4
Monday, March 1, 1976
University Daily Kansan
KANSAN Comment
Opinions on this page reflect only the view of the writer.
Nuclear plant risky
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is now conducting hearings in Kansas City to determine whether to grant a construction license for the proposed Wolf Creek nuclear power plant near Burlington. There are many pros and cons being presented by both sides, but there is a very real danger that the arguments against the plant will be given very little consideration.
There are more than 50 nuclear power plants in the United States. There have also been more than 50 licensing hearings conducted by the NRC. Despite all of the controversy, not one construction permit has ever been denied.
The question of whether nuclear power plants should be built is highly debatable. Both proponents and opponents can present piles of statistics to support their arguments. The energy crisis has frightened many people into nuclear power. And others into nuclear power. Others say conservation is the answer, with the development of alternative sources of energy solving the problem in the future.
LIKE MOST federal agencies the NRC realizes that to stay in business, it must protect its interests. In his autobiography, William O. Douglas attacks this trait of government agencies. He says, "After experience with administrative agencies... at the federal level, it seemed to me that most agencies so closely identified with the interests they are supposed to regulate, eventually they are transformed into spokesmen for the interest groups."
THE COSTS involved in establishing nuclear power plants are enormous. Many opponents argue that the efficiency of these plants is so low that the costs far outweigh the benefits. These opponents show statistics indicating that the plants operate only about 40 percent of their peak years and then decline to about 39 per cent a year. The backers of the plant say it can operate at 75 per cent efficiency.
One of the major concerns of opponents is safety. If a reactor breaks
down, lethal particles of radioactive material can be released. Radioactive waste is also a problem. Water used to cool the reactor can become contaminated and released in dangerous quantities.
The Nuclear Age may be coming. It may be the answer to many of our energy problems. But the decision to move to nuclear power is such a critical one that all of the questions must be answered. Caution may prevent catastrophes. The NRC and the Kansas Legislature should act against the proposed Wolf Creek nuclear power plant. By John Johnston
STORAGE OF the waste is another problem. Among the waste products is plutonium, the deadliest poison known to man. The half-life of plutonium is 24,700 years—that's the amount of time it takes for a sample to decay. Thus far no suitable method of storing this waste has been devised.
THE CONFLICT is very confusing. There are too many unanswered questions to make a reasoned decision promoting development of nuclear power at this time. The opponents of nuclear power aren't merely a frightened, uninformed public. Thousands of scientists are also questioning nuclear power. Several weeks ago, three of the top nuclear scientists for General Electric made headlines when they quit their jobs in protest over the safety of nuclear projects.
A specific concern of the Wolf Creek project is the water used to cool the plant. Kansas Gas and Electric Company plans to purchase more than 50 per cent of the water in the John Redmond Reservoir for cooling purposes. This water is controlled by the state and the legislature is now considering a bill that would allow it to be used for the water. If the water is used by KG&E, severe shortages could be caused for areas downstream particularly during time of drought.
Contributing Writer
Guest Editorial
Kansas City arms
Kansas City is already making plans to buy tear gas and handcuffs for the Republican National Convention in August.
But given the relatively calm political climate of 1976, I wonder how much of this material will ever have a chance to muzzle a mob.
**THAT THIS information surprised me, I suppose, indicates my naive. for example, chemicals and hardware for hot air furnaces and hot air of out of thin air when they are needed.**
Members of the Youth International Party (Yippies) in Kansas City called the city's preparation for protesters "frighteningly reminiscent of Chicago so, so Kansas City preparation is the only place this year's political activities that has been."
In addition, the city is thinking about buying two used school buses for carrying prisoners during the convention, Sgt. James D. Johnson of the Ferguson reports. However, Johnson said, there is not yet a plan to order barbed wire.
UNTIL THE Yippies made their request for camping space near the convention hall, the only national group that had stated its intention to send protesters to the convention was COYOTE, the new hookers union (so far unrecognized by any of the powers that be). The group guaranteed a demonstration in support of the decriminalization of prostitution.
The demonstration hardly promises to match the events in Chicago in 1968.
The Yippies said the issues they would raise included unlawful intelligence activities and the burden of the economic slump on working people.
BUT I STILL wonder whence the energy will come for the fist swinging and the rock throwing that would cause the Kansas City police to get out their 2,000 pairs of disposable handcuffs, their $10,000 worth of gas canisters and grenades, and, maybe, their two converted school buses.
The Yippies are so sane this year they're assuring the city they'll provide their own lighting equipment, stage and items and first aid and food facilities.
A Yippie leader said, "It is not our wish to have the citizens of Kansas City financing our activities at the same time they are forced to finance an ever-growing burden for the Republican National Convention."
THE NATION'S universities are quiet this year. The students seem more worried about employment than crusading.
Maybe the COYOTE hookers will start the meele.
Or maybe a few busloads of irate products from Boston and Louisville will spark a war.
Or perhaps Debbie Barnes will lead her brood of ERA opponents in heaving a barrage of purses at the Kansas City police.
