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Friday, March 10, 1978
University Daily Kansan
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Comment
Unused editorials represent the opinion of the Kansan editorial staff. Stated columns represent the views of only the writers
Collect old fines first
The University Traffic and Parking Board has approved what its annual report prefers to call "a few minor fee changes . . . to increase the effectiveness of the Parking Office operation." In plain English, the board has decided to drastically increase parking fines—apparently without even bothering to present a rationale for its decision.
present a rationale.
Nowhere in the report is there any explanation of how "effectiveness" would be aided by raiding students' wallets. The "minor" changes range from 50 to 100 percent increases, effective for fiscal 1979.
The board also labeled the increases "emergency changes." Meanwhile, faculty and staff at the University have run up unpaid fines that total $36,000. While noting that the fines are a problem, the board attached no "emergency" designation to them.
them.
“ANY AND all required legislative means” should be adopted to compel payment of the $38,000, according to the report.
In the interim, students with fines are denied enrollment, grades and graduation.
Faculty and staff deadbeats get off with no penalty whatsoever.
The board evidently recognizes the gross discrepancy between how student fines and faculty-staff fines are handled. That's nothing new; the same situation exists with faculty fines for overdue books. But having recognized the problem, the board recommended the opposite of what a sensible solution would have been.
That solution is simply this: Before students are taken for a financial ride on paying fines, why not first get the $36,000 owed by the nonstudent part of the University? Surely $36,000 would be a nice start toward achieving the "effectiveness" that is apparently lacking in the Parking Office.
applicable.
The report does have reasonable recommendations buried within its report. Among them are car-pooling and moped provisions. The moped proposal is particularly heartening because it allows mopeds on the central campus even when it is closed to unnecessary vehicle traffic during the day.
THE REST of the report, however, rests on skewed priorities. It is highly arrogant to admit that a fines problem exists with the faculty while simultaneously saddling students with the burden for it.
How has this reverse reasoning happened when there supposedly is student representation on the board, selected from the ranks of student senators? The board pulled no punches in recalling recent meetings: "Throughout the year the attendance of student members was abysmal."
The report coily suggested that next year's board consider reducing student membership on the board from four to two. So much for participatory democracy.
Parking fines obviously are too lucrative for the board to leave alone. But at least it could have the decency to focus on past, rather than future, violations.
Buck supersedes learning
It seems that to prod a legislator, all that must be done is to threaten a tax increase in an election year.
Kansas legislators, who last year left for spring recess without funding the state's school system, this week pass a measure that gives the state's budget $309 million to work with.
Teachers, who feel they've been harassed by parents who have abducted their educational responsibilities, are worrying about salaries, class size, use of the district's mail service for teachers' association business and use of school buildings
About $230 million of the funds would go to school teachers' salaries. The measure passed by the Senate, was passed with little substantive change. A $13.5 million property tax on machinery.
Judging from the mood of Kansas teachers, the school finance bill is nothing more than the usual fare. Kansas City school teachers, who staged a six-week strike last fall, last week reduced their contract numbers—but the talks continue.
TOPEKA TEACHERS have been arguing with school board officials for months and have been impasse suits. The atmosphere in Topeka is so frigid that allegations of conspiracy between teachers' bargaining with board officials have been made by board officials.
for teachers' association meetings.
Most of the teachers demands are not critical and are under-serving of the hostile emotions so evident.
While teachers fume over school boards' supposed recalcitrance in negotiating teachers' demands, legislators play their game of watching whether their districts' property tax assessments increase or decrease.
THE THEME is familiar: Worry about the buck now and ignore the job one is supposed to do. The teacher's epicenter in this nation and lies at the heart of its ills. When the nation's teachers begin to show symptoms of it, children are up all the evil concomitants.
In the long-winded debates in the legislature and negotiating rooms, the school system itself is ignored. One almost would gather that most teachers enter their profession because it is lucrative. That they enter the school where they discover that, indeed, teachers never have been paid as well as they probably should.
But why argue for weeks and months about class size, for instance, when enrollments are low, even at every level of education?
Again, underlying the whole issue is the philosophy that postulates that one is a sucker if one is not being paid what one supposes one is worth. Everyone is worried about the effects of inflation, when there no signs of it and. And it doesn't diminish if Americans' ideas of why they work are not rethought.
THE EFFECT on children of teachers' strikes, which are imminent in many cities across the country, has been explored adequately. The clearest signal that is communicated to them is that the dollar measures everything—whether a person's worth. Traute nonsense.
There are teachers to whom students owe their careers and, in many cases, their lives. For those teachers no amount of remuneration is sufficient. But the money they need from school funds should go to teachers' salaries while only 20 percent is left for libraries and other capital educational investments? The trend of declining enrollments will make that more evident each school year.
Teachers and legislators are both guilty of considering only the law of the buck for their own short-run benefit. Besides, without the threat of a $1.35 million property tax increase hanging over teachers, probably would have left for their spring recess with barely a thought of the state's educational future.
