Opinion
The University Daily Kansan
Laura Roddy, Editor
Sarah Hale, Managing editor
Kristi Ellott, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
4A
Shantae Blue, Business manager Brad Bolyard, Retail sales manager Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser Scott Vallier, Technology coordinator
Monday, January 31, 2000
Clay McCuistion / KANSAN
Editorials
Housing department should prove need for smoking prohibition
The Department of Student Housing's recent decision to transform Lewis, Templin and Ellsworth halls into non smoking housing is a good idea. Unfortunately, good ideas do not always translate into好 plans.In the case of smoke-free housing,the idea has been turned into a plan with little statistical proof that the solution is altogether necessary.
The reason for the change that has been cited is a substantial amount of complaints about not wanting smoking roommates. This problem is notable, but it is unclear whether three residence halls are necessary to remedy the problem. As it stands now, there are hallways and floors set aside to accommodate those who prefer to live in non smoking environments. If there is a higher
Non smoking decision a step in right direction but must have support to back it up
demand for these special arrangements, the housing department should attempt to find out exactly how many floors or residence halls would be needed to facilitate non smokers. It has not yet been able to offer numbers on how many students have complained about smoking roommates or requested a residence hall that is completely non smoking. Without these numbers, it is impossible to determine whether the housing department's plan for supply actually equals the demand.
In designating Templin and Lewis as
non smoking residence halls, the department has planted a seed of doubt as to whether it truly is concerned about students' well-being or just its gleaning new buildings' well-being. In addition, the renovated residence halls are the only ones that have sprinkler systems, in case of a smoking-related fire.
Finally, it is imperative that the department pay heed to the Association of University Residence Halls and not convert all student housing into smoke-free atmospheres.
The move to make some student housing smoke-free is a step in the right direction, and it is comforting that AURH, as a representative body for housing residents, was part of the impetus for this decision. Unfortunately, without solid numbers, it is unclear whether that step is too large or too small.
Jeff Engstrom for the editorial board
Two new computers better than one
Student Body President Korb Maxwell's veto of a bill that would have financed a new computer for OAKS, the non traditional student organization, has created quite a controversy within Student Senate.
Originally, Senate passed the bill that would have financed a new computer and laser printer for OAKS, which said it needed the computer to publish a newsletter and send e-mail. Although Maxwell could have vetoed the bill — a rare action for a student body president—at a more opportune time, his decision is reasonable in the context of his time in office. In addition, his proposal of an alternate solution should curb any remaining debate.
Although in the past numerous student organizations have received funding for new computers and Senate should strive to honor precedent and make consistent decisions, Maxwell did not break a promise or veer from previous decisions as student body president. His timing, however, can be called into question. Instead of vetoing the bill during the semester, he waited until winter break. Granting him the benefit of the doubt, Maxwell might not have done this on purpose, but to the common onlooker, it appeared as
Bill would create access for many student organizations instead of just OAKS
though he didn't want to face the consequences of his decision.
Maxwell has tried to stem this controversy by sponsoring a bill, passed by Senate committees last week, to finance two new computers and equipment in the Student Organizations and Leadership Development Center bullpen. This area includes the OAKS office. The bill was introduced with the argument that it would be inequitable for Senate to fund a computer for one organization when it can create access to computers for all organizations.
This bill would benefit more organizations than just OAKS and would paint Maxwell in a favorable light — so maybe Maxwell wasn't abusing his powers, but instead looking at the bigger picture.
Eric Borja for the editorial board
Kansan staff
News editors
Seth Hoffman .Editorial
Nadia Mustafa .Editorial
Melody Ard .News/Special sections
Chris Fickett .News
Jule 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
Advertising managers
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Krista Lindemann . . .Campus
Ryan Riggin . . .Regional
Anne Buckles . . .National
Will Baxter . . .Online sales
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Jenny Weaver . . Creative layout
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Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Imature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says: 'I need you because I爱你." — Eich Frohm
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 photo-
graphured for the column to run.
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stuaffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Nadia Mustafa or Seth Hohn at 864-4924.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff [opinion@kansan.com] or call 864-4924
Perspective
Sign at Wescoe Terrace taped on to the napkin dispenser reads, "Please limit yourself to three or four napkins."
Napkin sign presumes cynical human character
I stand in front of the almost-yellow trash cans, holding my turkey sandwich, and I read the sign. I am unable to do anything but obey it
— even as its words sharpen my desire to take a lion's share.
The napkins look neatly packed, so clean and so untouched. But I limit myself to three or four napkins.
"Those signs have been here a long time before I was ever here," said Don Harvey, who has worked three years as the assistant manager at Wescoe Terrace.
The sign's authority built upon a bulwark of conservative Midwestern frugality, which is that I should not take more than four because I would never need more than four, unless, of course, there was a disaster.
Dan
Curry
columnist
opinion@kansan.com
"Every once in a while you need the napkins." Harvey said. "We're not the nankin police."
In fact, Harvey, an ex-football player for the University of Kansas and a current student at Baker University, claims that the sign is a vain attempt at price control, and to prove it, Harvey took me on a little tour.
He led me around Wescoe Terrace and pointed to sign after sign. There are signs nobody reads. "Do you see that sign?" he asked me.
Do you see that sign. "He asked me."
It says: "Posted prices do not include taxes."
"People ask us that at least 20 times a day." Harvey says. "I have a sense of humor about it. We try to do our best to communicate with students."
