REALITY BITES

College life might not be

what you had expected
life. and how to have one.
september 25, 2008
DUDE, WHERES MY PILL?
Male contraceptives are changing the
way couples look at birth control
BRIDGE TO THE PAST
A writers mission to learn his
grandfathers untold history
2
September 25, 2008
Jayplay
health 4-5 | notice 6-9
contact 12-13 | manual 13-14 | play 15-16
reviews 17-18 | speak 19
10
September 25, 2008
Volume 6, Issue 6
CONTENTS
battling a feminine stereotype, KU Fit chal-
lenges men to keep up in their classes 5
leg warmers not required
what to do with your dough to
stretch it further than one pizza 14
show me the money
oh, snap! youre here. now what? Jayplay
takes a look at college myths and mis-
conceptions that can have even the most
prepared trippin all over themselves.
crashing college
3
September 25, 2008
thursday, sept. 25
Film: The Incredible
Hulk. Kansas Union,
Woodruff Auditorium, 8 p.m.,
all ages, $2, www.suaevents.com.
Xavier Rudd. The Voodoo
Lounge, 8 p.m., 21+, $20-$35,
www.xavierrudd.com.
New Lost Souls. The
Brick, 10 p.m., 21+, $5-$7.
The Spook Lights/
Weird Wounds/
Shearing Pinx. The
Jackpot, 10 p.m., 18+,
$5-$7, www.myspace.com/
thespooklights.
Undercover. The Jazzhaus,
10 p.m., 21+, $3.
Chrome/Helios Creed/
Restless Breed/
Medicine Theory. The
Record Bar, 10 p.m., 21+,
$8-$10, www.helios-creed.com.
Another Holiday/
Cowboy Indian Bear.
The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m.,
21+, $2-$3, www.myspace.com/
anotherholiday.
Stars/Bell X1. The
Granada, 7 p.m., all ages, $15,
www.myspace.com/stars.
Maroon 5/Counting
Crows/Augustana.
Starlight Theatre, 7:30 p.m., all
ages, $36.50-$151.50.
KC Rock and Metal
Wars. The Beaumont Club,
8 p.m., all ages, $8.
Film: The Incredible
Hulk. Kansas Union,
Woodruff Auditorium, 8 p.m.,
all ages, $2, www.suaevents.com.
Jim Gaffgan. Midland
Theater, 8 p.m., and 10:30
p.m., all ages, $42.50, www.
jimgaffgan.com.
Master Slash Slave.
Eighth Street Tap Room,
10 p.m., 21+, $3, www.
masterslashslave.com.
Yuca Roots. The Jackpot,
10 p.m., 18+, $7-$9.
Guilty Pleazures. The
Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., 21+, $4.
friday, sept. 26
Children of Bodom/
Between the Buried
and Me/Black Dahlia
Murder. The Beaumont
Club, 6 p.m., all ages, $20-$23,
www.cobhc.com.
Approach/Pomeroy. The
Granda, 8 p.m., 18+, FREE-$10,
www.pomeroymusic.com.
Film: The Incredible
Hulk. Kansas Union,
Woodruff Auditorium, 8 p.m.,
all ages, $2, www.suaevents.com.
SUA Carnival. Student
Recreation Fitness Center
parking lot, 8 p.m., all ages,
FREE, www.suaevents.com.
Killola/The Action
Design/The Akanes/
Chocolate for the
Woodwork. The Jackpot,
10 p.m., 18+, $4-$6, www.
myspace.com/killola.
Roman Numerals/
Run Run Run. The Replay
Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+, $3, www.
myspace.com/romannumerals.
saturday, sept. 27 tuesday, sept. 30
wednesday, oct. 1
Carrie Underwood.
Kansas Expocentre, 7:30 p.m.,
all ages, $35-$55.
Dead Confederate/
Catfsh Haven. The
Granada,8 p.m., all ages,
$8, www.myspace.com/
deadconfederate.com.
Santogold/Mates of
State/Trouble Andrew/
Low vs Diamond. Liberty
Hall, 8 p.m., all ages, $20, www.
myspace.com/santogold.
Tina Turner. Sprint
Center, 7:30 p.m., all ages,
$59.50-$150.
ZZ Top. Midland Theater, 8
p.m., all ages, $37.50-$52.
Sunset Rubdown. The
Jackpot, 9 p.m., 18+, $8, www.
sunsetrubdown.net.
Pride Night. The Granada,
9 p.m. to 2 a.m., 18+, $5.
monday, sept. 29
SUNU/The Brody
Buster Band. The
Replay Lounge, 6 p.m., all
ages, $3, www.myspace.com/
brodybusterband.
J.J. Grey and Mofro/
The North Mississippi
Allstars Hill Country
Revue. The Granada, 8 p.m.,
all ages, $16, www.mofro.net.
Lindsey Buckingham.
Midland Theater, 8 p.m.,
all ages, $46-$61.50.
Horse the Band/Heavy
Heavy Low Low/
So Many Dynamos/
ThunderEagle. The
Jackpot, 8 p.m., all ages,
$10-$11, www.horsetheband.
com.
Ani Difranco. Liberty Hall,
8 p.m., all ages, $29.50-$35,
www.righteousbabe.com.
Beck. Uptown Theater, 8
p.m., all ages, $37.50.
sunday, sept. 28
Both
of my
grand-
fathers
are ex-
cellent storytellers. Grangran, my
moms father, has a wicked sense of
humor and can make me laugh until
tears roll down my face. Some of
his accounts of his childhood are so
good I ask to hear them every time
I see him. My grandfather Roe has
always seemed to tell just the right
story at the right time. His stories
still help me make decisions and put
things in perspective. As they share
their past with me, I often struggle
to imagine them as the young men
in their stories.
Although I always enjoy hearing
their tales, I am guilty of times when
I think Im too busy to listen. I have a
lot to do. I sigh silently to myself and
hope for a pared-down version.
Until this past year, I never real-
ized how invaluable these stories
were. In November, my grandpa
Roe had a stroke. The man who had
once captivated me with memories
from his past while we rode in the
pickup together was silenced. His
mind remained sharp, but the stroke
took away his ability to speak. The
stories bottled up inside him had no
way to be told. I would give any-
thing to rewind time, hear his stories
again and ask questions I never had
the opportunity to ask.
Check out Dereks story on page
19 about how he took the time to
discover his grandfathers fascinating
past. Maybe it will inspire you go visit
your grandparents during fall break.
Maybe they too have amazing stories
to tell, but theyve been waiting to
be asked.
Take a pen and some paper. Take a
tape recorder. Ask lots of questions.
Enjoy the opportunity to learn more
about your own history.
As author Willa Cather said, In
the course of 20 crowded years one
parts with many illusions. I did not
wish to lose the early ones. Some
memories are realities, and are bet-
ter than anything that can ever hap-
pen to one again.
lSasha Roe, associate editor
editors note
Editor Megan Hirt
Associate editor Sasha Roe
Photo editor Jon Goering
Designers Drew Bergman, Peter
Soto, Becky Sullivan
Contact Carly Halvorson, Matt
Hirschfeld
Health Asher Fusco, Susan Melgren,
Realle Roth
Manual Heather Melanson, Ariel
Tilson
Notice Matt Bechtold, Nina Libby,
Sean Rosner
Play Brianne Pfannenstiel, Derek
Zarda
Contact us
jayplay08@gmail.com
Jayplay
The University Daily Kansan
111 Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-4810
Contributors Mark Arehart,
Clayton Ashley, Darron Carswell,
Francesca Chambers, Matthew
Crooks, Miller Davis, Chris Horn,
Mia Iverson, Amber Jackson, Danny
Nordstrom, Meghan Nuckolls, Abby
Olcese, Amanda Sorell, Elise Stawarz
Creative consultant
Carol Holstead
jayplayers
venues
The Beaumont Club
4050 Pennsylvania St.
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 561-2560
Midland Theater
1228 Main St.
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 471-9703
The Record Bar
1020 Westport Rd.
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 753-5207
Starlight Theatre
4600 Starlight Rd.
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 363-7827
Uptown Theater
3700 Broadway St.
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 753-8665
The Voodoo Lounge
One Riverboat Drive
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 472-7777
4
September 25, 2008
HEALTH
dirty sheets
Whether theyre too lazy, too cheap
or too forgetful, most college students
dont wash their sheets regularly. But fail
to wash your sheets enough, and your
sweet sanctuary of sleep could turn into
a haven for germs, flth and microscopic
creatures.
