The University Daily Kansan emphasizes the 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. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2007 WWW.KANSAN.COM WHITE: For the sake of school spirit, students need to stop wearing other schools' logos.And a campus-wide paint job wouldn't hurt either. See Kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN OPINION PAGE 5A 》 OUR VIEW Student Senate fulfills promises, earns praise Politics is full of empty promises Eventually those unfulfilled pledges fall on apathetic ears. People aren't obligated to care when decisions have no impact on them. This negative association with politics not only occurs on a national and state level, but on the campus level as well. Obviously, tar-reaching promises like "No classes before 10:00 a.m." cannot be fulfilled. But the University of Kansas' student body has been promised realistic benefits that have never come to fruition. Refreshingly, student body president Iason Boots and vice president Melissa Horen have lived up to one of their major campaign platform points. As reported in Friday's The University Daily Kansan, Student Senate passed a campus-wide wireless Internet bill last week. Wireless Internet access on campus can benefit every student, faculty, staff and visitor that sets foot on campus. Boots said that if students saw their politicians not fullfill campaign promises, they would lose faith in the system and assume it didn't matter whom they voted for. "I'm too proud to have said I would work on something and then to not have put in the effort after the election," he said. While this is a success, there are still more promises that Senate has to work on. "We'll be working on all of them until they send us packing from office," Boots said. Senate's good word on its promise has set the bar for the next spring election. Candidates should always be held to their word. But now that students are rightfully becoming accustomed to getting what they're promised, elections on campus should receive higher voter turnout and attention. Students should have an increased awareness of the candidates and their platforms. If candidates are anything like Boots and Horen, what they promise could affect all students. Tasha Riggins for the editorial board. 》 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Glue traps a cruel way to kill mice I am writing concerning the story about the mouse infestation in Oliver Hall that appeared in The University Daily Kansan Jan. 30. Specifically I want to address the manner in which people attempted to catch these mice and alert people to the fact that glue traps are a very cruel way to kill an animal. As the owner of a variety of pets, including rodents, I can tell you unequivocally that these small animals feel pain and fear as well as happiness and comfort. I have begun to understand that many people, while sensitive to the suffering of cats and dogs and other pets, simply don't see the suffering of "vermin" and farm animals as relevant. They may not be able to name and explain the feelings in the same manner as we do — but that makes their suffering even that much sadder because they have no idea what is going on or why their world has suddenly changed to fear and pain If you must kill something — and I think there are generally alternatives — have the decency to do it quickly and cleanly. Don't allow an animal to be stuck, uncomprehending and terrified to a glue trap to be simply thrown out alive or killed later. There is no reason to prolong the suffering of another creature. It's not funny, it's not cool and it's not necessary. Adonia David Watson Library staff member >> COMMENTARY Uniform, crimson shingles could bring back spirit There has been a disturbing trend on campus recently. It is a trend of betrayal and treachery and it affects every one of us, be we students, faculty or people who just love this mighty institution. The villainous act I speak of is coming onto our campus and walking among us while being covered in other school's paraphernalia. This egregious and public atrocity is completely unacceptable. Failing to support your state and university is like failing to support your nation. Its worse actually. Robert E. Lee said he was an American, but he was a Virginian first. Well we are Kansans first, and not just Kansans and day out, these nefarious deviantstab the crimson and blue in the back with their virgul displays. I don't care how much you love the Gamecocks. Beavers or angry your boodie and but jayhawks, the cream of the crop. And it's excruciating to see, day in I don't care how much you love the Gamecocks, Beavers or angry Leprechauns, if your hoodie and baseball hat are not adorned with a goofy bird with strange and unnecessary shoes, you should not be coming to this campus. BY ZACH WHITE Beavers or angry Leprechauns, if your hoodie and baseball hat are KANSAN.COLUMNIST OPINION@KANSAN.COM led Wilt Chamberlain to his many records, that pushed Jack Del Rio not adorned with a goofty bird with strange and unnecessary shoes, you should not be coming on this campus In fact, the campus itself seems to be lacking in spirit; the same inspiring spirit that It to coach the jacksonville Jaguars to win some games, and that held Mo Rocca's attention long enough to have him wear one of our shirts on TV. The follow The follow ing are a couple of steps that would put the fightin spirit back in Old KU. First, completely redo the color scheme on campus. When did the colors of our beloved University become washed-out maroon and sandstone? What we need is to shin gle the roofs majestic crimson, paint every building as blue as our great state's sky, and make every staircase as golden as both our sun, and the maize that it nurtures. I want our campus to look like the world's biggest Burger King. It should be visible from space, or at least wuss-bucket Manhattan. Another idea is to implement a school uniform, to prevent future acts of visual treason. I have some ideas in the works, but the final designs aren't quite where they need to be yet. Now I'm afraid that with all this complaining I may come across as a nay-saving Nancy. But I don't think we are completely lost. In fact, whenever I see one of the brilliantly blue new Park and Ride buses, I see a glimmer of hope. And every time I am walking through campus and am passed by a fellow student wearing KU sweatpants, a blue nylon jayhawk windbreaker, and a baseball cap embroidered with one of our many fine logos, it brings a tear to my eye. A little jayhawk tear. Oh and I think that the "chin- strap" should be mandatory facial hair for all guys. White is a River City, Iowa sophomore in journalism and Japanese. 