Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Julie Wood, Editor
Laura Roddy, Managing editor
Cory Graham, Managing editor
Tom Ebien, General manager, news adviser
Brandi Byram, Business manager
Shauntae Blue, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Scott Vallier, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, November 16, 1999
Seth Jones / KANSAN
Editorials
Red Cross questionnaire doesn't discriminate but needs revision
Several weeks ago the American Red Cross blood drive ran into trouble when it was accused of being unfairly discriminatory toward homosexual men in its attempt to avoid blood infected with HIV/AIDS. Because of the University's non-discrimination policy, this raised the question of whether the blood drive should have been allowed. Having reviewed the questionnaire used to filter out undesirable donors, several conclusions make themselves clear.
First, the Red Cross is not guilty of discriminating against homosexual men as a social group. The questionnaire asks if the applicant is a male who has had sex with another male
The University can allow the blood drive without violating its non-discrimination policy
or a female who has had sex with a male who has had sex with a male. Thus, it does not rule out homosexual men per se, as a man can be oriented toward homosexuality and simply not have had sex with another man.
Because this is the case, the University can continue to allow the blood drive without violating its non-discrimination policy.
That said, the questions asked of potential donors should be more specific. It is not sex, with all its various meanings, that causes homosexual men to be such a high-risk group for HIV/AIDS. It is an intercourse that is the particularly high risk activity. This is important, because not all actively homosexual men engage in anal intercourse. Those who have only oral sex are no more of a risk group than women who do the same. Indeed, the questionnaire should ask women if they have had anal sex.
By addressing this issue, the questionnaire would become more useful in screening for high risk applicants, and those who have not engaged in particularly high risk activities would not be treated as though they had.
Erik Goodman for the editorial board
Trump plan points in right direction
Donald Trump's "soak the rich" tax scheme probably never will solve the national debt crisis, but he's pointing the finger in the right direction. Trump is proposing a one-time 14.25 percent tax on individuals and trusts with a net worth of more than $10 million to erase the national debt. Payment on the national debt will have to come from somewhere, and asking the super wealthy to put up the money may not be a bad idea.
Some criticize Trump for sensationalizing his presidential campaign by making ridiculous campaign promises. His detractors doubt that his motivation is anything short of making himself a public spectacle to win the Reform Party
It's about time a candidate took a bold stand toward solving the federal deficit
nomination. That may be true; however, Trump's economic package personally would cost him $725 million dollars. At least he's willing to put his money where his mouth is. Trump also doesn't gain political leverage by alienating the rich and influential.
It's about time a candidate took a bold stand on an issue Americans care about. For years we heard, "It's the economy, stupid," but the candidate's proposed solutions to the economy were not clear. Our democratic system is reinvigorated when someone is willing to propose a bold solution. This type of proposal never would emerge from either the Democrat or Republican camps.
But it is time to face the harsh reality that when it comes time to pay the national debt, the super wealthy will be called upon to do their share. It's not unfair to expect those who have benefited most from this society to up the ante.
What price would our superwealthy class have to pay? Here's one example: Bill Gates alone would pay $12 billion under the Trump plan, leaving him the tidy sum of $73 billion to enjoy his retirement years.
Kansan staff
Brett Watson for the editorial board
News editors
Chad Bettes ... Editorial
Seth Hoffman ... Associate editorial
Carl Kaminski ... News
Juan H. Heath ... Online
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Brad Hallier ... Associate sports
Nadia Mustafa ... Campus
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Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"When we walk into a restaurant, I watch grown men weep." ---Donald Trump, on
How to submit letters and guest columns
Letterers: 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.
being seen with girlfriend Melania Knauss
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All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stafflair-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Chad Bottles or Seth Hoffman at 864-4924
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924.
Rare disease diagnosis scary, not unbeatable
Perspective
"I in three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." — Robert Frost
I'm happy to know that I'm not crazy and I'm not dying — at least, for now.
That's good news ah strange illness for more than a year. In this case, ignorance is not bliss; it's frightening.
I have a disease that has recently been diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CIFDS). Now that there is finally a name for this foe, I can start fighting it. But I'm scared.
Jennifer Barlow columnist munion@kagan.com
So many strange emotions and thoughts have been tossing through my head since my diagnosis.
At first, I simply was relieved that it wasn't anything terminal and that it wasn't all in my head. However, lately I've been struggling to keep that thankful frame of mind.
You wouldn't be able to tell by my face, but CFIDS is quite debilitating. It is not depression or mere laziness; in fact, I wish it were that simple. My symptoms include unrelenting fatigue, memory impairment, confusion, muscle and joint pain, migraine headaches and constant nausea. It's kind of like having a bad flu that won't go away plus a constant need for sleep that never is refreshing. The severity of the symptoms wax and wane with time. Doctors aren't positive about the cause of CFIDS and aren't positive about a cure.
I'm usually a type-A, bubbly person. My career goal is to be a foreign correspondent and travel everywhere I can. However, I rarely make it to class or work anymore. I praise myself for getting out of bed and having enough stamina to clean my room or read a book. Simply walking down the hall can be a painful experience. This is the most frustrating situation I've ever experienced.
