Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 7A
FREE FOR ALL
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
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--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
It took me four hours to watch "New Moon," because I kept pausing and zooming in on Taylor Lautner's abs.
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
Waking up an hour early and then realizing I still had an hour to sleep is the best thing ever.
My life is a Taylor Swift song right now.
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
Today my computer told me the year is 2146. I'm glad Microsoft thinks we will make it past 2012.
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
There is no "I" in band!
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
So, guess I'm stuck in the friend zone, after all.
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
Man, I had a crush on you until I saw that you liked "Desperate Housewives" Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly. And shopping.
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
I keep trying to find pictures for a presentation, but all I'm getting is gay porn.
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
If the haters hate, let them hate and watch the money pile up.
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
I have a Twitter stalker. How creepy.
I wonder if they would
mad if I took a nap on the
couch in this coffee shop...
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
I tried almond butter that costs $35 a jar yesterday. It was almost worth it.
Marriage is an institution,
and you have to be committed
to it. If that doesn't sound like
a nuthouse, I don't know what
Small children should not be allowed in coffee shops.
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
Nothing beats a good cigar
I lost my v-card, if anyone finds it sitting around you can keep it.
I love waking my roommate up after he's been clubbing all night
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
What would you do?
Insult. woah.
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
Allergies are murder
--ing Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
EDITORIAL BOARD
University to feel the loss of some faculty members
Jerry Wang/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Drum majors lead the Marching Jayhawks down to Memorial Stadium. Scott Weiss, director of the Marching Jayhawks, will be leaving KU for a job at South Carolina
W with the departure of Scott Weiss, successful director of the Marching Jayhawks, to a more prestigious job at South Carolina, the student body has to wonder. Why are these great educators leaving?
It is understandable why a professor or faculty member might leave the University for a more prestigious or lucrative position at another institution, but we wish that such great staff would stay.
Karl Brooks, a well-known
In the three years under Weiss's direction, the Marching Jayhawks grew by 73 members, improved collaboration with the Athletics Department and networked with high school bands across Kansas
But Weiss isn't the first member of the Jayhawk faculty to recently announce resignation from the University.
associate professor of history and environmental studies, was appointed by President Obama to lead Region Seven of the Environmental Protection Agency, to direct "operations in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine Tribal Nations," the EPA main site reads.
Brooks has taught thousands of students in the school of law, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and graduate studies. His classes range from environmental law to American legal history and American culture and politics.
William Tsutsui, associate dean for international studies, is leaving the University to take
The Lawrence Journal World reported on Feb. 1 that he plans to return to the University when his post is up, after Obama's tenure in office, and we hope he does.
the position of dean of Dedman College at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Tsutsu is a scholar and instructor in Japanese history.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Tsutsui will begin his job at SMU on July 1.
Students should wish Weiss and Tsutsu good luck with what appears to be bright careers. And we hope Brooks decides that a return to the University after his post is a plan for the near future.
The loss of these educators will be felt on campus. Their respective departments now need to concern themselves with how to replace such renowned instructors and continue to provide students with a quality education.
James Castle for The Kansan Editorial Board
EDITORIAL CARTOON
TWENTY YEARS OLD
NICHOLAS SAMBALUK
HUMAN RIGHTS
Pursue goals despite cynicism
I'll be the first to admit it: I am one of the many hope-to-do- good-for-mankind students here at our University.
Some people enjoy laughing at or patronizing "naively idealistic young people," such as myself. It is easy to get discouraged listening to disparaging cynicism.
Williams is a force to be reckoned with on the activist scene. Not only did she do fantastic work that earned her the Nobel Prize, but she continues to work on numerous campaigns. She founded the Nobel Women's Initiative, which consists of six of the seven living women who have won the Nobel Peace Prize. (An San Suu Kyi is not an active member, because of her house imprisonment in Myanmar for her role in the Burmese Democracy Movement.)
Near the beginning of April, Jody Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, visited the University.
Then, every once in a while, something or someone comes along to remind us why we cling to our dreams.
This group of women is a united
Rights and the Law
The most fascinating thing I found about Williams was her immense success in grass roots campaigning. She didn't start out with a lot of money or power. She was just a normal person with a passion for helping people and protecting human rights.
front that uses the individuals' experiences in activism and peace-making to further promote efforts for peace and justice.
BY KELLY COSBY kcosby@kansan.com
Seeing an average person accomplish great things in the name of human rights can serve as an inspiration for every student at our University. When telling her story, Williams encouraged students by saying that it doesn't take a genius or a millionaire to make a difference in the world. It all starts with caring about something and then
doing something about it.
Williams came to campus as part of the Center for Community Outreach's Into The Streets Week, a string of activities dedicated to getting students more involved in volunteering in the community
Sometimes people underestimate the effect of community service or grassroots campaigning. In truth, community service is so much more than a resume-builder. It increases awareness about community issues among volunteers and demonstrates the importance of helping others. Volunteers have contributed a great deal to the organizations they help. And where else can a movement begin than at the grassroots level, in the hands of the people?
