4
Friday, March 31, 1978
University Daily Kansan
NIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Comment
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Kansan editorial staff. Signed columns represent the views of only the writers.
The state architect's post, under fire during the past four years for a variety of irregularities in state construction projects, should be eliminated immediately by legislative flat.
sensitive hat.
A special legislative committee last fall recommended the creation of a seven-member building commission to replace the architect. The committee's bill was passed by the House and is on its way to the Senate. The elimination of the state architect's job would take place July 1.
The bill is a good one, and now is an excellent time to make the change from an isolated and careless state architectural system to an open and responsive building commission.
No one would be disgraced.
Carl Ossmann, Topeka architect and acting state architect, has told members of the House Ways and Means Committee that he is not a candidate for the directorship of either the proposed building commission or the state architect's office.
THE ADVANTAGE to having the commission would be that it would have oversight responsibility for state projects but would be able to hold private architects responsible for problems. By injecting the private sector into state projects, their quality would improve.
quit. In 1973, the state awarded a $44 million contract to an architectural firm that was not incorporated until more than three weeks after the contract was settled.
The mess, and many that followed, led to clamorings for abolition of the state architect's office. The office was cited as being too costly. Former State Rep. Duane "Pete" McGill once noted that jobs involving the state architect's office consistently seemed to cost one-and-a-half times what the same jobs would cost if the planning were done in the private sector.
THERE IS evidence that shoddy planning has caused a multitude of expenses for Kansas taxpayers.
Kansas hospital Leaks have developed in the roof of the two-and-a-half year old Flint Hills Lodge at the Kansas Neurological Institute. The leaks were caused by a "major roof failure," a KNI architectural consultant said.
Two more instances of problems with buildings, on the KU campus, at the Kansas Geological Survey Building and new Green
Hall, were brought to the attention of state officials. Max Lucas, director of KU facilities planning, has said he requested assistance with the problems on Dec. 9 of last year and again on Jan. 4. No answer had been received by Lucas a week ago.
Lucas said in a March 11 letter to Ossmann that Casson Construction Co., Topeka, did not intend to install drapes in the fifth floor of the new law building until the company received full payment for its work on the structure.
LOUIS KRUEGER, former state architect who resigned under pressure last fall, had ordered $155,000 of the final payment withheld because of badly flawed pre-cast concrete panels on the exterior of the building.
The hideous mess continues, keeping attorneys busy with letter-writing and negotiating.
negotiating.
And though Ossmann has defended the state record in construction, there clearly is not much to defend. Ossmann said one outspoken critic of the state architect's office, Rep. Fred Weaver, D-Baxter Springs, had eroded public confidence in the state architect's office by his statements that shoddy workmanship and faulty design have plagued projects coordinated by the office.
And Ossmann has outlined changes in his office's procedures that apparently have been reducing the bureaucratic laxity that has dogged that office.
But Weaver says that coordination between the architect's office and contractors has not improved.
KANSAS HAS about $200 million worth of construction or renovation under way during an average year. That fact alone should establish the mandate for the proposed building commission.
proposed solution. Shoddy workmanship, which appears to plague most American products, cannot be allowed to encoach further. The history of the architect's office has not been commendable.
The office of state architect has been proved to be an anachronism and an unnecessary expense for Kansans. A building commission simply must be created. Faulty buildings are a crime against the state's residents and all too often, a faulty building is worse than no building at all.
The gentle afternoon made it a great afternoon to take a little drive around the city. At last I could roll down the windows, I walked inside and sat on the sunshine and enjoy the warm breeze. It couldn't be better.
Potbole trolls haunt city streets
I was motoring south on Iowa Street when the first one tried to gobble my car. It looked harmless from a distance, and I thought nothing of it until I was within a few yards. Then it was too late to dodge or swerve or cry for help.
Well, almost.
It was a pothole, or what could be better labeled as a small crater in the concrete.
my first impression when I hit this particular crater was that my front wheel had been bitten off and sacked into the ground my wheel was gone and my front axle snapped in two.
Steven Stingley Editorial writer
BUT MY car escaped unharmed. At least it seemed so from the driver's seat, and I continued down the road.
Then I remembered that the city had taken an inventory of the pothels in Lawrence and had come up with the horrifying results that there were 800 of them. Mr. Gulbrands, city manager, called "severe failures" in the streets of Lawrence.
