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OPINION
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WWW.KANSAN.COM
WEDNESDAY. MARCH 29. 2006
OUR OPINION
Try informing yourself to avoid campaigning
Issue: Student Senate candidate campaigns
Stance: Be informed to better fend off the onslaught of fliers from the coalitions.
It's that time of year again, when you get attacked repeatedly by determined Student Senate candidates when walking across campus. No, you do not want their flier. No, you would not like to hear about their platforms. Yes, you would like to shove them out of the way. Even with your iPod on full blast and both the Ignite and Delta Force buttons on your backpack, they'll find a way to penetrate your defenses and talk to you as you pass on Wescoe Beach.
changes now, because you had your chance to vote on the those senators last year.
Short of making you watch propaganda films Clockwork Orange-style, they are trying to inform you about the issues they are working on. Why are they doing this? Besides an almost unhealthy enthusiasm for senate, they do this because that's the only way they think they will get through to you. And they're almost right. How many times have you said to yourself, "Why, I do say, what are those platforms the coalitions are running on this year?"
Not often. Most likely, you could care less and just wait for the elections to blow over. But think about the aftermath, when these coalitions get elected and, heaven forbid, they DO make changes. You know the implementation of the paperless ticket system for the men's basketball season this year? What about the increase in student fees? All of that was decided by the current senate. It doesn't matter how you feel about those
Malinda Osborne for the editorial board
So educate yourselves. Instead of giving a stiff arm to every candidate who approaches you, accept one of their fliers. Heck, maybe even glance over it for a few seconds so you actually know what's going on. Now the next step is going to be a bit harder: Vote in the election. So far, the average turnout has been about 15 percent of the student body. Just think: If more people such as yourself voted for the coalition whose platform you identified with, elected senators would see how much support they received for their issues and would have a greater resolve to implement them because the student body has spoken — not whispered — what it wants.
Become an engaged and informed student. That way, when they try to hand you a flier for the 15th time, you can honestly tell them, "I know your platforms and I'm going to vote. Now shove it."
PAGE 7A
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.
I just saw a sign that said: "Move over for stopped emergency vehicles." Now, I don't know if you can move over for a car that's moving. Makes absolutely no sense.
Hey Free-For-All, I was just curious. Do you know why there are girls and guys making out on Wescoe Beach? (Editor's note: Monday was Queers & Allies' "Kiss-in" for Pride Week 2006.)
building in the middle of Jayhawk Boulevard between the Anthropology and Natural History museum
I just got called a traitor for wearing my George Mason sweatshirt today, and I just wanted to say, news flash buddy, KU is not in the Final Four. So, sorry about
that. Bye
Is there any way we could get a post office on campus like Wescoe or Strong Hall or somewhere, somewhere convenient.
There's a small building in the middle of Jayhawk Boulevard between the Anthropology and Natural History museum. Why is there a small
building in the middle of Jayhawk Boulevard between the Anthropology and Natural History museum
Anyone who is saying that our basketball team sucks might as well be rooting for K-State or Missouri. Because as far as I'm concerned, you cannot call yourself a KU fan if you are dissing the same team that won the Big 12 Championship with the youngest starting lineup in school history.
Black History Month prompts reflection
McCollum Hall ARC and the KU Bookstores sponsored an essay contest in honor of Black History Month. This year's theme was "Never too Late to Learn Black History, Our History." Below are the first- and second-place entries.
Regardless of having a star on Hollywood's "Walk of Fame," Oscar Micheaux has practically been cut out of film history.
This seems all too strange, considering the man pioneered African-American cinema and his influence is evident in the films of modern African-American filmmakers such as Spike Lee, John Singleton and Melyin Van Peebles.
Alas, Micheaux's name is one that rarely pops up in film history courses or everyday discussion of African-American film. Some of the most astute film students have never heard of him.
This is all too distressing, considering that Michaels was the first African-American to produce and direct a feature film. "The Homesteader," in 1919.
In just less than 30 years, between 1919 and 1948, Micheaux made 44 films. Even though most of them had staggeringly low budgets, he still managed to produce at least one film per year. The films featured all or mostly black casts and were specifically geared toward African-American audiences. This is important: Major motion pictures at the time scarcely featured African Americans, and when they did, they were mainly designated to roles as servants or stereotypical "Uncle Tom" or foolish characters that could not be taken seriously at all and blatantly perpetuated stereotypes of blacks being lazy, unintelligible and unintelligent.
Micheaux not only created films as entertainment for blacks, putting African-American actors in roles similar to popular mainstream actors and actresses, but also made films that dealt with racism.
Micheaux's second feature "Within
Our Gates" was made in response to D.W. Griffith's revolutionary film "The Birth of a Nation," which depicted the Ku Klux Klan rising and saving the South. The film featured the most violently racist and horrific African-American stereotypes in film history. "Within Our Gates" was quickly banned in Chicago; "The Birth of a Nation" was heavily promoted. People dressed up like Klan members on the streets promoting the movie.
"Within Our Gates" challenged all these notions of racism, which America was so eager to accept because of "The Birth of a Nation" technical achievements in filmmaking.
It was Micheaux and films like "Within Our Gates" that helped obtain African-American rights in cinema.
Micheaux sowed the seeds for African-American film, which became fully realized when Spike Lee made "Do the Right Thing." Although it was released 70 years after Micheaux released his first film, it finally put race and racism in the spotlight.
He proved that African Americans could play roles besides fools and servants and were just as capable of carrying a film as white Hollywood stars.
Micheaux was a pioneer, a maverick who went against the system to give African Americans a voice in a medium that had betrayed them.
Who knows how long it would have taken if Micheaux didn't go against Hollywood and start making movies of his own to provide a voice for his people.
an Hrabe is an Olathe sophomore in theater and film. His essay placed first in the contest.
The history of African Americans is one that is filled with struggle. They have struggled for recognition, for freedom and for equality. However, more important than the struggles of black people is the part of African-American history that is filled with success.
Booker T. Washington said, "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."
There are many African Americans who have overcome such obstacles which have made their lives and stories successes. One is Blanche Ketene Bruce.
Born in Brunswick, Mo., in 1861,
Bruce was named after his uncle, who was
the first African-American U.S. senator.
Bruce's story begins quite a bit before that. Bruce's grandparents were enslaved and not allowed to be formally educated
But Bruce's grandmother knew the importance of education, and she sent one of her children with the master's son while he was being tutored.
Her child would then come home and teach the lessons of the day to all of the other children in the household, giving them the gift of literacy.
One of those children was Bruce's mother. When she was able to have her own family, she remembered to instill in them the importance of education. Bruce believed in this whole-heartedly and grew up wanting to educate people. He attended Lincoln University, but because Lincoln was only a two-year university, he could not obtain the teaching certificate that he wanted. So he came and enrolled at the University of Kansas.
In 1885, a decade before the landmark case Plessy v. Ferguson that established the separate but equal doctrine, Bruce became the University's first
African-American graduate.
Bruce moved to Leavenworth and became the principal of Sumner School. He was the principal for 54 years. Bruce also spent time tutoring students outside of school. According to "Unsung Heroes," a module/museum in Leavenworth, Bruce is known for having tutored 1800 young men for entrance to the military service academies with only three failing to qualify.
Booker T. Washington is correct in saying that success should only be measured by the obstacles overcome. The obstacles that Bruce overcame — coming from a family that lived during slavery, becoming the first African American graduate of the University — made him a success. He was an even bigger success by being a mentor, educator and role model to students for more than half a century.
Relatives say that he tutored nearly 3000 students at his home.
Bruce's story is of great importance to black history and also to present-day society. Not only does it show that one must never give up, it also says that if something has never been done before, one should continue to follow his or her dreams. Most importantly, he was taught by his grandmother and mother the importance of education.
Through his actions, both here at the University and in Leavenworth, he taught people that education was of supreme importance. The impact that Bruce's story should have is that in the face of all that society battles
— socio-economic problems, prejudice,
ignorance, sexism, racism, homophobia
— people must put education first.
It is the only thing that will allow anyone to truly overcome.
Tyrone Brown is a Topeka senior in accounting. His essay placed second in the contest.
COMMENTARY
Exercise outside; summer is dawning
ABBY CARTER
opinion@kansan.com
Spring break may be finished but don't let that be your excuse to stop working out.
Summer is creeping up and there couldn't be a better time to work out. An even better option is to take your workout outdoors where you can enjoy a fresh perspective, according to Shane magazine.
People get bored working out every day in the same environment, which drives their workouts downhill. Trying something new, like working out outdoors, can be the jumpstart you need.
My favorite outdoor exercise is running stadium stairs. I start with a simple warmup — either walking or jogging a few laps around the track — then I take it to the stairs. When it comes to stadium stairs, the possibilities are endless.
You have numerous options in how to run the stairs and can also incorporate body-weight resistance exercises to amplify your caloric expenditure. You can do anything from running up every stair to hopping up the stairs to walking up backwards, which targets the elites and hamstrings.
I like to add in pushups with either my hands on the railings or the bench, calf raises — standing on a stair or stadium bench and tricep dips. You can also do walking lunges around the track and body-weight squats. To make the lunges or squats harder (since you don't have any added weight) you can slow the exercise down to further challenge yourself.
You can also do football-style drills such as shuffles and karaka runs down the track along with sprints to take it to an even higher level. If you're new, remember to take it slow and work at your own level. Maybe the first time you attempt stadium stairs just walk up them and once you become comfortable with that you can begin running them. Always remember to cool down and stretch before heading home.
Here are some helpful tips when working out in warm weather:
Dress appropriately
— if it's hot, make sure to wear clothes that have breathable fabrics so your body doesn't overheat. Nike has a great drift collection that aids in warm weather workouts.
- Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
- Listen to your body — if you get cramps or have trouble breathing, take it down a notch.
Whichever workout you choose to do outside, add variety and make it fun. You can add outside workouts whenever the weather is nice to compliment your inside workouts and add a new twist to your daily routine.
Carter is a Shawnee sophomore in health and exercise science.
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