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SCHNEIDER: Do you find yourself being grossed out by men with beards? If so, you may have a case of beardism. And that needs to change. See Kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 7A
》 OUR VIEW
Effects of NBA draft warrant scrutiny
Julian Wright's announcement to leave the University of Kansas for the NBA draft raises several concerns regarding "student athletes." These athletes, often just teenagers, are caught between the commitment and pride of college sports and the money and added incentives of professional athletics. Oftentimes it's the student athlete who, while seeming to hold all the power, is the ultimate loser in this process.
Some players make the transition from a couple years of college ball to the professional leagues effortlessly. Paul Pierce left the University to enter the NBA draft and hasn't looked back since. Some players face factors such as team dynamics, injuries and lack of preparedness to up their level of play, which cause them to quickly fade out before they've had a chance to shine.
This is when the student athlete becomes the biggest loser. He or she has no diploma, not enough money to live off and crushed hoop dreams. These stories happen all too often; stories of money made from those players, by their colleges and then many sponsorships, are
nowhere to be found when the dust settles and the last fan leaves the venue. No matter how often those corporate sponsors or professional-league bigwigs tell the players it's about them, it rarely is. The partnership is solely based on money. Not the player.
The role of the big time "student athlete" is due for reevaluation. Perhaps paying them to play in college would keep them in school for four years and they could earn a diploma to fall back on, just in case. Maybe a redrawing of the professional draft rule might be in order.
Whatever the case, a prime-time, cover-of-national-magazine "student athlete" is more than just your typical sophomore in college. The added responsibility, hours put in and pressure may seem glorious and worth it for those on the outside looking in, but the local fame isn't enough. Offtimes these youths, barely legal adults, are the victims of the moneymaking sports machine. More care ought to be placed in protecting them.
— Tasha Riggins for the editorial board.
LIFE - SIZE JENGA
editors' note
Tomorrow's opinion page will contain an editorial about the shooting at Virginia Tech.
The editorial board decided to postpone an opinion until more information could be released about the tragedy.
Grant Snider/KANSAN
Continue to check out The University Daily Kansan and kansan. com for coverage with a local focus.
COMMENTARY
Beards hold important place in history, if not on campus
Long, sustained looks a good way to evaluate one's own level of 'beardism'
Before you read this column I have an assignment for you. Take out a pen, preferably a black one, and sketch a beard on my picture. You are now looking at a representation of what I would like my photo to be.
There's an underground population of us at the University of Kansas who cannot grow enough of a beard to show up even faintly in a photograph.
I have been waiting to look like Grizzly Adams since I shaved for the first time at age 14. Yet each
year passes and I still glare at a clean face in the mirror.
Of course, not everyone shares my approval of beards. You may be asking right now, "But Sam, why would anyone want a beard?" The answer lies in the recesses of human history. It confronts the very question of what a man's face was made to do.
Men have struggled to decide what to do with their facial hair for several thousand years. History has seen times in which men lost sight of their chins at an early age and
never glimpsed them again; at other times, shaving becomes the law of the land.
In the fourth century B.C., Alexander the Great decreed that his soldiers
be clean-shaven so that in battle their enemies couldn't grab hold of their beards in combat.
No anti-beard laws hold sway.
BY SAM SCHNEIDER
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
these days,but beards still lack the acclaim they deserve.
discomfort.
In fact, anyone growing a beard, especially an untrimmed one, risks a degree of social
To combat this, a human rights group called _he Beard Liberation Front campaigns in the United
Kingdom against all forms of "beardism." Beardism is a hidden prejudice against people with beards.
You may be unaware that you are a beardist. To test yourself, go on campus and stare at a someone with a beard for 20 seconds — but don't be too obvious about it. If during that time you formulate any thoughts containing the words "gross," "dirty" or "too much," then you probably have at least a minor case of beardism.
University Daily Kansan, I invite you to consider the possibility of trying a beard to see if it makes you a little more manly and confident.
To all the male readers of The
To the significant others of these men, if you are angry at what I have just said, I invite you to think deeply on this issue and rid yourself of all beardism. Each individual man must have the right to decide for himself whether to enshrine his face in a beard.
Schneider is a Topeka junior in English.
FREE FOR ALL
Call 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansas editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
Jericho High School in New York needs to give us back our Jayhawk. Don't believe me? Check it out at www.jericho-
To the clod on the seventh floor of Ellsworth who clogged up the shower with his mud: Now I know why janitors are angry people.
---
Survey says nine out of 10 girls named Lauren are D-bags.
PASS/FAIL
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You know it's bad when you're Facebook-stalking at 7:30 in the morning, before your class.
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I just spit out my milk all over my Free for All because of that mermaid comment. Way to go!
I swear, it's like 7th Street is just one big pot hole. My car is getting its ass kicked.
This is response to the "if it off-
fends you, don't read it" comments.
You won't know that something
offends you until you've read it.
I think a smurf splooged on my newspaper.
Oh, if only you could judge news events as easily as a credit / no-credit class ... it's good enough or it ain't. Read below for such a simple take from the opinion editors.
- STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS ARE HELD AND SCANDAL ALLEGATIONS ENSUE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS: FAIL
— ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR, SPEAKS AT THE UNIVERSITY: PASS
LAWRENCE PARTICIPATES IN THE NATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION:
PASS
JULIAN WRIGHT
ANNOUNCES HE'S
GOING FOR THE NBA
DRAFT: FAIL
— 'NOREASTER'
STORMS HIT, DEVAS-
TATE THE NORTH-
EASTERN UNITED
STATES: FAIL
WICKED-CRAZY
COLD WEATHER
FREEZES FLOWERS,
FRUITS, VEGETABLES
NATIONWIDE: FAIL
ANNA NICOLE
SMITH'S BABY'S PATERNITY DETERMINED: ??
FROM TV SHOW "EX-TREME MAKEOVER:
HOME EDITION":
PASS
TAX DEADLINE GETS EXTENDED TO APRIL 17 FROM PREVIOUS APRIL 15: PASS
— KANSAS CITY FAMILY GETS NEW HOME
KANSAS HAS MORE VOLUNTEERING THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE : PASS
》 TALK TO US
Gabriella Souza, editor
864-4854 or gsouza@kansan.com
Nicole Kelley, managing editor
864-4854 or nkelley@kansan.com
Patrick Ross, managing editor 864-4854 or pross@kansan.com
Natalie Johnson, associate opinion editor 864-4924 or njohnson@kansan.com
Courtney Hagen, opinion editor 864-4924 or chagen@kansan.com
Lindsey Shirak, business manager 864-4014 or lshirak@kansan.com
Jackie Schaffer, sales manager 864-4462 or jschaffer@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser 864-7667 or malcolm吉anson.com
SUBMISSIONS
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com
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 Courtney Hagen or Natalie Johnson at 648-4810 e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
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Maximum Length: 200 words
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**include:** Author's name, class, hometown (student) or position (faculty member/staff) and phone number (will not be published)
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**Maximum Length:** 300 words
**Include:** Author's name; class; hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Gabrielle Souza, Noelle Kelley, Patrick Ross, Courtney Hagen
Natalie Johnson, Alison Kiele, Tasha Riggins and McKay
Stangler