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NEWS / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
INTERNATIONAL
Rare elephant found in Myanmar jungle
ASSOCIATED PRESS
YANGON, Myanmar — A rare white elephant has been captured in the jungles of northwestern Myanmar, a mostly Buddhist country where the animals are considered good omens, state media reported Tuesday.
Forestry officials found the animal Saturday, acting on a tip, in the jungles of Maungdaw township in northwestern Rakhine state, the New Light of Myanmar reported, describing the elephant as about 38 years old and 7 feet and 4 inches tall.
White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and other Asian nations. They were normally kept and pampered by monarchs and considered a symbol of royal power and prosperity.
The elephants are not necessarily white. They can look similar to other elephants except for certain features like fair eyelashes and toenails, light-colored hair or a reddish hue to the skin.
The newspaper did not say where the elephant would be housed. It will be the fourth white elephant held
in captivity in Myanmar. The three others are at the Mindhamma Hill park, in suburban Yangon, where they live in an enclosure with spiralled pavilions, a manmade waterfall, ponds, trees and vegetation.
Sorada Salwala, of the Thailand-based Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation, said the group normally objects to placing elephants in captivity but stopped short of criticizing the capture of white elephants. In Thailand, all white elephants are traditionally handed over to the country's revered king.
"The white elephant is a sign of great blessings and fortune for the land," she said, adding that traditional Myanmar and Thai beliefs are similar on the subject.
Previous white elephants transported from the jungles have been heralded in lavish ceremonies where the Myanmar's military leaders sprinkle them with scented water laced with gold, silver and precious gems.
A war was fought in the 16th century between Thailand and Myanmar, then Siam and Burma respectively, over disputed ownership of four white elephants.
STATE
Photo illustration by Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
Police start pulling over for texting behind the wheel
BY LUYAN WANG lwang@kansan.com
As of July 1, police officers will begin pulling over and giving warnings to drivers who text or use e-mail on their cell phones. The new policy, which is part of the bill Governor Mark Parkinson signed into law May 24. Kansas Highway Patrol Captain Art Wilburn said police would start looking for texting drivers Thursday but won't issue the $60 fine until after Jan. 1.
Students and others driving on campus could also get tickets. Assistant Chief of Police Chris Keary said University Public Safety would begin looking for the violation July 1 as well.
Research has found that texting while driving significantly increases the probability of a car crash. The bill stated that more than 29 lives would be saved and more than 4,100 injuries could be avoided with the new law.
State Senator Jay Emler, a Republican from Lindsborg, introduced the bill and called texting while driving "a popular rat" during the full Senate debate on the anti-
texting bill. Emler said he spent two years with an ambulance service and picked up several victims who were too young to die. In some cases, he said the accidents were caused by careless drivers.
"While talking on a cellular phone is distracting, perhaps even dangerous, texting while driving is absolutely dangerous," Emler said.
Emler said a good police officer would be able to determine whether the driver was texting, just as an officer determines whether there is reason to believe the driver is under the influence.
of the students were likely to write or respond to a text message while driving.
"I believe with education of the public, this bill will save lives and curtail, although not stop, texting while driving."
JAY EMLER
State senator (R-Lindsborg)
The research also showed that students were aware that the behavior was risky, but that it didn't stop them from texting.
Kolbe Schectz, a graduate student from Montrose, Colo., said he never
"I believe with education of the public, this bill will save lives and curtail, although not stop, texting while driving." Emler said.
Paul Atchley, an associate professor in psychology, recently surveyed 400 college students aged 18 to 30 on their texting and driving behavior. The results showed that 95 percent
texted while driving because it was dangerous, but he didn't think the new law would stop people from doing it.
"Drinking and driving is dangerous too, and it is illegal." Schectz said. "But people still do that."
Unlike
Schectz, Travis Yuile, a junior from Kansas City, Kan., and Kandice Hall, a senior from Kansas City, Mo., said the new law probably would change their texting while driving habits. Both said they texted while driving, but would likely stop because of the new law.