Williams began her activist work at a meeting in a church basement. It does not matter what you are passionate about; her story serves an important lesson. If you care and are willing to try, chances are you will do something worth being proud of.
Cosby is a sophomore from Overland Park in political science.
ETIQUETTE
Maintain manners in skies
As I write this column I am about 20 thousand feet in the sky flying toward Chicago Midway Airport. From Kansas City; this is a journey that used to take an entire day to complete. Now it's a quick 45 minutes, or, approximately one gossip magazine.
Flying by myself, I've gotten to thinking about airplane etiquette and how passengers should behave to make traveling as bearable as possible. What exactly is airplane etiquette? Where is the line drawn between being an annoying flight-mate and a conscientious one?
Let's start with what airplane etiquette is not. It is not falling asleep, leaping to the side and breathing on the poor person who unwisely chose the next seat. It is not forcing someone to talk when they have other things to accomplish and are obviously not in the mood to converse. It's not using others' space for your belongings, blaring music on an iPod at an unreasonable level or getting wasted on the plane with strangers.
Basically, it's not any of the things that would be annoying in regular, everyday life. The rules of plane etiquette should be common sense. But, if they were, I wouldn't have to address them in this column.
There are aspects of airplane etiquette that are up for debate. The one that first comes to mind is whether it is right or wrong to recline an airplane seat.
It is my opinion that unless it is an international, seven-plus hour flight, there is no reason any person needs to recline his or her chair. Reclining passenger chairs creates an adverse chain reaction. If the person in front of me reclines his chair, I ultimately feel smushed and want more space. To compensate, I recline my chair, where the person behind me likely comes to the same
Manners Made Easy
BY RICHELLE BUSER
rbuser@kansan.com
Another classic air travel problem: When mothers and fathers allow unruly children to interrupt an otherwise peaceful flight. In this case, let it go. Honestly, even if there is a baby crying or little girl throwing a tantrum, I have the option of not having to deal with it as soon as the airplane has landed. Those parents deal with the stresses of their child 24 hours a day. Although I don't have any children of my own, I'm sure an inconsolable child is already plenty embarrassing for parents. Why be a jerk and add to the problems by throwing in a snarky comment?
As with all matters of etiquette airplane manners are about being considerate of others and maintaining a consciousness to what makes fellow passengers most comfortable. With a little effort, everyone can enjoy their travels together before parting ways for their final destinations.
Buser is a senior from Columbia, Ill., in journalism.
I get it. Some people are "more comfortable" with a reclined seat, but I suppose I've never really seen that much of a difference when my chair sits an inch and a half farther back. I have, however, surely noticed a difference when my knees are forced up against the chair. And I'm relatively short! I can't imagine what this scenario is like for someone more than six feet tall.
conclusion I did only moments be fore. The best defense against this domino effect of discomfort is not to recline your seat to begin with.
Dodging the draft isn't matter of skirting duty
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A mix of emotions and thoughts filled my mind as I read the letter titled, "No pride in draft dodging," which was published on April 22.
Besides the initial shock, I couldn't decide whether to be of fended or just disappointed by the seemingly skewed view the author has on history and his country. The letter expressed the author's disapproval of how draft dodgers were positively portrayed in 'The Kansan's look at campus culture during the '70s.
The author believes the U.S. backed out of Vietnam due to an apparent, "absolute failure of our leadership to lead us to a path of clear victory." As if there was some obvious goal or enemy to defeat, some straight line on a map with a big "x" that said "Get here and win the war!"
The reason the U.S. "failed" in Vietnam is because the soldiers were fighting for something that could never be won.
Practically the entire civilian population of South Vietnam wanted to become part of North Vietnam, a communist state. The Vietnamese saw Americans as
enemies because they were trying to impress their beliefs on them.
But, because the U.S. had a political anti-communist agenda, we stayed and tried to force some thing that the majority of the population did not want. After a while, our government was so far in and so many had died that it could not easily back out. This is why the war continued on far longer than it should have.
The draft dodgers of the '70s saw the inhumanity of the battle the U.S. was fighting and they had the courage to stand up against their government for something they believed in.
These people risked their own freedom in hopes of ensuring the freedom of others. Despite what the letter's author may think, this is something to be proud of and retold because of its historical and cultural significance. Our country was founded by people with similar courage; they disagreed with their government and did something about it.
A true patriot is not a blind follower, but a person who questions the actions of his government to ensure that the opinions of its people are properly represented.
- Tom Bukovac is a senior from Olathe
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THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Stephen Montemayer, Braine Plannestier, Jennifer Lorrier, Lauwen Curningham, Vicky Smead, Stephanie Stefano, James Castle, Michael Holtz, Cathleen Bournham and Andrew Hammond.
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