Opinion
The University Daily Kansan
Laura Roddy, Editor Shauntae Blue, Business manager Sarah Hale, Managing editor Brad Bolyard, Retail sales manager Kristi Elliot, Managing editor Matt Fisher, Sales and marketing adviser Tom Eblen, General manager, news advisor Scott Valler, Technology coordinator
4A
Wednesday, March 15, 2000
Patrick O'Connor / TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Editorials
Kansan report card
PASS
Runners-up — U.S.
Department of Education accidentally sends award letters to the runners-up, instead of the winners, of $1,500-per-year Javits scholarships. It gives them the cash anyway.
es than previous efforts, 'Black,' 'White' and 'Other' just didn't cut it.
Census — New forms include more racial choice.
**Pakistan visit** — President Clinton takes Chelsea on a spring break jacht to India and Pakistan to "stem drift" toward nuclear war. Makes our trips to Cancun seem a little self-serving.
FAIL
- Census — All 95 million initial reminder mailings were addressed incorrectly. It's a good thing that the Census Bureau doesn't give out scholarships.
- Coalition move — Lovable 7-footer Eric Chenwich signs with United Students to run for Student Senate If the basketball team's trend continues, the postseason won't keep him off the campaign trail for long.
BOOMI — Amateur pyro-technicians put a little too much bang into their Rock Chalk suit, requiring evacuation of the Lied Center. Good thing the theater wasn't torched — that $35 grand they raised probably wouldn't replace it.
Online primary important first step
Who says Kansans won't have a presidential primary this year? Certainly not two Kansas legislators who have set up shop on the Internet in an attempt to salvage some semblance of a primary and simultaneously test the waters of technological advances.
By creating a mock Kansas primary on the Internet, Reps. Lisa Benlon, Shawnee, and Henry Helgerson, D-Wichita, deserve praise for, at the very least, trying.
The site, www.kansasvote2000.com,
cannot be mistaken for an official primary. One quickly notices the garish photos of the candidates and a description of the political parties that, laden with flowery descriptions and unproven conjecture, surely never would see the light of day in any traditional polling place.
Experiment in Internet voting may increase voter turnout political participation
However, the weaknesses do not undermine the importance of this site. For one, this site shows that the state is ready if necessary to upgrade its primary format. Rather than being behind the technological curve, Kansas is proving to be ahead of it. Furthermore, an Internet primary could increase voter turnout and participation.
As part of the most wired cross-section of America, college students also are some of the most apathetic about voting. By incorporating our fascination with computers with the ability to
cast a vote, many will be more likely to participate actively in our democracy.
However, there are numerous drawbacks that come with online voting. First, security must be heightened to an impeccable degree to prevent voting fraud. One of the most pressing questions is whether we should make voting a point-and-click enterprise. Perhaps the beauty of voting lies in the requirement of leaving the home to join the democratic tradition.
Regardless, the Web site established for the very unofficial Kansas primary is a wonderful start in the right direction. Perhaps legislators will learn that online voting is not feasible. If this is true, we will have learned a valuable lesson. Maybe online voting will prove to be successful. In this case, we will have made tremendous advances in our democracy.
Jeff Engstrom 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 . . . . . . . . Associatesports
Katie Hollar . . . . . . . Campus
Nathan Willis . . . . . . . Campus
Heather Woodward . . . Features
Chris Borniger . . . . Associate features
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 Schitt ... Zone
Thad Crane ... Zone
Cecily Curran ... Zone
Christy Davies ... Zone
Advertising managers
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards." — Aldous Huxley
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
**Guest columns:** Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photocropped for the column to run.
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.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924
Perspective
Baby drop perpetuates children's abandonment
In Minnesota and South Africa, parents can anonymously drop their unwanted babies off at local day care centers. The babies are placed in a chute, and they fall into a warm bed and into the care of center officials.
