Opinion
The University Daily Kansan
4A
Laura Roddy, Editor
Sarah Hale, Managing editor
Kristi Ellott, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Shauntae Blue, Business manager
Brad Bady Smart, Retail sales manager
Matt Fisher, Sales and marketing adviser
Scott Valler, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, May 2, 2000
Patrick O'Conner / TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Editorials
Student Senate Judicial Board never has been used, lacks utility
Student Senate has decided to breathe new life into the Senate Judicial Board, but this might prove to be a waste of time. There is confusion about the role of the Judicial Board in campus affairs and about the fact that Senate might be able to spend its resources on other projects.
One of the problems with the Judicial Board is that, year after year, it does not get much support. There seems to be talk every year about making the board do something substantial, but that talk quickly dies down when the school year is under way. This is probably because the board is not useful compared to other parts of student government to which Senate gives more attention.
Evaluation of Judicial Board occurs almost every spring but quickly dies down
One of the possible roles of the Judicial Board is to mediate disputes between campus groups and provide an appeals process for decisions made by other student governmental bodies. This might be the best possible function of the board, if it were workable. It seems fair to offer another-
er appeals process for elections fines and other disciplinary actions. However, the Judicial Board would limit itself simply to procedural questions. For example, this means that if someone could prove that he or she was not guilty, it would not matter because the board only would be concerned with whether the original hearing was conducted properly.
The traditional lack of utility is a good signpost for the potential of this body. It has not had much bearing on campus issues in the past, nor does it seem that it will in the future. Senate can spend its time more profitably somewhere else.
Brett Watson for the editorial board
Parents shouldn't make curriculum
A Lawrence parent organization, Parents for Objective Science and History, made a presentation to the members of the Lawrence school board April 24, voicing its objections to evolution being taught as fact rather than theory at Free State and Lawrence High Schools.
After it reviewed the biology textbook used in these schools, organization members concluded that the book was at some points confusing and that it left certain issues unresolved. The organization decided that a good measure to address these weaknesses would be to draft worksheets and distribute them to teachers. The worksheets would complement the book and clarify points that the organization deems unclear or with which it disagrees.
School boards should listen to parents' suggestions, but there should be a limit
The organization does not view the teaching of evolution in public schools in a favorable light. At best, it thinks that evolution should be taught as theory, and not as fact.
The right of parents to have a voice in issues concerning their children's education can by no means be disputed. If a textbook is considered in any way incomplete or confusing, parents should indeed bring forward their concerns and suggestions.
However, there is a limit to the extent of the influence these suggestions should be allowed to have.
Creating worksheets and determining what exactly students should be taught somehow exceeds this limit. Parents can and should express their objections, but the final decision of what students are taught cannot fall under their jurisdiction. Parents can be a very diverse body. The organization cannot claim to represent all the parents in the area.
It is essential that there be specific standards about what students are taught, especially about scientific subjects as important and as controversial as evolution. Although standards should be flexible and open to parental suggestions, parents cannot have the final say or put together worksheets to be taught in classrooms.
Cynthia Malakasis for the editorial board
Kansan staff
Seth Hoffman ... Editorial
Nadia Mustafa ... Editorial
Melody Ard ... News/Special sections
Chris Fickett ... News
Julie Wood ... News
Juan H. Heath ... Online
Mike Miller ... Sports
Matt James ... Associate sports
Katie Hollar ... Campus
Nathan Willis ... Campus
Heather Woodward ... Features
Chris Borniger ... Jayplay
T.J. Johnson ... Photo imaging
Christina Neff ... Photo
Jason Pearce ... Design, graphics
Clay McCuistion ... Wire
News editors
Advertising managers
Becky LaBranch ...Special sections
Krista Lindemann ...Campus
Ryan Riggin ...Regional
Jason Hannah ...National
Will Baxter ...Online sales
Patrick Rupe ...Online creative
Seth Schwimmer ...Marketing
Jenny Weaver ...Creative layout
Matt Thomas ...Assistant creative
Kenna Crone ...Assistant creative
Trent Guyer ...Classifieds
Jon Schlitt ...Zone
Thad Crane ...Zone
Cecily Curran ...Zone
Christy Davies ...Zone
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"It is not necessary for the public to know whether I am joking or whether I am serious, just as it is not necessary for me to know it myself." — Salvador Dali
Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
How to submit letters and guest columns
All letters and guest columns should be e-mailed to opinion@kansan.com or submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Holl. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Nadia Mustafa or Seth Hoffman at 864-4924.
