Jayplay (4-26-12) by Nadia Imafidon

Jayplay LIFE. AND HOW TO HAVE ONE.

April 26, 2012

* the odds

Getting it together

an inside look at a couple with

job search made simple

Defying

developmental disabilities

What it's like to... negotiate with a gang lord

Inside this issue

{From the Editor }

In less than three weeks, I’ll be a bachelor degree holding college graduate. Save for some sort of disaster that I shouldn’t even mention for fear of jinxing it, so will a slew of other young Jayhawks. I’m sure I’m not alone in all the uncertainties that arise during this time, as my future’s horizon is quite hazy. My parents ask regularly if I have any plans or prospects after I graduate. My boss wants to know how long he can expect me around. Every time I speak to someone from back home, they want to know what I’m up to. I’m running out of nice ways to say “I don’t really know.” But I am confident and feel blessed to have so many people that care about and support me, when so much of my life is yet to be written. It’s easy to be skeptical and get weighed down by the expenses that I’ll soon be shouldering: student loan repayment, car and health insurance, rent, gasoline, taxes, and the million wedding and baby shower gifts I feel like I’ve

already purchased since I graduated high school. I’m not kidding: I graduated in a class of 36 and already need all of both hands to count how many of my classmates are engaged, married and/or have children or are expecting one soon. Then I think about how much I already have, even if a legitimate career prospect isn’t one of them. Even in my characteristic skepticism, I have a family, a lover and a web of friends that I genuinely love and trust. I have a job at arguably the best restaurant in town that I can support myself with. I pay my own rent. I have a car, a laptop and a pet kitty. In the wise words of Dave Chappelle, “I’m rich, bitch!” Give or take a thing or two, these are all things that most all other Jayhawks have too. Too often do we allow the pressures of our complex society and busy schedules to skew the way we view our own lives and all the things we are lucky enough to have. Aliza’s story on page 12 reminded me of all the things I have to be grateful for, as well as the ways society used to limit the lives of people like Lisa and Hal, the couple featured in her story. So Dave Chappelle wasn’t talking about quite the same thing I am, but his words still apply. With our economy in a rut and the job market in a similar state, I think our generation can bring about a new way of viewing wealth. If that’s the case, my kitty Charles is worth his weight in gold.

LINDSEY DEITER | ASSOCIATE EDITOR

What’s hot this week

thursday april 26

What: “The Craft we choose: my life in the cia” When: 3 p.m. Where: the dole institute of politics Why you care: former top cia officer dick holm gives the public the behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work for such a clandestine service.

saturday april 28

friday april 27 What: talib kweli When: 7 p.m. Where: the granada, 1020 massachusetts st. Why you care: bringing hip hop to the granada with an artist that got his start through collaborative efforts with mos def.

What: africa world documentary film festival When: 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Where: spencer museum of art Why you care: ten films from different countries of

africa. go to http://www.africaworldfilmfestival.com/2012/ schedule for show times.

land drive

Why you care: lots of films to choose from this

monday april 30

and impress your friends.

All in the family

04 26 12

sunday april 29

What: lawrence jewish community women’s film festival When: 3 p.m. Where: lawrence jewish community center, 917 highweekend.

What: free argentine tango open practica When: 8 p.m. Where: signs of life, 722 massachusetts st. Why you care: free dance lesson? learn to tango

EDITOR sss NADIA IMAFIDON ASSOCIATE EDITOR sss LINDSEY DEITER DESIGNERS sss EMILY GRIGONE, ALLIE WELCH LOVE sss SASHA LUND, ALIZA CHUDNOW, RACHEL SCHWARTZ SCHOOL sss ALLISON BOND, MEGAN HINMAN CAMPUS + TOWN sss KELSEA ECKENROTH, JOHN GARFIELD, BRITTNEY HAYNES ENTERTAINMENT sss KELSEY CIPOLLA, RACHEL SCHULTZ, ALEX TRETBAR PLAY sss SARA SNEATH, RACHEL CHEON CONTRIBUTORS sss Michelle Macbain, landon mcdonald CREATIVE CONSULTANT sss CAROL HOLSTEAD

tuesday may 1 What: tuesday farmers’ market When: 4 p.m. Where: tenth and vermont Why you care: local produce, baked goods and jam. get some good grub.

wednesday may 2 What: quiet corral When: 9 p.m. Where: granada, 1020 massachusetts st. Why you care: support the local music scene, we all have to start somewhere.

6 12 15

table of contents

love:

Kansas graduate does reality TV show, “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Campus & town:

You walk past Liberty Hall on Mass Street all the time, but how much do you really know about it?

entertainment:

No money, no problem: the limited life of an independent flim maker.

19 21 23

play:

Do you believe in magic? Metaphysics and the paranormal.

play:

Do this...boudoir photos: the art of a tasteful naked photo.

personal essay:

One Jayplay writer’s journey through coping with a loss while studying abroad. Cover photy by Travis Young Hal Schultz and Lisa Barcus

04 26 12

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LOVE

The Hookup

Michelle MacBain, Kansas City, is a graduate student in communication Studies. She studied psychology and human sexuality at KU and the University of Amsterdam. Email questions to michelle@michellemacbain.com

Dear Michelle, My girlfriend told me that she cannot get pregnant while she is on her period, so we have not used condoms during this time. Should I be worried about getting her pregnant during her period? Baby While Bleeding Dear BWB, Adopting the notion that a woman cannot become pregnant during menstruation will eventually fail you. I assume you are trying to prevent a pregnancy from happening, so why don’t we start with a crash course on the female menstrual cycle. Ovulation: Ovulation is not a straight-forward process; the 14-day ovulation cycle is not accurate. Tracking ovulation requires much more time and attention. To begin, your girlfriend should pay attention to her menstruation cycle and determine whether it is regular or irregular. Regular cycles will produce a menstrual period consistently, after a set number of days (28 on average, but can range from 21to 35 days). If your girlfriend has regular, “like clockwork,” cycles, then she can determine ovulation through basic math and with the help of ovulation predictor devices found at your local drug store. Ovulation with regular cycles can be estimated two ways: 1) Counting 11 to 21 days since the last menstrual period, or 2) Counting 12 to 16 days from when you expect the next menstrual period to begin. During ovulation, an egg is available

for fertilization for about 12 to 24 hours after being released. Since sperm can live in the body for up to five days, the woman can be fertile for up to seven days. Ovulation predictor devices will detect the presence of luteinizing hormones (LH). LH rise right before ovulation occurs. These devices will only detect whether you are ovulating, but cannot ensure you do ovulate. Menstruation and Pregnancy: A woman can only become pregnant during ovulation. If your girlfriend has a regular cycle and can estimate time of ovulation, you should avoid having unprotected sex during her ovulation. Usually, a woman with a regular cycle has little chance of becoming pregnant during her menstrual period. However, (and pay attention to this next part) it IS possible for a woman to become pregnant when having unprotected sex during her menstrual cycle. How? Let’s say your girlfriend has a 21-day cycle and she averages about seven days of bleeding for every cycle. Ovulation can occur 12 to 16 days before the next period. With this cycle and the amount of bleeding time, she would be ovulating at days 6 to 10 of her 21-day cycle. Remember, sperm can live inside her body for three to five days. If your girlfriend happens to ovulate on this schedule and you have unprotected sex during her menstruation, you can tell your friends to start calling you daddy. Finally, let’s say she has a regular cycle, she tracks her ovulation through calculation and the ovulation detection device, and she determines ovulation does not occur during her menstrual cycle. What could go wrong? Well, you forget to factor in lifestyle and stress. Ovulation can be affected by stress, illness or the disruption of normal daily routines. A woman’s cycle is sensitive to these factors and although she may assume her ovulation is occurring at the same time every month, something like demanding finals or a week-long flu could throw her ovulation way off. So what does this all mean? If you want to prevent an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, use effective contraceptives properly EVERY time you have sex.

LOVE The Laws of Attraction Why you and your friends just can’t agree on Johnny Depp Chelsea Mullen, a sophomore from Eudora, likes guys with facial hair. If he can make her laugh, she’s putty in his hands. But, Mullen says, her friends just don’t get it. “Most of my friends like pretty boys who are overly groomed, and I don’t think that’s attractive in the least,” she says. While Mullen and her friends might be at odds over it, science has proven that there are characteristics found to be most desirable in the opposite sex. A 2008 study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that red is the most attractive color to members of the opposite

sex. Another study done at the University of Texas found an ideal waist-to-hip ratio for women to be 0.7 – which represents a much smaller waist than hips. Various other scientific research has pointed to facial symmetry as being of high importance when it comes to attracting a mate. With these conclusions, can we assume that an ideal specimen exists? Dennis M. Dailey, retired professor of the school of social welfare, says no. The basis of our attraction to other people is based on a attraction template that is formed as we grow older. Dailey says the preferences that make up this attraction

Everyone’s attraction template is different says retired social welfare professor Dennis M. Dailey.

photo by morgan laforge

template vary greatly from person to person, but we all have our type. “If everyone had to be a stunning model that represented the thing men are attarcted to, we’d be in trouble. There are social standards that says what is or isn’t beautiful, but that doesn’t represent everyone’s attraction template,” Dailey says. Dailey says that experiences such as Mullen’s are common, and because there is so much variance in attraction, it’s impossible to determine what one person’s attraction template is compared to another person’s. Sexual attraction, however, Dailey says, is just one component of overall attraction – an umbrella term which includes values, intelligence, money, religion and power all as things we consider when evaluating someone’s attractiveness. Our attraction templates, Dailey says, will alert us if a possible mate has enough of these qualities that we desire. Everyone’s attraction template is unique, Dailey says, so where does it come from? The answer is simple: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Our differences in attraction can stem from our parents, social learning from peers, or childhood sex play and fantasy. One thing is for sure though, Dailey believes: we aren’t born with our templates. Isadora Alman, a syndicated advice columnist and marriage and family therapist, agrees that while attraction is based on many things, it almost always starts out as something physical. She advises people to identify their physical triggers, and use them to their advantage. “People have to cop to the fact that they have a penchant for redheads or great bottoms or something. That will make the difference of whether they’ll talk to someone and get to know them,” she says. While physical attraction may be important for a new romance, Alman warns people that it may not always lead to a long-term relationship. She says sex appeal can be overridden quickly if someone says something offensive or unintelligent. “Someone can look absolutely great, and then once they open their mouth, it’s gone,” she says.