Philip Tierno, associate professor of
microbiology at the New York University
School of Medicine, says that every night,
we shed one and a half million clusters of
skin cells per hour. Multiply that by seven
or eight hours, and youll fnd yourself
waking up in 12 million particles of your
own body.
And your bodys discarded particles
make a delicious meal for dust mites.
These tiny creatures crawl into bedding
and eat dead skin. They leave behind feces,
and when they die, they leave their bod-
ies, too.
Skin cells arent the only thing youre
leaving behind each
morning. Tierno
says our beds are full of bodily fuids.
Sweat, tears, saliva and snot can seep into
your sheets. Our beds also hold traces of
urine, feces and other bodily discharge.
The dust and debris accumulate over
time. Tierno says that at the end of fve
years, dust mites make up 10 percent of
your pillow, and after 10 years, your mat-
tress doubles in weight from the debris.
Tierno says to wash your sheets ev-
ery seven daysyes, once a weekin hot
water (150 to 160 F) and to dry them
in a hot cycle. This ensures youre killing
any living creatures that might be lurking
in the folds of your sheets.
So sleep tight. And dont let any bed
bugs bite.
Susan Melgren
You might want to think twice the
next time you bend down to give Fido a
big smooch.
Kayse Aschenbrenner, operations
manager at the Lawrence Humane Soci-
ety, says pets can transmit infections like
hookworm, ringworm and scabies to their
loving owners.
Pets can also transmit a parasite known
as Giardia to humans by going to the bath-
room in water, say in a stream. Then, if a
human ingests that water they get really
sick and suffer some nasty symptoms like
throwing up and diarrhea.
Ringworm isnt actually a worm, but
looks like a worm and a ring on the skin.
Roundworms can also be transmitted
from dogs to humans. If roundworm eggs
are ingested by humans they can go into
the eyes and into the brain.
Aschenbrenner says the staff mem-
bers at the Lawrence Humane Society
rarely get infected by the animals there.
The most common affiction the workers
catch is ringworm, because it is airborne.
Aschenbrenner says to regularly take
your pets to the vet to help prevent the
spread of diseases. She also says to keep
an eye on your pet and watch for signs like
throwing up or blood in their feces, which
are indications of parasite infections. Also
watch their skin for scabs, fakiness and
hair loss, which could indicate ringworm.
As always, washing your hands often will
help prevent catching an infection.
Although getting serious infections
from your pet is fairly rare, it never hurts
to take precaution.
Realle Roth
THATS DISGUSTING
kissing your pet
Photo illustration by Ryan McGeeney
Photo illustration by
Becky Sullivan
HEALTH
5
September 25, 2008
Working out the kinks
KU Fit works to do
away with mens
group-fitness phobia
By Asher Fusco
afusco@kansan.com
Its an average Wednesday evening at the Student
Recreation Fitness Center. Students wait in line to use
squat racks, trade off sets at bench press stations and
mill about the weight room in search of unclaimed
dumbbells.
Theres plenty of space, however, in the room next
door. Melanie Kurz, Leavenworth junior, is leading a
group ftness class called Just Lift, a resistance train-
ing-based session that targets the same muscle groups
many of the students in the overcrowded free-weight
area are trying to work out.
KU Fit includes more than 40 classes featuring car-
dio, strength and fexibility exercises. The classes are
taught by certifed ftness instructors and are available
throughout the day.
Wednesday evenings class is well-attended, as most
KU Fit workouts are, but one thing sticks out about
the groups demographics: The female-to-male ratio
is 12-to-1. That fgure is in line with a KU Recreation
Services estimate that males account for just 6 to 10
percent of KU Fit participants. While male activity in
group ftness has picked up in recent semesters, men
still arent focking to the sessions in droves.
A lot of it has to do with guys only wanting to work
their upper body with heavy weight, Kurz says. They
feel like they need to use more weight and fewer repeti-
tions, whereas most of our classes focus on doing a lot
of repetitions.
Just Lift is a 50-minute class divided into four-min-
ute sections that focus on each major muscle group.
Each exercise is performed at three different speeds
during the four-minute block. Kurz says the continuous
motion can help improve cardiovascular ftness along
with muscular endurance. In The Encyclopedia of Muscle
and Strength, author Jim Stoppani recommends extended
repetition training because it can increase blood fow to
the muscles and help release growth hormones.
No matter the benefts of ftness classes, male stu-
dents dont tend to be overly interested.
Getting together in a group to work outits not
for me, says Andrew Geha, Overland Park sophomore.
I dont know why, but I think its just viewed as more of
a feminine thing. It might just be in the media or on TV,
but it seems negative. Gehas take on communal ftness
seems common among college-aged males, but KU Fit is
hard at work trying to make men aware of the exercise
options available outside of the weight room.
Kurz says that since she began teaching group ftness
at the University three years ago, she has seen a steady
increase in male participation. KU Recreation Services
Fitness Coordinator Amber Long has taken steps to
transform and improve classes at the University by tai-
loring them to a wider audience. Were always work-
ing on participation levels, and the diversifcation of our
schedule has helped a lot, Long says. I dont know
what the whole stigma has been with group ftness, but
were hoping to debunk it, so were pleased weve seen
an increase in popularity.
Yoga and Pilates classes are the most popular among
males because of the new mainstream appeal of the
yoga lifestyle, Kurz says. She suggests attending Com-
pletely Core to fnd new ideas for abdominal work-
outs, and BOSU n Glide for men seeking a frst foray
into group ftness.
As proof that theres something for every man, Kurz
says she has even noticed a few dedicated guys making
repeat visits to her Cardio Dance Party class.
Overcoming the masculine mindset
As a bead of sweat worked its
way down my forehead to the
tip of my nose, I tried to will it
back into my pores. Youve got
to be kidding me, I thought,
rolling my eyes and tightening
my jaw in frustration. Fifteen
minutes into my frst group ft-
ness experienceKU Fits Just
LiftI was sweating.
Id fallen into the trap set by my
own self-image: Bench presses,
bicep curls and squats were
the exercises for me. Work-
ing out was about bulging, not
sweatinggetting stronger, not
feeling weak.
After four minutes of legs,
four minutes of shoulders, four
minutes of chest, I felt good.Then
came the curls.And a major hit
to my hubris. Halfway through
the four-minute rotation of slow,
moderate and fast reps, my upper
arms felt as if theyd caught fre.
I fought my way through the
rest of the routine with drops of
sweat falling from my chin to the
foor. It took a bit of ego adjust-
ment, but I ended up enjoying
my hour of exercise away from
the weight room.
Guy-oriented group fitness
Some of KU Fits most
male-friendly classes
Just LiftStrength training
using weighted barbells, focused
on a variety of muscle groups.