》 COMMENTARY STD stigma must end Nearly one third of sex partners lie about their sexual history, according to Planned Parenthood's Web site. Whether they are lying to get lucky or to avoid social stigma, we can help stop the lies ROOM PROJECTS KANSAN COLUMNIST OPINION@KANSAN.COM sider people with STDs as less moral than their STD-free, sexually active peers? It's inexcusable for someone with an STI or STD, or a person who has been in a situation Facebook groups like "Air five me if you've got STDs," show that our society's defense against sexually transmitted infections, which are sexually transmitted diseases that haven't developed symptoms, and STDs is to make light of their prevalence instead of accepting it and initiating change. The group is described with, "The last thing in the world that anyone wants is to pick up some random rash or open sore from incidental contact with an STD laden [sic] vagrant." With more than 50 percent of sexually active Americans contracting an STI in their lifetimes, according to the American Social Health Association, why do we still com- where he or she may have contracted one, to not be honest with a partner. But in order to facilitate openness, we need to cut the shame and blaming and acknowledge the state of the sexually active community. Next week is Sexual Responsibility Week. Let's cut the stigma and promote a mature approach to our sexual reality. Check out the games and information booths hosted by the Wellness Research Center at the Kansas Union Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or the Student Recreation and Fitness Center Tuesday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hughes is a St. Louis senior in journalism. ANCIENT ARTIFACT OF THE 20TH CENTURY Grant Snider/KANSAN FREE FOR ALL Call 864-0500 I was in the Free-for-All and you weren't. Jealous much? - - Free-for-All, did you eat paint chips as a child? I'm looking down when I walk on campus because I feel happy, and I don't want people to think I'm smirking at them. Hey, Free-for-All, do you know karate? Because your body's kickin' - The prevalence of comments about Uggs in the Free-for-All is the worst thing since unsliced bread. To the guy I made out with in the Boom Boom Room last night: I regret it. Please stop trying to call me. What's that on my sleeve you see? It's my heart. Leave it be. KU Recycling has made incredible efforts to recycle at Allen Fieldhouse. I think you're barking up the wrong tree. But please, keep the pressure on Allen to recycle. Thank you. - - There's a guy in Oliver wearing a pink polo, a popped collar, and a North Face vest: The Tool Trifecta. I would like to challenge Julian Wright to a game of bowling. Winer takes pretty much everything. It's 9:30 on a Friday night. We are bored, broke, and desperate enough to play water-pong. Please save us, Free-for-All. giving the GA our student seats that we camped out all week for. We're waiting in line for the Texas A&M game, and we just made a fire on the sidewalk. All hail the keeper of the fire! giving the GA our student seats that we camped out all week for. Rut-ro! Scooby-Doo just tried to light Kansas on fire! Tuition, plus 10 bucks for a ticket, plus an hour out in the cold before the game equals no seats. I blame the Chancellor. Down with Hemenway! Hey Athletics Department: Thanks for overselling the GA and giving the GA our student seats that we camped out all week for. So, I guess I can't go to the bathroom during basketball games. Lew Perkins needs to be fired for not letting students into the game. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. 图 students that bought tickets and waited outside in line for them in. I'm a little bit more than disappointed that Kansas University lets people camp out for five days for a game and then does not let them in. Why does that idiot wear the Scooby-Doo costume to every game? I think he just wants to get on TV. Hey, KU, thanks for not letting me get into the game I paid for, and making me wait 45 minutes in the cold. Really appreciate it, Lew Perkins! Lew Perkins hates KU students. KU just lost a basketball fan and possibly a student. I hope A&M wins tonight. students that bought tickets and waited outside in line for them in. students that bought tickets and waited outside in line for them in. Does anybody else think that the guy in the Scooby-Doo outfit smells? If more students would have been let in, KU would have won. Thank you, Fire Marshal. I'm very disappointed. We lost to A&M because of Scooby-Doo. Let the "Fire Bill Self" talk start now. - Maybe KU would have won if they would have let all the If there were more KU fans at the game, KU would have won. Thank you, Lew Perkins. Not! - The Jayplay was wrong. The Scooby-Doo costume is a bad superstition. Don't ever wear it again. The real reason why 500 students weren't able to get into Allen Fieldhouse: Mark Mangino. 》 TALK TO US Gabriella Souza . editor 864-4854 or gsouza@kansan.com Courtney Hagen, opinion editor 864-4924 or chagen@kansan.com Nicole Kelley managing editor 864-4854 or nkelley@kansan.com Patrick Ross, managing editor 864-4854 or press@kansan.com Natalie Johnson associate opinion editor 864-4924 or njohnson@kansan.com Lindsey Shirak business manager 864-4014 or lishirakjicansan.com Jackie Schaffer, sales manager *864-4462 or jschaffer@kansan.com* Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser 864-7667 or mgibson@ikansan.com >> SUBMISSIONS Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser 864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com The Kansas welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all suimissions. For any questions, call Courtney Hagen or Natalie Johnson at 864-4810 or e-mail opinionkanans.com. General questions should be directed to the editor at General questions should be directed to the editor at editorxiansan.com LETTER GUIDELINES SUBMIT LETTERS TO **Include:** Author's name, class, hometown (student) or position (faculty member/staff) and phone number (will not be published) Maximum Length: 200 words 111 Stafford Flint Hall 1435 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, 854044 (785) 864-4010 optimumkamane.com 1. ( ) **Include:** Author's name, class, hometown (student); position (faculty member) and phone number (will not *published*) Maximum Length: 500 words Also: The Kanman will not print column names that attack a reporter or another columnist. GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES EDITORIAL BOARD Gabrielle Souza, Nicole Kelley, Patrick Ross, Courtney Hagen, Natalie Johnson, Alison Kieler, Tasha Riggins and McKay Stangler O