// Sasha Lund Alman believes that, while there are many things a person can do to decrease their attractiveness to other people, the only thing a person can do to appear more attractive to the opposite sex is be friendly and be themselves. She says if you’re looking to stand out from the pack, don’t be self-concious and just reach out to someone. “If someone is willing to smile and say ‘hi’, they are going to make a wonderfully better first impression that is going to override any physical characteristics,” Alman says. Dennis Dailey agrees that little can be done to enhance your appeal to the opposite sex. He advises someone looking for love to be authentic and genuine, and love will find its way. “I don’t think you can dress yourself up to be attractive to someone of the opposite sex. No one needs to do anything extra. There are people out there who will find you attractive,” he says.

The Most Beautiful People in the World People magazine publishes an annual list of the “Most Beautiful People.” Here is a look at some of their picks throughout the years. 2011: Jennifer Lopez 2008: Kate Hudson 2007: Drew Barrymore 2006: Angelina Jolie 2005: Julia Roberts 2004: Jennifer Aniston 2003: Halle Berry 2002: Nicole Kidman 1998: Leonardo Dicaprio 1997: Tom Cruise 1996: Mel Gibson 1994: Meg Ryan 1993: Cindy Crawford 1992: Jodi Foster

04 26 12

LOVE Catch of the Week

Celebrity Dish:

Cassie Rupp // Aliza Chudnow

// Aliza Chudnow

educate on environmental issues; mainly sustainability and reform within the food industry. Being a farmer would be cool as well. IF YOU COULD LIVE IN A DIFFERENT TIME PERIOD, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU LIVE IN? Ancient Egypt. I’m totally fascinated by Egyptian culture.

contributed photo

sarah kraus

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LAWRENCE HANG-OUT? The Bourgeois Pig. I like the crowd that goes there and they make really good drinks.

Hometown: allen, texas Year: senior Major: environmental studies Interested In: women

WHAT WOULD YOUR DREAM VACATION BE? I would really like to go to Ireland because that’s where a lot of my family is from. It’s really beautiful there.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN SOMEONE? Intelligence and humor, for sure. It’s also important that they are active and like to do things outside.

WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH? Julia Roberts. She has been in so many of my favorite movies. I love her laugh and her smile.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB? I want to stay in academia and be a professor. I want to

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Cassie Rupp, 24, a small town girl from Dighton, never thought she would star in the CMT reality show “Sweet Home Alabama.” But after graduating from KU in 2010 and moving to California, she was cast for the second season of the series, where country girls were pitted against city girls to vie for model Tribble Reese’s heart. She made it past six rounds before being eliminated. What was it like being on “Sweet Home Alabama”? It was nothing like I thought it would be. I did think I would come in and it would be scripted. But I showed up and lived in a house with 21 girls. I’m from Kansas; I hate city boys and I knew it wasn’t like “The Bachelor.” I think with “The Bachelor” there is so much pressure to be engaged at the end. I never

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Did you feel a connection from the beginning with Tribble? When I first met Tribble I really liked him and he seemed really hot. It was hard to really get to know him because of the situation; I’m not one to fight for a guy, so I honestly wanted to give up. After I went on a one-on-one date with him, I thought he was really cool and charming. But it was hard to be real when there were cameras around and there was so much going on. What was it like to sit back and re-watch the experience being aired to the public? Waiting for it to air was super nerve wracking. I’m such a dork. I say stupid things and I make an ass out of myself every day but you don’t realize it when six cameras are filming you. But I looked extremely normal, thank God. After going through the entire process, do you think it is truly possible to find love on a reality show? It’s really weird and really funny. I never thought I would say this, but I’m 100 percent sure that it is possible.

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school

Preparing for the job search

Learn tips of the trade for getting that job after graduation or finding an internship for the summer // Allison Bond 105.9 radio station in Lawrence, agrees that it is all about the interview process. “You come in and say, ‘I didn’t know what else to do so I thought I would come and apply,’ that’s not going to work,” Coleman says. “We are looking for people who are motivated and know what they want.” Whether finding an internship for the summer or trying to get that first job after college, polishing your resume and interview skills never go to waste. “The Career Center is here to help,” Gaston says. “We love to help folks realize their dreams.”

Three big interview tips

Getting that job you want is as easy as nailing the preparation.

Alyssa Keith started off the month of March by putting on her best business attire, printing off copies of her resume and heading to the journalism career fair. “I went in there with an open mind,” says Keith, a senior from El Dorado. “I’m open to anything. It’s pretty much ‘have bag will travel’.” But before connecting with journalism employers from around Kansas, Keith prepared by also going to the University Career Fair and seeking help from the University Career Center. Keith is not the only one preparing for career fairs on campus. The University Career Center director David Gaston says 1,000 students attended the University Career Fair in February with 116 businesses to choose from. Two things to prepare and polish before career fairs are resume and interview skills. One of the ways the Career Center, located in room 110 at the Burge Union, can help is through building and polishing your resume. Students can work on

their resume by using the online Optimal Resume tool, a self-directed resume development tool, or schedule an appointment with a Career Coach. Debbie Snyder, employee at World Company, which employs around 200 people in places such as the Lawrence Journal-World, Mediaphormedia and Sunflower Publishing, offers a tip for student resumes. “Include all of your experience, even if you feel it’s not relevant,” Snyder says. “You learn something from every experience.” Gatson reminds students though that the purpose of a resume is to secure an interview. Resumes provide the opportunity to promote your experience and skills as a good fit for a position. Once the interview is secured though, how can you make sure the interview goes great? One way is to practice through mock interviews. Students can fine-tune their interview skills by sitting down with a career coach for a video recorded mock

photo illustration by jessica janasz

interview. After the interview, the tape is replayed and talked about. A new edition of this process is called the optimal interview, found at kucareerhawk.com. Students can perform a self-directed mock interview where they select a set of questions that an actor in a video then asks in an interview. Afterward, students can send in the tape to get critiqued, a process that is done all online. “First impressions are pretty important,” Gatson says. Going into an interview, “you have to communicate what you have to offer with a 30-second commercial of who you are and what you want to do,” Gatson says. Through a very individualized approach, the Career Center, serving around 3,000 students a year just for individual appointments alone, seeks to assist students in any phase of figuring out what they want to do, from choosing a career direction or major to helping develop resumes and search for jobs. Paul Coleman, who works at Lazer

David Gatson, University Career Center director, says there are three big tips to preparing for a great interview: Self-Assessment: Know who you are and what you want to accomplish. Network: Look for opportunities that correlate with you. Then communicate what value you can add to an organization. Do background research on the company you are interviewing with. When interviewing make sure to include some of that research into the conversation. Follow-up: Make sure you followup the interview with a written note or an email afterward. Three big resume tips Kucareerhawk.com offers these tips for building the best resume: Be clear: A resume should address the experience required for the position you are applying for. Be concise: Try to fit your resume on one page. Be clean: Make sure your resume is neat and easy to read. Tips to accomplish this are use a readable font such as Times New Roman in 11 or 12-point type, highlight achievements and skills using bullet points, use action verbs and avoid abbreviations.

04 26 12

school Get Involved:

Africa World Documentary Film Festival Four days, 21 films.

//allison bond

Films submitted from around the world are appearing in the Spencer Museum of Art this week as the University of Kansas hosts its first of the Africa World Documentary Film Festival. Presenting 21 movies from April 25 through 29, the film festival seeks to promote knowledge and the culture of the people of Africa, says Christina Lux, assistant director of African studies. The films range in length and content, focusing on different parts of African culture. While the media tends to focus on conflict in Africa, Lux says the film festival is a way to expose students to a variety of perspectives and topics. “Students see Africa in a particular way,” Lux says. “This features people showing their own voices in their own reality.” Mugabi Byenkya, a sophomore from

Kampala, Uganda, who helped in the selection process of the movies, says that his favorite pick was “Surfing Soweto.” It focuses on the lives of three surfers and portrays the lives of a new generation of youth in Soweto, South Africa. Byenkya believes that in showing documentary films about Africa, students can broaden their perspective on African culture. “If you can step outside of your comfort zone and watch something you normally wouldn’t watch, it teaches you to see the world through someone else’s eyes,” Byenkya says. “It can help you relate with other people. To learn more about the schedule of movies playing or about the Africa World Documentary Film Festival visit africaworldfilmfestival.com.

