The University Daily Kansan emphasizes the First Amendment.
or in the press,
and to petition
EDITORIAL: The city-wide smoking ban has been in effect for over two years. One man's efforts to reverse it are wrong and unwanted. See kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 7A
OPINION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Steffes has argued that the ordinance is unconstitutionally vague and preempts state law. These arguments have brought him little success, as judges have upheld the ban in municipal and district courts.
OUR VIEW
Wrong to challenge ban
Steffes has contended that the ordinance's wording on how the ban should be enforced is vague. Use some common sense: If smokers refuse to put out their cigarettes, ask them to leave. If
Should it be legal for a person to urinate in your beverage without your consent? Of course not. Nor should it be legal to smoke in public places, as defined in the city's "Smoking in Public Places" ordinance.
Dennis Steffes, owner of Last Call, 729 New Hampshire St. and Coyote's, 1003 E. 23rd St. opposes the 28-month-old smoking ban. Steffes has already lost twice in court, but he filed an appeal and the Kansas Supreme Court recently agreed to hear his case.
they resist, call the police.
He has also contended that the ordinance unlawfully preempts state laws regulating smoking. Municipal Court Judge Randy McGrath already correctly ruled that the ordinance does not preempt state law. State law allows local governments to create ordinances limiting public smoking as long as they are as rigid as state law.
Steffes should observe the law like other Lawrence bar owners, many of whom have already spent money renovating their businesses to provide outdoor areas where patrons can smoke.
Steffes will likely lose; legal experts say that his arguments will be difficult ones to make.
If the ban is upheld, Steffes will have done little more than to waste taxpayers' money in pursuing his selfish, unhealthy cause.
Steve Lynn for the editorial board.
COMMENTARY
Gay men need to accept each other before public can
I recently had a friend of a friend tell my friend that he wouldn't date me because of my political affiliation. I had no chance to explain why I think the way I do or to show that I offer more than just political rhetoric. His quick judgment seems rather petty, don't you think?
Gaming, NASCAR, camping (of the hike-up-a-mountain-and-crapin-a-hole-you-dug variety) and so many other "abnormal" activities all seem contradictory to the shopaholic, club-going gay stereotype. What I deem as the "gay standard" was actually taught to students in a class at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
According to a September 2001 article in The American Enterprise, Professor David Halperin was scheduled to teach a class that included discussion of "diva-worship, drag, muscle culture, taste, style and political activism," among other things. His explanation for teaching the class is as offensive as his curriculum: "Just because you happen to be a gay man doesn't mean that you don't have to learn how to become one." Halperin said.
Acceptance of gays by gays is a problem that spans more than just the political spectrum. It involves the recognition, or lack thereof, of gays who don't conform to mainstream gay culture. For a community that advocates open-mindedness and tolerance, it's baffling to witness the ignorance and prejudice in regards to gays who have differing interests on any level.
BY CHRIS HORN
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
YOUR HANDY GUIDE TO
So let me get this straight (no pun intended): If I'm in conflict with the image professor Halperin is trying to convey, am I socially inferior to a homosexual who isn't? I don't think so.
FREE FOR ALL
Call 864-0500
Frankly, the narrow-mindedness must stop from within, or public acceptance of homosexuals will never happen. Before the world accepts gays for who they are, the gay community should recognize and accept the fact that it may be homosexual, but it sure isn't homogenous.
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
Sometimes you just need to bite down on reality.
Horn is a Lenexa junior in journalism and European studies
To the douchebag who let the air out of my tires: I have AAA but
I don't call girls who wear skimpy clothing "sluts." I call them poor because they obviously cannot afford the rest of their clothing.
now you have bad Karma. I still come out on top.
I don't believe George Bush is telling us the truth. I think George Bush is lying to us. George Bush is
I just want everyone out there to know: Miracle Spring Water provided by Trinity Broadcasting church services is the greatest thing to ever happen to me.
COLLEGE PROFESSORS
"ARROGANT BOY-GENIUS"
- LOOKS LIKE THAT KID
OFF "THE WONDER YEARS"
- LOVES: HIS OWN VOICE
DESPISES: CELL PHONES, IPODS,
NEWSPAPERS, DISCUTIONS.
-WILL PERSONALLY HUMILIATE YOU
"ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR+
"OLD SCHOOL"
- GOT TENURE BEFORE YOU
WERE BORN
- CONSIDERS CALCULATORS
NEW TECHNOLOGY
- ONCE INVENTED FLUBBER
UNCE INVENTED PLOUGH
- MAY SHOW UP TO CLASS LATE-
OR NOT AT ALL
PERSONALLY KNEW EINSTEIN,
ISAAC NEWTON
- PERSONALLY BLEW UP THE CHEMISTRY BUILDING TWELVE YEARS AGID (ON ACCDENT)
*FAST-TALKING FOREIGNER*
- HAS AN ACCENT AS THICK AS YOUR TEXT BOOK
- SPEAKS "MATH, THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE"
WILL PERSONALLY INVENT
WILL PERSONALLY INVENT TEN DIFFERENT PRONUNCIACTIONS FOR "DERIVATIVE"
Grant Snider/KANSAN
》 GUEST COMMENTARY
On University's birthday, a reminder of its history
Today the University of Kansas is 140 years old, and it seems appropriate that its birthday falls a day after the anniversary of a national tragedy because this University was born out of tragedy.
The Civil War ended less than two years before the founding of the University, but despite the 600,000 American deaths, this was not the tragedy that bore this institution.
The tragedy that bore this University was slavery, the inhuman treatment of nearly 4 million people who were raped of their liberty and dignity.
Settlers came frbm New England to make this territory a free state,
built Lawrence in 1854 and rebuilt it in 1863 after William Quantrill's Bushwackers burnt most of the city to the ground. Twelve years after the founding of Lawrence, they established the University, the first on the Great Plains.
a stupid head.
Dear Brett Favre, please, please come back again next year. Sincerely, the Bears.
Hannah Oliver, a graduate of the class of 1874, spoke in 1926 of these settlers as coming not "in quest of gold, or adventure, as men have people many other states, but with the unconquerable purpose to keep this soil free from the curse of human slavery. It was these freedom-loving men and women who
built a complete school system, which they crowned with the State
Forget Risk, there is a new board game called Operation Iraqi Freedom.
With "unconquerable purpose," 55 students and four professors occupied a small, three-story building on the north side of Hogback Ridge, renaming it Mount Oread. It took seven years to reach the first commencement.
Today our University celebrates its birthday in the shadow of a horrific memory, but that is appropriate because the University of Kansas was born from a triumph over tragedy.
University."
The Jimmy John's man just asked me for pot. Only because I'm on the Hash front porch.
Matt Foster Lawrence senior
Ed Harris could beat up Chuck Norris.
It is not even 8 in the morning and I'm already annoyed by freshmen. That's right, I'm looking at you. You are sitting in section six at E's and you are loud as hell.
This is a shout out to all the people in the military, firemen and police for everything you do to keep us safe.
Shut up
Gary Glitter molested a teapot, a gator and a snowflake.
The only reason Chuck Norris is tough is because Gary Glitter
poked him.
I'm pretty sure if you root for Texas you are approximately 16.4 times more likely to wear jean
To the people who take the elevator to the first two floors: Suck it up. Take the stairs.
Free for All, I need something interesting happening in my day. I think you should get on that.
shorts
SUBMISSIONS
COMMENTARY
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com
It's a stated goal of the University administration to significantly raise the numbers of Jayhawks studying abroad in the coming years. Help them along by visiting the OSA office in Lippencott Hall to see where in the world you can go.
Jonathan Keeling, editor
884-4854 or jkealing@kansen.com
Study abroad offers chance to be world citizen
Kelsey Hayes is a Lenexa sophomore in journalism and political science.
When I started receiving paperwork from several thousand miles away, I knew that I'd made the right decision. I can always look back at my undergraduate career knowing I'd done something different than most.
Gabriella Souze, managing editor
864-4854 or geouza@kansan.com
》TALK TO US
Erick R. Schmidt, manageing editor
804-4854 or eschmidt@kansan.com
Last September I decided I wanted to spend my sophomore year in England. I refused to let things like my parents or terrorist threats stop me from going. My perseverance has paid off and shortly I'll arrive at the University of Reading, about half an hour west of London.
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 Rulgh at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
According to KU Info, the University ranks fourth among public universities in the number of students it sends to institutions abroad. The advisors in the Office of Study Abroad are almost relentless in their recruitment, hosting numerous fairs and informational meetings in an effort to persuade students to study abroad.
If you don't know where you want to art, they'll help you figure it out: art in Florence, engineering in Wales or biology in Costa Rica — it's all good. You can choose English language instruction or full foreign language immersion. Personally, I was too chicken to go to Bonn and speak entirely in German.
Britain is one of the most American-like countries available, but is still strikingly different. They speak their own brand of English and generally have significantly different national quirks that I'm very excited to uncover.
We're constantly reminded that we live in a global society. In order to remain competitive, we must be able to adapt to different cultures, be proficient in foreign languages and above all, be self-sufficient. Studying abroad can help us achieve this, while also providing an amazing social and academic experience.
I admit there are drawbacks. The constant shuffling of paperwork, travel arrangements and visa applications are a headache, and the price tag can be cost prohibitive (although out-of-state students are charged in-state tuition, and scholarships are available). However, the experience of being independent in a foreign country, and the doors this can open—on resumes and in the pursuit of jobs, internships, graduate school and prestigious Rhodes and Marshall scholarships — are probably worth the effort and money expended.
I knew that I wanted to focus on international relations and European studies while in Reading, so I tailored my schedule accordingly. A classmate of mine last fall went to France for a semester to take general education requirements and loved it so much she changed her major to French. There's no reason why studying abroad has to mean late graduation or rigid course options. If you're majoring in it here, you can take courses in it somewhere else.
Lindsey Shirak, sales manager
884-4462 or lshirak@kanan.com
Dave Ruigh, associate opinion editor 884-4924 or druigh@kansan.com
Kyle Hoedl, business manager 864-4014 or khoedl@kansan.com
Malcim Gibbon, general manager, news adviser
8744 - 7687 or klanen.com
Frank Tankard opinion editor
864-4924 or f tankard@kansen.com
Jennifer Weaver', sales and marketing adviser
854-7966 or jweaver@kansan.com
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 200 word limit
Include: Author's name and telephone number; class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 500 word limit
Include: Author's name; class, home-
town; (student); position (faculty mem-
员/staff); phone number (will not be
published)
Also: The Kansan will not print guest
columns that attack a reporter or
publisher)
Also: The Kansan will not print guest columns that attack a reporter or another columnist.
Jonathan Kealing, Erick R. Schmidt, Gabriella Souza, Frank Tankard, Dave Rulgh, Steve Lynn and Louis Mora
SUBMIT TO
"11 Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 69045
(785) 864-4810, opinion@kansan.com
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