At a high school in Portland, OR students have been sent home for shaving verticle lines in their eyebrows like the trend of hip-hop celebrity Soulja Boy. School officials say it is representative of a gang symbol and that the students are not suspended, they are just not allowed in the school until they shave their eyebrows. Some students have opted to cover them with band-aids. Funny how little style trends can be taken out of context. The relation to the gang symbol is shaving one vertical line in one eyebrow and three verticle lines in the other to represent the number 13. Other schools in the area have implemented an eyebrow regulation, but say they only look for the 13 markings.
Recently by Justin Sailer
Many of you may have already known this, and it may be in result of how naive I can be.
The past 2 weeks or so I have been seeing photographers on campus at all times taking pictures of beautiful Mt. Oread. I assume for new campus promotional materials. On many brochures and pamphlets there are images of students gathered and talking, walking, studying...etc. I was recently surprised to find that these images suggesting traditional KU campus life are staged. Certain students were positioned to act "natural" for photographers. It gets me thinking that are we an image conscious school? With these pictures of "model" students are we trying to suggest that only certain types of students attend KU? Or are we trying to create this false image of how campus and student life really are? I'm just confused as to why photographers couldn't capture campus naturally, with no staged photos. I mean go to Wescoe Beach on a nice afternoon and you are sure to find KU students in their natural habitat. Why would we have to falsify our student life for the sake of a promotable picture?
This is the 'Statement of Purpose' from University Relations:
"This collection from University Relation's photo library showcases the best recent images of KU people, places, and events. Our goal is to reflect KU's beautiful, diverse, supportive, and resourceful nature rather than to provide news or historical photographs. We welcome your comments and suggestions."
Just look at the following image from University Relations web-page, natural or staged?
The University of Kansas has some of the best professors in the country (i.e. K. Benson). I am proud to attend a school that has such great educators, but in some cases the teacher is still a graduate student. It seems that now it is more and more common to find grad students teaching classes to students close to the same age as themselves. This means that because people of this age group enjoying going out and being in the presence of others it is common to run into a grad student professor on a weekend endeavor. When you look at the bar scene it is typical to find a student and their teacher partaking in the same activities. Some may find this odd that they are "partying" amongst instructors, but it seems only natural. Everyone is here to receive their education, grad student professor or student, and in their off time it's only customary that they would be out enjoying the same activities. Before you know it students and teachers will be Facebook friends and going to movies together.
I recently saw a story on ABC News about Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC). These are students who believe that carrying a gun around in their backpack, just like a textbook, is going to make them more safe on campus. This is a national group with over 25,000 members. I don't believe that it is necessary to carry a concealed weapon on a college campus, or anywhere for that matter. I'm not afraid of weapons and I support the appropriate use of firearms. My argument is simply that if a student truly feels unsafe at their campus and the need to carry a weapon, then maybe he/she should look at college or university where they would feel more comfortable. With school and campus shootings happening more often and drawing national attention I still have not once felt unsafe in the KU environment. The one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech incident takes place tomorrow (April 16) and I hope that as a student body we recognize what has happened and even the possibility that something could happen, however, is carrying weapons on campus for "our own defense" really necessary? Check out the SCCC web-site for more details about the organization then feel free to form your own oppinion. http://concealedcampus.org/
It seems ironic that citizens of our nation are facing some of the largest debt in history yet people still continue to sing up and apply for their little piece of plastic power. Credit cards are arguably the root of major debt in America, and now, more than ever, college age students are being approached to buy into this idea. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group did a study and found that 76% of students say credit cards have been attempted to be marketed toward them. Many companies offer "free gifts" for filling out an application. Often most of these cards are partnered with the campuses alumni association. Believe it or not The University of Kansas offers a credit card featuring the signature Jayhawk, yes, in alliance with our school's alumni association.
As debt grows larger so does the cost of college. Many students pay for books and school supplies with plastic, and some even charge tuition on them. At this rate it seems credit cards and its debt have created a never-ending cycle. I suggest that from now on we, as America's future, watch how we spend money (that we may not even have) instead of saying "charge it".
We have all recently noticed that McDonald's is now entering into the specialty coffee business. Along with your Big Mac you can now order a vanilla latte or cappuccino. This proves one more way this colossal company is reaching to new markets.
McDonald's prices for a cup of joe are considerably cheaper than it's veteran competitors, which not only makes McDonald's coffee more convenient while grabbing lunch, but also more economical. I think that with this fast food chain's dabble into this new market it can expect to see large interest.
