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CRIST: The TV news media leaves much to be desired in the way of actual news. So it should be no wonder we're turning to Jon Stewart. See kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 7A
OPINION
》 OUR VIEW
At some point, all college student ponder the question: Why is the drinking age 21?
And then they ponder the validity of the answer: 18-to-20-year-olds aren't responsible enough to drink. And most come up with the same response: Bullshit.
Fight the drinking age while you're still young
The years add up, and they forget. Some become lawmakers. And the drinking age doesn't seem to be a problem. Maybe 18-to-20-year-olds aren't responsible enough to drink after all, they think. Better to err on the side of safety.
Then what happens? Sometimes in their junior year, these students turn 21. They don't have to ask someone to buy them beer and they tear up their fakes.
If the drinking age is to change, 18-to-20-year-olds must speak up, before they too turn 21 and forget what a bummer it is to have that unfair threat of a Minor in Possession charge
hanging over their heads.
They must fight before they forget the irony of being deemed responsible enough to wield a gun fighting insurgents in Iraq, but not responsible enough to pop open a cold one.
We live in an age in which laws are being strengthened to protect us from both outside forces and ourselves. We worship the Great God of Safety and personal responsibility is dying.
Of course, 18-to-20-year-olds are not the most responsible people. But if a student drinks too much, it is the student's fault, not the bottle's.
The next time you open a can of beer, walk away from Monday Night Football for a few minutes and write a letter to our lawmakers. It might not hurt to spill a little on the page, so they can remember being young.
Frank Tankard for the editorial board
COMMENTARY
TV media light on real news
IonBenet Ramsey is dead.
Jonbenet Ramsey is dead.
And you know what? I wish she wasn't. Not because the world is missing out on what might have been a remarkable life, but because rather than getting real journalism the news media is shoving her down our throats.
Then again, politics doesn't really sell, and I think I know why: because politicians tend to be unattractive old guys like Donald Rumsfeld and Hillary Clinton. What we should do is set up a weekly drama, with hot young stars like Chad Michael Murray as Rumfeld and Mischa Barton as Clinton.
And why, not? Entertainment can be educational, and education can be entertaining. Look at "The Daily Show", Bill Maher, and ... well, I wouldn't call Glenn Beck entertaining, or even watchable, but he tries. It seems to be only these fringe political/news outlets that pierce the national popular media consciousness.
They thought they found her killer on the other side of the globe, they brought him back here, he ate prawn on the flight back, it's such a big deal, one single murder in Colorado 10 years ago ... shut up. No one cares. I don't care. No one I know cares. And now the irony is that I'm taking up more space over that same played-out story.
A lot of folks worry that it's watering down what should be purer news coverage, but I'm not impressed with our so-called beacons of journalistic integrity.
It would still be boring, but people would watch. I know I would, if only to get my Mischa Barton fix since they killed off her character on "The O.C." And for those not interested in pretty faces, every five minutes we'll show an explosion or play rock music.
BY ALEXANDER JOHN CRIST
KANSAN COLUMNIST
tions that add nothing to anyone's view on world affairs: "What is the one word you would use to describe that day? One word that just sums it all up? What is the word you would use today to describe how you feel now? If there's one thing you could change from that day, what would it be?"
You know what one thing I would change about that interview? The questions. Maybe the interviewer too.
Look: I'm not saying that Jon Stewart is better than Wolf Blitzer and his ilk, but I learn more from his 30-minute show than I do after watching an hour of CNN or FOX or MSNBC. So until any of them ups the ante, I'll be reading the papers and watching "The Daily Show" for my fill of current events.
There has got to be better material. What have we been doing to find bin Laden? How is the war in Afghanistan? How do troops there feel about the situation? What about the dust and rubble inhaled by those at the World Trade Center on that day? What are the ramifications of breathing three pounds of dirt?
Another bit of nothingness, this from CNN last Sunday: 10 minutes of footage from a church holding a 9/11 memorial. Now, I don't object to coverage of the fifth anniversary, but this was 10 minutes of hymns, and second-rate ones at that.
This is Deborah Feyerick on CNN with a banal string of ques-
Crist is a Marysville sophomore in political science.
COMMENTARY
What's a person got to do to get a job around here?
Jobs are like hot guys or girls. They are easy to find, hard to get. You always find that dream job, for example, apprentice underwater basket weaver, and you apply right away. You figure you will get the job. How could they not hire you? You have a great GPA, some extracurricular activities, good references and you've stayed off the sex offender registry. Then, you get an interview.
