THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Check out
more
Free-for-All
at kansan.com
OPINION
KANSAS
CU-
ansas.
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
OUR OPINION
Calamities abound; Lawrence pereserveres
Fires and storms and mumps, oh my!
or my. The gods haven't been kind to the University of Kansas this school year. There hasn't been a year so filled with disasters and happenings in recent memory.
There was the Boardwalk Apartment Fire in October that claimed three lives, one a KU student. Another house burned down in October. There were three fires in April, on the 10th, 29th and 31st.
A microburst came out of nowhere on March 12, blowing down trees and signs, smashed cars, houses and businesses, rendering the student ghetto powerless and creating $6 million worth of damage to campus. They even cancelled class.
Then came the mumps. What started as a few KU students coming down with the disease has become a full-blown epidemic. At last count there were 164 confirmed cases at the University. With graduation coming, it could spread even more.
then more.
There was a double shooting, one of which was fatal, in February at the Granada.
Issue: Disasters and crimes plague the city
Stance: Is it the end of school for seniors or the end of days for Lawrence?
February
John Randle got in trouble with the law, again.
And the men's basketball team still can't get out of the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Try to find a student who wasn't affected. If you didn't get a car smashed you got the mumps. Or you knew someone who lived at the Boardwalk Apartments.
But the University's still here. We might be a little battered, sick or shot, but it's going.
So we should give ourselves a pat on the back for making it through one tough year.
— john Jordan for the editorial board
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Images misrepresent
I'm a guy. I like guys, too.
I recently saw my first episode of "Queer As Folk," which happened to be the pilot episode for the series, and it finally made sense why gays don't have rights.
It is apparent in how the mainstream media, and the public in general, depict homosexuals. It's rare to see a gay character in a network television series or major film that is better known for his intelligence and personality rather than his frivolous nature and bedroom tendencies. Sure, these characters are well-liked, fun-loving and extremely good-looking, but that's just it — a pretty face with the personality of a pomeranian. Two groups of people watch these productions and form ideas and opinions that affect the current standing, and future, of the gay community — gay youth and heterosexual voters.
Although not conclusive, studies have shown that homosexuality is linked to eating disorders and negative body image. Diseases thought to be strictly female are now found in males. A 2000 study in the International Journal of Eating Disorders by Harvard undergraduate Christopher Russell and psychology professor Pamela Keel found that men make
up 10 to 15 percent of people with eating disorders, and 10 to 42 percent of those men identify themselves as bi- or homosexual. In a world where appearance means everything, it is understandable why some gays resort to a potentially fatal process in order to drastically change their bodies.
The extremely popular event known as Pride is a surefire way to get religiously conservative voters to sashay onto the bandwagon of gay rights. Images of explicit sexual activity and cross-dressing divas parading in cities throughout America illustrate the moralistic and family-values platform gay activists endorse.
In 2003, Bill O'Reilly displayed graphic images of gay sex during "Gay Days" on his show. How does the majority of the public, perfectly content with where society is, react to these images?
Homosexuals should be entitled to a good time, but when it obstructs the perception of the community, a communal inspection must be done and decisions must be made in the name of progress.
Chris Horn
Lenexa sophomore
Gas price hike deserves careful consideration
COMMENTARY
Sometimes, it becomes all-too clear that there are some laws only a politician could think up. With the present energy crisis — and I use that term lightly — there seems to be an overwhelming upsurge in proposals of that ilk. Take for instance Sen. Bill Frist's recent bid to issue $100 checks as reimbursement for high gas prices. Since its proposal, the idea has already been abandoned — or at least put on the shelf for the time being. It is still worth consideration because it gives us an insight into just what exactly is running through Congress' brain — or lack thereof.
ANDREW SOUKUP opinion@kansan.com
hack them.
Besides reeking of socialist ideologies and completely disregarding the Constitution, it is utterly devoid of any kind of rudimentary economic sense. One has to wonder if any politician actually sat down and did some rough estimates of the impact of this kind of action. If $100 were given to all 500 million Americans, it would cost about $30,000,000,000. Yes, that's right; there are 11 zeros in that number. Of course, the federal government could just as easily repeal the 18.4 cents per gallon it current taxes gasoline consumers. If I use 520 gallons per year — 10 gal/week times 52 weeks — that would save me roughly $95. Plus, it would only cost half the price
The plan would have actually taxed gas companies to pay that $30 billion. Talk about robbing Peter to pay Paul. Now, I know this is a lot of math, but bear with me a second. $15.4 billion divided by 18.4 cents equals roughly 84 billion gallons of fuel sold in the U.S. in 2004. Divide $30 billion by that figure, and the gas companies would have to increase the price by almost 36 cents to recoup the difference. The point is that the gas companies are not going to donate that money out of the goodness of their hearts. Rather, it will come directly out of our pockets.
— $15.4 billion according to 2004 numbers — of that other inane idea.
Of course, I really would have hoped that no KU student
have hoped that no ICE student especially those who did not vote $100 Fee Cut — would ever get to take advantage of this action if it came to pass. Call me crazy, but I would rather spend $100 on something I actually use, like gas, instead of things I do not use, like Watkins Health Center, the rec center, child care, LGBT services, etc.
