Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Julie Wood, Editor Brandi 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 advisor Scott Valler, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, November 30,1999
Patrick O'Connor / TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Editorials
Athletic events use parking spaces needed for other campus events
It's no secret that parking at the University of Kansas is not ideal. Some think that the availability and location of parking lots on campus are the most inconvenient around. Others can attest to the fact that we are pretty lucky compared to other universities of our size. However, the inconvenient parking situation is compounded when taking into account that during football and basketball games the majority of the adjacent lots near the events are reserved.
But what about the students who unfortunately have to miss the big game to study at the library, or even those who decide to work out at the gym or see a play in the Murphy Hall theater?
nearby parking is taken or comes at a fee.
The University must protect the interests of students attending non-athletic events
Similarly, those who choose to use Robinson Center during a basketball game face parking woes; they may have to park and then walk a considerable distance because the Robinson lot is sold out. If the Athletics Department and the Parking Department continue to find it necessary to reserve so many lots for the various games, then a compromise must be made with those who need to be on campus during another event. Perhaps a free shuttle service around and through campus would solve the problem. The University must protect the interests of the students and faculty using other campus buildings, even if they are in the minority.
It is inevitable that at one point or another a basketball game will interfere with another major campus activity. Because of the large volume of traffic that needs to park for a game, many of the on-campus routes are closed or rerouted. The conflict here is that many students, faculty or alumni who would love to have the nearby access to an adjacent parking lot for a play in Murphy Hall, can not park there. Unfortunately, because of the necessity of parking for the thousands of basketball fans, that
Corey Snyder for the editorial board
Fraternity turkey torture needs to end
But, perhaps it is time for a tradition that that tortures a live animal to end.
One of the oldest parties west of the Mississippi happens at a University of Kansas fraternity. In its 116th year, the Beta Theta Pi "Turkey Pull" encompasses many of the shenanigans that turkeys pull.
perhaps it is time for a tradition that that tortures a live animal to end. Back in the good old days, the fraternity sent freshmen to "pull" or steal a live turkey from a local farm to become a mascot for the end of semester celebration.
Today, the Betas buy the turkey from a local turkey farm and keep it in a cage on the second floor of their house. The sorority next door, Kappa Alpha Theta, spends the week trying to paint the caged
If the Betas need a mascot for their formal, why not dress up a member in a turkey costume?
bird green, while the Beta pledges guard the bird. The greek game landed one Beta pledge in the emergency room last year to stitch up his head after he tripped on the stairs guarding the turkey.
Finally, the turkey is set free to roam the Beta house the night of the party. Last year's turkey was afraid to leave the cage and rightly so.
Scott Kaiser, a Beta and Overland Park senior, said the turkey was usually fine and people treated it
After the celebration, the hungover, terrified, green turkey probably counts the days until it can become Christmas dinner. The Betas don't eat it though, they return the bird back to the farm from which it came.
"Sometimes it gets into the drink (champagne), but that's of course on its own decision." Kaiser said.
What a silly tradition — the fraternity boys laugh but does the turkey? If the Betas need a mascot for their formal, why not dress a member up in a turkey costume instead of torturing a live bird? Of course, it still might be illegal for a freshman in a turkey costume "to get into the drink."
Katrina Hull for the editorial board
Kansan staff
Chad Bettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editorial
Seth Hoffman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Associate editorial
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Will Baxter . . . Regional
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Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Sometimes democracy must be bathed in blood."
— Augusta Pinchet
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 photocaptured for the column to run.
—Augusto Pinochet
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stuffer-Flint Flight. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Chad Bettes or Seth Hoffman at 864-4924.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (cairion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924
but I believe in reincarnation and astrology. I pray to God every night, but I don't go to Mass every Sunday. I爱 hevement to my beliefs, but I enjoy hearing and usually am not offended by the philosophies of others.
In going on often,
Well, that's what I recently was told by someone who apparently felt that they were an authority on such matters.
Nobody has the right to say I'm going to hell
arson.com] or call 864-4924
Perspective
The individual was upset by what he saw as contradictions in my beliefs. I am Roman Catholic,
Sarah
Smarsh
columnist
opinion@kansan.com
All this was somehow extremely abusive to this fellow. He became defensive and appeared to feel threatened by my thoughts on the world. That's when he started waving his arms and telling me to repent immediately and accept Jesus Christ
Almighty as my Lord and Savior or risk eternal damnation. Now, my mind might be tainted by the deceptive powers of the devil, but it seems to me that there is an important line to be drawn between being a person of faith and being a holier-thou jerk.
The young man argued heatedly that I should not call myself a Catholic if I also believe in things not recognized by the Church and proceeded to explain Catholicism to me. Incidentally, he was of a different faith and knew virtually nothing about Catholicism, but I'm glad he clarified for me the religion in which I was raised, baptized and confirmed.
When I called him on the fact that he, um, didn't know what he was talking about, he abruptly asked me. "Have you found Jesus?"
"Shoot, is someone looking for Him?" I asked. Yeah, cheap shot. Angered, he assured me that all those who do not recognize Jesus as their Savior would burn in the fiery depths of an underworld inferno.
This doesn't jive with me, because I'm sure there are plenty of impoverished but virtuous Buddhist children in China who have never heard of Jesus.
The good Christian insisted that while it is unfortunate, even morally sound Buddhist children will burn.
"Now do you see why it's so important to spread the Word?" he posited.
Hmmmm.
"So you're saying that in the eyes of God, your adherence to a certain religion is more important than personal character and the way you choose to live your life?" I asked.
His arms started waving again.
