4
Fridav. Anril 21, 1978
University Daily Kansan
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Comment
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Kansan editorial staff. Signed columns represent the views of only the writers.
The arrogance of the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation apparently knows no bounds.
KUAC, thanks to frivolous expenditures,
plans to run a red-ink budget deficit for
fiscal 1979 that totals $112,730. The budget
includes $40,000 for raising the fence around
Memorial Stadium. And who is being asked
to fund the extravagance?
Students.
Doug Messer, assistant athletic director, went to the Student Senate's Athletic Seating Board this week to ask for reduced student seating at football games. He said, "We're looking for ways to increase revenue, and one way is to promote season ticket sales to the public."
That's highly indicative of the KUAC philosophy toward students. In case Messer and Clyde Walker, KU athletic director, have forgotten, students already are paying for renovations on the east side of the stadium. Students already are paying ticket subsidies to the KUAC. Students already are helping Walker out with his $1.8-million plan to repair the stadium.
REMEMBER the $1.8-million renovation today. Walker never mentioned last fall when the renovation was being discussed that the Kansas Relays, now flung to the far corners of the state and beyond, wouldn't be possible in the stadium today.
Walker also backed down last fall, under heavy student pressure, from constructing a
wall around the stadium. The rationale for not putting it up was that students shouldn't be forced to pay for something that yields no tangible benefits to them. The same reasoning applies directly to stripping ticket-holding students of their seating at football games: Why force students to finance KUAC's stadium renovations when KUAC doesn't even want them at football games?
Walker has said he sincerely wants student turnouts at football games. Actions speak louder than words.
INCREDIBLY, KUAC hasn't even figured out just how much money it would get if it had its way on the seating changes. Messer only indicated that to balance the budget,
"We can make some seating adjustments or win a hall of a lot of games."
Messer based his claim on the fact that many season ticket holders contribute to the athletic program. Those same contributors, of course, have been lavisily rewarded by KUAC in the form of free parking at football games. That $20,000 a year in lost parking revenue costs each KU student who buys a parking permit $3.
KUAC probably can't comprehend it, but students are getting fed up with financing a bloated, bureaucratic entity that acts as though it were a law unto itself. Just one person can curtail Walker's insensitivity to students. And that person is Chancellor Archie R. Dykes.
On the surface, it appears as if the University of Kansas is experiencing a religious dimension to things on campus that signal a renewed student interest in religion generally and in college.
But the appearance of revival is deceiving.
Enrollment in KU's School of Religion has jumped 15 percent since semester 1976 to fall semester 1977, enrollment in the religion classes jumped 32 percent. The enrollment rose by almost 25 percent.
Campus lacks religion revival
These are big increases, which seem to indicate that KU students are becoming more interested in religious matters and actively seeking answers to their spiritual questions.
ALSO IT appears that religious fervor is spreading through the human veins of Mount Oread by word of mouth.
Campus evangelists abound,
and it is not unusual for a
student to be approached by a
professor or academic progressive
bearer of "good news."
Then there are the Moonies, who have made their appearance on campus by setting up sidewalk stands and by ensuring students who are sipping coffee or walking to class.
Today's Student, a national Christian newspaper, also has become a prominent vehicle of the Christian faith on campus.
Surely almost every student can recall a time when he has been confronted by a young evangelist. Sometimes it is a call to the mail; sometimes it is a conversation in the Kansas Union.
Steven Stingley Editorial writer
Although evangelism is as old as Christianity itself, it appears to be more obvious on campus now than it was five or 10 years
BUT IS KU experiencing a religious resurgence? Are students indeed more eager to listen and accept Christianity as a spiritual faith and long-lasting lifestyle?
Leaders of several of the most active campus religious groups say no to the above questions.
Chuck Thomas, director of KU's Campus Crusade for Christ, says that students now have to go to school two or three years ago.
Students are much more independent and much less willing to make a religious commitment, he adds.
