Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 5A
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--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
I really just need to get off academic probation so I can attend every basketball game next year.
Methinks Mason Heilman is very unpopular at the moment.
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
If they cut the funding to the Kansan, that could mean less Free For All, and I'm not in favor of that.
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
Is it still possible to drop classes?
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
I wonder what would happen if I stopped using the word "the."
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
I think I'm burnt out on chicken.
I was just informed that my identity has been stolen and I just bombed my calculus midterm. I think I'll just tell them it wasn't me who took the test
I hate when you have studied so much and you get to the point where you just can't anymore and you still have an hour before your test.
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts.
Tonight I found out that I am not the only one who saves dwarfed earthworms.
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
This aggression will not stand,man!
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
Who would have thought a virgin-boy could kiss like that? I'm still trembling.
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
He's a virgin, so all he's done is kiss. He'd better be good
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
Well, I didn't win the lottery tonight. Sorry to all you would-have-been lucky students that would have had an extra $50 in their pockets.
Spring break will suck.
When I stay up too late I start getting paranoid and think people are breaking into my apartment. I'm not sure what this says about me.
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
Finally free!
Really, Budig computer lab?
I'm in dirty Anschutz because you never open on time.
--here and many can only think about one thing: spring break.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Students should have fun but be cautious during spring break
One of the most anticipated times of the year for college students is finally
This week-long vacation gives students the opportunity to take time away from the stress of midterms and papers and get some much deserved rest and relaxation. It should be a time devoted to having fun, but it is important for students to be aware of potential safety risks before traveling
College students flock to destinations all over the world with the goal of having a great time. Unfortunately, many students tend to forget that it is necessary to be cautious and to know ways to protect themselves, whether they are traveling in the U.S. or abroad.
With help from the KU Public Safety Office, here are a few tips on how you can protect yourself while visiting an unfamiliar place:
Never go out alone. It might sound like a given, but you are less likely to become a victim if you are with a group. Also, be a good friend and make sure fellow travelers don't make stupid decisions. Never go home with strangers.
Do not carry large amounts of cash and credit cards. Many hotels have safes available, either
in rooms or at the front desk. where visitors can store valuables. Use these.
If you go abroad, go prepared with the contact information of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate
Office. That way, if you are a victim of a crime, or accused of one, you can call for support. Many assaults made while abroad are committed by an acquaintance of the victim
Laws set by Kansas are usually the same in other parts of the country. According to the Safe Break pamphlet distributed by the KU Public Safety Office, all states have a legal drinking age of 21 and all states have laws against open
For more tips visit the State Department's website at:
http://www.state.gov/travel/
Do not go out alone with anyone you have only known for a few days; don't give into the hype, not everyone is hooking up while on spring break.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Remember that date rape drugs are odorless and tasteless. Always watch the bartender mix your drink and never drink from a glass that was left unattended. If you start to feel more intoxicated than normal or you start to feel faint, have your friends take you somewhere safe.
or the TSA website at:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/
airtraf/assistant/index.shtm
may also be required of someone who is arrested or ticketed to go back to the jurisdiction where they were charged to appear for court; even places that are fun to visit during spring break lose their allure when you have to visit a judge.
containers in a car. Most jurisdictions will hold an individual who lives out of state in jail until you appear before a judge or can post a cash bond — even for a misdemeanor. It
Spring break is a time to have fun and unwind from day-to-day stress. But, as students make voyages to national and international hotspots, they need to remember it pays to be cautious.
— Stephenie Penn for The Kansan Editorial Board
Dear friend,
I'm having so much fun at the beach ll! Too bad you're stuck in KANSAS for Spring Break! Be jealous. Haha. Bye!
MARIAM SAIFAN
SCIENCE
Hunting the ghost hunters
Ghosts are the perfect manifestations of human fear. They simultaneously embody death, darkness and helplessness. But because ghosts are so fundamentally terrifying and culturally ubiquitous, television networks have found it very easy to capitalize on these emotions; ghost hunting shows have permeated our popular culture. Although the investigators claim to be hunting for ghosts, their true victim is any semblance of scientific skepticism.
How does one hunt for ghosts? On shows such as Ghost Hunters, they use EMF meters designed to measure electromagnetic waves, and thermographic cameras that are capable of detecting infrared radiation. They also use a huge number of cameras and other electronic devices to detect the ghosts. From the spots on the cameras to the spikes in measurements, the hunters claim to be detecting supernatural spirits.
The sheer number of ghost hunting tools alone should be a warning sign to reasonable people. With so many measurements being taken, it is incredibly likely that at least one will show some anomalous results. Electromagnetic radiation measurement is an especially easy way to find suspicious anomalies. With all of the wiring and electronics in these supposedly
haunted houses, in addition to the ghost hunters' huge quantity of measurement electronics and camera equipment, it is incredibly predictable that fluxuations would regularly occur. The only way a ghost could be reliably detected with an EMF meter is if you were to catch it listening to an iPod with a radio antennae strapped to its head.
But cameras are perhaps the worst tools in searching for ghosts. The premise that a ghost is invisible to the visible wavelengths of light yet detectable by flash-photography is absurd. Cameras are designed to mimic human sight, but their instrinsic machinery lends to the creation of visual artifacts in the final picture, such as floating orbs or glowing images, usually generated by the flash of the camera. This is the intellectual equivalent of claiming to cause a solar eclipse by holding up your fist over the sun.
It can be very entertaining
to see a crew inspect a haunted house and jump with fright at the slightest sound. But they harm the foundation of science in a very direct way by creating a horrifying caricature of scientific investigation, something entirely run by gadgets and machines.