Press freedom at stake in bill
It is difficult to clamor for the right to leak information. Informants are usually thought of as skulking, fearful underlings, or lazy observers, on whom they want to get the goods.
But when the goods are news of wrogdoing in high places or of private fingers in public money, leaks can bring valuable information indeed. A rule that would condemn all leakers, no matter information they carry, is questionable.
Such a condemnation is Kansas House Bill 2199, which passed the House on Feb. 22 in a vote of 123 to 10. It would punish those who release reports of the Post Audit Division before the Legislative Post Audit Committee can review them. The post audit staff complies reports on program audits, which are the checks on how well the Legislature has appropriated to it. The division sends the completed reports on to the legislative committee.
FROM THERE the process gets interesting. The legislative committee members review the audit report, talk to the people who prepared it and those from the agency it concerns and then release it. All audits, therefore, eventually become a matter of public record anyway. That circumstance makes a question a question when a report destined to be public actually becomes public.
John Mitchell Editorial writer
becomes public.
The bill is harsh. It would make
premature release of an audit report a Class A misdeemason. The person who caused a leak would face a year in prison and a fine of $2,500.
State Rep. Fred, Weaver, D-Baxter Springs, sponsored the bill. He said Tuesday that the bill was designed only to protect the integrity of the audit system. He cited an example of what he thought was a dangerous audit.
"There was a case involving the Board of Regents," Weaver said. "It wasn't something that could get Archie Dykes in jail or anything; it was just some little thing. But if it had been played up in the court, it could have gotten someone in trouble."
True enough. the press does have to watch itself, to stay away from sensationalizing the trivial. But when a case is simply a legislative review between an unfavorable audit kept secret and an unfavorable audit made public, what difference can it make how soon the press writes the story?
THE IMPRESSION formed by several members of the Kansas Press Association is that the bill presents two questions that as yet are unanswered.
One is: If the bill becomes law, and
later attempts are made to learn who leaked post audit reports, will reporters who don't tell be subpoenaed and jailed? To this, Weaver keeps replying that he is not after the press and that if the press gets a report it should go ahead and publish it. His reply is not an answer to the question at all.
The other question is: Will the law "freeze out" state employees who otherwise would act as sources of valuable information? The answer seems to want to answer that, but the bill is designed to answer yes. Employees naturally will be wary of passing on a report if they know that they could, by failing to comply with disapproval but also a jaffy and a hot fire.
THE QUESTION the press association did not ask is: Is it right for the press to have an audit report before the Legislature? Why would a reporter ask any difference. The report will become public eventually, and the legislative reviewers cannot prevent a report from being released. If a report is unacceptable, that is no reason to hold it back.
State Sen. Wint Winter, R-Ottawa and chairman of the Senate Waits and Means Committee, which has the bill now, harbors mixed feelings towards it. On the one hand, he thinks that giving the bill a vote will be released is fair play with the agencies being audited. He said Wednesday, however, "I don't think we should put
anybody in jail for leaking what is really public information."
The danger of the bill lies in the unanswered questions that surround it. It might interfere with the flow of information from government to people by chilling the contacts between the state and the press. It also shows an assumption that they need to see public damaging material before it becomes public.
That assumption is worrisome. It hints that there might be reason for legislators to tie a report up in "review" for an indefinite time—perhaps forever—and take their own actions on it, releasing nothing to the public.
THAT ATTITUDE was exemplified by Weaver, who said, "Nobody's going to understand the audits anyway, until we study and analyze them."
The post audit division is supposed to do the analysis before the report is completed. Apparently Weaver feels the Legislature must add its own filter to the stream of information that comes the public's way.
At first, the controversy over the bill seems like too much argument over too little. But a year in prison and a $2,000 fine for breaking the law that distracts legislators the press. But by keeping audit reports in their own hands until they are satisfied with them, and then releasing them, they would be showcased as the strut of the people—their constituents.
To the editor:
Bennett's terminology provokes questions
"I'd like to thank Barry M. Shalinsky for his letter concerning Governor Bernett's termination of the new law, and the speech of the new law building.
Listening to Bennett on the radio, I heard his statement, "whistling at the things that walked by. I was incredulous that you were making an official could use such a term for women. I opened my Kan-
tn the following day, expecting a deluge of protest. However, the only mention of the speech was in a front page article that quoted Bennett as saying, "whistling at what walked by." The discrepancy between what I heard and the direct quote
1. The quotation was lifted from a written copy of the speech not containing the word "things."
Drivers cause attitude problems
Dear Roger Sprecher, driver of bus 180. Bus passengers are glad that you found time from having to drive on the snow and ice to set us straight on how to drive. Now I understand why Lawrence Bus Co. drivers are so friendly and helpful. Now I know why I am treated like the scum of the earth and ignored and left standing on corners. Our drivers act like gods being punished by having to drive for us mortals.
To the editor:
After three semesters of riding the bus I have yet to see a bus driver shackled to the steering wheel. If you can't stand the pressure, or if you're a student's money that pays your salary and the students' needs that are supposed to be met. However, it's the student who has to work his schedule around odd hours that the busier are not using. And the student who has to put up with a snarling, inconsiderate bus driver.