The state does not get any money from the intangibles tax. Because it is a property tax, its value depends on how much the state, must spend money to figure the tax. So it has done the next best thing to reduce taxes—tax by leaving cities and counties the option of getting rid of it.
It is the age of the "super independent," according to Thomas, with the emphasis on "doing your own thing."
The taxes levied on a Kansas resident include those he knows about—sales tax, income tax, several kinds of property tax—that are not familiar. For example, there are taxes on personal property, real estate and something called intangibles—a way for the state to get at bonds and savings accounts.
That has been done by many cities, particularly in the eastern part of the state, which constitute wealthy Kansas City suburbs, has cities that have eliminated the tax. Some, like tiny Westwood, an almost artificial town, has already been one-lifetime, one-fourth of 1 percent.
THE INTANGIBLES tax is set by the state at 3 percent of whatever those stocks, bonds and savings accounts have
HOTELS IN certain cities have obtained permission to enact 'bed taxes' on transient bills or taxes also contain sales taxes.
And so, as the week fades away, the weary Kansas tax-payer recuperates from the figuring, sorting and pencil-drawing of his taxes tax ritual. Having paid his debt to Uncle Sam and Brother Sunflower, he sinks back in his easy chair, wanting only to as far as lay away from taxes as he reaches. He reaches for a cigarette.
The state is in the business of collecting taxes not only for itself but also for others. There are many different gallons. In addition, the state collects another 4 percent on the stuff when someone buys it, then sends that 4 percent back to the enforcement of the liquor laws.
Thomas says that six years ago when he first came to Lawrence, he either got a very positive response or a very negative response to the Gospel he propounds.
From time to time suggestions for other fiscal tortures are advanced. A ridiculous example of one of these proposals is to enact a wheel tax on virtually all vehicles in the state. It might
Bad choice. Cigarettes are possibly the most tax-ridled items anyone can buy in a grocery store. There is a state law that prohibits federal taxes on the tobacco, plus the sales taxes, which in Lawrence are three cents for the state and one-half cent for the county. By the time all of the taxes are added, a substantial part of the purchase price was gone to the government.
earned during one year. It is the interest and dividends that are subject to tax.
laws, to pay 40 cents to enforce them every time one buys 100 cents of unreasonable law. Passage of the new legalizing liquor by the drink in restaurants, the enforcement costs could rise
According to Keefer, students are realizing that they can't accept Christianity merely on an emotional basis because he believes we whole thing and must also be accepted intellectually.
Lessley says he can only speculate on the reasons for his observation, but he pointed out several factors that might influence the religious attitudes of KU students.
Public utilities are subject to a "franchise tax," which they pay by giving them when they bring in their bills each month, those customers are further assessed because the bills are subject to the sales tax.
The prophet Ezekiel saw wheels within wheels and towers on top of towers. The state of Kansas sees levies within levies and taxes on top of taxes.
"HEALTHY Christianity is well thought out and becomes a total lifestyle." "Keefer says, 'If you don't make it withnask doesn't make it in college.'"
Perhaps Keefer's insight best sums up why hundreds of students aren't rushing to
THE SCHOOL, also is offering more "practical" courses, such as classes for education and teaching in teaching reliation in public schools.
interested in religion generally and responses are only "lukewarm," "Thomas says."
For example, Lesley says that KU is "highly scholastic" and has a high percentage of knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences.
But now students are less
True, KU students may be more interested in searching for answers to their spiritual questions than students of previous years. And true, it is growing that KU students "growth" quantitatively.
Students are taking a more "thought-out approach" to religion and studying the Bible, she says, which can be longer lasting and more rewarding for the individual.
But students now are cautious in comitting themselves to any one faith and, perhaps, all others. At campus evangelist whose presence at KU is as strong as ever.
Lessley, whose work has taken him to many universities throughout the United States, says that KU students are less interested in Christianity than in many other universities.
THOMAS POINTS out that although the Campus Crusade program remains strong, it is still found in numbers in the past year.
