2A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. 2005
What do you THINK?
BY MEGAN PENROD
editor@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Editor's Note: As part of the new, daily 2A features, every Thursday the Kansan will have a "What do you Think," which will ask students about a recent news topic.
How do you feel about the Lawrence ordinance that may reduce the penalty for people caught with marijuana?
-Kelly Kerr, Leawood sophomore
"I think it's a great idea. They did it in Columbia, Mo., and I know a couple of friends from there and they said it's worked out better because marijuana is not as violent as alcohol. I don't think that the government should control what people put in their own bodies anyway."
"Sure, go ahead and make it a lesser offense. It isn't all that bad. It definitely isn't as bad as most people tell you. I think, generally, it makes people very complacent, so I still don't see a reason to have it be illegal per se. It was a poor decision by the courts to make medical marijuana illegal."
-Andrew Smith, Virginia Beach, Va., junior
"Someone could do it knowing it could get expunged off their record. It'll probably make the problem worse. If it's banned federally we're just saying it's OK now."
-Justin Venkatsammy, Olathe sophomore
"I agree with it. With as much spending that they're doing or the amount of trouble they're in with the student budget regarding education, I think it's ridiculous that people can get in so much trouble and have their financial aid revoked for a marijuana violation. Some people disagree because they think they're letting people get away with everything. The cops show up at a party and make the underage drinkers dump out their cups, but arrest the people with marijuana and don't punish the people drinking."
BY MALINDA OSBORNE
mosborne@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Evacuation affects students
-Ashton Martin, El Dorado junior
Images of Israelis wailing and protesting the evacuation of people from the Gaza Strip hit close to home for Zohar Ravid, Overland Park junior, who was born and raised on a kibbutz in Israel. Former classmates of his are in the Israeli army overseeing the pullout.
"One friend had to tell an older woman to move and she asked him to sit down and explain to her why he was doing this." Zohar said. "My friend said 'I have no choice, we have to do this.'"
On Aug. 15, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the Israeli army to have all Jewish settlers leave their homes in the Gaza Strip and relocate peacefully within 48 hours. Sharon ordered the evacuation as a territorial compromise to Palestine.
For all Israelis abroad, the latest developments in Gaza continue to evoke strong feelings.
Ravid, who visits Israel every summer, was there a week before the evacuations began. He said the atmosphere throughout the country was intense. Popular opinion was almost evenly divided. Those who supported the pullout wore blue and those who were against it wore orange.
He said he agreed with the argument that because of security risks, it wasn't worth it for Jewish settlers to remain in Gaza.
"Blue and orange were every where. The colors were on cars, buildings and clothing."avid said. "The pull out was the only people could talk about."
similar value and a job offer in the places that they move." David said.
But Ravid said he supported the pullout because his friends in the Israeli army were trained to be peaceful and could not carry weapons during the process. The Israeli government worked to ensure that the settlers who were displaced did not encounter any financial losses.
"The ball is now in Palestine's court." David said.
But Kahil Saad, Wichita senior and a Lebanese-American, said it was "ridiculous" to assume the Palestinian authority could take control immediately.
Saad said the evacuation was not about bringing stability to Gaza.
"Demographics are its biggest threat," Saad said.
"People were offered a house of
Saad is referring to comments Sharon made in a televised speech last week.
Sharon said that Israel could not hold on to Gaza because more than a million Palestinians live there and that the number doubles with each generation.
"The Israel government is actually setting up conditions contrary to that of a stable government," Saad said. "Sharon wants to wash his hands from the responsibilities of the Gaza Strip but he is still required to protect basic human rights."
But the withdrawal seems to be the first step in a long process for Palestinian stability in Gaza.
The Gaza Strip borders the Mediterranean Sea, near Egypt and Israel. The total area is 360 square kilometers.
According to the CIA World Fact Book, the Gaza Strip has a population of 1,376,289, in an area that is little more than twice the size of Washington, D.C. Few natural resources add to the nation's woes.
Saad said the evacuation actually defied provisions set forth by the Geneva Conventions by controlling economic development while neglecting to provide for the citizens' welfare.
"Iisrael maintains control of water, sewage, telecommunications and electricity in Gaza," Saad said. "But they also reserve the right to reinvade and continue
to limit any sort of movement."
In these conditions, factions such as Hamas rise to power. Hamas is a militant Islamist Palestinian organization that opposes the existence of Israel and favors the creation of an Islamic state in Palestine.
"A relative poverty and lack of opportunity for Palestinians in Gaza are one source of what seems to be the source of extremism and exclusivism in
Gaza," said Jonathan Boyarin, lewish studies professor.
But Boyarin also stressed Palestinians "nopm't just a fanatic tribe").
Boyarin urged understanding on all sides.
"Whatever the politics are, it seems a human imperative that the residents of Gaza be integrated into the region's economy," Boyarin said.
Edited by Anne Burgard
Winter break class offered to Caribbean
BY TRAVIS ROBINETT
trobinett@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Living in a landlocked state won't matter this winter for several students who want to study marine biology.
