When Edward Snowden, a former CIA employee, revealed to the American public the extent to which the government was watching them, most responded in outrage. The government has had numerous judges to issue search warrants to record telephone conversations and other forms of communication, which means that most of the conversations you thought were private [...]
This is the last column I will ever write for the University Daily Kansan. And it starts like this: My mother is the strongest person on the face of the earth. On April 29 at 7 p.m. my mother’s name lit up my cell phone. I knew what she was going to tell me before [...]
I have a secret to share. My guilty pleasure? Bad reality TV shows. Wait, what? Emily, I thought you liked to watch meaningful shows with complicated plots, intriguing alternate worlds, brilliant scripts and ridiculously good-looking actors? Well, yes, I do. But when I have to work on an essay, or when I have to pretend [...]
Entrepreneurs create jobs and economic prosperity. The U.S. is prime historical evidence of this, as well as arguably the most innovative country in the world. But it does not have as many entrepreneurs as it could use. Initiatives to create more entrepreneurs in the U.S. are growing, and they are very important. However, there is [...]
As we start to transition into the spring season, despite Kansas’ reluctance to accept it’s spring, two things come to mind: loud music and windows open. My walks on campus are not filled with silence anymore, but with the passing of cars, each with their own sound. Each car is telling a story about the [...]
It’s that time of year again when professors start sweet-talking their students, and GTAs beg for a little compassion. It’s the time when extra credit is handed out as freely as T-shirts on Wescoe Beach, and when TAs give their most enthusiastic performance of the semester. That’s right, it’s time for instructor evaluations. For those [...]
Politicians are often accused of being out of touch with the American people. For instance, Congress failed to pass a measure expanding background checks on firearms despite the fact, according to several news sources, that 91 percent of responding registered voters supported it. In other words, they failed to empathize with the recent victims of [...]
Ever heard of Lulu? Ladies I expect you have at least downloaded the newest craze app, searched your crush’s profile and left a review or two. Guys, I have to break it to you, you most likely are out of the loop on this one. With the exception of those of you who have borrowed [...]
Gov. Sam Brownback is fond of describing his economic agenda as a “Roadmap for Kansas.” On April 23, his map brought him to the University to discuss higher education funding. The visit was designed to give the impression that the governor is advocating to preserve higher education against the right-wing agenda of House and Senate [...]
As this year and some of our college careers draw to a close, many students at Kansas may be reflecting on the past year of dating and debauchery. And as we finish another year, we may also be closing whole relationships or deciding whether or not to apologize and make amends for the ones of [...]
The summertime is right around the corner, and that means re-runs of our favorite television series will soon be filling our television sets. But, that is all right because this summer is anticipated to have some of the biggest hits we have seen in a while. To me, movie sequels are the best movies. They [...]
A lot of our new developments and cultural standards are simply outstanding. They reflect an (almost) unified cultural maturity. Yet, as is always the case in the states, the good trends are accompanied by the stupid trends. I feel there is none worse than Health and Safety Paranoia. Coined it myself, do you like it? [...]
Your opportunities over the summer are endless. The warm weather and abundance of free time put plenty of options at your disposal, like bonfires by the lake, canoe trips with the guys, concerts in Kansas City, or even fixing up your car. Alright, I’ll admit it, fixing our used cars probably isn’t at the top [...]
We are finally nearing the end of the spring semester. With all the time-consuming, homework, summer job applications, and overall insanity, I haven’t had time to check out some of the newest TV shows on air. So, for my last column of the year, I want to share the shows I will be checking out [...]
I was a staunch vegetarian for four bread-ridden years and I can say with confidence that you should not do the same. There is no better example of slacktivism than the vegan movement. It isn’t a political statement or lifestyle; it is a dietary choice. Being a vegetarian is not hard. People moan and whine [...]
We have come so far in the United States in terms of respect for women. But sometimes, I still worry about the media’s perception of women – and I’m not just talking about the scantily clad female anchors I see on Fox News. When a University of Arizona student held up a sign on campus [...]