KU Performance Club //megan hinman

If you’ve ever walked by Budig on a Monday afternoon, you’ve probably seen the KU Performance Club, a group that recently combined with the KU Juggling Club. The group practices from noon to 4 p.m. every week, and their performances are eye-catching. Hula hoop, fire staff, levitation stick, and poi are some of the acts Rachel Berry, a sophomore from Johnson County, performs with the group. “Occasionally we’ll go down to Mass. Street and do little performances down there,” Berry says, as she passes her hula hoop to a friend. They might even perform at Busker Festival, a street performers’ gathering downtown in August. The energy within the group of about 15 is high as they practice their different performances, with upbeat music playing from a stereo by one of the trees with a slack line on them. Those are the flat ropes tied to two trees that you might see people walking or balancing on. The group will teach you any performance art they can, says leader Shawn Nelson, a sophomore from Overland Park. As he twirls his poi — strings with balls on the end that can be lit on fire for effect — around his body effortlessly, he explains that it doesn’t matter if the strings touch his arm. But he wouldn’t do that if they were lit, would he? “Oh, absolutely I would,” he says. “It’s like running your finger through a candle flame,” interjects Bridget Lamb, former Juggling Club President and senior from Exton, Pa. “As long as you don’t hold it over it for like, five seconds, you’ll be fine.” While many passersby turn their heads shyly to glance at the group, Lamb says aloud what the performers are thinking. “It’s okay to watch. It’s even better to come try something. You can stop and watch. It’s okay.”

04 26 12

7:00 p.m. - Surfing Soweto 8:30 p.m. - Street Journeys 9:35 p.m. - The Creators 11:00 p.m. - Shooting Freetown

contributed photo

Get Involved:

Watch, learn, or join in.

Thursday, April 26th, Film Schedule, showing in the Spencer Museum of Art:

photo by megan hinman

Shawn Nelson, a sophomore from Overland Park, performs poi.

BETTER OPTIONS:

Bad Posture

It doesn’t look good or feel good.

//megan hinman

Everyone slouches. That may seem like an exaggeration, but as I looked around one of my classes for a slouching student, no one stuck out. Everyone was slouching, so I didn’t have a good-posture comparison. “If I’m standing and I realize I’m slouching,” says Davina De La Torre, a senior from Liberal and one of the students in that room, “I’ll straighten up because it looks like you have low self-esteem and you aren’t very confident.” But she slouches when she’s been sitting, working on a paper for a long time, and she notices later that her muscles are sore. This is easily curable, says Laura Bennetts, physical therapist and owner of Lawrence Therapy Services, 2200 Harvard Road. Bennetts sees an increase in students with sore necks and backs at the end of each semester, and she suggests taking a study break. “In some ways,” she says, “the more you study, the more pain you could have because of static pain,” which is what makes you sore after sitting for hours with poor posture. When you do have to sit at your computer, make sure your screen is eye-level. If you need to pile books underneath your laptop to prop it up, do it, Bennetts says, and attach a separate keyboard that you can keep at a comfortable position. Also, sit in the 90-90-90 position. That means your knees are at a 90-degree angle with your feet resting flat on the floor, your hips are at a 90-degree angle with your legs flat and your back straight, and your elbows are at a 90-degree angle with your wrists straight. It may seem unnecessary, but these simple steps could really reduce your pain from poor posture. photo by megan hinman

A student using proper posture at a lab computer.

entertainment Q&A:

Greylag

//Rachel schultz

Although Greylag’s Andrew Stonestreet attended Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville for a year, he soon left after advice from his professors. He knew he wanted to be a musician and, being a history and philosophy major, didn’t want to “pay to be fickle” any longer. Originally from West Virginia, Andrew Stonestreet made the move to Portland in 2009 to pursue his music career with friend and now fellow band member Daniel Dixon. Greylag’s first album, “The Only Way to Kill You,” debuts in May and is a culmination of genres, especially folk, blues and rock and roll. The band opens for Augustana at the Granada on May 2.

Why did you turn to singing? How did you get in to music and begin your career?

I’ve been in music my whole life. When I was 11 or 12, I started writing songs — they were horrible. Daniel and I started the project several years ago and when we moved to Portland it began to solidify.

How did the band get its name? what’s the meaning behind it?

We just wanted to pick something that didn’t have a real association with anything. When you’re a band you’ve just gotta have a name, something to call yourselves (laughs). It doesn’t hold a lot of weight. contributed photo

What do you love about live performance and live music?

There’s something special that happens on stage. There’s an intimacy with the people you’re playing with and the people you’re playing for and I’ve always loved it. I get a sense that it draws people together in a really unique way, more than most things, and there’s a special kind of unity for a short moment in time.

Daniel Dixon (left) and Andrew Stonestreet make up the up-and-coming band from Portland, Greylag, mixes acoustic guitar and harmonic vocals to create a compilation of sounds. The band opens for Augustana Wednesday, May 2, at the Granada.

COME TASTE WHAT KU STUDENTS LOVE

Have you ever performed in Lawrence before?

Larryville

No. But I have exactly one friend from Kansas.

What challenges do you face in this business?

OFFICIAL BEER OF

I think from a band’s perspective the goal is always to have a band you can hold closely and have deep friendship with. Mixing friendships and art and money together is not an easy task. You have to know how to define those things and keep them as separate as possible.

LARRYVILLEKU

What do you do when you’re not traveling or making music?

A lot of hiking and walking and I love going to the coast, having bonfires and having friends over and just enjoying Portland. So many things that are beautiful to do. I bike everywhere up. It’s just relaxing.

��

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing?

Definitely something that has a large element of creativity involved, like painting or design, or something between design and a form of photography. I’ve also thought a lot about having a bike shop.

What do you look forward to in your future career?

Hopefully sustaining it and being able to continue doing it and making music. I’d like to be able to live and take care of myself and my loved ones and do what I love.

What advice do you have for college age people?

I think college is a beautiful and rewarding thing. It can give you a strong context for moving forward, as long as you are moving forward. But being a professional student is a danger, mostly for financial reasons. So keep diggin,’ try and remain curious and never lose wonder. Never let things be so controlled. Pursue passion.

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entertainment Movie Review

Bully

// Landon McDonald “Bully” is ostensibly an effort to show how the problem of bullying has developed into a full-blown epidemic, how the recent spike in teen suicides has carried with it a rancid undercurrent of startling cultural prejudice, homophobia and the kind of malignant stupidity that could easily be mistaken for evil. It paints a tender, vivid portrait of bullied youths and their families, including two couples whose children turned to self-destruction after years of torment and ridicule. But does Lee Hirsch’s documentary, which opens amid a well-publicized ratings tiff between the MPAA and executive producer and notorious Oscar hoarder Harvey Weinstein, really do justice to its subject? On one hand, it has popularized an issue that too many school administrators seem content to shrug off as part of the rigors of growing up. And no one can doubt the sincerity of the families affected, many of who have since rallied in

their grief to become tireless anti-bullying advocates. Yet the film itself is far too narrow in its focus, framing the problem as a regional quirk by insisting that all its subjects hail from working-class Bible Belt communities, a decision which has already led to predictable accusations of coastal elitism and the concealment of thornier psychological implications regarding the universal cruelty of children. The phenomenon of cyber-bullying, an often-anonymous brand of harassment that led to a number of the suicides the film mentions, is barely touched on. I’m also skeptical about the legitimacy of certain sequences. A frail, bespectacled middle-schooler named Alex is savagely beaten aboard a school bus with one of Hirsch’s cameras stationed only a few rows away. There has been no obvious attempt to hide the camera. Did the bullies know it was there? Did they care? Should

contributed photo

the cameraman have intervened? No one ever elaborates. In the end, the kids are the film’s saving grace. Alex, awkward and unknowable, has been numbed to the point where he regards the bullies as his only point of human contact outside his immediate family. Kelby, a lesbian tired of being persecuted at her high school, is pulled back from the brink by her merry band

of friends and lovers. The best friend of an 11-year-old suicide victim reveals that he was once a bully himself. And, in the film’s most achingly honest scene, a kindergartner is asked how he feels about a bully calling him a faggot. His answer: “It breaks my heart.” Despite all its faults, “Bully” might do the same for you. FINAL RATING:

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entertainment Movie Review

The Raid

// Landon McDonald

Believe everything you’ve heard about this one. Gareth Evans’ “The Raid” is a certifiably insane bone-cruncher of an action film; doused in uncut adrenaline and primed to detonate in a glorious firestorm of high kicks, low blows and a disturbing appreciation for what bullets, blades and exploding refrigerators can do to the human body. I haven’t seen perfectly choreographed mayhem of this caliber since the glory days of John Woo and Bloody Sam Peckinpah. Here’s a film designed for your inner caveman, the hulking brute that nearly tore out your spinal column and used it to pole vault when your better half-dragged you to see “Titanic 3D.” The set-up couldn’t be simpler. An Indonesian drug lord rules the slums of Jakarta with an iron fist thanks to his most vicious enforcer, the appropriately named Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian). The kingpin’s entire operation is housed in the grimy confines of a 30-story tenement building, an ugly slab of concrete that looms

over the city like a dirty hangnail. An elite SWAT team under the command of Jaka (Joe Taslim) is dispatched to storm the building and arrest the mobster by any means necessary. Rama (Iko Uwais), the unit’s token rookie and expectant father, is there with an ulterior motive: to find his no-good gangbanger brother Andi (Doni Alamsyah) and bring him home. And that’s all you need to know. The rest is sound and fury, signifying the arrival of a new gold standard for action cinema. Despite originally hailing from Wales, Gareth Evans has done more to popularize Indonesian martial arts than any filmmaker alive. The style most often showcased in “The Raid” is the discipline known as Silat, which involves the careful manipulation of one’s joints in conjunction with wielding multiple blades. The result is fight choreography like none you’ve ever witnessed; a blood-drenched ballet of death that couldn’t be replicated with even the most finely detailed CGI. The combatants become a flurry of appendages, landing blow after blow in rapid succession until the enemy is literally torn open. Nearly every actor in “The Raid”

contributed photo

You can’t keep a Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian) down in the Indonesian martial arts extravaganza “The Raid.”

doubles as his own stuntman, adding to the seamless quality of the film. Ruhian, who brings an almost mythic malevolence to the role of Mad Dog, even trained for the Indonesian equivalent of the Secret Service. Uwais, whose character quickly becomes our central protagonist, also astounds, both with his incredible martial prowess and the occasional flicker of vulnerability he lends to Rama and his quest

to redeem his wayward sibling. For those who still take their action red of tooth and claw, seek out “The Raid” and treat yourself to a full-tilt action smorgasbord. But be warned: it might sour you on Hollywood blockbusters for a while. Turns out they really do make ‘em like they used to, at least in Indonesia. FINAL RATING:

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feature al Schultz and Lisa Barcus sit patiently in their apartment. Hal has a big smile on his face as he answers every question with ease, jumping at the chance to elaborate on a story that comes to mind. Lisa sits across from him, reserved and shy. When I ask her a question, Hal encourages her to answer by gently saying, “You’ve got this one honey.” As Hal speaks with pride about how they met, Lisa sits back in her chair, carefully listening as he explains how their love blossomed. Although Lisa and Hal’s love story is comparable to any couple, something sets them apart. Lisa, 31, was born with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the body and brain’s normal development, while Hal, 36, was born with the congenital disorder cerebral palsy, which impacts how the brain and nervous system function. Down syndrome can cause mild to moderate intellectual impairment, and cerebral palsy can affect one’s movement, language and memory. Hal’s cerebral palsy is a mild case, while Lisa has trisomy 21, the type of Down syndrome where her 21st chromosome is affected; instead of two chromosomes she has three. Despite having to grow up with many odds against them, their supportive families helped them thrive in their home and school environments. Jennifer Carroll, resource specialist at the National Down Syndrome Congress in Roswell, Ga., says that there was a time when parents were told to put their children with developmental disorders such as Down syndrome into institutions. The congress, which provides information, advocacy and support for individuals with Down syndrome, believes that 50 years ago these children were kept at home and most people would never see a child with disabilities out in the community. “About 20 years ago is when things started to change,” Carroll says. “It was then that children could access speech therapy and occupational therapy. They began going to school, and their regular peers were able to learn alongside the students with disabilities.” In the U.S. today, there are an estimated 400,000 people affected by Down syndrome and 500,000 people affected by cerebral palsy. Caroll says less than 1 percent of people with Down syndrome get married, but she hopes that number

04 26 12

love

a that outweighs it all Hal Schultz and Lisa Barcus have been together for six years. Despite having disabilities, they thrive in the Lawrence community and as a couple // Aliza Chudnow

will soon change. “Last year we had our national convention where more than 300 individuals in the U.S. attended,” Carroll says. “Out of those 300 individuals, I would say we had two couples who have been married, a lot of boyfriends and girlfriends and a lot of engaged couples.” As the saying goes, all you need is one;

even people affected by developmental disabilities need love in their lives, which leads to Hal and Lisa’s story.

love at first sight

Hal and Lisa’s love story began six years ago at a national sales convention for people with developmental disabili-

ties. At the time, Hal lived in Overland Park while Lisa lived in Lawrence. When they both traveled to the convention, Hal’s friends mentioned Lisa’s name to him explaining that he would really like her. “My friends said they knew Lisa was a little bit shy so they decided to join us when we met,” Hal says. “And that’s what

feature happened. I was a little bit nervous, I don’t know about her.” Lisa, now smiling, shakes her head when asked if she was nervous, and replies with an immediate no. That trip to Anaheim where they first met was one of their best memories because they were also able to go to Disneyland together. “We got to go to a special part of Disney with a lot of rides and food,” Hal says. “That was really fun.” Within a year of dating, Hal told his mom that he was moving to Lawrence for Lisa. That was five years ago, now the couple is currently living together, going through their everyday tasks by each other’s side.

thriving in the community

Although Lisa and Hal are able to live alone, together in an apartment in east Lawrence, they still receive support from Cottonwood, an agency whose mission is to help people with disabilities shape their own future. Cottonwood is considered a full-service agency that serves more than 580 people by offering day programs, residential programs and employment programs. In Lisa and Hal’s case, it provides them with different employment opportunities through contracts with Cottonwood as well as different places in Lawrence. Hal works five days a week at Cottonwood and the nonprofit organization the United Way, to support people with developmental disabilities in Lawrence. Lisa is also employed at Cottonwood and spends two days a week at McDonalds as well. Peggy Wallert, the director of community relations at Cottonwood, worked directly with Lisa and Hal and believes it’s a remarkable feeling to be a part of something that is making such a difference in people’s lives. “There is a lot more that I take home every night than I could possibly give,” Wallert says. “You learn so much, it’s like being in a ‘Cheers’ environment. Everyone knows your name and wants to share with you. Hal and Lisa, and all the people that work here are tremendous.” While working during the day keeps both Hal and Lisa busy, they are able to spend their nights together cooking dinner, watching TV or going to different Parks and Recreation activities. “They make each other laugh and help each other when they are sad,” says Lisa’s mom, Angie Barcus. To cheer each other up after a long days’ work, Lisa gave Hal a cas-

sette tape while Hal surprised Lisa with sacks of candy. They also make sure to help one another around the apartment, and always cook dinner together. “A great thing about them as a couple is they are so complementary with their strengths and weaknesses,” Barcus adds. As far as bills go, they both split their payments equally, each paying 50/50. They also have their own, individual lease on their apartment, and when it comes to groceries, they buy their own separate things. “They have a staff person from Cottonwood pick them up and they always schedule their rides whether that is to the store, work or night activities,” Barcus says. Technically, Barcus and Lisa’s dad are her guardians, but they still urge her to make her own decisions and are amazed by everything she has accomplished, including being together with Hal. “I think everybody should have a partner in life,” Barcus says. “They are a great couple, and it is neat to see that yes, it can happen. I hope all people regardless if they have a disability or not can have what Lisa and Hal have.” Just like any couple, Lisa and Hal have experienced different obstacles in their relationship. When they first started dating, Lisa had some medical problems that were hard for Hal to handle. “Hal was very concerned about Lisa,” Barcus says. “That was probably the worst obstacle they have dealt with, but Hal was very supportive, and they did very well working together to get each other through it.” The two aren’t perfect though, as they do fight from time to time. Usually when they argue, they can work it out themselves, but once in a while they will turn to Barcus for help to sort out their problems. “Sometimes Lisa or Hal will call me and say what happened,” Barcus says. “I try to listen and give them their options of what they can do.” Another topic that the couple must deal with is the possibility of having children of their own. Barcus has discussed her concern with Lisa about having children and the possibility that if she did, her children would be likely to have Down syndrome. Resource specialist Carroll says that because Hal does not have Down syndrome, there is a 25 percent chance that the couple’s children could be born with the disorder. “They definitely know the issues and the fact that if Lisa ever became pregnant, there is a chance of having a child with Down syndrome,”

Barcus says. “I think they understand that along with the physical parts of their relationship.”

