OPINION
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievance.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM THESDAY OCTOBER 23.2007 PAGE 7A
De Oliveira: Radiohead leads the charge in music industry reform.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2007
PAGE 7A
EDITORIAL BOARD
Legislation targets University endowment
KU Endowment's lack of spending gains notice from Congress as tuition increases continue
On Oct. 16, the Lawrence Journal-World reported that Con-
reported that Congress, in response to constituents' anger over increasing tuition costs, launched a proposal that would require universities with more than $1 billion (which includes KU) in endowment and positive annual returns to spend a certain portion of their funds each year. The Journal-World cited KU's rate of return last year at 19.3 percent; the school spent 5.625 percent of total endowment. Meanwhile, tuition has risen 66 percent in the past five years.
Rosita McCoy, KU Endowment's senior vice president for communications, said that it would be unwise to increase spending when returns are high, because money would not be available during down times. Endowment figures have peripheral benefits as well. U.S.
News & World Report uses them when the publication annually ranks universities.
At current rates, KU will make roughly $193 million this year. At current rates, it will spend $56 million. This yields a tax-free profit of $137 million that's ostensibly waiting for a rainy day. With tuition increasing at its current rate, it's raining. Divided among currently enrolled students, this is a potential tuition and/or fees credit of over $4,500 per student. Endowment could provide substantial financial support to students without even touching the principal of the fund.
It's understandable and reasonable for KU Endowment to seek protection against down years.
While Congress' measure is targeted specifically at increas
tuition costs, there's no reason why endowment couldn't be put towards practical campus improvements. Many donors, especially on the high end of giving, earmark funds for specific projects such as professorships or buildings. It's understandable that donors want name recognition for their generosity (and it is generous).
However, it seems ironic that while students suffer the appalling state of desks in various buildings, vanity projects abound on campus whose presence is not even remotely utilitarian. KU may come to increasingly rely on endowment assets as state funding declines; as such, donations for practical improvements are imperative.
Imagine hundreds of new desks, unmarred by graffiti, across campus. In the upper left corner of each desk would be
a plaque indicating that, "This desk was donated by __." Stations in the various electronics labs may have individual donors recognized with nameplates at each workspace. Incoming freshmen and upperclassmen can receive more named scholarships.
These are ways for donors to explicitly benefit students' everyday lives on campus, while retaining the recognition usually gained through higher-profile earmarks.
Until Congress' measure passes (if it does), there's no reason to think that Endowment will increase its current spending. As such, the impetus is on donors to mandate how they want their money to be spent. While it may be tempting to earmark funds for aesthetic projects, the real gift could be something a little less glamorous and a lot more
DRAWING BOARD
THE LIBRARIAN YOUR PARENTS WARNED YOU ABOUT
BITSO'WISDOM
MAX RINKEE
Fans should be allowed to express themselves
Chants and shirts are the product of a game's atmosphere, and don't have malicious intent
BEN COHEN
The scene is familiar to many a Jayhawk by now. Dramatic mu
now. Dramatic music begins to play, thousands of people stand up on their seats and, at Big Jay's urging, begin rattling their keys in the air. Why this is, I'm not entirely sure, though I have considered the possibility that return men are easily distracted by shiny things. Continuing on, the kicker runs up, the music and the keys stop, the ball is sent flying through the air, and the fans scream an obscenity, at the top of their lungs. Understandably, some people find this offensive. A lot of families
bring kids to games, and they don't want their children exposed to foul language. Not to mention the return man probably likes his head right where it is.
kickoff of every home football game this season. It is also what prompted ESPN to avoid putting students wearing "Muck Fizzou" shirts on television last year during a basketball game. Both of these events have raised the question of drawing a line between showing school spirit and being downright malicious. What some people don't seem to understand is that, when set in a competitive atmosphere like a sporting event, a little insanity is the natural way for many people to channel their enthusiasm for their school. People spend exorbitant amounts of money to travel around the country to
It is the fear of being offensive that has led some people to call for the end of the cry which has marked every
When in high school, I wrote a column, in the aftermath of a somewhat rowdy home basketball game where many faculty members complained about student conduct, about the importance of not regulating school spirit. If students are told how to express their love of their school and its athletic programs in a certain way, it really can't be considered a legitimate display of enthusiasm. Yes, that means the risk of offending people is run, but that comes with the ter-
see their teams play, they dress babies in school regalia despite the fact that they'd probably cry in terror if confronted with the school mascot and some of them slather body paint all over their torsos that they would otherwise keep covered up for fear of being laughed at. In this sort of environment, very few people will think twice about shouting an obscenity, or calling for the ball-carrier to be brutalized in some creative fashion.