In a couple of weeks, a youth help organization will implement a similar program in Hamburg, Germany. the Associated
Lori
O'Toole
columnist
joining@kansan.com
reported on March 4. The Georgia House of Representatives approved a program early this month by which mothers could leave their day-old infants with hospital employees without being charged with abandonment or child cruelty. The vote wasn't even close: 153-15. Now the bill just has to pass the state Senate.
Georgia isn't the first state to entertain such an idea. Texas passed a similar law last year, and two Alabama counties allow it.
These programs began with the babies' best interests in mind. They provide mothers and fathers with the option of life for their babies rather than abandoning or killing them, or even aborting them before birth. The infants have a better chance of surviving in a positive environment where they are cared for and loved.
While 'baby-drop' groups and individuals only are attempting to bring hope — and a chance for life — to unwanted children, they are providing a sense of reassurance that may only perpetuate the problems that stem from unwanted children.
Officials and organization directors viewed these programs as the answer to the problem of unwanted babies being left in public bathrooms, nurseries and even trash bins. And the problem seems to be a great one because in 1988, 1,046 children and teens were reported abandoned.
The attitude it encourages reminds me of a frame of mind my younger sister had when she
The last time I tried to drop anything off anonymously was a couple of years ago. I took a box of stuffed animals to the Wichita Children's Home before Christmas, but the donation process wasn't simple. Before the center would accept the items, I had to fill out a form that asked for my name, address and phone number as well as a physical and financial description of my donation.
purchased a pet ferret years ago. When I asked her if she was absolutely certain that she was ready for the responsibility, as well as the time and financial commitments, her comment was nonchalant and unconcerned. "Well, if I don't like it or if it doesn't work out for me, I can always drop it off at the pound or something." she said. "It's worth a try."
Jenny didn't have any reason to be worried. There would surely be other people to care for the animal. She would not be reprimanded in any way if she decided she didn't want it. So, several months later, after she was tired of the scent, his refusal to cooperate during bath time and his nocturnal habits keeping her up late at night, she found him a new home.
Now it seems as if these baby drops and hospitals are becoming like a type of baby pound. Parents have another option if they don't like their child's demand for attention or its refusal to sleep through the night during its first weeks home. It may remove the sense of guilt to some extent because the baby has a home — it wasn't left in a smelly grocery store trash can.
But now, in some parts of our country and of our world, dropping off an infant involves more ease and less restrictions than dropping off three stuffed bears and a white, stuffed velour seal.
Individuals taking the initiative in baby-drop programs need to rethink how the program will affect parents and parents-to-be. While it is extremely important to save lives, it is more important to put an end to the problem of unwanted children and to concentrate on preventing unwanted pregnancies.
O toole is a Wichita junior in English and journalism.
Wild news bits emerge after minimum-wage hike
Consumers, don't fret. Good U.S. economic times don't show much sign of ending soon. Burritos will remain readily available.
Prompted by this robust commerce and trade, President Bill "Pants are too restrictive" Clinton pushed for a $1 increase to the minimum wage, from $1.55 to $6.15 per hour. Last Friday, between burtio binges, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would do just that.
The Democratic proposal planned to increase the wage during a two-year period, and Republicans failed to extend it to three years. Republicans succeeded in adding provisions for $122 billion in tax
Chris
Borniger
columnist
goinion@kansan.com
Nobody seems to care about the wage hike, but never mind talk about 30-year unemployment lows and record-high salaries. Undoubtedly, this apathy stems from the lack of impact higher wages would have on the two things Americans care about most: supermodels and assault rifles. An ad campaign featuring a scantily clad Rebecca Romijn-Stamos
cuts. A Republican resolution to make God the House Sergeant-at-Arms, however, failed in committee.
squeezing off a few rounds from an AK-47 would mobilize the U.S. public to give a damn.
"Denny (Haster, House speaker, R-Iillinois) and I were getting bombed at the Capitol T.I. G.Friday's in November when he brought up the whole wage thing." Archer said. "(President) Billy (Clinton) had been talking about uppin' the damn thing, so we thought we'd tack on a hundred billion or so in tax cuts to get a bug up his butt. All the other boys on Wavs and Means thought it was a howl."