By Therese Mendenhall
I wonder.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
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Associate Editor | Jer Young
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Real Youu
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The Kansas welcomes letters to the editor, but asks that letters be typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than 400 words. All letters are subject to editing and condensation, according to space limitations and the editor's judgment, and must be signed. KU students must provide their name, year in school and hometown; faculty must provide their name and position; others must provide their name and address.
Media mass meaningless
WASHINGTON - The other day, the mailman delivered a copy of the official call to the police and a video Ventura. This is one call that I will not heed. I won't be missed, and I won't miss anything.
Journalism isn't altogether unaware that it may be overdoing it. The story of the reporters covering the reporters covering the reporters covering the candidate has
exhibits is a group of politicians meeting in the basement.
Network television coverage
By Nicholas von Hoffman
is so complete that only a handful of special-purpose journalists need to attend. Just as the best seat at a football game is usually given in living room, so it is with national political conventions.
At the Super Bowl, you'll see the people in the press box home for the same monitors. The same was true at the 1972 conventions at Miami. Many of the journalists in Miami were on version on portable TV sets.
(C) King Features
The dozens of camera stations, the capacity of the networks to take you inward, and the interesting stuff is, so far outstreets the ability of one reporter or even a team of four or five to keep up with events being reported on, an introduction this year of extremely lightweight electronic tape cameras, the networks are going to be able to take us live to even more remote hotel rooms that can be used for political conversations between delegates in adjoining urinals.
for a free press and, boy, aren't you lucky to have us out there trucking this garbage to you. The ballgame is over, the candle is gutted, if democracy is dependent on the presence of 8,000 mediate医科in the convention hall.
The worst of the human litter, though, are among the children of the powerful. Lothsmatthey blend black eyed and blond, blue eyed and out from of the Ivy League and the social register, they are signed up as "interns" or pages or some other kind of superfluity. But you better be nice to the offspring of the corporate brass. Not that you'd be out on your keeper, but hints get dropped and, come 1800 and later, the actual convention is held in Honduras; you may not get to go.
become a stock cliche story itself. NBC ran it again on the nightly news not long ago.
On top of that, the networks, with their back-up research staffs and extensive use of helpers to supply more information of all sorts than even a team of the best political reporters can know and use. Nevertheless, thousands of journalists and media people will attend. They will outnumber the delegates at the New York and Kansas City meetings next summer that these will be news industry conventions at which one of the
Why the coverage, however,
is less often speculated on.
Reader and viewer alike are
usually left by the media with
the self-serving thought that
this is the price you have to pay
Media people primarily go to political conventions for their own status needs. Being sent to the convention shows that the people attending are good enough with management to have them spend on you for this plum. When the list is posted with the names of the people going to the convention, it means a humiliation. It means you aim't got no clout in your own organization.
deals and achieve industry-wide consensus through the bonhomme of informal social process, a large proportion of this media mass do no work at all. They are dysfunctional hotshots who do their little bit to make these conventions depressing and painful experiences.
The status aspirations of news organizations themselves are also gauged at convention time. The number of seats and their position is as important to management and corporate
egos as the seating arrangement is to diplomats at a state dinner. The kind and number of badges and passes each organization and in- vestment are important pecking order of importance and puff- appened in the most public way.
No aspect of the arrangements can escape having vested status imitations in their mode of transportation to and from the hall, invitations to parties thrown by publishers and other media executives, hotel accommodations assigned to employees center of action, all figure in the process of judging rank.
FISH. ALBUM LEAF INK ON PAPER.
CHINESE PAINTINGS (Late 20th Century)
1976 NYT SPECIAL FEATURES
SPARK YMM
Prohibition was better, wetter
The "wet" and "dry" forces have almost finished their seasonal skirmish in Topeka. Kansas won't be any wetter or drier than California, one will be pleased with the outcome. The wet forces didn't get liquor by the drink, and the dry forces didn't get the minimum age for the conversion to 3.3 beer raised to 15.
It is difficult to see how two groups in such a fundamental conflict could ever be happy. The natural solution would be for one group to leave the state so that the other could live in peace. Unfortunately, neither Utah nor Nevada is eager to
absorb a great influx of ostracized Kansans.
THE ONLY solution is to return to prohibition. That
the state's drinkers and liquor merchants as well. Everyone knows people don't stop drinking during a period of
By John Hickey Contributing Writer
would make the Rev. Richard Taylor and his cohort happy. Although most of them don't realize it, it would be好 for them
prohibition. In fact, they usually drink more.
much. Hypocritical violations of the "private" club laws have never deterred them from opposing their argument that prohibits it is unenforceable has never dampened their enthusiasm. As long as they can say that they should be happy state they should be happy.
That people would still drink shouldn't bother the dry forces
available since virtually no booze is produced in Kansas. The state will be the only dry alcohol, an island in a sea of alcohol.