natural ties

One organization that’s become prominent in Hal and Lisa’s lives is Natural Ties, a KU organization founded in 1988, that strives to integrate people with developmental disabilities into college life. The KU greek system plays a significant role in Natural Ties as it was started by the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon after they formed a bond with a boy who has developmental disabilities and made him an honorary member of their fraternity. It was then they decided to create an organization that could help many people with disabilities living in the community. Now, almost every fraternity and sorority on campus are paired with one or more people with disabilities and are able to engage in different activities with them. Lisa has participated in Natural Ties for the past 10 years, while Hal has participated the past six. Andrew Edmunds from Prairie Village, and Mike Lierz from Saint Joseph, Mo., both sophomores and members of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, have been paired with Lisa and Hal since the start of their freshmen year. Every Wednesday they drive over to Lisa and Hal’s apartment to pick them up and take them to a Natural Ties event, such as holiday parties, movie nights and game nights. “They love events where they can eat,” Andrew says. “Hal likes Cherry Coke and Lisa likes Dr. Pepper.” Hal agrees with this statement saying that their favorite event is when they go out to eat at CiCi’s Pizza. Although Andrew and Mike did not know what to expect before their first time meeting Lisa and Hal, they have developed a friendship with them that continues to grow every day. “They always remember everything you say,” Mike says. “We’ve gotten really close the past two years. We absolutely consider ourselves friends with them.” For some students, Natural Ties is all about forming bonds with people they normally wouldn’t interact with. Codirector and senior Erin Atwood, Topeka, has been involved with Natural Ties since her freshman year and thinks the organization is really good for college students who don’t know how to act around others who have disabilities. “Natural Ties puts you in a very laid-back, relaxed environment,” Atwood says. “Going to these

events and being with the same people every week, you really do become friends.” Hal and Lisa know just about everyone at Natural Ties as they have formed many lifelong friendships through the expanding organization. “There are about 100 ties,” says Caroline Godfrey, social coordinator, junior from Leawood. “We have really grown. Sometimes it is challenging because you have to plan a big enough space and enough food for 200 people. But it is definitely worth it when you see that moment where everybody is having a good time, the energy of the event is up and you can tell there is no stress living in that moment.”

fireworks

Lisa remained very quiet throughout the evening, listening intensely to everything Hal said. It wasn’t until my last question that she sat up, eyes wide, ready to speak. “I have something to say,” she said in a gentle voice. She turned to look at Hal for a brief second then turned back to me. “When I first met him it was kind of like fireworks shooting off.” That answer says it all. Regardless of their disabilities, it is safe to say Lisa and Hal share a love that anybody should envy, a love that outweighs it all. Difficulties with getting legally married Jennifer Carroll, the resource specialist at the National Down Syndrome Congress says that sometimes it is difficult for people with Down syndrome to get married. Individuals with the disorder receive social security benefits, but if they were to get married, those benefits would go away. “That’s one of those things I think is very unfair,” Carroll says. “They need that money to pay rent and utilities, it’s not enough to live off of, even if each spouse has a job.” Because of these financial difficulties, a lot of couples choose to live together without receiving a legal marriage license. “There are a lot of programs that provide services for people who want to live together on their own,” Carroll says. Married or not, couples with developmental disabilities are learning to overcome government regulations, by living their lives to the fullest.

04 26 12

entertainment top album:

Not for the faint of heart: The Mars Volta The slow-tempo rock sounds of The Mars Volta, an American progressive rock band that formed in El Paso, Texas, blare from my laptop’s speakers from a mix of electronic and acoustic instruments. The band’s sixth full-length album, “Noctourniquet,” topped the KJHK charts this week at No. 1, beating out new music from bands Bear in Heaven and White Rabbits.

“Mars Volta is the type of music that I listen to when I’m in a doldrums-type of mood,” says Ashton Capps, an interior and environmental design student. “It’s something that’s not going to be boring to my ears. I listen to take my focus off of other things on my mind; there’s so much going on in the music that it takes over your head.” The band’s newest album features ir-

regular instrumentation and contrasting vocals, and has a more of a range of tonality than their last few productions. Capps says that the album is mellower and has catchier choruses than those in the past, and compares it to the sounds of bands Radiohead and King Crimson. “They’re trying to keep up with what people are really into — the technology in music and how to make more in-depth

//Rachel schultz

electronic and synthetic sounds,” Capps says. If studying or traveling abroad this summer, music fans may be able to catch The Mars Volta in concert across the globe. The band’s tour schedule includes stops in Italy, Spain, Israel and Portugal.

contributed photo

A progressive rock band with electronic influences, The Mars Volta topped the KJHK charts this week with their newest album, “Noctourniquet.” The band will tour Europe this summer, performing in Italy, Spain, Isreal and Portugal.

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entertainment

Making Movies On No Budget Young filmmakers use limited resources to creatively overcome constant obstacles // Alex Tretbar

Christopher Good, 31, is an independent filmmaker based out Kansas City. He was able to raise $20,000 through Kickstarter.com to fund his current film project “Mudjackin’.” contributed photo

Christopher Good asks his girlfriend and co-producer to call one of their lead actresses with a costume question. “Ask her if she still has the same outfit from when we filmed at the Ozarks,” Good says. “Remember, the pink thing?” This is just one facet of what Good, 31, and other independent filmmakers call “no-budget” production. Good and his girlfriend, Megan Mantia, are getting ready for a shoot at Mantia’s parents’ house in Lenexa. They’re working on Good’s first feature film, “Mudjackin’,” and the pair has to jump through a number of hoops to make the project possible—but it takes time and patience. “One thing that slows the process down is having to work around people’s work schedules,” Good says. “It just takes longer. We can’t have concentrated bursts of filming because of it and, of course, there are the money-related issues. We make a lot of trips to Home Depot and Hobby Lobby.” But Good and Mantia were able to raise their goal of $20,000 last July through Kickstarter.com, a website that enables anyone to pitch ideas to friends and strangers alike, who then decide whether the project is worth donating cash toward. Most notably, 63 people donated between $25 and $50, and three donated between $2,500 and $5,000. “Mudjackin’” is an absurdist summer comedy set in the Ozarks. Mudjackers are

workers hired to repair sinking concrete by drilling a hole and filling the area underneath the concrete with a mixture of mud and concrete, raising the sidewalk or driveway back up. The story revolves around two mudjackers trying to have the summer of their lives. The pair have a rap-metal project, rival mudjackers show up and the story eventually becomes a kooky murder mystery. Before “Mudjackin’,” Good, who graduated from KU with a psychology degree in 2003, wrote, directed and produced two short films, “Return of the Gumshoe Kids” and “Holy Moly,” released in 2010 and 2011. Good’s style is frantic and fast-paced with dark comedy sprinkled throughout. He says “Mudjackin’” has roughly 200 scenes, and the script isn’t even complete yet. Good first met Mantia, 28, when she helped organize a screening for him at Tivoli Cinemas in Kansas City’s Westport district. He eventually asked Mantia, who graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2006, to help him get “Holy Moly” started, and the two began dating shortly thereafter. “He’s ultimately at the helm,” Mantia says. “I’ve filled the roles of co-producer, production coordinator, manager and documentation photographer. And those often extend to craft services—I’m the general gopher. Sometimes I help with casting, props; even hand-stitching letters

Jimmy Darrah, one of the lead actors in Good’s film, poses with mudjacking equipment.

to a jacket for a costume.” “Mudjackin’” is coming along, but as lead actor Jimmy Darrah explains, Good’s filmmaking process is careful and patient. “It’s a lot of hard work, “ Darrah, 28, says. “He’s definitely a perfectionist who really really knows what he’s doing, and he knows what he wants. He does a lot of takes until he gets exactly what he wants from me. It’s just really rewarding—I love working for him.” Good, Mantia and Darrah face problems and issues throughout the production process, but imagine the difference $20,000 makes. Graham Young, a Lawrence filmmaker, doesn’t have that kind of money, but he makes do. Young, 29, graduated from KU with a theater and film degree in 2008. He began production on his film “Kurtwood” at the end of last summer, finishing filming within the first few months of the fall semester. Having worked on the film for the better part of a year with virtually no budget ($763.41 to this date, which Young insists is not much in the film world), Young is finally close to finishing. It’s been a rough road, though. “The hardest part is finding people that want to work for free,” Young says. “When you’re working at an independent level it’s hard to find people that can sacrifice a number of things, including pay. The good thing about independent filmmaking is that it allows you to solve problems

contributed photo

creatively instead of having to use your checkbook.” But, as in the case of Good and Mantia, Young needed a second-hand man. Young met Jordan McClain, 22, about four years ago when McClain first moved to Lawrence from Wichita. Last summer Young asked McClain to sort through multiple film ideas, and they eventually settled on “Kurtwood,” a story about a prisoner who learns of a fortune hidden on the outside. McClain, who is set to graduate from KU with a film degree next month, offers advice to the budding filmmaker. “Be prepared for constant failures and constant difficulties, ‘cause they’ll happen a lot,” McClain says. “The most important thing for a young filmmaker is just to produce stuff. The value of having physical material to show people is irreplaceable.” Young says “Kurtwood” will be done by June.

Lawrence filmmaker Graham Young’s list of five movies to take to a deserted island: • • • • •

Seven Samurai Persona La Dolce Vita 2001: A Space Odyssey Stalker

04 26 12

campus & town What it’s like to….

Level with a Brazilian Druglord During the course of a photo assignment in Rio de Janeiro, Sarah Stern, junior from Lawrence, found herself in a precarious situation after irritating the local drug runners. Rocinha was run by the drug traffickers, the mother-of-all Rio slums. It was, however, the home of an uncommon, dignified and improvisational brand of beauty. The resilient and jubilant population offered a sharp contrast to the dire circumstances of their survival. For my two partners and me, capturing that beauty on film was a careful game of trying not to step on toes. The cameras drew apprehension from the gang-bangers, and a temporary lapse of judgment cost one of my partners his equipment. He had ignored advice never to shoot without a guide, and had thoughtlessly captured a dealer on film. We had heard horror stories of a murder following a similar incident, but I felt we had nothing to fear. We were no narcs, but a steady uneasiness nagged at me the days after. I spread word of our good intentions, asking around for a chance to meet the man who ruled Rocinha.