Just Lift is offered eight times a
week, Monday through Saturday.
Completely CoreTwenty
minutes of abdominal and back
workouts. Completely Core
meets four times a week, Tues-
day through Thursday.
Yoga/PilatesImproves
posture, fexibility and strength
with stretching and breathing.
A variety of 14 Yoga and Pilates
classes is offered, with at least
one meeting every day of the
week.
KU Fit passes cost $50 for an
entire semester, $25 for a half-
semester (through fall break),
or $3 for a single class. Students
can purchase passes in the ad-
ministrative offce at the Student
Recreation Fitness Center.
Visit www.recreation.ku.edu for
more information on purchasing
KU Fit passes, and for a com-
plete schedule of KU Fit classes.
Photo by Alex Bonham-Carter
Although KU Fit offers 40 diverse classes, the program has had diffculty
attracting men. Only 6 to 10 percent of KU Fits participants are male.
New clases, such as Just Fit, have been designed with men in mind.
NOTICE
6
September 25, 2008
Balancing the burden of birth control
A new contraceptive pill could soon give men
the opportunity to take greater responsibility
By Matt Bechtold
mbechtold@kansan.com
Right here at the University of Kansas,
researchers are working to provide another
option when it comes to contraceptives.
Listen up, fellas. This one's for you.
In the 1960s, a revolutionary new pill
came onto the market and changed the
way the worldand especially women
thought about sex. It has liberated millions
of women over the years, putting the power
to decide when, or if, they would have chil-
dren squarely in their hands. The same op-
tion could soon be a possibility for men.
Conception control
Joseph Tash, Gustavo Blanco, William H.
Kinsey and Leslie Heckert make up the core
unit currently working on this project at KU
Medical Center. The project's original leader
at the University
of Kansas, Gunda
Georg, has since
become head
of the depart-
ment of medicinal
chemistry at the
University of Min-
nesota, where her
new position has
brought extensive
new resources to
the project.
Tash is quick
to point out that
this is not a typical
birth control pill. Unlike chemical birth con-
trol options for women that use hormones
to trick the body into ceasing ovulation or
make it more diffcult for sperm to reach
the egg, the male pill takes a completely dif-
ferent approach.
This chemical compound directly targets
the creation of sperm cells, and this targeted
approach greatly reduces the chance of side
effects.
By effectively reducing the sperm count
to zero, the drug reduces the chance of con-
ception to zero. Rather than making it dif-
fcult for sperm to reach the egg, it simply
takes sperm out of the equation.
Everything else functions normally, Tash
says. Semen is still produced, but without
the sperm cells necessary to fertilize an egg.
Tash also says there was also no discernible
change in the sex drive of the test animals.
The latest, most-effective version of this
compound is called H2-gamendazole.
Nearly $20 million in grant money from
the National Institute of Health has helped
fund the monumental task of taking a new
drug from concept to the medicine cabinet.
If this drug continues to proceed through
tests without showing side effects or fail-
ures, it could be available for purchase in fve
to seven years. Tash warns, however, that the
timeline for any drug's development is very
unpredictable.
Are we ready?
Apart from abstinence, condoms and
surgical sterilization are the only two ways a
man can prevent pregnancy on his own.
A male contraceptive pill would be wel-
comed by many men who fnd condoms an
uncomfortable, incon-
venient or even a risky
solution. They're still
essential in prevent-
ing sexually transmit-
ted diseases, but us-
ing condoms can get
old pretty quickly in
a monogamous, com-
mitted relationship
known to be free of
sexually transmitted
infections.
And because this
pill would allow fer-
tility to return in a
short amount of time by simply ceasing to
take it, it's a great alternative to vasecto-
miessomething most men don't like to
think about, and very few men seriously
consider until after they've fathered all the
children they want.
With a male contraceptive pill possibly
becoming available in as few as fve years,
the question of whether men, women and
society as a whole will be ready to embrace
it is coming to the forefront.
Shirley Hill, professor of sociology, says
she thinks most men won't be ready to use
something like this within the next fve to
seven years.
I think there will certainly be men who
have a vested interest in not having children
and would like to control that more than
they're able to today, so I think for some
segment of the male population, it might be
a very appealing thing, Hill says. But I think
that a lot of other issues that surround the
whole area of sexuality will make it more
diffcult for men to get on the bandwagon.
Hill says because females would still
carry the bulk of the responsibility of
pregnancy, childbirth and raising children, a
women would need to be in a relationship
in which she could trust that her partner
was responsible enough to remember to
take the pill.
Another question remaining is how
women will view this new chapter in the
sexual revolution. Will they want to share
this responsibility, or will they even accept it
as something men should consider?
Photo illustration by Jessica Sain-Baird
Although a male contraceptive pill allows men to take a more active role in birth control, couples will still need
to have strong trust and communication in order to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.
For the average
woman meeting a
man, do you really
want to hear, Dont
worry, Im on the
pill?
Shirley Hill,
sociology professor
7
September 25, 2008
NOTICE
There is something to be said for be-
ing the person that has that control, Hill
says. I think there will be some women
who are willing to share that control with
men, but it takes a very trusting relation-
ship, especially for the person who will
bear the brunt of the responsibility if the
product fails.
Hill says there would be a difference
between long-term relationships and ca-
sual relationships, but, she adds, For the
average woman meeting a man, do you
really want to hear, 'Don't worry, I'm on
the pill'?
For society as a whole, shifting the bur-
den of birth control onto the mans shoul-
ders might be met with some resistance.
There will be a lot of psychological
barriers to overcome, Hill says. With the
whole masculinity issue, you hear people
say something like, 'He's shooting blanks,'
and it's probably in a derogatory way. So
even if you're doing it on purpose, there's
still a stigma attached to that.
Hill says she thinks fve to seven years
is still too soon for this innovation to be
accepted by most people.
Uncharted territory
First reactions to this new concept are
typically cautious.
I think that would be a possibility,
something I may want to take, says Matt
Hainje, Leawood freshman. But there are
many other things to consider. If there
were bad side effects, condoms are always
an easy way without side effects.
Other men, however, found it to be an
appealing proposition.
It would be something that would
probably help everyone sleep better at
night, says Jordan Smith, Wichita fresh-
man. It would be another precaution
to take, and if it's safe and works, then it
would be a great thing.
So what would it take for most men to
be convinced that taking control of their
own fertility is a good thing, and not just
something for women to manage?
It would be a really big project, be-
cause it's at the societal level of rethinking
how we defne manhood and masculinity,
Hill says. I think there's a masculinity cri-
sis already with men being displaced from
the bread-winner role and something like
this could even add to that. We're in the
process of reassigning gender stereotypes,
but that's something that will take a long
time.
Austin Nye, McKinley, Ill., freshman,
says she thinks a male contraceptive pill
would be a step in the right direction. I
don't think it's just a girl's responsibility to
be safe, she says.
Girl 1: Im borrowing your tube top
dress this weekend.
Girl 2: Okay.
Guy: Hey, if you have another tube top
dress, Im borrowing it, too. We should all
be tube top whores.
Guy 1: Jennifer Lopez is coming to our
party this weekend.
Guy 2: Legit.
Girl 1: Did you order our new shirt?
Girl 2: Yeah.
Girl 1: Isnt it so pretty its ugly?
Girl 1: Why arent you going home for
fall break?
Girl 2: Part of its because I dont have
any money for gas. Part of its because my
family hates me.
Girl 1: What are you doing for the rest
of the afternoon?
Girl 2: Stalking people.
Guy: I want to contact Bernie Mac with
my Ouija board this weekend.
Girl: You smell of sex and candy.
