Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Julie Wood, Editor Brandl Byram, Business manager Laura Roddy, Managing editor Shauntae Blue, Retail sales manager Cory Graham, Managing editor Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser Scott Valler, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, December 7, 1999
David O'Connor / TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICE
Editorials
Students should know final grade, take teacher evaluations seriously
The semester is drawing to a close, and two events herald this ending. One is final exams, the other, teacher evaluations. Finals are an important part of the grade for most classes. Often, students' grades are determined by their performance on the final.
Unfortunately, students probably won't know the results of these finals until next semester, if ever. Teachers are not allowed to tell students their grades on the phone, and even if allowed, this would be a very time-consuming and inconvenient process. Students can pick up their finals from teachers, but many students return home for break before the
Final exam grades should be included on report cards
results are available.
This is unfair, because it leaves students to guess at their performance on the final exam from the grade on their report card. After all the effort students spend on the exams, they deserve to know their scores.
A solution would be to place final exam grades on the students' report cards or on the new online grade system. We applaud this new electronic system and hope that final exam grades soon can be added.
Teacher evaluations also are ubiquitous on campus this time of year. But not all students take these forms seriously — rather, they view them as an inconvenience. Students need to realize this is their chance to voice their opinion, and they should take advantage of it. Evaluations are reviewed, and they help to judge teachers' performances and are considered when a teacher is seeking tenure or a performance salary increase. By not sincerely evaluating their classes, students are not only being unfair to their instructors, they also are losing a valuable opportunity to help mold their educational system.
Heather Herrman for the editorial board
United States should work to shape WTO
Without question, money, specifically trade, has been the hottest topic in the news this past week. The World Trade Organization concluded its negotiations in Seattle with no new trade accord being set. While this was a victory for thousands of protesters and groups such as the AFL-CIO, whose leaders said no deal was better than a bad deal, many members of the WTO left the talks with bad tastes in their mouths.
President Clinton will take much of the heat and blame for the breakdown in discussions. However, his decision to take a stand on international labor standards was worthwhile. While the United States is in the driver's seat of the
We could use influence to raise awareness of rights issues
world economy, we should use our influence to shape some basic human rights policies within the WTO. By no means should we step on the toes of our partners in trade by attempting to drastically change their cultures. Our recent demands of China's government to crack down on human rights abusers have been extremely unsuccessful, a trend that likely would occur if we took such a harsh stand again.
on a global scale is important, we also may take economic hits because of our values. The lack of new trade accords at the summit will hurt many U.S. farmers. Many of our exports to our most consistent market, the European Union, may face some large challenges with export subsidies.
It should be noted, however, that while our support of human rights
But last week in Seattle, important steps were made in protecting human rights and U.S. workers. Developing nations certainly think the United States and other rich nations are setting barriers to their inexpensive goods made with cheap labor. In the end, it is hoped that the United States will do the right thing for our economy and for labor around the world.
Kansan staff
Corey Snyder for the editorial board
Chad Bettes ... Editorial
Seth Hoffman ... Associate editorial
Carl Kaminski ... News
Juan H. Heath ... Online
Chris Fickett ... Sports
Brad Hallier ... Associate sports
Nadia Mustafa ... Campus
Heather Woodward ... Campus
Steph Brewer ... Features
Dan Curry ... Associate features
Matt Daugherty ... Photo
Kristi Elliott ... Design, graphics
T.J. Johnson ... Wire
Melody Ard ... Special sections
News editors
Advertising managers
Becky LaBranch .Special sections
Thad Crane .Campus
Will Baxter .Regional
Jon Schlitt .National
Danny Pumpelly .Online sales
Micah Kafitz .Marketing
Emily Knowles .Production
Jenny Weaver .Production
Matt Thomas .Creative
Kelly Heffernan .Classified
Juliana Moreira .Zone
Chad Hale .Zone
Brad Bolyard .Zone
Amy Miller .Zone
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Death is the only incapable, unavoidable, sure thing. We are sentenced to die the day we're born." — Gary Mark Gilmore
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.
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.
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 Chad Bettels or Beth at 864-4924.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (apinan@kansan.com) or call 864-4924.
Perspective
Last weekend, I helped my dad move into his new office. The oldest attorney in his firm passed away, leaving a corner office that overlooks the Plaza in Kansas City. Mo. I thought I'd help Dad move a couple of desks and shelves and be done. What I
We have the opportunity to seize the millennium
found instead, was the deceased attorney's corner office full of the mementos a businessman acquires during 60 years of awards dinners, office Christmas parties and bosses' days.
As we moved through the ashtrays, pencil holders, newspaper clipping, commemorative coffee cups and family photos, none of which had been packed up, left out as if the dead man would return any day - life's brevity hit
Seth Hoffman
Associate
Opinion Editor
opinion @ kansan.com
me. There were lots of knickknacks, but he didn't really leave anything behind that told the story of the rich life he lived.
Right now, most of us have about 60 years left to make our mark upon the world. How do you plan to do it? Now is the time to figure it out.
Much has been written about preparations for Y2K, as far as computer systems are concerned, but what about your personal year 2000 readiness? (This isn't going to be apocalyptic, I promise.)
What will you do to make my mark after 2000 begins? New years resolutions are an often used maneuver: I'll exercise more. I won't watch so much TV. I won't use my column as a philosophical soapbox, and on. That's not enough. Unless something drastic happens, you will be disillusioned with a cash-controlled presidential campaign and almost certainly, another ugly Student Senate campaign. Without your help both systems are going to continue to decay until neither is recognizable as a democratic process.
