Jayplay

life. and how to have one.

March 4th, 2010
relationship raid

CONTRACEPTIVE
ALTERNATIVE
how video games can affect
your love life
up-close and personal
from the patch to pulling out ...
a look at birth control beyond the pill
the art of people-watching
gets a technological makeover
March 4th, 2010 // volume 8, issue 24 * Cover photo illustration by Adam Buhler
Writer Leslie Kinsman breaks into Blink-182
SPEAK 15
Jayplay
Lady Gaga? More like Lady Gag Me.
WESCOE WIT 12
TABLE OF CONTENTS
KANSAS IN HEAT 6
Keeping the sex drive alive
FEATURE 8
Students seek alternatives to the pill
2
03
04
10
2
DOI N I T RI GHT
ON LADIES NIGHT
...ONLY AT THE HAWK
WWW.JAYHAWKCAFE.COM
1340 OHIO 843-9273
WEDNESDAY
$
1
wells
calls
domestics
(almost anything)
THURSDAY
$
1
wells
house shots
$
1
.75
single calls
LADIES NIGHT!
LADIES NO COVER
WWW.JAYHAWKCAFE.COM
1340 OHIO 843-9273
$
1
wells
house shots
$
2
domestics
jager bombs
$
1
.75
single calls
712 Mass St.
856-8500
www.facebook.com/teapouro
www.teapouro.net
NOW OPEN AT 8 AM
Try our bubble teas
120 WAYS TO
RELAX
120 + LOOSE LEAF TEA FLAVORS
Thursday, December 10
THURS:
$
2
22nd and Iowa
anything
FRIDAY:
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PARTY
$
8 FISH BOWLS
$
2 BOTTLES, UV BOMBS
Patron, grey goose, stoli
crown royal, Absolut
jagermeister, jack daniels
CALENDAR
3
thursday, march 4th friday, march 5th saturday, march 6th sunday, march 7th monday, march 8th tuesday, march 9th
Theology on Tap
Henrys on Eighth, 5:30
p.m., free, all ages
The Junkyard Jazz Band
The American Legion,
7 p.m., free, all ages
Misery index/ Magrude-
grind/ sTull/ no MasTer
The Jackpot Music Hall,
7 p.m., $10-$12, all ages
laarks
The Replay Lounge,
10 p.m., $2, 21+
raBBiT hole
Lawrence Community
Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $14-$20,
all ages
Moe.
Liberty Hall, 8:30 p.m.,
$24.50-$25, all ages
neon dance parTy
The Jackpot Music Hall,
10 p.m., $1-$5, 18+
aMerican aquariuM/ coMe
on go WiTh us/ The deedles
The Bottleneck, 9 p.m., 18+
ToMMy Ferrari and The
FuTure MoTor Machines
The Eighth Street Tap
Room, 10 p.m., $3, 21+
sleeping dogs
The Gaslight Tavern, 7 p.m.,
21+
BooMBox/ ez BroThers
The Bottleneck, 8 p.m.,
$11, all ages
eMu TheaTre presenTs
4.48 psychosis
Lawrence Arts Center, 8
p.m., $8-$10, all ages
evadesTrucTions Music
Trivia Massacre
Conroys Pub, 8 p.m., $5,
21+
cosMopoliTics cd release
The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., $4,
21+
old counTry deaTh Band/
TWo BiTs a gander/ The
Midday raMBlers
The Jackpot Music Hall,
10 p.m., $5-$7, 18+
hyBrid MoMenTsss WiTh
iggy BaBy
The Eighth Street Tap
Room, 10 p.m., $3, 21+
la panTher happens
The Replay Lounge,
10 p.m., $2, 21+
circus
Bailey Hall 318, 7 p.m.,
free, 18+
The dacTyls/ ali harTer/
Mansion
The Jackpot Music Hall,
10 p.m., $5-$7, 18+
ras neville
and The kingsTonians
The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., $4,
21+
saTurday soulclap WiTh
sceneBoosTer sound-
sysTeM
The Eighth Street Tap
Room, 10 p.m., $3, 21+
The lonely h
The Replay Lounge,
10 p.m., $2, 21+
dirTFooT/ sonic suTra
The Bottleneck, 10 p.m.,
18+
randy rogers Band
The Granada, 9 p.m., $15-
$17, all ages
drakkar sauna/ hope
ForgoldensuMMer
Love Garden, 8 p.m., $5,
all ages
eMu TheaTre presenTs
4.48 psychosis
Lawrence Arts Center,
8 p.m., $8-$10, all ages
sMackdoWn!
The Bottleneck, 7:30 p.m.,
free-$5, 18+
Black Joe leWis & The
honeyBears
The Bottleneck, 9 p.m.,
$11-$12, all ages
We Were proMised JeT-
packs/ The lonely ForesT/
Bear hands
The Jackpot Music Hall,
10 p.m., $8-$10, 18+
The Big Big Bucks
The Replay Lounge,
10 p.m., $2-$3, 21+
Tellers FaMily nighT
Tellers, 8 p.m., free, 18+
Tracey and JaMes (oF The
BeaT piraTes)
Henrys on Eighth, 8 p.m.,
free, 21+
dead To Me/ coBra skulls/
BenT leFT
The Jackpot Music Hall,
8 p.m., $8-$10, all ages
karaoke
The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m.,
$1, 21+
original Music Mondays
The Bottleneck, 9 p.m.,
18+
Blues Tuesday WiTh Bryan
neuBerry
The Gaslight Tavern, 7 p.m.,
free, 18+
ku syMphonic Band &
universiTy Band
The Lied Center, 7:30 p.m.,
all ages
evry TiMe i Feel The
spiriT: consTrucTing
Black WoMens conver-
sion narraTives in Jazz
Spooner Hall, The Com-
mons, 7:30 p.m., free, all
ages
FronTier ruckus
The Bottleneck, 9 p.m., 18+
Tuesday niTe sWing
The Kansas Union, 8 p.m.,
free, all ages
Billy spears
& Beer Bellies
Johnnys Tavern, 6 p.m.,
free, 21+
conversaTion WiTh a
colleague: sen. Jack
danForTh
The Dole Institute of Poli-
tics, 6 p.m., free, all ages
live acTion puB Trivia
shoW aT conroy
Conroys Pub, 7 p.m., $5,
21+
The aMericana Music
acadeMy JaM
Signs of Life, 7:30 p.m.,
free, all ages
dollar BoWling
Royal Crest Bowling Lanes,
9 p.m., $1, all ages
pride nighT
Wildes Chateau 24, 9 p.m.,
$5, 18+
FuTure rock/ prep school
dJs/ deep Machine
The Bottleneck, 9 p.m., $8-
$9, all ages
$1 drink dance parTy
Fatsos, 10 p.m., 21+
3
03
04
10
The Bottleneck
737 New Hampshire St.
The Jackpot Music Hall
943 Massachusetts St.
The Jazzhaus
926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
The Replay Lounge
946 Massachusetts St.
The Eighth St. Taproom
801 New Hampshire St.
Lawrence Arts Center
940 New Hampshire St.
The Granada
1020 Massachusetts St.
The Pool Room
925 Iowa St.
Wildes Chateau 24
2412 Iowa St.
Duffys
2222 W. 6th St.
Conroys Pub
3115 W. 6th St., Ste. D
The Bottleneck
737 New Hampshire St.
venues //
wednesday, mar. 10th
editors note //
I may come of as a bit shy or a bit of an introvert
when I frst meet someone, but, especially given
a little time to relax, I really love interacting with
people. Yes, I love a good chat with strangers.
Almost as much as I love watching them.
Ill go ahead and fess up. Im a busybody. A
snooper. A pryer. Or, my personal favorite term,
borrowed from the Latin for what now, a
quidnunc. My name is Alex and I have a problem:
Im nosy as hell.
If I may defend myself ... Its not that Im mean-
spirited in my peering, usually done through the
good-old, tried-and-true methods of the casual
eavesdrop or the subtle over-the-shoulder glance.
Im not out for spite when I people watch; Im
just really fascinated by people and their stories.
A shy kid who had difculty communicating,
I grew up learning through observation. My
whole life, Ive continued to take a hands-
EDITOR // Alex Garrison
ASSOCIATE EDITOR //
Kelci Shipley
DESIGNERS // Laura Fisk,
Liz Schulte
CONTACT // Lindsay Cleek,
Leslie Kinsman, Katy Saunders
HEALTH // Adam Vossen
MANUAL // Emily Johnson,
Ben Sullivan
NOTICE // Mary Henderson,
10
JAYPLAY The University Daily Kansan
111 Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-4810
FolloW Jayplay on TWiTTer aT
twitter.com/JayplayMagazine
of approach to many situations, preferring
instead to watch from the outside until I feel
comfortable joining in. An insecure fascination
with observing people Id never have the guts
to actually interact with eventually spiraled
into a slightly more sinister desire to know a
lot about people without them knowing much
about me. Sometime around my sophomore
year, however, I made the decision I wanted to
try to change this personality quirk in the fear I
may end up hurting others, or myself. Nobody
likes a nosy-parker, right?
Tese days, I really do try to stick to the
passive people watching to keep myself
from getting involved in business I dont belong
in. But I hope my interest in (and care for)
everyday people, and the rich, diverse, riveting
stories they have to tell, never goes away.
For better or worse, I know Im not alone in
my guilty pleasure. Check out Annas story on
page 5 to learn about how our ever-changing
technological environment everything from
microblogging to location-awareness-based
mobile phone applications are fueling our
cultural propensity for people watching by
giving us new, even more convenient ways to
tap into our inner quidnunc. Heres lookin at
you, kid.
Abby Olcese, Anna Sobering
PLAY // Beth Beavers,
Taylor Brown, Anna Kathagnarath
CONTRIBUTORS //
Mike Anderson, Savannah Abbott,
Mia Iverson, Molly Martin, Landon
McDonald, Jacob Muselmann,
Brittany Nelson, Amanda Sorell
CREATIVE CONSULTANT //
Carol Holstead
CONTACT US //
jayplay10@gmail.com
// ALEX GARRISON, EDITOR
$
6
99
Plus Tax
Not valid with any other offers. Delivery fee applies.
Carry out - dine-in - delivery
Sunday - Wednesday til 1am
Thursday - Saturday til 3am
must redeem with coupon
expires 02/28/10
Large One Topping
STUDENT
SPECI AL
LATE NIGHT DELIVERY
865-2323
7 4
03
04
10
PLAY
out & about //
random people. random answers.
Whats your biggest pet peeve?
When girls wear tights as pants because they
dont seem like real pants. Its like wearing long
johns.
Bret Crawford
Olathe freshman
People eating in class when theyre trying to be
quiet. Its obnoxious.
Ashley Brown
Shawnee sophomore
Being indecisive because it makes everything go
slower.
Monica Dean
Wichita graduate student
When the blinkers on another car dont match
the beat on my radio. Everythings out of sync.
Thomas Grafton
Lenexa sophomore
// ANNA KATHAGNARATH
Want to start SPRING BREAK early?
10 tans for
$
2
5
6th & Wakarusa
785.841.1826
www.CelsiusTan.com
arusa
26
usTann.com
66666666666666666666666666666t
78
ww
*some restrictions apply
785-864-2787 lied.ku.edu
$
1
1

STUDENT
TICKETS includes $1 service fee
PLAY
3 5
03
04
10
e are constantly peering into
the lives of family, friends,
strangers and even celebrities
through diferent forms of
media. Instead of sitting on a
bench at the park, were now using the screens on
our TVs, phones and computers to do our people
watching.
REALITY TV
Alissa Anderson, Derby freshman, watches
MTVs reality show Jersey Shore religiously on
Tursday nights. It had crazy elements and the
people were so dynamic and diferent, Anderson
says. Te camera provokes people to act crazy.
From fghting to partying, MTVs camera
lens focused on young Italian-Americans living
together who were known for their wild antics
and quotable one-liners.
I think people like to live vicariously through
other people, says Scott Testa, media consultant
and professor of business administration at
Cabrini College in Philadelphia. People like
situations that maybe they wouldnt do in their
own lives, but they enjoy watching other people
do it.
Its a form of escapism from your normal life.
Testa says reality shows such as Jersey Shore can be
appealing because of this train wreck factor
its a horrible sight, but you cant look away. He
says people subconsciously compare themselves
to others, so knowing our lives arent as bad as
some people on TV is a satisfying thought.
Testa says some characters who know theyre
being watched might act in ways that arent
consistent with their regular actions. He says
although some reality shows might skew actual
reality and behaviors, viewers respond to the
exaggerated characters because they evoke strong
emotions, which translate to the screen well. He
says sometimes the more outrageous the behavior,
the bigger the audience.
VIDEO SHARING
YouTube has become a favorite pastime for
Megan Baumchen, Sunrise Beach, Mo., senior,
and her roommates. She says she enjoys the sense
of anonymity when it comes to watching others
for entertainment.
Its this platform that allows people to have
their voice out there, says Lauren Sammak,
senior manager of digital publicity at Fanscape,
an online digital word-of-mouth marketing
agency. She says YouTube satisfes our desire to
connect with others because people who upload
videos want to be watched and to feel as if they
exist and are afecting the world.
Te people who upload videos are also subject
to scrutiny by those who are watching them.
Sammak says YouTube provides for discussion
through commenting, but allows for freedom
of opinions. YouTube profles often reveal a
limited amount of information about people,
which maintains anonymity when making good
or bad comments. You can feel more free to say
whatever you want because youre not worried
about it going back to you, Sammak says.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Anderson says the popularity of Facebook can
satisfy our basic curiosities for others. Instead
of getting to know someone frst you check their
Facebook instead, Anderson says. Its just nice
to be able to get a peek in on their life before you
actually meet them.
