepers in the area.
As the crash victims waited for help, bees swarmed over them, Anatolia said.
The news agency's video footage showed men in beekeeping clothing placing an injured man also in protective gear onto a stretcher in a swarm of bees and broken beehives, and carrying him down a hillside.
Another person was seen hosting down the area to keep the bees away.
Anatolia showed rescuers in orange-colored overalls inside a vehicle, trying to kill the bees by squashing them against windows, using a blanket and rags.
Altiparmak said some of the injured were in serious condition.
Fully Furnished
*Up to $700
Private Campus Shuttle
DUNN COFFEE
1618 W. 23rd St. • 785-865-4211
All Inclusive
Enjoy National Coffee Day with Dunn Bros
Free Continental Breakfast Mon-Fri 2,3,4 Bedroom Apartments available for immediate move-in
smartbreak
FREE
That's right! Break your lease at the dorm and we'll pay for it!*
Tuesday, Sept. 29 Present coupon, one day only.
$2 OFF
12oz. brewed coffee
any prepared drink
$2 OFF
any pound of beans
Legends Place
NOW ACCEPTING PETS!
smart student living.com
4101 W. 24th Place
4161 W. 24th Place
Lawrence, KS 66047
Lawrence, KS 66047
785-856-5848
Legends@PlaceProperties.com