Thursday, June 26, 2008
Distracting
White Owl is the classic modern celebrity, famous for being famous, but what has he actually done? White Owl’s engagement has been the most discussed story The Kansan has published all summer. The story has been picked up by other media outlets including the Kansas City Star, the Lawrence Journal-World and Fox 4 News in Kansas City. While his antics are entertaining and it is interesting that he is engaged to a 22-year-old, his outward behavior is a distraction from who he actually is: a Vietnam veteran who obviously still suffers from his wartime experience. Rather than laughing at him, we should use his story as a lens to examine our long-term treatment of veterans. By refusing to fold quietly back into society, White Owl is giving us a chance to see what happens to veterans whom most of us would easily allow ourselves to ignore.
— Sarah Neff
for the Kansan editoral board
Entertaining
Buffet at Cici’s Pizza: $3.99. One handle of alcohol: $12.95 Increase next semester for an in-state student taking 15 hours: $175.50. White Owl getting married: pointless. Pointless, though, in that White Owl becoming engaged to a student does not affect my eating habits, my drinking or my education.
It will cause me to look at the University’s icon and take a break from reality. A reality full of increasing prices and a decreasing number of hours in the day to get it all done. I gawk at him on campus during one of his rants, become distracted from figuring out how I am going to pay my credit card bill, and return back to my life.
And if White Owl is considered more of a distraction as opposed to beneficial, satisfaction can result with one thought: “I may be broke, busy as hell and eating cheap pizza, but at least I’m not that guy.”
— Matt Hirschfeld
for the Kansan editoral board
University celebrity White Owl gets engaged
The 61-year-old, who is known for his enthusiastic dancing and cheering as ...
KUlture: He's the new bird on the ...
Campus celebrity White Owl encourages, entertains, inspires.
White Owl in tears about rumors
White Owl, KU’s bearded mascot, thought he could be banned from campus.
Political event lures students with pepperoni
New York Post correspondent will share his experiences over pizza today.
Hirschfeld: Supporting the troops despite political qualms
While there are reasons to oppose enlistment, signing up for the military ...
Best of KU campus
From restrooms to eateries to tanneries, here is the a FYI for ...
Stewart: Conversation with White Owl provokes thought
Wescoe Beach mainstay offers advice to everyone
Revised GI Bill could help schooling for ...
The bill’s benefits include cost of the most expensive public university and ...
Busch wins race at Kansas City Speedway
Clint Bowyer, Emporia native, finished fifth in the Busch Series race Yellow ...
Freshman’s switch to defense improves football team
Patterson may be small, but the team has improved since his move ...
Reformed chapter focuses on racial injustice
Several events inspired Christopher Reine to restart the University of Kansas chapter ...
Editor's note
A message from Matt Hirschfeld
White Owl’s new fiancée tells all
Julia Lee shares her true feelings on her recent engagement and discusses ...
Veterans’ transition not always smooth
Everything from receiving educational benefits to socializing with civilians can be a ...
‘Confrontational Evangelist’
Brother Jed, a self-proclaimed preacher, travels around to college campuses in order ...
Free For All: September 19, 2007
After all Britney has been through, leave Britney alone!
Recruiting violates University policy
School of Journalism receives Hearst Awards
Students received a combined $5,000 in awards.
Hispanic Heritage Month begins
Celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month at the University began Sept. 15 and ...
Grab a slice
When in doubt for dinner, pick up a pizza. With delivery, carry-out ...
Five questions
You vs. them
Cook it
White Owl’s stroganoff
Know your Student Senate candidates
Learn more about the candidates for Student Senate
Credit card scam put to an end ...
No Strings Attached
One KU grad shows why we aren’t on Sesame Street anymore...
Walk of shame
The price of getting your game on
Police ride-along proves interesting experience
Chambers, officer were on duty when a McCollum resident reportedly overdosed on ...
Movie review
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Hirschfeld: Don’t be language prejudice
Some people judge a person’s linguistics by the color of their skin. ...
Pizza and Politics changes approach
Pizza and Politics is trying to reach more students by including speakers ...
5 Questions
Five Questions with Rob Van Winkle aka Vanilla Ice and Matt Szymkowski, ...
Free for All: Oct. 12, 2005
Kansan Departments
Your guide to surviving the week.
Professor brings fun to classroom
Craig Martin’s methods may seen unconventional to his 1,000 students in Budig ...
Softball team tames Longhorns in split offense-heavy ...
Pitching dominates 8-1 victory but falters in second game, resulting in 2-1 ...
Editor's note
A message from Matt Hirschfeld
Overworked students' dangerous race against time
Is too much work and too little time putting students' health at ...
Once warriors, now students
Veterans wounded in combat fight to find a "normal" life on college ...
The grass is getting greener for Greensburg
KU architecture students will begin constructing a fine arts center for the ...
Catch of the week: Spenser Fitzpatrick
Our weekly peek at a fish in the KU sea.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
White Owl's status overrated?
You know it's a slow news day when...
White Owl's status overrated?
Thank you! You finally wrote an article that was worth the paper printed on. Bravo! He is NOTHING and 100% OVERRATED! He is a plague on this campus and needs removal!
White Owl's status overrated?
As someone who considers White Owl a good friend, I would encourage people to get to know him. I agree with the first response about learning something from not only a Veteran but a Lawrence elder. His stories about this cities history alone deserve to be republished in the UDK. I really wish they had gotten it right and decided to focus more on the man and his life than the controversy of his marriage. The only reason he has become a spectacle is because people make him one instead of investing some time to find out what he knows. I see this type of thinking often in the KU community, people are content to being spectators in their studies and the goings on at the campus. The knowledge you gain here can forever be used to change the world around you. The comments about prices for this and that are the result of your ignorance and resistance to change the world around you.
White Owl's status overrated?
Yawn...that rant was more boring than most articles
White Owl's status overrated?
like they said you should look in to his life you just might find out the truth about him. Just a couple of years ago he said he was gods chosen one and he was christ. check that out
White Owl's status overrated?
Maybe the Kansan should focus on him instead of his outward personality. If you don't like him, why waste your time writing a rant about why you can't stand him.
As for this: "Vietnam veteran who obviously still suffers from his wartime experience."
Did you graduate from the med school over in Kansas City or consult someone from over there about your diagnosis? No, didn't think so.
What an amateur, immature, liberal, piece of garbage opinion. Get it together.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID