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Wednesday, April 26, 1978
University Daily Kansan
Comment
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Unissued editorials represent the opinion of the Kauan editorial staff. Signed columns represent the views of only the writers.
City stalls on Pier 1
Last December, an explosion and fire devastated the Pier 1 Imports building at the intersection of Eighth and Massachusetts streets, leaving two persons dead, a huge mass of rubble and a towering wall that appeared ready to tumble at any time.
More than four months later, the landmark of clutter remains untouched.
This building is a tremendous eyesore for downtown Lawrence. And the wall that separates the destroyed Pier 1 building and the adjoining building to the north, a wall that was weakened by the fire, is a safety hazard to pedestrians passing nearby.
Clearly, someone has been inexcusably slow in getting the mess cleaned up and made safe.
But who is the culprit?
Most fingers are pointing at the landowners of the buildings involved in the fire. But at least one city official thinks the city itself should be spurring the landowners with a bit more gusto.
THE OFFICIAL, City Commissioner Marnie Arngersinger, said this week that the whole area "looks awful" and that "we're dying to get it cleaned up." Why hasn't it been?
"I just plain can't understand why it's taken so long." Angersinger noted. "I think it's the owner's responsibility, but maybe the city should have applied more pressure."
Arsgeringus has a good point. The landowners are going to move as slowly as possible in spending large sums of money to fix the building and its surroundings. The decision whether to rebuild takes time. So long as the city says nothing, the landowners have nothing to lose in taking as much time as they want.
Another city official, who asked not to be identified, said that the landowners are dragging their feet because their insurance money is inadequate for them to rebuild. The owners may be waiting to see whether they can collect any money from their suit against the natural gas company connected with the explosion.
CITY MANAGER Buford Watson blames
the owners for not cleaning the mess.
"From week to week the landowners say they're going to do something with it," he said. "And then they don't."
But are city officials fulfilling their obligations to the public? They have done practically nothing to rid Lawrence of an aesthetic blemish and undeniable safety hazard that stands blatantly in the middle of the downtown.
It is time for the city to take a more active role in forcing the landowners to start pickling up the bricks and removing or supporting the weakened wall that threatens every curious shopper.
Econ prof tells KUAC to cut down on its costs
To the editor:
The true purpose of the KUAC has now been revealed for all to see. The corporation is out to make money and is willing to spend more money on the students, to thus end! For years, many people, especially students and administrators, have labored under the illusion that the corporation was part of the KUAC conferred financial advantages on the University of Iowa, so that they will continue to believe the KUAC rationale for the latest revenue-producing scheme — that "it adds to the mission of the University by providing a valuable experience for the observers and the participants in an event."
As should be clear from its latest maneuver, the KUAC should be treated like any other business enterprise. In particular, it should be held by all firms whose investors judge other firms, such as General Motors. The KUAC should be required to demonstrate that it keeps its costs to a minimum. As things now stand we are asked to keep our costs low because the best possible job and keeping its costs low because the KUAC says it is doing so. This judgment is then affirmed by a handful of people who are either ardent supporters of the program, and enthusiasts at or of the philosophy, or by those who do not have the time or the knowledge necessary to
KANSAN Letters
understand the KUAC budget.
Thus, there is no incentive to control costs, with the result that costs rise unnecessarily. Now that the possibility has arisen that funds may be taken from academic programs and used to subsidize the KUAC and salary are threatened, it seems appropriate to consider ways of making the KUAC financially more responsible.
One step necessary for improving the situation is to provide an incentive for the KUAC to minimize costs. This incentive may be offered by the KUAC has unlimited desires for new programs, buildings, athletic gadgetry and perquisites for the coaches, administrators and players. The KUAC has unlimited desires for these things, but only after it shows that it has made a "profit" and turned some of that profit, say 25 percent, over the previous year. It will be used to be used for academic purposes. Thus, if the KUAC deserves a new fence around the stadium it most show a profit because it sees no annual payments for such a fence. To produce this profit, it is up to the athletic director to keep all other costs down. Precisely how he does this is his responsibility, sharing the profits with Dykes is to assure that the profits exist
and are not a figment of some accountant's imagination.
Until such an incentive exists,
there is no reason for the
corporation to control its costs
and no reason for the public to think
Tom Weiss
Professor of economics
SUA president wants publicity
To the editor:
I wish to express my disappointment in your article on Jean Michel Couteau. Not once in the article was it mentioned that he was the sponsor of the event, Barney McCoy, Forums chairperson, spent hours of work on bringing Couteau to our campus. It seemed that he would be Student Union Activities, an organization of volunteers, asks not for the recognition of single members but wishes for recognition of programming organization itself.