Jim Lessley, local director for a national Christian organization called the Navigators, also concedes that he had been numerically during the three years he's been in Lawrence.
John Mitchell
Editorial writer
commit themselves to Christianity despite the more open and diligent efforts of campus evangelists.
THESE OBSERVATIONS on the state tax system are meant to convey one impression—under the system of laws that govern the state tax structure, anything can happen and usually does.
In any event, what appears to be a religious revival at KU on the surface is really no revival at all.
Keefer says that the time she spent counseling students has quadrupled in the past two years.
But the most complicated proposals are the ones that the state seems to keep around. Currently, 3.5 percent of the revenue from the state sales tax increase is going to be something called the "ad valorem local property tax reduction fund." The fund is intended to make up for the loss of federal revenue sharing and to keep property taxes lower. The state's own money is partially diverted to help out the counties, and there is a tax on them that may have to raise its taxes to compensate.
But consider now that the state also puts a 4 percent tax on bingo or bingo cards, but last year sheriff's deputies were seen at the doors of a church or lodge hall, beating the proceedings honest?
As long as there is an activity from which the government can make some money, it will try to. The government of Kansas has chosen complicated, circuital ways to make that money. Its methods of helping out counties and the towns in it have the governmental mind indeed works in mysterious ways, all of which should impart extra caution to the person who thinks it all—the Kansas taxpayer.
Even the huge enrollment jump in the School of Religion can reasonably be explained.
ANOTHER person close to the heartbeat of kU students is Pvonne Keefer, a student at St. Paul's Baptist Student Union since 1969.
have brought in a lot of money— if anyone had been able to enforce it.
But she says that although students are more interested in religious matters now and are looking a little deeper for answers, they have a "fear of commitment."
The school became an official department of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences only two years ago. The department's dean, Lym Taylor, says, lessons will help to take religion classes because they now see the School as "legitimate."
and existential attitudes among students at KU.
MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD; HE IS THROUGH WITH JEWS
To the editor:
Insurance letter faulty
I must take issue with the opinions expressed in the letter to the editor, "Insurance Execs Define The Ternis" (April 10, 1978), which tried to discredit a respected economics professor actually insult the intelligence of University of Kansas students.
Gregg and Hogle stated: "The advice to buy term and invest the difference is a good sounding theory, but in actual practice it's a farce. The average man has neither the
KANSAN Letters
time nor the inclination to invest the difference—even if he has the ability." I contend that University of Kansas students have not been presented with the full insurance-investment picture, would not rationally purchase whole-life insurance compared to the alternative of buying insurance and investing the difference.
Require criminals to compensate victims
The constitutionality of a state law that requires payment for the care and treatment of a mental patient is being challenged in the district court of Sedwick County.
Regardless of what the court does, the law has merit. Because the law is based on a presumption of innocence, discrimination toward the poor
Shultz has at least a $60,000 stake in the matter. That is the amount he says is owed him for Shadvy's defense.
In a related development, the Kansas Legislature has passed, with some opposition, legislation, the Victims of Crime Reparations Act. This act would provide monetary compensation for those in violent crimes or to their families.
The challenge to the law requiring payment, regardless of whether the hospitalization is for pain or not, totaling more than $30,000 submitted to Gregory Shaddy for his care and treatment in state institutions after he was in jail in the killing of his parents.
Shaddy, who was ordered
RUSSELL Shultz, Shaddy's lawyer, has asserted that the law is unconstitutional.
Bob Beer Editorial writer
released from Topeka State Hospital last month after a court-appointed psychiatrist declared him no longer insane, he has moved his parents' estate. The estate, valued around $100,000, is to be
Charles Hamm, an attorney for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, said Wednesday that the state should have priority over Shultz for payment.
The question probably will be settled by the Kansas Supreme Court.
equally shared with his brother. Scott.
The flaw lies with the nebulous definition of insanity.
