Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY MARCH 11,2010
FREE FOR ALL
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I was on the bus, sitting behind a girl I knew and noticed that a stranger was peeping in on her texts, so I sent a text warning her. He read it, and I laughed ...
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
I hate my Samurai class.
Be careful of Dillons' St. Patty's day cookies. They come out the same color they go in.
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
To the guy with the "I'm allergic to stupid people" T-shirt; I don't think you understand why I was sneezing around you.
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
To the kid watching "Antiques Roadshow" in front of me: You're a champ!
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
Why are emergency vehicles always at the Towers?
I hope I never sink to looking for a sex partner on Free for All Wow.
It seems lame dodging potholes while driving, so I like to imagine they're snurlers
Hey, cool accessory! Let me take it and wear it, so you have to ask for it back and talk to me. Do I look cool?
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
PAGE 5A
Guys, just because you don't shower doesn't mean you should bathe in Axe. Really.
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
It's really nice to have something to believe in again.
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
Whenever I get milk at E's, feel like I'm milking a cow.
You should have asked me to stay. I would have said yes.
I'm pissed that Lindsay Lohan is suing E-Trade for the "milkaholic" commercial. "Milk-a-whaaat."
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
Writing a screenplay instead of studying? Well, OK!
Anyone have some extra motivation lying around that they'd be willing to give me?
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
Mine has been gone for a like week, and I really need to write this essay that's due tomorrow.
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
You are now reading a post in the FFA.
Good morning, Starshine! The earth says hello!
--have been present to represent and listen to the student body, which voted him into office.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The committee voted 7-3 in favor of slashing the student media fee by $1.70 and eliminating any future funds to The Kansan. This decision will appear before the full senate March 24 for a final vote.
The Kansan won't stop fighting Student Senate's proposed cuts
Though Wednesday's Student Senate finance committee proceedings did not transpire as we hoped, The University Daily Kansan will continue to fight to receive funding.
The student body has voted on and approved the student media fee. You have told Senate where you want your money to go. Before it changes the distribution of your money, Senate should put this fee back in front of the student body for another vote, else it go against the wishes of its constituency.
Also disappointing was the absence of Student Body President Mason Heilman, who initiated this proposal and who said in a prepared memo that he would not have voted for any other item had this fee cut not passed.
The statement, read by Student Executive Committee chairman Alex Earles, was unsatisfactory. It lacked the respect and consideration that legislation with consequences of this magnitude deserves. At the very least, Heilman should
Citing in his memo an "inappropriate relationship" between The Kansan and Student Senate, Heilman again used the analogy of Congress stepping in and funding The New York Times while expecting favorable coverage.
The Kansan has never allowed any outside factor to affect its coverage, let alone student government. It is likewise becoming frustrating to repeat that Senate does not provide these funds — it merely distributes funds that students provide.
We would appreciate the continued support of the student body as we work to resolve this issue and as we prepare to go before the full Senate. We will need even more support because this issue will be put to a full senate vote after break.
I urge you to contact your Student Senate representatives to let them know that you value The Kansan and the unique service it provides to the student body. Use social media to get the word out. Do not settle for inadequate representation from your student body president.
This issue is not over. It is not
This comparison is laughable.
going away. However, we can easily lose this battle through inaction. A setback such as this should never deter us from sticking to our ideals and defending our rights as student journalists and media consumers.
Lastly, The Kansan is not going anywhere. It will continue being the student voice of the University of Kansas, as it has been for the last 107 years. At this time we cannot be certain as to what might be sacrificed if these changes pass, but we will continue to cover issues that affect KU students to the absolute best of our ability.
We hope those ideals — a free press for students produced by students — are consistent with yours.
We are here every day of every semester, and we appreciate those of you who have stuck with us as this situation developed.
Quality, unbiased journalism means something to those of us here in the halls of Stauffer-Flint, and it is something we work towards, as students and as journalists, every day. We think it is something worth protecting, and we ask you to join us in making our voices heard.
Stephen Montemayor is The Kansan's editor in chief.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
NICHOLAS SAMALUN
SEEING A COWBOY MOVIE TOGETHER
ECONOMICS
Reign in insurance companies to initiate health care reform
Putting aside political stances, we can all agree that health care is expensive in the United States. So expensive, in fact, that Americans spend more on healthcare than any other developed country.
In 2006, an entire 15.3 percent of America's economic pie was in health care costs while other universally insured nations spent much less. The next highest spender was Switzerland, at a distant 11.3 percent. The United Kingdom only spent 8.3 percent of its GDP on health care, while surveys reported high patient satisfaction.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, America commits substantially higher percentages of its GDP to healthcare than any other developed nation.
If Americans are spending considerably more on health care coverage than any other developed nation, where does this extra money go?
On the individual level, this means that Americans are losing much larger portions of their paychecks to health insurance.
Here's a possibility: the executives and shareholders of massive insurance companies. In 2009, during the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, the five largest insurance companies made
Even more astounding, shareholders of the insurance giants not only enjoyed record profits, but they also doubled their profits from 2008 to 2009. According to Health Care for America Now, Cigna, Humana, Aetna, Wellpoint, and United Health Group reported making $12.2 billion in 2009, up 56 percent from $4.4 billion the previous year.
BY BRADEN KATZ
the highest profits since the industry's existence.
However, like so many other systemic problems that have arisen from lack of regulation, these top insurance companies have become so large they can jack up prices without fear of losing customers.