Girl: I dont care what the circumstances
are. A threesome is never a good idea.
Guy 1: (Looking at a Sex on the Hill) This
is like softcore porn.
Guy 2: I know. Im defnitely saving it for
a rainy day.
Girl 1: He is not cute.
Girl 2: He looks like an octopus. Or a
spider.
Girl 3: Ew, I have the biggest arachno-
phobia. Dont say that.
Girl 1: My head is like a sponge. It soaks
up everything.
Girl 2: Yeah, my head is like a rock.
Guy: George Foreman has seven sons,
and theyre all named George Foreman.
Professor: (looking at blurry projector)
Whoa! Is this thing drunk? Well, I guess it
is Thursday.
Sean Rosner
WESCOE WIT
ALL YOU CAN EAT
10:30am 2pm
Every Sunday
Omelette Bar
Carving Station
Made to Order Waes
Eggs Benedict
Fresh Fish
Pasta Feature
Assorted Desserts
Prime Rib Carving
Station
Dierent Quiche
each week
I M+..+c|a.ett. I+- e|ar|ae|ete|.cem
B
unday
runch
S
We offer 15 items including:
Complimentary Mimosa
with Brunch
$3 off with
current KUID
(Cardholder only,
Originally $15.95)
Com
The Place to be
on Sunday
Mornings
8
September 25, 2008
NOTICE
With fall break quickly approaching and
warm weather fading away, some students
will use these next couple weekends to ft
in one last campout with friends. But what
happens when youre in the middle of no-
where and your cell phone goes dead?
Well, if you have a Freeloader Solar
Charger from Solar Technology, youve got
nothing to worry about. The pocket-sized
battery charger uses solar cells to create
energy to power cell phones, digital cam-
eras and many other electronic devices.
The Freeloader can power an iPod for
18 hours, a cell phone for 44 hours and
a PDA for 22 hours. It can fully charge
a device in as few as eight hours, though
cloud cover and the position of the sun
can increase that time to as many as 16
hours.
Sarah Chard, public relations represen-
tative for Solar Technology, says although
the solar cells do de-
grade over time, they
still give more than
90 percent of their
original power out-
put after 15 years.
She says Solar Tech-
nology developed
the product to give
customers more
convenient energy
access, as well as
an environmental-
ly friendly way to
power their elec-
tronic devices.
The Freeload-
er is available on Amazon.com for
about $70. For more information, visit
www.stuffjunction.com.
Sean Rosner
TOMORROWS NEWS
Photos courtesy of
Solar Technology
Freeloader Solar Charger
Native American apparel
Native American-inspired clothes and
accessories are the latest trend
hitting stores such as Urban Out-
ftters and H&M. The geometric
prints reminiscent of the American
West have also been spotted on
this falls high-fashion runways in
Paris and Milan.
Bea Bonanno, Brooklyn, N.Y.,
senior, was a summer intern for
designer Joy Gryson in New York
City. Bonanno says the trend of Native
American-inspired design is a branch of
the already popular bohemian style move-
ment. Gryson has incorporated Native
American-themed handbags into her fall
2008 collection, which has been featured
in recent issues of Vogue, InStyle and Elle.
Native couture often includes feath-
ers and fringe and appears in the form of
richly decorated belts, necklaces, earrings,
bracelets, headbands, jackets and mocca-
sins.
A thick wallet is not required to pull
off this fashion trend. Students can buy
moccasins from $50 to $75 at Third Plan-
et, 846 Massachusetts St., and handcrafted
earrings made with a mix of pheasant,
rooster and peacock feathers are avail-
able for $28 at Urban Outftters, 1013
Massachusetts St.
Bonnie Croisant, Humboldt senior and
sales associate at Urban Outftters, says
feathered earrings and beaded headbands
are great items to have this fall.
Weve been selling a number of
dresses, sweaters, shirts and accessories
with Native American motifs, Croisant
says. This trend is a hit.
Nina Libby
By Chris Horn
chorn@kansan.com
During my four weeks in France, I have
encountered a number of natives who at-
tempted to pull off a rather stateside look
when they went out on the town. And lets
just say I was a bit disappointed. But for the
vast majority of French youth, bland button-
downs and cleavage-bearing blouses dont
make the cut if you want to look la mode
at night.
The beauty of an authentic French go-
ing-out outft is that, for the most part, the
ensemble is androgynous. Thats not to say
that each sex should borrow one anothers
clothes. Rather, the basics for each piece
work equally well for both guys and girls.
To add a little European fair to your next
bar crawl, gather up the following essential
items.
Flashy T-shirt: Make sure its the
right size, bright-colored and has a crew-
neck. Focus on something unconventional.
Instead of going for navy and solid, perhaps
choose purple and striped.
Patterned long-sleeve: You should
wear a shirt with a low-cut neck to show a
little of the T-shirt, so search for a cardigan,
button-up blouse or V-neck. This is your
chance to get a little wild, so look for
a piece that has an ornate design or a
rockin color.
Accessories: There is a pletho-
ra of accessory options for going out,
but two of them are defnite neces-
sities for this look. Try to fnd a light-
weight scarf or a funky hat to top off
the look, and make sure whatever
you choose stays within your color
palette.
Straight-leg jean: A pair of
straight-leg jeans is fashion-forward
and a defnite way to slim up most any body
type.
High-top shoes: Get a pair of old-
style, high-top Converse or some fashy
80s-retro Nikes and scrunch the bottom of
your jeans in the tops. This might sound silly,
but this trend will hit the States soon, so go
ahead and get a jump on it.
If Frances soire style doesnt mesh
with your own image, achieving a similar
ensemble with a more American look is
quite simple. Consider a light-colored polo
topped off with a structured collared shirt
in a traditional pattern such as plaid or basic
stripes. As for bottoms, guys should sport
khakis and a neutral pair of boat shoes,
while girls can dress in dark denim and rock
out a pair of ankle boots. For added fair,
complete the look with a skinny tie (guys)
or vintage jewelry (girls).
Soire Style
NOTICE
9
September 25, 2008
Following the recent release of the EP
Sad Robots, indie group Stars is touring the
country and will make a stop in Lawrence
tomorrow night at the Granada, 1020
Massachusetts St. With eclectic instrumen-
tation and dual vocalists, Stars have a knack
for creating beautiful and catchy music.
Singer Amy Millan recently took time to
chat with Jayplay.
Q: What do you do before you
leave home to help you prepare
for the road?
A: The pharmacy is the most important
trip youll make pre-tour. You set yourself
up with a new toothbrush, maybe some
nice lavender oil so your bunk doesnt
smell like its been slept in by some
60-year-old punk rock dude.
Q: Do you notice a difference
between crowds in the United
States and crowds in other coun-
tries?
A: There are more Japanese people when
we play in Japan. But generally we have
quite a range of fans, and that seems to
translate through most countries. You go
from the teenager all the way to 50-year-
olds. We cover a lot of ground age wise.
Q: The title track on the new
Stars EP is in French. Have you
guys done that before, and will
you be doing it more in the fu-
ture?
A: This would be our debut French song. I
think that I just used up my entire French
vocabulary in the one song, so Ill have to
go back to school if I want to continue
my ability to sing more songs in French.
Q: Whats the writing process
like for Stars?
A: The basis of all songs begin with Evan
Cranley, Chris Seligman and Patrick Mc-
Gee. They write the music. Either Torquil
or I will come in and write the lyrics and
try to form and structure the song from
there.
Q: You guys seem like a very inti-
mate group on stage.
