The pieces in this section are generally written by members of the Lawrence community and those who have close ties. In addition, the Times is offering some space for area organizations and organizers to provide updates and attempt to reach other folks who might share their mission.
The Lawrence Times does not publish staff editorials (unsigned opinion columns, usually about the topics we cover, that many news publications run). Want to submit a letter or column to the Times? Great! Click here to find out how.
OPINION COLUMNS + LETTERS TO THE TIMES
Linda Ditch: Feeling singled out, female students protest high school’s dress code (Column)
“All Kansas school districts need to take a closer look at inherent sexism in their dress codes. The first step should be an open conversation with students to forge a policy acceptable to the entire school community,” Linda Ditch writes in this column.
Clay Wirestone: Progressives beware: Don’t let values become casualties of the pandemic (Column)
“I sympathize with the anger. But during this virus-riddled time, we can’t allow the pandemic to melt our minds. We should not want people who disagree with us — even if that disagreement takes the form of refusing a vaccine or mask — to forgo health insurance or medical care,” Clay Wirestone writes in this column.
Steve Lopes: Fed up with a discouraging status quo? Grassroots organizing holds the solution (Column)
“Many citizens are outraged by this or that, and that’s a good thing, but only if that energy is used to promote positive change. The obvious response is: Convert our collective anger to action through collective organizing,” Steve Lopes writes in this column.
Clay Wirestone: Kansas attorney general should stop playing footsie with fascism (Column)
“Let’s talk about Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt for a moment. He’s tall. He’s folksy. He has a decent chance of becoming the next governor of Kansas. And he has a distressing history of playing footsie with fascism, catering to the worst impulses of his party,” Clay Wirestone writes in this column.
Kimberly Lopez: Gender is complex, and minds can change (Column)
“Multiple pronouns can be elusive. Pronouns are confusing and when you throw more than one into the mix, they can get even more difficult to grasp,” Kimberly Lopez writes in this column.
Tom Harper/Contributed
Tom Harper: A mural is born; it’s good to live in Lawrence (Column)
“Last night I had the privilege of watching Dave Loewenstein start his mural on the back side of Cottin’s Hardware with Ardys Ramberg and Missy McCoy,” Tom Harper writes in this column.
ORG CORNER
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
Haus of McCoy: Open Haus coming up this week (Announcement)
On Thursday, Sept. 16, Haus of McCoy is having their first Open Haus, featuring free food, a book giveaway and our special guest, Silky Nutmeg Ganache.
Not In Our Honor Coalition
Not In Our Honor: NFL should have zero tolerance for racialized Native American branding (Column)
“Not In Our Honor will continue our protest outside the stadium in addition to other signage around the city. … Apply the NFL’s ‘zero tolerance’ for on-field use of racial and homophobic slurs to all races and ethnic groups, especially Native Peoples,” the coalition writes in this piece.
Contributed Image
BabyJay’s Legacy of Hope: Rexy Run/Walk to return next Saturday (Column)
The Rexy Run/Walk, hosted by BabyJay’s Legacy of Hope, is back and in person this year on Saturday, Aug. 21.
FROM THE STACKS
Note: Staff members at the Lawrence Public Library write blog posts about books, bookish things and other media. The Times is reposting some of those blogs in this feature, From the Stacks. Find many other blog posts, titles referenced in these posts and much more on the library’s website, lplks.org.
From the Stacks: Green spaces of Douglas County
“I thought I would write up and share a few of my favorite off-the-beaten-path corners of Douglas County,” Dan Coleman writes.
Contributed
From the Stacks: Goodbye storytime, hello book club
Angela Hyde writes about the benefits and bonding experience of starting a book club with tweens and teens.
From the Stacks: Reclaiming memory and history in ‘Last Night at the Telegraph Club’
“Queer history is vital to a queer future. Reclaiming spaces in history that were occupied by real people through fiction is just as vital,” Margo Moore writes.
