4A
Monday, January 23, 1995
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: FINNEY'S FINAL FOLLIES
Former governor's acts foolish
Talk about going out with a bang.In two of Joan Finney's final acts as Governor of Kansas, she posed for a photo with the National Rifle Association and commuted the prison sentence of a convicted arsonist.
Finney's publicity stunt for the NRA expressed, as she stated, her support of the Second Amendment.
What a purist!
Following this logic, one has to wonder why, while in office, she didn't demonstrate her support of the First Amendment by hurling racial epithets from the steps of the capitol.
To top it off, she cut the sentence of an arsonist who was sentenced to 45 years to life by a Johnson County district judge in 1986.
Although setting fire to a house where a former girlfriend lives may be borderline insane, legally it may not merit a life sentence. But with 11 other convictions on his record,
Typifying her time in office, Joan Finney posed with the NRA and cut the sentence of a convicted arsonist. What a finish.
Leslie Keith Kimball was sentenced under the Kansas habitual criminal law. He wasn't a model citizen. Moreover, his prison record lists 27 "disciplinary infractions," including intimidation and testing positive for drug use.
Law enforcement officials were perplexed.
Perhaps a lame-duck governor should be granted her last wishes. But not if the end results of those wishes may endanger the public.
Finney's time in office was often met with fiery and explosive opposition from lawmakers,the press and her constituents.
She must have wanted to light a little fire of her own. Then she fanned the flames with the NRA and an arsonist, and the people are left to wonder why.
MATT GOWEN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE ISSUE: ATHLETES AS CELEBRITIES
Quake didn't destroy civility
The earthquake that travaged Japan last week demolished buildings and ravaged entire cities. But somehow the quake, which measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, did not manage to wreck the general sense of order and community that the people of Japan have traditionally maintained in their country.
In the city of Kobe, where most of the more than 4,000 deaths and 12,000 injuries occurred, only one market managed to open for business Jan. 17, the day after the quake. Nevertheless, people patiently waited in line for milk and water.
The numerous reports about the natural disaster described neighbors sharing resources with one another, employees showing up for work the next day and even newspapers being delivered on time.
Although the earthquake in Kobe, Japan, shattered thousands' lives , it didn't flatten the people's concern.
People demonstrated concern and respect for fellow citizens as well as for themselves and their families.
But the most telling aspect of the noble reactions to the quake was not what happened, but what didn't happen.
It seems miraculous that the people of the devastated cities in Japan could react to this tragedy with such collective selflessness and responsibility. That's teamwork,to say the least.
There were no reports of hoarding or looting, eliminating the need for armed national guard forces to maintain order.
Watch and learn, America.
MATT GOWEN FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD.
Jeff MacNelly / CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Mother's desire to create an Elvis duplicate worked
One of the drawbacks to childhood is that one is often at the mercy of one's parents when it comes to items such as clothing, grooming and hair-cuts.
For me, that period of interment ended when I was finally able to secure my own steady source of income. Finally, I was able to stand defiantly in front of my mother to say no to her repeated attempts to convince me to once again go with the 1950s Gomer Pyle crewcut 'do. I was able to say no to leisure suits made from the finest imported polyester. I was free to be me!
And then it hit me. The memories came flooding back.
Or was I? After years of indoctionation, it was hard to pass up that fake silk dress shirt that seemed to come straight out of "Saturday Night Fever." I was ineffably drawn to that hideous rack of two-tone pastel bell bottoms. I was at war with myself.
I remember the countless hours spent in the bathroom as my mother coiffed my hair until I had just the right look. Finally, she would step back from me with a huge smile on her face, proudly pointing to the mirror.
"Well, what do you think?"
Slowly I scanned the mirror. There it was — the Elvis paddomad in all its glory. Now that by itself would be no cause for alarm. I'm sure many
STAFF COLUMNIST
other children whose mothers were big fans of the King had to endure a similar fate, but how can I explain the clothes?
How do I explain the picture of me dressed in a typically hot '70s navy polyester shirt with a baby blue collar and matching cords?
What is the plausible explanation for the matching navy blue cords?
And most of all, how do I explain my undeniable Elvis pose? My weight shifted back on my right leg, which is perpendicular to the left, is pointing in the direction of the camera.
How can I fully explain the position of my hands? The right is resting loosely by my side while the left is partially extended from the elbow with my hand and fingers pointing down. That's right. It's the trademark limp wrist, the wrist that rests ever so cautiously as the other holds the microphone or points in the direction of some pretty young thing that has caught the King's eye. But there was more.
The picture was merely a catalyst for the rest of the memories that
quickly poured out of me like syrup from a maple tree. (Food similes—yet another sign of Presley mania.) Instead of lullabies, my mother sang me to sleep to the gentle melodies of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and "Love Me Tender." While other kids were doing the Hustle, I was being tutored in the intricacies of the hip sway.
What other reasonable explanation is there for my fascination with Las Vegas? Why did all of my pajamas weigh 10 pounds apiece and come with a matching cape?
Well, after much soul searching and intensive regression therapy, I have arrived at the only possible answer — I am the long lost heir to the Presley throne. That's right: folks. I am Elvis Presley's love child.
Of course my mother denies it! Don't they always? But the signs are there, unmistakable signs that point in only one direction: Graceland.
