Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY APRIL 26 2010
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 9A
FREE FOR ALL
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
To contribute to Free For All, visit Kansan.com, call 785-864-0500 or try our Facebook App.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
I got up at 6:30 this morning This was a mistake.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
I've been watching "My Name is Earl" for the past six hours. I think I might have a problem.
I definitely passed out naked for the first time last
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
I got so high yesterday, I felt like my feet went through the car and got stuck
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
I'm so not officer, drunk.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
When I think back on our relationship, I sometimes wonder if I was drunk through
The ambulance sirens at noon can only mean one thing: the first case of alcohol poisoning for the Larryville Luau.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
Watching "Power Rangers" in the morning brings back my childhood. It's morphin' time.
I just realized I haven't been more than 50 miles away from Lawrence in almost three
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
Who are you and why did you just Facebook poke me?
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
I've had better luck selling my body for science than giving it away. I'm so confused
Drunken words are sober thoughts.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
Hmmm, should I ask out this hot girl two computers?
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
Just vomited in class. The teacher then canceled the class for the rest of the hour. Now I'm a hero! I have to get drunk more often.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
There's nothing like a brand new crush!
Why am I almost 19 year old and still watching the Disney Channel?
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
Hey, no worries. I'm well into 20, and I still watch the Disney Channel. You're not alone my friend.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
Whoever keeps running up and down the hallway needs to stop. Right now. Before I tackle them and cut their
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
I just saw the stupidest tattoo, and I was actually embarrassed for the person.
--as a drop-in shelter would provide the homeless a place to go during the day. Given its central location near downtown, it serves an important use as a daytime drop-in shelter.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Commission's vote shows support for Lawrence's homeless population
After months of negotiations, the future of Lawrence's homeless shelter finally has the chance of being resolved at tomorrow night's City Commission meeting.
Despite heated criticism of the plan that would relocate the Lawrence Community Shelter near the Douglas County jail, we support this proposal and encourage city commissioners to once again vote in favor of it.
Last Tuesday, city commissioners approved a special use permit needed to relocate the shelter to a warehouse at 3701 Franklin Park Circle.
The permit was approved by a 5-0 vote. There will be a second reading of the proposal tomorrow night — a general procedure for City Hall — and we hope city commissioners support it just as strongly.
Members of the Lawrence Community Shelter Board have been trying to relocate the shelter for nearly six years. Last Tuesday's vote was the closest they've ever gotten to achieving this goal. Tomorrow night's vote could be the final step in this process.
Although no plan is perfect, a decision must be made soon.
Loring Henderson, shelter director, said, if approved, the relocation would take place in 12 to 18 months, depending on how long it would take to raise funds for the move. After six years of hard work, postponing the move any longer would be unacceptable.
The new location will have approximately 125 beds,72 more than the current shelter, at 944 Kentucky SL. It will also provide increased office space,a full dining room and added space for outside resources, including a medical facility operated by Baker University nursing students.
Improving the lives of Lawrence's homeless is a community effort. Although many residents who live near the Douglas County jail adamantly oppose relocating the shelter near their property, right now it appears to be the best solution.
In the second reading of the proposal, we hope city commissioners will consider two additional items: a drop-in shelter and a bus route to the new location.
The new location will provide adequate housing and better programs and resources — meaning more opportunities for the homeless to improve their lives.
Maintaining the current location
The isolated location of the new shelter would make it difficult for its homeless residents to travel and search for jobs. The Lawrence Transit Office supports adding a bus stop near the new shelter. City commissioners need to approve its proposal for adding one.
Given the importance of this issue, we encourage students to attend tomorrow night's meeting and voice their support for the shelter's relocation. With their support, city commissioners need to approve the proposed move. A final decision on this issue is long overdue.
Michael Holtz for the Kansan Editorial Board.
Meeting information:
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Day: Tuesday, April 27
Time: 6:35 p.m
Location: City Commission Meeting Room, first floor of City Hall, 6 E. 6th Street
AROOJ KHALID
SCIENTIFIC HEALTH
Research goals need to change
No one enters college as a scientist.