The defense, for a price, can fly in expert witnesses who will testify that the government have been sane while he committed a certain atrocious crime. And the state can also prosecute those experts who will testify to the government.
But the law is just.
THE JURY'S verdict will depend on which witness was more convincing.
If found guilty of the crime,
the person will be sentenced to
prison. But if found not guilty by
reason of insanity he will be committed to an institution until such time as he is no threat to himself or society.
After the mental patient is released, the state now says he should pay for his treatment, based on his ability to pay.
Why not expand this to include the person held responsible for his actions?
The concept of reparations must be applied equally.
AND WHAT better determent for so called white-collar crime? Imagine that a man is caught embezzling a quarter of a million dollars from the local bank. Instead of putting him away for two or three years—in our system, the more the money goes into the time that is served—would have his wages garnished until he repaid the amount, plus interest.
If a person were sure that he would have to pay the amount stolen, even if it were confiscated and returned, he surely would think many times before truing the stunt.
A system that bases punishment on the crime and not the person ought to be adopted.
A person should buy insurance for protection and not for investment. The majority of insurance companies push for whole-life with the argument that you are building up cash values whereas you don't under term insurance. This is true, but these cash values are compounded at very low interest rates (approximately 0.2%). By annually investing the difference saved in premium cost for an equivalent dollar coverage at higher rates offered by certificates of deposit or government bonds, the compounding over time creates a much larger savings element.
In the event of death, the beneficiaries of a whole-life policy receive only the face amount of the policy. Whatever cash values are accumulated are retained by the insurance company. On the other hand, the beneficiaries of someone who is insured will receive the difference will receive the face amount of the policy and retain greater accumulated cash values.
One come-on used by the whole-life insurance salesman is that you can borrow against your accumulated cash values at a lesser rate, such as five dollars a month. You're going to one's bank or savings and loan and paying for the privilege to use your own
money. I would gladly jump at the chance to let anyone borrow their own money if they would agree to give me five percent.
I
Gregg and Hogle further stated that "the state of Kansas has a strong insurance department that has the objective of protecting consumer interests in this field." If they do not know the answer, the consumer interest, the public should be better informed about the merits of different forms of insurance.
I have been exposed to convincing statistics that support the idea of buying term life insurance for business difference in finance courses. Until proven differently, I will place more trust in the KU School of Business than a business insurance salesman on this matter.
business graduate student
Karl Kuhn
Library move will benefit all To the editor.
To the editor:
In your article on branch libraries published April 12th, several music faculty members were quoted as being against moving the music library out of Murphy Hall. I hope the impatient students of our universal among music faculty and students. I use the music library as heavily as anybody and look forward to having it housed in a new building on the ROTC site. After all, it takes a lot of time to travel short distance. Adequate staffing of checkout facilities by student assistants would be most welcome, and it would provide more time for the fulltime librarians to do more productive work, utilizing their existing resources. Besides, the music faculty could well use the vacated library space in Murphy Hall
J. Bunker Clark
5. Bunker Clark Professor of music history
Published at the University of Kansas daily August 21, 2016. Subscriptions to June and July except Saturday, Sunday and holiday. $5.95 for subscriptions to 66464. Subscriptions by mail are $1.95 or $1.75 a year outside the county. Student subscriptions are $1.25 a year outside the county.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
Editor Barbara Rosewicz
Barbara Rosewicz
Managing Editor Editorial Editor
Jerrv Sasj John Muller
Campus Editor Barry Massey
Associate Assistant Campus Editors Deb Miller Leunish
Sports Editor Gary Beverly
Music Editor Gary Beverly
Photo Editor Elli Rechman
Video Editor
Business Manager
Patricia Thornton
Assistant Business Manager Karen Thompson
Advertising Manager Daved Hedgehog
Marketing Manager Kim Morrison
National Advertising Manager Kim Morrison
Classified Manager Kelly Prendergast
Publisher David Dary
News Adviser Rick Musser