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COMMENTARY: Students and academics lose attention to the capitalistic basketball system. Players and students deserve more.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2007
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 7A
》 OUR VIEW
Oh Anna! Celebrity saga becomes a sensation
In a country of mixed up priorities and confusing rhetoric, it's assuring to see the media take control and show us what's really important. Clearly the death of Anna Nicole Smith has been the biggest thing to happen in George W's Presidency. Yes, there's "the War" but for each human injured in the Middle East, there's a dollar of Anna Nicole's fortune flosaling around without an heir.
Who has time to think about supporting Obama or Clinton? We've got to figure out which alleged baby-daddy of little Dannielynn we want to back. Is Liddy guilty? Who cares when Larry King and the rest of the country are trying to verbally prosecute Howard K. Stern, Anna's former lawyer and alleged lover?
The real question is: why isn't the President doing more to help the country in this time of crisis? He needs to send out CIA agents to find the real father of Anna Nicole's baby. He must force all major television networks to run stories on Anna Nicole. We shouldn't only be getting our information from
the reputable "E! News." The President needs to stiff-arm the Lifetime Television for Women channel to make a movie of angelic Anna Nicole STAT!
Because this also involves Bahamian laws, Anna Nicole's story is a global matter. President Bush must call on the United Nations to develop sanctions for what can and can't be filmed for the made-for-TV movie.
At a time when the American dream is in question, Anna Nicole gave us all hope. Hope to not only buy TrimSpa, but that we could move from poverty, using our God-given — or collagen, assets. She is the "American dream" personified.
The Kansan would like to salute all of those "National Enquirers" and "US Weeklies" for staying true to journalistic integrity and giving the people the most important news of the day. Let's all pause in a moment of silence for Anna Nicole, a woman unafraid to show her drive for success, nor her body.
— Tasha Riggins for the editorial board.
Call 864-0500
FREE FOR ALL
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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 will not all incoming calls are recorded
Seriously, "Home of the Jayhawks," not "Home of the Chiefs."
WESTCO
You know, for having to pay so much money to go to KU, the least I would expect is a working server and working elevators in
in a box!
Bill Self, thanks for the Longhorn Steakhouse. It was delicious
--in a box!
Tuesday is national That's What She Said Day. That's what she
I just pooped somewhere on campus, and then I covered it
said
I'm pretty sure if the mean, lady bus driver doesn't define road rage. I don't know what does.
My roommate just accidentally went to facecock.com, and now she has a lot of new friends.
in a box!
If you found a black, yellow,
and grey Timex Ironman Triathlon,
please turn it into the Reco.
in a box!
Sami has a crush on Matt.
in a box!
I just walked out of my room, and somebody was walking around with their dick in a box. Happy Valentine's Day, (sung) dick
I just went over to my boy-friends house, and I walked in the door, and there he was, standing naked with his dick in a box, and
from friends with Syria and Iran, but Bush's repeated refusal to engage in diplomatic communication is heedless, since international dialogue is most pertinent in cases
I think I just had a three-way with my best friend and his room
If your name is Sara, and you lost your KUID card, you can pick it up at the HSES office in
from friends with Syria and Iran, but Bush's repeated refusal to engage in diplomatic communication is heedless, since international dialogue is most pertinent in cases
图
Hey Free-for-All editor, for the record, you did a really, really good job making the Free-for-All good, even though the computer crashed, and I want everybody to know that was one of the people who fell in the snow, after making fun of somebody who fell in the
snow.
You'd have to be a special kind of dumbass to walk out in front of a car on a snowy road.
You know, I can handle shitty reporting and misspelled words in the articles, but one thing I will not stand for is a crossword puzzle that goes below the fold.
It's Valentine's Day. (Sigh) Is it over yet?
I don't believe in love, because there's no Free-for-All on Valentine's Day!
from friends with Syria and Iran, but Bush's repeated refusal to engage in diplomatic communication is heedless, since international dialogue is most pertinent in cases
from friends with Syria and Iran, but Bush's repeated refusal to engage in diplomatic communication is heedless, since international dialogue is most pertinent in cases
To the people against the Muck Fizzou shirts: Muck you.
from friends with Syria and Iran, but Bush's repeated refusal to engage in diplomatic communication is heedless, since international dialogue is most pertinent in cases
Last weekend, I spent all my money on alcohol at the bars. My mom is gonna kill me!
>> COMMENTARY
United States should give peace a try
Martin Luther King Jr. once said "Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal." His words are not only wise but relevant today. King's passionate acclamations of nonviolent militancy, spoken in response to the Vietnam War, portray an ideology that is underrepresented in the current U.S. administration.
President Bush is no shining example of a diplomat. The examples of his ignorance of relevant peoples, customs and international opinion are numerous. Most significantly, however, his past and present handling of the Iraq War is naive and little short of atrocious.
The 2006 Iraq Study Group Report's most important recommendations for the U.S. was to increase diplomatic efforts with nations surrounding Iraq. President Bush rejected the plan, asserting that Iraq's neighbors are too dangerous to deal with. The U.S. is far
where countries disagree. Dialogue with Iraq's neighbors provides an opportunity for the U.S. to present itself as a paradigm nation for others to exemplify.
