Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2010
--anything.
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I've timed my roommate for the past five minutes and he averages one sniff every 10 seconds. I'm about to Mangino on his ass.
My boyfriend of three years broke up with me on Monday. This week's been crappy ever
Being in College Station makes me remember why I transferred to KU.
It's been almost half a year since our split, but I still think about her everyday.
I see a guy in the Union reading FFA. This might scare him
Facebook, why are you suggesting birthing classes to me? Do you know something I don't?
It's 3:10 in the morning and all I've accomplished is an outline to this paper and useless flirting
--anything.
Dear KU students, stop justifying your drinking problems by saying "it's (insert random 'holiday') so let's get wasted" Love, those who overhear such conversations
Yeah, that's awesome roommate. Just stand right in front of the TV during the final heat of speed skating. It's not like I wanted to watch it or anything.
sound!
After running out of logical ways to procrastinate, I've started karate chopping the air with my Snuggie on. The sleeves make a pretty cool
Recycle my ass! I refuse!
T-Rex had feathers! It was a giant chicken!
Is it rude to end a date after 10 minutes?
Inappropriate crushes are either the best or worst.
--ing that no building meets the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) "green building" criteria. Also, no building is EnergyStar labeled.
Hello FFA. It's been a while, I feel like our absence and us meeting again is a bit awkward. All right, well I'm gonna go now. Don't call me, I'll call you.
MARIAM SAIFAN
People that think relationships suck have never been in a good one.
I haven't laughed this hard in a while.
--ing that no building meets the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) "green building" criteria. Also, no building is EnergyStar labeled.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Sexually (inter)Active
What is the best way to keep excitement and satisfaction in a relationship throughout the year?
Lets Talk about Sex
BY CAROLINE BLEDOWSKI
We've probably all been through that scenario at some point in a relationship. You're sitting at home with your partner, watching TV and either exchanging meaningless talking points or simply not talking at all.
This is usually the point where your relationship has gotten serious and all the butterfly-excitement has turned into normal, boring life again. Don't get me wrong, that's great!
Nevertheless, relationships won't just last forever by spending time together. Among other aspects, sex is an important part of a relationship and shouldn't be overlooked. Sex is not always fun; sometimes you have to make it exciting. A 2009 study in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality listed "interpersonal risk taking and exploration" as one of the key factors of good sex. Even the best missionary position in bed can get boring after a while.
Instead of starting to stretch your muscles for advanced Kamasutra positions, try working on the time and place of your sexual interactions. How about surprising your partner in the morning by having sex before class? I bet you're not going to fall asleep during that lecture.
Or why not just making out in the stacks before you go back to your research paper? Actions can be louder than words. Try stroking your partner's back while you're waiting in line or flashing them a smile. Who would not appreciate a sudden sensual kiss while doing the dishes?
Small acts that don't happen on a regular basis but usually evoke a good feeling will keep your affection for each other alive and renew your feelings without having to say it.
Bledowski is a graduate student from Cracow, Poland, in journalism.
BY LAUREN BORNSTEIN
Good ol' Valentine's Day: the mushiest, gushiest day of the year. Love one another. Send chocolates. Sweet kisses. Yay, romance!
Whether or not you like Valentine's Day, we can all agree this day has become the lovey-dovey day where you go out of your way to cherish a special someone. This should not be the case. When it comes to healthy relationships, you shouldn't rely on holidays as the main way of letting someone know how much you care.
I mean, as all those Hallmark cards saying "Just Because" demonstrate we aren't meant to appreciate others just on holidays.
In case you're one of those hopelessly deluded, romantically inept types, here's some love advice from me to you: It's not about the money you spend. Love is deeper than material goods. It's about letting the person you love know it in whatever way you can
Use words or sweet touches.
Set aside time or leave a random love note. It's the little things that make the biggest difference.
There's a reason every preteen Facebook status has those cliché quotes, "Wait for the guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot."
If that doesn't work out, post your own wonderful Facebook status about love like I did in the slightly toned-down words of Andre Segui, "You don't send me flowers anymore, you big meanie."
More aptly phrased in the eternal words of Blink 182, "All the small things true care, truth brings. She left me roses by the stairs, surprises let me know she cares." I think you get the idea.
Express yourself beyond material goods and more than a few days in the year. Try a little tenderness. Then try it again.
Bornstein is a senior from Lawrence in women's studies.
BY MELISSA LYTTON mlytton@kansan.com
Everyone has heard that communication is important for a healthy relationship. It helps a couple avoid arguments, understand different viewpoints and achieve great things together.
But I've found that communication is also one of the keys to continuous passion and more complete satisfaction in all aspects of a relationship.
In general people are curious creatures, and their sexuality is no exception. I've met very few people who are only interested in standard, missionary-style intercourse. The funny thing is, two very adventurous people can be dating each other but never try anything new.
