I agree as well. When I saw Sex on the Hill, I didn't think anything of it. What bothered me most about the section was the editor's response to the uproar. "We didn't even think about that." "We need to think about what our readers will think." How did this kid get the editor's position?
Bethany, you're a junior. Unless you are a transfer student, Sex on the Hill has come out at least 2 times since you have been at KU. Why are you concerned now? It's won a national award (2 or 3 years in a row, I believe) for being the best special section put out by any college newspaper in the country. Was it a little more graphic this year? Maybe. Was it inappropriate to have naked people having sex on our campus's WWII monument? Absolutely. But a majority of the student body (and the advertisers in Lawrence), love this section. If you don't like it, don't pick it up.
I was a KU student for 4 years, and I always knew that the campanile was a WWII memorial. Who doesn't know that? And how does the Kansan editorial department not know that? Especially the editors. "...none of us had considered before the section’s publication that the Campanile was a World War II memorial." That's just poor judgment and bad journalism. It's one thing to push the envelope, like the Kansan does each time Sex on the Hill is published. But it's a whole different story when the Kansan is trying to be racy, and it ends up looking like bad porn with unattractive people. On top of that, it was all done on the most recognized monument on KU's campus. "This means we have to think about our content not just from our own perspective, but from the vast and varied perspectives of our audience. This incident has helped us learn that lesson." As a news writer and editor, you should know that you aren't writing for yourself. You are writing for your readers. Isn't this taught in J101? Did you think you were just putting out thousands of copies of the Kansan for the fun of it? Don't pull the "We're inexperienced and didn't know" card, Mr. Erickson. It just makes your credibility go even farther down the drain.
I think that interest in the Free For All has been diminished by the Facebook application that lets you comment online. No longer do the editors have to pick up the phone and listen to the funny messages left by KU students. Students no longer have to look in the paper or online to see if their comment was published. All you have to do is go to Facebook and check to see what people have written, which is the main reason for Mr. Pence's issues. Eliminate the Facebook application, and bring the integrity of FFA back.
I disagree. Each year, for the 6 years prior, the image of the Twin Towers with smoke billowing out of them has graced the front page of every newspaper. Sure, it's the defining moment of our generation, but why dwell on the past? I'm sure that the Kansan editorial staff thought long and hard about whether to include Sept 11 in the paper, but it comes to a point where you have to just treat it like every other day of the year. They told where the Sept 11th memorial was going to be held, and that's that.
you think that fixing pot holes and getting a new movie theater are what will make lawrence the best college town in the country? that's ridiculous. who cares about some road issues and a movie theater?
Letter: Don't be too uptight about Sex on the Hill
I agree as well. When I saw Sex on the Hill, I didn't think anything of it. What bothered me most about the section was the editor's response to the uproar. "We didn't even think about that." "We need to think about what our readers will think." How did this kid get the editor's position?
September 24, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Letter: Why is sex no longer a private thing?
Bethany, you're a junior. Unless you are a transfer student, Sex on the Hill has come out at least 2 times since you have been at KU. Why are you concerned now? It's won a national award (2 or 3 years in a row, I believe) for being the best special section put out by any college newspaper in the country. Was it a little more graphic this year? Maybe. Was it inappropriate to have naked people having sex on our campus's WWII monument? Absolutely. But a majority of the student body (and the advertisers in Lawrence), love this section. If you don't like it, don't pick it up.
September 24, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Letter from the Editor
I was a KU student for 4 years, and I always knew that the campanile was a WWII memorial. Who doesn't know that? And how does the Kansan editorial department not know that? Especially the editors. "...none of us had considered before the section’s publication that the Campanile was a World War II memorial." That's just poor judgment and bad journalism. It's one thing to push the envelope, like the Kansan does each time Sex on the Hill is published. But it's a whole different story when the Kansan is trying to be racy, and it ends up looking like bad porn with unattractive people. On top of that, it was all done on the most recognized monument on KU's campus.
"This means we have to think about our content not just from our own perspective, but from the vast and varied perspectives of our audience. This incident has helped us learn that lesson." As a news writer and editor, you should know that you aren't writing for yourself. You are writing for your readers. Isn't this taught in J101? Did you think you were just putting out thousands of copies of the Kansan for the fun of it?
Don't pull the "We're inexperienced and didn't know" card, Mr. Erickson. It just makes your credibility go even farther down the drain.
September 23, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reichert: Why your dates are going horribly wrong
that's hilarious.
September 22, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Letter: Free for All kills accountability, respect
I think that interest in the Free For All has been diminished by the Facebook application that lets you comment online. No longer do the editors have to pick up the phone and listen to the funny messages left by KU students. Students no longer have to look in the paper or online to see if their comment was published. All you have to do is go to Facebook and check to see what people have written, which is the main reason for Mr. Pence's issues. Eliminate the Facebook application, and bring the integrity of FFA back.
September 22, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Letter: Newspaper overlooked most important story
I disagree. Each year, for the 6 years prior, the image of the Twin Towers with smoke billowing out of them has graced the front page of every newspaper. Sure, it's the defining moment of our generation, but why dwell on the past? I'm sure that the Kansan editorial staff thought long and hard about whether to include Sept 11 in the paper, but it comes to a point where you have to just treat it like every other day of the year. They told where the Sept 11th memorial was going to be held, and that's that.
September 15, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Downtown Lawrence offers a wide selection of bars
Some more breaking, award-winning journalism from the UDK. How is this news? Who doesn't already know this?
July 31, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kansan Departments
five guys is amazing! only get one order of fries for 2 people though because they fill up your bag!
July 15, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Brown: Despite national title, Lawrence still lacks
you think that fixing pot holes and getting a new movie theater are what will make lawrence the best college town in the country? that's ridiculous. who cares about some road issues and a movie theater?
May 1, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Guest: Kansas basketball beyond definition
AMEN
April 28, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )