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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
OUR OPINION
Online social network needs better safeguards
It was welcome news when MySpace.com announced it would beef up its security and screening methods last week. The online social community's announcement came after several adults were arrested for using the site to arrange sexual liaisons with minors. Better security and monitoring of the Web site is definitely a step in the right direction and the site's management should be applauded.
Unfortunately, another online social community may be taking a step in the opposite direction when it comes to the safety of its younger members. Facebook.com should do more to ensure proper use of its social Web site and educate its members about the dangers of online social interaction.
Just weeks ago, Facebook allowed its college-age users to add high school-age users and vice versa. Now anyone at a university — faculty, staff or student — can have access to the information about students as young as 13. Alumni who graduated before the Facebook phenomenon hit could pay for an Alumni Association membership, thus receiving a University e-mail with which to register on the Web site.
Facebook's management should be taking a cue from their counterparts at MySpace, and be careful how they let members use their site. While most members might have no ulterior motives when it comes to online interaction, there is still that small percentage that may misuse the online community, and that's a risk that needs to be avoided. Fake profiles for various celebrities and other characters exist. Someone could just as easily create a realistic profile of a young man or woman to lower the defenses of those upon whom they prey.
Issue: Online social Web site standards
Stance: Facebook should take precautions like MySpace to avoid abuse of its accounts.
Officials at MySpace have said that there is no completely reliable way to verify the age of users and they're right. Barring the implementation of a national identification system, the only effective way to know someone's age is to meet them in person, and even that can be misleading. But MySpace plans to inform its users about abusers of its services through an educational campaign that hopes to limit any future problems.
Facebook is an excellent resource and can add to a student's social life, but just as anything else, it can lead to problems if abused and not monitored. The Web site needs to take a cue from its counterpart and do what it can to prevent future problems.
- Ty Beaver for the editorial board
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Advising not to blame
A student finds he or she cannot graduate when expected because he or she has not completed a third principal course. Where's the blame? The advising system, we are told (Editorial Board: Liberal arts students need better advising, March 7). But requirements for degrees are not secret. They are spelled out clearly in paper and online catalogs.
tions throughout the student's time at the University.
Each student's ARTS form displays a chart indicating which requirements (general education and major) the student still needs to fulfill. The Freshman/Sophomore Advising Center, departmental advisors and College Student Academic Services are open to all students; advisors can review requirements and answer ques-
From my experience at several universities and with several advising systems, I know that to make the most out of any advising system, the student must take primary responsibility. This is what you need to do: Read the requirements, study your ARTS form, meet with advisors and ask questions.
Do your homework to make the most of the services offered by the Freshman/Sophomore Advising Center, the departments, College Student Academic Services and the University Career Center. Don't wait until your last semester.
Margaret Bayer Professor of Mathematics
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Minor not the answer
Though I share your high regard for the Spanish language and its ever-increasing global impact, I cannot agree with the necessity of a Spanish minor Spanish, like any other language, requires constant immersion, application and dedication, though lower classes are intensive and provide the foundation, the upper courses provide a constant source of application.
the culture of the language. The upper-level courses in the department allow students to interact with professors who are dedicated to helping students understand the subtle differences within the Spanish-speaking world.
There is a certain curriculum needed to grasp the subject matter that will allow others, albeit in the business or education profession, to have a command of the language, and to appreciate the culture as well.
Without opportunities for application, allowing a minor would only increase the number of unprepared bilingual graduates. One element many overlook is the importance of understanding
Devin S. Sikes Law Student
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Academic Bill of Rights equates to 'blow-hardism'
Other supporters have a different outlook. Rep. Mary Pilcher-Cook (R-Shawnee) sees the resolution as a preventative measure against liberal bias.
"Although I do not believe we have that problem in Kansas to the same degree, I believe our Kansas citizens would like to keep it that way," she said.
Political/ideological bias is a problem at The University of Kansas. But, this action on part of the legislature would be a lot more meaningful if it actually meant something. In reality, this is the archetypal non-issue if there ever was one. In the end, the resolution will probably be adopted. And, some professors and students will probably be pretty upset. And, then, the politicians will issue a few press releases. And, after that, everyone will forget the whole issue. The resolution is, after all, a resolution. It has no consequences, no impact and no affect on Kansas: it—like most things politicians say—really is the epitome of blow-hardism.
▼ COMMENTARY
In light of a recent resolution brought to the House Appropriations Committee by Rep. Becky Hutchins (R-Holton), it is interesting that Courtney Farn would choose to call Republicans ignorant.
HCR #5035 is "a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Kansas House of Representatives and Senate that colleges and universities should [...] secure the intellectual independence of faculty members and students, protect the principles of academic freedom, promote intellectual diversity and support the pursuit of knowledge and truth as a fundamental purpose of the university."