Certainly there are those who are interested in the complexities of the human body, the beautiful chemical reactions that occur in the space of a test tube or the sheer wonder of the stars in the night sky.
At universities such as ours, undergraduate research opportunities help students make this transition. Undergraduates can get experience investigating the genetics of worms, the migratory patterns of butterflies, novel anticancer pharmaceuticals and much, much more.
It can be either independent or guided by a research mentor. In either case it provides the chance to be an investigator in addition to a student. It can even help to graduate with honors and is an excellent mark of distinction for those entering graduate school.
But to become a true scientist, one must take this modest interest and transform it into a legitimate profession.
But many students are becoming increasingly ambivalent about the value of such research and are abandoning its true intellectual potential.
Whether it's the natural sciences, the social sciences or the humanities, undergraduate research allows students to explore their interests beyond the classroom.
Sai the Science Guy
However, this research is sometimes performed simply as a resume booster and not for its own merit. This is particularly true
Undergraduates will often have little awareness for the effects of their research projects or even the context of their question in general.
Undergraduate researchers should be able to explain the significance of their research for the greater scientific community and defend the limits of their conclusions.
BY SAI FOLMSBEE
in the biological sciences, where many students gain laboratory experience simply as an aid to get into medical or graduate school.
But many merely perform the motions of research, blindly following the directions of their faculty mentor. Research, for them, is simply a line on their curriculum vitae, one more step toward a career.
Research projects are built on the results of decades of prior research — a complex culmination of the failures and successes of scientists of the past.
To be fair, research is a difficult activity for undergraduates to comprehensively understand.
Expecting an undergraduate to comprehend the entirety of their research project after only taking a
handful of prerequisite courses is certainly unfair.
But if the student is willing to put in the effort to conduct a research project they should be expected to develop a respectable knowledge base.
The students clock in 10 to 15 hours per week in the laboratory and perform a set of menial tasks for an overarching project they barely understand.
Research faculty and mentors are also not entirely blameless. Though many foster independent undergraduate research as a serious investigation and significant teaching opportunity, some treat the undergraduates purely as hourly employees.
There are research opportunities here that rival the best colleges in the nation. The University offers a diverse range of fields, approaches and interests that can appeal to nearly any developing scientist.
But the only way the University will inspire a new generation of legitimate scientists with skills of investigation beyond the technical aspects of research is to encourage sinicere undergraduate devotion to projects and active mentoring by the faculty.
Undergraduate research is a chance for the University to stand out as a true academic learning community.
Folmsbee is a senior from Topeka in neurobiology.
HEALTH
Big challenges posed by gluten-free living
G gluten intolerance, known as celiac disease, can wreak havoc on a person's
break navoc on a person's ability to lead a normal life. I am all too familiar with the challenges of gluten intolerance after having lived a year gluten free
Celiac disease can be present as an infant. For others it will remain dormant until triggered by something such as a virus, the death of a loved one or surgery.
There is a vast range in the symptoms that people with the disease, referred to as celiacs, may experience. One celiac could have diarrhea while another has constipation. For this very reason celiac disease is often misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
A study printed in The Journal of Family Practice revealed the inaccuracy of many of these tests. Doctors typically recommend suspected celiac remain on a diet rich in gluten two to four weeks before having blood work done, but even then there is a chance the results will not be accurate. Many people with a mild case fall through the cracks.
Beginning a gluten-free diet prior to consulting a doctor usually is not advised because of the sensitivity of the blood tests used to diagnosis celiac disease.
Doctors often have a hard time diagnosing celiac disease.
Celiac, who experience the relief of having their disease diagnosed, still must learn how to lead a gluten-free life in a gluten-rich world.
Celiac disease is fairly common, with one in 133 Americans suffering from it, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation. However, a majority of society seems clueless as to what exactly gluten is.