Although the stigma surrounding alternative sexual practices has lessened throughout the years, conversation about the subject can still feel a little awkward for some people, even those in the more promiscuous college demographic.
If you don't tell your partner what you want to try, you'll probably never try it.
Opening up the floor for honest sexual conversation does so much more than just feed romantic excitement. Being able to talk about such private subjects deepens intimacy and reinforces communication in general. Plus, if you're able to accept your partner's desires, even if you don't indulge them, your partner will feel more relaxed, loved and fulfilled. And a happy partner is more likely to be interested in romantic encounters.
It's a wonderful cycle that grows exponentially the more you invest in it, and all it takes to start is a little time to talk frankly with your partner. How much easier could it get?
Lytton is a senior from Kodiak, Alaska, in creative writing.
Agree? Disagree? Just want get involved in the conversation?
Become Sexually (inter)Active.
Comment, react or rant at Kansan.com
Sexually (inter)Active is looking for male and female volunteers to participate in an upcoming panel discussion. If interested, e-mail opinion editor Emily McCoy at emccoy@kansan.com.
ORGANIC HEALTH
KU steps for sustainability
Sometimes when I am sitting in the Underground eating lunch, I take time to people watch out the windows. I like to see how people interact while admiring the beautiful campus.
I tried to ignore the wastefulness, instead focusing my sights on the activities of the Underground.
The other day, though, I witnessed something that disgusted me. As a student rushed to class, he held a plastic spoon in his mouth, carried his box of food in one hand and carelessly threw his empty soda can in the trash.
Unfortunately, that only made things worse as I observed people throwing newspapers and hoards of garbage into trashcans and noticed all of the lights shining from the ceiling.
That got me to thinking:
Just how eco-friendly is the University? The answer is, apparently, not very.
On the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card, the University received an overall grade of a C+. This is not acceptable for the University.
Improvement is a must. This can be achieved by evaluating KU's report card and by looking at programs implemented by universities and colleges that received As.
Out of the nine categories, the University scored two As, four Bs, one D and two Fs. The As were for both student involvement and investment priorities. Although the grade is good, there is always room for improvement. So, get involved. Clubs, such as the Environs, offer ways to make a difference and to help make the University more eco-friendly.
If "investment priorities" are so high, I wonder why that money is not being used to improve efforts in categories such as green building, which earned a measly D.
Organically Speaking
The University definitely has room for improvement in regards to developing more "green buildings." Not a single building on campus is LEED-certified, meaning that no building meets the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) "green building" criteria. Also, no building is EnergyStar labeled.
BY RACHEL SCHWARTZ
rschwartz@kansan.com
These improvements would, without a doubt, earn the University a better grade on the report card. But, the attention is not the point, just an added bonus. More importantly, these certifications would mean the University has made progress in sustainability and is helping the environment.
The University can move toward improvement by holding more meetings and being serious about putting plans into action. According to a survey submitted by the University in July 2009, the Sustainability Ambassadors had only met four times since August 2008. The Sustainability Advisory Board had only met twice.
By implementing monthly meetings of these groups, sustainability issues could be addressed and fixed in timely manners.
There are many more details that go into the Sustainability Report Card. More could be said about ways to promote sustainability. But for now the best thing to do is talk to the administration and let them know how important it is for the University to be eco-friendly.
Oh, and be sure to recycle that soda can.
Schwartz is a sophomore from Leawood in journalism.
No cost-benefit analysis in minds of criminals
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I am writing in response to the editorial on Feb. 16 about the punishment for hit-and-runs. I agree with the writer's conclusion: Punishment for the drivers in hit-and-runs should be increased. No one should be allowed to kill someone while driving in a car and not serve jail time.
But, I have serious problems with the editorial's premise. No matter how much we would like it to be so, laws do not deter crimes of this type. Rather, they punish the offenders. Yes, the law should be strengthened and the punishments made greater, but this will not deter people from leaving the scene of the crime, and it will definitely not lower the number of deaths.
Drunk drivers are not weighing which option will give them less jail time. People do not flee the scene of a crime because of a cost-benefit analysis. They do so because they think they won't get caught.
Even if the punishment is greater, they will still flee the scene of the crime, because they will still believe that they won't get caught. Generally, morality is what deters us from committing crimes, not laws. The reason most of don't us go out and murder people is not because the laws forbid it. It is because our parents taught us that killing people is not OK.
Changing this law to punish offenders is the right thing to do, but thinking that doing so will in any way deter criminals is outright foolishness.
— Jesi Lipp is a sophomore from Lenexa
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THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Stephen Montmayer, Marion Bammenluster, Stephanie Morton, Kate Brannon, Vicky Lu, Emily McCoy, Kate Laraehn, Andrew Hammond, Michael Holtz, Shelane Penn and Caitlin Thornburgh.