Getting an interview is like when that hot girl/guy from the bar calls you the next day. The date/interview goes really well. You hit it off. You've got experience. You're just what they're looking for. And yet, two weeks later, you get a nice post-card saying the position has been filled. But thanks for your interest. Dagnabbit.
My point is that jobs are hard to get, and so when us college kids are offered one, we'll take it no matter what it is. I applied to many jobs on campus through the KU job Web site, jobsku.edu. The number of times I got rejected is higher than I can count (which is around eight). Last year, I was complaining to my homies from McCollum about this at dinner when I saw a sign on our table. KU Dining Services asking me if I wanted a job. Do I want a job? Does the Pope love Jesus?
BY JENNY HARTZ
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINIONOKANSAN.COM
So I applied. Basically, the application wanted my name, Social Security number, reference phone numbers and schedule. I had no job experience thanks to my overachiever status in high school. And I got hired. How? They knew jack about me, whereas the online application for the KU job site was more involved than the application I filled out to get accepted into the University.
I thought that with this experience, and my extensive customer service experience, KU Libraries would have to hire me.
I worked at Mrs. E's for about a year. Then I moved to a scholarship hall at semester and got sick of commuting up there all the time. So I left Mrs. E's. Then I had summer to deal with. During the summer, I worked at my church cataloging our entire church library into a computer system.
you guessed KU Dining Services, then you're a genius and will probably graduate in four years. If you guessed at Watson Library, then you're not a genius and will probably graduate in five years.
And guess where I work now? If
KU jobs are great. When campus is closed, most of the offices and dining places are closed. Hourly wages were increased to $7 an hour, and if you're a student Social Security and taxes aren't taken out of your paycheck. Plus, I get free food working for The Market. And, as a poor college student, I'm a sucker for free food. What frustrates me is that I am capable of a more skilled job. A lot of us college kids are. We'd like jobs that use our abilities and give us experience that's relevant to our major. And yet the University and outside companies thumb their noses at us. Sometimes, we might not have the experience a person hiring for a more skilled job would like, but we can't get experience until we get a job. College kids are obviously able to learn or we wouldn't be here.
But jobs are a Catch-22 situation. The best advice I can give is if at first you don't succeed, apply, apply again.
Hartz is a Stilwell sophomore in creative writing.
FREE FOR ALL
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I just wanted to say whoever was wearing toe socks with sandals: it does not excuse you from wearing socks with sandals. They are still socks.
Hey, somebody lost their driver's license out in front of the student union. It is at the Hawk
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» LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Morals, law are one
Every nation, great or small,
totalitarian regime or democracy,
does and should legalize morality.
In response to Alison Kieler's Thursday column, "Prohibiting gay marriage contradicts America's principles," the secular humanist mantra "you can't legislate morality" must be exposed for what it is.
The prohibition of murder, to take the easiest example, finds its ground in both legality and morality. Few (though there are some) would argue that killing another person is not immoral, but simply illegal based on some sort of social contract.
Arguments against the legislation of moral claims, specifically those prohibiting gay marriage, tend to decry the collusion of church (or "religion") and state.
What these polemics fail to recognize is that the replacement of our nation's historical Christian humanism with that of the secularist is not removing morality as such from the picture, but replacing it with a "secularist" morality. Like it or not (and I do not), please call it what it is.
Marriage began as an institution of "religion," its basis being found in the biblical book of Genesis (by no means belonging to a "specific religious denomination"). The danger is not a matter of religious institutions getting in on state affairs, but quite the opposite.
Adam Lockridge Lawrence senior
loved me last year.
In response to the sexual advertising article: I propose I will pose naked for The University Daily
Kansah.
Where am I?
Yes! Let the Chuck Norris and Steve Irwin jokes begin.
To the kid who wiped out behind Anushutz. You made my day.
TALK TO US
Jonathan Keenling, editor
684-484 or jaekling at kansan.com
Erick H. Schmidt, managing editor
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Gabrielle Souza, managing editor
684-484 or gsouza at kansan.com
Frank Tankard opinion editor
684-492 or fankard at kansan.com
Dave Ruigh, associate opinion editor
864-4924 or druigh@kansan.com
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SUBMISSIONS
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
For any questions, call Frank Tankard or Dave Rugh at 884-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com
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LETTER GUIDELINES
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EDITORIAL BOARD
.
Jonathan Kaeling, Erick R. Schmidt, Gabriella Souza, Frank Tankard, Dave Rulgh, Steve Lynn and Louis Mora
SUBMIT TO
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(705) 884-4810, opinion@kansan.com
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