A: What brings us together is the fact
that were always together. From the frst
moment that I walked into a space with
Stars, they felt like family. With all that
family brings the beauty and the pain, the
arguments and the laughter. If it seems
that our chemistry is such, its because
weve been through a lot together, some
of it great and some of it not so great.
Q: You lived in Los Angeles for a
while. How was living there dif-
ferent from living in your home-
town of Toronto?
A: In LA, theres kind of a feeling that
people are always looking over their
shoulders for somebody famous to walk
in, and then Screech from Saved by the
Bell walks in. So that got a bit depressing
for me. Some people love it. I have really
great friends who live there and enjoy it.
Im not a car person. I like to walk the
streets. I like to see the houses and neigh-
borhoods, and I didnt have that feeling
there. Everybody drives, and it just wasnt
really for me.
Q: What do you like to do when
youre not on tour?
A: Ride my bicycle. I love my bicycle.
Q: Is there a story behind the
title of the song Bitches In To-
kyo?
A: Theres a very long story behind the ti-
tle of that. Its full of intrigue and betrayal.
But youll just have to listen to the song.
Sean Rosner
Question
Answer
&
with Amy Millan of Stars
Amy Millan will be rockin out at the Granada
Friday night with her band Stars.
10 September 25, 2008 11 September 25, 2008
FEATURE
By Carly Halvorson
chalvorson@kansan.com
Movies and mainstream media love to por-
tray college as a nonstop wild party where al-
cohol fows freely and sex comes easily. Even
as early as the 70s, stereotypes about college
life were popping up in flms like National Lam-
poons Animal House. Parties seemed to be the
answer to every problem, and schoolwork
was merely an afterthought.
However, its been about a month since
the new school year started. About this time,
reality sets in on many students: College isnt
always like a movie scene. It doesnt quite live
up to the expectations they had before the
start of the school year. Suddenly, it isnt as
easy as they thought to hook up, and skipping
class occasionally will soon take its toll on
grades.
Annie Wade, Overland Park sophomore,
was well aware of the Universitys reputation
as a party school, yet knowing this didnt fully
prepare her for what the University really
turned out to be like.
I always knew there would be a lot of
partying here, but I never realized it would be
so intense, Wade says.
Despite the thriving social scene, some
students still feel alone on a campus this large.
John Wade, licensed psychologist at the Uni-
versitys Counseling and Psychological Ser-
vices (CAPS), says many students expect to
make a lot of friends instantly, when in reality
they end up feeling isolated. Many students
come to CAPS saying they feel lost, or like
they have lost the identity they built in high
school,Wade says.
Wade adds that a simple way to remedy
this loneliness is to join clubs. Social support
is very important, and he credits joining clubs
or other activities as a good way to feel like
part of a group again.
Everyone says that when you get to col-
lege, no one cares what you look like or what
you do, says Caitlin Bubna, Colony sopho-
more. Yet there is still a big separation of
the social groups. Youre allowed to mingle
between them now more than in high school,
but theyre still separated.
And, despite popular assumption, its not
just frst-year students who are surprised
by what they fnd once they get to KU. Even
though Liz Bobbitt, Leawood junior, already
had some exposure to college life while at-
tending a community college, she still had
different expectations of a larger university.
Bobbitt says her classmates at the community
college studied hard on top of working full-
time and supporting their families.
I thought that without those kinds of
stressors, students here would be more dedi-
cated to their classes, Bobbitt says. Then,
on my frst day of class, I overheard two guys
talking about what they were doing later, and
one of them said he hoped to be wasted by
3 p.m.
Perhaps one of the reasons why students
seem to not take their studies as seriously
as many anticipate is because they fnd their
workload is lighter. Bobbitt says homework is
scarce, But the tests are killer.
Chris Phillips, founder of www.collegetips.
com, saw that students across the board often
sought advice about various aspects of col-
lege life. Phillips originally founded two Web
sites dedicated to assisting college freshmen,
but soon saw the need for a more generalized
college resource. Drawing from his experi-
ences and the advice he gave to his younger
sister, Phillips set out to help prevent students
from making any mistakes that could have a
negative effect on their college careers. He
says some of the things he wishes he had real-
ized sooner are the importance of getting to
know his professors and how diffcult it is to
raise a GPA.
Despite the Web sites, brochures and
books, no amount of good advice can prevent
everyone from making any mistakes. After
all, messing up is the one thing about college
that stays true from fction to reality. What
really encourages the transition from young
adult to full-on adulthood is how someone
responds to that mistake.
I made some mistakes that set me back
a bit, but I learned from them, Phillips says.
Somehow I was lucky enough to make
enough good choices that helped make my
college career the best it could be.
MythBusters college-style
Some myths about college seem to get
passed down from generation to generation.
Heres a breakdown of some of the most
popular.
Myth: You dont have to go to class
in order to pass. This is technically true,
but in practice its false.There are many
professors who dont consider attendance as
a part of your grade. In fact, some dont even
take attendance. However, regular atten-
dance is important in order to pass. And by
regular, we dont mean once every week or
so. Besides, youre paying for these classes by
the credit hour. An in-state student who pays
$229.25 per credit hour for a three credit
class wastes almost $29 for each missed
class if it meets twice a week. Out-of-state
students lose about double that amount.
Myth: College is a nonstop party.
Another myth that can be both true and
false.While there is a constant stream of
parties every weekend (and even some dur-
ing the week), college isnt intended to be
a nonstop party. Admittedly, writing papers
and studying for exams isnt the best option
for a fun-flled Friday night, but theyre a
necessary evil.
Myth: High school prepares you for
college. Defnitely false. Nothing against
high school, but the differences between high
school and college are vast. Even the frst
year of college cant fully prepare students
for whats to come. Even the changes that
take place during your college career involve
a certain amount of adjustment,Wade says.
Whether its moving from the residence
halls to an apartment or turning 21, each
year of college brings something new with it
that requires some adjusting.
As we settle into another school year,
students realize that college life can be
different than they expected
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12
September 25, 2008
YOUR LEGAL ISSUES
LET US
TACKLE
Contributing to Student Success
312 Burge Union 864.5665
Jo Hardesty, Director
LEGAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
How much sex is too much sex with one
person before health issues arise?
Dave, sophomore
with Matt Hirschfeld and
Francesca Chambers
and
Francesca: Actually, frequent sex with
the same person can be better for your
health than occasional sex.
A 2004 study published in the Journal of
the American Medical Association found that
men between the ages of 20 and 29 who said
they ejaculated more than 21 times a month
were 33 percent less likely to develop pros-
tate cancer than men who ejaculated only
three to seven times a month.
When a man ejacuates he is not only re-
leasing sperm from his body, but he is ex-
creting substances that could potentially
cause cancer if left in the body for too
long. This is why older men, who are less
likely to be having sex than college stu-
dents, are more likely to develop pros-
tate cancer. So please, dont stop. Having
sex with your girlfriend, that is.
In addition, more health risks are re-
lated to having sex with multiple partners
than with just one person. If you are hav-
ing sex with only one person, you are at
a lower risk of contracting a potentially
fatal sexually transmitted infection, un-
less, of course, your partner has an STI. In
that case, you are probably just as likely
to contract an STI from him or her as
you are from anyone else you would have
a one-night stand with if youre using pro-
tection.
Matt: I have good and bad news, but
frst I wont give you the STI talk. Youre
a big boy. Ill assume you wrap it before
you tap it.
Like Fran, I found a similar 1997 study
by Queens University that tracked 1,000
mens sexual lives over the course of a
decade. It found that men who enjoyed
the highest frequency of orgasms lived
twice as long as the other lagging men.
Other benefts include improved sense of
smell, better teeth, weight loss, reduced
depression and better bladder control,
among many others.
