4 Friday, October 7, 1988 / University Daily Kansan Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Bentsen outshone Quayle and voters will remember After a disappointing presidential debate, Wednesday's vice presidential offered voters two things they have hungered for: a genuine look at two candidates, and a clear winner. Quayle and Bentsen both are experienced debaters, and it showed. Unlike the Bush-Dukakis debate, viewers actually were able to learn something about the candidates. Bentsen came across as a smooth, experienced, knowledgeable politician. Quayle, on the other hand, seemed cool and over-controlled. His presentation was stiff . . . and . . . full of . . . pauses, not to mention repetition. To some, it looked as if the moderators were picking on Quayle while allowing Bentsen to side-step the same questions But there's nothing unfair about asking a vice presidential candidate what he would do if he became president. Quayle couldn't even manage a decent pre-scripted answer, only mumblings about his years in Congress. In contrast, Bentsen was straightforward when asked about his plans to hold a $10,000-a-plate breakfast. He frankly admitted it was a mistake. And although he never did answer questions on his sharp differences with Dukakis, and his response to Quayle's comparing himself to Jack Kennedy was too vicious for some, overall, Bentsen showed himself to be more clear, more in control and more capable of being a leader. That's what's ironic about the entire debate. The issue of who stands second in line to the presidency should not be the one that dominates the race. It is the presidential candidates' opinions and capabilities that count. But in such a close campaign, the No. 2 men could be what helps many people make up their minds. People who use vice presidents as a way to pick their presidents are going to pick Lloyd Rentsen. The editorial board Right direction, bad way Good intentions don't count. Good intentions with ulterior motives are even worse. The Associated Students of Kansas proposal to start a program called "Kansas College Savings Program" is thinly veiled as a practical way for families to pay for their children's education. At first glance the plan sounds perfect. Families could put money into special savings accounts set up by the state. The money would be pooled into a fund and invested in order to gain interest. Families would then be able to use that money for their children's educations. Because middle-class students usually don't qualify for federal grants and their families often can't afford a college education, the plan would help middle-class students the most, ASK says. Or would the Board of Regents be helped most that? That's the catch to this plan. Students would have to attend a Regents meeting. Students shouldn't have to be trapped into attending a Regents university through this proposal simply because they are not being educated in an academic way. The state would pay for the original costs in setting up the fund, but those costs would be recovered when families' money ends up at a state school. The state seems to get what it wants, but what about the students? The Regents system would get more than it originally paid for when the student attends a Regents college. Students would pump in even more money by paying for books, supplies, and residence hall fees, etc. Although the Regents system would get what it wanted and more, students want what they wouldn't and less by being required to wear a shirt. ASK has the right idea in wanting to help students attend college with state-sponsored finances, but the focus should remain on student success. Christine Martin for the editorial board The editorials in this column are the opinion of the editorial board The editorial board consists of Michael Merschel, Mark Titrou, Colden Cohen, Hormel Harak, Julian Adam, Jay McMahon, Tony Bomini. News staff Todd Cohen Editor Michael Horak Managing editor Jill Adam Associate editor Stephen Wade News editor Michael Merschel Editorial editor Noel Gordes Campus editor Craig Anderson Sports editor Scott Carpenter Photographer Dave Eames Graphics editor All Jesse Arts/Features editor Tom Elben General manager Business staff Greg Knipp Business manager Greg Cole Retail sales manager Chris Cooper Campus sales manager Linda Procton National sales manager Kurt Messermitt Marketing manager Sarah Hidgon Marketing manager Brad Lenhart Production manager Brad Geland Ast. production manager Michael Lehm Classification Jeanne Hines Sales and marketing adviser Letters should be typed. Double-spaced and less than 200 words and must include a title. 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Student subscriptions by mail are $12. **POSTMASTER:** Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 11e Staufer-Staffel Hall, Lawrence; Kan 60645 MKELLYChicagoTribune Reagan 'audition' a bad precedent Besides, we really wouldn't ask him to work for minimum wage, now would we? "Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States." The crowd in the room stopped what it was doing and turned to watch the entrance of the nation's church, where a group of shaking a few hands, smiling and nodding in acknowledgment of some scattered compliments. But something was wrong with this picture of presidential performance. Reagan was wearing a Chicago Cubs jacket and sitting in front of a microphone in the Wrigley Field. "And there' are still men on first and third," said the man who has appeared on the cover of "Time" magazine more than any other president. "And he has over one second base, and it a hit into centerfield. "One run in. Men on first and third." When told that Reagan had spent an afternoon just week announcing a baseball game, millions of fans shouted, "OH NO!" My political acumen suggests three possible reasons. First reason: campaign hangover. Derek Schmidt All politicians try to swing the baseball vote: it's the core of the American policy. As a veteran politician, Reagan just couldn't miss the chance for a good photo. Maybe old habits really do the hard. Picture this: it's 1992, and George Bush is preparing to step aside after four long, long years. Staff columnist at