However, the U.S. hasn't presented itself as an ideal nation flowing with wisdom. Regardless of whether the U.S. should've invaded Iraq, Iraqi citizens and U.S. congressmen alike concluded that the country is worse off today than it was prior to invasion. The number of U.S. casualties in Iraq has exceeded the number of casualties resulting from the attack on the World Trade towers. In addition to the invaluable cost
BY ALISON KIELER
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINIONKANSAN.COM
of human lives, the Iraq Study Group Report asserted that the final costs of the war may reach $2 trillion. The current fomentation of violence in Iraq suggests that, in
In light of the words that Martin Luther King Jr. spoke during a war that parallels the war the U.S. now wages, citizens must wonder if a more effective manner engages peace. An ideal solution is impossible, but the best solution involves cooperation.
retrospect, there may have been a more effective way to end terrorism and aid a brutally repressed people.
The Bush administration's decisions in Iraq will inevitably result in tragedy. We've already made extensive human and monetary sacrifice and we face the leering threat of global instability. For this
reason the message of nonviolence is imperative. Citizens of this nation must begin to notice a pattern in which the initiation of violence only results in violence.
Peace is not a simple concept and it may not always be possible. But its use in diplomacy is underrated. Nonviolent influence can be powerful, particularly for hegemonic powers, whether via altruistic care or economic boycots. In contrast, history has shown that using violence only results in more violence. As a begemonic nation the U.S. cannot afford to continue to make costly blunders like the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. Its government and its citizens must begin to heed the words of Martin Luther King Jr:
"The chain reaction of evil — hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars — must be broken."
Kieler is a Lenexa senior in political science and international studies.
PROPHETIC
PATHETIC
EMPATHETIC
APATHETIC
Grant Snider/KANSAN
COMMENTARY
University shouldn't place basketball above academics
You'll forgive me if I don't get drunk and call Free-For All like the rest of you the next time the basketball team has a home game. I'll be busy circling parking lots trying to go to the library.
Yes, the library. That building that houses books, which the athletic corporation needs in order to maintain its cover as a university. With no library there would be no NCAA tournament bid, and with no tournament bid, there would be no first-round loss to a backwoods junior college. Having lost to virtually every degree-granting institution in the country, the basketball team plans to get knocked out of this year's tournament by your younger sister's band camp team.
The University of Kansas breeds the worst fans in the nation. Continual dominance with no other
purpose has created a fan base of poor winners and poor losers. Earlier this season when the team had scored nearly twice as many points as Emporia State, the fans were disappointed that they didn't score 100. I've heard all about how Bucknell was an underrated seed two years ago, and how Bradley shouldn't have been a 13 seed. What's more likely is that Kansas wasn't supposed to be a four seed.
The basketball team exists as an excuse for the athletic corporation to make money and for the student body to party. Neither of those goals helps educate anyone. Enhanced exposure is not the same
》TALK TO US
thing as enhanced prestige.
Running a basketball program that did no harm to the University's chartered mission of education wouldn't be bad, if it were done hom-
estly and fairly. However, talented athletes are used to make money for everyone but themselves. When the team plays like a bunch of individuals who want to impress professional scouts, where does the University community get off complaining? That's the only incentive they've been given. They aren't playing for anyone besides themselves, and they know it.
In many ways the basketball program distracts from the University's
mission. Two nights a week, campus libraries are virtually inaccessible, as the bus service shuts down and seemingly every professional in Lawrence invades campus to watch a basketball game.
Why does the University of Kansas exist, to educate students or to make money? There are better ways to make money. Simple robbery would be more efficient, and in a way it would be more honest, too. At least then we could stop lying to ourselves about an educational mission, and we could stop getting worked up when the system we've created turns out a team that loses first-round tournament games and then enters the NBA draft early for large signing bonuses.
Minster is a Lawrence junior in economics.
Basketball should maintain level of class and welcome rivalry
》 LETTER TO THE EDITOR
As I watched the men basketball team annihilate Missouri Saturday afternoon, I couldn't help but be annoyed when the announcers discussed Lew Perkins' decision to apologize to Bob Huggins for the fans' behavior at last Wednesday night's game.
Gabriella Souza, editor
864-4854 or gsouza@kansan.com
Nicole Kelley, managing editor 864-4854 or nkellevikansan.com
Courtney Hagen, opinion editor 864-4924 or chaensilkansan.com
Patrick Ross. managing editor 864-4854 or pross@kansan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser 864-7667 or malbison@jansan.com
Jackie Schaffer, sales manager
864-4462 or jschaffer@kansan.com
It's important for our school to
Lindsey Shirack, business manager 864-4014 or lshirack@kansan.com
Natalie Johnson, associate opinion editor 864-4924 or jnjohnsoniskansan.com
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864.7666 or jweaver@kansas.com
》 SUBMISSIONS
maintain a reputation of class, but I don't think that Wednesday's game showed a lack of it. It's a rivalry game; I challenge Lew Perkins to find a welcoming venue when witnessing a rivalry game. Allen Fieldhouse did not maintain its reputation as being one of the hardest venues to play in by inviting
visiting coaches out to dinner. The University got its reputation because it's a tough place to play, visiting teams don't want to come here
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For any questions, call Courtney Hagen or Natalie Johnson at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com
Bob Huggins has made some bad decisions. He may regret those decisions now, but as a prominent head coach, he must expect that he will be held accountable for them
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by opposing fans. That's life. As an athletic director, Lew Perkins should stand behind his students. Sorry Lew, but at Kansas, basketball is more than a business, it's a way of life.
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Gabriella Souza, Nicole Kelley, Patricia Ross, Courtney Hagen,
Natalie Johnson, Alison Krieel, Tasha Riggins and McKay
Stangler