However, obstetrician and gynecolo-
gist George Winch, Jr. found that too
much rough sex can damage penile tis-
sue.
So, do yourself a favor and take a
breather, both for you and for your penis.
Sometimes the benefts of a lot of sex
dont outweigh not having a functional
penis to enjoy the benefts.
If a guy has your number, saves you a
seat every day in class, and it seems like
hes into you but never calls, does that
mean hes shy or what?
Helen, freshman
Francesca: I hope you have Face-
book stalked this guy and found out if he
is single and straight already. That infor-
mation alone could answer your ques-
tion.
Beyond that, I would unfortunately
say that he sees you only as a friend. If
he were really into you, he would invite
you out or ask if you wanted to study.
I hate to be a downer, but there are guys
in several of my classes who I am friendly
with but in whom I have no romantic in-
terest. And I get the feeling that they feel
the same way about me, otherwise they
would have made a move by now.
And my disinterest in them has noth-
ing to do with the level of attraction.
One study buddy is very attractiveand
smart. too! Theres just no spark between
us. But there might be if we talked more
on a personal level. Weve just never had
a conversation outside of class.
On the other hand, why dont YOU
invite HIM over? For all you know, hes
sitting around asking his friends the same
question. He may even be intimidated by
your good looks and intelligence at frst.
Matt: Many studies have shown that
men are more aggressive than women,
such as one done by Linda Babcock, an
economics professor at Carnegie Mellon
University. She had 74 people play the
word game Boggle and the people were
told they would be paid anywhere from
$3 to $10. After playing, each person was
given $3 and asked if the sum was okay.
Eight times more men than women asked
for more money.
The men asking for more money is
like your friend asking you on a date. Hes
sticking with the $3, and just wanting
to be friends. Three dollars is still bet-
ter than zero, so dont let that deter you
from taking the leap and asking him out
yourself.
Babcock does suggest that if women
do take the initiative, go for a cooperative
approach to ask him out to not seem to
come on too strong. This can be a casual
group date or partysomething that he
doesnt really need to commit to and by
which you wont be too devastated if he
stands you up. Find a balance, and he will
come.
Bitch and Moan should not be taken as a
substitute for professional, expert advice.
Send us your sex and
relationship questions at
bitchandmoan@kansan.com.
13
September 25, 2008
CONTACT MANUAL
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?
five questions
Dennis Moore
U.S. Congressman
Christopher Walken. Hes
my hero, and it would be
the next best thing to
being him.

Voting is pointless.
I dont like the dark.
Anyone without that fear
has a broken imagination.
The Flaming Lips. They
put on an excellent show.
I want to change
everything, but not
anything specifc. I just
want to keep changing. Id
keep my handsome looks,
though.
My wife Stephene, of
course!
We should all be
concerned about our
national debt, which will
be passed on to future
generations if we dont
start making the tough
choices now, and about
quality health care, the
need for a comprehensive
energy policy, access to a
quality education.
Nick Jordan in Congress?
I recently had an
opportunity to perform
with Carole King in an
impromptu performance
for my staff in my D.C.
offce. Shes such an
amazing and talented lady.
I wish I knew how to play
the piano.
Sam Groth
Overland Park junior
Who would you
want to play your
love interest in
the movie of
your life?
What should
college students
think about when
going to vote?
Do you have any
fears or phobias?
What is the best
concert you have
ever attended?
What is one
thing you want
to change about
yourself?
By Carly Halvorson
Reduce and reuse
your junk mail
Jessica Mortinger, Hays graduate
student, is used to annoying junk mail. Shes
had to call, write and go online to reduce
the amount of solicitations she receives.
If you dont contact them yourself,
you can keep getting mailings every week,
Mortinger says.
If not prevented, unsolicited junk mail
can swamp student mailboxes, especially
those who live off-campus. Luckily,
students have a variety of options to
reduce unwanted mail.
1. Go online: For most online
services, you simply have to register and
then choose which catalogs or businesses
are sending you the unwanted mail.
Mortinger says she tried a few Web sites
but found them to be counter-productive
when they requested she print and mail
a form. In case that happens to you, she
suggests trying the direct approach.
2. Give em a call: Most catalogs
and mailings have a 1-800 number to
request they stop service.
If the mail is sent to a previous resident,
its perfectly fne to notify the companies
of the change in occupancy and even fll
out a change of address form for that
person.
3. Use your creativity and
reuse: Gretchen Fleener, owner and
creator of www.junkmailgems.com, uses
her creativity to turn her junk mail into
anything she wants, from jewelry to home
dcor, which she sells on her Web site and
in stores across the globe. She says that
once she got the original idea, she got a
lot of help from green Web sites and
message boards.
The internet is an entrepreneurs best
friend, Fleener says.
4. Last and least, recycle: If
none of the above options are working
for you, you can always recycle, but only
as a last resort. Chris Brown, professor
of environmental studies, says that just
because you can recycle junk mail doesnt
mean you should. Junk mail is often made
with virgin paper and toxic ink and
the energy it takes to recycle can tax
the environment more than its worth.
Recycling is still better than trashing your
junk mail, so if you must do it, you may
want to remove your name and address
from any mailings.
Your best bet is to use as many of the
options as possible to reduce the most.
So go ahead and start calling, surfng and
creating.
Ariel Tilson
MANUAL
14
September 25, 2008
Stash your cash
Controlling your money now
can amount to large rewards
By Heather Melanson
hmelanson@kansan.com
It may seem like your post-grad days are
light-years away, and that the only money
worries you have are saving for and invest-
ing in beer.
College days are actually a great time,
though, to start saving even the smallest
amount you can afford to put away. And, if
you have the means to do so, you could take
managing your dough a step further and in-
vest it.
Cory Owens, Kansas City, Kan., junior,
says he saved about $7,000 between last
March and the second week of August. Ow-
ens says he wanted to graduate without
taking out school loans, so he took half the
money he made every week from bartend-
ing and put it into his savings account.
Undergraduate Business Council presi-
dent Adam Whelan, Lawrence senior, is tak-
ing it a step further and already investing
his money. Whelan takes a percentage of his
paychecks and invests that money in an indi-
vidual retirement account, or IRA. He says
that percentage typically amounts to saving
$100 every month.
Just saving $100 a month adds up. In the
four years it usually takes to earn a degree,
you could stash $100 every month under
your mattress and come out with $4,800 at
the end of that four-year period. But there
are smarter ways to save and invest your
money than slipping cash under your mat-
tress.
What can I do with my
money now?
Catherine Shenoy, assistant professor in
the School of Business, says putting a small
amount of money away now helps a per-
son form good habits and will make a tre-
mendous difference by the time that person
reaches retirement. Shenoy says people who
dont save for retirement will be working
their entire lives or wont be in good fnan-
cial shape.
Investing $100 a month, as Whelan does,
might not always be a realistic option for the
typical college student, though. There are
bills to be paid.
You shouldnt invest any money that you
need for the groceries, Shenoy advises.
In fact, Shenoy says that, for most stu-
dents, its probably best to just save money
right now rather than invest it. A rule to re-
member is to not start investing until you
have three months of living expenses saved
up, so that way youll have a cushion to fall
back on, Shenoy says.
Everybody should get into the habit of
putting something aside every month. Try to
forget about it. Try to pretend like its never
even been there, Shenoy says.
Laura Meadows, Overland Park senior,
says she has saved money from
her job throughout high
school and college.
Before starting a
checking account
about three years
ago, Meadows says
she put the majority of
her paychecks into a savings
account.
