OPINION
1.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
EDITORIAL
For students, registering in Lawrence more logical
www.kansan.com
With the upcoming elections, many citizens of Lawrence are registering to vote and
are registering to vote and following the local campaigns. But how many students at the University of Kansas are doing the same thing?
The answer is relative, said Marni Penrod, Deputy of Elections at the Douglas County Courthouse downtown. She said that 11,348 people between the ages of 18 and 24 are registered, which is only 20 percent of those eligible.
The registration is low, especially considering how much local politics affect our lives here at the University. Penrod brings up several local issues, including one — the smoking ban — that will most likely be on the ballot this November.
The ban in restaurants and bars has been in effect since July 1 of this year, and many KU students have come back to find the new rules not in their favor. Penrod said a petition is going around Lawrence and is expected to collect the number of signatures necessary to make the ballot this November. Other issues may concern KU students, but may not appear directly on the ballot of the upcoming election, she said.
The City Commission, another body elected by local votes, deals with the zoning issues related to the new Wal-Mart proposed for West Sixth Street. Whether students are in favor of the convenience of Wal-Mart, or the charm of Downtown Lawrence that Wal-Mart would challenge, they should voice their opinions in the City Commission elections this spring.
While registering now will not directly affect that issue, it cannot hurt
Penrod says that contrary to the beliefs of some out-of-state students, anyone 18 or older can register to vote in Lawrence.
"It's not about being a tax-paying resident." she said.
A student must choose whether to vote by absentee ballot in their home state or register here in Lawrence. The convenience of Lawrence might draw more voters, and if so, she says they will cancel your other registration. What a deal. They will even do it for us!
There is no excuse not to register and vote, even if local issues are not important to a student. An absentee ballot can be obtained with the right help. Students just need to call their county clerk or contact their secretary of state. The last day to register to vote here is Oct. 18 for the November election.
Besides the hassle of absentee voting, why should voters register here? Several local issues affect the University, and while living here, KU students are more affected by local issues than issues back in their hometowns. The smoking ban, and the Walmart zoning are issues students can have a say in. For the students without cars, the improvements to the T, the Lawrence bus system, should be pertinent. Another big state-wide issue is education funding.
education funding
By registering to vote here rather than in a home state, a student can voice his opinion about where state tax dollars should go.
You have no excuse not to voice your opinion locally, or back at home if that's your preference. Get out and register, be heard and be proud of the great results you helped create for Lawrence.
SACK'S VIEW
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111 Staffer-Flint
Start asking about sex in society
Before I slather you with opinions, I would like to take the chance to introduce myself. I'm a 20-year-old sociology major who loves baking cookies. I'm an upper-middle class white kid, who loves comic books and 80s dance music. Now you can hold a conversation with me if you are inclined.
I'm not a sex god. I have had intercourse with a whopping zero people—well, I did get really, really close three times. I've had my first sexual experience at age 12, I've been sexually involved with nine boys, and I've made out with countless people.
If you didn't notice from the previous sentence, yes I'm gay. Out at age 15.
Yes, my parents know and my friends know. No, I'm pretty sure I don't like girls.
Now you know enough that I hope you can trust me and understand where I'm coming from.
So then we get to the second question: Why am I doing this? Well, being able to rant weekly for 500 words about sex is gratifying.
SEX COMMENTARY
six is gorgeous.
I also think that sex and the culture that surrounds it are amazingly interesting. What shapes our sexual desires and norms are more bizarre than most people know.
Because I'm not able to be very indepth with this article here's my overall view on the sexual scene for our age group. We're in the tail end of the
STEPHEN MOLES
opinion@kansan.com
What shapes our sexual desires and norms are
more bizarre than most people know.
Sexual Revolution with remnants of conservative sexuality looming everywhere. But everyone is trying to be open-minded.
How do you know when you're dating someone? Is there any significance to sex other than physical gratification? What about kissing? Is monogamy overrated? How do you know when you're a slut? I wonder about those things.
Monogamy, while still the norm, is nowhere-near as prevalent. The terminology we use such as "dating" and "going steady" are so ambiguous and flexible, that it's impossible to know what other people are thinking. Ask three different people what "seeing each other" or what "dating" means and you'll understand.
Moral relativism is running rampant, which can be cool, but makes figuring out what is right for you 20 times more difficult. I think it's scary.
If not, well, maybe I can just teach you to give better blow jobs. Because what else is there to do on a slow Tuesday night? I mean, c'mon, cable television isn't that interesting.
We don't have the strict rules that were imposed upon our parents and grandparents.
My experiences are different than yours, but I hope over the course of this year I will be able to enlighten and enrich your life.
We have the run of the sexual playground and our age group is breaking the swing set. While I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, I believe that many in our age don't put much thought into why they're breaking the swing set.
Finally, what I'm writing is opinion. You are allowed to disagree. In fact, please disagree with what I write and prove me wrong, because that means you're thinking about it and not eating the tripe I feed you. I'm not perfect. I'm human.
Moles is a Lawrence junior in sociology.
Student organizations need you
COMMENTARY
Summer effectively ended this week end. Regardless of whether your first or last months at the University of Kansas rest before you, the question remains the same: What will you do with your semester?
We face two options. A bag of Doritos and Sportscenter over a cellphone conversation about where to socialize Thursday night is the first. Without a doubt, laziness and fun have a special place in the college experience.
But, working towards ideas on how to improve the University and Lawrence ,the second option, needs to rest higher on the ladder of early semester goals.
SEAN PAUZAUSKIE
opinion@kansan.com
Many reasons stand against involvement. We've all heard them. Time: there's never enough. Apathy: no one else cares. In some cases, opposition. Bemoaning the problems of the community or the difficulty in solving them accomplishes little.
Positive change requires a different perspective.
People may always doubt what you say, but they are requiresd to believe what they see you doing.
Everyone cares about something, and the University provides an ideal place to turn ideas about these concerns into concrete action. Organizations such as Student Union Activities, Student Senate and more than 100 other campus groups (on a list available at the Center for Campus Life or at
Whether you want to organize a concert, conduct laboratory research, tutor, discuss the mysteries of the universe, start a sports club — whatever — it's either already going on or waiting for you to be the first one to do something about it.
www.ku.edu/organizations), provide resources for students to maximize education outside lectures.
Overcoming the initial kinks of motivation will lead to the satisfaction of developing real world skills in working with people and developing your interests. With luck, it will be to the tune of inner gratification at seeing your active
TUE
time in "the system" create tangible changes.
Activity rewards. Involvement builds personal networks. Just by showing up you will meet people and make friends. Involvement builds upon itself. One activity leads to another. Involvement builds personal justification.
People may always doubt what you say, but they are required to believe what they see you doing.
Now is the time to get started. Whether your goals have University, local or national implications (or all three), other students will share your opinions if you are not intimidated by the task of spurring action. Three students alone can create a campus program.
It's too easy to watch VH1 and remain disinterested all the time. Relaxation should be tempered by a healthy balance of caring for something solid.
The bottom line is that the University is a place where everyone can enjoy anonymity, but also enjoy the benefits of finding smaller, connected groups within the seemingly endless crowd. With the right attitude it's not only easy, but a personal obligation, to have the best of both.
Pauzauskis is a Topeka senior in English and cell biology.