I could no longer think about the fine weather and the warm breeze. Visions of ugly black leather boots, blue chucklebones filled my thoughts. My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. My
muscles tensed, waiting for the next hole to come whizzing up. I would be ready. I would dodge the next one.
I ride "athor regiat" shops are filled with victims. I shook as I saw my precious wheel laid out on an old garage floor with the other lame wheels and suspensions and axles—alb bleeding brake fluid and grease.
But I was determined...
I had heard all the horror stories from people whose cars had been swallowed by the potholes; how the trolls who live under the streets had shredded the fine rubber of their prey and jolted their intruders from above.
IT HAS happened often in our otherwise calm city, and many people have been known to be struck with solemn fear of driving the few blocks to the supermarket.
let this happen to my car. When I reached the intersection of 23rd and Iowa streets, I decided to leave the pothole-plagued city for the smoother gravel roads of the country side. I took into 20th Street going west and呼吸ed a sigh of relief.
Then I saw the warning sign,
'SLOW, ROUGH ROAD.'
Beyond the sign I could see
many of them 'severe failures'
in the road. I had no desire to
any farther. I pitted the drivers
who live in that direction and
must mace the moon-like
road. Their rides must be torture, their cars
must be wheel-less.
I turned around and headed east on 23rd Street. The road was fine until I reached Louisiana Street.
THE STREET at this intersection was practically gone.
It was stitched down to where the terrible trolls could run free and grasp at any tire that over and into their domain.
The ugly little monsters must have thought they had gained unrestrained freedom forever, and she was forced to chew and shred and destroy.
I slowed but it wasn't enough. My tires plunged and my bones rattled as my car jerked to the ground. I potholes. I knew my spring drive was doomed and there was nothing to do but go home and get my bicycle. At least I'd ride safely on the sidewalks.
That night I solemnly prayed to the god of city street repairs.
*Please help us. Please fill the craters and forever end the evil and destructive deeds of the earth.* *What will happen to trolls who live under the road.*
Professional societies politicized by ERA boycott
Letters
To the editor:
I am writing to express my concern about the increasing politization of professional societies in the United States. I am submitting my resignation to the American Association of University Professors (AUP), to which I have belonged since 1961, and to the Americas Advancement of Science (AAAS), to which I have belonged for about 12 years. Both organizations have recently announced that they will not hold national meetings in states that have not ratified the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA); in taking this action, these societies have joined a number of other professional organizations American Psychological Society and the National Education Association, in bowing non-ERA states.
I would like to make clear that my action is not taken because I am opposed to ERA. I strongly support equal rights for women. What I do oppose is the entrance of professional employers on behalf of their members, commonly without any referendum on the matter. I joined AUP because I am a
University professor and because I am deeply concerned about matters of academic freedom, the role of faculty in University governance and other matters related to education, I joined AAUP in order to have its National Council make political expressions on behalf of ERA for me. I joined AAAS because I am a scientist and because I am a scientist in an advance of science, I am interested in having AAAS express political clam for me.
The use of convention boycotts to force certain states to pass ERA is particularly odious. It is tantamount to saying that democracy is fine—as long as you vote and think the way my group thinks you vote. We should not push you economically. Worse, such boycotts are not effected by the individual members of these societies, but are dictated by councils that
were not elected to take political action, even though they may think they are acting in concert with most of the membership. I might personally decide not to spend my dollars in states that have not ratified ERA, but to do so because societies decide that for me is greatly disturbing.
marion E. Bickford Professor of geology
Religion view not accurate
How ironic, and sad, that Roch Thornton has chosen the most glorious and personally freeing celebration of the year, Easter, to share with the Kansan's readers his opinion that "religion is only one of the more pervasive and obnoxious forms of mind control." Granted, some religions and
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be typewritten and include the writer's name, address and telephone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University, he/they must include the writer's class, homeetown or faculty or staff position. Letters are not to exceed 500 words in length. The Kansan reserves the right to edit all letters for publication.
cults do exercise mind control. The Unification Church is but one example of a Christian cult that has been shown to effectively brainwash its members, usually without their becoming aware of the changes taking place in their minds. Ever since I was taken to tattoos on my I have found that it is quite possible "to control a man's mind without his tacit consent."