//as told to john garfield by sarah stern

Through broken Portuguese patched with Spanish, I had finally arranged to meet with “Nem,” the leader of the local gang. We were led up through the winding, crowded streets of the slum, to a gigantic party where I joined the crowd in Samba to ease the tension of waiting. Called out of the crowd, we ascended to our audience and were greeted by an unassuming character. He seemed tame, collected. A young, well-dressed man, he listened politely as I explained our good intentions and my partner’s unfortunate oversight. He was kind and receptive, and ordered the camera returned so that we could continue to document his kingdom. I enjoyed a breath of relief and returned to the party to dance. Months later, at home in America, I saw his face on the news. Antonio Lopes, one of the most wanted criminals in Latin America, was on trial and linked to dozens of murders. In hindsight, the situation might have jarred me, but I was 20, American, by no means did I imagine I could have died there, by the hand of a drug kingpin.

photo by sarah stern

On the streets of Rocinha.

photo by sarah stern

One of Sarah’s favorite images from within Rocinha.

What it’s like to….

Have Lyme disease

contributed photo

Sammi will probably have the disease the rest of her life, but has had no serious side effects.

04 26 12

//as told to kelsea eckenroth by sammi whitcup

Sammi Whitcup, a junior from Vienna, Va., was a junior in high school when she found out she had Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by a tick bite. Whitcup doesn’t know when she got the disease, but has had it for more than seven years. I started showing symptoms in junior high and didn’t know what it was. The symptoms are vague, but my left knee kept swelling and I had no idea why. I was tired all the time and my dad wouldn’t be able to wake me up for school. The symp-

toms got worse by the time I was in high school, so I went to the doctor and got a blood test done. Blood tests aren’t always accurate and sometimes give a false negative, so the doctor drained fluid out of my knee and tested it for Lyme disease. The test came out positive. My family was in the room with me when I found out. We were all really shocked and asked the doctor all kinds of questions like if there was treatment or if I would be able to be cured. I didn’t know if I was going to die or how serious

the disease was. My initial thought was that it would kill me. I don’t even recall ever having a tick bite. I went to camp a lot growing up and Virginia has a lot of woods and trees, but I don’t know where I got the disease. The doctor told me there’s treatment for it, but it’s experimental treatment. I’ve had Lyme disease for so long that it’s chronic, so I’m going to have it for the rest of my life. I’m lucky because Lyme disease can also affect your brain and spine, but it only affected my major knee joint.

campus & town Ten Things You Didn’t Know About…

Liberty Hall 1.

//john garfield

The name Liberty Hall belonged to the original venue, built above a butcher shop in 1856. The title was a nod to Abraham Lincoln’s having once called Lawrence the “cradle of liberty.”

it held the original Liberty Hall, the space on the 600 block of 2. Before Massachusetts belonged to the abolitionist newspaper the Herald of Freedom,

which was burnt down in 1855 for being a “nuisance” to a Midwest that still harbored many people with pro-slavery sentiments.

your birthday, Liberty Hall will offer a free movie complete with a drink and 7. On popcorn and a free movie rental. World War II, inspectors certified the building that is now Liberty Hall as 8. During capable of withstanding an aerial bombing.

On Tuesday nights, theater tickets are two-for-one, making it a great place to take a space that is Liberty Hall today was the prolific Bowersock Opera House from 9. 3. The mid-week date. 1882 to 1911, when it perished in a fire. Liberty Hall is the only place in town to see a movie on the big screen while Hall and the Lawrence Journal-World have a long and storied history of 10. 4. Liberty drinking a beer. cohabitation. When the Bowersock Opera House burned down in 1911, it took the Lawrence Journal (half of the modern Journal-World) with it.

addition to showing independent films, the theater operates a video rental store 5. Inwhich offers many titles not available elsewhere in town. being the original venue in the mid 1800s, Liberty Hall has been a half dozen 6. Since venues including the Dickinson Theater, the Jayhawker Theater and the Red Dog Inn Night Club.

photo by john garfield

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campus & town What Do You Know About...

Water Fluoridation? Poisoning the Well?

//john garfield

photo by john garfield

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Douglas County’s water supply contains .90mg/L of hydrofluorosilicic acid, a byproduct of industrial fertilizer production. The fluoride compound is toxic and illegal to dump, but is added to municipal water supplies throughout the United States as a means of strengthening teeth. While this number falls well within the 4mg/L figure established as safe by the U.S. National Research Council, international scientific research spanning the last 65 years links fluoride exposure at much lower levels to a variety of adverse effects. To name a few, scientists believe fluoridation to be linked to thyroid disorders, endocrine dysfunction, reproductive harm, skin conditions, brittle bones, immunodeficiency, premature puberty and even a lower IQ.

Fluoridation resistance has a history within Douglas County. With 6,000 members, the Community Mercantile represents about one in 19 Douglas County residents. According to Merc wellness manager Tyra Kalman, it is because of those 6,000 members and their skepticism of water additives that the Merc employs two separate water distillation systems. Fluoridation is outlawed in the majority of European countries with many international scientists proclaiming that, at best, the verdict is out. Even the winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, Arvid Carlsson, is an outspoken opponent of the practice, though the United States continues to champion it to be one of the top 10 greatest advances in public health policy since its implementation in the 1950s. One of the most damning pieces of research occurred at the University of Surrey in 1997 after Jennifer Luke discovered that the pineal glands in some medical cadavers had accumulated fluoride to the point of mineralization. The pineal gland produces melatonin for the human body. While many know melatonin to be the hormone associated with sleep, KU Professor of Molecular Biosciences Paul Kelly

explains that its function permeates all aspects of life: “Melatonin is a secreted product of the pineal gland, and as you probably know that is functionally important for circadian rhythms; our ability to have an internal clock and be able to adjust a lot of the physiology and metabolism in our body, our brain and all our organs so that it is optimal for daylight, awakening behavior and also optimal for sleeping at night.” In a study to determine the effects fluoridation has on prepubescent mammals, Luke conducted a study for her doctoral dissertation comparing groups of gerbils with high and low fluoride diets. The results of Luke’s study showed female gerbils undergoing puberty significantly earlier and male gerbils exhibiting lower mean teste weight after puberty after being given the high fluoride diet than after being given the low fluoride diet. Dr. Albert Burgstahler, KU Professor Emeritus of Chemistry has been a lifelong skeptic of water fluoridation and maintains that the studies which led to its original implementation used scientifically-unsound methods. Historically, he has had an accurate track record of criticizing other harmful chemicals such as DDT that have since been repealed.

Burgstahler actually participated as a subject in the landmark 1944-45 study in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, Michigan that paved the way for fluoridation in the United States. However, he says that the sample size was adjusted partway through the study to include fewer schools. The remaining schools, Burgstahler says, happened to be in more affluent districts where subjects had greater access to dental care and quality nutrition, thus compromising the scientific integrity of the study and exaggerating the findings on a national scale. Even in retirement from the University, Burgstahler presides over and contributes to the Fluoride Journal, a collaborative scientific effort that he has been a part of since its inception. The Fluoride Journal acts as a culmination of over 50 years of research from hundreds of scientists challenging the studies espousing fluoridation and pointing to the health complications it is linked to. When reached for comment, Jeanette Klamm, Program Manager of the City of Lawrence Utility Department, said that neither her personal opinion nor anyone’s opinion mattered in the implementation of water fluoridation. The decision, she said was the result of the ordinance passed in the 1950’s, but that they would repeal fluoridation if a contrary ordinance were to pass.

Missouri and the executive director of the Kansas City Area Education Research Consortium, or KCAERC, are conducting research showing how and why teens organize flash mobs. The researchers developed a survey questionnaire based on 10 focus groups of teenagers from around the Kansas City area who they contacted through schools, youth centers and youth-oriented radio stations. The data collection began last December and lasted until March. They were able to identify the communication behavior and tools used to get information about flash mobs, which are social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube. Clay Larson, a senior from Law-

rence, was part of the KU student section flash mob at the NCAA National Championship game this year. Larson received an e-mail about the flash mob from the company that sold the student tickets. The company also sent a video for students to watch and learn the dance moves. The researchers are now analyzing the data that shows reasons why teenagers organize flash mobs. “The research is not to prevent teenagers from participating in flash mobs, because flash mobs are mainly benign, fun activities for them,” Seo says. “The idea is how can the city provide a safe environment for teenage gatherings for teenagers to express themselves.”

What Do You Know About...

Flash mobs?

contributed photo

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Hyunjin Seo, journalism professor who is studying flash mobs.

//kelsea eckenroth

In the summer of 2011, a shooting occurred at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Mo. A group of teenagers gathered and the gathering took a violent turn, injuring three of them. The group was viewed as a flash mob, a public event where people appear together at the same time and perform a predetermined action and disperse. Hyunjin Seo, a journalism professor, says flash mobs are a growing cultural phenomenon. She studies the role of social media in different areas of communication and pays attention to flash mobs, which are usually organized by digital or mobile communication. Seo, along with a professor from the University of

play

I See You

Students go out for metaphysical experiences, both for fun and for real guidance // Rachel Cheon

Tarot cards help predict certain situations that seekers ask about.