James Thorp, a University of Kansas professor in the department of Kansas Applied Remote Sensing, will accompany students to the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean Sea over winter break. The students will earn three credit hours in marine biology.
"I was a student at KU interested in marine biology, and there were no opportunities like this at that time," Thorp
said. "When I joined the faculty, I wanted to give students a chance to do fieldwork."
According to the course announcement, students going on the trip will enroll in Biology 420 or Biology 701. The trip will include lectures, tests, field trips and research projects and will be from Jan. 4 to Jan. 18, 2006. The deadline to turn in applications is Oct. 1.
Bonaire is a tropical island off the coast of Venezuela in the Netherlands Antilles and has rich coral reef communities. The lectures will cover topics such as basic marine biology and ecology; biology; and identification of marine invertebrates, fish, mammals and turtles. The field trips will allow student-
to explore the marine, terrestrial and inland aquatic habitats.
Katie Roach, Redwood Falls, Minn., graduate student said she wanted to take the class in Bonaire so she would be able to teach it later. Besides Roach, four to five students have expressed interest to Thorp.
Thorp said because of transportation restrictions and his limited ability to watch over students underwater, he will allow no more than 11 students on the trip.
He said he would give priority to students who complete scuba diving training by January but that it would not be an absolute requirement. He will require students to be able to
swim reasonably well.
This is not the first time Thorp has arranged a trip like this. Thorp said he has led marine biology trips to the Caribbean from two other universities and has led two trips from the University. The last trip was to the island of Roatan, off the coast of Honduras, in January 2005.
Thorp moved this trip farther south for better weather conditions. He said Bonaire is better protected from storms and that winds at diving areas are consistent in their direction, which makes for easier diving. Thorp also said Bonaire is a desert island, where the rainfall is less and divers therefore receive
STUDY ABROAD IN BONAIRI
- Students will receive three credit hours in either BIOL 420 or BIOL 701.
- There is an 11 student maximum.
Preference will be given to students who scuba dive, but snorkelers will be considered.
Grades will be based on one or more tests, a field notebook and a group research project conducted in marine habitats.
12 boat dives and unlimited shore dives will take place to investigate the fringing coral reef.
- No prerequisites are required.
Application deadline is Oct.1.
Source: Formal Course Announcement
more sun exposure.
Being in the sun while scuba diving is important for regulating core body temperature, Thorp said, because diving can cause body temperature to drop. He said Bonaire is one of the finest
diving sites in the Caribbean.
Students can find out more about the trip by contacting Thorp at 864-1532 or the Office of Study Abroad at 864-3742.
Edited by Erin Wisdom
Tell us your news
Contact Austin Caster,
Jonathan Kealing,
Aria Wiley Smith,
Ty Beaver or Nate Karlin at
864-4810 or
@danskson.com.
Kansas newsroom
11 Stauffer-Finn Hall
1435 King Street
KS 60445
(789) 664-8410
MEDIA PARTNERS
For more news, turn to KUJH- TV on Sunflower Cablevision
KUJH
KIKH is the student voice in radio. each day there is need for sports, talk shows and other content made by students.
Channel 31 in Laverne. The student-produced news airs at 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Also, check out KUUH online at tvku.edu.
Whether it's rock'n roll or reggae, sports or special events, KIKH 90.7 is for you.
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 119 Stauffer Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045. The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4962) is published daily during the school year except Saturday, Sunday, fall break, spring break and exams. Weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Periodical postage is paid in Lawrence, KS 66044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $120 plus tax. Student subscriptions of are paid through the student activity fee. Postmaster: Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045
When you Drink, Drink Responsibly...Thursday, Fridays & Saturday Sudas are Free After 9am
"Always the 'Best' Specials, Always the 'Most' Fun!"
Congratulations to our new members of Alpha Chi Omega
Kelsey Allen
Abby Abdallah
Meaghan Allison
Cori Ast
Whitney Bachamp
KU mo
THU
Laura Foster
Katie Barnes
Gretchen Berns
Jenny Brookway
Meghan Flicek
Kendall Carothers
Molly Dennis
Kate Fraser
Whid died ir million Unive versity
Britney Chrisco
Megan Geimer
Lauren DeGraw
Sara Freeman
Meghan Cotton
Middle Fry
Jessica Dotter
Colleen Terguson
Kate Greenwald
"W it," sa opme Univ socia gift tl
Maggie Gremminger
Olivia Hof
Anne Marie Fitzgerald
Ac
from
tion,
the 1
three
Univ
tor f
direct
treas
assi
the can
Katie Huseman
Nikki Overton
Lauren Miller
Ashley Powell
Amber Richmond
Emily Kramer
Oeri Loflin
Kristen Low
Alicia Schmitz
Jennifer Houghton
Katie Schreiber
Lindsey Scott
Mallory Smith
Kendra Meives
Kate Stroud
Holly Summers
Brittany Swearengin
Stephanie Teirkhold
Rmy Waage Kristen Watkins Katie Young
V