Letters Policy
To the editor:
In contrast, Christianity frees the individual from suffering the penalty (death and eternal separation from God) for his sins, because Christ has already paid the penalty for us. He also conquered Easter—Christ conquered death and so has reunited us with the living God. Far from being mind control, only the individual who has personally made the decision to accept God's forgiveness for all to inherit these gifts. No one can force the decision to be made; no one can make it for anyone else.
This is one "religious weirdo" who has made that decision and will never regret it. There is no mind control in this walk with
Xochitl Dennis Halstead senior
God, only a loving, freeing relationship with our Creator.
Cadet questions report of slurs
To the editor:
I am writing in response to William Romstedt's letter in the March 23 Kansan. I have been asked to do so by several of my fellow Air Force RCOT cadets, who feel, as I do, that his remarks may not be totally accurate.
First, the only female cadet holding the rank of major does not recall the alleged incident. Second, it is not certain that the individuals to whom Rostemted attributes the attack were FORCE ROTCTC cadets. Our lounge is used not only by cadets but also by their friends and by members of Angel Flight, which is an organization of women who support the mission and work there, need, one of our Angels is Jewish, and takes some good natured ribbing now and then from her roommates (also Angels), to which she replies in kind. We feel it is likely we have overlooked some of this kidding around and reached the wrong conclusion.
Even if this was not the case, because Rostedt did not take the trouble to specify what was said, how can one say whether or not these remarks are possible that he is a bit of harmless ethnic humor, with no offense meant, taken the wrong way? Is it fair to impute anti-Semitism to someone on the basis of one isolated incident? Is it fair to print Rostedt's allegations without first looking into their veracity or requiring him to be more specific?
tomtested is right in that my peers and I, as future Air Force Officers, have the positions of great responsibility and should be held to the
Robert E. Boyd Avon, N.Y., junior Cadet, AFROTC
highest ethical standards. Anti-Semitism is reprehensible, regardless of the institution in which it is found. All forms of bigotry are reprehensible. However, it is unfortunate that Romstedt's eloquent denunciation of intolerance was preceded by unverified, unspecified charges probably based on remarks taken out of context. It is more important that the Kansan himself complete the charges. My opinion of the Kansan's editorial policies has hit a recordlow.
Story on Moon lacks other side
To the editor:
I was surprised by a recent article in the Kansan about the Unification church. I was surprised first of all as a journalism student, because in every reporting class I've ever attended, potential Kansan leaders have ever responded to never to repeat the verbatim one-sided claims of public relations men.
But I was surprised most of all at some of the unchallenged claims the PR man for Moon's church made. He said, among other things, that Moon doesn't claim to be the Messiah. The PR man was only telling half the story. More accurately, followers of Moon believe that Moon will become the Messiah as soon as he has finished creating the perfect family and society. As soon as he has become the Messiah, Until then, they will say he isn't, so they won't shock proselytes and the general public as much. Moon does teach publicly that he believes the Messiah was to be born during this century in Korea.
Even more shocking, Moon teaches that Jesus Christ failed while he was on earth because he was crucified before <sup>b</sup>
Moon's unibiblical and dangerous teachings about his Messianic role and the failure of Christ are at the core of his unpopularity in this country. Perhaps next time the Kanssen reporter will bring out both sides of the story.
Doug Lamborn
Lawrence sonio
found a perfect mate. This is in direct contradiction with the Bible, which teaches that Jesus accomplished his salvation by his substitutionary death on the earth, all who accept it personally.
Lawrence senior
Marvin tower may be harmful To the editor:
The microwave communications tower behind Marvin Hall should be examined more closely. Several times while I worked in the shop directly below and beneath the
receiving plate of the tower, I felt hot for no particular physiological cause. I could only deduce that the energy input was from the microwave activity. So if my waves could be reflected from low, or even high clouds, away from the receiving grid and upon the landscape in the region of the tower. Thin clouds could act as a barrier, so it struck the building instead of the tower.
Considering the purpose of Marvin Hall, the tower should be converted into a large vertical journal windmill which could probably supply evening energy to the building, and demonstrate energy efficiency expected in the near future.
The microwave receiver and transmitter plates could be automated and moved to the top of Hoch Auditorium, which has a metal roof for human protection. Lawrence Smith
1032 Tennessee St.
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