Opinion
The University Daily Kansan
Laura Roddy, Editor
Sarah Hale, Managing editor
Kristi Elliott, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Monday, January 24, 2000
Jamie Patterson / KANSAN
Editorials
Voting rights in primary election more important than saving money
In the recent aftermath of Gov. Bill Graves' State of the State address, there has been another victim of the budget crisis. As in 1996, there will be no presidential primary in Kansas. A restructured primary system will help solve this problem.
Stating the budget crisis as grounds for reallocating the funds, the Kansas Legislature and Graves decided that having a primary in Kansas was an unnecessary expense.
In one sense, they are justified in their decision. Surely there are better causes on which to spend $1.5 million than a primary that is made insignificant by the time it is held and the small number of electoral votes at stake.
However, a troubling trend presents itself. This is now the second presidential
Regional primaries may solve democratic process catastrophe
election in which Kansas has not held a primary. The state government is removing a key part of the democratic process. To cast a vote on any level and in any race is a basic right that should not be denied to any citizen of the United States.
The obvious solution to rectify the current situation in Kansas is to follow the lead of Michigan and schedule the primary a month earlier. This, however, shortly becomes a slippery slope as states vie to capture the attention of candidates. In the worst-case scenario, all primaries would occur within the span of a few weeks, a situation that would harm
states like Kansas as candidates would be forced to pursue states with more electoral votes.
Nevertheless, the primary process should be restructured. The current proposal is to make the primary process a regional one. States in the Midwest, like Kansas, would be grouped together with other Midwest states, creating a total of five to eight regions with primaries spaced two weeks apart. The primary process would become a nationwide one with each state, no matter how many electoral votes it has, playing a part in our democratic process.
The privilege to cast a vote should not be decided by logistics and money. It is time for the primary process to be restructured — because every vote counts.
Drew Ryun for the editorial board
State lacks concern for better libraries
These last few months have seen a number of disappointments for state funding of the university system in Kansas. The latest event in the trend came when the state announced that it would not offer matching funds for the KU library fee passed by the Board of Regents last spring. The plan should be abandoned.
In the original plan, the Regents agreed to charge students an additional $1 per credit hour to increase library funding, providing that the state matched each dollar. Now, the governor has reneged on account of budget deficiencies.
In fact, this refusal of funding will hurt more than just the KU libraries. It shows a real lack of concern
Students shouldn't pick up the tab after the Legislature betrayed its commitment
for the quality of the libraries in the entire Regents system.
The entire initiative had its genesis last year at Kansas State University, where its Student Senate decided on a library fee to increase its own library collection. When the state offered matching funds, other Regents universities were quick to jump on board with their own initiatives. The denial of matching funds from the state leaves all of these schools high and dry and is especially damaging to
K-State, where the funding was most needed.
Now the Regents must face a difficult question. Should they go on with the library fee even though the revenues now will be only half of what initially was expected?
The answer is no. Once the fee is in place, it is very unlikely that the state will come in later and offer to match the fees. Rather, the Board of Regents needs to cut its losses and drop the initiative until that time when the state seems able to match the fee increase. Perhaps next time the state will make more of an effort to see that the libraries receive the money they need to continue providing top-notch resources all across Kansas.
Ben Shockey 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 . 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
News editors
Advertising managers
Becky LaBranch . . . . . . Special sections
Krista Lindemann . . . . Campus
Ryan Riggin . . . . . Regional
Anne Buckles . . . . 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
Cecely Curran . . . Zone
Christy Davies . . . Zone
Advertising managers
Broaden your mind: Today's quote "A lie told often enough becomes truth." —Lenin
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.
Guest columns: Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
How to submit letters and guest columns
All letters and guest columns should be 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.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@ksan.scn) or call 864-4924.
Ever since I arrived in Spain, I've been in a hazy world of thin January sun, cobblestone streets, crusty bread and red wine. I feel like I haven't woken up from a dream. It could be jet lag, but Spain is too magical for that to be the only reason.
Jet lag not the only reason study in Spain is dreamy
Perspective
The cities are an elegant mix of new and old, and they're clean. Orange trees line many of the streets. The countryside is a blend of New Mexico and California. Right now, it's a brown, drab landscape dotted by olive trees, thin evergreens and Quixote's windmills.
Before I left, my friends asked me why I was going and said, "Aren't you just so excited?" It was hard to respond. It wasn't excitement I felt, but more like anticipation and apprehension. It's hard to leave for a whole semester, but the slush-filled streets, biting winds and overcast skies in my hometown of Iowa City made the decision easy. But why was I going? Why. really?
Matt
Merkel-Hess
columnist
pennington@kansan.com
The decision to go was instinctive. I had the opportunity, and I felt it was the right time to join everyone else in Europe—America's college playground. I did hesitate, but no one I talked to said studying abroad was a bad decision. Friends told me how much they missed Europe and said that Spain, especially Madrid, was one of the best places on Earth. My mother, ever wise, told me to go and soak up Western civilization's roots. My sister put it plainly: "Go," she wrote in an e-mail. "It'll save your marriage when you have a mid-life crisis and wonder what you missed if you don't go."
But why Spain? Maybe it was Hemingway, my first introduction. Or maybe it was just to see the land of Dali, Picasso, Lorca, bull-
We've slowly eased into the culture — more than 100 gangly, sneakered Americans who speak English, sometimes loudly. As we tour, our dreams for this semester are only beginning. Spain's cathedrals, mosques, synagogues, castles, Roman ruins and everything else we weave together in what one of our professors calls "a symphony of stone." As we travel, themes build on each other, giving us a deeper understanding of the culture we're about to dive into.
