THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2011
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLUME 123 ISSUE 140
Secretive group wreaks online mischief
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www.4chan.org
Top Sites
Google
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What is 4Chan?
4chan is an online, image-based bulletin board.
[Home]
- Users post comments and share images.
- The site does not require users to identify themselves.
The message board is divided into sections dedicated to different topics, from Japanese anime, manga, and culture to videogames, music, and photography. The random, or /b/, section, is one of the most popular and has been a source of many internet jokes, or "memes," such as the so-called "lolcats".
4Chan also may contain graphic images and profanity.
BY IAN CUMMINGS icummings@kansan.com
"We do not forgive. We do not forget. You should have expected us."
Frustrated Playstation fans may recognize this signature closing statement from the secretive online group "Anonymous" in an April 7 Youtube video announcing an impending
cyber attack on Sony. The message is one reason why suspicion turned to the group, which is linked to the 4Chan message board, when online Playstation networks shut down on April 20.
There is evidence that 4Chanbased mischief may not be limited to Anonymous.
The message board was instrumental in tampering with a March 16 online poll at Kansan.com. This time, the author of the prank did not
remain anonvmous.
Phillip Becker, a sophomore from Norton, used 4Chan to attract thousands of individuals to a poll that asked where James Naismith's basketball rules should be curated. When they were finished, Allen Fieldhouse carried 23 votes while a special campus museum and the Spencer Art Museum stood at 17 and 10.
"I don't care," had accumulated 3,703 votes.
SEE MISCHIEF ON PAGE 3A
BASEBALL | 12A
FOOTBALL | 8A
Patterson returns to practice
Daymond Patterson had his first reps in spring practice, but may still be out for the annual spring game this Saturday.
Classifieds . 7A
Crossword . 4A
Cryptoguips . 4A
Opinion . 5A
Sports . 8A
Sudoku . 4A
INDEX
WEATHER TODAY 6542
Forecasts by KU students. For a complete detailed forecast for the week, see page 2A. All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2011 The University Daily Kansas
Clear skies
BY CLAYTON ASHLEY cashley@kansan.com
In June of last year, the nation's total student loan debt surpassed its credit card debt for the first time. This year, total student loan debt is projected to surpass $1 trillion.This reflects both an increase in people pursuing college degrees as well an increase in the number of students graduating with student loan debt.Credit card debt on the other hand peaked in late 2008 during the financial crisis and has steadily declined ever since.
NATIONAL
Total student loan debt on track to surpass $1 trillion
Average debt per student rises as more graduate with debt
Total oustanding credit card debt and student loan debt, in billions
Students who graduated with loan debt in 2008
Students who graduated with loan debt in 1993
Average loan debt per student $ 20,000
Sources: fastweb.com, finaid.com, Federal Reserve. Project on Student Debt,
State Public Interest Research Group's Higher Education Project
SYMPOSIUM
BY JONATHAN SHORMAN
ishorman@kansan.com
Animals get legal defense
Barnett said the symposium was part of a larger effort to train future attorneys how to prosecute animal cruelty cases. Barnett has also developed a prosecutor's clinic on animal cruelty for law students.
Dogfighters are your next door neighbors.
"It's not like there's a big neon sign that says 'fight down here,'" Prasad said.
According to the Game Dog Guardian website, the clinic allows students from the law school to work with prosecutors on animal cruelty cases. The clinic is expected to open in the fall.
That was one of the messages Raj Prasad, a Michigan prosecutor, shared with law students and the public at "It's Our Turn to Fight for Them," a symposium on animal cruelty and dogfighting held by the KU Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and the School of Law Monday.
Barnett, along with her husband, operates Game Dog Guardian, an advocacy organization for pit bulls and pit bull owernship. Pit bulls are the breed of choice in dogfighting, panelists at the event said.
The biggest misconception is that law enforcement is not interested in going after dogfighters. In reality, Barnett said law enforcement sometimes lack knowledge and training in how to deal with dogfighting situations.
Prasad was one of several attorney- and members of law enforcement who spoke at the event, which was organized by Katie Barnett, a third-year law student.
At the symposium, Prasad walked participants through the process of a dogfighting bust and prosecution to impart some of that knowledge. He compared dogfighting cases to
SEE ANIMALS ON PAGE 3A
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