Volume 125 Issue 43
1940
kansan.com
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
the student voice since 1904
RELIGIOUS REALIZATIONS
BREAKING BARRIERS
Islam Awareness Week aims to dispel misconceptions
TARA BRYANT/KANSAN
A table set up at the Kansas Union displays information about the Pillars of Islam, Monday, November 5, was the start of Islam Awareness Week, which runs through Friday, November 9. More information can be found at msku.edu.
REBEKKA SCHLICHTING rschlighting@kansan.com
Danielle Reed, a junior from Carlisle, Penn., converted from Christianity to Islam three and a half years ago. Before conversion, Reed served in the U.S. Army during the Sept. 11th attacks. She met a Muslim man, now her fiancé, who helped change her views on Islam.
Changing views about the religion is the main goal of Islam Awareness Week, happening on campus this week.
Reed attended the Importance of Interfaith Dialogue: An Interfaith Banquet presented by the Muslim Student Association (MSA) on Saturday. The banquet was the first event to celebrate Islam Awareness Week. During the event, panelists discussed similarities and interfaith issues among Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The panel consisted of Justin Held, a senior from Plymouth, Minn., who represented the Jewish community, Peter Steimle, a former student and pastor, who represented the Mormon community, and Abdulbaki Agbas, an associate professor of biochemistry at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, who represented the Muslim community.
"Our goal is to open up to the community and let them know that we're a part of the community as much as everyone else."
SAIMA AZAD
Secretary for the
Muslim Student Association
"It was really awesome to see different viewpoints," said Nicole Gilmore, a sophomore from Baxter Springs. "Many times people get so enclosed in their own beliefs without actually considering other points of view. It was good to see other faiths come together and talk about larger issues that are current in
today's society."
MSA is hosting more events throughout the week in conjunction with Islam awareness week. Event times and locations can be found at calendar.ku.edu. The organization also has an informational table set up in the Kansas Union lobby until Friday.
"Our goal is to open up to the community and let them know that we're a part of the community as much as everyone else is and show people that we can all co-exist together and that we do not hate anyone," said Saima Azad, the secretary for MSA.
"In America, there are very aggressive views towards Islam and they categorize the extremists," said Sean Gilmore, a sophomore from Baxter Springs.
With its events and info tables, MSA plans to shed light on stereotypes of Muslims and educate people about misconceptions of Islam.
Edited by Whitney Bolden
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kansas Union Lobby
Islam Awareness Week
Info Table Topics
MONDAY, Nov. 5: Pillars of Islam
TUESDAY, Nov. 6: Women and
Headscarf
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 7: Misconceptions about Muslims
THURSDAY, Nov. 8: Key Figures in Islam
FRIDAY, Nov. 9: Scientific Contributions from Islam
Evening Events for Islam Awareness Week
MONDAY, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.: KU Basketball Watch Party in KS Union Traditions Room
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 7 from 7 p.m.
to 9 p.m.: The Truth About Contro-
versy lecture by Dr. Sabel Ahmed
in KS Union Woodruff Auditorium
THURSDAY. Nov. 8 from 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m.: Islam Awareness Week-
Quran Recitation Contest in Wescoe
Hall 3140
FRIDAY, Nov. 9 from 4:30 p.m.
to 6:30 p.m.: Documentary on the Life of the Prophet Muhammad in KS Union Big 12 Room
ELECTION
Libertarian candidate visits campus
BRET IVY
bivy@kansan.com
For the first time since Robert Kennedy's campaign in 1968, a candidate for the White House
has stopped to speak at the University prior to a national election.
Democrats are blue," said Judge Jim Gray, Libertarian vice presidential candidate, during a rally held in the Kansas Union Monday afternoon. "But Libertarians are different. We are red, white and blue."
"We all know that Republicans are red and
Gray
The University is one of Gray's
"Having a candidate like Judge Gray here before Election Day is unprecedented," said Anthony Orwick, sophomore from Overland Park and state chairman for Young Americans for Liberty. "We've never really had anyone of national importance like that here for a reason like this."
final stops on the campaign trail.
"The sole purpose and function of the Libertarian party is the perpetuation and promotion of liberty," said Al Terwelp, sophomore from Overland Park and chairman of the Libertarian Party of Kansas.
Before visiting the University, Gray campaigned across the country, urging Americans to vote for his party's platform.
"The party is mostly about personal responsibility and
"You allow the parents to choose where that state money will be spent, and they will demand excellence," said Gray.
