OPINION
7A
THE UNIVERSITY DADY JANASAN Today is Earth Day. Please recycle.
TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008
COMMENTARY
Forget finals for one music-filled night
May 14 brings with it two of the greatest musical acts on tour today. These are two of the bands whose footprints will remain in the sands of time long after we are buried beneath it.
Sore ankles and a stiff neck are two common symptoms of concertgoers the day after a Wilco show. With irresistibly catchy melodies, it's impossible not to find yourself bouncing and bobbing your head when Jeff Tweedy steps up to the mic and cuts to your core with his unmistakably full vocals. Nels Cline can make his guitar weep or scream and with Glenn Kotche on the kit behind him their dynamic is unparalleled. Wilco has found a way to juxtapose its twangy country roots with experimental rock to create one monster of a band.
On its newest album, "In Rainbows" Radiohead brings back their patented sound with some of its most powerful songs to date.
By now, I hope you know that Finals Week is rapidly approaching.
But what you may not realize is that if you live in Lawrence, you will be faced on May 14 with what may be the toughest decision you'll have to make this year: giving the tail of academia the attention it deserves or experiencing an event the likes of which may never be seen again.
Thom Yorke's haunting vocals are just part of the signature sound that Radiohead has developed over its career. Johnny Greenwood's virtuosic guitar parts paired with the band's inherently unique rhythms make for earth-shattering crescendos that will keep your spine shivering for days.
Radioadhead and Wilco, two of the titans of modern music, will be playing in your region on that fateful day during Finals Week.
Wilco, at a recent five-day stint at the Riviera in Chicago, proved the depth and diversity of
its discography by playing it in its entirety. Radiohead has consistently lived up to the buzz that persistently tails the band. This new tour is sure to be extraordinary because its following what may be the biggest album release of the decade.
If you're worried about finals, consider that the memories of these tests will fade.
So who to see? The decision is not an easy one, but there is no wrong way to go. That is unless you don't go at all.
The closest that Radiohead is getting to our neck of the woods is the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in St. Louis.
The 270 miles is somewhat of a pilgrimage, but for those truly interested in seeing one of the giants of contemporary music playing in its peak, this show will be well worth it.
On the very same night, Wilco will be playing a one-of-a-kind show in Lawrence.
But this is no ordinary concert. According to its Web site, Wilco will be playing an outdoor show with the stage set up near Ninth Street next to the Lawrence Arts Center.
As I write this column tickets are still available, but if they are gone by the time you read this, don't give up on these shows. If you're not up for the four-hour drive to St. Louis, then go for Wilco.
A Lawrence street gig is sure to be more unique and personal than anything a venue can offer.
If you can't get a ticket, park a block or so from the stage, roll down your windows and listen to the slightly muffled sounds of one of the greatest living rock bands that will ever play a show like this in our town.
After listening to professors ramble on about finals hullaboo, your ears will need a treat.
This is not an event to be missed — that is unless you're four hours away rocking your face off at Radiohead.
Don't let May 14 pass by without seeing one of these shows.
Lerman is a Highland Park, Ill., sophomore in journalism.
» TALK BACK TO THE KANSAN OPINION DESK
Will China clean up in time?
China's premier promised to reduce pollution, carbon emissions and to conserve energy as the country tries to clear the air before the summer Olympic games. With a little more than 100 days left, can China clean up its act in time? Send your thoughts to kansanopdesk@gmail.com. Responses will be printed on Friday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOW TO SUBMIT
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.
Questions about submissions? Call Bryan Dykman or Lauren Keith at 864-4810 or e-mail kansanopdesk@gmail.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 200 words
The submission must include: Author's name and telephone number; class.
GUEST COLUMN
GUIDELINES
**Maximum Length:** 500 words
The submission must include: Author's name and telephone number; class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
The Kansan will not print guest columns or letters that attack a reporter or another columnist.
CONTACT US
Daria Slipke, editor
864-4810 or dslipke@kansan.com
Matt Erickson, managing editor 864-4810 or merickson@kansan.com
Dianne Smith, managing editor 864-4810 or dsmith@kansan.com
Matt Frickson magazine editi
Bryan Dykman, opinion editor 864-4924 or dykman@kansan.com
Lauren Keith, associate opinion editor 864-4924 or lkeith@kansan.com
Toni Bergquist, business manager
864-4358 or tbergquist@kansan.com
Katy Pitt, sales manager 864-4477 or kpitt@kansan.com
64-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager and news
Jon Schitt, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jschitt@kansan.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Alex Doherty, Bryan Dykman, Matt Erickson, Kesley Hayes, Lauren Keith, Darla Silex, Diane Smith and Ian Stanford.
864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
》 FROM THE DRAWING BOARD
Tyler Doehrina
COMMENTARY
University shouldn't be diverse in grammar
Of course, exceptions are made to every rule when it comes to English, making it one of the most fun languages in the world to learn (and by "fun" I mean "incredibly frustrating"). I do not expect people to have perfect grammar every time.
We acquire many valuable skills in college: procrastination skills, bargain hunting skills, napping skills, alcohol skills, Guitar Hero skills, etc.
As competent as everyone assumes college kids are, it still bebuddies me how many students still do not have good grammar skills. We are all from different high schools with varying curriculums, but grammar is as basic and essential of a skill as addition.
But I do expect people to know clear-cut rules, such as separating two complete sentences with a conjunction and comma. At the KU Writing Center, I see many people who do not understand this rule.
In math, we have nifty calculators to check if we're wrong; however, a computer will not catch every grammar mistake. It won't catch the difference between "there" and "their." People cannot rely on technology as a substitute for knowledge.
