The University Daily Kansan emphasizes the First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress'of grievances.
TUESDAY,MAY 1,2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
COMMENTARY: With spring weather comes an influx of preachers on Wescoe Beach. Love them or hate them, search for honesty in their messages See Kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 7A
》 OUR VIEW
Gain perspective, study abroad
In an evermore globalized and interconnected world, it's becoming increasingly important for students to be internationally savvy. Students now have more plentiful opportunities to travel and learn overseas. The modern college experience, no longer strictly limited to four years, provides time and opportunities for students to bum around in Fiji or to take an internship in Spain. Universities are also offering a larger number and variety of study abroad programs.
These opportunities are wonderful experiences that should be taken advantage of unreservedly. At the same time, students must realize that it is extremely easy to spend buckets of money going somewhere far away without truly experiencing the place and without gaining the ultimate traveler's education. By boldly stepping into a new world and temporarily shedding American customs, the adventurous student
can gain valuable cultural insight and sensitivity, practical language skills and historical and political lessons.
How exactly can one gain the most of an international experience?
First, try with the language. The most limited vocabularies expand quickly with practice and locals always appreciate American tourists' attempts - however bad - to speak a new language instead of arrogantly using English. Plus, there's nothing quite as amusing as the reaction obtained by screaming "I'm horny!" in a crowded dance club when attempting to say, "I'm burning up!"
Savor the culture. Skip the prosaic fast food chains and the pricey hotel dinners and find a quaint local restaurant. Frequent a local restaurant to make local friends. If traveling extensively, plan on buying foreign items instead of stocking up on American brands. Party with the locals and learn some new dance
moves. Of course, don't forget to research the fundamental cultural "dos" and "donts" prior to arriving
Get lost. Not too lost - just a little lost. A traveler doesn't have to be chained to the well-beaten tourist path. Go to outdoor markets and festivals to meander and people-watch. Visit a smaller, more authentic town with fewer tourists.
With abounding reasons and opportunities to see the world, students shouldn't think twice about packing up for an adventure. However, these experiences are far more meaningful and rewarding when used to broaden horizons, not just to party it up American-style in exotic lands. Future globetrotters should aim to gain the ultimate traveling experience by stepping into other countries with an adventurous and considerate mindset.
- Alsion Kieler for the editorial board
FREE FOR ALL
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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.
Free for All, Fritz has still not left the third floor. We don't know what to do. We have told him repeatedly that we do not want him there. Please help us.
Bart Simpson sucks.
It's Sunday and I'm drunk.
Why do they keep playing "Above the Influence"? Especially in Lawrence.
I'd motorboat that! I'd motorboat the hell out of that. Thanks, Family Guy.
That's none of your damned business, and I'll thank you to stay out of my personal affairs!
Why is there a luxury automobile dealer in Lawrence?
Wah! Woohoo! We won a Big 12 Serious! I love you, KU baseball!
Fifty-five minutes until a state of pure inebriation! Yay!
50
miracle
I've been 21 for three hours and seven minutes, and I've been drunk for every minute of it. I love it!
I just got done eating, and I came outside and walked behind one of the KU buses, and I don't even want a cigarette! It's a
Oh, boo hoo. Brandon Rush is leaving us to go to the NBA. Wah. Wake up, people. College athletics isn't about education, it's about
getting paid
They say Mr. Pibb is the replica of Dr. Pepper, but it's the bullshit replica because the dude didn't even get his degree.
GUEST COMMENTARY
Nothing can break your spirit for the end of the year like two honors O-Chem tests.
Thank God I bought a four wheel drive. Now I can drive down 19th Street.
For some,sex can wait
From reading The University Daily Kansan, I've learned more about sex than I ever thought possible. I've seen articles on sex between heterosexual couples, homosexual friends who are not dating, one night stands and threesomes. I've seen advice on sex toys, birth control and the best places to have sex on campus. However, I've not seen an article on the type of relationship I believe in — the kind that doesn't involve sex. So here's my take on dating without the sex. I'm not writing this to condemn others or to pass judgment, but to add another perspective to the discussion of what sex is really all about.
So what does abstinence in a committed relationship look like? For my boyfriend and me, it means saving all sexual activity for marriage. It may sound like we're ultra-conservative, anti-sex people, but really it's the opposite. We don't think sex is bad. We don't even think sex is good. We believe that sex is sacred.
Practicing abstinence is not about what we can't do, but rather what we can. While it may seem like this situation takes away our freedom to express our affection, it actually gives us many greater freedoms. Without sex in the picture, we are free to get to know each other. The time we spend together is not spent in the bedroom or in front of the TV. Instead, we experience life. We take long walks, discuss books, go dancing, cook, play ultimate Frisbee, hang out with our friends, go to church, bike and just
plain talk. I'm free from wondering if he likes me or just my body. There are so many women in the world who would give him sex with no attachment; I know that if he is with me, it is because of who I am, not what he can get from me. I'm free from the fear that as soon as I'm not exciting anymore he will move onto someone else .
Being in an abstinent relationship doesn't not mean living an anachronistic life or renouncing the real advancements in the equality of women. I don't need sex to be a fulfilled or empowered woman. To reduce my life to this one act would be to demean me as a woman and as a person.