My mom urged me to join a support group for people with CFIDS. Unfortunately, Lawrence does not have one, so I turned to online groups. I've been getting e-mail from people all across the United States telling me about their battles with CFIDS. Although all of the people seem to have the best intentions, I almost don't want to listen because their stories are so disturbing for me.
Many of the testimonies I've read from other CFIDS sufferers mention years of pain and fatigue that eventually cause them to leave school and quit their jobs. I've seen several CFIDS Web sites that give information on how to receive government-funded disability benefits because so many with this illness cannot work. Biographies of those on an Internet chat site state what their occupation was before their illness and what it is. Now one girl wrote about the terrible bedsores she had from being bedridden for years. See why I'm scared?
However, there is a silver lining. First of all, I'm very stubborn. I used to view that as a potential character flaw, but I think it will be useful when dealing with this challenge. Also, I'm young and I was diagnosed relatively early, so I have a better chance of fighting this off.
Already, I've learned a lot from being sick.
First of all, sympathetic friends and family are, by far, the most comforting and vital aspect of dealing with CFIDS. (You all know who you are! Thanks for listening to me complain, laugh and cry. Love you!)
Also, I used to judge myself solely on the things I did and not who I was. I'm a human being; therefore, I am not perfect and I am not invincible. Life has funny (and not-so-funny) ways of reminding me.
CFIDS may rearrange my life, but it will not kill me and, although everything is a little upside down, I know one thing for sure — I will not go gently into that good night.
Barlow is a Cherokee, Iowa, junior in Russian and East European studies.
Plea bargain not right for drunk-driving officer
Micah Stegall, 24, probably was relieved when he pled guilty to two misdemeanors instead a felony last week. Stegall was arrested for drunken driving on his way home from a downtown bar. And now he has to deal with court costs, community service, auto insurance, the bicyclist he hit while driving drunk and a suspension from his job. In any other case I would restrain from judging Stegall, but he happens to be a Lawrence police officer, and I happen to have no sympathy.
We expect cops not to make stupid decisions. The nature of policing is based on upholding the law, keeping the peace, etc. And to do such things requires a person of rigid discipline, not a boozehound. I know cops are only human, but when I tell a cop that I'm only human, I still get a speeding ticket. People break the law every minute of the day, yet cops have to have no tolerance for lawbreakers.
Jenny Oakson columnist opinion on kansan.com
or vodka. Because they are the punishers of society, police officers, when arrested, should be punished to the extent of the law.
can be punished to the extent of the law. Stegall picked door No. 3 and now faces two days to six months in jail and 100 hours of community service. I'll admit, that much community service sounds rough. Imagine picking up cigarette butts and shoes off the side of the highway for 100 hours. However, two days in jail is not enough. In a student's life, two days in jail is called spring break. A drunk-driving officer of the law should be in the slammer long enough to grow some stubble.
And, yes, Stegall still is an officer of the law. A felony mandates automatic expulsion from the police force in Lawrence, but
I just want Micah Stegall to realize that when he decided to become a cop, he decided to become a role model and say goodbye to the hooch. I know cops don't seem like role models for us. KU students are too old and tainted to appreciate a group that is constantly taking their beer and weed away. But the kids love 'em.
It's not that I want to see this man's life ruined, I want to see a little consistency. No one made Stegal become a police officer. God knows I could never do it — directing traffic outside in February, hours of paperwork and having to wear those silly hats (all right, I totally would look good in one of those hats, but I still couldn't do the other stuff).
Plea bargains happen all the time, but this makes me wonder if Stegall isn't getting special treatment. With all the local media attention this case has attracted, I would think the city prosecutor would want to make an example out of Stegall, especially for drunk driving, a crime that, when committed by students, brings out all sorts of frenzied parents and politicians. Where's the zero tolerance now? I guess you have to seriously injure someone before the community decides your life is ruined for one spurt of irresponsibility.
Stegall is actually guilty of more than just plain battery. If I were Steve Mitchell, the bicyclist Stegall hit with his Jeep, I wouldn't be content with this plea. And all Rick James fans know that assault with a weapon or an object, such as a car, is aggravated battery — a felony.
Oakson is an Overland Park senior in journalism.
two misdemeanors, driving under the influence and battery just puts him in the proverbial doghouse with his captain. He'll probably have to ride in the backseat of the patrol car. "No more shotgun for you!"
Feedback
Watching football not a waste of time
I commend Brad Hallier's article "No excuses for Jayhawk football fans, empty stands." As a converted football fan, due to my husband's love for the game, I found that sitting in the bleachers on a gorgeous day to support my team and school was not time wasted. The Jayhawks are on a roll and only look to be that much better come next season. I can almost guarantee that next year the stands will look more full. Fair-weather fans will make
their presence.
KU football obviously has faith in its program or it wouldn't have renovated the stadium and added a new MegaVision board. I believe that if football was given half the support that basketball receives, our boys would play their hearts for us. Take for example a football player I have in one of my classes. Each time he has played I commend him on a job well done and, boy, does his face light up! I mean, come on, nobody wants to lose.
Sure I love basketball and attend those games as well, but basketball is not the only
sport at KU. If a seven-month pregnant woman, who has to drive 30 minutes to get to Lawrence, has enough energy to sit through an entire football game, eat dinner, and then sit through an entire basketball game on hard benches with no back support, I think anyone can. Go KU!
Jody Hill Olathe sophomore