Social networking helps us get a closer sense
of someones personality and has amplifed our
natural tendency to observe, Testa says. He says
there are those who like to know everyones
business and those who like to tell everyone their
business, which makes Facebook perfect for those
two groups.
But knowing other peoples business is not
always a bad thing. Facebook is a platform where
people can share a common interest. You may
discover that you have more in common with a
stranger than you think.
MICROBLOGGING
Twitter allows people to follow others,
particularly the whereabouts of celebrities. For
Baumchen, checking her Twitter account on
her smart phone has become routine along with
checking her e-mail and Facebook. She follows
celebrities such as cast members of Foxs TV
show Glee. Its good to see that theyre normal
everyday people just like we are, and they do the
same things that we do, Baumchen says.
Although celebrities might seem untouchable,
Sammak says when following celebrities on
Twitter people feel included in their world on
a more personal level. You feel like youre their
friend, Sammak says.
She says in todays busy society, mobile
applications allow curious individuals to know
the activities of others quickly.
LOCATION-AWARENESS TECHNOLOGY
Location GPS-based phone applications such
as Foursquare are taking people watching into the
future. Foursquare allows you to use your phone
PEOPLE WATCHING
The evolution of our
peering culture through
the use of new media
W
// ANNA KATHAGNARATH
Reality escape: People turn to people watching on reality TV shows because they enjoy living vicariously through
the portrayal of over-the-top characters, experts say. Technology has brought people watching to new heights.
Photo illustration by Mia Iverson
Jp
to check-in your current location. Whether
youre at the bar or movies, you can manage your
privacy settings and alert your friends about your
whereabouts. Its like a friend-fnder. Its an easy
way to meet up with people, but its also a little
crazy to know where someone is at every step of
their day, Sammak says.
Its also a phone game where you gain points
the more times you check-in at a certain place.
Whether its a free hotel stay or latte, if you
accumulate the most points you are deemed the
mayor of that place and may be ofered freebies
by marketers monitoring your moves.
MODERN-DAY
Instead of being shackled to your computer
or TV screen, location awareness technology
allows you to actually meet the people you are
watching.
By nature, were curious. Were social, Testa
says. When you take a medium that allows us to
be more social and more curious when it comes
to the activities of others, youre going to have an
audience.
Time spent peeping TV, computer and
cell phone screens is increasing, which reveals
something about our character were a peering
culture.
6.6 billion : the number of video streams on
YouTube, which was the No. 1 online video
brand in January.
Seven hours : the average time spent per
person per month on Facebook in the U.S.
in January.
579 percent : the year-over-year increase
in unique visitors on Twitter from 2.7 million
in December 2008 to 18.1 million users in
December 2009.
23.9 million : the number of viewers who
watched Foxs American Idol, which was the
most-watched reality show in broadcast TV
the week of February 15.
Source: Nielson Ratings
PEOPLE WATCHING BY THE NUMBERS
CONTACT
catch of the week // Sarah JeSSica Veleda eyer
our weekly peek at a fsh in the KU sea.
HOMETOWN: Kansas City, Mo.
YEAR: Senior
MAJOR: English and creative writing
INTERESTED IN: Men
Contributed photo
// LesLie Kinsman
Turn-ons: Humor. If you can make me laugh,
then thats all I need. I also like if a guy can lift
me into his arms without passing out.
Turn-ofs: Ive found that guys that are douches
are surprisingly not appealing. Also, guys that
cry, even if its the movie Rudy.
Hobbies: I would say a few hobbies are
laughing louder than all my friends, creeping
out strangers and making up songs to everyday
activities.
Favorite pick-up line: Te Polar bear:
Handsome Stranger: Hey, do you know how
much a polar bear weighs?
Me: No, how much?
HS: Just enough to break the ice. Hi, Im insert
name here.
Type: My type would have to be Gollum. He had
his own personal style, engaging personalities and
was willing to commit. I like that.
Favorite quote: Every once in a while I like to
talk about dick. my mother
Favorite food: Orphans, wait, what was the
question? I mean tacos, yes tacos.
Notices frst in a potential partner: I defnitely
notice a guys smile frst. It can lure you in and
just make you want to smile back at them. Also
if theyre riding a unicycle, I fnd I want to know
more.
2
03
04
10
6
Why does the amount of sex in my
relationships decrease as the relationship goes
on? Is there a way to combat it?
Couples can become so familiar with each
other that sex becomes routine or mundane. It
is not unusual for the passion and allure of sexual
behavior with a long-term partner to fade.
Every healthy relationship needs three things
to survive commitment, intimacy and
passion. Passion is often the frst to subside,
but spontaneity and experimentation can keep
the passion for your partner high. Te reason
sexual frequency goes down is because it is no
longer new and exciting.
You can combat mundane and routine
sex by experimenting with sexual positions,
sexual toys, role play and my personal favorite
sharing your sexual fantasies. You need to
keep your sex exciting. Focusing on the quality
of the sex will help you with the quantity.
Start giving in to those urges you feel and do
nothing about.
If you fnd urges at random times and
places to make love to your partner, then you
probably have a healthy relationship. Tis is
the type of passion and sexual activity that can
really jump start your sexual desires. Part of the
equation is fnding someone you have a strong
sexual arousal towards. Te other part involves
using spontaneity and experimentation to
keep fueling your sexual desire.
Do you have a question for Kansas in Heat?
E-mail it to kansasinheat@yahoo.com.
relationship researcher Mike Anderson tackles the sticky world of
relationship advice, one weekly Jayplay column at a time.
*THE OPINIONS OF THIS COLUMNIST DO NOT NECESSAR-
ILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF JAYPLAY. KANSAS IN HEAT IS
NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFES-
SIONAL HELP.
Mike Anderson, Dellwood, Minn., graduate stu-
dent, is the host of Kansas in Heat, a talk show
about sex and relationships that airs Thursdays at
7 p.m. on KJHK, 90.7fm and at kjhk.org.
kansas in heat // lOSiNG The SParK
CONTACT
// Lindsay CLeek How to keep your relationship from becoming a real-life version of Mortal Kombat
Virtual reality: Just because youre winning in World of Warcraft doesnt mean youre scoring points in the relationship department. Make sure that you and your partner
discuss ground rules of gaming if its becoming an interference. Otherwise, learn to play and spend some quality time together.
Photo illustration by Jerry Wang
GettinG your Game on
After a long day of class and work, Kat Perez
fnally arrives home to fnd that her boyfriend,
Nick Raya, JCCC student, is so immersed in his
World of Warcraft (WoW) raid that he barely
notices her walk in the door. After experiencing
countless nights similar to this, Perez, Wichita
senior, has reached her breaking point.
He quit playing WoW because I threatened
to break the computer. It sounds funny but I was
dead serious, Perez says. He plays X-Box mainly
now and knows not to ignore me unless hes ready
for the longest span of bitching hes ever heard.
Perezs situation may sound extreme, but for
many young adults, computer and video games
have a major efect on their lives. Whether the
players game of choice is a MMORPG (massively
multiplayer online role-playing game) such as
World of Warcraft or a console game such as Call
of Duty, many gamers get so consumed that their
relationships sufer.