The resolution, which recommends universities and colleges adopt a so-called Academic Bill of rights, has already sparked some discord between academics and politicians.
Many, such as Mark Smith, director of governmental relations for the American Association of University Professors, oppose the proposition, saying that it effectively allows for the government to control the discourse present within academia.
ANDREW SOUKUP opinion@kansan.com
Soukup is a Lakin sophomore in linguistics
"It's important that these issues be considered on the campus, not in the government, and not have government dictating what fair and balanced is," he said.
Some supporters of the resolution say that it is a liberal bias — not republican views — that has stifled the free discussion of ideas within the classroom. They say that proactive steps need to be taken in order to correct the imbalance.
Rep. Brenda Landwehr (R-Wichita) indicates that the resolution is a reactionary blow aimed at everyone's favorite REL 124 professor. The Lawrence Journal-World quotes Landwehr as saying, "The Paul Mireckl deal showed in detail what many of us have said for many years: Students are afraid to speak out because professors say, 'It's my way or the highway.'"
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 wanted everyone to know that my ooomate is just sitting around debating over whether basketball players' profiles on Facebook are real or not and my friend swears on her life that they are real and I don't think they
Hey Free-for-All, so sitting at Mrs. E's right now and my friend just like collapsed into
her salad. I think she might have narcolepsy or something.
are. Any opinions?
Free-for-All, I have acussion, and I have a French quiz this morning at 8 o'clock and I wanted to e-mail my professor and tell him that I'm not gonna be there, but I can't really get up right now. Could you tell him for me?
Adam Morrison, shave your stupid mustache.
tonight, baby.
Thanks, bye
My roommates just brought home a keg in a cab. I love this country.
I cannot wait until Fred Phelps dies, and nobody cares at all, because he hasn't done anything good for humanity, and nobody will say anything about his
tonight, baby.
I love riding tricycles while wearing papier mache hats and reciting Shakespeare in German, because Shakespeare is my drug. Grrr. That and everybody Wang Chung
life at all.
I just wanted to know if we wouldn't be able to watch all the Jayhawk games in the Big 12 tournament. Are they going to broadcast them? Please let me know. Bye.
me know. Bye.
PAGE 7A
This girl was wearing a Bucknell sweatshirt outside of Anschutz today. It still hurts.
Hey people on bikes, if you're going to ride your bike in the road, stop at stop signs and obey the law.
B
I think Jacob Witter should be altar boy for Fred Phelp's church. The end.
The truth is that we get the kind of leaders we ask for, so it is time to let politicians know that disrespectful and discriminating behavior will not be tolerated.
Stuewe is a Lawrence sophomore in political science and American studies.
Do not despair. There are intelligent and respectful leaders out there, at all levels of government. On the national level look to Rep. Dennis Moore (D - KS) for an example; again and again Moore has proven he is willing to work with and for students. On the state level, Rep. Barbara Ballard (D-Lawrence) is a true picture of leadership and treats all Kansans with respect.
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▼ COMMENTARY
What lesson were you trying to teach them, Mr. Mays? Students of all ages constantly feel distanced from and ignored by the American political system. Were you hoping to reinforce this idea? As a political leader you should be setting an example for the citizens of this state, not encouraging the common idea that you couldn't care less about the youth of Kansas. We need leaders who will not discriminate based on age. I doubt you would ever treat a group of business leaders that wav. Mr. Mays.
Also: The Kansan will not print guest columns that attack a reporter or another columnist.
Jonathan Kealing, Joshua Bickel, Nate Karlin,
Jason Shaad, Patrick Rose, Ty Beaver, John
Jordan, Malina Anderson
Political leaders are falling right and left. Between the lobbyist scandals, the controversy over President Bush using domestic spying and one very sorry quail-hunting partner, it is no wonder the American public is skeptical of its leadership, and that is just on the national level. We have our own problems here in the Sunflower state.
Some leaders behave badly
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The Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, Doug Mays, has a long history of acting inappropriately and not playing well with others. There is one incident that I believe is truly illustrative of his lack of leadership. The Kansas City Star reported that at the end of February the representative from Topeka declined to let the House consider a bill proposed by high school students of the Shawnee Mission school district that would declare Little Bluestem as the state grass. If this were the end of the story I would say that the legislature simply missed an opportunity to engage students in the political process, but Mays took the missed opportunity and turned it into a complete disaster. In a world of TV and cell phones, engaging youth in politics is one of the most important and challenging issues our democracy will face. And Mays tells this group of high school students that the legislature is too busy "to teach third-graders a lesson in democracy."
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