the nation's helm. Out of habit, he appears at a meeting in his shirt sleeves, carrying an American flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Unfortunately, he has forgotten to check his calendar. Gorbachev (yeah, he'll still be around) probably appreciate such antics at their final summit. It could be worse. It's 1992, and Michael Dickas is preparing to retire (optimal, aren't it?) after 4 years term. Appearing in West Germany during NATO war, he was a strong advocate for American tank. Although his helmet fits this time this head surely would have swelled during four weeks before he realizes that he has no chow how to operate a tank. The U.N. earns another Nobel prize keeping the U.S. President Mike Crush checkpoint Charlie Reagan used to broadcast re-creations of Cubs games in the late 1980s over stations in Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa. Maybe he just missed the good o'l days. Second reason: nostalgia. admirable. We could follow the president's lead here at KU Chancellor Gene A. Budig used to work as a bat boy with the McCook Cats, a semi-professional Nebraska baseball team. Budig could start hating for the baseball Jayhawks. I suppose there are problems with that idea. Such sentiment is both understandable and I suppose these problems with that idea. But labs like one must wear the proper attire and speak plainly at dumbly, don't know the Chancellor well, but I doubt to picture him forstelling his suit for basketball pants or, worse yet, knickers, and yelling, "Gody this is real fun!" Third reason: job security. This is the reason Beagan gave for his appearance. "You know, he said, 'in a few months I'm going to be out of work, and I think I might as well." That's possible. After all, in today's job market a fellow needs to start looking early. But Reagan's chances for being hired are slim. History shows that no person who lists "President of the United States" on his resume has ever been hired as a sports announcer in Chicago And the Cubs eventually lost the game Reagan announced. Nobody wants to hire a jinx. Besides, entry-level spacerscasters sometimes start out at minimum wage. I'll bet he wouldn't Derek Schmitt is an independence junior majoring in journalism Plus/minus alternative Grades are a system of classification. Given a pool of students, an instructor must classify each student into one of five categories: A, B, C, D, or E scores, homework scores and final project/paper scores as well as subjective evaluation of class participation and improvement serve to assist instructors in choosing categories for each student. Students who fail to fit clearly into one of the categories. With the former grading system, instructors felt striktetjacked. They wanted to be able to say a student was a "high" or "low" example of a category. Plus/minus will allow them to do this. Unfortunately, this creates as many new problems as it does categories. Instead of four "bordering" conditions to deal with, the plus/ minus system has twelve. Instructors will have their students teach and make toms, and their ability to do so accurately depends because of the even smaller difference between an A- and a B as compared to the difference between an A and a B. A more accurate and just system would give the instructor more flexibility in evaluation; clearly reflect the effort and performance of the student and the different inaccuracy and uncertainty of the system. The 'way to accomplish all these goals is to 'the way it like it is'. Either it is a system between the categories A system where A4.0, A3.5, B3.0, B2. C2. C2.0, etc. allows for such systems. In order to keep the "borderline" continents from becoming their own categories, there could be a restriction placed on instructors that students must have less than half of the average of the two straddles. This is simpler than it sounds. For example, in a class of 40 students, eight are awarded A's and 12 are awarded B's. Only five or fewer students, could be awarded A:U. Hugh Lester Lawrence junior The voting members of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences assembly should carry the motion to rescind the plus/minus grading system. The system 1 have proposed should be considered by a special committee so that its impact can be assessed before it is implemented. Even though considerable effort has been expended in developing the new minus system, our desire to resolve this issue and get on with the business at hand should not force a premature decision when all reasonable conditions are met. Let's go back to the former system until we realize that we come up with something better. This system accomplishes instructors' and students' aims. It allows instructors more flexibility, students more accuracy and both a pragmatic system within which to work. So, when election time comes back around this fall, you take the time to vote for candidates who are likely to represent your environment. Admittedly, this is only a start, but we really are voting for our lives here. Decades ago, scientists warned our parents to shape up. Environment even passed the Clean Air Act in 2015 and now we are encouraged to clean up the world "for their children's sake." But all this was largely ignored, and it's our nightmare. Just think, we are the first generators of climate change, it probably be around as long as the world is! A long time ago, a lion man warned us that the Tao is like a pennant. The higher you push it, the easier it becomes to see how high we ve pushed our pennant. The glory of man has risen to previously unimaginable heights as a result of our quest for a better life. Man has run out, and the pendulum is reverting. Vote for a future We've got a hole in the ozone layer over each pole, and the incidence of skin cancer is skyer than it used to be. The pollutants, and the people of Love Canal have chromosomal damage they can never forget, no matter how hard they try. God knows what happens when humans breathe Obs, and don't forget the greenhouse effect. Oh, by the way Mr. Rush, low interest rates are going to bring a bunch of dead people much John Arendt Gladstone, Mo., senior John Arendt BLOOM COUNTY by Berke Breathed 7