OPINION
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 PAGE 7A
EDITORIAL BOARD
T-shirt redesign can bring class to sporting events
KU fans will be back on camera with a replacement for the "Muck Fizzou" shirts, incorporating student group input
Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee proposed the creation of a T-shirt that would replace the popular "Muck Fizzou" shirts. ESPN refuses to videotape fans wearing the shirts, and the consensus of various student organizations is that a change in apparel is needed.
A new shirt is long overdue. The "Muck" shirts have lost any claim on originality they previously had. The joke is less funny and so is the shirt. Not only are they juvenile, but they unite fans against another school instead of what a shirt should do—bring people together out of pride for their own university. KU's main exposure is often through televised sporting events. When our fans are seen wearing "Muck
Fizzou" (and other comparable) shirts, it sends a message of tastelessness across the country. That is not an image that KU's fans should want to represent.
The SAAC asked other student groups to participate in the creation of the shirt. The idea was to "create a T-shirt that is an appropriate and an accurate reflection of the student body" according to a release prepared by the SAAC for each student group.
The more interesting ideas presented at the meeting were the inclusion of this year's homecoming theme, "Jayhawk Nation," on the shirt, and the building of a bonfire where students can burn their old shirts and pick up the newly-designed.
obscenity-free models. Most of the groups agreed that the basketball players should be involved in their distribution. The SAAC might want to consult some students from the School of Fine Arts, as none were present at the meeting.
Student Senate President Hannah Love suggested the University purchase the copyright on the slogan, making it more difficult to reproduce the shirts. The SAAC quickly acknowledged that it was not here to put anyone out of business which was a fair position.
But whatever the SAAC and the other student groups decide, they are basically asking the students to dress a certain way—a new, more appropriate
way. Regardless of whether it is to bring the student body closer together, to clean up the overall image or to simply get back on TV, it's asking some students to stop showing their true level of contentment with Mizzou. That in itself may present more of a problem than the general shirt change.
If the new shirts are well-designed and free, the change will go over well with fans. The success of the new shirts involves the SAAC making it an inclusive process, being open to new ideas and, most importantly, positioning the change so that it doesn't come off as censorship, but as something positive for the University's image. Thus far, it has succeeded.
DRAWING BOARD
MAX RINKE
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Hall Center lecturer gives valuable insight
Alexander McCall Smith's work shows a different and positive side of African culture
The Kansas did not run a feature on the first speech of the Hall Center Humanities Lecture Series given on Monday by internationally acclaimed author Alexander McCall Smith. I attended the event and as the Hall Center Student Scholar, had the incredible opportunity of meeting Smith.
When I sat down for dinner with noted author and Hall Center lecturer Alexander McCall Smith, I had no idea what to expect. That may have been because Smith, a Scotsman, was sporting a kilt. However, it was also because I had some tricky questions about his beloved "No. 1 Ladies' Detective" series.
True, I had enjoyed the series about Mma Ramotswe, a lady detective from Botswana, for all of the charm that each story possessed. However, I had felt slightly uneasy about enjoying them. The trouble was that they were just too charming. As a serious student of African literature, I am used to being torn apart by the literary products of Africa. However, his books
seemed to skirt the most important issues of the continent, instead describing Botswana as what appeared to be the best place on earth. Could you really have literature about Africa that did not deal with the issues that wrack the continent? Were his solely-positive portrayals of African people almost condescending?
From our discussion, Smith quickly showed that he had a huge knowledge of all of the issues that I had privately thought he had avoided in his novels. However, he was not attempting to address these issues in his books.
However, my attitude towards the series quickly changed when I learned that McCall Smith holds no pretensions about his writing. He said, "I am sometimes accused of being a Utopian writer. I suppose I am."
"There are too many people writing heart of darkness stories about Africa," he said. Such a positive view as Smith's is rare in writing, especially about Africa.
However, for him, it is natural. I realized that Smith is an undeniable optimist, viewing the world through an incredibly positive lens. He relishes life and people and what is good in the world. And he wants to share that with his readers. In fact, Smith cited a passage in a book he had recently read that said that the most natural reaction to beauty is a desire to share it. This is entirely his method. He views beauty in the people and situations around him and wants to share it, what good there is in the world, with his millions of readers
GUEST COLUMN
So, in his own way, he does tell the hard stories of Africa, but they are colored by the way that he views the world. Thus, when Smith went to Botswana, he was more interested in the brave way that people keep on living day to day when situations are difficult than the difficult situations themselves. He was immediately entranced by the positive way that the people there triumph by just living and loving life, even difficult situations. Thus his "fables," as he calls them, are a tribute to Botswana, a tribute to part of the
world usually only covered by negative press.
It is a rare feature of literature today, but obviously an important one, as Smith's books are only becoming more popular. We can all learn from Smith's take on the world. We can all learn to cherish the small things.
After an incredible lecture given by Alexander McCall Smith, I would encourage students to attend the Hall Center Lecture series where they will have a chance to encounter fascinating personalities. The next speaker, Sara Ahmed, a professor of race and cultural studies at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and the author of more than 30 articles and book chapters, and four books, including "The Cultural Politics of Emotion" and "Differences that Matter: Feminist Theory and Postmodernism," will be speaking on Oct.22 in Woodruff Auditorium.
Brenna T. Daldorph Lawrence sophomore
The little gestures matter a great deal Simple acts of respect and kindness can improve a person's entire day
AMANDA B. FALETRA
As I was walking back across campus to my car after work yesterday, I walked by the military building as some of the Army ROTC members came outside to lower the flag and put it away for the evening. Three of them went in sequenced order to retrieve the flag while a fourth stayed behind and simply saluted at attention as Old Glory was lowered to the soldiers below. I thought to myself how pure and simple an act like this was and yet it was incredibly moving to watch. I pondered words in my head like patriotism, brotherhood, sisterhood and unity, and thought to myself that the world would be a much better place if more pure and simple acts were recognized and appreciated.
It is said that the United States was founded on ideas such as brotherhood, unity and togetherness, and yet everyday we see and hear about individuals around the world and throughout the country who are reaching out without anyone reaching back. To think that the simple act of smiling at someone on the street could make their
So tell them—let them know. Your family, friends, dog, cat, someone who makes a difference in your life—let them know that you appreciate them.
Faletra is a Lawrence senior in music education.
day just a little bit brighter or that helping a friend in need may make their lives a little
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bit easier. It is these little pure and simple acts that will make the world a better place—acts of reaching out to another individual, bringing them some peace of mind. Life is much too short to live only for one's self when there are people, like soldiers, who die for their country and the people that they leave behind in that country. Though we may not support the reason they are fighting it is important that we support them—say thank you to them for risking their lives for others. So I guess my point is this—and I got to it in a very roundabout way, I know—life is much too short to forget to let the people around you know that you care about them, that you appreciate them. In an instant it, could be over.
Pepsi sucks. Coke rules. End of story.
Free For All, why do people get on computers, then take naps in front of them?
I can't believe a story about font made the front page, this is sad.
Dear Free For All, your mother wears army boots!
What have I learned in Greek and Roman mythology? Zeus was a manwhore, and he should be happy a god of STD's never popped out.
I'm seriously going to start giving $2 to anyone who can sit next to me in lectures without needing to text someone. You won't die if you're not in contact for 50 minutes.
Tests with maps of Europe must have been so much easier twenty years ago, you could just scrawl USSR across the whole right half
I'm ready for Fall Break! Aren't you?
Saying you're "good at history" is like saying you can color within the lines. Find a real major.
I'm in love with a trooper.
To Chris who wants to work for housing - no, you don't, and you should be punched in the mouth for saving that.
It's quite intimidating to talk in front of irritated KU athletes.
A note to bicyclists: if you are going to turn, look. Or even better, do you remember those hand signals for turning left and right? Yea, those. Use them! Because if you don't i will hit you with my scooter (accidentally of course)
Like a tampon thief, I had to pull some strings.
I vote to bring back chivalry!
Who's with me?
Perez Hilton is taking over my life. And I think I like it.
I have decided I will watch any show as long as it is in marathon form
Will whoever is in charge of the crossword please find a dumbed down version so I don't feel stupid everyday?
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The Editorial Board
Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen,
Darla Slipe, Kelsey Heyes, Bryan
Dykman, Brandon T. Minster, Angelique
McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith
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