Opinion
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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.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2009
Cosby: Heath care debate gains global perspective
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--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
I just bought my boyfriend an alarm clock on wheels. It's either the best or worst present ever.
I need a hug right now
If I bank all my money on it snowing and icing like hell tonight so that I don't have to write this paper, what are the chances that, come morning, I won't be screwed?
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Cole Aldrich's missing tooth makes my insides all wiggly.
The Kansas City Chiefs are a Missouri team. What the hell is wrong with you people?
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
To the asshole who left the note on my car:
I AM handicapped.
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
All I want for Christmas is the next KU football coach to have good end-game coaching.
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
Tonight I got so high that I poured jelly straight into the peanut butter jar.
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
'Tis the season to kiss ass if you want your grades to pass
To whoever broke into my car on Friday night: You can keep my wallet, but please return my iPod. It says "tacos" on the back
The Cave cannot be considered a real bar because they don't know how to make any mixed drinks.
Guess who got arrested for public drunkenness and called Jimmy John's for the entire station last night instead of someone to bail me out? The cop that arrested me drove me home. Win.
How is it possible for me to have not been gay at all during my teen years, and now all of a sudden men turn on?
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
Some guy asked my chemistry professor if our grades were charged
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
The only upside about turning 20 other than exiting those teenage years, is that next year I will be 21.
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
Life is not a movie but it's definitely a Taylor Swift song.
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
Pie eating contest at the local fairgrounds!
I'm sick and tired of walking into the men's bathroom and seeing five guys fixing their hair in the mirror. What the hell are you doing?
--a new member of the University community. Though she has built a solid foundation with her proposed goals, voice and visibility, she must make it a priority next semester to take the action necessary to accomplish these goals.
EDITORIAL BOARD
High expectations remain for Chancellor Gray-Little
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little has been welcomed this semester as
From the beginning, Gray-Little has made one of her priorities to place a special emphasis on students and academics, paying particular attention to increasing the graduation rate and improving the University's research profile, according to a June 10 article in The Kansan.
Additionally, she has extensively been traveling both inside and
outside of the state,
meeting with donors,
benefactors and
community members
of 13 towns and cities
in Kansas.
"People all over the state see KU as an institution in the state, and wherever I've gone there's been a wish to have a connection with KU and to see KU in their communities," Gray-Little said in a Nov. 27 Kansas article.
More recently, budgetary concerns have gripped both the state and the University. Gray-Little will need to be even more efficient when it comes to the budget and its relations to her
three initiatives.
Gray Little's ongoing commitment to students is evident in her three initial priorities: a higher level of scholarly research, an increased amount of private
KANSAN'S
OPINION
funds and improved graduation and retention rates.She has implemented three task forces to look into these three priorities.
Her first semester with the University has also been marred with the issues attached to the football program, which have been nothing but distractions to the chancellor and her goals for the University as a whole. Gray-Little has handled the situation admirably, and did the right thing
These task forces should make the most of their time to be prepared to report publicly on their plans next semester.
by releasing concise, thorough statements to the public.
"I certainly wish we would have headlines with athletics that would be more positive than the ones we have," Gray-Little said. "I would prefer that whatever gets into the national media about the University would be more positive, whether it would be academics or athletics."
It is evident that Gray-Little is off to a productive start. However, reaching her goals will be a challenge, especially after Gov. Mark Parkinson announced a $2 million cut from the Board of Regents budget last month. Next semester, the task forces and the chancellor will be critiqued closely to see how their efforts live up to their powerful words.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
— Brett Salsbury for The Kansan Editorial Board
WE'LL REINFORCE AFGHANISTAN
...WITH 30,000 MORE US SOLDIERS, 7,000 OTHER NATO TROOPS, AND A COUPLE OF MY SPEECHES.
NICHOLAS SAMBALUK
HUMOR
How Gap stole Christmas
The holiday season is upon us, and we all know what that means: holiday-themed commercials. Every year, a barrage of excessively festive attempts to get us to spend our hard-earned cash on allegedly snazy products take over the airwaves. The ads can be so annoying and ubiquitous that it becomes disheartening.
Now, don't take this as yet another screed against the crass commercialization of Christmas. I honestly have no problem with that. After all, it's a tradition as old as the holiday itself. Many people don't know this, but the reason the inn was too full for Mary and Joseph was their irresistibly low holiday rate. You gotta book those Christmas trips ahead of time, guys!
The worst offender this year is the Gap. I don't think I've ever seen a company actively try to make people dislike them with an ad campaign. It's as if they're trying to use reverse psychology. By purposefully making me hate them, they'll make我 think that they don't want my money. So to
No, what I take umbrage with are the commercials themselves. They're so chock full of fake smiles, crappy carols and mandatory joy that they make me want to skip buying gifts altogether.
In case you've been lucky enough to miss out on these commercials, here's the gist: A ragtag bunch of super-attractive models join forces in a vicious maelstrom of charisma, spreading holiday cheer by cheering about holidays. Get it? Like cheerleading. Isn't that great? Overelaborate choreography combines with brain-burrowing chants to create something so irritating, it inspires seething rage rather than the cheer they profess to be spreading.
spite them, I go down to the Gap and buy every pair of khakis in the joint. Meanwhile, Gap's corporate fatcats sit in a dark, smoky room, laughing and counting their dirty money.
