Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY MAY 6 2010
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--months ago?
--months ago?
I'm up on amphetamines writing a paper on someone who took amphetamines to be able to work longer. Interesting.
To the chick singing in the computer area of the third floor of Watson at 2 a.m. on May 5: Shut the hell up. If I wanted to hear you sing, I'd go to one of your freaking concerts
--months ago?
You might be a redneck if you send your mom a "Happy Birthday" card instead of a "Mother's Day" card and fixed it with a sharpie.
--months ago?
I don't know what it is about this last month of school, but I can count about five people who are interested in me. Where were you people months ago?
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
My goal is to listen to every song on my iTunes. Two days in and I'm finally to "F."
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
I don't have to shave my face until after finals,right?
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
I feel like school is two weeks too long. I think it'd be nice to be done today.
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
I'm singing along to the words I write in my paper.
Every time I eat Doritos, I tell myself I won't let it get my fingers orange. But, no matter how I careful I am, my fingers are orange
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
I miss you. I'm moving to you. Hello, California!
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
Why do people press harder on the buttons of a remote control when they know the batteries are dead?
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
How do I tell the guy next to me on the plane that he's sitting on my seatbelt?
I like how my phone corrects all of my spelling mistakes when I send a text.
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
ESPN "30 for 30" just zapped four hours out of my life like it was nothing
Is school a little boring when it's not basketball season?
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
Do you think as many students would work if alcohol wasn't so expensive?
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
I saw a guy wrapping his arms around a girl while walking. He either really liked her or was afraid that she was going to run away.
--forward to the free time of summer. Some may choose to venture off. Others may stay in Lawrence, strolling Mass Street and soaking up the Kansas sun.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Follow KU's summer news
With the spring semester rapidly ending, students are already looking
Either way, it is important to stay informed and opinionated on various issues during this summer vacation.
Before we all break for the season, we should all stay familiarized with these topics:
WILLIAMS EDUCATIONAL FUND
Rodney Jones, assistant athletics director for the Williams Fund and Ben Kirkland, the head of fundraising for Kansas Athletics and the associate athletic director for development, both resigned amid federal internal investigations regarding the illegal sales of men's basketball tickets.
Lew Perkins, KU athletic director, originally suspended Jones in March and confirmed plans to conduct an internal review of the Williams Fund, as well as the ticket office. There has been speculation that there may be more personnel changes within the KU athletic department before the summer ends.
THE UNIVERSITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET
Every September, the University sends an annual budget request to the Kansas legislature. The governor then makes budgetary recommendations for the fiscal year. During this time of year, the University prepares its advised tuition rates for the upcoming academic year and they are sent to the Board of Regents.
The budget office then works with other departments within the University to form a budget for the upcoming year. The budget will be released no later than July, and students should pay particular attention to funding distribution, because of possible changes in tuition rates, cuts to various programs and cuts to University staff.
In the high-stakes arena that is college basketball, three Kansas Jayhawks opted to take a leap and enter the 2010 NBA Draft. Once the NBA finals commence, the 2010 NBA Draft will be June 24 to see Cole Aldrich, junior center. Xavier Henry, freshman guard, and Sherron Collins, senior guard, await their fate.
2010 NBA DRAFT
overdraft fees on ATMs or one time debit card transactions, unless the customers give consent to be enrolled in an overdraft protection service.
Once the policy is put into effect, debit cards will be denied if there are insufficient funds, but if a customer decides to opt-in to the overdraft service, then they will continue to be charged a fee for every overdraft transaction. Students need to contact their banks and decide whether they want to receive overdraft protection or not.
KU FOOTBALL
NEW OVERDRAFT POLICY
Students should pay attention to new head coach, Turner Gill. With the loss of several key players, this upcoming season will be about rebuilding. According to Gill, the position of quarterback is still up for grabs and most likely won't be determined until fall camp. Stay tuned to see the progress this team will make.
Starting on July 1, banks will be limited in charging customers'
That's it for this semester's editorial board. Everyone stay safe and stay opinionated.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Stefanie Penn for The Kansan Editorial Board
"Today we're announcing the expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration but in ways that balance the need to harness domestic energy resources and the need to protect America's natural resources. [...] we'll [...] reduce the impact of oil exploration, we'll protect areas that are vital to tourism, the environment, and our national security.
That's why my administration will consider potential areas for exploration in the mid and south Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico." --Barack Obama, March 31, 2010
Nicholas Sambaluk
RELATIONSHIPS
'Standards don't mean cynicism
I received an interesting reader response to one of my recent columns. In summary, the commenter said chivalry was an ancient concept. He said that, anymore, it was meant for women more deserving than myself — I would be much happier if I stopped chasing such high expectations.
That wasn't even the part that bugged me. I was just troubled by the fact that this reader legitimately believed I would be a happier person if I lowered my expectations for how I should be treated by males.
Naturally, my immediate reaction after reading the comment was self-doubt. On one level, the comment made sense. High expectations can lead to disappointment and unhappiness.
So, let me follow this logic: Medieval Age women, born into lives of wealth and luxury, certainly deserve the respect of a worthy male. However, the hard-working, motivated women of today don't deserve a respectful gentleman.
But looking back to my past relationships and thinking critically about the time I've spent ridin' solo, I realize that my high expectations allow me to be content with being single.
I've been on both sides of the spectrum with relationships. My first relationship lasted almost two years. But that wasn't representative of my happiness: The relationship
Texts in the City
Please.
BY MANDY MATNEY
Although I am hopeful, I am also a realist. To say I have "high expectations" is to generalize my values. I may have standards, but I know that my expectations are reasonable. This is because I have also been in a fulfilling and loving relationship.
was actually quite miserable, in retrospect. After slowly developing the courage to break off on my own, I came to the conclusion that it's better to be single with high expectations than it is to settle for someone who brings more pain than happiness.
Looking back, it was the simple things that made me happiest in that relationship. This boy encouraged me, respected my opinion and made day-to-day efforts to show me he cared.
Get this: He even opened doors and pulled out chairs. Even though the relationship eventually ended — on amicable terms — it has given me confidence that I will again find a real, worthy love.
I know the word "chivalry" carries a lot of significance. I really don't expect a knight in shining
armor to sing cheesy love songs as they did in the Middle Ages. Instead, I want modern day chivalry. I want to see more men willing to do the simple things to win the affection of women.
Sure, it would have been fun to wear large obnoxious dresses, pile on make-up and try to look pretty while waiting for a chivalrous knight
Thanks to the suffrage movement, women can be independent, self-sustaining and strong without having to rely on a male.
This is still a fairly new concept and has certainly taken a bit of getting used to.
Even still, I am thankful that it isn't necessary for "primping" to be my primary occupation.
In actuality, men should be more chivalrous now than they ever have. Women used to have to settle with less-worthy males for the sake of economic security.
Within the next few years, many of us college educated, empowered and very deserving women will be looking for life-partners.
We all go to college for the same basic reason: To increase our intellectual self-potentials and increase our chances of achieving the futures we dream for ourselves. I think that the same theory applies to dating.
We are only worth as much as we believe ourselves to be.
Matney is a sophomore from Shawnee in journalism.
HEALTH
Cut double standards to improve confidence
Summer: the days get longer, the shorts get shorter. With so much skin on display, it is human nature to make comparisons, judgments and assumptions.
Looking to others' appearances leads to one of two results. Either we feel somehow validated, as if clothes, body or hairstyles make us better. Or, we feel inadequate. In both cases, there is always a loser.
How about making a vow to revive summer to the carefree, comfortable season that it should be? Theoretically, doing this would be simple enough. Just stop obsessing and stressing about appearances.
In actuality, it is a lot easier said than done. Society rewards superficial characteristics. Magazines, movies and TV screens continue to feature traditional beauties at the forefront.
There has been a modest revolution to overhaul America's preoccupation with physical looks. Shows such as "Ugly Betty" and movies including "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Hairspray" all promote alternative beauty. Nonetheless, these examples are still exceptions to the rule.
For better or worse, a desire to attain perfection (or the next best thing) trickles down from Hollywood. Even the sidewalks of Mass. Street can begin to feel like the catwalks of New York.
All is not lost. It may be impossible to fully escape the glare of media, but it's not impossible to diminish its effects on our lives.
This all starts with being less self-critical. All too often, we set double standards for how we value others versus how we value ourselves. How absurd does it seem to think of friends purely in terms of "fat," "short" or "big-nosed?"
So then, why do we allow ourselves to judge our own bodies in these wavs?
This summer, free from the stress of school, spend time focusing on non-superficial things you enjoy. Instead of
Pursuit of Healthfulness
BY EMILY McCOY
cooling off from the heat by roaming a mall, surrounded by photoshopped smiles of models. go to a local pool.
Before automatically dismissing this idea as crazy—I can already hear the, "Put on a swimsuit? Yeah right!" comments—use this as an opportunity to deemphasize appearance. Just because someone is smaller, tanner or more fill in-the-blank doesn't mean they are having a better time.
Believe it or not, everyone has insecurities. Kate Beckinsale, Esquire magazine "Sexiest Woman Alive" nominee, said in a 2009 interview, "I've always had doubts about my looks. Most women have body issues, and I'm no different."
If feeling good about ourselves were as simple as popping a pill, there would be constant lines weaving out of pharmacies. If we could stop judging other people just by wearing filtered glasses, optometrists would be booked for months. Alas, as with most everything in life, there is no magic cure to body-anxiety.
No one is perfect. No one is always happy. No one is always beautiful.
Still, we can be the best possible versions of ourselves. We can be happy when we're happy and know that it is also acceptable to have bad days. We can smile, hold our heads high and walk with pride.
It's sumimertime. Let your confidence shine.
McCoy is a sophomore from Lincoln, Neb., in journalism. She is also The Kansan opinion editor.
Open up the discussion on student disabilities
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Thank you very much for publishing two excellent feature articles on disability at the University. As director of the Academic Achievement and Access Center, the unit in Student Success that houses Disability Resources, I would like to add a brief post-script.
The student stories highlighted in the articles are wonderful examples of the strength and courage of people with disabilities working exceedingly hard to achieve their dreams. It is important to note that they represent less than five percent of the more than 600 students who identify themselves and use accommodation services. A sidebar to the story written by Carnez Williams listed the scope of disabilities affecting students at the University. Although their disabling
conditions are not visible, these students demonstrate daily the same levels of courage and commitment to learning. They may have learning or psychiatric disabilities. They may have chronic medical conditions. They handle academic and personal challenges every day, and the professional and student staff in Disability Resources often go above and beyond to support them in myriad ways.
Awareness and attitude are the biggest challenges for both people with disabilities and the people who serve them. Once again, we sincerely appreciate the great work of Carnez Williams and Elliot Kort. We invite anyone interested in learning more about disability on the campus to contact us for additional information on our services.
— Mary Ann Rasnak is the director of the Academic Achievement and Access Center
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THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Stephen Montenayover, Brianna Phnienstenel, Jennifer Tortine, Lainne Cunningham Vicky Lu, Emily McCoy, Kate Larabee, Stéphane Penn, James Castle, Michael Holtz, Callin Thornbugh and Andrew Hammond.