Guest columns: Should be double-
spaced typed with fewer than 700 words.
The writer must be willing to be photo-
traphed for the column to run.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (capion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924
Perspective
Reno's biggest mistake was waiting for too long
It has not been a proud few weeks for the American political establishment. Republicans and Democrats, congressional leaders and administration appointees all have managed to make themselves look like fools because of a 6-year-old boy.
because of a busy boy. Let us begin by examining Attorney General Janet Reno.
Our attorney general has not handled this situation well. Handing over a photogenic child to the Cuban exile community was somewhat akin to tossing raw meat to hungry wolves. Reno is from Miami; she should have known just how fanatical the exiles can be about Cuba.
Mike
Loader columnist opinion@kansan.com
Who urged the Miami family to file for custody? Reno did at the beginning of this
mess. Who gave them advice about how to go about doing it? Reno did.
Having set up the media circus, she then sat on her hands for months. When it became clear that Elian was being used as some sort of obscene political football, when crowds were gathering outside and chanting day in and day out, when there clearly was a dangerous situation brewing
I suspect that the Waco and Ruby Ridge disasters had scared her off, made her willing to try patience instead of force. In this case, she waited too long.
When she did act, however, she acted well. A team of armed agents swept in, took the boy and left. No one was hurt.
The law was enforced. And a young boy was taken away from an exploitative group of political activists and reunited with his father. It could have been done a long time ago with less trauma and hassle, but once it was done, it was done well.
This brings us to the congressional Republican leadership. I cannot recall a time when the party of Lincoln had been cursed with such suicidal
hypocrites to lead what should be the saner, more rational, more moral section of the country. Apparently, it is not American to enforce the law.
Apparently, it is not American for a father to have custody of his son.
apparently, courts, and not ties of blood, should determine the fate of our children.
Apparently, it is a horrifying thing for a 6-year-old to be rescued from people illegally holding him — rescued at the request of his father.
Apparently, police officers and the men and women of the Immigration and Naturalization Services — the people who patrol our borders and keep the nation safe — are jackbooted thugs for doing what the law authorizes and commands them to do: rescue a son at the anguished urging of his father.
These are Republican sentiments? I think not.
That party supports family values. That party supports the rule of law. That party always has strongly advocated parental rights.
Unless, of course, you're Trent Lott. Or Henry Hyde. Or Tom DeLay.
Or Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), who thinks Congress should examine "the propriety of the federal government breaking into a child's house." Specter felt no such urgent need in 1985, when police in his home state of Pennsylvania fire-bombed a house to flush out a radical group up inside. The bombing killed four children, destroyed more than 50 homes and made more than 250 neighbors homeless. Specter refused to criticize the action. None of the dead children had their very own political lobbies.
"Republicans trust parents and believe that they, not courts and lawyers, know what is best for their children," says the 1992 Republican platform.
Perhaps the attorney general should be more swift to enforce the law. And perhaps the Republican leadership should act like Republicans, instead of like sharks who smell blood in the political waters. They wind up biting their own party and doing everyone a lot of harm in the process.
Loader is a Henderson, Nev., junior in journalism.
Feedback
I was disheartened to read the March 31 guest column by Heather Woodson in the Kansan that egregiously misrepresented events that occurred at a local establishment.
Just doing our jobs
Smoke-filled bars, loud music and hostile crowds. Underage drinkers knowingly breaking the law — frequently assisted by adults of legal drinking age. These are just a few of the typical obstacles Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement agents face when working to uphold the state's liquor laws.
