THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 5A
▼ GIVING IT TO YOU STRAIGHT
Red Cross forgets mission
The reason people donate their time and hard earned money to not-for-profit organizations like the American Red Cross, is to save lives and to help people endure disastrous situations. It seems that the Red Cross, however, has lost sight of its core objective and become deeply entangled with various social and political issues that in no way relate to the organization's cause or concept.
Earlier this month, a man living in California was fired from the American Red Cross for choosing not to recognize Gay Pride Month. He and his co-workers were sent out a mass e-mail informing them that the upcoming month was Gay Pride Month. The e-mail asked employees to please observe and embrace this occasion. Offended, he complained to his supervisor, stating that the way of life of the homosexual community was against his religion as a Christian and that he would abstain from participating. His objection, in the form of a brief and formal e-mail, was overly disregarded by his supervisor. Unsatisfied with the lack of results or even a courtesy response, he pursued the matter further by e-mailing the national headquarters. He was immediately put on "administrative leave" by his superiors, and shortly thereafter fired. This man worked at the ARC for eight months before being fired and was not involved in any additional incidents.
MEGAN LOGUE opinion@kansan.com
This comes down to a breech of civil rights. How is it ethical for an organization that boldly boasts of its "humanitarian mission" to take away the job of a man who was simply exercising those civil rights? Shame on the American Red Cross for losing track of what its crucial function is and for veering off the path of dedicating itself to saving the lives of human beings.
If this is considered an acceptable reason for firing an individual, where does it end; where do you draw the line? More importantly, why is this supposed, world-reowned organization more concerned with social and political controversy than it is with building an institution that reaches the people in the world who need their help? The bottom line is, it is the help of the American Red Cross that this world needs and not their judgments.
Falling prey to the ever-changing world of what is socially and politically correct will only cloud the ARC and, in due course, will ultimately control and prevent it from doing as much good as it possibly could. "Diversity," as the Red Cross calls it, is mentioned within its main Web site severa1
It is simply this: in order to help save the lives of people in need, one does not and should not have to embrace or even disclose any information or action concerning one's personal beliefs; especially on something so unconnected as sexual orientation.
times in careful detail and structure. This should not be on the top of this organization's priority list. I personally have no preference for one over the other when it comes to the homosexual community and the Christian community, and the intention of my argument is not the validation of one over the other.
Free for All
Logue is an Overland Park senior in journalism.
Call 864-0500
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.
I just want to say congratulations Lewis 516 for alcohol bust of the year, and we'll be looking forward to you for the rest of the year.
Hey, I just want to say to all the students out there, keep campus clean, pick up your trash and let's keep it nice for everyone. Hey, maybe then our rating will go up.
Yeah, to whoever said Sara Garlick missed the forest for the trees, you missed the sarcasm for the trees.
Pshaw, I'm in the newspaper.
Damn to all the freshmen rollin' up, blasting their iPods in the library, have some consideration, it's a library, dummies!
If you look in the window at 452 Snow Hall, at about 11:30, you can almost see my soul diminishing. Thanks, Calculus I.
Elise, I just wanted to say you are the best friend in the world. Good luck on your University Dance Company audition tonight. You're the most talented dancer I've ever seen!
Dear Matt, thanks for being creepy, Love, the freshman girls.
Today, I learned how to use a compact!
Sorry, bro. I already bought your bike on eBay,
for less than 200 bucks. You're not getting it back.
So I know there's phone sex, and cyber sex, but is there text-messaging sex? 'Cause the guy right next to me is having it right now.
I hope you get syphilis, Alex.
Hey, Free for All, it's just me, I was still wondering if you were going to that sweet party this weekend? Whoo! Bye!
I'm sitting here, eating nachos, on my roommate's bed, and she said she was going to go buy movies, but she almost said boobies on accident.
I have three classes in Fraser!
To the guy looking for the best pick-up line for girls, I ain't no hollaback girl.
To the perpetrator who tore down Long John Silver's,
I will forever blame you for my undying
craving of hush puppies.
Hey, I think they should change the name from McColum residence hall to "The Gulag."
My dreams of hot wings were dashed
Let's all agree that McCollum, or "The Gulag," needs a parking garage.
I just have to say that the new Facebook.com layout sucks.
Explain this to me, why does my ex-boyfriend want the girls' flip-flops he bought me back that I've been wearing for two months? So if you see a guy on campus with girls' flip-flops on, feel free to point and laugh.
Just so everyone knows, if you are on the 5th floor of the art and design building, you can smell the Chick-Fil-A, and it smells so good!
When I read the free food article, I seriously laughed out loud that people would give away their Social-Security number to those bozos.
✩
Yeah, I was the one who called and said Bauer was hot, how can I go about scoring a score with her?
Do we really want the younger brother of an ex-Missouri star? Hell! Yeah! Come on, Brandon!
I think the rising cost of textbooks is connected to the rising cost of gas. You do the math.
TALK TO US
Hey, Citeen Cope at the Bottleneck kicked ass.
The four guys in the front sucked ass though.
