Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010
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Reading physics makes me want to jump off a bridge.
I may or may not have skipped class today to download music
I am not going to let a crappy week bring me down.
--symbol, to change perceptions of very real feelings" Vobs said.
The make-out session was great, but falling asleep with you was even better.
--symbol, to change perceptions of very real feelings" Vobs said.
My dad downloaded an app for his phone so he can keep sending me picture messages that have word bubbles attached on them. Oh. technology.
I would love to know how the conversation goes when a kid tells his parents his semester GPA is 0.0
I received a box of calculators,
burping pens and action
figures in the mail. Today is
--symbol, to change perceptions of very real feelings" Vobs said.
I dislike it when string cheese doesn't pull apart evenly.
If your pencil ran out of lead, would you buy more lead or a new pack of pencils? I'm thinking new pencils.
Have you ever slept with one leg under the covers and the other outside of them because you can't decide if you're cold or hot?
--symbol, to change perceptions of very real feelings" Vobs said.
Katy Perry did and then wrote a song about it.
Is it wrong that I was tempted to take the elevator while working out at the Rec?
Why can't college parties be like Aaron Carter's party?
I feel like bocc ball would be the summer Olympics equivalent to curling.
Does putting "..." at the end of a sentence accomplish anything? I think so...
I'm starting a sidewalk FFA on Wescoe Beach. If you have chalk, you make it in.
My ADD medicine is helping me procrastinate harder than ever before
I can't study when "Glee" is on!
--symbol, to change perceptions of very real feelings" Vobs said.
CAMPUS LIFE
How KU students' protests have continued to evolve
Students had the opportunity to see a fairly uncommon scene on our campus last Friday: an old-fashioned protest.
On the last day of Pride Week, members of Fred Phelps' group, which protests military funerals and gay pride events, came to campus to protest as per their usual methods of distasteful posters.
But, that wasn't the big news. What was unique about Friday's events was the rally outside the Kansas Union opposing Phelps' group. This rally drew about 300 people, according to a report in The University Daily Kansan, and as a member of the crowd, I can attest that there was a high volume of support for Pride Week.
I went to observe the scene and to see if there would be any kind of scuffling between students and the Phelpsians. There wasn't, thankfully, but the whole time I was struck by the rarity of the event.
What I was witnessing, and what those students were participating in, was a large, organized, picket-style protest. It reminded me of photos of marches and rallies at the University during the 1960s and '70s.
Some of the issues that drove students to protest in large numbers in the past are now non-issues, such as the draft. Others, such as civil rights — both for minorities and women — remain pertinent, but the manner in which these causes promote themselves has changed.
Hawk Life
BY JONATHAN SHORMAN
jshorman@kansan.com
The nature of activism has evolved during the past decades. Now, it is common to see multiple tables set up on Wescoe Beach where people try to promote various causes, whether religious, charitable, political or otherwise. There may even be a couple of groups handing out flyers to students as they walk by, which, by the way, I can't stand — but that's beside the point.
The point is that we as students seem to take a greater interest in a variety of causes than students in the past. The focus is no longer on only war and minority rights; it's on everything from sex trafficking to the environment to sweatshop labor.
With increased interest in diverse causes, it only makes sense that there just isn't enough energy to generate large sign-waving, chanting crowds to protest for every issue. Because of this, causes have become more subtle and passive about spreading their message. Students have come to expect tabling and pamphlets and sidewalk chalking.
That is why we pay extra attention when there actually is an organized, large-scale event. Take as another example the opinions generated when the abortion display comes to Strong Hall during the fall.
Although large group protests can be effective and although I support the right to protest, I'm not entirely sad we've moved past regular picket-style protesting. Too often this style of protest can actually harm a group's message and lead to views of a cause that a group probably doesn't want.
Take the Tea Party protesters, for example. Concerns about taxes and government is often overshadowed by inflammatory signs at their rallies with the purpose to offend or with a message that can easily be misconstrued. This movement would probably be taken much more seriously if it produced well-crafted literature and websites.
But in some cases, large protests can work. Friday's counterprotest did divert attention away from the extremists and the counterprotest became the primary story.
Whether effective or not, last Friday's protest was a good reminder that activism isn't purely a thing of the past, hidden in the pages of history books. Rather, it is alive and well.
Shorman is a sophomore from McPherson in journalism.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
CUTTING THE "CONSTELLATION" MOON PROJECT DOES ITS BIT TO BRING SKYROCKETING FEDERAL DEFICITS DOWN TO EARTH.
... BUT ELIMINATING THAT MOON ROCKET ALSO KEEPS OUR FEET ON EARTH AS WELL...
NICHOLAS SAMBALUK
GUEST COLUMN
Money an alternative to Advil?
We are warned from childhood that money is the root of all evil,but a new University of Minnesota study might overturn this conclusion.
Research by Kathleen Vohs, associate professor of marketing at Carlson School of Management, suggests cash can reduce pain. The study suggests that people who physically handle money are less susceptible to both physical and emotional pain.
In the experiment, a control group was given plain paper to count, while a second group was handed a stack of paper money to rifle through. Shortly afterward, participants were asked to stick their hands into scalding hot water. Pain ratings from the cash counters were found to be radically lower than those of the control group.
