Opinion
The University Daily Kansan
Laura Roddy, Editor
Sarah Hale, Managing editor
Kristi Elliot, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, general manager, news adviser
Shauntte Blue, Business manager
Brad Bolaye, Retail sales manager
Matt Fisher, Sales and marketing adviser
Scott Valler, Technology coordinator
Monday, March 13, 2000
Patrick Q'Connor / TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Editorials
Unions not meant for academics, classes should meet elsewhere
The Kansas and Burge unions serve important functions for students at the University of Kansas. The bookstores, Student Union Activities and the Jaybowl are among the organizations housed in the unions. Hundreds of activities take place in the Unions each month, ranging from luncheons to student organization meetings.
However, during the last few semesters, an increasing number of classes have been meeting in the Unions. This semester, 69 classes regularly meet in the unions. This is an unusually high amount for a university of this size. Classes should not be conducted in the unions unless there are emergency situations or scheduling problems.
With so many buildings on campus that have classrooms, it is odd that such
Many classes meet in Unions, but there are empty classrooms in other campus buildings
a large number of classes meet in the unions, where there are no actual classrooms. The unions are poorly suited to hold classes. They were built for the purpose of conducting University programs, providing student entertainment and helping with various other student needs.
Students deserve a better place to learn than one that is close to or on the same floor as a Pizza Hut and Starbucks. How is a student supposed to learn when there are hundreds of people milling around just outside the
door? The unions do not provide an environment conducive to learning. The seats in Alderson Auditorium do not have pull-out desktops, forcing students to write on notebooks in their laps or use lapboards, and many of the Alcoves do not have chalkboards or marker boards.
There are classrooms across campus that are open later than 3:30 p.m. Although many students don't like late afternoon classes, it is better to have classes in the now-vacant classrooms during the afternoon than in the unions, which are not conducive to academics.
Hopefully, the increase in classes in the Unions is just because of scheduling mistakes, and that in future semesters, classes will be moved to more desirable locations.
Eric Borja for the editorial board
Gore should be upfront about funds
Recently, a longtime associate and political fund-raiser for Vice President Al Gore was convicted of channeling illegal contributions to Democratic candidates in 1996. This investigation is the latest in a growing trend of investigations by the U.S. Justice Department's campaign finance task force.
Last Saturday, Gore announced that he would make overhauling the campaign finance system a central theme of his presidential bid. This was a smart political move. He and other candidates should recognize the current political climate and adjust to it accordingly to avoid the distrust and conspiracy that may surround a candidate's campaign. While the prosecution in this investigation contends that Gore was unaware of any problems in the fund-raising tactics
Vice president needs to address campaign finance issues before voters turn their backs on him
of Maria Hsia, longtime associate and defendant in this case, the background of the trial leaves one confused and disappointed.
The charges brought against Hsia are representative of an open-ended question in politics: How far can we push the rules or bend them to suit the needs of a career politician?
Disillusionment with the political process is running rampant among many college students, and more often than not, it results in apathy. Evidence of this is the failure of our own student
body to participate in greater numbers in Student Senate elections.
From Whitewater and the Lewinsky scandal to campaign-finance reform issues, the Clinton-Gore administration has provided the Republican National Committee with enough inspiration to continue unearthing any wrongdoing by anyone associated with the Democratic National Committee. This is because some politicians cannot play by their own rules, and everyone is paranoid that they gain the upper hand unfairly.
It is hoped that Gore will use his new campaign twist to be honest and upfront about campaign finance issues before it's too late. In general, it's time that our would be bawakers tackle substantive issues beyond those of political greed and contempt.
Matt Dunehoo for the editorial board
Kansan staff
News editors
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 . Associate features
T.J. Johnson . Photo imaging
Christina Neff . Photo
Jason Pearce . Design, graphics
Clay McQuistion . Wire
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
Advertising managers
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring close-knit family in another city."
How to submit letters and guest columns
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.
George Burns
All letters and guest columns should be e-mailed to opinion@kansan.com or submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. 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-
graphed for the column to run.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (apinan@kansan.com) or call 864-4924
Living with host family key part of study abroad
When I came to Spain, I thought I was leaving behind the world of my sister's wedding plans. I was wrong. After joining my host family, I now have two sisters getting married in September. I couldn't be a happier brother.
in September I couldn't be a haplor brother.
In January, my family back home was in a flurry
Perspective
of activity — occupied with getting a caterer, dress, colors, invitations, hotel for the guests, photographer, music, etc. I tried to keep a low profile, but was inevitably dragged into conversations or a cursory glance through Martha Stewart's Wedding magazine. I didn't exactly enjoy it, but my sister is my only, sibling and this is a big deal.
In Madrid, I'm more of an observer to my host sister's wedding plans. Although she's 25, she still lives at
Matt
Merkel-Hess
columnist
coniogin@anasan.com
name, most Spanish kids do, finally leaving when they get a nest of their own. Of my host family's three kids, only the oldest, who is married, has his own place.
My host sister and her fiance are always together. He's often present at the dinner table or sitting around watching a movie at night, already fully integrated into the family. It's not too hard because both families live a few blocks apart and attend the same local church. In a city of four million, you can't get much closer.
When I first arrived, it wasn't wedding plans, but new apartment decoration that occupied the young couple's lives. They already have an apartment which is called a house in this city where only the privileged few live outside of apartment buildings
— that they've been remodeling. They will move in after the wedding and after having the place for almost a year. Housing is hard to come by. That's one of the reasons why kids don't leave home.
