4A
Opinion
Friday, March 31, 2000
Education focuses on digital demands
Social interaction shouldn't be overshadowed by technology
Universities across the nation are beginning to require computers for all students. About 100 colleges already require a computer for matriculation. This trend poses several practical problems in the short term. However, the more significant long-term effects are hard to determine. Perhaps the computerized classroom will become what we make of it.
Universities are in competition with one another to establish themselves as among the most "wired" campuses in the United States. Attending the most "wired" college is no different than attending a college that claims to have a mass 5-subject notebook surplus. Aside from the practical benefits of having access to a personal computer, the requirement itself seems to be a public relations scheme for universities. The computer is, after all, a tool, and not intrinsic to being educated. It is the high-tech equivalent of a notebook, pen or library card.
The University of Kansas has provided students with adequate access to these machines with the numerous computer labs
and computer science classes on campus. KU students have access to computers, but they are not a requirement. For now, a personal computer just may be another barrier to higher education that would demand students either to work more during school or require more student aid.
Requiring all students to have their own computers may seem like an innocuous step in creating an electronic classroom. However, major changes occur in small steps. After a short time, the computer could grow from the status of a mere tool to a fundamental pillar of education. Perhaps there are greater questions to consider other than practicability. Perhaps we should consider what changes, good or bad, are coming to academia care of the computer.
How will the computer change teaching? KU professors already are beginning to post their course information online. At other universities it's common for notes for an entire course to be accessible online. This could be a small step toward the "virtual classroom" that is conducted entirely electronically.
In these terms, several inequalities could be remedied. Those who are disadvantaged by finance or geography can travel to any university in the
travel to any university in the United States and take classes from the foremost experts in any field. Wouldn't it be incredible for a law student in Kansas to take a course from Alan Dershowitz at Harvard?
And won't the Internet make participation easier? Maybe the virtual classroom will allow
students to manage their hectic schedules better. By conducting class discussions via e-mail, students might have a more convenient way to participate at
their own paces.
These are some of
the idyllic advantages to electronic education, but they might become the bane of education as well. With more and more computers in the classroom, we may grow to understand education as a uniquely asocial activity as well as an intellectual one.
After all, an online class from Harvard is
never going to be like actually meeting with Alan Dershowitz or.
As much as we herald the new age of electronic, it might turn out to be more of a barrier between students and instructors than a utility.
The truth is that computers will be what we make of them. The best way to ensure they don't stand in the way of education is to question seriously the benefit of attending the "most wired college" in the United States. We should be prepared to look for greater academic values instead of technological frippery.
Government withheld facts about HIV-tainted blood
Perspective
Brett Watson for the editorial board
As an intern for State Rep. Phill Kline (R-Shawnee)in Topeka, I have had the opportunity to discuss issues with him and members of his staff. Recently, fetal-tissue harvesting has been an issue that is being debated hotly in the Capitol. This has sparked some discussion
about the government's role in medicine.
I thought that I knew the office staff fairly well until last week when I was stunned by a story that one of Kline's staff members told me. She had told me that her son had committed suicide years ago, and I thought that it was because of personal reasons. It was, but it turns out he was prompted by circumstances that the government could have prevented.
Her son was a hemophiliac, and therefore had to receive transfusions frequently
Rupail
Limaye
columnist
opinion@kansan.com
blood may have been infected with the HIV virus. Instead of allowing this to be public knowledge and stopping the use of the tainted blood, hospitals across the United States and in other countries decided to allow the blood to be dispersed. Their argument was that if it was leaked to the
always was a slight fear among her and her family that the blood could be tainted, a possibility in blood transfusions. But the distinction in this story is that the government knew that the blood was tainted and still let it be administered to thousands of people.
The blood already had been shipped and distributed to hospitals around the world when the Centers for Disease Control alerted them that the
public that such a massive quantity of blood was found to be bad, it would undermine the efforts of the blood drive. It was thought that the public then would have less faith in the blood donor system and therefore less would give blood.
So instead, the medical community believed that it was more important to save the blood donor system and let people die as a result.
The staff member was
told that her son had only less than a one percent chance to contract the HIV virus, and her doctor told her that it was something that the public should not worry about. Her son decided to get tested, and the results were positive. He had contracted the HIV virus, and it was the fault of the government. As a result, he decided that he didn't want to live his life with the virus, and took it at the young age of 22. The point of this
story isn't to appall you or make you scared of the medical community. Nor was the staff member telling me this story to receive monetary compensation. The point is to create awareness.
The medical community thought it was necessary to keep this from the public. A total of 10,000 were infected, and this supposedly was to keep public perception of blood donation positive. How can this be seen as a proper justification?
In addition, there is not a single person who can be held accountable. The staff member told me that she didn't want compensation. How could she ever get compensation? The government can't bring her son back.
After hearing her story, I was struck by how she simply wants to create awareness instead of going after the government with revenge. What is done is done, and all that can make the situation better is to try and ensure that it will never happen again.
It is appalling that the government took these lives to eradicate negative thoughts about the donation of blood. I believe that the government definitely erred in this decision, and I hope that more of you are now aware of its wrongful actions.
Limaye is an Olathe junior in political science and advertising.
Feedback
Remembrance
In remembrance of Lisa Beth Rosel
Dec, 7 to March 31, 1986
My best friend for life.
Don't drink and drive.
Rachel Assal Overland Park sophomore
Coalition disrespects Senate
I recently have just read the article entitled, "Resume Builders' platform includes drastic policy change," from the date Kansan. I think Resume Builders is making a mockery of the entire Student Senate election process.
Its platform mainly is to allow drinking at KU football games. They claim that it will boost school spirit and participation at football games, but do they realize that most KU students do not turn 21 until their junior years? This would affect not even half of KU undergraduates.
Resume Builders wants to conduct Senate meetings at strip clubs. This would be the most inappropriate and
I think these people are wasting their time and making fun of Senate and all it does for us.
unofficial way to conduct meetings. Is our Senate supposed to be a joke? Senate handles major decisions for the University of Kansas, and Resume Builders want so it have at a strip club?
Its slogan is, "A vote for the Resume Builders is a vote for babies ... because we like babies ... as long as they're not ours." This has absolutely nothing to do with Senate or election issues.
Molly Mueller Overland Park sophomore
Stadium needs alcohol
This season, my friends and I tailgated every football game. The University of Kansas lacks the tradition and school spirit of schools like Kansas State and Missouri. There, the tailgating tradition
Although the Resume Builders come off as an outlandish fraternity prank, they have a legitimate argument concerning alcohol at football games.
is so strong that there is no need for alcohol in the stadium. Here, attendance is lacking. No one goes, and even fewer tailgate. We are basically the only undergraduates who consistently tailgate.
Allowing alcohol at the games would not only boost the morale of fans, but it also would bring more school spirit to the games and inspire the team to perform for its fans. Right now, our team is not excellent, but where were you when we beat our rival Missouri? I was in the parking lot harassing the Missourians. Imagine if we had been inside the stadium. Imagine an October afternoon when the University is boasting its most beautiful weather. Imagine yourself celebrating with your friends, beer in hand. Wouldn't you like to come back for Homecoming and remember something about college football, something about our traditions? I know I'll remember sitting in the parking lot because I can't go inside the stadium with my beer.
Lana Guilfoyle
Lawrence sophomore and member of the Resume Builders
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education." — John F. Kennedy
How to submit letters and guest columns
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When I came to the University of Kansas, the first three letters of the alphabet took on a whole new meaning. That's when I was introduced to the Alcoholic Beverage Control task force.
serves the client to call us at 1-800-723-6904
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924.
As an underage (granted, illegal) patron of many parties and drinking establishments in Lawrence, the letters "ABC" froze my blood on
Heather Woodson guest columnist opinion@kansan.com
Abuse of power by ABC needs to be questioned
many occasions. However, as I became older and reached the golden age of 21 and beyond, I began to understand and respect the job the ABC has been appointed to do.
Then I took a job at a bar in Lawrence. I now see the ABC in a whole new light. Let me give you an example. Recently, I sat at a table at the bar with two other off-the-clock employees. About 10:30 p.m., seven middle-aged people marched in a line into the bar. Whispers of "ABC"
That's when the fun began. Two of the ABC agents walked straight up to a girl in the bar. She was underage but was with her parents (her father is a judge) celebrating her sister's 21st birthday. She had been in the bar since grill hours, before we start carding at the door. The agents did not see her consume any alcohol. However, she was told to wait outside and talk to the agents. She compiled and quickly walked to the door. One of the agents seemed to think she was running away. He yelled, "Hey, slow down!" and began to walk briskly, following her to the door. "Didn't he just tell her to go outside?" I thought.
As he walked/ran after the girl, he tripped on the foot of one of the guys I was sitting with. Immediately, before any of us even understood what was happening, two ABC agents had grabbed him so tightly that his arms were turning white, and they were screaming (and I mean screaming—one agent was purple-faced, shaking and spitting as he yelled) something about obstruction, harassment, drunk and disorderly (after one Guinness?). They told him he was going to be arrested.
Without thinking, I stepped between them to calm the out-of-control agent and tell him that I
began, and I simply rolled my eyes and continued minding my own business.
They went outside to deal with the girl who had been attending her sister's birthday party. Eventually, the two agents who had confronted us came back in looking for the guy who had "harassed" them. Harassed them? What about the arm-grabbing, screaming, spitting and chest poking? When my friend and I brought up these minor details, they throw out some snide comments and left. Score one point for us!
and another girl at the table had seen him trip on the guy's foot. He proceeded to tell me to shut up and poked a finger in my chest, pushing me backward. I'm fairly sure that the ABC has the right to cite underage drinkers but not to arrest people, scream in their faces and manhandle them.
This was not an isolated incident. Things like this happen all the time. I believe the idea of the ABC is respectable. In college towns, the police cannot control underage drinking on its own. I don't believe that the police ever will control it, but it is its job to try. But the people who they have appointed to help them do their jobs have crossed the line. They come in and push their way around, usually end up in a screaming match with someone and basically abuse the power that has been appointed to them. The question is, why doesn't anyone ever question them about their behavior?
When the real police come in, they make a point at least to talk to us. They just are doing their jobs, and actually they are helping us stay out of trouble by getting rid of minors in the bar. The ABC, on the other hand, has taken its "power" too far. ABC agents do not have the right to come in yelling and pushing their way around.
Then one agent came back in and heard the lead singer of the band who was performing giving his opinion on the microphone about the situation that had just occurred. Granted, he was derogatory and condescending toward the ABC, but he was simply stating his opinion. Has anyone ever heard of the First Amendment, free speech, etc.? The agent decided to kick him out for obstruction. Obstruction of what? Only a deaf, blind, mute, comatose person could not have known about the situation that had just occurred.
Let me explain that the entire bar knew what was going on. How could you not? They had announced themselves by making a scene and throwing their "power" around. There was not one person in that bar who did not know that the ABC had just left.
Laura Roddy, Editor
Sarah Hale, Managing editor
Kristi Elliott, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Woodson is a Lenexa senior in business communications.
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