Are you happy with the way the Kansas Legislature has treated the University? Are you pleased with the way the Kansas government has handled the evolution flap? Or are you sometimes embarrassed to live here?
So this year, instead of New Year's resolu
What about in Congress? Were you happy with the way House Republicans handled the impeachment process? Will social security be there when your parents need it? When you need it? Or will we have to spend that money on nuclear defense as a result of our failure to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty?
The same is true on a campus level. Here again, you should be able to ask some questions. Are you happy with the progress that has been made on the proposed recreation center? Do you think Student Senate has too much money? Does the student body presidency require high school debate experience? All are questions that deserve answers.
tions, let's work together towards a New Year's Revolution.
On a state and national scale, it's more important than ever to make your voice heard. Get out and vote in primaries this spring for president, for Congress and for state house and senate.
When I was in high school, my dad would tell me to "seize the day" every time I left the house for school. I didn't do the greatest job, but since I've come to college, it's something I think about all the time. Now we have the unique opportunity to seize the millennium.
As you read this, finals probably are weighing more heavily on your mind than any campaign. So after you finish your finals, take a couple of days, hook up with your high school friends and just relax. But after you finish, take a little time to map out your personal Y2K, and if you have time, map out the next 60 years, too. When your gone, and all you've left behind is an office full of mementos, you might as well have something there that tells the story.
Hoffman is a Lenexa senior in journalism.
E-mail, chat rooms pull students, parents closer
My parents have helped me purchase five computers in my lifetime but only recently purchased one for themselves.
Why did they finally decide to get online? Because this past summer, when I interned for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, we spent hundreds of dollars on phone bills. When I graduate in May, my parents realize that I probably won't
They were scared. Neither one of them had much experience with computers. This "appliance" that dominates their son's life was about to invade theirs.
stay in Kansas to work, and they've paid Ma Bell enough. But there was another reason.
Before I left for the summer, my grandma got a computer for her job. From Florida I talked her via a chat program so that I could answer her technical questions without increasing her phone bill.
I probably talked to my grandmother more this summer than when I actually lived closer to her.
Juan Heath guest columnist goonix.com goonix.com
My parents realized it was time for them to get wired.
Other college students that I have spoken with have had similar experiences. When they left for college, their parents learned to use e-mail or chat programs. Staying in touch with their children seems to be a strong motivating factor for other folks getting on the World Wide Web as well.
I was overjoyed when I received an e-mail from my mom. And I was ecstatic at being able to talk to her online. I have used chat programs to keep in touch with faraway friends and coworkers, and finally I could communicate with my family.
This must have been how my parents felt when I said my first word. I was so proud I almost cried.
My mother's main goal is to communicate with me, but I've shown her how to browse the Web as well. The look of wonder on her face was childlike when she realized that she could pursue her gardening hobby online. I was reminded of going to
the library as a kid and the times my mom would read books to me. I felt like I was returning the favor. She helped me learn to read. I've opened the door to the Web for her.
My father's interests are a little different. I showed him the Web, and we looked at sites for cattle and farm equipment, but he wasn't as interested. He was more intrigued with playing solitaire. Yes, my father just spent several hundred dollars to do something that he could do with a simple deck of cards. He is averaging two hours a night on the computer and even has recorded his scores with pencil and paper. I asked him why, when he had the whole world at his fingertips, did he just play with cards? He said because that's what he knows and that's what makes him happy. So for those of you whose parents haven't
Be patient: Parents won't learn this overnight, and they will have many questions. When do I click? Where do I click? When do I double-click? My parents have called every night with a question; thus increasing the phone bill that they had hoped to reduce.
So for those of you whose parents haven't taken the plunge yet, let me offer these words of advice:
Be helpful: There are many we take for granted having grown up with computers. I am still explaining to my mom that the screen saver is not a program with any practical use and that it isn't something that you need to turn on for any reason.
- Be creative: Relate all this computer stuff to things your parents already know. My parents have led simple lives. Technology is not something with which they are comfortable. Explaining that the processor speed was roughly similar to the horsepower of a car was one helpful analogy.
There are lots of things I've taken for granted when going to work and sitting down in front of a machine. The vast amounts of available information online are both good and bad. I hope that my parents are careful where they wander, but that's part of life on the Web, I suppose. I've tried to give them a foundation to build upon, just as they did for me.
Heath is a Paola senior in history and is the online editor.
Feedback
Feedback Scholarship Hall applicants should be judged on more than one criteria
I would like to clarify some comments I made for Nathan Willis' article yesterday concerning National Merit Scholars and their place in the scholarship Halls.
I think National Merit Scholars should go through the exact same process as everyone else when applying for a place in the scholarship halls. This gives the selections committee an opportunity to determine (based on essays) how well the applicant will fit into the halls. Just because someone is a National Merit Scholar does not mean that they are the most qualified for a spot. Nor does being a National Merit Scholar mean that they are not hard-working. While there are some National Merit Scholars that aren't hard-working — it certainly does not apply to all. I have many friends (including one of my roommates) who are National Merit Scholars and are great
contributors to the sense of community of the schol-hall community. However, it is important for the integrity of the scholarship hall system that all applicants be weighed on the same scale when being considered for a place in one of the halls.
Julia Gilmore
Clay Center junior
Douthart Scholarship Hall Resident
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