He paused. "Yes." (He began flipping through the Bible.) "Don't you think the facts that organized religion is run by imperfect human beings and that the Bible has been altered by those same flawed people would make one's personal relationship with the Lord more important than, say going to church three times a week or studying the Scriptures? I mean, aren't people who lie, cheat, steal and then insolently repent every Sunday morning sort of hypocrites?"
I don't hold anything against him for all this. I mean, he clearly was trying to save me. But from what? Thinking differently than he? I guess I'm just made uneasy when people think they own the ultimate answers. There is a difference between faith in God and arrogance in your own beliefs. I like to live life the way I see right and let others do as they please. Who am I to judge, right?
Before thousands of people write me in defense of organized religion, let me point out that my religion is an essential part of my life and that I believe demonstrating faith with people of similar beliefs is a beautiful, beneficial thing in countless ways. I'm just asking that people not forget to foster their personal spirituality amidst it all.
Samuel Coleridge once wrote, "He who begins loving Christianity better than truth will proceed by loving his own sect of chu ch better than Christianity and end in loving himself better than all."
Consider this when prioritizing your beliefs. If anyone else thinks I'm going to hell, feel free to tell me why, and I'll give it some thought. It just seems to me that demeaning one's self in a position to condemn a sinner is the greatest sin of all.
Smarsh is a Kingman sophomore in English.
Costa Rica by the digits: Lots of rain, big roaches
Qdidoo Aug 4
Percentage of days since then that it has rained: 100%
Average daily sun during the wet season (April-
December) 3.5 hours
Average yearly rainfall in Golfifo: 4-5 meters (13- 16.5 feet)
Average daily sun during the dry season: 9-11 hours
age day length, year round: 12 hours
Average temperature on the Pacific Coast: 90°
Average year-round temperature in San José, Costa Rica: 74 $ ^{\circ} $
Number of people who live at my house:10
Easiest job on the nightly news: meteorologist
Number of those who rent rooms:6
Number of renters who are high school teachers:3
Number of these who are dative high school student1
Matt
Number of eyebrows raised at this: 2 (both my own)
Merkel-Hess columnist
Number of meals my host mom cooks each day for all the residents: 2
Another amazing thing about my mom: She washes everybody's clothing
Amount she gets paid for this: Not enough
Value of Costa Rican currency (the colón) in August: about 289 per U.S. dollar
Value of the colon right now: about 294 per U.S. dollar.
Average devaluation of the currency per year:
about 10 percent
Cost of a taxi in Golffito: 200 colones for two people (70 cents)
Cost of a bus from San José to Golfito: 1,750 colones ($6)
Cost of a haircut in Gifloff: 500 colones for men ($1.70) 1,000 for women ($3.40)
Time it takes about 8 hours.
Number of hours I once stood on a bus from San
Number of seats on the bus: 57
Maximum number of people on this bus: 80
Population of Costa Rica: 3.4 million
Percentage of Costa Rica protected in national parks, forest reserves or Indian reservations. 27%
Jose after buying a standing-room-only ticket: 7
Number of seats on busbj: 57
maximum number of people on this bus is:
Cost of a one-way plane ticket from Golfoto to San Jose: $55.81 for gringos, $30 for residents
Prices are per person.
Most cited reason for visiting to Costa Rica: Nature
Average amount of foreign tourists in Costa Rica each year: 700,000
Percentage of Costa Rica that is forested today:
about 25%
Number of tree species in Costa Rica: 1,400
Number of trees per hectare: 17
Number of tree species in the eastern U.S.: 171 Percentage of the world's biodiversity found in Costa Rica:5
Percentage of Costa Rica that was forested in the 1940s: about 75%
Size of Costa Rica: 51,000 square kilometers What this really means: It's a bit smaller than West Virginia
Number of different species of birds and mammals per 10,000 square kilometers in Costa Rica:615 World rank in this category:1
Number of species of birds and mammals per 10,000 square kilometers in the United States: 104 Species of birds in Costa Rica: 850
Species of birds in the world: about 9,000
Number of tropical birds I'd seen outside of cages or Fruit Loops boxes before coming here: 0
Largest cockroach I've seen, about 8 inches long. How this compared to a large plastic cockroach I once bought from an Archie McPhee catalog and hid among my mother's houseplants: a bit larger
Number of species I've seen in my ornithology class during the last two months: about 100
or Fruit Loops boxes before bringing in.
Largest cockroach I've seen: about 5 inches long
Location your average houseplant grows in the wild: the tronics
Day I leave Costa Rica: Dec. 14
One thing I won't miss: Large, man-eating cockroaches
Merkel Hess is an Iowa City, Iowa, junior in journalism and environmental studies. He is studying abroad in Golfite, Costa Rica.
Feedback
Coverage of student's death disappointing
Surprised, no; disappointed,
yes. I am writing in regard to
the recent issue of the
University Daily Kansan that
reported about the death of
one of our fellow Jayhawks.
Admittedly, a top of the front
page article covered the loss of
Michelle Galus, possibly due to kidney failure, but gave more than adequate coverage to "The Chalupa Story" by allotting the bottom of the front page and a majority of page eight to four articles
J
about said consumable. This being said, I would like to propose that the Kansan is not covering as it has stated previously "campus issues," but is more in tune with writing about issues relating to the success of our sports teams. I must ask if the loss of a person's life is a small issue. The article about Michelle did not even cover what a nice obituary would, but asked a few people about her activities and what she was like, with no consideration given to her family and classmates whose lives she may have touched, if even
briefly. I am terribly irritated in the coverage about "the Chalupa" over articles about kidney disease, its detection, the need for donors, and other health related issues which might have had more to do with the lives of those on KU's campus. Please try to show more consideration in future articles concerning our respectable fellow Jayhawks.
Allison L. Storrs Overland Park graduate student