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The pink slices of silicone encircling her arm may look like regular rubber bands but they're actually much siller. When removed, Silly Bandz spring back into their original form. The most recent addition to Meyer's jewelry collection just happens to be in the shape of a dinosaur — Fred Flintstone's Dino to be exact. She babysits children literally up to their elbows in Silly Bandz. With their help, she now has more than 20 of her own. "These kids are seven and I'm 20, but that's okay," Meyer says.
Ranging from mermaids to cowboy hats to Justin Bieber shaped-bands, the original brand of molded rubber bands is stretching their image to appeal to a larger audience. The fad is no longer child's play says Rachel Ybarra, manager of The Toy Store, 936 Massachusetts St. "It's hilarious," Ybarra says. "At first I thought it was going to be only elementary school kids but now we have a lot of college kids looking for them."
Ybarra sees the young and old in search of the elastic fun, but currently there's not a Silly Band in sight. The store completely sold out for the first time last week. The first shipment of 100 packs arrived in May and the most recent order called for one thousand. She compares the craze to the "Pog" phenomenon.
"I think they will stick around for a while and
EVERY GENERATION HAS SOME RANDOM JEWELRY CRAZE.
then they're going to die hard," Ybarra says.
CHAD STEELE
CHAD STEELE
WALMART TOY SALES ASSOCIATE
Ybarra attributes part of the popularity to the economic downturn. The Toy Store carries 20 different themes and silly band fans can get 12 bracelets for $2.99. "They're relatively inexpensive and they're fun for everyone to collect," Ybarra says. "Especially the limited edition ones."
The Toy Store has been out of the mystical creatures shapes for weeks, making the unicorn bracelet a valuable commodity. But not everyone is willing to barter. "I'm not a trader. I'm just a keeper," Maggie Brown, St. Louis, Mo., senior, says.
Brown has seen what happens to Silly Bandz exchanges gone bad. She worked at an all-boys camp in Maine this summer and saw one camper trade every last one of his bands for a glow-in-the dark monkey. "I never thought about the fad, I just never took them off," Brown says.
Chad Steele, Walmart toy sales associate, has seen silly band sales take off and says he's not surprised. He remembers when slap bracelets were "all the rage." "Every generation has some random jewelry craze," Steele savs.
Like the slap bracelets, some elementary schools are trying to install a serious ban, insisting the bracelets stay at home. The
University has yet to adopt the silly band bans. In fact, the KU Bookstore is waiting for their first shipment of the Jayhawk-shaped bands.
"Rather than putting a tattoo on your face it's an easy way to show spirit," Brown says. "That may have to be my first silly band purchase."
Students like Meyer and Brown prove that fashion, no matter how silly, can always stretch the imagination.
photo illustrations | Karlie Brown
phonics illustrations) *Karlie Brown*
Elasticity of demand: With a plentiful supply of Silk Bands in various shapes and colors, accessorizing became a whole lot easier, and youthful.
BAND HUNT
Whether you're a "Silly Bandz" snob or an off-brand junkie, check out the following places to get silly in Lawrence.
CVS/Pharmacy
2300 Iowa St.
Specialty: Scented bands
Target
The Toy Store
3201 Iowa St.
Specialty: Disney themes
The Yoy Store 936 Massachusetts St. Specialty: Mystical creatures
Dramart
3300 Iowa St.
Specialty: Glow-in-the dark dragons
Walmart
Kwik Shop Convenience Store 1846 Massachusetts St. Specialty: Dress-up theme
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CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
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Tara Arikawe, a sophomore from Cape Girardeau, Mo., uses her laptop in front of the Kansas Union on Tuesday afternoon. Many students like Arikawe use their laptops on a frequent basis and consequently may develop negative health effects later in life. Evan Palmer/KANSAN
Laptops and bad posture can lead to laptop-itis'
HOW TO AVOID LAPTOP-ITIS
Sandra Bowman, physical therapy supervisor at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said adjusting your posture isn't hard. You basically do the opposite of what you've been doing, she said.
— If you are using your laptop while lying in bed, make sure your head and back are supported.
— Take frequent breaks. Consider setting a timer.
if possible, sit at a table or desk
Be aware of your posture. Your head should be positioned so your ears line up with your shoulders.
brian sitek, a sopnomore from
BY KELLY STRODA
kstroda@kansan.com
Sandra Bowman, physical therapy supervisor at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said students are already at risk for poor posture because of sustained sitting from class and studying. She also said
A new medical condition is lurking on campus, in coffee shops and even in your own bedroom. Chances are, you're not immune either.
"Laptop-itis" is a term coined by Kevin Carneiro, assistant professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
Laptop-itis stems from poor posture and includes neck pain, headaches, back pain and tingling fingers.
However, according to EDUCAUSE, a group that researches information technology at universities, about 75 percent of college students owned laptops in 2007.
SEE LAPTOPS ON PAGE 3A
The University does not track personal devices, so it isn't possible to know how many students own laptops.
LITERATURE
Anthologist speaks of inspiration for change
BY GARTH SEARS gsears@kansan.com
"The Heath Anthology of American Literature" has certainly changed how American literature is taught at the University of Kansas and may have affected the course of American literature on a much larger scale.
Paul Lauter, the general editor of the anthology, spoke about the changing academics in American literature Wednesday
night at the Kansas Union and yesterday morn ing at the Hall Center for Humanities.
Lauter said his experiences with social movements in
other anthologies to follow suit.
techniques to follow suit.
"We widen the definition of what is called literature to include texts like blues lyrics, letters, nonfictional prose — generally seen as marginal to literary study." Lauter said during his lecture yesterday.
More than 20 years after its initial publication, the anthology is used for American Literature I and II, and it has changed the way both students and professors approach the class.
"It's forced me to reevaluate what we call good writing."
"It's forced me to reevaluate
SUSAN HARRIS Hall distinguished professor of American literature
the 60s led him to envision a new kind of anthology — one that included the voices of minorities and women. In becoming a success, the anthology forced
what we call good writing," said Susan Harris, the Hall distinguished professor of American literature and culture.
Stephanie Lanning a senior
index
from Shawnee in an American literature class, attended Lauter's
SEE LAUTER ON PAGE 3A
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