Opinion
The University Daily Kansan
Laura Roddy, Editor
Sarah Hale, Managing editor
Kristi Elliott, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news advisor
4A
Shaunte Blue, Business manager
Brad Bolyard, Retail sales manager
Matt Fisher, Sales and marketing adviser
Scott Valler, Technology coordinator
Wednesday, April 12, 2000
Clay McCuistion/ KANSAN
Editorials
Kansan report card
PASS
Center for Community Outreach — Campus do-gooders do it again with Into the Streets Week. That slice of homeless life reminded us how good we've got it.
You want fries with that? — McCollege film tour highlights corporatization on campuses all across the United States. It's good to know we're not alone.
- **Punishment of Figaro** — Some colleges punish rule breakers with mandatory trips to the opera instead of community service. Coming to the University of Kansas: Mandatory Hawk Nights.
- Cheap wieners — last week in this space, you were urged to attend this Friday's baseball game against Oklahoma. Since then, we've learned that it also is quarter hot dog night. You don't want to miss it.
FAIL
- Locker room Student Senate debate — Monday's "informal" Senate debate featured a little too much potty mouth. Two more days, kids. Let's keep it clean
Classroom confinement — Despite recent balmy weather, some instructors never let their classes meet outside. It's torture!
Believe it or not,voting is important
Today marks the beginning of the end of yet another Student Senate campaign season. Every spring, banners and posters flood campus while candidates try to convince as many people as possible about their merits. And every year, a meager number of students actually vote.
While elections may not be the most important part of all of our lives, it is pathetic that less than a fifth of us can spare a few minutes to drop by the Kansas, Union or Strong Hall to cast a ballot, and this needs to change.
Last spring, a measly 19 percent of students decided for everyone that students supported the new recreation center proposal. I inevitably, controversy resulted because many people weren't happy with the accompanying fee increase. If we don't want to have a small faction deciding major issues for us, there is a fairly simple solution: Go out and vote.
The minority rules in elections because only a meager fifth of students choose to vote
naven't liked either coalition, this year is different. There are five sets of candidates to choose from. Most people should be able to find at least one that best suits their interests.
This year, the relative abundance of presidential tickets is a better reason than ever to vote. For those of us who, in the past, haven't voted because we
We know there's a lot of discontent about Senate. Talk to a few people and chances are, you'll hear complaints that the institution is elitist, never really does anything and doesn't represent the students. Abstaining isn't the way to change that, though. If 80 percent of the student body throws its hands up in disgust and refuses to vote, it is throwing away the only method it has to make Senate a more productive, representative force for students.
Kursten Phelps for the editorial board
Kansan staff
Seth Hoffman . . . Editorial
Nadia Mustafa . . . Editorial
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Broaden your mind: Today's quote
Advertising managers
"A thief believes everybody steals." — E.W. Howe
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.
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Perspective
Coalition surveys students to develop campaign stand
Many people on this campus will tell you that Student Senate doesn't do anything or that it doesn't matter. These people couldn't be more mistaken. Senate handles $7 million of your money, represents you to the University of Kansas administration and the State of Kansas and runs services such as the bus system and Saferide.
In recent years, Senate has brought you a new recreation center, a course retake policy, hundreds of new student parking spots, the Park
and-Ride program, Fall Break, an expansion of the Kansas Union, lighting of various parking lots on campus — this list could go on and on.
The basic point is that Senate can be a powerful voice for change and Marlon Marshall, myself and the rest of the United Students coalition are ready to be that voice.
Ben
Walker
guest columnist
opinion@kansan.com
Marlon and I have a lot of experience in Senate — a combined five years. We want to be student body
president and vice president because we have seen the ability of Senate to accomplish great things for students and we want to realize its potential to do so much more.
We formed the United Students Coalition to accomplish that goal. We have 66 candidates from all areas of campus — many with experience in Senate and many who have shown their leadership capabilities in other organizations.
Some would have you believe that we should just scrap Senate and start over. But it is important to have qualified people in Senate leadership positions to assist senators in accomplishing their goals and taking their projects to higher levels. Without that leadership, Senate will be lost.
That is what Marlon, myself,and the rest of the United Students coalition bring to the table: Experienced leadership combined with new senators who bring fresh ideas that improve on what we already have built.
A second major concern of students is tuition increases. The problem is that the Board of Regents has absolute control of tuition rates and abuse that consistently. United Students will draw on its experience in the Legislature and push through a "tutition bill of rights" designed to protect students from future increases, increase financial aid and make higher education a priority in Kansas.
the survey revealed was that students are very dissatisfied with the enrollment process. Students spend countless hours waiting in line at Strong Hall, collecting signatures on various color-coded cards and getting dean's stamps. But students at Kansas State, Wichita State and even Johnson County Community College are enrolling comfortably and conveniently from their computers. The University has been promising online enrollment to students for almost a decade, but continuously have pushed back the date. It simply has not made online enrollment the priority that it must be. More students must be involved in the project, and more resources must be committed. It is time that the University enters the 21st century, and the United Students coalition will take it there.
Others claim that "traditional lobbying efforts" are ineffective. But these efforts have secured two-for-one technology funds, faculty salary increases, $1.6 million in financial aid increases, money for the new child care center and a college savings plan in the last three years alone. The problem is not our methods, but the structure of the system. The tuition bill of rights would fix that problem and protect students.
In order to decide which issues we would work on if elected, United Students went out and surveyed more than 1,000 students in an attempt to figure out exactly what students would want us to work on next year. From the results of that survey, we developed our platform. One thing
A third concern that was made clear by the surveys is a lack of tangible services provided by Senate. Much of Senate's time is spent allocating money rather than providing services. United Students will refocus Senate on providing services such as free national newspapers, discount cards and apartment guides. The idea is that Senate will become a working student government that provides tangible benefits that students can see.
There are many groups running for Senate this year with a lot of great ideas. But I ask you this question: Who has the ability to make these great ideas reality? The answer is United Students. Please remember to vote today or tomorrow.
Walker is a Hutchinson junior in political science. He is the United Students' candidate for student body president.
Delta Force loves KU but wants to improve it
They did not want to bring about this change by playing the same old games of the usual Senate candidates — games that got students elected who then did nothing. Delta Force ran with integrity and commitment. Matt
In February 1997, 30 students who cared deeply about the University of Kansas formed Delta Force, a coalition for the coming Student Senate elections. They loved the University of Kansas, but believed that many parts of it — most notably its relationships with its students — needed improvement.
with integrity and so Caldwell, that year's Delta Force vice president, said. "Our approach will be refreshingly different from the status quo KU students are used to."
These words continue to reflect the character of Delta Force.
The name Delta Force was chosen because the Greek letter Delta means change, and Delta Force was focused on forcing fundamental change in the way students were represented at the University.
Ben
Burton
guest columnist
opinion@kanan.com
Senate was doing a woefully inadequate job representing students, and Delta Force was committed to sweeping out the stagnant group.
That year, Delta Force focused on six issues. A campus recycling program, improvement of Robinson Center, an escort safety program, radical reform of campus transportation, review of linear tuition and a new child care center.
Delta Force exceeded all expectations. A campuswide recycling program has been established, and a new child care center is being constructed. A citywide bus system also is being planned.
Delta Force proved that it could produce results.
Unlike most coalition members, the candidates who ran for Delta Force knew that it was important to work for students all year long, not just during Senate elections. Delta Force did not disappear after the 1997 election. We were not just trying to pad our resumes, burn down Strong Hall or make a joke of Senate. We were committed to working for students
During Fall 1997, Delta Force focused on putting a Senate polling site on Daisy Hill. Traditionally, candidates for Senate ignored the wishes of those who lived in University
housing, and Delta Force faced organized and dedicated opposition to this plan of expanding voting opportunities. Even though more than 1,200 students had signed a petition supporting the polling site, Senate refused even to discuss the plan. Senate did not care about Daisy Hill, but through the work of Delta Force, the polling site nonetheless was instituted.
We are proud to be the successors of these students. We are proud of the accomplishments of Delta Force. We are proud that Delta Force always has run a clean campaign and never has been cited for a violation by the Elections Commission. We are proud that we never have changed our name and remain accountable for not only our successes, but our failures, too.
During Spring 1998, Delta Force ran again for Senate and had 11 issues on the platform. Space limitations prevent us from explaining them all, but Delta Force's leadership led the University to implement Fall Break and a domestic partnership policy. (We wish that those who are working so hard claiming that they developed Fall Break would have been with us working just as hard at trying to get it passed). But we understand. Politics is politics. We're just trying to change campus politics.
But, we are not simply the successors of past Delta Forces who parrot old dogma. We and the rest of this year's coalition are fresh faces, yet proven student leaders from all parts of campus and off campus, who believe in the mission and purpose of Delta Force. We will shake up the old Senate system, but we still believe that a long-term commitment is the only way to create long-term change. Under our leadership, Senate will raise and work on issues that affect students. By its continued existence, Delta Force will make sure that many of its previous issues and initiatives are not forgotten conveniently by the administration and by Senate.
Last spring, Delta Force spearheaded an effort to increase student support for a citywide bus system, and one is scheduled to start up in the fall. Also, more e-mail terminals, a Delta Force priority since the beginning, kept popping up on campus.
Please, take the fliers from all the candidates who are littering campus. Stop them and talk with them. Ask them about the issues that you are concerned about. Do your own research. We are confident that after you do, you'll be convinced to vote for Delta Force.
Burton is an Ocean, N.J., junior in English. He is the Delta Force candidate for student body president.
Yesterday's Kansan voter guide, which contained candidate endorsements and platform analysis, is available online at www.kansan.com.