evolution

Justice Clarence Thomas of the US Supreme Court visited the University of Kansas earlier this week. The Lawrence Journal-World has details here and here.

Some parts that I thought very accurately show the skill level of J-W reporters together with the average engagement level of Lawrence citizens:

Devin Sikes, a KU senior from Wichita, was among the approximately 80 people in the audience at Green Hall.

Sikes, who plans to attend law school next year, said he found Thomas’ discussion about basic constitutional rights refreshing.

“That’s what this country is all about,” he said. “It sounds like he and the other justices focus on that. That’s comforting.”

Funny, I thought that focusing on issues of basic constitutional rights was the Supreme Court’s sole reason for existence. Then there’s this:

“He was very easy-going and easy to talk to,” said student Holly Hydeman. “We make them (justices) out to be demagogues. He’s a guy who drives a Saturn.”

Clearly, Ms. Hydeman meant “demigods” rather than “demagogues”, and it’s quite possible that she actually said “demigods” and the reporter, for whatever reason, wrote “demagogues”. These are examples of at best bad writing and at worst shoddy, lazy reporting from a widely-read Kansas newspaper.