Last August, Meadows
under- went Lasik
eye surgery. She says she was able to pay
for the surgery in one lump sum and with-
out taking out loans because she had the
$3,500 for the surgery saved in her account
already.
Even though she didnt invest that money,
she says the Lasik procedure was like a long-
term investment because she doesnt have
to pay for contacts anymore.
Where can I put my money?
Shenoy says people can put their money
in a three-or-six month CD, or certifcates
of deposit, which cant be easily accessed.
CDs are deposits of money set aside for
a specifed period of time that accumulate
interest. You dont have to be a member of
a certain bank to open a CD there either,
Shenoy says.
A six-month CD, Shenoy says, has an
average interest rate of 3.16 percent right
now.
If you put your money in a savings ac-
count youll get interest on that savings, but
no more than 3 percent right now, Shenoy
says. Putting money in the stock market is
much riskier than putting money in a sav-
ings account, she says, because theres always
the possibility of losing all your money in the
stock market. However, the stock market has
the potential for higher returns, she says.
Shenoy says if you
arent interested in
the stock mar-
ket, then once
you have that
minimum three
months sav-
ings, an op-
tion is to
invest in
a mu-
tual fund. A mutual fund is a pool of money
that can be made up of stocks or bonds. She
says mutual funds expose a person to the
stock market, but someone else manages
your money.
Setting up a mutual fund is like opening a
bank account, Shenoy says. Choose a mutual
fund, complete its application and send in
the money to invest in that fund.
Finance Club vice president Jeremy Ap-
pleton, Lees Summit, Mo., senior, says stu-
dents might be interested in investing mutual
funds, because then they dont have to keep
track of their investments themselves.
Its important, however, to pay attention
to the amount of fees you have to pay with
a mutual fund, Shenoy says, because youre
paying someone to invest for you.
How do I decide where to
put my money?
Deciding what to do with your money
depends on your purpose, says School of
Business lecturer Kelly Welch. Is the pur-
pose for retirement, tuition or a house in
fve years?
If youre saving for tuition, the best thing
you can do is invest in CDs, a savings ac-
count or a money market mutual fund
something with low risk, Welch says. Your
savings shouldnt be what you have leftover
at the end of the month. Welch says you
should plan for it in advance.
Paying yourself frst means that you set
aside a certain amount for savings and for
investing, and then with whats left over, then
you go and buy food and clothes, Welch
says.
Dont let the money you have slip away.
Take control of it and start saving, and if you
have the opportunity, give investing a shot.
$
What happens if you put $50
into a savings account each
month for four years with a 3
percent interest rate?
Begin with an initial investment of
$100 into the savings account, and each
month deposit $50 into the account.
Within a four-year period you will have
deposited $2,500. The 3 percent interest
rate (compounded monthly) then tacks
on an extra $165.66. Add the $2,500 and
$165.66 together.
Total savings: $2,665.66
Graphic by Becka Cremer
15
September 25, 2008
PLAY
Who says hip-hop is dead? Local rap-
per Approach, founder of Datura Records,
will be performing his last show in Law-
rence this weekend before heading off to
the West Coast. Approach was behind the
burgeoning hip-hop movement in Law-
rence at the beginning of the decade that
included other local artists Soundsgood
and Archetype, to name a few.
Starting out freestyling at coffee shops
back in high school in Kansas City, Ap-
proach honed his take on early 90s jazzy
hip-hop, dropping his frst EP in 1999. For
the past decade, Ap-
proach has turned
this love affair with
the mic into a busi-
ness, creating his
own record label
and signing up-and-
coming local artists.
Approachs f-
nal local show goes
down at the Grana-
da Saturday at 8 p.m.
The band Pomeroy
will be opening, pro-
viding their indie-
rock-meets-live-funk tunes to get the
crowd grooving.
Hip-hop never died in Lawrence, but
this weekend its offering up a fnal serv-
ing of its greatest contributor, so dont
miss it.
Check out www.myspace.com/approach
for more information, and for a taste of
what will be going down live Saturday
night.
Derek Zarda
THIS WEEKEND
16
September 25, 2008
I worked for an interior design company. I didnt have any
design experience, and women would ask me questions
and I never knew what to tell them. It was a higher-end
company, too, so they were all middle-aged women who
didnt do anything except decorate all day.
Kristen Hagemen, The Woodlands, Texas, senior
I worked at a kennel, and there was one really traumatic
event when a dog had a seizure. Every bodily fuid you
can imagine was coming out of this dog. It was kicking
me and scratching me. Then I had to clean it up. I quit at
the end of that day.
Hayley Olson, St. Louis freshman
Brianne Pfannenstiel
Out
I worked in home demolition, tearing down shingles off the
sides of houses and stuff. We had to stand underneath, so
bugs and spiders would fall on you.
Kanon Peterson, Kansas City, Mo., freshman
I nannied some really bratty kids for a summer. When
Id try to discipline the kids, the parents would just
override it. One kid ate only grilled cheese sandwiches
and fre-favored Doritos. I worked in fast food for two
years, but it wasnt as bad as that summer.
Marie Biggs, Omaha sophomore
I was a landscaper and had to be outside all day. I got a
lot of bad sunburns.
Kevin Lavene, Littleton, Colo., junior
I worked at a pizza place. Its just a lot of effort for
a thankless job for too little pay. And one time a kid
closed an oven on my arm.
Zachary Dale, Olathe junior
I worked at a dry cleaners, and one time this guy brought
in curtains that his cat had pooped all over. That same guy
also left underwear with poop stains in them. I quit shortly
after, for health reasons.
Natale Collar, Kansas City, Mo., senior
Whats the worst job youve ever had?
About
&
I sold beer at a NASCAR race in Kansas City to make
some quick money. The menu was on a T-shirt right
across my chest.
Aly Rodee, Wichita senior
PLAY
Be seen wearing your shirt.
Win $50. Tuesday.
New Location at 23rd & Naismith
A Better Way to Bank
www.kucu.org 3400 W 6th Street and 2221 W 31st Street 785.749.2224
Check out last weeks winners:
Mark Bissler Ben Tillman
17
September 25, 2008
REVIEWS
PHOGGY
GET
$8 Fish Bowls
$2 Domestic Bottles
$2 Grape Bombs
2-4-1 Burgers
Thursday
Friday
$2 Anything
22nd & Iowa
Friday
hursday
MOVIE: The Fall
MUSIC: Kings of Leon, Only By The Night
The Fall, now on DVD, is a gorgeous flm
in the vein of fantastic storytelling classics
like The Princess Bride.
Alexandria (adorable and earnest new-
comer Catinca Untaru) is a young immi-
grant girl who has broken her arm while at
work picking oranges. While in the hospital,
she meets Roy (Lee Pace of Pushing Daisies),
a flm stuntman who has also suffered a fall,
although his has left him with a severely in-
jured back and an addiction to morphine
pills. To get Alexandria to provide him with
the medication he craves, Roy tells her an
epic story, acted out for the audience by
Alexandrias vivid imagination. Its charac-
ters are played by the people she knows,
although sometimes her own visions come
into confict with Roys descriptions (one
of the characters, for example, is an Indian.
Roy implies the character is Native Ameri-
can, but Alexandria imagines a man from
India.)
The relationship between Untaru and
Paces characters is magical. The two of
them have strong chemistry together, and
Alexandrias affection for Roy is one of
the flms most compelling characteristics.
Pace gives a heartbreaking performance as
Roy, simultaneously charming the audience
while showing us that hes just as broken
on the inside as he is on the outside.
Another stunning aspect is the cinema-
tography, particularly during the story se-
quences. The costumes are complex and
gorgeous, the colors so vibrant you can
practically taste them. The world of Alexan-
drias imagination is almost like a Salvador
Dali painting come to life, and the result is
breathtaking.
