4A the university daily kansan opinion wednesday,may 5,2004 EDITORIAL BOARD Kansas hunger can be tackled at the local level Even in America's agricultural heartland, people are going hungry. Ten percent, or about 105,000 Kansas households, cannot provide adequate nutrition for all their members, according to a recent study conducted by the Kansas Health Institute. The study, released in January, showed that food-insecurity—the inability to adequately feed all members of a household for a healthy, active life — is not just an urban problem. In fact, hunger is at about the same level in rural and urban areas. This despite the fact that most food-insecure households had at least one employed member. But only a little more than half of the eligible families sought assistance through government and local aid. This was because of lack of awareness, and sometimes, embarrassment. So as the state and federal government work to de-stigmatize and combat the problem, the report suggested working on a local level. OURVIEW If local restaurants donated their unsold food items, it would help combat the hunger problem in Kansas. Community food pantries are one of the locally-based institutions that help feed underprivileged families and provide tangible assistance for those in need. The Ballard Community Center, 708 Elm St., the Salvation Army, 946 New Hampshire St., and Pelathe, 1423 Haskell Ave., are just three of eight organizations that provide a pantry in Lawrence. Each pantry's livelihood is dependent on food donations, which often come from Boy Scout and Girl Scout fundraisers, church food drives and individual benevolence. By increasing food sources, pantries can provide a variety of food, and possibly increase usage. As students move out of their homes this spring, they can donate canned or boxed goods that would otherwise be thrown away. Similarly, local eateries can donate leftover food. Wheatfields Bakery, 904 Vermont St. donates their unsold bread, breakfast pastries and other perishable items to various local organizations. Most food pantries accept only non-perishables but Pelathe accepts any food, so any restaurant can offer food-insecure families a meal. The study offers increased federal and state aid as part of a multi-level solution to the hunger problem. But taking personal steps toward improving the local hunger problem will better the Lawrence community and provide an example for state- and nation-wide action. 1999 2001 2003 PRESENT DAY Zach Newton for The University Daily Kansan PERSPECTIVE Massage welcome break from finals-week stress Stressed yet? COMMENTARY The final few weeks of hell are upon us. Tests, Papers, Projects, Finals. And for those who graduate in two weeks, you have the added worry of employment. But why would anyone be stressed at this time of the year? The grass is green. The sky is blue. The birds are chirping. The butterflies are flying. And you are studying, hunched over a book or starring at a computer. Stuck inside studying, worrying and stressing. Erin Riffey opinion@hansan.com But I decided to take a different route this year. I threw off the bondage of books, and then my clothes, to rid myself of stress through massage therapy. There is no better feeling than lying lifeless under a white sheet in a warm room as someone slowly kneads the knots from your neck, back and shoulders, separating every muscle, easing every tension until you are completely limp. And with the knots go the thoughts of books, tests, projects, moves and jobs. Even the medical community has recognized the stress-controlling powers of massage. In an American Hospitals Association survey of 1,007 hospitals, 74 percent of the hospitals with massage therapy offer it for stress management in patients, and 69 percent use it for stress management in employees. One hour intermission from life: priceless. As college students, all of our stress inducers come at the same time, leaving us no time to relax — or so we think. An hour is all it takes to restore relaxation. That, and a little money, too. According to statistics provided by the American Massage Therapy Association, consumers spend between $4 billion and $6 billion each year on massage therapy appointments as massage becomes more socially mainstream. If nurses and doctors find relief in massage from the stresses of medical emergencies and long hours, surely students can find that same relief during their finals. In fact, 21 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 pay for the benefits of massage therapy. Students in Lawrence are lucky to have several options on who their massage therapist is and, because of this, how much they spend on a massage. Lawrence residents can purchase the services of the several spas and individual professional massage therapists, and they also have the option of going to a student masseuse at Pinnacle Career Institute, 4824 Quail Crest Place. Although the student masseuse does not have as much experience as a professional and is still learning, the price itself is a relaxing $25 for an hour. A pretty good deal considering that half an hour at Beauty Brands Salon Spa Superstore, 3514 Clinton Parkway, costs $40. Believe me, I have been to both a professional and a student, and the difference is noticeable but minimal. After last week's massage at PCI, I was too relaxed to finish this column. Ah, the sacrifices that I make to inform the student population of the University of Kansas. Forget about your papers, projects and tests and relax, even if it is only for an hour. Riffey is a Pratt senior in journalism. LETTER TO THE EDITOR STUDENT-ATHLETES DESERVE COMPENSATION Keith Langford's column on the sports page on Friday concerning payment for student-athletes is one of the most well-articulated arguments that I have read in the Kansan this year. This issue has long been debated by students.-athletes, media and administrators, yet no solution has come to fruition. How can anyone argue that a student athlete in any sport who creates an exponential amount of extra revenue for the university and who has no other source of income does not deserve a portion of the revenue they create? University officials like to evaluate most decisions with a business state-of-mind, and this is definitely a business issue. I'd like to see a big-money athlete such as Wayne Simien or Keith Langford sign a waiver stating that they do not feel comfortable with having their name appear on any merchandise sold at the University or across the country. Such a decision would cost the University thousands, and set a much-needed precedent for student-athlete rights and privileges. For those who are proponents of the 'being a student-athlete on scholarship is a privilege' argument, get real. Long ago we threw similar fundamental 'feel good' arguments out the window; it's time to move on. Everything is about money, and student-athletes bring in a lot of it. If we truly want to encourage exceptional athletes to stick around and obtain a degree, keeping them at a university with no payment and a few textbooks to show for their efforts while hanging a multi-million dollar contract over their head is not the answer. It's time to buckle up and give athletes a tangible symbol of the benefit that they provide for our universities. In the mid to late '90s, a pocket of basketball players supported our entire football team and other mediocre University squads with no thanks whatsoever; and the trend continues today. Whatever compensation big-revenue athletes receive now should be made a lot more substantial and a lot more legal. Universities will be a lot better off. Blake A. Shuart Topeka senior English TALK TO US The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni. The *Kansan* reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions. To submit a letter to the editor or a column, e-mail the document to opinion@kansan.com with your name, homeown, year in school or position and phone number. KANSAN For any questions, call Meghan Brune or Johanna M. Maska at 864-4924 or email at opinion@kansan.com. Michelle Rombeck editor 854-4854 or mburhenn@kansan.com Andrew Vaupel managing editor 864-4854 or vaupel@kansan.com Meghan Brune and Johanna M. Masks opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com Danielle Bose business manager 664-4368 or addreder@kansan.com Stephanie Graham retail sales manager 664-4358 or adales@kansan.com Matt Fisher sales and marketing adviser. 864-7665 or mfisher@kansan.com Malcolm Gibson general manager and news adviser 864-7667 or mglibson@kanan.com Editorial Board Members Kendall Dix IQ Lynzee Ford Laura Francoviglia Amy Hammontree Kelly Hollowell Teresa Loa Mindy Osborne Ryan Scarrow Elizabeth Willy Paul Whitmoretme Zach Stinson Zach Newson Wes Benson Sara Behunek Kavin Flaherty Brandon Gay Zack Hemenway Alex Hoffman Kawin Kampwirth Amly Kelly Cameron Koelling Courtney Kuhlen Brandi Mathiesen Travis Metcalf Mike Norris Jonathan Reeder Erin Riffley Alea Smith Karl Zinnerman