Jonathan Kealing, managing editor 864-4854 or kealing@kansan.com
Austin Caster, editor
864-4854 or acaster@kansan.com
Matthew Sevik, opinion editor
864-4924 or msevik@kansan.com
Sarah Connelly, advertising director 864-4014 or adddirector@kansan.com
John Morgan, sales director 864-4462 or addirector@kansan.com
5. Check books out at the library. Many books are available at one of the University's libraries, or the Lawrence Public Library. Students may also be able to talk their teachers to posting readings on in e-reserves.
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com
Malecol Gibson, general manager, news adviser
844-7667 or mgibbon at tamanan.com
6. Shop around. Not all bookstores put the same price tag on the same book. Some bookstores offer promotions like 5 percent off for preordering, some give money for instore use as a reward for selling books back to them. Some local stores like The Raven, The Dusty Bookshelf, Half Price Bookstore or even Borders may have the same books for less.
could be cut down by not buying unused books
For any questions, call Austin Caster:
at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
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EDITORIAL BOARD
How to beat book overpricing
SUBMIT TO
Kansas newroom
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1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 65045
(785) 864-4810 opinion@kansasan.com
EDITORIAL
The KU Bookstores, University Bookshop, and Jayhawk Bookstores have always had a huge advantage in selling textbooks to students. It's nice to have the bookstores close and the textbooks easy to find, but it's always a hassle when not enough books are ordered, prices are increasing, and certain bookstores refuse to buy back students' books. Here are a few ways to get around the overpricing.
1. The Internet is always a good place to start. Amazon, com, Half.com and many other online bookstores can provide students new or used books for much cheaper, even after the shipping and handling fees are factored in. Another way to use the Internet is to search for the full texts online. Many books are posted online in full.
2. Swap books with friends, or form a network to start a Web site that posts what books students have so other students can go directly to the student to purchase for a fair price. This would result in higher buyback prices for the seller and lower bookstore prices. Everybody wins! There are swap meets like this at the Jayhawker Towers and residence halls, but other exchanges could be organized on a higher scale.
4. Students can always research their teachers and classes by asking former students they know. Some teachers don't actually assign every book on the list, so the prices
3. Share a book with a friend you have in class, or make a friend. Most classes don't meet every day, and it would be easy for both people to read the book within two days' time.
- Weltmer writing for the editorial board.
Doug Lang and Matthew Sevick/KANSAN
BUILT FORD TOUGH
Welcome back to school, y'all. This expression is extended, of course, to my Caucasian classmates as well.
Studying abroad in Africa enriching
Or as the people of the Fon tribe in the French-speaking western-Africa country of Benin might say, "Yoyo yoyo, bonoir! Ca va bien? Merci!"
GINA FORD
opinion@kansan.com
The literal translation is, "White person, white person, good evening! Are you well? Thank you!" I learned this little ditty during my summer vacation when I traveled to Benin with friends. Two of them were blond-haired, blue-eyed females. These two, Heather and Natalie, were considered highly exotic in Benin. For three weeks, people would break out in song, singing, "Yoyo yoyo, bonsoir" whenever they saw us coming. It was hilarious.
Between my urban American style and my lighter-skinned counterparts, we attracted attention all over Benin. If the kids weren't singing to my friends, they were trying to take my shoes or hat.
Even as I stood on the balcony of our house, a beautiful beach home that overlooked dozens of mud and tin shacks, people would look up and stare at me; the children would wave.
I have never before seen such poverty in any other country that I have visited. In Benin, there were many children with distended bellies who ran around naked.
As Americans, we take for granted the everyday items that most of us have access
to, such as personal hygiene products.
I spoke to a young man named of Fleurant Akpata while I was in Cotonou, the government seat of Benin. After smelling an unfamiliar odor in the air for a few weeks, I asked him about it. He said it was the African sun, and the lack of deodorant. Fleurant explained many people did not wear deodorant because it was too expensive.
"Do you want to buy deodorant or feed your family? Which is more important to you?" Akpata asked.
Don't get me wrong, there are some wealthy people who live in Cotonou, but most are not so fortunate. There is no middle class; you are either rich or poor.
This was a powerful experience that everyone should have the opportunity to be a part of. The University sponsors study abroad opportunities year-round to countries throughout the world. There are dozens of opportunities to study in European and Latin American countries, but unfortunately the program falls short when it comes to Africa.
After searching the KU Study Abroad Web site, I found that other than the Arabian
countries in Africa, such as Morocco and the westernized South Africa, there are almost no University-sponsored trips to Africa currently active.
As an alternative, the study abroad office offers Student Initiated Programs. Said Stacey Satchell, outreach coordinator for the Office of Study Abroad, students participating in SIP's are given some assistance from the University to help them find living accommodations and a sponsor in the country to which they are traveling.
Satchell said that they are in serious need of professors with links to countries in Africa, in order to make the program possible.
It's a shame there were no real opportunities for students to see different cultures in Africa. All my life I have lived in Washington, D.C., a city with a large metropolitan area and a staggering amount of poverty, yet I have never seen anything quite like Benin.
Africa is one of the most beautiful places on earth, but it is a continent that is struggling. Although our country sometimes ignores Africa on a national level, as educated individuals, take the initiative to educate yourselves.
I encourage everyone to travel abroad, for leisure or academics, because it will give you a greater appreciation for the life that you are fortunate enough to have.
- Ford is a Washington, D.C. junior in journalism.