Opinion The University Daily Kansan
United States First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Follow Opinion on Twitter. @kansanopinion
t
PAGE 5A
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
To contribute to Free For All, visit Kansan.com or call (785) 864-0500.
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
My psych professor talked about hallucinogenic drugs today in class. The more he talked, the louder "Purple Haze" played in my head.
I hate when people get on Facebook in the library ... oh
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
Really? If you don't want to be classy like everyone else, you can go to K-State.
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
Who the heck stole my Taylor Swift poster from my wall???
Why is it that public bathrooms always appear as though the people who use the toilets are cavemen?
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
Just found out that they changed the food pyramid. Sweets no longer exist! What has happened to the world?
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
I just colored in my belly button with a black pen. Back to studying ...
My grandmother forbids me from using raunchy language.
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
I miss my stupid boyfriend. Thanks U.S. Air Force.
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
I just saw my parents on a Cialis commercial. FML
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
The only reason I love KU football is because of the awesome pregame video!
I have been flirting with this guy for a year ... Can he please get a hint soon!
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
GSP is going coed in 2012. I guess they were right, the world will end in 2012.
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
I just got told after eight weeks of dating I'm not marriage material. Uh.
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
Is the FFA printed each day from the last 24 hours, or do they include older ones too? Editor's note: We actually get our FFA's from the future.
图图园
We so need a traffic director at the intersection by Bailey, the whole pedestrian bus fight is getting old.
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
I really want to start a fight with the girl whose music is too loud in Watson. I mean, how many times does a fight break out at a library?
--a coming change will deal a devastating blow to high school journalism in Kansas.
EDITORIAL BOARD
High school journalism in Kansas still retains value
T the staff of The University Daily Kansan was saddened to learn that
Soon, funding for high school journalism courses in Kansas are likely to disappear as journalism is moved into the same funding category as other type of elective or career-based classes, such as the arts and business, according to the Associated Press.
Journalism continues to play a vital role in a healthy republic, whether it comes from The Washington Post or The Huffington Post. High school journalism is important in fostering an appreciation for the profession.
Many high school journalists may never step foot inside a newsroom after their senior year.
but the skills learned - and the values absorbed - help them to be better citizens throughout life. For those who do pursue a career in journalism, high school is often the place a passion for the craft is first ignited.
Yes, the profession is changing in numerous ways and the future is uncertain. There's no guarantee that we will end up finding employment in our chosen field. But for many of us who were once high school journalists, without those first experiences, we may never had even had the chance to pursue this field.
The new funding requirements will also put Kansas students in journalism at a competitive disadvantage against other states with stronger support for journalism education.
journalism education in Kansas will affect students at the University. As students come to the journalism school and various campus media with less and less prior experience, the quality of campus media will suffer.
And that's something nobody wants.
Ultimately, though, changes in the quality of high school
—Jonathan Shorman for The Kansan Editorial Board
Tell state legislators to protect high school journalism
Contact Rep. Marci Francisco
785-842-6402 marci.francisco@senate. ks.gov
... UP NEXT:
STUDY FINDS THAT CHILDREN
WHO LOOK UP TO DEREK JETER
CAN'T TELL RIGHT FROM WRONG.
NICK SAMBULAK
GUEST COLUMN
Increasing risky behavior means trouble for students
Young adults confront many experiences new to them in college, and it is no secret that the casual college hook-up is a popular social subject.
The more socially acceptable casual, unprotected sex becomes, the bigger the chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. It also does not help that many college kids admit to not using condoms 100 percent of the time when hooking up with some-one, especially if there was alcohol involved. A 2009 article published by the National Institutes of Health concluded that 65 percent of students surveyed admitted to not always using a
Unfortunately, recent trends have shown that young people are becoming increasingly risky in their sexual behaviors, and the statistical evidence of current STD rates are less than promising for our generation. The numbers are frightening and paint a disturbing picture of how careless our young adult demo- graphic has become when it comes to protecting themselves sexually.
According to a graph compiled by various state health departments on the disease prevention website avert.org, the number of cases of chlamydia went from a little over 500,000 confirmed cases in 1997 to over 120 million in 2008, and the rate is steadily increasing. One of the biggest problems with this disease is that many people don't know they are infected for a long time because symptoms do not always appear right away.
condom, and people who had more sexual partners were less likely to insist on using a condom than people who had a fewer number of sexual partners.
In my mind, it makes more sense to always have a condom available if you have several sexual partners, but statistically, that is not the case. The trend of loose promiscuity
This seems a bit weird to me.
The more socially acceptable casual, unprotected sex becomes,the bigger the chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
second, if you are too embarrassed to buy a box of condoms then you should be too embarrassed to be having sex, too.
with little regard for the health and well-being of both parties involved is irresponsible and dangerous. Young adults need to start protecting their bodies when they are out in a social setting where they might have a sexual encounter with someone whom they are not familiar.
With the current rates of STDs increasing, it is necessary to make
smart choices about your body
"It is disheartening that after years of improvement with respect to teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, we now see signs that progress is stalling and many of these trends are going in the wrong direction."
Janet Collins, director of the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, said in a news release on abnews.com.