INDEED, IT will be the wet forces who oppose prohibition. But why should they? Inhibition is a real petition in the retail liquor market. Prices are no longer regulated by law or driven up by state taxation. National laws will qualify international brands will still be
Why just think of it—no more 11 p.m. blues, dry sundries and bars running everybody out at midnight. Liquor stores and bars could stay open as long as they wanted.
**YOU WOULDN'T have to be 18 or 21; it wouldn't matter whether it was Sunday, election day or Carrie Nation's birthday. Increased competition might win a naval war, and ingenuity should work up a little discreet advertising.**
Women's sports coverage poor
Readers Respond
To the Editor:
Because I was unaware to attend the women's basketball games the weekend of Feb. 20, we didn't know how the team had done
WHEN THE KANSAN came out last Monday, I quickly turned to the sports pages, in which I found column after column devoted to k-State—a game that had enjoyed multi-media coverage. Then I found this: the basketball team doubled its winning score, winning at home this weekend, defeating Fort Hays State, 72-32 Friday night and Phillips University, 66-83 Saturday"—just what in the hell does that tell me about what happened?
Connie Witt Lawrence senior
The Kansan was not the only available medium for student (my) enjoyment of the men's game; I could see it on television (which I did), listen to it on the radio, or read about it in full detail in any newspaper in Karasen.
To enjoy the women's games,
however, I either had to attend
them or depend on the student
paper to supply details. You
would need your student
student senate funding on
one . . what happened?
Unclassified
To the Editor:
As chairperson of the Library Faculty Assembly I would like to correct the University Daily Kansan's Feb. 24 article on CDUD's proposal regarding unclassified academic staff. We will use the same procedures as the teaching faculty for appointment, promotion, tenure, leaves of absence and sabbatical, we are not among those groups who will be affected by the proposal. Nevertheless, we would like to be on record as having reviewed the document and urging a speedy adoption of the document by SemEx.
Martha E. Kehde
Chairperson
Library Faculty Assembly
Chairperson
Law decried
Law decried To the Editor:
To the Editor:
I knew that the people of Kansas and its legislators have been noted for their conservative actions and views in the past, but with the recent outlaw homosexual marriages, I am convinced that the noble citizens of this state have their collective heads in the wrong place. Whether marriage between homosexuals is legal or not will determine the Legislating moral values is.
If citizens of this state allow
their legislators to pass laws restricting sexual conduct between two consenting adults, the ugly monster of the Police Department on everyone's personal freedom. One does not have to be a horosexual or even a rape victim in order to outraged at the passage of this bill. Even Archie Bunker and C. W. McCullough would rebel at being told what was "legal" as far as their conduct in their bedrooms
Most will heartily agree that if two people love each other, want to share their lives with another, and desire the rest of society recognize their union, then these two people should be allowed to marry. Usually this coming together is a positive sex. But who has the right to deny two people future happiness and a sharing relationship with each other if they happen to both be men or women?
Mary Daniels Johnson
To allow the passage of this bill outlawing homosexual marriage would be allowing people with any act, word, or thought that might be less then acceptable by the social majority. Wake up people of Kansas because they can't be taken away. You can't acc�pay apathy now.
Lawrence graduate student
In appreciation To the Editor:
On behalf of the student members of The Jayhawk Navy, I would like to express appreciation to the members of the College Assembly for restoration of credit within the Liberal Arts and Sciences for our Naval ROTC courses.
In the process of this review by the EPPC and the permanent faculty in appropriate academic departments, the department provides valuable suggestions for improvement of our courses.
The candor and objectivity which characterized the review has been a pleasant experience. Nothing can substitute for a rational, unemotional search for truth.
In particular, we would like to thank the members of the full EPPC and its Curriculum and objective examination. Everyone in the University can be assured that EPPC has been most discerning, deliberate and keen in their review of our courses.
Captain, USN
The Naval ROTC is pleased to be a part of the University of Kansas. We thank you all for your confidence.
Ray P. Jones
Professor of Naval Science
Nor would drinkers need to worry about being arrested. It would be well for the Kansas Legislature not to enact any penalty for being arrested. But, if the legislators should prove coercive, their second security unlikely that law enforcement agencies that can't enforce the marijuana laws could cone with prohibition.
Perhaps an agreement could be worked out whereby any person or persons possessing the powers to take possession of a policeman would be required to give him a drunk. That would surely suit the case.
LEST ANYONE should think that I lie or engage in idle speculation, let me describe prohibition as it existed right here in Lawrence less than a half century ago.
There were several liquor stores that everyone knew about. They were competitors with good selections, periodic sales and courteous employees. For those willing to drive a little farther, there was a cut-rate store out on the east edge of town. Also, the taxi company featured a 24-hour service to establish a really sophisticated price of the liquor and cab fare. Now, admittedly such techniques were a little crude and inefficient, but that's not sign a few skilled entrepreneurs can establish a really sophisticated price nowadays. Maybe the business school could do a study on cost marketing effectiveness or whatever. As things stand, the next time you reach for a car around midnight and find it empty, don't call a cab.