4A
Friday, January 20, 1995
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VIEWPOINT
THE ISSUE: NO DISTRIBUTED ENROLLMENT
New enrollment hits impasse
Distributed enrollment. heralded by the University as the cure for the ailing enrollment system, was supposed to make its debut in April.
And yes, the poor enrollment process will continue.
And for yet another semester, it won't.
Students have been teased by the modern technology plan for distributed enrollment. It all seemed too good to be true, and it was.
Distributed enrollment would give students the chance to enroll at on-campus computers and off-campus computers with modems. Unfortunately, the mainframe computer would have had to have bitten off more than it could chew.
It would not have been able to handle the enrollment load in addition to handling the payroll, personnel services, student records and e-mail systems.
In other words, it's just not big enough.
How disappointing that students who looked so forward to being a part of modern technology will have to continue waiting.
Distributed enrollment hits indefinite delay, with KU not using modern technology because of lack of computer space.
Now the University will have to buy a new mainframe computer. And although exact dollar figures are unknown right now, it will no doubt cost a small fortune.
Dave Gardner, director of computing services, said that he was not sure when a new computer would be purchased and that the University had not set a new date for the start-up of distributed enrollment.
This was probably a wise decision.
So for those of you who gave a little cheer as you left what you thought were the final long lines of enrollment in Strong Hall, you'll have to grin and bear it again — and maybe again and again.
JOY MARIE LOFTON FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
THE ISSUE: INNOVATIVE MASS TRANSIT
Bus system needs renovation
With a little cooperation between Lawrence city officials and the KU administration, students and Lawrence residents could be riding on water.
Innovative technology could allow students all across the country to ride to class in fuel cell vehicles in the not-so-distant future. These vehicles are powered by hydrogen produced from water, and they are nonpolluting, efficient and quiet. The only emission produced would be the starting product: water.
Fuel cell vehicles are being designed to run on many renewable energy sources, but hydrogen is the most promising because it has fewer environmental repercussions.
The bus system at the University is beneficial because it reduces singlepassenger cars. Let's face it those roaring, bikerchoking machines are the lesser of two evils.
Yet the quality of this system leaves something to be desired. If city and campus planners pooled their resources, Lawrence could apply for federal grants to
City and KU officials need to join forces to implement accessible environmentally safe public transportation.
get new buses. The city could then design bus routes that would be beneficial to the entire community.
Not only would new buses radically be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, but they also would be required to be handicapped-accessible. The current bus system is not.
The Lawrence community is a conducive setting for a joint campus and city-wide bus system. Since the current amount of traffic congestion only seems to grow each semester, mass transit stands out as a highly feasible solution.
The technology is ready and waiting. Putting our current buses to rest should be ample motivation to get this process in motion.
The community should support a joint effort between Lawrence and the KU campus to improve the mass transit system.
AMY TRAINER FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
KANSANSTAFF
STEPHEN MARTINO
Editor
DENISE NEIL
Managing editor
TOM EBLEN
General manager, news adviser
Editors
News ... Carlo Tejada
Planning ... Mark Martin
Editorial ... Matt Gwen
... Heather Lawrenz
Campus ... David Wilson
... Colleen McCain
Sports ... Gerry Fey
... Ashley Miller
Photo ... Jarrett Lane
Features ... Nathan Olean
Design ... Brian James
Freelance ... Susan White
Jeff MacNelly/CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Business Staff
JENNIFER PERRIER
Business manager
MARK MASTRO
Retail sales manager
CATHERINE ELLSWORTH
Technology coordinator
Campus mgr ... Beth Pots
Regional mgr ... Chris Branaman
National mgr ... Shelly Felvale
Coop mgr ... Kelly Connealy
Special Sections mgr ... Brigg Bloomquist
Production mgrs ... JJ Cook
Kim Hyman
Marketing director ... Mindy Blum
Promotions director ... Justin Frosolone
Creative director ... Dan Gier
Classified mgr ... Lisa Kulseh
If this trend for the eradication of boredom continues, our nation will be overrun by displaced letter carriers in knee-high socks and powder blue pith helmets.
However, America needs to lay off the days filled with predictions from a desert rat and concentrate on the important experiences that we all share.
And then I would never be able to send a thank-you note to my favorite tailor on Pants Day.
Carter Voekel is a Dallas sophomore in English.
All in all, holidays are fun, not necessary, but enjoyable. Days like Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter and Passover are viable observances. They deserve the attention they garner.
Holidays should focus on unity, not groundhogs and capitalism
Holidays are strange things.
However, America has become increasingly skewed in its creation of holidays. Now, more than ever, these days serve only one purpose: so postal workers and bank tellers don't work at their crummy jobs for another day. If America continues this ridiculous inauguration of special days, then it won't be long until we can all pay homage to the brilliance of Don Knotts.
They are days designed to observe events or people considered worthy of a nation's recognition.
Valentine's Day, however cute and romantic it may be, was devised to drum up business for Wal-Mart. Yes, it can be fun to exchange cards and flowers and such, but the actual holiday itself serves as an excuse to eat those little candies that taste like cherry Tums.
If you think about it, America has devised several days in order to give Abe, the congenial local postmaster, an afternoon to rest his weary SAS walkers.
no edgy drifter put a razor blade in the nougat.
One such unnecessary holiday is Groundhog Day. I find it hard to believe that a nation rich in technology and science relies on a rodent to produce sound meteorological advice. If you are so worried about the changing of the seasons, I assure you that Phil the Groundhog knows no more than your thermostat.