Seventy percent of college students report
playing video games at least once in awhile,
according to a Pew Research poll. A 2009
study by Brigham Young University, based on
information collected from 813 college students
nationwide, reported that as the amount of time
students spent playing video games went up, their
quality of relationships with friends and family
went down.
Video games caused such a confict in Perez and
Rayas relationship largely because Raya simply
didnt realize how much time he was spending
online. He says that at times he put gaming before
his relationship. It got so bad that even though
the couple lived together they stopped interacting
almost completely.
Id try to squeeze time in around dinner but
hed have his headphones on and be in the middle
of a raid, so hed only talk to me when his friends
took smoke breaks every hour it was pretty
damn bad, Perez says.
Shannon Fox, licensed marriage and family
therapist and former host of Discovery Health
Channels Love On Te Rocks, says that if couples
dont decide together on an appropriate amount
of time to spend on video games, the relationship
can die from lack of attention. She suggests
partners specify game-free times of the day or
week. When you know that youll have time with
your partner, youre less likely to feel replaced by
the game, Fox says.
Your relationship doesnt have to take a
backseat to video games just because your partner
is an avid gamer. Fox says that as long as couples
keep track of how much time they spend playing,
video games can be a great outlet to blow of
steam together after school or work.
Dr. Don Lynch, professor of psychology at
Unity College in Maine agrees with Fox, saying
that certain games have interactive features that
can have a positive efect on relationships. Te
3 7
03
04
10
interactive components of some games can be
benefcial to relationships, Lynch says.
Te Daedalus Project, a 2005 study that
researched the demographics of World of Warcraft
players, found that of more than 1,000 users, 84
percent were male. However, Garrett Van Gotten,
Chanute senior, was actually introduced to
World of Warcraft by his fanc, Alicia Kranker,
Frontenac senior. Although games like this often
cause confict, World of Warcraft actually brought
Van Gotten and Kranker closer together.
Te only thing you really can take away from
it are memories and stories. Getting to share
them with people you enjoy being around is what
makes a game worth playing, Van Gotten says.
Tough Van Gotten and Kranker stopped
playing WoW last summer because internships
got in the way of their guilds strict raiding
schedule, they have some advice on how to deal if
youre dating a gamer.
To the partner who doesnt play: No matter
how bad you are or how disinterested, its always
worth trying out, Kranker says. To the partner
who does play: Try to bring your partner into
the game it makes gaming a lot more fun.
Jp
five things a gamers
significant other
never wants to hear
1.My guildmates want you to say
something on my mic during raid tonight
so they know youre is real.
2. No, I cant pause this! Two more kills
and I get a chopper gunner!
3. Want to go on World Tour with me and
my new Rock Band tonight? Ill let you be
the singer!
4. Get down! Get down! Oh no, not
you, baby, my lieutenant was about to get
fragged.
5. For your birthday I got you an Xbox 360
Elite Resident Evil Limited Edition console
with 120 GB of memory. It was only $350.
I just couldnt pass up that kind of a deal
its an investment.
You can avoid those awkward gotta go guys, wife
agro comments and itll help a lot.
If you dont like the same games as your partner,
there are always alternatives. Perezs boyfriend
bought her a Nintendo DS Lite console last year.
Im not advanced enough for the Xbox 360
most of the time so I play Final Fantasy and the
Sims 3, Perez says. We sit next to each other and
play our respective games, goof around and make
fun of the little kids on COD4 (Call of Duty).
If your boyfriend or girlfriend seems to care
more about what level he or she reaches in his
or her favorite game than remembering your
birthday, dont let it get you down. Fox says you
should try to approach the issue without putting
down your partners favorite pastime and fnd the
best way to manage or incorporate video games
into your relationship. If at frst you arent sure
how to deal with such a new-age obsession, youre
not alone.
Teres certainly never been anything as
readily available, stigma-free and addictive as
video games except maybe Monday Night
Football, Fox says.
fter using the pill of and on since she was 16, Britta
Homelvig was tired of the nausea, the weight gain, the
intense mood swings and the high levels of estrogen.
When she was 21, Homelvig, Salina senior, made the
decision to go of of the hormonal birth control pill
and explore new birth control options.
According to the most recent data collected by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention in 2002, the pill is the leading
method of contraception among women ages 15 to 29. But
according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the pills
possible side efects include high blood pressure, nausea, heart
attack, weight gain, changes in mood and changes in cycle.
Te pill works using hormones to trick a womans body into
thinking its pregnant. Some versions of the pill have both progestin
and estrogen, called combination pills. Other versions have just
progestin. Tese hormones stop a womans ovaries from releasing
eggs as well as thicken the cervical mucus. Tis mucus blocks the
sperm from joining with an egg. Te combination pills are most
common, says Carol Johnson, obstetrician and gynecologist at
Watkins Health Center. Te combination pills provide a more
complete feedback mechanism to control the pituitary glands
hormone production.
To be most efective, the pill has to be taken at the same
time every day. If a progestin-only pill is skipped, there is a
higher chance for ovulation to begin than if a combination pill
is skipped, Johnson says. Progestin-only pills have a higher rate
of breakthrough bleeding whereas the combination pill has side
efects such as blood clotting or stroke.
Te FDA alone lists 15 alternatives to the pill. Some are more
relevant for college students than others, however. Several have
lower rates of pregnancy than the pill. No birth control method
other than condoms prevent sexually transmitted infections.
Implantable rod
After going of of the pill, Homelvig chose Implanon as her
birth control method. Doctors implant this matchstick-sized rod
into her arm to release progestin to prevent ovulation. It is made of
a thin, fexible plastic and protects against pregnancy for as many
as three years. About one out of 100 women a year will become
pregnant using this method of birth control. Although the rod
is progestin-only, the level of progestin that it releases remains
constant and provides a more stable form of birth control than the
progestin-only pill.
Insert it and forget it, says Larry Nibbelink, obstetrician and
gynecologist at Associates for Female Care in Kansas City, Kan.
Te ease of use is the one of best qualities of Implanon, the
brand name for the rod, Homelvig says. She prefers it because she
isnt stressed out by remembering to take her pill at the same time
every day.
Te cost of the implantable rod can range from $400 to $800
when it is inserted, but as Homelvig points out, that cost equals
roughly the cost of the pill for the three-year period that Implanon
is efective. Homelvig describes the implantation procedure, which
7
16 8
03
04
10
FEATURE
beYond
Alternatives to the most popular
form of birth control abound, and
may include better options for some
A
The power of touch: The topical patch, branded in the U.S. as OrthoEvra, releases the hormones estrogen and progestin into the
bloodstream to prevent ovulation. It is one of many alternatives to the hormonal pill form of birth control, which some women choose
not to take because of potential side effects or because it has to be taken at the same time daily. The pill remains the most popular
form of hormonal birth control. No forms of hormonal birth control protect against sexually transmitted infections.