What comes to your mind when you hear the words “psychic,” “tarot card,” “crystal ball,” or “fortune-telling?” You may think of one of those stereotypical psychics on TV with head wrap and a crystal ball talking to a call-in customer, or just a fun, unique way to spend your time. These are examples of metaphysics, which are philosophies and methods that help people understand reality in ways science can’t explain. However you view these experiences, they are significant for some college students. Belief in the paranormal or metaphysics increases during college from about 23 percent among freshmen to 31 percent in seniors, according to the study in 2001 conducted by Bryan Farha at Oklahoma City University and Gary Steward Jr. at University of Central Oklahoma with 439 college students. Another study done by Baylor University and the Gallup organization in 2006 with 1,721 Americans concludes that 52 percent believe dreams can sometimes foretell the future or reveal hidden truths, 30 percent think it’s possible to influence the physical world through mind alone (telekinesis), more than 20 percent think it’s possible to communicate with the dead, and nearly 40 percent believe in haunted houses. Horoscopes are common in newspapers, and there are psychic businesses everywhere, including places in Lawrence. Aruna Dawn is a tarot card reader in

photos by rachel cheon

Lawrence and president of the Reiki Rays Institute, which offers online courses about metaphysics. Reiki is a form of healing by hovering hands over the client’s body and channeling positive force. Tarot card reading interprets and predicts a certain situation with a deck of 78 cards. Each card represents distinct elements. For example, the card “devil” represents intense passion and possessiveness. Dawn says tarot is helpful for getting the answers you seek if you ask the right questions. “Who you are going to marry or winning the lottery are usually not the type of things to get the right answer,” Dawn says. She also says that sometimes psychics are good interpreters of body language, voice and eye reactions rather than knowing what the cards are trying to say. “When talking to someone, you know what answer they want,” Dawn says. Perhaps this was the case for Emilie Newell, senior from Kansas City, Mo., Newell thinks tarot cards present universal lessons that are useful for getting a new perspective, but not necessarily tools of psychic power. Newell and her friend went for a palm reading at Lawrence Metaphysical Shop, 727 Massachusetts St., three years ago as “just sort of a fun, quirky thing to do.” The psychic told Newell that she was going to either make or be part of a movie in mid-June, but that didn’t happen. When Newell was studying abroad in the United Kingdom

in the summer of 2011, she had psychic reading done in Brighton. She had broken up with her boyfriend and looked for some wisdom. “She correctly knew that I was involved in a breakup, but assumed I was the one who was broken up with and talked to me about how things happen for a reason and destiny,” Newell says. On another hand, Nick Ward, graduate student from Shawnee, came out with an astonishing feeling after $35 tarot card reading at Lawrence Metaphysical Shop. The psychic accurately talked about how close he is to his family or how he tends to notice things in environment better than his friends do without Ward telling her. Ward says the psychic was even more specific when talking to one of his friends. “She told my friend that her boyfriend is her soul mate and that one of her friends is extremely jealous of her,” Ward says. Ward’s friend is now engaged to her “soul mate” boyfriend, and she is no longer friends with a former close friend after incidents that pointed to jealousy problems. Tarot card reader and Reiki master Aruna Dawn believes that real psychics exist, such as the psychic she encountered during a vacation in Massachusetts who read out of gemstones, and knew about Dawn’s grandfather’s death and how he used to play Frank Sinatra on piano. Although she thinks the gemstone psychic was the real deal, Dawn acknowledges that there are fake psychics out there. “A true psychic will not advertise that they can heal anyone,” Dawn says. She also says psychics who advertise a low price, but offer more expensive services to answer some questions may be fake. This requires clients to come back and spend more money. “The key to a real, intuitive psychic seems to know specifics without you having to give them any information,” Dawn says. Metaphysics can be a unique way to help understand reality better, but some people become dependent and addicted to metaphysics, expecting that metaphysics can fix anything. Dawn says that there are clients who come back to ask the same question over and over again, only to not take the advice and come back to ask about fixing the same condition. “If I make them feel better and they keep injuring themselves, and I’m like a pain killer, I don’t want my time wasted

and accused of doing something wrong,” Dawn says. Having a metaphysical experience may not result in the accurate prediction of your future, but having exclusive attention on your problems and talking about them can be a remedy in itself. Trying out a call-in psychic service I was curious how much the “professional” psychics with “years of experience” are like. After trying it out, this is what I learned: I call the number from an advertisement. A lady answered and I give my credit card information, and I was asked to choose a psychic after listening to the choices. Before connecting me to the psychic, the lady says “this reading is for entertainment purposes only,” and I asked, “Wait what? So it’s not real?” to which she says, “Oh we’re just required to say that by law.” Interesting. I was connected to the psychic and I complained about made-up boy problems. She talked about some general things, more like a therapist, but nothing about the future or specifics. She called me by my Korean name as given in the card information, and asked where I’m from. I replied “South Korea,” and she says “Let’s see. Let me try to see you how you look. Ahh, I see you have black hair and dark eyes.” Are you kidding me? I’m Asian. Then she went on to say “and I see that you are petite, right?” Uh, yes. I’m 5-foot-3, but I bet she was saying that out of a stereotype and not out of some psychic ability. I lied and said, “Not really. I’m five-eight.” She replied, “Oh alright,” and changed the subject about how my hypothetical boy needed professional help. After minutes of common sense, I asked directly, “So what can you see in the near future?” She replied that my dude and I will keep having conflicts, but that things will get better. Really? I can predict that too. I said thank you and hung up, feeling like I paid $10 for 10 minutes to talk to a nice, listening stranger than a psychic.

04 26 12

play Out & About

What KU person has influenced you most this semester?

//sara sneath

With the semester coming to an end, students reflect on the most influential KU people in their lives this semester. “Jeff Withey, because he makes me want to be taller. I really look up to him.”

Brooke Hanson, freshman from St. Louis

“My history professor, Eric Rath. I’m a history major and I just really love his class. He’s an awesome teacher. I’ve learned all kinds of things about sexual intercourse in Medieval Japan. Here’s an example: Samurais often slept with each other.”

Brian Rogers, sophomore from Prairie Village “My linguistics graduate teaching assistant, Sally Ocampo. She caused me to change my major.”

Amanda Swanson, freshman from Erie, Colo. “Bill Self. He taught me that no matter what you have to work with, no matter what people say, you can always work hard and get to the top.”

Adam Nicholson, junior from Lawrence

“My professor in Korean, professor Lee. She encourages me to go the extra mile in learning the language. She directs me to places around town where I can find people who speak the language. She’s really helped me a lot.”

Tito Huynh, sophomore from Overland Park

“Mary Klayder. She’s been a great professor and a great adviser.”

“My film 100 teacher, Dave Lacy. He’s influenced how I see films. I’ve gained a new perspective, especially in differentiating between character and characterization.”

Jonathan James, freshman from Overland Park

Joe Newman, sophomore from Prairie Village

Plaza Shopping. Vampire Movies. Psyc 300. Take a summer class at KU in KC.

It’s your summer. Make the most of it. Overland Park, KS 66213 t SummerOfYou.org

04 26 12

play Do this…

take a ghost tour

//sara sneath

Learn about Lawrence’s haunted history A ghostly noise seeps out of the stone fireplace in the Sigma Nu fraternity house. Legend has it that in the early1900s Kansas Gov. Roscoe Stubbs, the resident of the house at that time, came home to find his mistress, Virginia, hanging from a third-floor ballroom. Stubbs had Virginia’s body entombed inside the fireplace, legend says. A plaque on the fireplace adds to the tale. The plaque reads “The world of strife shut out, the world of love shut in.” This night the ghostly noises are coming from a fraternity brother who is entertaining a paranormal tour hosted by Ghost Tours of Kansas. The Sigma Nu house is the second stop on the tour, following the Eldridge Hotel. Each stop has its own history as well as several ghost stories. Olga Sevcuka, a senior from Overland Park, says her favorite story was the one from the Sigma Nu house. As Sevcuka enters the Pioneer Cemetery on west campus, she says she hasn’t

seen paranormal activity yet, but thinks a cemetery is a good place to look. There are about 30 people of varying ages in the tour group. Nancy Sullivan, one of the paranormal tour guides, says Ghost Tours of Kansas chooses the ghostly locations based on interviews and investigations it conducts prior to the tours. Sullivan is also a member of the Kansas Paranormal Investigators, or KPI, which works with Ghost Tours of Kansas to verify just how haunted a place is. KPI conducted an investigated of the Sigma Nu house in 2009. Sullivan says during the inquiry KPI recorded a disembodied voice saying “mommy.” One of the KPI cameras was also dismounted from a stairwell by an unknown force, she says. Sullivan says there will be more tours in the area as Halloween approaches. The next Lawrence tour is on June 16. For more information go to ghosttoursofkansas.com.

contributed photo

A Sigma Nu brother tells of his own experience with the building’s fireplace.