Besides education, Gray discussed how he and presidential candidate Gov. Gary Johnson could help the economic situation.
individual freedom. We are for social freedom and economic freedom, which really distinguishes us from the two major parties."
"The biggest threat to our country is a weak and failing economy" Gray said. "If Gov. Johnson and I were to be elected, we would present a balanced budget to Congress now. Not next year, not four years but, now."
Judge Gray said the federal government should not decided how and where a child is educated.
"The youth are burdened with the most debt," Orwick said. "We're in a situation where student loan debt exceeds credit card debt, which is just outrageous. We could put someone in office that could really help us with that situation."
Orwick said young people have
a unique opportunity this election.
Gray echoes this sentiment of deciding who could run this country, whether that person is Libertarian or not.
"It's our government, and if it's not working, we have no one to blame but ourselves," Gray said. "What one person can do, though, is amazing; just look at the people who planned this rally today. One person really can make a difference."
— Edited by Emma McElhaney
POLITICAL FIBER
Breaking down the issues that matter to young voters
JESSICA BJORGAARD
jbjorgaard@kansan.com
In a survey taken during the two weeks prior to the 2012 presidential election, students from the University of Kansas indicated that a candidate's stance on economic policy and the government's role in healthcare were more important than the race, religion or socioeconomic status of the candidate.
One hundred and eleven students at the University participated in the survey which asked questions about their media habits, knowledge of candidates and attitudes toward national issues. Perceptions on the level of importance of seven issues were asked including the candidate's stance on abortion, the governments role in healthcare, immigration reform, economic policy, and the candidate's own race, religion and socioeconomic status.
Nearly 80 percent of students responded that the candidate's stance on economic policy was very important; followed by the candidate's stance on government's role in healthcare, which 63 percent of respondents said was very important. The next important issues were the candidate's stance on immigration reform and abortion. 72 percent and 70 percent of respondents, respectively, said that the issues were either somewhat important or very important.
The candidate's race was the least important factor in the upcoming election. Three out of every four respondents said that the candidate's race was either completely unimportant or somewhat unimportant. With regards to the
When responses were cross-examined by gender, the largest discrepancy seen was in regards to a candidate's religion and socioeconomic status. With religion, nearly 40 percent of women responded that it was somewhat or very important versus only 27 percent of men who responded the same way. With the candidate's socioeconomic status, nearly 50 percent of women said it was somewhat or very important versus only 38 percent of men who responded the that way.
candidate's religion, more than 65 percent of respondents said that it was completely unimportant, somewhat unimportant or neutral. However, when asked about the candidate's socioeconomic 44 percent said that it was either somewhat important or very important. Opposed to 35 percent that said it was unimportant. This could be attributed to the high amount of attention given to the economic policy of the candidates.
Of the students who responded, Republicans and Democrats were nearly equally represented 34 percent and 36 percent respectively. The rest of the respondents identified themselves as either independent (22.5 percent), Libertarian (4.5 percent) or other (3 percent). Slightly more women than men responded - 54 percent versus 46 percent. The results of the survey may differ from the student population at the University of Kansas because of the students surveyed nearly all of them were journalism or political science majors.
Edited by Luke Ranker
How important do you think the following issues are to you and your friends in the upcoming election?
POLITICS
Election watch parties held around Lawrence
Election day has arrived and it's time to figure out where to watch the election coverage and results. Students have options on- and off-campus to attend election watch parties and see the results as they arrive.
Student Union Activities will be hosting an election watch party today in the Kansas Union lobby with live footage streaming. It will begin at 5 p.m. refreshments will be served at 6 p.m. It's free and open to the public. It will conclude at 11 p.m.
SUA
CLASSIFIEDS 7
CROSSWORD 4
DOLE
The Dole Institute of Politics will have an informal election watch party tonight following the Student Advisory Board meeting. It will be impromptu, immediately following the meeting but any students are welcome.
NORTH LAWRENCE
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
SPORTS 10
SUDOKU 4
Gaslight Gardens, located at 317 North Second Street, will be hosting an election watch party tonight beginning at 7 p.m. A political podcast will be giving a play-by-play during the election. People 21 and up are invited to enjoy a drink while waiting for the election results.
all contents, unless stated otherwise; © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Hannah Barline
Polling locations are open until 7 p.m. Last chance to cast your vote this election.
Clear. Winds from the SW 5 to 20 mph shifting to the NW in the afternoon.