In addition to benefits from sheer size, the insurance industry is exempt from federal anti-trust laws meant to ensure that competitors do not work together to increase prices in a specific market. As a result, Americans are scrambling to pay for necessary health insurance as companies collectively increase prices to unreachable levels.
In addition to the outrageous profits during the hardest economic times of our generation, these companies proceeded to drop insurance coverage for another 2.9 million Americans last year, adding to the overall number of uninsured Americans, which is approaching 50 million.
It seems the common misconception is that our health care system will be revamped to resemble a suburban DMV; we have some fear that going to the doctor will be like trying to renew a license behind an endless line of obnoxious 15 year olds waiting to get permits.
In reality, the experience of going to the doctor would remain exactly the same. The only difference with a reformed health care system would be who pays for the patient's visit. Regardless of the size of a person's paycheck in America, everyone would benefit from public option that forces runaway insurance companies to compete with stable and affordable government coverage.
Katz is a junior from Overland Park in creative writing and political science.
FASHION
Spring break style
The sun's out, the birds are chirping and the snow's finally melting. Spring's here at last, and that means it's almost time for spring break. Packing the wrong wardrobe can ruin a vacation, so follow these rules to avoid an international fashion disaster.
When it comes to city travel, the most vital accessory is a pair of comfy, yet fashion forward shoes. A cute pair of Keds or other sneaker-flats with good support can keep feet feeling fine throughout hours of walking tours.
Fun in the sun: When traveling somewhere tropical, its vital to buy a bathing suit far in advance. Waiting until the last minute means limited selection, and possibly being forced to settle on a suit with poor fit. The right swimwear choices can flatter a body and hide the less beautiful spots, but the wrong choice will draw attention to all the wrong places.
Proper fit is most important when wearing a bikini. The wrong cup size can lead to uncomfortable gawking and possible wardrobe malfunctions in the water. To hide a tummy, a tankini or trusty one piece will do the trick. To make these flatter styles a little sexier, choose a halter top
Pretty in the city: No matter if it's the dead of winter or the dog days of summer, city folk love to wear black. No one knows why. They just do. When going to a big city such as New York or Paris leave neons at home and pack dark clothes. Not into the gothic thing? Try crisp navys or mellow earth tones. Don't be afraid to be bold and wear color in the city. But to avoid sticking out like a sore thumb, stick to fair pastels. These light shades will block the sun, and are appropriate for spring.
BY ALEX ESPOSITO
aesposito@kansan.com
The best accessory for the beach is sunscreen. Tans are fun, but sunburn and melanoma are not. To get a fantastic tan without burning, use sunscreen with a low sun protection factor. But remember, the SPF means how long the sunscreen will protect skin from the sun. SFP times 100 is equal to the number of minutes skin is protected. Reapplying when time is up is necessary to stay safe from the sun's rays.
Pack like a pro: Packing efficiently is all about planning. Make a list of everything needed before packing so you don't forget anything. Pack an outfit for everyday plus one or two extras in case of spills or unforeseen changes in the plans. If the weather is supposed to be hot, be sure to pack a sweater or jacket and a pair of pants, just to be safe.
Remember to pack little things like an umbrella, sunglasses or a hat so you won't have to buy an expensive pair if the weather changes. Bring at least one dressier outfit for activities like dinner at a fancy local restaurant or seeing a show on Broadway. Multiple bathing suits are always nice to have.
with a low cut — just don't go so low that the girls fall out. When it comes to swimwear, ignore the saying "less is more."
This spring break, please be safe, have fun and look great!
Esposito is a sophomore from Overland Park in journalism
RICHELLE
BUSER
FACE-OFF: Speaking Up
Silence. It's been nearly 30 seconds, and still no one has answered.
It's an awkward situation that occurs every day on our campus: A professor poses a question and patiently waits for a student to respond.
That's when someone like me starts going crazy. Usually, I cave and speak up for the third time in the past hour just so the lecture can continue.
I can't stand the lack of participation in classes or the awkwardness that can result.
Consider speaking up in class.
Students may be surprised how much they learn and how quickly it can pass the time.
Discussion can make a rather lackluster class vibrant and interesting.
Buser is a senior from Columbia, Ill., in journalism.
Learn to think before speaking.
I'll admit, every once in a while it is entertaining to listen to some of the idiotic comments. I'm not referring to any educated, opinionated comments that I disagree with. I'm talking about the comments that completely lack legitimacy and contribute nothing to the class.
Discussion classes are meant to be thought provoking, but most of the time I find them to be just plain irritating.
I've come to the conclusion that most of these comments come from people who like the sound of their own voice a bit too much for their own good. They end up making themselves look (I hope at least) far more stupid than they actually are.
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Matney is a sophomore from Shawnee in journalism.
MANDY MATNEY
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CONTACT US
Stephen Montemayor, editor in chief 864-4810 or smontemayor@kansan.com
Brianne Pfannenstiel. managing editor
864-4810 or bofannenstiel@kansan.com
Jennifer Torline, managing editor
864-4810 or jtorline@kansan.com
Lauren Cunningham, kansan.com managing editor 664-8410 or lcinungam.kansan.com
Vicky Lu, KUJH-TV managing editor 864-4810 or vlu@kansan.com
Emily McCoy, opinion editor
864-4924 or emcrow@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
664-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
Jon Schlit, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jschltk@kansan.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are
Michael Brennan, David Scales, Michelle
Jennifer Ternier, Lauren Cunningham, Vicky
Ully, Emily McCoy, Kate Larekane, Michael Hotz,
Caitlin Thornbrough, James Castle, Stefanie Penn
and Andrew Hammond.