Now, some lawmakers such as Chuck Schumer suggest targeting the gas companies themselves. Citing increased profits in recent years, they suggest that the increased price of gasoline is in some way a complete fabrication aimed only at lining the pockets of slick CEOs. Fortunately,
And, yet, no one ever suggests paying professors or the chancellor less in order to lower our tuition. Nor do legislators vote to decrease their pay in order to lower our taxes. There is no quick-fix solution to increasing prices at the pump. And, policies based on bad economic principles will not help either. Perhaps, instead of trying to hijack an entire industry, the government — including Student Senate — should focus on ways of saving us money that are actually somewhat feasible and within their inherent authority to do so.
Soukup is a Lakin junior in linguistics.
Free All for Call 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
So, I'm in the Underground and I just saw a lady in an iridescent purple shiny suit with a turquoise shiny necklace. And I'm just kind of scared because that's not
PAGE 9A
If you're a San Antonio Spurs fan, you might as well be a K-State fan. You suck.
night
normal
I'm relocating my offices to the bathroom of Strong Hall. Have Chevri forward my mail.
Hey SafeRide, Jimmy John's took me home last
The music in the Kansas Union Bookstore makes me want to cut myself.
who served me french fries at E's today: You're adorable and I want you to have my babies. And also, my friend just bought $16 worth of
muttins
回
To the guy with blue hair
To the awesomely hot girl, who's also just awesome, in the Underground who told me to have a nice day: I wanna have your babies.
To the guy with blue hair
I just heard a girl say that she wanted to go up and kick another girl ... and I thought it was funny because she said she wanted to kick her in the vagina. I would have said that all in one sentence, but people started looking at me funny, so I
Jeshua Bickel, managing editor
864-4854 or jbickel@kansan.com
had to wait 'til they walked past.
Oh, it’s 5:00 and some girl just walked out of Replay Lounge and barfed all over Massachusetts.
Nate Karlin, managing editor
864/4854 or nkarlin@kansan.com
that I can remember
I would just like to say that the new Kansas Yearbook outline is completely ridiculous. And for my money, that I've been giving KU, the least they can do is print my name in very small writing in a book
Jonathan Kealing, editor
884-4854 or kealing@kansan.com
TALK TO US
Jason Shaad, opinion editor
864-4524 or jhaad@kanaan.com
Patrick Rose, associate opinion editor
864-4924 or pross@kansan.com
Arl Ben, business manager
884-4482 or addirector@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser
8748-7697 or bjorkman.kannan.com
Sarah Connally, sales manager
864-4462 or adsales@kansan.com
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7688 or jweaver@kansan.com
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 500 word limit
Include: Author's name; class; hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
**MISO:** The Kansan will not print guest columns that attack a reporter or another columnist.
EDITORIAL BOARD
SUBMIT TO
111 Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 68045
(785) 864-4810, opinion@kansan.com
Jonathan Kealing, Jonathan Bickel, Nate Karlin,
Jason Shaad, Patrick Ross, Ty Beaver, John
Mordina, Malinda Oxborne
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.
For any questions, call Jason Shaad or Patrick Rosa at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
SUBMISSIONS
According to the office of the attorney general, a woman in Kansas is beaten every 29 minutes. Read that again. Read it and really think about it. Every 29 minutes. And that is just in Kansas. Domestic violence is a massive, urgent and heartbreaking problem.
COMMENTARY
Take a stand on domestic abuse
LIZ STUEWE
opinion@hansan.com
Relationships are tricky. Every day we navigate the often volatile waters of friendships, romantic relationships and family affairs. But learning to protect yourself and others in relationships may be the greatest political act of your life.
For decades feminists have used the phrase "the personal is political," often attributed to Carol Hanisch, as a rallying cry for many different social movements. But what does it mean? And what can it offer those of us looking to help end the violence?
"The personal is political" means that society and the government have an influence in everything you do. They even have power in your romantic relationships. For example, our society has designated the police as the proper authority to deal with domestic violence, and in many cases the police are the only protection available to women. Therefore, the political actions that shape the police and their policies are of utmost importance to those concerned about women in domestic violence situations. "The personal is political."
What does this mean for women in college? It means we need to stick together; we need to be politically active in order to protect ourselves and our sisters. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 85 percent of all domestic violence victims are women.
women.
The first step toward political action is, fittingly, personal. Tell everyone you know that it is never acceptable for loved ones to use violence. Never. Ever. Support your friends dealing with abusive relationships. Offer them safety. Call the police when you hear your neighbors having a violent argument.
Then use the public systems available to your best advantage. Lobby the police for fair treatment, educate yourself about the legal system, call your local congresswoman or man and tell them that protecting women should be a priority. Volunteer. Call the Women's Transitional Care Services of Lawrence at 785-843-3333 and tell them that you want to support women trying to escape violent situations and women who are rebuilding their lives after abuse.
Stuewe is a Lawrence sophomore in political science and American studies.
While you are reading this newspaper in class, two more women in Kansas could become victims of domestic violence. It is time to take action. Do your part to end domestic violence.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 200 word limit
Include: Author's name and telephone number; class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)