Interestingly, the subjects of Vohs' study did not have any expectation of keeping the money, so it could be assumed that the very presence of cash causes our pain threshold to increase.
This realization introduces some troubling questions. Is this just another result of our ever-developing market economy, a world in which society has become increasingly dependent on material goods? Is our reliance on riches and the modern advances they impart an unhealthy alternative to social interaction?
"These effects speak to the power of money, even as a
"People want money more and are soothed by it when they are not experiencing deeper need satisfaction, but the satisfaction of money is superficial and is not enduring," said University of Rochester psychologist Edward Deci.
The influence of a hint of affluence has on the human psyche is undeniable, but it may not be substantially life altering.
This notion is called the Easterlin paradox, which is founded on the idea that after basic needs are met, increased earnings do not have a profound effect on happiness.
Recently, this concept has been challenged by two researchers at the University of Pennsylvania
who point to 2008 Gallup Poll results as evidence. According to the poll, citizens residing in countries with a higher GDP per capita consistently report higher levels of life satisfaction. Of course, personal and national economic growth can be fulfilling for deeper reasons, and most have to do with witnessing the result of hard work and effort over time
Money can reduce pain, but does money itself buy happiness? As long as studies are published by economists and psychologists alike, there will be conflicting opinions. It may put a smile on your face for a moment, but it certainly isn't a permanent mood boost.
After taking into account all the research and reports, all the graphs and polls and surveys, the best insight may in fact come from the late Irish comedian Spike Milligan: "Money can't buy you happiness, but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery"
Sometimes, that's all you can ask for.
— UWire. Maureen Landsverk for the Minnesota Daily at the University of Minnesota.
FASHION
In first impressions put best shoe first
Everyone learns in grade school not to judge a book by its cover, or, in other words, not to judge people by what they look like.
Nonetheless, when we see a person for the first time, it's nearly impossible to keep from making assumptions based on what he or she looks like. This is why — for better or worse — it's important to keep in mind that how we dress says a lot about who we are.
A successful outfit is not complete without a proper corresponding pair of shoes. Making the wrong footwear choice can completely throw off and ruin an outfit.
When I assess someone's outfit, I do a quick check of what she's wearing, and then go straight for the shoes. To me, shoes are like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
— If The Shoe Fits: Because the pair of shoes you choose to wear can reveal a lot about your personality, be sure to pick a pair that says something positive. If you have a bubbly personality, wear a bright, colorful pair of flats. If you're sporty, try a fun pair of Keds. If you love to paint, buy a pair of white canvas shoes and make your own masterpiece.
It seems that some types of shoes are defining characteristics among groups. For example, if you're in a frat or sorority, it's assumed that you wear Sperrys. Or, if you own a pair of Toms, people may think you're a charitable person. The shoe-stereotype connection continues: Rockers wear Converse, hippies wear Birkenstocks, and promiscuous girls wear Uggs (I don't know why, since they're not sexy at all).
The Hemline
When you choose shoes, make sure they say the right thing about you, but don't let shoe stereotypes keep you from wearing what you want. If you choose a pair you love, it most likely fits your who you are.
BY ALEX ESPOSITO
info@kansan.com
Footwear Faux Pas:
When spending a lot of money on shoes, don't fall for trendy, outrageous footwear that won't be in style for very long. Spend more on classic, simple styles, such as loafers or ballet flats, which have been considered fashionable for decades.
Nothing says, "I don't care" better than a pair of dirty, worn out shoes. Instead of throwing on a pair of tattered Old Navy flip flops, consider investing in a nice, sturdy pair of well-made leather sandals that will last a long time. If you can't afford to splurge, buy some sandals made from plastic leather instead. No one will know the difference, and you'll look just as put together.
Sneakers belong in the gym. Yes, they're comfortable, but unless you're working up a sweat you shouldn't wear them.
Finally, it's no longer necessary to match your shoes, purse and belt, but it's important that they're in the same color family.
For example, a black belt clashes with brown shoes,but a light brown purse can be worn with dark brown shoes, as long as the different shades complement each other.
Don't get lost in the sea of boring footwear. Stand out by choosing a fun, original pair of shoes that is as unique as you are.
If people are going to guess who you are based on what you're wearing, let them know with your shoes.
Esposito is a sophomore from Overland Park in film and media studies and journalism.
One student sets good example in countering protests
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
We've all probably heard the old saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." That's just what KU students did last week when Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church showed up to protest the Brown Bag Drag Show during Pride Week at the University.
One student in particular went the extra mile: Daniel Held. It was really inspiring to hear that he organized a fundraiser during the counterprotest of the Phelps group to raise funds for Planned Parenthood
of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.
Daniel showed us something we sometimes need to be reminded of; One person can make a difference. The thousand-plus dollars he helped generate will help Planned Parenthood continue to provide affordable, high quality reproductive healthcare in the Lawrence area.
Many thanks to Daniel and his fellow KU students for not only turning something negative into something positive, but also for raising awareness about the work Planned Parenthood does.
Brittany Page is a media intern with Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.
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THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE EDITORIAL BOARD Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Stephen Montemayor, Brianna Pfannenstiel, Jennifer Torline, Laucem Nunckingham, Vicky Miller, Ann Duncan, Jani Arabe, S菲妮 Penn, James Castle, Michael Holl, Caitlin Thorburn and Andrew Hartman.