"How can this be?!?" is my first reaction.
I took French and would repeatedly forget to make adjectives agree with the gender of the noun. In French, every noun is either masculine or feminine. How you are supposed to know the chair is feminine is beyond me. Maybe you are supposed to ask it or take a peak underneath it.
Maybe English isn't the student's first language.
What if English is the student's first language? Because he doesn't know proper grammar, can we assume he is lazy and dumb? Or does he not know the rules because he is an engineering major and grammar is only for English majors?
After all, no one wants to be rejected for a job because her cover letter reads, "I would love to work hear. I is a good leader and I has got some experience. I work good with others and do other things good two."
I don't think students consciously choose to not learn proper grammar. We all understand the value of grammar to effectively communicate our ideas with each other.
University claims.
It is not fair for the University to assume everyone has the same skills if we are as diverse as the
Part of the problem is the education system has failed us. Too many of us have gotten off easy from teachers who do not penalize us for using bad grammar. Teachers across all disciplines should hold proper grammar as a standard.
If the education system would continue to teach and emphasize grammar throughout every grade level, the rules would be fresh in their minds.
I can be competent at math, but I always need a refresher of the rules because my mind works in such a way that I am better at writing word problems than solving them. There is nothing wrong with reviewing the basics before forging ahead to more complex work.
Without a solid foundation, a building will fall apart. Without basic grammar, academic work will not be able to stand on its own.
The other part of the problem is that students have not taken the time to learn the skills on their own if their educators have failed to do so, or they have been too lazy to review the rules when their minds get rusty.
Just because your parents don't teach you how to balance a checkbook doesn't mean you will never learn how. You know you need the skill so you take up the incentive to find out on your own.
If both students and teachers would work together on the grammar issue, we could all learn to write good and do other things good too. And then we can live goodly ever after.
Although it is hard to learn on your own when you don't have solid, basic knowledge of grammar.
Hartz is a Stilwell junior in creative writing.
》 LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Intelligent design documentary fails to ask if concept is scientific
The documentary "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" represents the latest effort by intelligent design (ID) advocates to refute evolutionary theory.
Hosted by Ben Stein, the film claims that educators and scientists are being persecuted for their belief that ID is evident in nature.
The audience is bombarded with images of the Berlin Wall, Holocaust mass graves and the downtrodden citizenry of totalitarian regimes. The result of the edited slices is a politicized rant that fails to note the vital distinction between Herbert Spencer's long-discredited social darwinism and modern evolutionary theory as applied to the natural sciences and not human morality.
But instead of being an investigative inquiry that highlights the arguments, this film presents a ridiculous caricature of the scientific community bent on quashing free speech for the sake of protecting a falling ideology.
Stein, in his signature deadpan style, attempts to portray a group of disgruntled researchers as the victims of a Darwinian conspiracy for their roles in promoting ID instead of dealing with the real issue responsible for their professional failures — shoddy science. Curiously, "Expelled" does not even provide an adequate description of modern evolutionary theory, the very paradigm that is being contested in this film.
Perhaps the most important question that is never addressed in "Expelled" is whether or not ID is actually science. Stein argues that ID is being kept out of science curriculum in an attempt to stifle independent thought.
However, the ID program appeals to an unknown cosmic designer or supernatural power to explain biological variation, neither of which can be directly observed nor tested in an empirical fashion. Thus, ID is not science.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Send letters to the editor by e-mail to kansanopdesk@gmail.com. Letters should include the author's name, grade and hometown.
As much as Stein would like to
how to submit
@KANSAN.COM
ONLINE COMMENTS Comment on all stories at kansan.com. Registration with the site is required.
tear down that ideological Berlin Wall he sees existing in academia, the wall needs to remain in order to keep ID and religious philosophies out of our science classrooms and laboratories.
— Mark Zlojutro, graduate student in the Laboratory of Biological Anthropology
To contribute to Free For All, visit Kansan.com or call 785-864-0500. Free For All callers have 20 seconds to talk about anything they choose.
Free For All, I'm never going to give you up. I'm never going to let you down.
--frat house.
--frat house.
We're not trashy. We're classy.
--frat house.
Roy didn't rig the game. We won because we're obviously the better team.
To the kid at the Hawk with jean shorts on: Congratulations. You're a legend.
It's 2 a.m. I'm walking home from the library, and there are naked people in the fountain
--frat house.
Am I the only person skeptical of this "free Kool-Aid" thing?
Hey, City of Lawrence, how's it going? Now that the major freeze/thaw cycle is over, I was wondering if you could start working on the potholes around town. I'm not asking for much, just the ones that are about a foot deep
--frat house.
It seems the wrecking ball swings and another piece of history in Lawrence is destroyed and gone forever.
Free For All, thank you for acting as emergency toilet paper friday night for me and my sorority sister. We appreciate not having to drip dry at a frat house.
You know what? When you asked me if I thought you were pretty, that one day in the car, I lied.
It absolutely makes my day when I realize that I spent almost $200 for a sticker on my windshield that allows me to park in this car-unfriendly
town.
some sleep
To the idiots playing basketball outside of Oliver: It's nearly 2 in the morning, and you suck. Please go back to your room so we can all get some sleep
I am extremely tired but keep getting distracted. Fuck you, Solitaire!
To the people who said that people who meet on Free For All are losers: You are such a loser, and you write on Free For All.
I am so confused. I still love my boyfriend, but I have a school girl crush on you.
I've decided that we all need to listen to more Depeche Mode
@KANSAN.COM
Want more? Check out Free For All online.
---