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Kansan
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Monday, April 19, 1999
The Chicago Tribune
Editorials
Necessary revisions to calendar include extra two weeks of break
Chancellor Robert Hemenway's recent commitment to making a decision on the revised calendar proposal by May 1 is a good one. Rather than deciding while most students are away from Lawrence this summer, this commitment ensures that whatever decision is made will inevitably face the litmus test of student opinion.
Although this expediency is applauded, there is no question that the chancellor must not only decide, but decide correctly in this matter. He must approve the revised calendar.
The chancellor has made it clear that he is concerned with the possibility that the new proposal might lead to an "early departure syndrome." This may be a definite concern, but it is one without merit. If, in fact, there
During proposed winter break, students could study work abroad or find jobs.
will be this "early departure syndrome," why do we have a spring break? It appears that this issue was decided long ago by those who saw a need for any of the current breaks that we have.
Simply, if there is a need for a break, there is probably no need to fear an "early departure syndrome."
Further, the two weeks added to the winter break would be a vast improvement on the current break and would give students a myriad of new opportunities.
Rather than accomplishing little during an already long month, students could now possibly take classes, study abroad or devote more time to work opportunities.
Now, we have a break which gives students just enough time to become bored, but not enough time to do anything constructive. With a six-week break, students would have choices previously unavailable to them.
Perhaps there are legitimate concerns regarding the calendar proposal. If this is so, it is doubtful that they compare to the obvious advantages of the revisions. Chancellor Hemenw owed it to the students of this University to approve the calendar revisions to better the stated goals of giving students a quality education.
Jeff Engstrom for the editorial board
Students' efforts earn pats on back
Congratulations are long overdue for a group of University of Kansas students who recently won nationally prestigious scholarships.
Lori Mah, Topeka senior in civil engineering, won one of the 4,200 J. William Fulbright grants awarded annually. She will spend nine months in Gothenburg, Sweden at Chalmers University studying reinforced concrete. Congress created the Fulbright program in 1946 to promote educational and cultural exchanges among nations.
Marvin Glen Decker, Pittsburg senior in mathematics, and Stuartt Allan Corder, Olathe senior in mathematics, physics and astronomy, both won Barry M. Goldwater scholarships, which honors excellence in science,
the winners of national scholarships stand as the University's top representatives.
engineering and mathematics. The Goldwater scholarship provides up to $7,500. Only 304 are awarded each year.
Larissa Janeen Lee. Derby senior in chemical engineering, won one of 11 Winston Churchill scholarships. Churchill scholars receive $27,000 for a year of graduate study in engineering, math or science at Churchill College in Cambridge, Great Britain. Lee previously had won a Goldwater scholarship in 1998.
social welfare, won one of 75 Harry S. Truman scholarships. She will receive up to $30,000 to complete her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Truman scholarships are awarded to honor students planning careers in public service.
At the University, as at many educational institutions, students and their educational achievements are too often overlooked. Mah, Decker, Corder, Lee and Carden undoubtedly deserve the recognition for which they have strived. They are truly our finest representatives.
Melinda Carden. Lenexa senior in
The prestigious awards these students have received are testaments to their intense years of work and study. May they use their talents to maximize their opportunities to succeed.
Kansan staff
Chris Borniger for the editorial board
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Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"It's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens."
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 home-town if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
—Woody Allen
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 Stuaffer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Ryan Koerner or Jeremy Doherty at 864-4924.
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 849-4924.
charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and rape.
Out of respect to his family, I'm not going to use the man's name but will simply refer to him in generic terms. Let me start by getting the man's actions out on the table.
Perspective
Punishment too lenient for convicted offender
A 56-year-old local man was recently sentenced to two years in jail (with credit for one year already served) and two years of probation for being convicted on
Robert K.
Funk
opinion@kansan.com
One girl testified that on two separate occasions, the man touched her hips and breast. A second girl testified that the man touched her breast after he had offered to give her a back
run. A third girl testified that the man laid on top of her for about 15 minutes. These acts were the basis of the indecent liberties charges. The second girl also testified that the man put his finger inside her twice. These acts were the basis of the rape charges.
The man ran a horse arena in the area, and the girls were Girl Scouts camping out on the man's property. The man claimed that he was sleepwalking when the incidents occurred.
The man's attorney is upset that his client isn't being released after serving one year. The attorney apparently had reached an agreement with prosecutors that the two one-year sentences would be served concurrently. Apparently the judge didn't like the plea bargain and ordered the man to serve another year in jail. If the man were to violate his two-year probation after being released, he would return to jail for a third year.
Apparently, one of the judge's reasons for keeping the man in jail for the additional year was to wait on a psychological evaluation.
The law is simply wrong here. It's much too lenient. This guy at least should be locked up, until we can be relatively sure that he won't go out and do this type of thing again. He never should be allowed to touch another child, never be allowed to taint another innocent future.
I't save him the time. This guy has problems. If he were severely retarded and couldn't distinguish between right and wrong, it would be another story. There has been nothing mentioned about mental problems, and short of that, there is no excuse for his actions. He put
It wasn't the judge's fault. He has rules that he must follow. Those rules are created by the legislature. The legislators are elected by and represent us. Ultimately, the responsibility for fashioning appropriate laws and punishments rests on our shoulders.
