OPINION
THE UNIVERSITY BARY KANSAN
7A
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2008
COMMENTARY
Using inmates as resources could prevent future crime
A recent article in USA TODAY gave me another reason why I don't support the death penalty. The article, written by Kevin Johnson, highlighted information that was ascertained through the most recent inmate surveys conducted by the Justice Department in 2004.
The information is leading social scientists, as well as law enforcement officials, to recognize the "obvious" link between family influences and criminal tendencies.
According to those surveys, 48 percent of inmates in the United States claim to have a family member who is or has been incarcerated.
To most, this may seem like common knowledge.
When asked if either him or any
of his family members had ever been to jail, Nathan Hunt, a Topeka senior said, "Nah, me and my family gotta clean record."
He went on to add, "I think growing up in a positive or negative environment does have an impact on you and what you do, though. If you're around negative things, you're going to do negative things, and that wasn't the case with me."
Although there are wonderful examples of people overcoming their background and upbringing to become successful and well-to-do citizens, there are also uncountable examples of children being born into poverty and crime only to remain there.
Children who grew up around violence, drugs and criminal tendencies or in an unstable environment may be more enticed to continue down the same destructive path.
People have a choice to make the right or wrong decision, but those who grew up in an unhealthy environment may have a distorted view as to what is "right" or "wrong." Perhaps the proper resources and
information weren't directly available as a result of an ongoing cycle of urban poverty and violence.
I disagree with the death penalty because I see it as a means to get rid of the problem rather than trying to solve it.
Based on findings from the survey, certain government agencies have implemented programs targeted at inner city youths.
The targeted youths are those who are at the highest risk of following the same criminal-led lives. Instead of lethally injecting convicts, it would be beneficial to continue to distribute surveys and find out more about the backgrounds and lives led by these inmates.
Social scientists and psychologists could find a possible link between background and upbringing and the crimes committed.
If it is a societal problem, our society would have the information and resources needed to help and prevent those youths from living a life that would cause them to wind up in jail.
What it comes down to is whether our society is willing to place time and effort in finding the cause behind criminal intent.
I know some think why should we put any effort into them, especially after they murdered or raped someone?
Although background and lifestyle can't be directly attributed to crime, why hold people responsible for our society's pitfalls that contributed to them being that way?
It's not a baby's fault if he or she is born to a junkie mom who exposes him or her to drugs his whole life and that is all he or she knows.
I understand that people commit crimes for many reasons and may have the intent of killing someone for their own specific reason or purpose.
It's just that we don't know those reasons or causes unless we take the time to figure them out instead of killing our resources, and yes, I'm calling inmates resources that we can use to improve our society.
McNaughton is a Topeka junior in journalism.
the death penalty in Kansas
In Kansas, the death penalty was declared unconstitutional on Dec. 17, 2004. Sentenced criminals who committed offenses before this date may still receive the death penalty.
Minimum Age to Receive the Death Penalty: 18
Does Kansas Have Life Without Parole: Yes. Senate Bill 422 was signed by the Governor on April 16, 2004.
Who Decides The Possible Death Sentence: Jury
Source:deathpenalty.info.org
COMMENTARY
Congressional distractions at colligate level
With all this hubbub brewing about U.S. senators running for the presidency, I couldn't help but notice some parallels with student senators vying for the student presidency. While sometimes humorous on the student level, the U.S. Senate's wasting of precious time and money can be frustrating and perplexing.
Case in point: last semester a bill was introduced urging student senators to take a stance on hate crimes. The only apparent reason for this bill's existence was to pressure the senators to assume a political posture because of a heinous act to an off-campus fraternity. The only problem in particular was the senate members spending upwards of an hour debating whether they should send a notice to university officials and state representatives, reiterating a policy to which all university personnel adhere and acknowledge anyway.
The senate narrowly decided to table the lackluster bill indefinitely, which in turn lead to an incendiary ordeal. It's interesting to consider that nearly one-third of the student senators are minorities.
Why was it necessary for the U.S. Congress and senate to be extraordinarily inefficient and/or daft in 2005? Was an emergency session for Terri Schiavo, weeks spent debating the legality of flag burning or months spent glorifying heterosexual marriages obligatory or even imperative? Consider that all the other foreign and domestic issues — such as changing strategies for the war and increasing minimum wage
— took more than a year to come to frutition.
It seems at times the U.S. Congress
has its priorities screwed up, or at the very least forgets to put on its thinking cap. Not to denigrate Student Senate and imply that some senators go Rick Santorum crazy and introduce senseless bills. There are good weeks and bad weeks in the Student Senate chambers, just like our good-old grown up senate and congress.
I like to think that the president Hannah Love is something of a Hillary Clinton-ess figure. She is strong, authoritative and has a fashionable blonde hair. Both women have assumed great positions of political authority and have yet to cause any gender-based problems.
In my Communications 332 class last semester, some male dolt had the gall to not only imply that a woman would do an inferior job in the oval office, but also to explicitly state that a woman couldn't do it sufficiently.
I may be wrong, but the state of Kansas, the University of Kansas and the state of New York haven't gone up in flames because a woman was at the helm of the governorship, student body presidency or senatorship.
I suspect this season's student body presidency race will become mired in the briar and nettle of disengenuous implications from one side or the other, just like that of the national race. I do concede that both the U.S. Congress and student senators tax themselves with endless hours of hard work and tedious number crunching. Yet sometimes a lengthy debate on encouraging free and reasonable debate in student senate is not only a political time eater but a diversion from pertinent and stressful work.
Oh, and ask Drew Faust how Harvard is faring under her leadership.
Williams is a Coffeyville junior in English and Pre-Law.
Editorial: Last chance for students to speak against Oread Inn
No rest for the wicked, religious
Congratulations. It looks like if you're not religious, you're a part of the "in crowd."
Yet, there needs to be an increase in respect for people who lead a religious life. I don't understand why people look down on those that try to improve themselves
I know you're out there. She's tans.
No matter how much we've been mocked for watching a show that seemingly spends more time revealing the sexual escapades of its characters than showing events related to its hospital setting, I know that like me, you still love it.
Save TV give us new episodes not new shows
I know you're out there, Grey's Anatomy fans.
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--or garbage can lid?
Well, you got to hand it to Missouri for being smart enough to vote for Barack Obama.
Wow, good thing I picked today to sleep through class. It's a snow day!
--or garbage can lid?
--or garbage can lid?
Don't worry, its all systems go for Lou's date tonight.
If love is all you really need, then why am I in college?
Want more? Check out all of Wednesday's content online.
The more fun your Band-
Aid is, the faster your boo boo
heals. Barbie and SpiderMan
work well also.
--or garbage can lid?
Who's Lou's date?
I need a friend in Cog Psych 318. Is anyone else as lonely as me?
--or garbage can lid?
The KU Text Alert is supposed to inform us of weather-related cancellations. Not just shootings. Anyone got a tray
--cancelled. You're the best!
--out on my own?
I'll bet everywhere is sold out of sleds right about now.
--out on my own?
Snow days are great, but I would have appreciated an e-mail, KU. You managed to put one together about the flu, but I'm supposed to figure this one out on my own?
--over it.
Shooting on campus =
emergency. Snow day =
excuse to go sledding. Go text
yourself
Yes, you're supposed to figure it out on your own. You're in college. Look outside, check the KU Web site. Then put your ass on a cafeteria tray and get
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