Of those cuts, $76.8 billion would come from the estate tax, which applies to assets of $650,000 or more. Only 2 percent of the U.S. population — mostly guys named "Danforth" — pays the tax.
Clinton has said that he supports the wage raise but that he would veto the bill because it threatened the nation's prosperity and programs such as Social Security, Medicare and the National Endowment for Flatulence Research.
"Did you see Clinton's face at the press conference after the bill passed on Friday? He was missed." Archer said between chuckle-shortened
What follows are some news snippets to illustrate the wage debacle as it exists in America.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — G.O.P leaders are "laughing their asses off" at the minimum wage increase bill the House passed Friday, according to Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, and chairman of the House Ways and Means committee.
breaths and bloodshot eyes beginning to water. "I mean, we're talking pissed."
"Nobody gives a damn about the small businessman," Bucyrus said. "I didn't rely on the minimum wage to get to my income level."
SANDUSKY, Ohio — Rarely does a vote in the House of Representatives, more than 1,000 miles away, get Tom Bucyrus mad. But on Friday, Bucyrus, the owner of an auto parts distribution company, was enraged.
He lamented that the increase would mean that he would have to pay $22,400 more in wages per year for his 30 employees. His shop, in comparison, takes in almost $3 million in income each year. Subtracting overhead and other costs of business
WILSON, Kan. — A Wilson High School senior shocked vocational-technical school recruiters and high school officials when he signed a letter of intent yesterday with McDonald's.
— including wages — Bucyrus makes about $500,000 each year and is one of the richest chronically angry men in this town of about 75,000.
"Yeah, maybe now the wife'll have more time to deal with the kids instead of working another job at Stuckey's." Philbrick said. "But I was awful sorry to see Mr. Bucyrus fly into a rage. He don't deserve to get the shaft."
Frimschopp said that joining an international corporation was more attractive than school or the extremely less robust rural economy. More surprisingly, he said it with a straight face.
"I'll finally be making enough to diversity my investment portfolio." Frimschlopp said.
In signing with McDonald's, Frimschlopp rejected a job offer from a Hardeer's three miles down the turnpike and another from his uncle, who owns a pig trough-sanitizing business. He also passed on scholarships from the local vo-tech and a nearby community college (which, he said), is run "by a bunch of weasels that are obviously ignorant of my french-frying potential").
Jake Frischmöh cited a $200 signing bonus offer as the primary reason for his decision.
When asked about his investments, Frimschlopp sheepishly replied that he now could afford a second 1883 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
"Hell, let's face it," he said. "I'm barely graduating from high school, which means those plush jobs ain't happening."
"O.K. so technically my business doesn't qualify as small," he screamed, pounding his fists on the desk. "But I still don't like it. I was saving up for another Jaguar. You can see why I'm enraged."
bored to work. Bored to work.
Lee Philbrick, Bucyrus' employee, was pleased with the potential for a higher pay rate, but concerned about his boss's rage.
Borniger is a Wichita junior in journalism.
Feedback Vote for OAKS bills
If last spring's elections are any indication, a lot of nontraditional students just don't vote. If you think there is nothing on the agenda that affects you, or that Student Senate is a waste of time, you should read this.
Tonight, Senate will be voting on two bills that affect nontraditional students: The first would add a third nontraditional senator, and the second would approve a computer for the Organization of Adult Knowledge Seekers, which represents nontraditional students.
muting more than 10 miles or has had a break of at least two years in their college education.
Senate defines a nontraditional student as: Any undergraduate at least 24 or older, or who is married, a parent, a veteran, com-
Last spring, a number of issues were decided by less than 15 percent of students. Please come at 6:30 tonight to the Big 12 Room in the Kansas Union.
Deena K. Hardie
Lawrence Senior and OAKS Treasurer