I have met several people who have serious problems in their lives be-cause of the decisions they made under the influence with someone they thought was totally clean. It is our responsibility to grow up and face the facts about the decisions we make as young adults. Whatever happens on Friday or Saturday night is something you may have to live with for the next 50 years, so be careful and think about the smartest decision for both you and your partner.
-Jillian Aramowicz for The Kansas State Collegian at Kansas State University
HEALTH
Facts on organic can be elusive,but are helpful
O organic has become a buzzword among those who are concerned
about their health. But what does organic mean? What are the benefits of organic food versus conventional food? Why should students consider paying more for organic foods? This conversation has been debated heavily, but there are facts among the rhetoric that provide answers to these elusive questions.
Organic food in the U.S. goes through strict regulations, according to Urvashi Rangan, who is director of technical policy for the Consumer's Union Rangan took part in a debate held on Intelligence Squared, a program broadcasted by NPR.
Rangan asserts that there are five main ways organic food benefits consumers: Organic animals don't eat excrement, antibiotics are not allowed, organic animals are not fed toxic heavy metals (such as arsenic), synthetic pesticides are not used, and synthetic fertilizers are not allowed (i.e. human waste).
Believe it or not, the above-mentioned regulations actually are allowed to take place in conventional agriculture. Rangan states, "We feed antibiotics to animals every single day. We wouldn't do that with humans. We wouldn't feed humans antibiotics every day. Why do we do it in conventional agriculture?"
One of the main arguments against organic products is the increased price. Organic food is, on average, $1.60 for every $1.00 of a similar conventional product, according to John Krebs, who is chairman of Britain's Food Standards Agency, who was also one of the experts debating on Intelligence Squared.
The daily use of antibiotics is irresponsible considering the on-going battle against antibiotic resistant bacteria (such as MRSA) that, according to the CDC, killed 18,650 people in 2005. The CDC found that more people die of MRSA annually than of AIDS. Only 16,000 people died of AIDS in the U.S. in 2005).
So why do organic foods cost more? Rangan explains
The Conscientious Consumer
BY SARAH GROSS sqross@kansan.com
that organic food is laborious to produce; instead of using chemicals to kill weeds, they must be physically pulled.
Another reason for the increased cost is because conventional crops, such as soy and corn, are subsidized by taxpayer money and organic products have yet to receive such subsidies.
While opponents to organic products claim that there are no significant health benefits, and that the chemicals used on conventional products do not pose health risks, there is reason to believe that this is simply not true.
Charles Benbrook, chief scientist at the Organic Center, also participated in Intelligence Squared. Benbrook links the use of certain pesticides to birth defects afflicting one in eight babies, as well as the 25 percent of Americans who are having difficulty conceiving. He acknowledges that there are pesticides available that are fairly safe, including one called Glyfosate.
But can a consumer really tell which products have residue from a safe pesticide versus that of an unsafe pesticide?
For students paying that additional 60 cents can sometimes be tough, considering that can almost buy a burrito at Taco Bell. but it is a wise decision to make, if possible. Organic products are heavily regulated and are much more transparent than conventional products allowing consumers to make an educated decision on the food they eat.
Gross is a sophomore from Lindsborg in journalism and international studies.
Chatterbox
"Using these stereotypes, including the sexualization of the gay community, paralyzes social justice and progress.'
The sexualization of the gay community? How else can you define the nature of the 'gay community?' It is an identity entirely based on its members' sexual preferences!
Clearly the Queers and their allies have pretty thin skin to let some poorly crafted cartoon on the back page of a college newspaper get them worked up. But, they had to speak up, you know? I mean, that cartoon single-handedly paralyzed social justice and progress!"
— "Thatcher" in response to "Comic perpetuates stereotypes" on Sept. 20.
"I'm glad you encourage girls to go out and have more sex. This is tremendously helpful for losers who can't get laid."
—"kujayhawk in response to "Friends with benefits may work with boundaries" on Sept. 22.
LETTER GUIDELINES
HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Send letters to kananspodek@gmail.com.
com. WILE LETTER TO THE EDITOR in the e-mail subject line.
Length: 300 words
The submission should include the author's name, grade and hometown.
Find our full letter to the editor policy online at kansan.com/letters.
CONTACT US
Alex Garrison, editor
864-4810 or agarrison@akansan.com
Nick Gerik, managing editor 864-4810 or ngerik@kansan.com
Erin Brown, managing editor 864-4810 or ebrown@kansan.com
David Cawthon, kansan.com managing editor 864-4810 or dcwthon@kansan.com
Emily McCoy, Kanran TV assignment editor
684-4814 or amlrc@kanran.com
Jonathan Shorman, opinion editor
684-4924 or jshorman@kanran.com
Shauna Blackmon, associate opinion editor
684-5204 or slbkmon@kanran.com
Emily McCoy, Kansan TV assignment editor 864-4810 or emccoyi@kansan.com
Joe Garvey, business manager
864-4358 or jgarvey@kansan.com
Joe Gâvé, business manager
843-4538 or business@kanasan.com
Amy O'Brien, sales manager
8447-4477 or oblainte@kanasan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager and news adviser
864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
Jon Schlitt, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jschlitt@kansan.com
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Editorial Board are
Nick Gink, Erin Brown, David
Cawton, Shauna and Shauna
Blackmon