Do this…

take boudoir photos

//sara sneath

Capture your self-confidence in 1,000 words I like to do things that scare me. I’ve joined the Marine Corps, repelled off buildings, jumped off cliffs and, most recently, taken boudoir photos. I heard about boudoir photography from a season four episode of Sex and the City in which Samantha decides to take nude photos to look back on. The idea sounded intimidating to me until recently when I read an ABC News story about the intimate photography sessions becoming a trend. One photographer in the story said 40 percent of the brides she worked with have booked boudoir sessions. I found three photographers in Lawrence who take boudoir photos: OhSnap!Photography, Chelsea Donoho and Atomic Photography. The average price was $225. I decided on

OhSnap!Photography, because I’ve had good experiences with its photo booths and event photos in the past. Ailecia Ruscin, the owner of OhSnap!Photography, arrived at my house at 10:30 a.m., but my nervousness began much earlier. I kept wondering how I should answer the door. It was like that moment in movies when the woman says she’s going to “freshen up” and the man tries to decide whether this means he should take off his pants or not. I decided to take my pants off. Ruscin put me at ease by giving good direction and constantly asking for my approval. She told me she would take several hundred photos — 682 to be exact — and I would pick 10 photos for her to edit. She would then give me all of the edited

and unedited images on a disc, which I could print or publish. We took several pictures in “safe posses,” which Ruscin said are flattering for every body. In one such pose, I lie on the bed, pushing my chest out and put my feet in the air. Afterward, we took fun photos. In one, I put on my Marine Corps blouse. In another, I wore apple print galoshes. I saw the photos the next day, when Ruscin uploaded them to a password protected page on her website, www. ohsnaphoto.com. They were beautiful, artistic and classy. The images gave me just as much confidence as any cliff I’ve ever jumped off of or building I’ve repelled down.

photo by oh snap! photography

Sara poses in just her Marine Corps blouse

04 26 12

play

Drink This: Squash Soup

// Rachel Cheon

Some turn to pills for a sickness remedy. Some turn to chicken noodle soup, and some turn to hot tea. Claire Kim, graduate student from Seoul, South Korea, turns to squash soup. She was

stressed out about her studies, personal life and having hard time adjusting to graduate student life at KU. She got sick often and developed digestive problems as well. After searching for health remedy

recipes, she came across a recipe for butternut squash soup and simplified it for her version. “I love soups. Warm soups calm me down and I saw the health benefits listed on the websites and thought this could be my remedy food,” Kim says. After having warm squash soup throughout the day, she recovered from her illness, and continues to drink it often. “It was super yummy. It put me in good mood and I also felt relaxed. I had soup in bed and just took a nap that day and felt much better afterward.” Kim says. Even when she’s not sick, she still enjoys this recipe because it’s healthy. She says any kind of squash is fine, and even using pumpkin will result in a similar taste. The main ingredients are one squash, half a cup of rice flour, and three cups of water. Here are the steps:

- Peel the squash and get rid of the seeds. - Dice the squash. - Put it in blender and blend. You can adjust the timing depending on if you prefer lumpy soup or smooth soup. - Pour three cups of water and the blended squash into saucepan and boil. - When it boils, pour rice powder and stir, while heating on low. - Let it simmer for about ten minutes. - According to your preference, season the soup with salt and sugar. If you want the soup to be less thick, add more water or milk and simmer.

photo by rachel cheon

Drink This:

flavored vodka for the adventurous palate If you’ve ever felt your favorite beverage — sweet tea, coffee, or Mountain Dew — or your favorite food — cake, bacon or fruit loops — was missing one thing, and that one thing was 30 to 35 percent alco-

photo by morgan laforge

04 26 12

hol, flavored vodka is the drink for you. Brendan Dowdle, the general manager of Cork & Barrel Downtown, says he is no longer surprised by the new flavors vodka distributors come up with. Dowdle says the trend began last year with cakeflavored vodka. He didn’t think it would gain popularity, he says, but after trying it, he understands. “It’s sweet and tasty,” Dowdle says. “I drink it with grenadine and pineapple juice, as a shot. It tastes like pineapple turnover cake.” He says when a new flavor comes out Cork & Barrel Downtown, 901 Mississippi St., purchases two bottles. If those go over well, the store makes a bulk order. Dowdle says the wacky flavors tend to catch the eyes of students. Matt Easley, the general manager of On the Rocks, agrees. “People in their early 20s are more willing to try things. They are trying to figure out what they like,” Easley says. Sweet tea vodka was a big hit last sum-

// Sara Sneath

photo illustration by morgan laforge

mer, he says. He expects it to return this summer. Easley says price is also a consideration for students. A bottle of Firefly brand sweet tea vodka is $17.99 at On the Rocks, 1818 Massachusetts St. One of the newest flavors to hit the shelves is Loopy, a Three Olives vodka that tastes like fruit loops. Chelsea Meyer,

a senior from Spring Hill, says she’s interested in trying Loopy. On occasion she drinks UV’s cake-flavored vodka with Dr. Pepper. Meyer says her drink of choice is non-flavored Most Wanted Vodka. “I think it’s a good combination of not super trashy, but not super expensive,” Meyer says.

speak

Under the Tuscan Sun

Making a tough decision and coping with an irreplaceable loss

Kelsea (far right) and her friends Katie and Dani stop to take a look at the Tuscan countryside.

I stared at the stacks of clothes on my bedroom floor trying to figure out how they were all going to fit in my suitcase. The next day, the last day of May in 2011, I was leaving for a month-long study abroad trip in Florence, Italy. As I was deciding if I should bring all of my dresses, or just three of them, I heard the phone ring downstairs. My dad called from my grandparent’s house in North Carolina. My Nana had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few weeks before and my dad flew from our home in Kansas to visit her and my grandpa, whom we all call Pop Pop. My dad called to tell the rest of my family Nana’s prognosis. The cancer had spread throughout her body. The doctors said she would die sometime within the next two days. My Nana was 68 years old and a huge Chicago Cubs fan. Four years ago, my family went to a Cubs game while we were all in Chicago. My cousin and I made a sign saying, “We got Nana in the bleachers. Buy her a beer!” People bought Nana beer throughout the game and

chanted her name. She sat in the bleachers waving at all her “fans,” drinking her free beer and having the time of her life. Nana dying so soon seemed impossible. When I heard the news about Nana, my body went numb and my eyes filled with tears. I crawled into my bed and buried my face in my pillow. I stayed like that for about two hours wondering how I would be able to go to Italy knowing my Nana was dying. I didn’t know how I was going to manage being away from my family during such a hard time. I didn’t know who was going to be in Italy to help me cope with Nana’s death. I needed someone to help me make a logical decision about what to do. Pop Pop called me a little while later. I almost didn’t answer, but I’m glad I did because I don’t think anyone else could have made me get my ass out of bed and find the strength to finish packing my bags. “Kels, your Nana would be pissed if she knew you didn’t go to Italy because of her,” he said in a tone I had never heard him use before. He sounded angry, but I could also hear sadness in his voice. Pop

// Kelsea Eckenroth

contributed photo

Pop never gets angry, so I knew he was serious. I also knew he was right. I had to go. Nana wouldn’t have wanted me to miss this opportunity and if she had been able to speak, she would have told me this herself. I hadn’t seen my Nana since summer 2010 when I was last in North Carolina. That year my grandparents hired a photographer to come to their house for a family photo shoot. We put on our best fake smiles and went along with it. At the end of the photo shoot, my family gathered in the backyard by the pool. I looked over and saw Nana whisper something to the photographer. Nana started to run full speed towards the pool. When Nana got to the edge, the photographer snapped a picture as Nana jumped in the pool wearing a white shirt and jeans. When she surfaced, she had a giant grin on her face and looked at the rest of us as we laughed uncontrollably. That’s the exact reaction she wanted from us. I have an action shot of her jumping into a pool fully clothed to remind me of how spontaneous and goofy she was. No

one would have believed Nana would be taken from us a year later. The flight to Italy was long and miserable. I couldn’t sleep and felt sick. I knew bad news was in my near future. After the plane landed and I got Internet access, I found out Nana died while I was in the air. I like to think that she waited to die until I couldn’t change my mind about going to Italy. The next few days were a roller coaster of emotions. I kept thinking I wanted to come home. My friends Dani and Katie were traveling with me and tried their best to cheer me up. A week went by and being submerged in a new culture with so many distractions eventually made the sadness temporarily disappear and gave me motivation to stay. Nana’s memorial service happened to be on the same day my friends and I planned to ride Vespas through the Tuscan countryside. I felt guilty. My family was gathering in North Carolina to mourn the loss of Nana, and I was in Italy about to live a day people read about in novels. I remembered the last time I spoke to Nana. I called her two weeks before she died. The last thing she said to me before we hung up was, “I love you sweetie. Have fun in Italy.” I strapped on my helmet, hopped on the Vespa and took off. I felt calm and at peace despite the wind whipping me in the face as we sped through the green Tuscan hills. I looked around at all the tiny stone houses sitting on the peak of each hill and wondered what it would be like to live there. Grape vines were planted in perfect rows, and as we went up and down the hills, the vines looked like they were moving in zigzags. We pulled over to take a walk through a vineyard. Once we shut off the Vespas, it was completely silent. The grape vines looked so much bigger up close and the zigzags turned into lines of vines that went on forever. I gazed off at the panoramic view of the Tuscan countryside in front of me and couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment. I was thankful that I was here instead of in North Carolina. I was closer to Nana here in my own personal heaven. She would have loved to live this moment and I was living it for her.

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