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Show Generation In Crisis Saving the world one bus at a time hose who get stressed out by traffic and trying to find a parking spot should give public transportation a shot. JUSTIN Considering a vast majority of Utah students live off campus, each day of classes begins with a mass migration of students from around the valley clogging Foothill Boulevard like the arteries of your friend who got the unlimited meal plan at the Heritage Center. For many, the commute is an extra stress added to the already stressful life of being a college student. When it comes to being stuck in traffic or hopelessly searching for an empty parking spot, I believe Kimberly Wilkins said it best: "Ain't nobody got time for that!" Lucky for you, there's a better way: public transportation. I know riding the bus to college isn't really the "cool" thing to do. I mean, who wouldn't want to be seen cruising up to campus in a sweet car, windows rolled down, blasting the latest dance/rap/ dubstep song so everyone knows what a cool guy you are? But the truth is no one is impressed by how loud your bass is, so you won't miss much by experiencing all the benefits of public transportation. First, riding in a tram or bus full of strangers is an endless source of entertainment. Some of the strangest and funniest conversations of my life happened as I was riding to campus on the 220 bus. Or if you're an introvert and talking to other bus riders ADAMS isn't your thing, public transportation is pretty much the best place to people watch. Just find a corner and use those skills from Intro to Psychology to diagnose everyone around you. Second, while driving may be faster than taking public transportation depending on where you live, it's not the most efficient way of spending your time. The time you spend driving is essentially time down the drain. On the other hand, as you're riding the bus or TRAX, you can be doing the reading assignment you never finished last night because you found out your favorite childhood TV series was on Netflix. Third, it's going to save you a lot of money. In case you didn't know, your U card doubles as a "free" pass (there is a fee included in matriculating students' tuition bills) on UTA services, including on the weekends and during summer. That's a total value of $1,278 dollars per year! Considering how expensive it is to be a college student these days, we should be milking that student status for every free benefit we can. And lastly, taking public transportation literally makes you a planet-saving superhero. Not to get into a politically charged climate change debate, but I think we can all agree that come January, the less exhaust there is in the air, the better. If more of us start riding public transportation, we might even be able to see the Oquirrh Mountains from campus this winter. UTA might not be perfect, but those imperfections are outweighed by the benefits of ditching your car and choosing public transportation. You'll save time, money and the world. letters@chronicle.utah.edu n a recent podcast from Intelligence Squared U.S. by NPR, it was debated whether or not the millennials (people born in the early '80s through the '90s) stand a chance at cumulatively surviving, considering how current circumstances are foreshadowing a quite ominous global future. The results of COLUMBIA PICTURES .01.01.11MBIAPENIESIXOLISTRES,INGAMERSRESSIVEI DaihfUTAH CljgyNICLE ENTER FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A PASS TO THE SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING OF Transhumanism not for humans NAFISA MASUD ust last week, after more than 20 years of experimenting, scientists at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine created the first successful prototypes for a functional, bioengineered penis. These artificial "limbs" can soon be transplanted onto patients who've lost the organ due to cancer, birth defect or any form of trauma, allowing them to avoid the multiple skin and muscle grafts needed to craft a new penis from scratch or nasty side effects caused by drugs meant to assist the body in "accepting" the new organ. This isn't the first breakthrough when it comes to organ transplants, given that scientists have now established ways to create entire livers from the fragment of a healthy one as it regenerates, or to develop less invasive procedures when extracting organs from donors. Such efforts have gone a long way in increasing the quality of life for those suffering from disease and physical trauma, but when it comes to transhumanism these same rules do not and should not apply. Transhumanism refers to the belief that mankind j should utilize technology to transcend the limitations imposed upon us by our bodies. Generally the main objective is believed to be the pursuit of immortality, but this also includes ridding the body of physical and mental afflictions as well. It's true that we are, in fact, physically limited, but assuming that mortality is our greatest problem renders us ignorant in the face of larger issues. I'm not advocating a return to a time before modern medicine — recent discoveries within disease prevention and treatment have granted us the ability to live longer and healthier overall. But attempting to remove old age from the list of ways to die has serious implications. Economically, a population without new citizens replacing deceased ones will grow incessantly and to negative effect. These numbers could place immense pressure upon labor industries and competitive wages, housing markets and the allocation of government funding, even in a capitalist economy that derives value from a large number of consumers. We've all seen sci-fi movies depicting the revolution of computers against their human "masters," and though this is improbable, our economy is already testament to the many ways software and technology is replacing humans in the workplace. Transhumanism also carries environmental significance as natural resources are plundered to feed and supplement the lives of our world's 7 billion inhabitants. This number is estimated to grow considerably in the next few decades, not including those who may never die. Each of these scenarios is a feasible, menacing possibility, but the most fearsome by far is not what could happen in the future but what is happening now. Our obsession with the length of life as opposed to its quality, with transcending our physical limitations instead of our mental, socially constructed ones, is ample proof that our priorities are severely misaligned. A film published by the British Institute of Posthuman Studies endorses new technology that would allow parents-to-be to genetically intervene and determine their unborn child's predisposition for anxiety, anger and even pain threshold. Rather than obliterating these tendencies we should be teaching future generations to learn to deal with them in healthy ways. Fearing pain or anxiety will not remove it entirely from your life, even if your genetics have been altered to make these experiences occur less often. Bulgarian philosopher Julia Kristeva first coined the term "abject" for the traits and tendencies we've been conditioned to turn away from and reject — things like mortality, jealousy and our bodily secretions. These are the things that make us human. It is overwhelmingly natural to encounter depression, disease and, inevitably, death. To deny these traits in the pursuit of an immortal, pain-free existence is not an extension of human life but ultimately the destruction of it. letters@chronicle.utah.edu to stave off societal defeat? Realistically, it seems like our priorities (considering every facet of societal participation) contradict our future responsibilities and are, in many cases, detrimental to qualities like accountability and humility. Revisiting the domain of technology, it's easier for us than it has been for any generation to access anything we want, anywhere we want. We can buy anything on the Internet, from clothes to essays to drugs. We can fully See MILLENIALS page 12 What is an Autist? If you are an adult on the autism spectrum this workshop is for you. Communicating Success on the Autism Spectrum is an interactive, informative workshop presented by and for adults on the autism spectrum. (You must be 22+ years to participate) Saturday, October 18 8:30 am to 3:00 pm University Neuropsychiatric Institute Hardin Branch Auditorium 501 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City (Parking available on the east side of the building) e- „ „ $20 per person f,[E,'Ai BY VISITING SONYSCREENING.COM AND ENTER CODE: FURYCHRONICL This workshop will focus on personal journeys toward self - optimization for adults on the autism spectrum. A continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be served. Elliot Francis Autist, Co-Organizer Entry deadline: Tuesday, October 14 THIS FILM HAS BEEN RATED R STRONG SEQUENCES OF WAR VIOLENCE, SOME GRISLY IMAGES, AND LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT. Sponsors and their dependents are not eligible to receive a prize. Supplies are limited. Passes received through this promotion do not guarantee a seat at the theater. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, except for members of the reviewing press. Theater is overbooked to ensure a full house. No admittance once screening has begun. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of prizes assumes any and all risks related to use of prize, and accepts any restrictions required by prize provider. Columbia Pictures, Allied-THA, Daily Utah Chronicle and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of prizes. Prizes cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. Not responsible if, for any reason, winner is unable to use his/her prize in whole or in part. Not responsible for lost, delayed or misdirected entries. All federal, state and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by lsw.NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. NO PHONE CALLS! IN THEATERS OCTOBER 17 FuryMovie.Tumblr.com • a/Fury • @FuryMovie 10 { THECHRONY I NEWS I OPINION I ARTS I SPORTS I THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 2014 } the debate were less than optimistic when a pair of older adults convinced the audience to agree that millennials are inheriting a world in which we have no chance of continuing life as we know it. Most of the argument rested on the notion that we are the most irrevocably narcissistic, circumstantially maleducated and simply unequipped generation ever to inherit the earth. This seems a little harsh, given that we have engendered socially innovative things like Facebook and Tinder and are the most globally connected generation thus far in history. So, who's right? If it's the old farts of generations past, is there anything we can do For more information and to register please visit: www.perfectfifthprojectorg/#/register or contact Kristina at 801-587-8596 or kristina.cottle@utah.edu This event is supported by The Cambia Health Foundation and the University of Utah Department of Psychiatry |