Recruitment of students to work with SUA programming depends heavily on success in the entire year. The student newspaper is our main source of publicity; we depend greatly
Thank you for your coverage of the event; however, I would hope that in the future those who receive rightful recognition receive rightful recognition.
SUA president
Kim Herren
one building has remained unsafe and unusually. City officials haven't applied enough pressure on the building's owners to clean up the ugly eyesores.
Since the fire and explosion that struck Pier 1 Imports last December, the area around
Axing Nazi exhibit was wrong
If the University administration can cancel an exhibit not shown in another exhibit but another exhibit later because it also offends
To the editor:
As founder and principal donor to the Wilcox Collection of Contemporary Political Movement Literature at Spencer Library, I feel I must speak out against the university to cancel a controversial Nazi exhibit in the library.
The administration has attempted to excuse itself in this instance by citing the coinage of "the common mother" in minority religious holiday and a television series with the exhibit in question. This is an attempt to disguise interference with the national "special" circumstances. Further, I strongly suggest pressure was brought against library personnel to enforce compliance in this censorship.
Censorship and suppression always begin with the most unpopular ideas—in this case, national socialism. First a display, then a book or a periodical, then a movie, then a video. This is the pattern of totalitarianism throughout the world.
In the 13 years since the Wilcox Collection was established, I have always felt secure in the knowledge that my collection, which contains more than 200 left to far right, was safe from censorship or perilage from minority pressure and special-interest groups. Further, because of the amount something to offend virtually everyone, I have considered it of prime importance that the professional library staff be independent in their decision making, popularity, budgetary and public relations preoccupations of the University administration. Accordingly, the cancellation of a politically sensitive exhibit concerns me.
KANSAN Letters
some minority special-interest
group. And what does this
practice say for the future of
the Wilcox Collection or other
controversial collections in
the library?
I do not feel the Wilcox Collection is safe at the University under the circumstances I have seen. The collection is in excess of $130,000, and unless I receive assurances from the University administration that it will not succumb to minority specialization, I will undertake to relieve the collection and place it in an institution with a better reputation for an independent library free from ad-hoc charges. I am confident. I have engaged counsel to this effect.
Laird Wilcox
P.O. Box 1832
Kansas City, Mo.
Administrators weren't rational
To the editor:
Thank God we have nice chancellors aplenty to protect us from the unpleasant facts of life. It is much better for our schools to be able to character of an Adolf Hiler or a William Shockley than to let us see them for what they really are. The truth is so painful and so easily avoided. Why should bother ourselves with it at all?
May emotional reactionism long triumph over rational inquiry in this citadel of free speech! John Ness
Hitler painting part of history
For the editor:
Lawrence senior
This is my response to the articles concerning the cancellation of the Nazi exhibit.
Sen. Berman does not believe
that a nazi exhibit has any educational value, but I do. I'm a student of art history, and I don't think anyone could understand the personality of the artist. Therefore, a painting by Hitler could be an important object of study in the art world. Artist Will his frustration be visible to me? Are the effects of his psychosis preserved in his painting? I'll never know, if I want the chance to examine it.
The exhibit opening was poorly timed as arguable. But to cancel it altogether is cowardly. If this exhibit can be cancelled, others can be too. If the library doesn't stick up for their right to exhibit what they choose, I will feel let down.
Is it fair that Edelbaum can air his views on campus while I am prevented from seeing a piece of Nazi propaganda? Much can be learned about him by examining its official propaganda. How dare anyone try to suppress an artwork, a
poster or any other historical document! These things must be available to the public. It's pretty crazy for someone to take his revenge on a group of objects.
I am not a Nazi sympathizer. My interest in this matter is greater than my academic adequately discuss academic freedom in this letter. But the question is before us: "What is our academic freedom at KU?"
Len Keesee
Journey in Art History
Len Keeseee
Open exhibit at later date
To the editor:
The decision to "postpone" the opening of the Nazi art exhibit is disappointing to me for two reasons:
(1) The only way to prevent a recurrence of a phenomenon such as Nazi Germany is to understand it; and we can only understand it by studying the records that it has left behind. If one bans Nazi art as a teaching tool, how far does one go? Do you perceive Mein Kampf or classes from viewing and analyzing Nazi propaganda films? Where is the line drawn?