But before Lisa Marie and Priscilla get all bent out of shape, I will say for the record that I don't want anything from them or the estate. I don't need it because I know that deep in my heart the King lives. Every time I pass a Burger King, I am reminded that I, too, am a "hunka, hunka burning love." Could any child ask for more?
Nicolas Shump is a Lawrence senior in comparative literature.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"OH, LOOK. IT MATCHES YOUR TIE."
—Jo Andersen, Lawrence mayor, as she placed the key to the city of Lawrence around the neck of Julian Bond, a 1960s civil rights leader, at the Martin Luther King Jr. dinner Jan. 14.
"THIS IS DEFINITELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE INJURIES. IT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT."
—Galen Shelley, Ricoh Copiers service technician, referring to the "worst-case scenario" for the student who sat on the copy machine in the East Asian Studies office during the Jan. 14-16 weekend and made photocopies of his buttocks.
"I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. IT'S LIKE A NIGHTMARE. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT."
—Takahito Shiki, Osaka, Japan, graduate student, after hearing about the earthquake registering 7.2 on the Richter scale that struck the towns of Kobe and Qsaka in the early morning Jan. 17, killing 1,812 people and injuring 6,336 others.
"WE'RE DEFINITELY THE MOST PREPARED. THESE CLOWNS OVER THERE HAVE BEEN PLAYING UNO.
WE HAVE CONNECT FOUR."
—Chris Horton, Leawood freshman, about his group, which had been camping out in Allen Field House since Jan. 14, awaiting the start of the KU vs. K-State basketball game.
compiled from Kansan staff reports the week of Jan. 16
To be honest, I really had no idea what was going on.
Finding the urge to learn again cures myopia of eternal student
I was smiling. OK. That was a previous experience.
I was in a good mood. No problem.
Although I know there are some who would be inclined to say my good moeds are rare, those are just lies
STAFF COLUMNIST
spread by those jealous of my position of power, can be relaxer and damn neat jolly sometimes.
That's what threw me. It was 8:15 in the morning, and I was thinking about my
I was walking to class. It happens, occasionally. That day, I was looking forward to being there.
first class of the day with interest.
I'm what might be called a prolonged student. This is indeed my fifth year as an undergrad with another semester or two ahead. I have been here long enough that just the other day someone asked me to join the GTA union. I have had several majors along the way. Burn-out is a term that could be applied to me.
So after all this time creating excuses to attend classes and being another fish in the old pond, I felt a loss. It was an empty area that was being filled.
My friends looked forward to my cynical observations on the educational processes we underwent. Attending school became a matter of bloody mindedness. I would graduate or die trying.
I was looking forward to class. It's a fun class in an area of interest for me. But that isn't it.
It was that I wanted to be there.
Being on campus had nothing to do with stubborn pride. I wasn't proving anything by getting up early and packing my backpack. I hadn't made a point to my family by accumulating more credit hours and inching along to the distant day of graduation. The answer to this new feeling was simple. It was an emotion that I once thought had been beaten out of me by bills and personal turmoil.
Why? It isn't the promise of graduating. That carrot's been in front of my nose for too long to have effect any longer. It isn't a burst of hope because I'm still as cynical as ever.
I want to learn again. It feels good.
I'm damn near giddy with the feeling.
I even want to go to classes I don't like.
I think it's just a matter of waking up. I know from experience that focus is important in seeing things. Myopia affects my eyes, and without help I couldn't even understand my own writing. Myopia affected my outlook, and without help I wouldn't bring myself to care about things that once meant the world to me.
So I'm a born-again student. Thanks to it, I walk to class with a smile on my face.
I've met a lot of people on this campus at least as burned out as I am. I wish I could give you the recipe for wanting to learn again. All I can give you is advice.
KANSAN STAFF
Remember the bureaucratic crap that all universities demand these days, the realities of roommates and family pressures and the need to put your life in order eventually, but focus past it.
Look at why you came here in the first place. Think about the first time you saw the course listings in the catalog. Look for the joy in just finding out something new.
And maybe you'll be lucky enough to realize you're thinking, "I wonder what we'll be learning today."
STEPHEN MARTINO
Editor
DENISE NEIL
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Isaac Bell is a Lawrence senior in creative writing.
Editors
News...Carlos Tejada
Planning...Mark Martin
Editorial...Matt Gowen
Association Editorial..Neeseth Lawnard
Campus...David Wilson
...Colleen McCain
Sports...Gerry Fey
Associate Sports...Ashley Miller
Photo...Jarrett Lane
Features...Nathan Olson
Design...Brian James
Freelance...Susan White
JENNIFER PERRIER
Business manager
MARK MASTRO
Retail sales manager
CATHERINE ELLSWORTH
Technology coordinator
Campus mgr ...Beth Poth
Regional mgr ...Chris Branaman
National mgr ...Shelly Falevite
Coop mgr ...Kelly Connelye
Special Sections mgr ...Brigg Bloomquist
Production mgrs ...Ji Cook
Kim Hyman
Marketing director ...Mindy Blum
Promotions director ..Justin Frosolone
Creative director ..Dian Gier
Classified mgr ..Lisa Kuseth
Business Staff
MIXED MEDIA
By Jack Ohman