ritory. I'll repeat my point that, placed in direct competition with other schools, people will resort to potentially petty actions, like wearing T-shirts with juvenile slogans or shouting profanities. The incident with ESPN last spring worried many, but it strikes me as unlikely that KU fans will not be shown on TV again because some of them wear a certain shirt. If a friend of mine could get on camera at every home game in a Scooby-Doo costume, producers can find ways around showing mean-spirited clothing. And if a chant offends you, try thinking of an alternative. Maybe "Rob his grandmother," or something else that will probably leave the other team too confused to concentrate. Please, just come down off the high horse and let us enjoy the game.
Cohen is a Topeka junior in journalism and English.
Vegetarians deserve people's respect
Overall, Lawrence is friendly to vegetarians, but some people could be more understanding
I've been a vegetarian for almost six years. It all happened rather suddenly, when I just stopped eating meat one day in the 9th grade. In my small high school, I was one of probably three or four vegetarians. When I came to KU, it was like a family reunion where I met all my long-lost vegetarian relatives, because, trust me, I don't have any real relatives anywhere in my family tree that are vegetarians.
It's always a gamble when I tell someone I don't eat meat, because I can never anticipate their reaction. Sometimes I'm met with blank stares. Other times, it's blatant criticisms. Occasionally, it's a, "Me too!"
I think that Lawrence, in general, is what I call "veggie-friendly," or convenient for vegetarians. I still remember once, after first coming to KU, that I ordered a taco salad with beans. The waitress said, "Okay, sure. Now, the salsa on that has beef flavoring in it, so you would like to sub that too?" I wanted to hug her. Most places aren't that conscious. The Brella's in the Underground is also a good place; they will wipe the prep board clean and have everyone change their gloves if you order the Mega Vega Wrap.
However, not everyone is as understanding of vegetarianism. I was eating at the stew house where my friend works, and one of her co-workers found out I didn't eat meat. He came over and started asking me all these probing questions about why I didn't like meat. I told him that yes, I do like meat. I just choose not to eat it because I think it's wrong to kill animals. He then proceeded to tell me that I
should just take a bite of my friend's steak, and that would start introducing meat into my diet. Slow was the way to go, according to him. When I told him I had no intention of reintroducing meat into my life, ever, he just quietly started at me, simply uttering, "But why? Why?" over and over.
I understand that vegetarianism is not for everyone; though if I had it my way, every one would be leaf eaters. However, that doesn't mean meat eaters can't be respectful of vegetarians. It's not funny when someone makes derogatory comments about being a vegetarian, like the Kansas City barbecue restaurant Famous Dave's bumper stickers that read, "We like vegetarians. They make us laugh."
Well, I have news for you, Famous Dave's. Your offensive comments aren't making any vegetarians laugh. Even if they don't respect the lifestyle, the least that carnivores can do is appreciate the dedication it takes to undergo such a lifestyle. I mean, every time I see my boyfriend eat a steak, I could say, "Can you hear the cows crying?" or "Think about the poor little sad eyes of the cow that you're eating." But I don't do that. His decision is his, and I respect it. I don't make a habit of hassling people who tell me, "I eat meat." But, somehow, the road doesn't go both ways.
Gentry is a Kansas City junior in English and pre-medicine.
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To the ladies at the Sandbar on Saturday night: Thank you. Amazing music and a great time.
I don't care if I am a bandwagon fan. The Red Sox are amazing!
I gotta find me a furry; Free for All. Should I look on Craigslist?
Why is the Air Force on the cover of the paper again? They don't even use real guns.
Numba nine, baby! Woo!
Bill Clinton is my boy.
If complaining that! can get in the Free for All is the only way to get into the Free for All, what's the point?
I would like to inform everyone that Halloween is still a week and a half away, so all the slutty girls at Ellsworth, put away your damn costumes till next week. PS. No
one wants to see your ass.
Kerry Meier, since you're good at everything else you do, I was wondering if you wanted to help me with my calc homework?
The sun. The sun is trying to kill us.
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The goggles! They do nothing!
Erick R. Schmidt, editor
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