They might grow up being generally distrustful of men. They could have problems with self-esteem. They may be unable to carry on normal romantic relationships. They definitely could have problems dealing with sex. And the guy responsible only got two years.
his own sexual gratification above the health and well-being of several girls. He then had the audacity to blame it on sleepwalking, though I suppose you have to give him points for creativity.
I don't hold anyone's sexual preferences against them. I don't think we can control what turns us on. Freud had a lot to say in this area, and it's all pretty disturbing. Certainly we can control our actions, though. When the man touched those girls, he crossed the line. The physical damage to the girls was probably very minimal and nothing that won't heal with time. The psychological damage done to those girls, though, could be very serious, and it could stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Worst of all, this wasn't an isolated incident. Not long ago, a local man was arrested as part of a global child pornography ring. If you talk to anyone who works with social services, you'll find that these horrible things happen on a disturbingly regular basis. We need to hold people accountable, not for their tastes or inclinations, but for their actions. We should urge our legislators to take a Draconian approach with those who choose to abuse children. The children can't protect themselves. They are depending on us. We can't let them down.
Funk is a Scott City graduate student in law and business.
Etiquette lessons needed for rude, moronic drivers
I take it as a relatively simple understanding that most of the students attending this fine university do not actually live in Lawrence. Sure, most of you have gotten an
apartment somewhere, or perhaps you've cozied up in one of the dorms for the semester, but you only reside here. This isn't the place you call home.
No, Mom and Dad, or Uncle Bob, maybe your favorite teddy bear or the only dog you've ever really loved — they all exist in a world apart from Lawrence.
H.G.
Miller
opinion@kansan.com
Sometimes, this separation warrants a deep need to visit the people we love and re-establish cherished.
Whatever the reason, you most likely will have to travel on highways to make this trek back to the homeland. Since I also make this routine trip, I would like to take a few moments and provide a quick refresher course on the finer points of highway etiquette.
Slower traffic to the right.
kindred relationships. Or maybe there's just a huge party going on, and you want to impress all of your old high school chums with the hot freshman that you've connived into dating you.
OK, this is not up for debate. I don't know what it is that compels people to drive 55 in the left lane, while a line of angry drivers tails them within inches of the most massive pile up in recent decades, but stop it! Should you take a moment to glance in the rearview mirror and happen to see that somebody is approaching you rather rapidly, simply move over to the right lane, and a barrage of verbal attacks against you, your mother, and anybody who may have ever met you can be easily avoided.
Speed Limits.
Speed limits
I think it is the accepted philosophy of business travelers and highway patrolmen everywhere that the speed limit is to be exceeded by at least five miles an hour. Trust me, we'll all be a lot happier if you just conform to this one little thing. I know it's fun to push those pansy
tendencies by "going at a safe speed," but do it on some dirt road that I'm not driving on, OK?
Passing.
Remember, it's only called speeding if they catch you. Otherwise, you're just making good time.
I don't mind being passed. I really don't.
Years of failed relationships have erased any sense of manhood I once possessed. All I ask is that you maintain your driving speed after passing me. I do not enjoy playing leapfrog at 80 miles an hour when I could be doing something useful such as reading my map.
I'm sure that it has happened somewhere, but the chances of actually meeting the man or woman of your dreams while cruising along at breakneck speeds is rather unlikely and, in my opinion, should be left up to fate anyway. Thus, any cosmetic adjustments such as make-up or hair that you feel need to be attended to can wait.
Fliving objects.
Because of the advance of capitalism in this country, I would estimate that there is at least one gas station with trash receptacles for every 10 miles of highway, so that paper cup from Hardees can remain inside the car until you reach the next one.
Occasionally, while traveling, you may find yourself driving through a busy section of a large city. For some reason, a sudden plethora of lanes all going in the same direction confuses many drivers and compels them to swerve and sway from lane to lane without employing the proper ritualistic practices.
I'm talking about turn signals here, people!
Changing lanes.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Although my particular religious beliefs do not need to be voiced here, I would like to state that I am a strong believer in the turn signal and its benefits for all of mankind. I am not clairvoyant, and when people decide to move to a lane that they think will get them to their destination that much faster, I would like some kind of fair warning, so as not to become acquainted with them in the first name, last name, insurance policy number kind of way.
Personal Hygiene.
Miller is a Hutchinson senior in English.
Feedback
Refund article used incorrect context
I was part of Thursday's Kansan article about recipients of scholarship refunds. Although the quotes in the article were accurate to some degree, the overall tone of the article failed to fully explain my choice to attend the University
of Kansas.
I, of course, cannot speak for my fellow scholars, but I came to the University for more than money. The University of Kansas is near my home in Topeka and has a good political science department and a top quality honors program. All these things factor into any college student's choice about where to go to school, and scholarship recipients are no differ ent.
Reporting that my decision to attend the University of Kansas was primarily a fiscal one is not only an offense to me, but it also greatly underestimates the benefits the University has to offer.
Robert Chamberlain
Topeka freshman