// WORDS BY ADAM VOSSEN
// PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ADAM BUHLER
THE PILL
FEATURE
Jp
3 9
03
04
10
THE OLD STANDARD

Though all of the forms of contraception
discussed here help prevent pregnancy, none
protect from sexually transmitted infections.
Latex condoms are the best protection against
STIs (other than abstinence).
The most recent statistics from a 2002
survey by the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention show that among men ages 15 to 44,
29.5 percent used a condom the last time they
had sex.
Combining condoms with spermicide
increases the rate of protection even more, says
Larry Nibbelink, obstetrician and gynecologist at
Associates for Female Care in Kansas City, Kan.
Spermicide contains chemicals that stop the
movement of sperm. Creams, flm, foams, gels
and suppositories (an easily melted medicated
mass for insertion into the rectum, urethra, or
vagina) are the different available types of
spermicides. Spermicides are most useful when
used with another form of contraception such as
male condom, female condom or diaphragm.
doesnt require an incision, as painless with only
some slight soreness the day after. Te rod can be
removed at any time and pregnancy can happen
any time after this.
Te implantable rod does have some possible
side efects, including acne, weight gain, mood
changes, depression, hair loss, upset stomach
and dizziness, according to the FDA. Homelvig,
however, has had none of these. She has actually
lost weight since starting Implanon almost a year
ago, and her moods remain stable one aspect
of birth control that was important to her.
IntrauterIne devIce
After the pill, the intrauterine device (IUD) is
one of the most popular forms of birth control,
Nibbelink says. An IUD is a T-shaped device
small enough to be inserted into a womans
uterus. Tere are two brands of IUDs: ParaGard
and Mirena. Te Paragard IUD contains copper
and works for 12 years; it does not change
a womans hormone levels. Mirena releases
the hormone progestin to prevent the ovaries
from releasing eggs. Both of these options also
afect sperm movement, according to Planned
Parenthood.
Te IUD stops sperm from connecting with
an egg. IUDs are most commonly prescribed to
women who have already been pregnant because
the device fts better in a uterus of a woman who
has already had a child, Nibbelink says. Tey
are inserted vaginally and removed by a doctor.
Planned Parenthood says the IUD is the least
expensive long-term and reversible kind of birth
control available. Te total cost for the medical
exam, IUD, insertion of the IUD and follow-up
visits can range from $175 to $650 for the fve-
or 12-year-period of the IUDs efectiveness.
For people who like to be a little more
spontaneous with their sexual activity its nice
because theres no planning that needs to be in
place, says Jenny McKee, health educator for
Watkins Health Center. You dont have to worry
about condoms or putting in your diaphragm or
taking a pill or a patch or a ring or anything. Its
just in there. Te IUD is most recommended for
people in monogamous relationships, she says.
Te IUD is just as efective as sterilization
surgery but is easily reversed, McKee says. Less
than one in 100 women will become pregnant
while using the IUD, according to the FDA.
Te Mirena IUD can reduce cramps during
menstruation and make menstruation lighter,
sometimes by nearly 90 percent, according to
Planned Parenthood. Once an IUD is removed,
a woman can quickly regain the ability to become
pregnant.
Te copper IUD lasts longer and costs less
than the hormonal IUD. Some women prefer
the hormone-free copper version either because
they have a clotting disorder or because they
have had adverse reactions to hormones in the
past, Johnson says. However, periods can be
heavier and cause more cramps than the IUD
with progestin. Johnson says that the amount
of progestin absorbed systemically from Mirena
seems to be very small so efects such as weight
gain and mood changes are not as great.
Some negative side efects include possible
increased cramping and bleeding between
periods, pelvic infection upon initial insertion of
the IUD, a change in sexual interest or change
in periods.
contraceptIve rIng
After stressing about taking the pill at the
right time each day for almost three years,
Cassie Hollmann was tired of the headache,
nausea, and general discomfort she experienced
if she took the pill at another time. Hollmann,
Overland Park graduate student, switched to a
contraceptive ring, branded as NuvaRing, when
her doctor suggested the alternative.
NuvaRing is probably the best option of
birth control for a college student whos never
been pregnant, Nibbelink says, stressing that it is
probably the easiest to use.
NuvaRing is a small ring worn for 21 days and
then removed for 7 days for the period.
It releases the hormones estrogen and
progestin to prevent pregnancy, much like the
pill. According to Planned Parenthood, less than
one out of 100 women who use contraceptive
rings will get pregnant each year if they use it as
directed.
Depending on your health insurance, the cost
can range from $15 to $50 a month. Hollmann
pays more for NuvaRing than she did for the pill,
but she says for her, its worth it.
For me it feels safer than the pill because
theres no way Im going to mess it up, she says.
Some women arent comfortable with the
invasive nature of NuvaRing, McKee says.
Hollmann says NuvaRing has worked well for her,
but she does know some women who experience
weight gain and discomfort from the ring.
Hollmann takes dance classes and works out on
a regular basis and her ring has never fallen out.
Te ring has also never caused her any problems
during sex, a concern she hears often about
NuvaRing. Hollmann has been in a relationship
for more than four years and discussed her switch
to NuvaRing with her boyfriend. He was fne
with the choice, and neither of them say theyve
noticed the ring during sex.

Shot/InjectIon
Te birth control shot injects the hormone
progestin into the body. It lasts for three months.
Te brand name for the shot is Depo-Provera
and costs $35 to $75 per injection. About one
in 100 women who use the shot as a method of
contraception will become pregnant.
Unable to use a form of birth control with
estrogen, Cait, Cheney sophomore, uses the
shot. Cait likes the shot because she no longer
has a period and has not experienced any of the
negative side efects. Receiving the shot every
three months is less of a hassle for her than
remembering to take the pill every day.
Risks include a decrease in bone density,
increased risk of depression and headaches. Tese
risks can last six to eight months after the last
shot is administered, McKee says. Te return to
fertility can be delayed for up to a year. Te shot is
used most commonly for girls in their mid-teens,
Nibbelink says. He is not big fan of prescribing
Depo-Provera to patients older than their teens
because of complaints of irregular bleeding and
weight gain. Although the weight gain is usually
around fve pounds, Nibbelink has seen patients
gain up to 60 pounds in a year while receiving
Depo-Provera shots. Te side efects are not as
pervasive for patients in their mid-teens.
SkIn patch
An adhesive patch that is applied weekly
for three weeks and then removed for a week,
OrthoEvra, the patchs brand name, releases
both estrogen and progestin into the body to
stop ovulation. Te FDA states that fve out of
100 women will become pregnant while using
the patch. For women who weigh more than 200
pounds the patch can be less efective.
Because it can be applied by the woman using
the patch, it is less invasive and it can be more
convenient than the other forms of contraception
that require the assistance of a doctor, McKee
says. Its other benefts include decrease in acne,
less painful cramps, protection against iron
defciency and ovarian cysts.
However, the woman wearing the patch is at
risk for exposure to higher levels of estrogen than
the pill, Johnson says, and clotting can be more
common. Nausea, depression, and heart attack
could also be risks.
problemS wIth the pIll
Forgetting to take the pill on a regimented
schedule is the number one problem according to
these college women. Tis slip of the mind causes
nausea and decreases the pills efectiveness.