I have made my decision to wait,
I am in control of my sexuality and
I couldn't be more satisfied.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, women who have sex before marriage are 60 percent more likely to have a divorce and more than twice as likely to have extra-marital affairs when married (no statistics were given for men).
Unfortunately, in our culture, being a "man" is often associated with having many sexual partners. Rather, to be a man is to have courage, conviction, and strength of mind and body. What could show a woman greater courage and conviction than being willing to go against popular culture to show her the respect she deserves?
Kristen Kearney McPherson senior
>> COMMENTARY
University should reinstate May tradition
I used to believe that the University of Kansas History Web site was created solely for the Kansan's weekly trivia drawing. My friend really wants to win the drawing. She's tried for months, years even. But I recently found out that the Web site is interesting aside from offering a chance at winning a variety of gift certificates, when I came across a fascinating part of our past.
In 1891, when our university was not yet 30 years old, an event occurred that, during the next 15 years, would grow into a tradition. This event was the Maypole Scrap. Every year, early on May 1, the freshmen would get together and erect a maypole. They would then cover the surface of the pole with tar or molasses or some other sticky, gross or generally repulsive substance. Then as campus started to fill, the freshmen forced passersby to pay their respects to the class, and rubbed their faces on the pole if they refused. Later in the day the sophomores would get tired of the young ones' insolence, and attempt to take the pole down. Over the years the sophomores became more innovative. They corralled the freshmen with a wire cable, and scared them from the pole by throwing live snakes, or flaming bales of hay.
Eventually the juniors would come to aid the freshmen, the seniors allied with the sophomores and a massive campus-wide brawl broke out. This led to bruises, dislocated arms, and broken jaws, but continued to happen. That is until Chancellor Frank Strong laid the boring hammer down in 1905 and forced all the classes to cease their good-natured violence. The ritual riot was replaced shortly thereafter with a lame ceremony involving white dresses, flower hats and that pole with streamers on it from the Safety Dance video. But then everyone realized it was dumb and put it down like the Joey spin-off.
Hearing about this made me think that the closest thing we have today would probably be the giant inflatable funland, straight out of the '90s classic "Blank Check" they put out next to Wescoe when the weather turns nice. If that isn't aggressive enough, there's always a highly passionate yet completely unproductive shouting match with Brother Jed Smock on Wescoe Beach.
But there is nothing today as pure or as boundless and essentially free as a giant, class-divided brawl. New activities merely attempting to placate the spirits of the student body to yield a generation more numb than any in recent memory. Which is why, if asked if I would rather have another wax replica of my hand made, or try my hand at dodging fireballs while engaging in a battle for the glory of my class, I would ask if you had a light.
White is a River City, Iowa sophomore in journalism and Japanese.
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When the hacky sacks and the street preachers begin to reemerge on Wescoe, ignore those preachers, whatever religion they are, whose only goal is to invite heckling. But, when you find a preacher who honestly wants to talk, don't attack because you disagree; rather, ask some questions and listen to the responses. Help us create an atmosphere at Kansas which rejects pointless arguments and seeks the truth instead.
Seek truth from campus preachers
LETTER GUIDELINES
BY SAM SCHNEIDER
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
The afternoons on Wescoe Beach are now warm enough to allow two near-permanent fixtures back on campus: Those guys playing hacky sack and the seasonal assortment of street preachers.
This would change things in two ways. First, the street preachers of the Fred Phelpsian persuasion, the ones spoiling for a fight, would find themselves bored by a group of students who had no intention of growing angry and instead asked careful questions about the source of their views. Second, and this is the exciting thing to me, people who wanted open and honest debate would feel free to stand up and talk.
COMMENTARY
I would love to see an 80-year-old Presbyterian stand up opposite a Tibetan Buddhist to debate the path to God. I don't pretend they would agree, but as it is, we don't even know what the differences are because we're too caught up in yelling.
I try to maintain a generally nonconfrontational disposition, so when I am walking across campus and see a crowd foaming like the ocean before a storm, I turn my head and cross the street in order to avoid the situation.
Sometimes though, especially when the guy in the green, three-piece suit sits on his folding chair at the top of Wescoe's stairs, I duck under someone's arm in order to catch a few notes of his droning voice. I like to listen to the music of his speeches, which incorporates the taunts from the crowd with his own imprecations. Listening to him is something of a guilty pleasure for me
》 SUBMISSIONS
Schneider is a Topeka junior in English.
Whether we gather around him because we are angry or intrigued, we have only three options since we can't ban free speech in a public place (nor would we want to).
We have another choice, though. Instead of yelling, which won't change anyone's mind, we could become known as the prime destination for street preachers. What if the University of Kansas became famous for our courtesy and receptivity toward anyone who stood up and shouted from the top of the stairs?
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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.
The first possibility is simply to keep heckling, and spit back at his outrageous statements. Our second choice is to turn our heads away and walk on the other side of the street.
For any questions, call Courtney Hagen or Natalie Johnson at 844-4810 or e-mail opinions@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
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also: The Kansas will not print guest columns that attack a reporter or another columnist.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Gabriella Souza, Nicole Kelley, Patrick Ross, Courtney Hagen,
Natalie Johnson, Alison Kieler, Tasha Riggins and McKay
Stangler
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