This reviewer is fully aware that its pret-
ty clich to say that if you see one movie
this year, See this movie. But really, you
should. For anyone whos grown up watch-
ing movies like Labyrinth and has waited for
years to see another truly worthy fantasy
movie, The Fall is required viewing. Its a
fairy-tale all grown up.
Abby Olcese
Kings of Leon seem to pull from a lot of
musical infuences on their new album, Only
By The Night. On some tracks, like the open-
ing song Closer, the Kings sound a lot like
Radiohead, particularly like the bands 90s
hit Creep. On other tracks, such as Man-
hattan, the guitars are more reminiscent
of Coldplays Fix You. Either way, Kings of
Leon have chosen their infuences wisely,
and this album, their fourth, is by far their
strongest.
The two standout tracks on Only By The
Night are the frst single, Sex On Fire, and
the track that follows it on the album, Use
Somebody. Both songs are catchy and well
structured. As an added bonus, lead singer
Caleb Followills voicewhich on other
tracks can come across as grating and
scratchyis at its best in a solid wail and
strong falsetto.
The band hasnt managed to fx all its
kinks, though. Most tracks are too long and
a bit self-indulgent. The Kings lyrics could
use some of the same inspiration they put
into their music. Most songs are about
booze, girls and all-night partying. Nothing
is particularly insightful, and the songs are
not even all that unique from each other,
which makes for a boring listen.
But the Kings are indeed heading in the
right direction, and doing so in the style of
some of the greats in current popular mu-
sic. If they focus as much on lyrical content
as they do on guitar riffs, they could move
into a whole new stratosphere with their
next release.
Elise Stawarz
18
September 25, 2008
REVIEWS
You know those sugary sweet movies
you used to watch with your mom when
you were sick? Movies that were high on
sugar, low on substance? The newest addi-
tion to this saccharine genre is Ricky Ger-
vais Ghost Town.
The movie tells of a misanthropic den-
tist, Bertram Pincus, played by funny-man
Gervais. Pincus develops a unique ability to
see dead people after he suffers a botched
colonoscopy. Believe it or not, Pinkus hates
ghosts just as much as everyone else.
While there is a talented cast of incor-
poreal beings (some of whom are familiar
faces), the main spirit is played by Greg
Kinnear. Kinnear plays the ghost of Frank
Herlihy whose life was full of adultery and
lies. His wife, Gwen, played by Ta Leoni,
happens to live one foor above Pinkus,
and Kenier asks a favor of the doctor: split
up Leoni and her new fance. To top it off,
Pinkus himself falls in love with the dead
guys wife.
While Ghost Town is marketed as a
comedy and is littered with talented co-
medic actors, the writing doesnt exactly
lend itself to much laughter. Most of the
humdingers were already peppered
throughout the trailer. Instead, Ghost Town
has a sweet side that results in some in-
explicably happy moments in which char-
acters act in appalling ways toward each
other. Though theres a happy ending most
will enjoy, the roundabout route in which
the writers get there defes explanation.
Ghost Town proves yet again that merely
a cast of talented actors cannot totally
make up for poor writing. The flms not
a complete waste of time, but it might be
a better idea to wait for it to show up on
HBO than to spend money on it seeing it
in the theater.
Matthew Crooks
MOVIE:
Ghost Town
SPEAK
He was only 15. His older brother Floyd
was working next to him on the far steel
beam. The hot sun beat down on the two of
them during that summer of 1933. He had
moved hundreds of miles from the small
town of Albert Lea, Minn., to New York
City, joining the rest of America in search of
jobs during the Depression.
The two brothers worked feverishly on
the railroad bridge, which would become
part of New York Citys Triborough Bridge.
More commonly known as Triboro, the
bridge was made up of smaller bridges
that connected the Bronx, Manhattan and
Queens. He earned more in a week than he
had made back home in three months, and
spent it with as little regard as any teenager
would, living it up with no pause toward
the future. My grandfatherthe kind,
elderly gentleman who would always tell my
siblings and me stories of fshing wasnt
telling us his whole story.
Born in 1918, George Alvin Gunderson,
my grandfather, had hid a story about his
life that neither I nor any of his grandkids
had ever heard before. The importance
of knowing your familys past never came
across as important to me while growing
up. Any questions about my grandparents
could always be answered by my mother
and father, who usually settled on one- to
two-sentence answers. The time my two
siblings and I spent at my grandparents
houses was always reserved for playing
cards and listening to the baseball game
on the radio, not for digging deep into my
grandparents pasts.
I can still hear the birds chirping outside
that day as I sat opposite him in his cozy
living room. It was May 26, 2003 when I set
to the task of uncovering
my grandfathers hidden
past while I still had the
chance. The timid 84-year-
old fgure was transfxed
on the mini tape recorder I
placed before him. Today we
werent going to sit back
and watch television idly
while the summer day crept
by. No, today was different.
My grandfather had
dropped out of school at age 7 to help
his mom, dad and six siblings on the farm,
tromping behind horses in the feld while
his friends attended class. He would be
sent to different farms for the next fve
years to earn money for his family. At 12, he
joined the Civil Conservation Corps, one
of the programs Franklin Roosevelt created
to help get Americans back on their feet.
Earning $30 a week for his hard work, my
grandfather helped his family scrape by until
they could rebuild the life they
had had before the Depression.
His golden ticket would
come at age 15 in the form of
a visit from his older brother
Floyd, who came to visit the
family from New York City. Even
though my grandfather was
underage, Floyd snuck him into
the New York City company
he worked for to work as a
welder. In this single year, my
grandfather established a new
life in Manhattan, earning $300 a week
before work got slow and he started a life
as a cook in a small restaurant.
It was while working in New York City
that he met his future wife. He stopped by
a diner for lunch. She took his order, and
the rest is history.
Where did all of this missing information
come from? Had he just forgotten to tell
me, or was he simply waiting for one of his
grandchildren to ask him about more than
his fshing trips in Minnesota? The house we
were sitting in was a product of the 1950s,
one that he had bought after serving in the
Army for four years as a sergeant and later
as a mess sergeant at Fort Riley.
Up until then, all I knew or cared
to know was that he had served as a
successful sergeant in the Army at Fort
Riley and opened a restaurant after he was
released.
In 2007, I had the opportunity to go to
New York City for a week. I spent time in
Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan with
friends. My grandfather had died a year
earlier, and the grief from his passing had
stayed bottled up in me since.
The entire week, while walking around
and taking cabs and subways across the
different boroughs, I wondered which
of the many bridges my grandfather had
worked on.
My friend Shirley, who lived in the
Bronx, told me that I had already seen part
of the Triboro bridge when I frst came
from LaGuardia Airport, and that I would
see it again on my way to leave New York.
As the shuttle van drove across the
bridge on the way back to the airport, I
looked out in awe at the project that my
grandfather had been a part of. It wasnt the
freighter railroad bridge part that was used
primarily for commercial shipping, but it
was offcially a part of the grander Triboro
bridge, and that was enough for me.
To be in the presence of my
grandfathers hidden past helped me
reconnect his stories on tape to the
life that he had lived. His history, which
belonged not only to him but to everyone
in our family, had come full circle.
Contributed photos
Dereks grandfather worked on the construction of the Triborough bridge in New York City in 1933. The structure is a system of three bridges that connect the boroughs
of the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. In 2007, Derek traveled to New York City and was able to see frsthand the project his grandfather had worked on.
19
September 25, 2008
In his own words
Learning my past before it disappeared forever
By Derek Zarda