You make it sound so tough being a driver. Why don't you go tune those pianos, or are you afraid that you can't pull your
Moon's critics not represented
suggested to me three possibilities.
power trip with a piano and leave it standing on the corner? If, as you say, many bus drivers are University students, I fail to understand the high illiteracy rate among bus drivers. I have always read a book that I read a "No Smoking" sign! I don't remember the student's name who had had enough and refused to be intimidated by one of your fellow bus drivers, but I am sure that his actions reflect a lot of other bus passengers' attitudes of your passengers, you have nobody to blame but yourself.
I began reading "Moon church views aired in radio show" (Feb. 23) with a great deal of interest, hoping to find a well-written, objective article. Alas, my hopes were dashed!
Paul Shadinger Seattle graduate student
I am disappointed with the Kansan.
Although "both sides had a
To the editor:
KANSAN Letters
2. The newspaper and-or reporter deliberately covered up.
3. I heard incorrectly.
chance to present their opinions" on the radio show, the article was blatantly one-sided. The entire Kansan article was taken up by Jim Stephens' apologetic, without even giving cursory notice to the view of the
A letter to the editor is not the proper place for a detailed analysis of Moon's church. One hopes that in the future, the Kansas will give both sides of this issue an equal hearing.
Watson Library is a disgrace to the University of Kansas. It is unsafe, understaffed and its main library is a bitter, baffling anomaly—a markedly inferior part of an inlibrary with no self on academic excellence.
Unification Church's many criticies.
Contact officials to improve Watson
KU has requested money to improve Watson Library. Gov. Robert Bennett and the Kansas Senate have approved the request. Final responsibility now rests with the Kansas House.
The Kansas urges students to personally contact their hometown representatives over spring break in support of increased library funding. The names of hometown representatives are available today at the reference desk in Watson.
Positive action must be taken if Watson is to be rescued from its present condition. Student programs an improved library is essential.
Of course, the above suggestion can be disregarded if the Kansan will only inform its readers of its recent transformation into a propaganda sheet for the Unification Church
Christopher Haas Leawood senior
Players aided Revue success To the editor:
To the editor:
i would like to take this opportunity to express one performing group that was left out in the reviews of the 1978 Rock Akralk Review—the In-Between Playings (IBAs). As a member of IBAs, we spent hours upon hours of rehearsal time learning dances, music, introductions along with time spent on sets and costumes. A lot of time and energy was expended by our rehearsal team—don't we deserve some recognition as a part of the successful performances of Rock Akralk Review 1978?
Kim Jefferis
I talked to a number of people, male and female, who had heard the speech, but not one could corrobate my initial observation. Thus, I asked for alternative between myself and the Kansan and decided I was wrong. That is, until I read Shalkinsky's letter. To his question of what does such a term as 'adversary' mean about governmental attitudes, I'd like to add two additional questions.
Ruth Baum
Why was Bennett misquoted on the front page of the Kanan? What does it say about the women of this campus? How did Mr. Kanan comment could slip by with hardly the bad of a mascara-ed eyelash?
Lake Quivira senior
Overland Park sophomore
powers. It is, rather, much the ideal of what people, in general, can do.
I
Snow sculpture was offensive
To the editor:
When I first heard that the snow sculptors were replacing the male student of the original statue with a female, I thought, "How liberated of them." But the purely sexual posture of the male figure towrote a different message than the opposite. Too often, working women have to contend with unwelcome sexual advances from male colleagues or employers. "Women in Law" have much more to offer than their sexual passivity. How much more enlightening to have portrayed the woman as a seated figure in a guarded and encouraged not for her sexual organs, but for her mind. I hope that whoever knocked the statue down the wall was built shared my sentiments.
The snow statue entitled "Woman in Law" built by a few KU law students in front of the new Green Hall was in extremely poor taste. Those who built it, and no doubt the majority of people who saw it, considered it only as a mocking contrast to controversial Jimmy Green statue. I would like these people to realize that it had an underlying meaning that I found to be offensive.
Louise Page
This subject is far too important to many parents, students, educators and citizens, and my reputation as a credible religious leader is far too important to me, to charge them with guilt or disqualified and careful study of the matter. Very truly yours.
In response to the letter in your columns inquiring whether I have evidence to support my charges against the Integrated Humanities Program, I can say more. On the subject I have produced detailed documentation to support every charge.
IHP criticism well supported To the editor:
Louise Page Lawrence graduate student
The Rev. Dr. Vern Barnet OCA
Student praises death coverage
To the editor:
I simply want to thank you for your editorial last Friday about the circumstances of the death of Lennis Johnson.
Your editorial showed perceptive thinking, conscientious investigation and clear and measured judgement. So what is that is the ideal of what newspapers can do in this country, as watchdogs of other
Published at the University of Kansai daily August 12, 2014. Subscription is $30. June and July except Saturday. Sunday and holiday. 68068. Subscriptions by mail are $1 a semester or $15 a year outside the county. Student subscriptions are $35 a year outside the county.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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