Being part of two wedding plans has been interesting. Comparing the traditions and lives of families on two different continents has been a great way to get to know my host family. It's just another way in which they have taken me in. My host mom especially has been a great help, taking the time to have conversations about anything from politics to where to go for a haircut. She also cooks a filling supper every night, does my laundry and makes my bed, even after I do my best to make it that morning.
Now, my real sister and my host sister are both moving on to buying dresses and finalizing plans for their big days. I don't hear too much in e-mails from home, but it's fun to watch my host mom return from shopping trips with her daughter, shaking her head at her daughter's mercurial tastes that can make the trips stretch long past slaesta time. I can see my own mother saying the same things. And although they may complain a bit, it's always with a smile. I think they're just remembering their own days as young women.
This is not residence hall life. I can't imagine studying abroad without a host family. There is simply no better way to learn about a culture. I feel especially lucky to be living with this family. If anything, it made the transition too easy. I know that come next September when I raise a toast to my sister at her wedding back home, there actually will be two people I'll be thinking about.
Merkel-Hess is an Iowa City, Iowa, junior in journalism and environmental studies. He is studying in Madrid, Spain, this semester.
Political Activism 101: Writing to your legislator
Not many of us pay too much attention to the actions of our legislators or the president, but should we? Every day, they make major decisions that impact laws, foreign affairs and the future state of the country. Evidence indicates that our letters to government officials do make a difference.
So write them!
According to the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker lobbying body in Washington, D.C., letters and phone calls from constituents are the single most influential form
Maybe it would help if you knew what happens when you write. Typically, a legislative aide opens your letter and assigns it to the aide who is responsible for that subject. This is the aide best
of communication affecting the positions of members of Congress on issues and legislation. Congressional staff members say that letters do make a difference — and they would know because they are the ones who open the mail and pass the resulting opinions on to their bosses.
Breeze
Luetke-
Stahlman
columnist
onlineonkansan.com
The most important part of this process is the tallies, which show how many constituents feel one way and how many the other on an issue. A lack of mail carries a message, too.
suited to handle your concern. That aide summarizes what you have said and tallies your position on the issue in comparison to other constituents' opinions. The individual then hands his or her boss the total numbers and summarized positions. It is your letter that will educate the aide and therefore influence your representative.
Of course, committing yourself to write the letter is the first step. Being effective is the next. Letters can be reviewed for effectiveness with a simple overview of a few major points. Make sure you've done the following:
- Spell the legislator's name correctly, and type or write neatly.
Address only one issue in a letter.
Keep it short and to the point.
Add a sentence in its loft.
■ If at all possible, begin by thanking the legislator for a recent vote, speech or other action that you approve of.
■ Give reasons for your stance in your own words — draw on personal experience.
Be aware of your timing. Earlier in the Congressional session, a letter addressing a broad topic may be more in order than later in the session when that issue has gone through a bill process. Make sure you know where the issue stands so you can address, for example, the fact that the bill has just gone to committee.
So let's say that you really get into this letter-writing thing. Yes, you can write too often. However, ideally you want to establish a relationship with your representative and get your opinion across. Don't be annoying, though. Oh, and generally you should really only write your representative. Only break that rule if the person you are writing to is the chairperson of a committee that is attending to your issue.
A good way to communicate the important information and not be too concerned about your frequency is to persuade others to write as well.
Working to change the climate of public opinion is essential.
And yes, you should write a letter. Hand-written postcards are said to be almighty, but not quite, as good as a letter. Mass produced letters and cards supposedly get little attention unless the numbers are overwhelming. Petitions with hundreds of names are said to get about as much attention as one well-written letter — go figure. However, cards, form letters and petitions are better than nothing, so go with what you can.
The more people who write, the more your representative, who represents you, will feel obligated to listen to what the people of their district are thinking.
So, now all you have left to do is form a few opinions and start advocating them — and that's the easiest part of all.
Lwetke-Stahlman is an Olathe junior in economics and American studies.
Feedback Diallo case not one of racism, brutality
I appreciate the March 1 column by Eric M. Tullis that brought attention to Black History Month but am resentful of the fact that he chose to connect this month with the killing of Amadou Diallo.
While Diallo's death was indeed tragic, this case doesn't involve racism or crime brutality. A biased, sensationalized media has resulted in inaccurate information that damages people's personal conclusions.
A further disconcerting sight is that celebrities promote causes that they aren't informed of. This ignorance results in public ignorance, such as the Diallo case and the impending execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal, when the mention of a famous name motivates people blindly to accept an unexplored opinion.
Emily Warren
Omaha sophomore
KLL campus littered
KU campus littered
I am saddened Diallo's death, but accidental deaths occur frequently. This is just the death the media decided to report. I believe that this column would have better served its readers by relaying the importance of Black History Month. Our interests would be better served by promoting unity and acceptance, rather than by condemning a case that was presented by those self-serving, biased storytellers whom we call journalists.
On my way into Twente Hall a few days ago, I was struck by the sudden smell of spring. The wind was blowing just enough and the hint of flowers filled the air. The grass on campus seemed just the right color and
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the skv the perfect blue.
But our beautiful campus isn't looking its best these days. Stop right where you are. Take everything in. And don't forget to notice all the trash around you. Every day I walk to class and notice the garbage that pollutes our campus. Coke bottles, newspapers, cigarettes and more fill the path, and more often than not, we walk right by it. We are so used to seeing trash that it doesn't even surprise or upset us. We simply accept it.
We've all heard about the importance of keeping our environment clean. But repetition doesn't make this argument any less relevant. We should take pride in our campus and responsibility for its upkeep. Rather than ignoring the problem, we should all make an effort to be part of the solution.
Heather M. Greene Olathe junior