All too often, underage drinkers accuse big bad enforcement agents of picking on poor innocent minors. Well, the last time I checked, it was illegal for a minor to "possess, consume, obtain, purchase or attempt to purchase alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage." State statutes are quite clear. The ABC is responsible for enforcing the law. Our policies are designed and our agents are trained to react with the least amount of force required.
I realize that there are two sides to every story. However, I would like to point out that agents observed the minor in question with an alcoholic drink. Also, patrons who were not involved got involved and made a bad situation worse. During the incident, someone attempted to trip an agent. That type of interference will not be tolerated and will normally result in an arrest.
Many Kansans appear to support underage drinking and portrait agents as the bad guys. That is unfortunate. Our officers are already challenged to enforce the law with far too few resources for the number establishments and violators.
I challenge all Kansas citizens to acknowledge and respect the law while supporting enforcement efforts to uphold it. If citizens of legal drinking age, liquor licensees and law enforcement agents all were cooperating and complying, we never would have situations like the one described in the column.
Robert Longino ABC acting director
Even if there aren't, in the interest of accuracy, I must point out an error in the political cartoon on April 6. Cute, but wrong. Steve Trever asserts that Gore and Bush are the only remaining candidates. Nay, it's not so! Alan Keyes has not withdrawn from the campaign! Let's not expunge his name from the list before he decides to do so. Until then, he deserves a fair hearing.
Verna Froese KU library assistant
Missed opportunity
Once again, the Kansan has displayed a lack of equal representation in the coverage of stories at the University of Kansas. The National Pan-Hellenic Council performed its Annual Step Show Friday Night at the Lied Center. Would an article on the front page have been too much for the Kansan to provide? And even though the Kansan did run an article buried within the pages, there was not even a picture of them practicing or preparing for the show.
Rose Wagner office manager, Educational Opportunity Programs
I know that you cannot possibly cover everything that goes on at the University, but equal representation is of what I am speaking. The annual Rock Chalk Revue covered the paper for a full week. The Kansan even had a separate section devoted to the annual show. NPHC students work just as hard on their show as the other students. A whole semester, if not more, was spent to prepare for this great event. This is what would be considered their Rock Chalk Revue.
I realize that many of our readers are registered voters in Kansas, so it may not seem worth the space to print this letter. However, from the allknowing Web, I've learned that there are still presidential primaries scheduled for several states. Are there any students here registered to vote in Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, etc.?
Crucial vote coming
The editorial board is incorrect in arguing "human rights violations take place in North Korea on a scale similar to China's." According to Amnesty International, it is difficult to know the level of human rights abuses in North Korea because the "situation cannot be adequately monitored because of government restrictions on access to the country." There are serious human rights concerns in North Korea, to be sure, but not to the extent that there are in the People's Republic of China, where since the end of 1998, "the Chinese government has instigated a massive crackdown on peaceful dissent, resulting in thousands of arbitrary arrests, torture, religious repression and executions." Thus, the United States has been engaged in normal trade relations with China for many years, and despite this cooperation, the human rights situation in China actually has deteriorated in recent years. The government of China has suffered no punishment for human rights abuses and instead has been rewarded with favorable trade relations. At first glance, engaging China might seem like the best way to improve human rights in that country, but clearly this has not worked. History has shown that separating economics and human rights only leads to worsening conditions in China. The House should send a message to the government of China by voting against DPRP with China.
As was noted in an April 26 editorial, there is a very crucial vote coming up in the House of Representatives regarding permanent trade relations with China. First, as a clarification of the editorial, Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China used to be called Most Favored Nation Status (MFN). Congress has voted in favor of MFN status with China for years now, and if Congress passes PNTR, it just means that MFN status will be locked in for years, without annual congressional renewal. Second, China is very different from North Korea in terms of the human rights situation.
Kyle Browning Overland Park junior
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