(2) Everyone seems to overlook the fact that the exhibit was primarily meant to be used in conjunction with a classroom experience. Delays in its opening have already prevented its use for several weeks. Now this "in-progress" project is only three weeks left in the semester means that the 300 students will have no opportunity to view the material, the teacher interested in teaching or is not?
Surely the University can pick a date less replete with religious and emotional significance and open the exhint so that it might serve those for which it was intended.
John Burney
Lawrence graduate student
Rab-rab Kansas boosterism falls flat
According to the Kansas department of economic development, the state is getting along well. Kansas ranks first in the country in aircraft production, third in cattle production, and third in
It is questionable why newsmen working in Kansas would do anything but talk Kansas, but Montgomery apparently was trying to get the members of the association behind his program. It was an impressive too, too; department figures back up Montgomery every paragraph of the way.
Such was the gist of a speech given by one Larry Montgomery, spokesman for the department. He appealed recently to the Kansas Press Association to support his program "Kansans - Talk Kansens."
All it needs is tourist production
AMONG OTHER THINGS, Montgomery revealed that Kansas had created more new jobs in the last five years than any states except Texas and California. On the other hand, a poll taken among Kansas residents indicated that the majority had a negative image of their home state.
That might support the conclusion that disenchanted people are leaving the state to find work, thus accounting for the low unemployment rates within its borders.
But Monitorey, was not in the business of explanations. He was playing the part of booster, as the teacher, and not the boss.
John Mitchell
Editorial writer
peared on television Monday night. He tried to sell the association on his ideas.
LOWER THE speed limit. That will slow them down right there. If the Highway Patrol enforces a 30 mph speed limit on Kansas highways, the state's hotel and motel revenues will increase. Restaurants will have more, if grumpier, customers, and the highways will deteriorate more slowly. More motorists will take the highway without being seen. The curving two-lanes will bring them ever closer to the tourist attractions of the state.
Montgomery said in his speech, "We don't need any more travelers visiting Kansas. We already have the second largest number in the nation. All of us should go on a four-hour, enable them to spend $1 a day more."
But what is needed is specific action. It is not enough for Kansas to talk to Kansas. Without action, Kansas is not in touch with Kansas.
but isn't quite the spirit—why not get more travelers and make Kansas No. 1? But there are other reasons to say it was good.
If that tactic doesn't work, the state should redesign its highway systems so the main highways go straight through the tourist attractions. It would be hard to resist seeing the world's largest ball of twine, now in Cawker City, if it were lying on the median strip.
The new law requiring medical students to practice in Kansas if they want scholarships should be amended. After the required residency, those students should be required to go outside the state and promote Kansas tourism at their new residences. Never underestimate the power in the advice of a doctor, particularly if it's saying, in grave hands, you think you'd better take a vacation. Go to Kansas."
But what the state needs is more tourists. Even if they don't stay long, an increased number of them should compensate for the lack of money spent per capita.
MONTGOMERY emphasized the size of Kansas' international wheat market. He said the state sends more wheat outside its country's boundaries or other state and every other country in the world.
Let the tourism boosters capitalize on that. Slip a couple of free airline tickets to Wichita in every thousand bushel. To ensure a longer visit, make them one-way tickets.
The power of the media should be employed as well. Kanem corporations with money should buy news and then publish it.
subminimal advertising. Flashing a tourism message on the screen too quickly for the conscious mind to see will affect the unconscious. Millions of Americans will wake up in the morning not knowing why, but feeling a powerful urge to go see Baxter Springs.
But the surveys taken of people outside Kansas indicate an unwillingness to tour the state. And it is a truism that nobody wants to tour the state. It makes Kansans have to point out that their state is desirable.
It could be accomplished by playing hard to get. Make the state more exclusive. Charge admission at the border and turn away those who won't pay—unless they can prove themselves residents. It sounds like a paradox, but it's only reverse psychology.
ps which the VOICES of the powers that be in Kansas, to which Montgomery has added his, have urged the citizens to talk Kansas for so long that it seems their only goal. Therefore, if nothing is more important than publicizing the state, extreme measures such as these are clearly called for.
After all, what good are Kansas' strong economy, scenic beauty, healthy environment and progressive attitude if the only ones who can benefit from them are Kansans? If the tourism effort fails, everyone involved with it will have to find something else to do. The state's taxpayers might not even need to support a department of economic development.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Editor
Barbara Rosewier
Barbara Rosewicz
Managing Editor Editorial Editor
Jerry Sas John Mueller
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