Essentially, a person who is on a gluten-free diet must avoid anything that has wheat, rye, barley or any of their derivatives.
The Contentious Consumer
BY SARAH GROSS
sorross@kansan.com
For example, I am not only a celliac, but I am also a vegetarian and have a host of food allergies.
I have discovered that Lawrence has many gluten-free, vegetarian options, but vegetarian celiacs should be particularly cautious; many restaurants assume that gluten-free products are safe for vegetarians.
These restrictions can dramatically affect a person's ability to eat on the go. This can be particularly difficult if the person has other dietary restrictions.
I recently discovered the gluten-free bun at Local Burger contains gelatin, which is neither vegetarian nor kosher.
Many vegetarian, celiac customers unknowingly consume gelatin when they order a veggie burger with the gluten-free bun.
As awareness about celiac disease increases, society is beginning to accommodate for those in need of gluten-free products.
Anyone who has a special diet should never take an employee's word for it. Unless they are following the same specialty diet, they likely have no idea what is safe and what is not.
For anyone with a special diet, asking to see the list of ingredients is better than potentially consuming a detrimental ingredient.
Following a gluten-free diet can be quite daunting — both physically and socially — but it is absolutely imperative for a celiac to remain healthy and symptom free.
Gross is a freshman from Lindborg in international studies and journalism.
Ethics blur the line in inclusive classrooms
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
During a recent lecture my professor expressed her agreement with any sexual affiliation or relationships. Her desire was to create an "inclusive classroom," where no judgment was passed based on personal sexual affiliation.
Along with this statement, my teacher told us about one of her fellow professors who didn't agree with her stand on sexuality. Therefore, she implied, he was hateful, bigoted and ignorant.
Needless to say, this shocked me. My professor's refusal to accept her fellow professor's viewpoint as a legitimate perspective contradicts her desire to create an inclusive classroom. As a result, she excludes all who don't agree with her narrowly defined opinion of what is moral.
this environment. I would be a member of this elusive inclusive classroom if I agreed with exactly what she says.
The idea of an inclusive classroom is commendable, but my professor failed to create
Interestingly enough, I disagree with almost everything she says. My frustration grows with every class. I know I am not alone.
My call to you, fellow students, is to think for yourselves. Professors don't hold all the knowledge. The privilege of being an educator doesn't allow the right to push an agenda on us.
College is meant to be a place to freely explore ideas and form our own views, not have them belttled by our professors when we think differently. Classrooms will never be inclusive if students must listen to professors spout off morally subjective ideals.
— Joey Williams is senior from Denver.
HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
LETTER GUIDELINES
Send letters to *opinion@kansan.com*
Write *LETTER TO THE EDITOR* in the e-mail subject line.
Length: 300 words
The submission should include the author's name, grade and hometown.
Find our full letter to the editor policy online at kansan.com/letters.
CONTACT US
Stephen Montemayor, editor in chief 864-4810 or smontemayor@kansan.com
Brianne Pfannenstiel, managing editor 864-4810 or bpfannenstiel@kansan.com
Jennifer Torline, managing editor 864-4810 or jtline@kansan.com
Lauren Cunningham, kansan.com managing editor 864-4810 or lcunningham@ikansan.com
Vicky Lu, KUJH-TV managing editor 864-4810 or vlu@kansan.com
Emily McCoy, opinion editor 864-4924 or emccoy@kansan.com
Kate Larrabee, editorial editor
864-4924 or klarrabee@kansan.com
Cassie Gerken, business manager
864-4358 or cgerken@kansan.com
Carolyn Battle, sales manager
864-4477 or cbattle@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager and news adviser 96142363
Jon Schlitt, sales and marketing adviser 864-7666 or jschlitt@kansan.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of The Kansai Editorial Board are Stephen Montemayer, Branne Pfannelen; Jennifer Toutline, Lareine Cunningham, Vickie Lu, Emily McCoy, Kate Larabee; Steffen Penn, James Castle, Michael Holtz, Cattlin Thornbrough and Andrew Hammond.