Blinking lights, scrolling numbers and auditory spikes are shown as "good science." But these measuring devices are only the tools of science; real science is about observation, prediction, testing and questioning what we see before arriving at the best conclusion — a trait curiously absent from these ghost hunting shows.
The number of ghost hunting shows is growing. Ghost Hunters has already developed three spin-off series, Ghost Hunters International, UFO Hunters and Ghost Hunters Academy. This represents an unfortunate trend in the misrepresentation of science and popularization of intellectual laziness. It promotes an uncritical view of the world and encourages audiences to believe first and ask questions later.
Worst of all, these shows falsely display the supernatural as mystorious and exciting, when the natural world is what is truly beautiful and mystifying.
Folmsbee is a senior from Topeka in neurobiology.
SPRING BREAK
A good stay-cation
Maybe the spring break trip to South Padre Island, Canon or
Island, Cancun or Panama City didn't pan out this year. It's possible you could find yourself retreating to your home town or staying in Lawrence for break. If you don't want to spend your time attending moms craft festivals or the local home and garden show, that's where I come in. Rather than lamenting through your friend's hourly photo album updates from Florida this break, the third week of March has several quality activities that anyone without a vacation can enjoy. Besides, everyone knows that Panama City is the Nickelback of spring break destinations: overdone and overrated.
That Guy
Watch the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, first and second rounds (Thursday-Sunday). In high school, I used to bring a tiny black and-white television to school to catch the afternoon slate of games. No school means you don't have to try and catch score updates between classes. The top seeded Jayhawks will be getting a guaranteed game on either Thursday or Friday; before we can enjoy another "Mario's Miracle," we'll have to start here. Also, fill out a money bracket before the games begin so the "Southeastern Virginia Academy of Sciences A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman-Jackson Rodriguez Institute of Technology" game becomes a little more intriguing.
Read a book not named "Twilight" or "Dear John." Yes, it turns out there are books out there that aren't written by Stephanie Meyer and Nicholas Sparks. Now that I've effectively angered 98 percent of my female readers, let me say that I know reading is probably the last thing
JY TRENT BOULTINGHOUSE
students want to do during spring break. However, it's different when Ernest Hemingway or Cormac McCarthy tell the story. If there's been a book that someone has been recommending for a long time, use the break to at least start it. Take this time to pick up a classic novel and forget about that research paper. Just a few books to consider are McCarthy's "The Road" or "Blood Meridian", Kurt Vonnegut's "SlaughterhouseFive", or lack Keroaouc's "On the Road." If a full novel seems too daunting for only a week's break, consider "The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway," which is a nice alternative to hundreds of pages.
Do something outside. I used to dread these words when I was a fat little kid, but now they are a relief to hear after a snowy winter. If it's possible, take a bike ride through some familiar country or a nearby city, reconnect with old friends with a golf outing or simply relax on a patio. And though physical relaxation is a nice benefit from the week, perhaps the more important area of concern is resting the mind. Although many students do this activity in the balcony of Budig 120, it's still something everyone should try to do during break. After all, finals and exit projects will be here soon upon the return to school.
Boultinghouse is a sophomore from Girard in history and journalism.
The Kansan should take chance to grow
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Stephen Montemayor's reaction to a proposal in the Student Senate to cut funding to The Kansan is completely understandable. He perceives a threat to his newspaper and fights back.I can't blame him for that. However, Mason Heilman's argument is sound and his proposal reasonable.
Heilman's points regarding conflict of interest are exaggerated and conspiratorial, to be sure. There's no reason to believe that Kansan staffers are trading endorses or favorable coverage for the University's money. However, one of the first lessons in journalism school is that the appearance of a conflict of interest is every bit as damaging as the reality of such a conflict.
The ferocity of Montemayor's reaction is the proof of Heilman's claim. The editor-in-chief paints a bleak picture of his newspaper, post-Senate funding; Staffers would be laid-off. Features such as Jayplay and The Wave would be discontinued. Important organizations would lose exposure.
If all this is true, if the Senate funding is so crucial to the operation of this newspaper, doesn't it speak to the danger of the financial relationship between the paper and the legislative body? Again, staffers do not have to actively trade favors with the benefactor for this to be a concern.
Heilman's measure would undoubtedly result in a great deal of pain for The Kansan. However, the paper's staffers should recognize that, in the long run, divorcing themselves from Student Senate money would buttress their credibility.
Finally, it's worth noting that university funding is in no way a necessity for a vibrant student newspaper. As an undergrad, I worked for two semesters at "The Alligator," the student newspaper at the University of Florida. The paper is totally independent of the University and does not rely on its Student Senate funding for publication. And yet, the paper has won numerous awards for outstanding student journalism.
— Andrew Bare is a graduate student from DeSoto.
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CONTACT US
Stephen Montemayor, editor
864-4810 or smontemayorlikan.com
Brianne Pfannenstiel, managing editor 864-4810 or bpfannenstiel@kansan.com
Jennifer Torline, managing editor 864-4810 or jtorline@kansan.com
Lauren Cunningham, kansan.com managing editor 864-4810 or lcunningham@kansan.com
Emily McCoy, opinion editor
864-4924 or emccoy@kansan.com
Vicky Lu, KUJ-HTV managing editor 864-4810 or vlu@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
44477 or cbattle@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson general manager and news
Malcolm Gibson, general manager and news adviser
864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Jon Smith, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jschitt@kansan.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kanian Editorial Board are
the Marian Koster-Braun Bhammenstedt,
Jennifer Tolini, Lauren Lentz, Vicky Lek,
Emily McCoy and Kate Larabee