After exiting Madrid's marble-and-wood trimmed airport, I was greeted by a cold mist. Soon, the sun cut the air, illuminating the city in browns, tans and purple. With my program at the University of Syracuse in Madrid I cruised south on buses for a two-week traveling trip and orientation to Islamic Spain.
fighting and flamenco. A picture wouldn't satiate me — I wanted to see it all for myself. I haven't been disappointed. After America's airport culture, things began to look up at dinnertime on Iberia Airlines' tighter-than-sardines flight. I had large pasta shells with ricotta cheese, a salad with shrimp and a small bottle of wine. They do things right here.
This orientation class is only the start of our own symphonies for the semester. Two p.m. lunches and 10 p.m. dinners also are a start, as is stumbling over Spanish words. It's not a complete culture shock, but it is different.
— Written at El Navavegante Internet cafe in Cordoba, Spain.
I'm still fighting jet lag. Wide-eyed nights lead to mornings when I wander among a herd of students through magnificent buildings, arched wonders and forests of stone — oases in the middle of modern cities. It's a dream from which I don't want to wake.
Merkel-Hess is an Iowa City, Iowa, junior in journalism and environmental studies. He is studying in Madrid, Spain.
Vetoed computer essential to OAKS
Feedback
Sheryl Adelman
Winnetka, Ill., graduate student
In response to the article, "Student body president vetoes new computer for OAKS," I feel obligated to comment. I may not know all the facts, but if it is true that Korb Maxwell is denying OAKS a new computer system I think something should be said. A computer is essential to the lifespan of any organization, a fact which has only become more true as time moves on. We do not know who will be serving as OAKS officers and staff in five years, but we might be able to rest assured that somewhere this information is maintained. Furthermore, without the existence of a central locale on the Internet, many would argue that any organization may as well not exist. OAKS should be able to run a Web site that provides prompt feedback to its largely commuter members. That Web site must, in turn, interact easily with the organization's data files. Floppy disks can help 'back up' essential files, but they cannot replace the wear and tear of an organization's office computer. Lastly, I have to wonder: without external donations, should OAKS acquire a new computer? I urge Mr. Maxwell and his peers to reconsider this decision and what it suggests about Student Senate's concern for the stability of student-organizational life at the University of Kansas.
Increased security won't end violence in high schools
It seems that the recent outbreak of high school violence has everyone scratching their heads and wondering what has instantly gone wrong with the youth of America. Being a high school student once, I observed what devastating things go on within the walls of a high school. For countless years society's high class has ruled and oppressed the lower class, with high school being no exception. I had friends in high school who were constantly tortured and put
Increasing security, providing metal detectors and dissing Marilyn Manson falls short of focusing attention to the root of the problem. Until society learns that difference is a virtue rather than a plague, this violence is inevitable.
through high school hell at the expense of those who think they are the gifted ones. Daily, people who don't groove with a particular school's ruling class are oppressed, ridiculed and physically and emotionally abused because they happen to be different. Yes, the 'D' word. Parents need to stop telling their children that they are so much better than others because they are not. These ideals are forced into children's heads and breed the violence that we are seeing today. People can only be told a number of times that they are inferior before their anger turns to a lashing out, often in the form of violence.
Adam Naill
El Dorado senior
Stephen Duncan Lawrence freshman
More drinking laws aren't the solution
Religious leaders shouldn't condone homosexuality
In the JournalWorld, the headlines read, "Clergy backs gay weddings." The Kansan read, "Religious leaders want homosexual recognition." Then there was a list of supposed churches who, issued a declaration, approved same-sex couples
What in the world are we doing making more laws about the underage drinking "problem." There is no problem. A problem has adverse consequences, and underage drinking causes no more problems than legal-age drinking. However, there is one easy solution to get rid of underage drinking once and for all: Get rid of the age limit. At a minimum every-one should be able to see that all logic shows it should at least be lowered to 18. Besides, it would make things safer, since we would only drink only 18 shots instead of 21.
If you are gay and you are reading this, please know this, God truly loves His creation of which you are a part of. He has gone to great lengths to re-establish the relationship between himself and His creation, the relationship that was broken by sin. The thing is, He will not look upon sin of any kind with approval, for he said "Go and Sin No More." There is of course much more to be said in these matters, and these things need to be worked out between you and God, not approved of and fostered by ignorant men! How dare they approve of keeping you in sin, and in doing so damage your relationship with the living God? How dare they? I tell you with certainty that they war with God.
and openly gay ministers
Ralph Gordon Lawrence resident
I do not have the right to hate any people, at all, ever, for their sin. I hate the deed, not the person. I hate the lies that lead to sin. This is not a gay-bashing party. In fact, I understand personally your temptation. God is perfect, He is right, and He will judge us all. It is not my place to condemn you. If I do I condemn myself because I am a sinner too. This lie these people are promoting must however be exposed for what it is, a lie.
I can hardly believe my own eyes! Churches that supposedly represent the living God, issuing a declaration of this kind is simply unbelievable. How dare you call yourselves the church of God and turn and mock Him in this way? Who do you think you are, teaching in His name, this lie? God's word is very plain about these conducts you are supporting, as being sin! He hates this sin, as He hates all sin, and here you are, teaching people that He is going to approve of this in His church! Have you not read His words that you would do such a thing? Repent of this sin, or die in it and be judged, your choice.
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