The commercials make an admirable-if-misguided attempt to include every possible holiday and observance in the "fun." Christmas, of course. Hannukah, sure. Even Kwanzaa — because nothing says "Happy Kwanzaa" like a trendy
But I draw the line at trying to commercialize Winter Solstice. Seriously, they chant, "Go Solstice!" as if it's totally natural. I get that you're trying to tap into that valuable pagan market, Gap, but trying to profit off the position of the Earth's axial tilt relative to the sun just seems wrong.
I look forward to them trying to incorporate Boxing Day, Finnish Independence Day and Pearl Harbor Day into future ads. "GO INFAMY!"
If more companies could take Target's lead, maybe the viewing public would be a little less eager to fast forward during the commercial breaks this time of year.
reversible fleece.
It's not all bad this holiday season, though. Maria Bamford, one of the best stand-up comedians working today, stars in Target's inspired holiday campaign as two sisters with very different personalities. The ads simply showcase her talent for character work, essentially just letting her do her material in the aisles of a Target store. It's funny and eminently watchable, and it makes me far more cheerful than a gang of bescarved inbats ever could
Nichols is a Stilwell junior in creative writing.
HUMOR
Search for scholarships
A less than stellar economy on top of college expenses means most students have some sort of financial woes. But even if you're not particularly talented intellectually, academically or artistically you can cut down your budget with a unique scholarship.
Many organizations provide students with the opportunity to earn scholarships through various activities and interests. With a little research, you can find one that appeals specifically to you. Here are a few of my favorites:
Do you have an uncanny ability to see the future? Even if you're not a psychic you can still take advantage of this scholarship. The Excellence in Predicting the Future Award gives money to students studying economics. The scholarship is based on predicting the future of the stock market. There's also no need to worry about missing the deadline — this scholarship is awarded every two months.
Some scholarships are given to all students, despite their major. The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest awards up to $1,500 in scholarship to those who place in the annual contest. Those participating have 90 seconds to show off their hall, feed, comeback and mating calls. The contest is held in Arkansas, but may be worth the drive if you've got an impressive duck calling skills.
Do you spend countless nights working on your bowling game, or have you even just taken a bowling class for fun? If so, your bowling score could earn you up to $5,000 in scholarship money. The U.S. Bowling Congress offers multiple scholarships annually to bowlers of all skill levels.
If you can't imagine life without a good cheeseburger, consider applying for The
National Beef Ambassador Program. The winner of this public speaking competition, sponsored by the American National Cattlewomen Foundation, becomes a representative of the beef industry and receives up to $3,750 of scholarship money and $5,000 in cash prizes from Lyson Foods.
Even if you're the worst skater in the world, you can get some cash just by admiring those dredevils on wheels.
The Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship gives one $5,000 scholarship and three $3,000 scholarships to those with an interest in skateboarding.
The NPC supports the U.S. potato industry through encouraging fair market prices and addressing important issues and interests, according to The National Potato Council (NPC) official Web site. If you're a student majoring in a field involving potatoes then The Potato Industry Scholarship could help you chase your dreams.
Whatever your interests, there' likely a scholarship that will appeal to you. From left-handed students to those who design clothing made of duct-tape, foundations across the country are willing to award students for their creativity and special talents. If you're looking to save some money, don't be afraid to do a little research — you never know what you may you find.
Buser is a Columbia, Ill., senior in journalism.
BLOG: GREEN MY GUY
The thankful eater
I'm scared of pie.
Throwing away the pie is not an option. Not only do Austin and I hate the idea of wasting food, but wouldn't it be horribly ironic to throw away food from a holiday that's all about being thankful for food?
That's right, you read that correctly. I am scared of its soft, sweet center and its crunchy crust. Eating too much pie on Thanksgiving weekend left my boyfriend, Austin, and I wincing at the idea of food in general.
At a time when the global food market is still highly unstable and many Americans are turning to food banks for help, we must appreciate the fact that unlike many others, we still have the luxury of eating when we are hungry.
Unfortunately, food banks and community shelters only take non-perishable food items, not half-eaten pies. At a time when some have so much and others so little, what can we do to minimize that gap? And how do we do it without putting further strain on our natural resources?
Some may say to donate food and money to those in need, but I think that's just a short-term fix. Simply giving food to the starving
doesn't provide a lasting solution.
Others say the problem lies in the government, the industrial food system, overpopulation or a culmination of all three. One issue only seems to lead to another and everything only seems to get more and more complicated. I wish I could say I have a solution, that while sitting here at my computer in Kansas, I came up with a way to solve world hunger.
Rather, what I want to say is this: Thanksgiving comes but once a year to remind us to be thankful for what we have, from family and friends to food and football. Just because the leftovers now sit in stacks of Tupperware does not mean that the feeling of thanks must also be stored away until the next year.
Giving thanks for every meal, not just the important ones, does two things. First, it reminds us of how lucky we are. Second, it changes our mindset from one that perceives food as packages, brand names and calories to one that appreciates it for what it does: satiating our hunger, helping us grow and giving us something to enjoy.
— Janie Chen is a junior from Olathe. Her sustainability blog can be read at www.greenmgyuy.wordpress.com.
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members of the Kansai Editorial Board are
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Holzett.