Irritability, mood swings, yeast infections,
irregular bleeding, weight gain and acne are the
most troublesome side efects for college-aged
women and can be the most common side efects
of the pill.
Although the pill is easy to access and other
options may seem odd, they can be better
fts for your life and health and deserve to be
considered.

PULLING OUT
Long the papal preference and the bane of
sexual educators, the withdrawal method
is actually the third most popular form of
contraception of college students during
intercourse according to the 2006 National
College Health Assessment.
Sex is more pleasurable without a condom,
says Dan, St. Louis junior. Dan has used pulling
out as a form of contraception and would rather
risk it than using a condom. He says he relies
on pulling out when no condom is available.
Granted its not one of the safest (methods),
but people get caught in the moment and dont
think about the repercussions of their actions,
Dan says.
People often use this method because of
moral or religious beliefs that prevent any
use of contraception, says Jenny McKee,
health educator for Watkins Health Center. It
provides no protection against STIs. By pulling
the penis out before orgasm, pregnancy can be
prevented, though effectiveness is debatable,
because some sperm may be released before
ejaculation. Planned Parenthood says that of
every 100 couples who use withdrawal correctly,
four will become pregnant. Done incorrectly, 27
out of 100 will become pregnant.
Pulling out is a method that takes a lot more
control and has a lot higher risk, says Carol
Johnson, M.D., obstetrician and gynecologist
at Watkins Health Center. Planned Parenthood
advises that only monogamous couples who are
comfortable with each and know their sexual
limits well should use pulling out.
For people who like
to be a little more
spontaneous with
their sexual activity,
its nice because
theres no planning
that needs to be in
place.
Jenny McKee, health care educator
for Watkins Health Center, on IUDs
NOTICE
2
03
04
10
10
celebritweets // R.L. STINE (@RL_STINE)
Letter: R.L., Last night I had a weird dream. It was about a melon that sings and
murdered my family. Dsnt everyone have that dream?
8:43 AM Feb 24th
They demanded a sequel. I had to write a happy ending. Even today, I hear about
The Best Friend. Moral: I guess we all want happy endings.
7:13 AM Feb 24th
The mail poured in: Dear R.L., you moron. You idiot--how could you write that?
My readers turned vicious on me
7:12 AM Feb 24th
The bad girl triumphed. The good girl was accused of murder. Readers HATED
that ending and hated that book.
7:11 AM Feb 24th
I wrote about 100 Fear Street books. They all had happy endings except for one
book. The Best Friend.
7:09 AM Feb 24th
They say that dust consists of rotting insects, food particles, and bits of human
fesh. Horror in the house!
12:09 PM Feb 23rd
Canadian ice dancers so adorable. I plan to adopt them both.
10:11 PM Feb 22nd
Childrens author, including the Goosebumps series
*bills
*
Quintiles can help you pay them.
All of them. Located just east of Metcalf on
115th St. in Overland Park, Kansas
Clinical trials are supervised by doctors; a safe,
comfortable way to earn $1,675 for your help
Quintiles has a study with two stays of
three nights, each for healthy males
You may qualify if you are:
A healthy male
Ages 20-45
A non-smoker
Taking no medications
Call today
(913) 894.5533
or
StudyForChange.com
NOTICE
11
03
04
10
jayplay says // CHECK OUT CHATROULETTE
like simon says. but cooler.
You win some, you lose some.
Te same life mantra can applied in the
gambling game of Chatroulette a virtual
conversation with a complete stranger. I had only
heard rumors of the website from friends, (one
of whom chatted up John Mayer) and decided to
brave the odds and stare the webcam in the face.
Chatroulette.com was created by Andrey
Ternovskiy, a 17-year-old Russian high school
student. He says he created the site for fun, and
had no intention of making a proft. Te site now
gets more than 20,000 unique visitors a day.
Chatroulettes display features two stacked
video screens with room for a chat conversation
on the right. Providing that both the camera
and microphone are enabled, you can literally
have a face-to-face conversation with a randomly
generated stranger. My frst luck of the draw was a
guy with a Scream mask wearing a Viking hat.
Te bad thing about Chatroulette? A perfectly
good idea gets abused by perverts who think
seeing reactions to nudity and other obscene
images onscreen is hilarious. For the sake of
Jayplay, I continued on.
You can disconnect from your partner by
promptly hitting next, or wait to be next-ed
yourself. I tended to take this personally.
Next, I ran into a few guys from France
mixing their own music at 2 a.m., who
admitted that they were, in fact, normal. Also
included in the normal category, after perusing
quickly through too many penises, was Jake, a
University of Pittsburgh student Chatroulette-
ing at work. He worked for a company called
Telefact a sort of KU Info, randomly
answering the phone while we chatted. He says
its a great way to pass the time when being on
a computer for hours.
If you can look past the creepers and
potential predators on Chatroulette, it really is
a great and entertaining invention. I got to talk
to people across the country and at diferent
colleges. One DJ from West Hollywood told
me he found Chatroulette addictive, saying
he could talk to people all over the world as if
they were his closest friends. I did, in fact, keep
wanting to press the next button, curious to
see who else was out there.
True to the style and setup of the site, not
all of the strangers are winners. Place your
bets carefully.
// KELCI SHIPLEY
/eep up w/|h f//ends, s|ay ahead of you/ cou/sewo/k and s|ay /n
|ouch w/|h fam//y nea/ and fa/ As a s|uden|, you can |ake adtan|age
of /ns|an| sat/ngs on mon|h/y se/t/ce p/ans 7o make /| easy, we//
eten wa/te |he ac|/ta|/on fee Ge| /| on |he Now Ne|wo/k

Sate w/|h
you/ d/scoun| fo/ s|uden|s of Jn/te/s/|y of /ansas
Sate 10%
on se/ec| /egu/a//y p//ced
mon|h/y se/t/ce p/ans
Pequ//es |wo-yea/ se/t/ce ag/eemen|
Ac|/ta|/on fee wa/ted
fo/ new ac|/ta|/ons
Jp |o $36 ta/ue
Pequ//es |wo-yea/ se/t/ce ag/eemen|
May require credit approval & deposit. $200 early termination fee/line
applies. Individual-Liable Offer: Applies to individual-liable lines eligible
for a discount under their universitys participation with the MiCTA services
agreement. NVP Empl. Discount: Discount available to eligible students of
the university participating in the NVP program. Subject to change accord-
ing to the universitys agreement with Sprint. Available on select plans only.
Discount applies to monthly service charges only. Other Terms: Coverage
not available everywhere. Nationwide Sprint and Nextel National Networks
reach over 276 and 277 million people, respectively. Offers not available in
all markets/retail locations or for all phones/networks. Pricing, offer terms,
fees & features may vary for existing customers not eligible for upgrade.
Other restrictions apply. See store or Sprint.com for details. 2010 Sprint.
Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. Other marks are the property
of their respective owners.
N085774
MV123456
For New Service, Upgrades, or Questions
Visit Your Local Sprint Store
www.sprint.com/storelocator
***Mention the code: GEMCT_UKS_ZST
|f you/e a//eady a cus|ome/, ca// fo/ you/
d/scoun| and men|/on |he code oe/ow
366-265-3306

Co/po/a|e |D. GFVC7_J/S_ZS7
May require credit approval & deposit. $200 early termination fee/line applies. Individual-Liable Offer: Applies to individual-liable lines eligible for a discount under their universitys participation with the MiCTA services agreement. NVP Empl. Discount: Discount available
to eligible students of the university participating in the NVP program. Subject to change according to the universitys agreement with Sprint. Available on select plans only. Discount applies to monthly service charges only. Other Terms: Coverage not available everywhere.
Nationwide Sprint and Nextel National Networks reach over 276 and 277 million people, respectively. Offers not available in all markets/retail locations or for all phones/networks. Pricing, offer terms, fees & features may vary for existing customers not eligible for upgrade.
Other restrictions apply. See store or Sprint.com for details. 2010 Sprint. Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.
Va/o/ /n
commun/ca|/ons
Other restrictio
Spri p nt and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. Ot
of t of their heir res respective owne owners rs of t of their s res ect pect p ive ive owne owners. rs.
NOTICE
2
03
04
10
12
wescoe wit
lol.
GIRL 1 : Dont punch me in my ovaries,
woman!
I was just gonna poke it. GIRL 2 :
Are you all not familiar with this? Its your
culture, not mine! Im from Mars.
PROFESSOR:
GUY 1 : Girls dont realize how
convenient it is standing up to
pee.
Yeah, and if you go into a stall it
pretty much means youre afraid
of someone seeing your dick.
GUY 2:
GIRL 1 : Hes obsessed with me. I love
him.
Yeah, and hes a bajillionaire. GIRL 2:
// ABBY OLCESE AND KELCI SHIPLEY
GIRL 1 : Oh my gosh! My boogers in the
shape of a lizard!
Whoa! It is!
Dont worry, Im not going to
keep it.
GIRL 2:
GIRL 1 :
Its not voodoo and were not
resurrecting her!
It would be really freakin cool if we
did, though. Im just saying
GIRL 1 :
GIRL 2 :
GIRL 1 : Shes from Germany and she
speaks better Spanish than me.
And youre Mexican.
I know!
GIRL 2 :
GIRL 1 :
GIRL 1 : Im in a skirt, so sitting like this,
well, people are going to see a
lot of crotch. Sorry.
I like crotch. Im glad I sat here. GIRL 2 :
GUY 1 : You got a Push Pop?
Yeah.
Way to be a 7-year-old.
GIRL 1 :
GUY 1 :
Ive been trying to eat more
fruits and vegetables.
Thats disgusting. I dont eat
vegetables.
GIRL 1 :
GIRL 2 :
Lady Gaga? More like Lady Gag Me.
PROFESSOR:
UPCOMING EVENTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE
AT BOX OFFICE
www.thegranada.com
MORE EVENTS!
BLACKOUT PARTY RANDY ROGERS BAND RANDY ROGERS BAND
BLACKoUT
MORE EVENTS!
FRiDAY, MARCh 5
SATURDAY, MARCh 6
DOORS OPEN 9 PM
MUDSTOMP EVERY MONDAY
(bluegrass in the lounge)
MAR.9 KiosK Fundraiser show
MAR.11 Pretty things PeeP show
MAR.12 Fast Food JunKies Cd release
MAR.13 roan County sPlit with granger
smith & County road 5
MAR.17 st.Pattys in the lounge, Bluegrass
early, KaraoKe For the midday &
dJ that night
MAR.18 CoPeland
MAR.19 BlaCK gasoline with the Brody
Buster Band
MAR.25 stimP-PaC 2
MAR.27 Jason Boland & the stragglers
APRil 1. Zoso....the ultimate led ZePPlin
exPerienCe DOORS OPEN 8 PM
$
2
wELLS
DOMESTiCS
ShOTS
DJ
SAM KRAUSE
NiCK ARCADE
DiRTY hiRMON
18+
$
5//21+
$
3
w/ JOSh ABBOTT w/ JOSh ABBOTT
$6.29
LAWRENCE
*)(0O&*/l`Klj]]l/0-!/,1%++-,
www.mcalistersdeli.com
Half of ANY Spud.
Half of ANY Salad.
Cup of ANY Soup
or Chili.
Half of ANY Sandwich,
Wrap or Panini.
MANUAL
essential life skills // Wristlock
in case of emergency, read quickly.
Getting your ass kicked is never cool. Mark
Gasper, Overland Park senior, is the president
of the KU Ki-Aikido Club. Ki-Aikido is a
defense-based martial art intended to redirect
the momentum of an attacker and do minimal
harm, primarily through the use of throws and
wristlocks.
Resist your urge to retaliate and follow Gaspers
instructions to performing a simple wristlock
during a frontal attack.
1. When your attacker advances towards you,
spin away from him to one side and end up facing
his direction.
2. Grab the wrist nearest to you and twist the
arm palm up.
3. Maintaining a frm hold on the wrist, use
your other hand to pull the attackers fngers
toward the inside of his wrist so that his hand
is bent in and fngers point to the inside of the
elbow.
4. Continue pulling the attackers fngers so
that his elbow bends and his hand goes past his
shoulder and pulls his body towards the foor.
Tis move catches your attacker of guard
and gives you the element of surprise. It works
by throwing him of balance and inficting pain
by stretching tendons in the arm, but causes no
// EMILY JOHNSON
Contributed photo
Takedown: Mark Gasper, president of the Ki-Aikido
Club, says wristlocks are an easy-to-perform self-
defense move.
actual damage. Using a technique as simple as
this can do minimal harm to your attacker and
let you escape a dangerous situation.
13
03
04
10
CONFIDENCE
CANT
COMPARE
15 years of making it happen
785.865.4372
13 E. 8th St.
(next to Sandbar)
FREE BROW WAX
WI TH ANY SERVI CE
15 YEARS OF WAXI NG, HAI R, FACI ALS,
MASSAGES, MANI S, PEDI S
729 New Hampshire (785) 856-3835
SUNDAY, MARCH 7th
DOORS OPEN at 8pm
$2 ALMOST ANYTHING
DJ
PRIZES FOR BEST TAN, BEST LOOK
SPRING BREAK
BAY-WATCH
PARTY
KICK OFF YOUR SPRING BREAK AT
601 Kasold
(785) 749-7699
ROCKS
REVIEW
Esquina, 801 Massachusetts St., lives up to
all the hype as the Burger Stands new, Mexi-
can-themed of-chute.
Its feature is tacos seven soft bombshells
that each channel fresh in their own way.
Te pork and pineapple one has a taste that is
straight from the Burger Stand, 623 Vermont
St. Te fsh taco frequently changes. My edi-
tion had Walu with a Tai-favored sauce, as if
it was from Zen Zero. And a few of them are
sprinkled with chopped almonds, giving each
bite a subtle snap.
