THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
FAST-A-THON
VOLUME 118 ISSUE 34
BY SARAH NEFF
sneff@kansan.com
Photo Illustration by Anna Faltermeler/KANSAN
Brandon Beckner has pledged not to eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset Wednesday. He said he wanted the experience so he could better understand what hungry people went through on a daily basis.
Beckner, Glencoe, Ill., freshman, signed up for Fast-A-Thon, an annual event sponsored by the Muslim Student Association.
The MSA invites non-Muslim students to fast with the group for one day during Ramadan, the holy month when Muslims fast during the day.
Ala Abdel, Tulkrem, Palestine, junior and president of MSA, said Fast-A-Thon would be a good opportunity for students to learn more about Islam and to experience an important event in Muslim culture. He also said the event would increase awareness of poverty and hunger in the world.
member, said she had a better perspective of what hungry people must go through every day. She said she didn't ask people not to eat in front of her.
Emam Shaiwani, Olath senior and MSA
"That's part of it. That's what a hungry person goes through," Shaiwani said. "They are amongst the people who are eating in front of them, but it's like, I can't have that because I can't afford it', so they watch it too. Why should I be distinguished from that person?"
The MSA asked local businesses to sponsor students participating in Fast-A-Thon.
Each business pledged a certain amount of money for each student that will attempt to fast for the day. All donations will go to the Lawrence Community Shelter. Last year more than 400 students participated and the event raised about $1,500 in donations.
MSA volunteers will cook a traditional Middle Eastern dinner for participants to eat when they break their fast at sundown on Wednesday.
Samia Javed, St. Louis senior, will help cook for the meal. She said fasting was a
cleansing experience that made her think about those less fortunate than herself. She said on a mental level, it made her think twice about her actions and her intentions.
"It's not as hard as it seems," Javed said. "It's a chance to step into someone else's shoes and analyze yourself, which is something a lot of people don't take the time to do."
Students who want to sign up for Fast-A.
Thon can visit www.msaku.com.
—Edited by Elizabeth Cattell
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PUTIN MAY REMAIN IN POWER
Russia's leader joins party ticket as candidate for prime minister. PAGE 5A
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© 2007 The University Daily Kansan
SPEAKER
Ron Jeremy faces off against porn addict in Washburn debate
Porn star Ron Jeremy participated in a debate last night at Washburn University against self-proclaimed porn addict Michael Leahy.
The two talked about whether the porn industry marketed to children, objectified women and promoted sexual violence.
Washburn paid $14,000 for the two to visit.
Mike Ditch, Washburn senior and execu
tive director of Campus Activities, said that Washburn brought the two to the school to start a discussion about Internet porn.
Jeremy and Leahy, who said that they were friends outside of their disagreement on this issue, have held similar debates at several institutions throughout the country.
FULL STORY PAGE 4A
》 ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
Joe College mediation fails
Trademark infringement battle scheduled for 2008 trial
The Athletics Department and Joe College.com did not reach an agreement during their mediation Friday.
The department filed a lawsuit against Joe-College.com, a downtown clothing store, in March, claiming the store's shirts violated University trademarks. Joe-College.com shirts feature sayings such as "Muck Fizzou" and pictures of sperm representing Kansas swimming.
Larry Sinks, owner of Joe College, said
his store never infringed on any University trademarks. He said his shirts included only Kansas and never used "University of Kansas" or "Jayhawk."
Judy Pottorff, corporate counsel for the department, said Joe College did not have a license to produce apparel.
The case is scheduled to go to trial in early January.
FULL STORY PAGE 4A
>> ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
Soft schedule benefits bowl chances
Kansas' 4-0 start to the football season has the team in position to become bowleigible for the fourth time in five years. Four blowout wins came at the expense of inferior competition: Those teams currently have a combined record of 4-15.
Larry Keating, senior associate athletics director, who is in charge of scheduling non-conference matchups, said Kansas played four home games out of conference as a result of circumstance. The Jayhawks plan to play three home games and one road game in
future nonconference schedules.
Two years ago, after having two nonconference games for 2007 already scheduled Toledo and Central Michigan — Florida International canceled a 2006 game and agreed to play two games in Lawrence, one
The effect was that Kansas had three home nonconference games lined up for 2007 before even scheduling an FCS opponent.
BREAST CANCER
this season and one next season.
Women's resource center encourages students to raise money for a cure
FULL STORY PAGE 3A
Flurries of pink ribbons decorate campus as Breast Cancer Awareness Week begins.
A softball tournament over the weekend already raised more than $5,000 dollars in donations. Future events include a 5K run/ walk and a day for students to get their portraits taken in exchange for donations.
The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center is sponsoring an awareness week, and has scheduled several events throughout the week to inform students about the disease and to raise money towards research for a cure.
All proceeds will go towards the Susan G. Komien Foundation, a network of breast cancer survivors dedicated to fighting the disease.
FULL STORY PAGE 3A
Julie Cowden, Lawrence resident, speaks about her battle with breast cancer. Cowden was part of a four-person panel speaking about breast cancer awareness in Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union on Monday.
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Jessie Fetterling/KANSAN