It is a frightening thought to know that there are people out there, somewhere, who actually trust their crop rotations to something that lives in the ground. But then these are probably the same people who wear short-sleeved suits.
For instance, Halloween seems like a terrifying celebration to me. It is based on ancient Satanic worship, and nowadays kids have to CAT scan every Snickers they get to make sure
Race determines, and culture molds. ethnicity
day, designed to praise the accolades of persistence, the only people who get off work are, again, bank tellers and postal workers. Blue-collar workers still clock in to sell beer and grub worms to everyone who stamps checks or delivers them.
Labor Day is another perplexing day of reverence. It's a bit contrictory, don't you think? On this
There are many other pointless holidays that America has drummed up to break the monotony of any month.
STAFF COLUMNIST
Obviously Luis Briseno misunderstood the entire point of the Dec. 6 Kansan article "Forced to Choose." In my opinion, the article was intended to show that life is more difficult for biracial people because they are "forced to choose" between two cultures, not knowing if they will ever be totally accepted in either culture because their parents are of different races.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Briseno takes my quote, "I kind of wish I was in one group, but I can't be," and judges that I don't know who I am. He categorizes me as an "American." I do not need your help in defining myself because I categorize myself as a Mexican-American or a Hispanic-American. I feel these terms represent who I believe I am and also represent both cultures.
As I said in the article, I liked being a part of Hispanic American Leadership Organization because the members never treated me any differently because of my mixed background. It didn't matter that both of my parents weren't Mexican, Puerto Rican or Bolivian. I was accepted by everyone, regardless of my racial background. Apparently, Briseno believes that he is more Mexican than I am because both of his parents were Mexican, and he lived in Mexico.
Or if that isn't the case, what is the point? The purpose of that quote was to express my feeling that I can never fully stick in either ethnic group. I will always stick out from the white majority as Hispanic, because of my name Sanchez, even though I appear white. And I refuse to Anglicize my name just because I don't want to stick out. Similarly, I will never feel totally comfortable with my brown brothers and sisters, even though I have learned a lot about my Hispanic culture, because I still don't know everything I might if my parents had stayed together or if both my parents were Hispanic.
I have two hypothetical situations for you to consider. Brisano. What if both of my parents are Mexican, but I was raised in the United States, with so-called American values and culture? Does that mean I'm not Mexican, or at least I'm not as Mexican as you? Or what if my parents are Irish, but I was raised in Mexico? Does that mean I'm Mexican, just like you? No, it doesn't. You assume that my father couldn't have had an influence on me, but you are wrong. My skin is light brown, not because of my pale-complexion mother or because of my exposure to the sun. My skin is brown because of my father. Race does determine ethnicity, and culture helps to mold that ethnicity.
will never be totally accepted. I am sure there are others like him who will not accept me as being Mexican enough, simply because of where I was raised or who raised me.
Briseno's letter shows further why
Tony Sanchez
Topeka senior
Devil and angel on your shoulder will fight it out one more time
I feel your pain. No, seriously.
As the giant, bureaucratic gears of add-drop grind to a halt, many of you have asked the hackers behind the monitors in Strong Hall the same question that the "silver bellie," Ms. Nancy Kerrigan, posed after she was
snacked in the knee with the lead pipe (by prof. Gillooily in the Conservatory, I think: "why me?"
They said we would have on-line enrollment this spring. No more lines, no more headaches. We were at the toll
And the answer is, quite simply, because you go to KU.
In technical terms, the mainframe wasn't able to handle all of the programs. This leaves the computer illiterate wondering why they can't just saw the frame in half, add a couple of 2x4s and regue it.
But alas, there is little hope. Only those who plan to graduate (or drop out) in May can kiss this bittersweet process goodbye.
Whatever your status, however, today is the first day of "Everybody who-didn't-get-jack-the-first-time-through," the delirious and insane last-minute rush to pull an entire schedule out of thin air. And students beat the sun to the enrollment center this morning, opting for the cold tile of Strong instead of the warm mattresses of residence halls or apartments to await their spring of '95 fate.
booth of the information highway, but the proposed computer system didn't have enough change in the ashtray.
You know who you are, and you are many.
In the meantime, I dropped the distinguished syllabus in the trash and high-tailed it to the Jaybowl to rent some shoes and a really big ball.
he promised that we would read much, assimilate much and learn much.
Once upon a time — just last week — I found myself in a distinguished class with a distinguished professor, who sounded very, very, oh distinguished. Kind of like Charles Grodin.
As I left the class, distinguished sylabus in hand, I looked to my left and noticed George Will, the distinguished columnist, scholar and MacNeil/Lehrer guest, perched atop my shoulder.
Before you partake of this futile headache, though, I'd like to tell you a little story. It may help you make an important decision. Then again, it may not.
Then I thought, hey, I have been studying hard since I got here. I'm leaving in May, and I only need 1 hour. Why don't I just take that bowling class?
"Challenge this, Georgie," Bill said,
as he grabbed George by the bow tie.
I left them in front of Watson Library, where they duked it out.
"Excellent choice, Matthew," he said, quite seriously. "This class will challenge you, bend your mind, lead you through the gates of true knowledge."
The end.
I paused, smiled broadly, and continued walking. Just then a voice came from my other shoulder. "You don't needed this class," Bill Murray, career goof, said with a smirk. "You've been kickin' ass for nine semesters. You're 9-0. Your GPA is in the upper 3s. It just doesn't matter!"
"No, Matthew, challenge yourself," George said.
Matt Gowen is a Lawrence senior in Journalism.