Te establishment, which opened last
weekend, has received a facelift from its days
as the buildings previous entity, Roundcorner
Drug Store. It feels reminiscent Ingredient,
947 Massachusetts St., inside with all the win-
dows and low booths, but it has more color.
Make of that what you will, but personally, I
prefer to have the option of a semi-enclosed
area, especially when everything I am eating is
dripping from the other end.
Te chips are salty and the queso, consid-
ering its menu description, was surprisingly
tame both in spiciness and favor. But then
again, there aint nothing wrong with classic
// Jacob MuselMann
2
03
04
10
14
restaurant review // Esquina
queso its what many people depend on in
Mexican restaurants.
When I frst saw the menu I feared the tacos
would be tiny, but I was pleasantly surprises.
Tey are afordable and substantial. Te service
is also excellent, and after the order-and-pay jig
at the beginning, they dont want you getting up
for anything else. All in all, Esquina successfully
replaces the Cheese Shop as downtowns go-to
place to get quality food, fast.
the taste of the town. one meal at a time.
FREE
POOL
[sun. - thurs.]
925 Iowa (behind the Merc)
785.749.5039
midnight-2am
18+
to enter
312 Burge Union // 864-5665 // Jo Hardesty, Director
Contri buti ng to Student Success
FREE
LEGAL ADVICE
IS RIGHT ACROSS
CAMPUS
SPEAK
15
03
04
10
// LesLie Kinsman
ast September, I was sitting in
Spanish class, bumming about
how I wasnt going to be able to
go to Beach Ball, a concert Kansas
City radio station 96.5 Te Buzz
throws every year. Last year, it
was at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in
Bonner Springs. I didnt have the money to go,
consequently missing out on a much-needed dose
of nostalgia. Not only was Blink-182 headlining
the show that night, Weezer and Taking Back
Sunday were playing as well. Id been a loyal fan to
all three of the bands since I was in middle school
and had never gotten a chance to see any of them
perform.
I was fnishing up my last class of the day, when
I noticed a text from my roommate. Were going
to Blink.
What do you mean, were going to Blink? I
asked. Pick me up at the Union after your class
and Ill explain, she said.
Apparently, while I was on campus all day, she
was busy creating phony VIP passes for us. She
found a photo from a local DJs Twitter page, who
had posted a snapshot of herself sporting her VIP
pass for the show that night. My roommate took
the photo from the internet and tweaked them in
Photoshop, to where they looked almost identical
to the DJs pass.
I picked her up at the Union later that afternoon.
As she entered the car, an impressive grin spread
across her face as she handed me a warm, newly-
laminated pass. Are we really going to do this? I
asked. We might as well try, she said. Whats
the worst thing that could happen? And with a
shrug, I accepted her dare.
Te nerves wouldnt set in until later that
night. My roommate was always the instigator
resourceful, ruthless and bold. Tis wasnt the frst
time I had submitted to one of her plans.
Contributed photo
Illicit access: Writer Leslie Kinsman and her roommate faked this back-stage pass and managed to sneak into a VIP
area of a Kansas City Blink-182 concert last year,
Fueled by nostalgia and peer pressure, I broke into the
VIP area of my dream concert
Jp
We hit the road and arrived at Verizon Wireless
Amphitheater about an hour later. Te sun was
setting and we could already feel the energy from
the crowd. We hurried through the parking lot and
tested our passes at the front gate: Piece of cake.
Next we moved to the private seating section and
made it through efortlessly. Each event worker
let us through after inspecting our passes, either
convinced enough by them or too indiferent to
inspect them more thoroughly. One guard even
ofered us VIP wristbands. Why didnt you get
these at the front gate? he asked.
We accepted the wristbands and gave each
other glances of giddy excitement. We had made
it past the guards. Tere was one obstacle left for
us the main stage.
We weaved our way through the front of the
crowd, dodging crowd-surfers and pit-rioters as
they danced to Taking Back Sunday, until we
reached a staircase that led up to the front stage.
My roommate grabbed my hand and gave
me a determined look that said, Were doing
this. Its now or never. With that, she marched
up the steps and handed the security guard her
VIP pass. In a glimpse, she was past the guard and
looking back at me to make my move. I held my
breath as I slowly stepped up the stairs. I tried my
best to slow my breathing and maintain a vague
expression. Just after he let my roommate pass, he
gave me a nod in the direction of the stage. We
had made it.
We strategically placed ourselves behind the
crew members, not speaking a word to each other,
communicating only with stealthy smirks and
an occasional eye glance. I thought our presence
alone was screaming out of place but we were
able to watch Weezers entire set, quietly tucked
away in the corner of the side stage. Halfway
through the set, I realized I hadnt even looked
directly at the crowd yet, for fear of being spotted. I
turned my body slightly and felt an overwhelming
exhilaration from the crowd. It felt too good to be
true. I was looking out at the thousands of people
at the venue, knowing that I had pulled of getting
backstage.
Weezer fnished their show and left the stage.
Suddenly everyone who occupied the stage was
moving, so my roommate and I felt the need to
look busy as well. We decided to seclude ourselves
behind the 20 buses parked near the stage. We
briskly walked behind the stage into the private
parking lot of-limits to regular fans. Prior to this
night, I had always been prohibited from this area
by security guards and a 10-foot fence. We sat in
anticipation on a piece of dewy grass in the dark,
the moonlight illuminating the silver tour buses,
until we heard the shrieks of the crowd about
30 minutes later. Blink-182 must have taken the
stage.
My roommate and I discreetly found the same
spot as earlier, while the band began playing
Whats My Age Again. Blink-182 performed as
if they hadnt aged a bit since they took the music
scene a decade ago, bouncing up and down and
screaming juvenile profanities into the roaring
crowd. We noticed a couple of toddlers running
around and were convinced they were one of the
band members. I felt out of my element and a
little invasive, but I knew I wasnt doing much
harm. We were able to watch the frst four songs
until a security guard we hadnt seen before asked
us for an additional pass besides the lanyard. Since
we hadnt anticipated this wrinkle, my roommate
and I gave in and made our way down the stairs,
back into the crowd of concert-goers.
Since my freshman year, Ive been an accomplice
to my friends in breaking the rules for the sake
of music. Weve tested authority, schmoozed
bartenders into staying open after last call and
swooned merch-boys into meeting us at the
bar next door after their show, all to make a face-
to-face connection and interact with bands weve
grown to idolize over the years. And although we
didnt get to meet Blink-182 or any of the bands
that night, we got to experience the show from a
diferent perspective than anyone in the crowd.
Out of all the shenanigans Ive pulled with my
friends during my college years, this was by far the
biggest of all our antics. It was my biggest breach
of concert authority, but thats not the point. Just
the possibility that we might have met Blink-182
that night was the motivation behind our rebellion.
Isnt that what rock n roll is all about?
PASS
STAGE
BACK-
L