But I find precious little to laugh about when I
The sign is an admonishment to remember who you are and where you stand. At times its tone has intimidated me. I have left the cafeteria having used no napkin at all.
read the napkin sign.
I have in the past shyly drawn two or three napkins from the dispenser before my meal — one to spread across my lap, a second to dab my mouth and a third for emergency use only. A fourth, on occasion, I would tuck into my collar and spread like a fine apron down my shirt front so that I, like the peacock spreading his feathers, may rise and greet my friends without shame.
But this is why I find this seemingly cordial sign so cynically offensive. It presumes that greed, not moderation, rules human character — that we require gentle reminding that we have that which must be limited. It suggests that I, if left to my own devices, would pocket each napkin until the dispenser had been drained and then sneak off like a wedding guest stealing silverware.
Really, one napkin alone — one brown, rough institutional napkin folded in eights, crimped about the edges with a simple, pleasant design, constructed of durable and modestly absorbent fiber — one napkin of this caliber could service any function. To have in hand two or three extra napkins invites charges of extravagance.
The sign pretends to be polite, but it knows it doesn't have to be. The initial "please" patronizes and the subsequent words smirk.
Transfixed by the sign, I dawdle there and ask
could I take a fifth phone? Does I take a
phone?
could I take a fifth napkin? Dare I take a sixth?
If I do, it doesn't matter. The sign will remain after I leave, after I've done my duty or stolen from the state.
The sign brooks no challenge.
Curry is an Overland Park graduate student in journalism.
Free speech a winner; Darwin, Clinton lose
I know, I know. We are all tired of lists. This last year we have seen them all. Thank goodness we have another 100 years before we see another century list. But, considering that we do have another century, bear with me one last time. During winter break, as I waited with unmitigated joy for the start of a new semester, I gave thought to the last year and looked forward to the next. There were winners and losers in 1999, and here
Winners:
and losers in 1999, and here they are.
Drew
Ryun
guest columnist
opinion@kansan.com
The Kansas State Board of Education: If you believe the popular media, this is one unpopular board. Polemical guardians of the grail (evolution) would have us believe an academic apocalypse is upon us. However, let's face it. We're not on the brink of a scholastic Dark Age. There is no hard, empirical evidence for the theory of evolution (did you catch the italics?). In actuality, the board only
■ George W. Bush: Was I the only one watching or did George W, actually say "Jesus Christ" when asked in a debate last fall which person had the most influence upon his life? Whether you like that statement or his politics, you've got to admire the conviction. Bill Clinton would still be checking his poll numbers to see what the correct answer would be. I say Bush in November.
removed references to macro-evolution, deciding that the jury is still out on whether the theory of evolution is fact. I'm not against theory being taught, just as long as we remember it's theory.
■ Scott Southworth, Amy Schoepke and Keith Bannach: Can't place them off the top of your head? In 1996, these three law students challenged the University of Wisconsin-Madison about campus fees. On the basis of freedom of speech, they protested paying their campus fees, claiming they were forced into supporting campus groups whose views they did not share. At the University of Wisconsin, campus fees total $974,200 per school year — and Wisconsin
students pay almost $50 less in campus fees than KU students. Do you ever wonder where our student fees go? In the three years since they filed suit, Scott, Amy and Keith have been undefeated in court so far. The case now will go before the United States Supreme Court this year. And I bet the students will win. Chalk one up for a legitimate First Amendment case.
Losers:
- Defenders of Darwin: It's one thing to openly discuss a theory, and it's another to call theory fact and defend it as such. Was it just me, or were Darwin's defenders just a little hysterical last year? Can anyone tell you where the transitional fossils of the vaunted fossil record are? Can any reasonable evolutionist who wants to discuss science and not ideology tell you how it is that one human cell contains more information than all 30 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica? Oh, I am itching to ask it ... intelligent design? Let's all, on both sides, stop hiding behind strawman and ad hominem attacks and get down to debating scientific evidence, not ideology.
Bill Clinton: Could last year have been any worse for this guy? Not only was he impeached just a little more than a year ago, but in a recent New York Post poll, he lost by 39 votes to Adolf Hitler for being nominated the most evil person of the century. It gets worse. He was a write-in. It gets even worse when you consider who beat him out for that dubious honor.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Regents: What's so terribly wrong with letting students decide where their campus fees go? If one really does believe in the survival of the fittest, we'll quickly see which campus groups deserve to survive and which ones don't when students get to earmark where their mandatory campus fees go. As Thomas Jefferson wrote, "To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical." It's amazing how up-to-date that man can be. Three cheers for Thomas.
Agree or disagree with my picks, just keep an eye on the news. It's going to be one interesting year.
Ryun is a Lawrence senior in English and history.
Feedback
Computer funding not a bad precedent
I would like to respectfully disagree with a comment made by Korb Maxwell, student body president in the Kansan last week. He said that he thought it was a bad precedent for the KU Veterans Association to receive a computer from the Student Senate.
I do not think that the appropriation to fund this computer set a real funding precedent. There are several organizations that received computers from the Student Senate before the KU Veterans
Association. OAKS already has one of those computers. It requested a new one because the one it has now is badly outdated.
Also, the KU Veterans Association has not returned to the Student Senate for any more funds since receiving the computer. I think that this effort to achieve self-sufficiency by making use of the computer and other resources on campus should be applauded and is in no way a mistake or a bad precedent.
David Perico President, KU Veterans Association and Lawrence senior
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