Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Ann Premier, Editor
Gerry Doyle, Managing editor
Angie Kuhn, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Jamie Holman, Business manager
Sara Cropper, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Wednesday, April 14, 1999
The Chicago Tribune
Feedback
Yoder: Editorial board's recreation stance faulty
I am very disappointed about yesterday's editorial "Recreation Pitch Deserves 'No' Vote." The article claims that the proposal "reeks of misleading writing and gaping holes," but not once does it identify these supposed holes.
There are several facts in the article that support a YES vote for a new recreation facility. The editorial correctly states that Robinson is aging and that "students pay the price for its inadequate size." It also makes the point that the current proposal calls for a $49 per semester fee compared to the 1996 proposal of $90 per semester. Since students can use Robinson only when the facility is not used for classes, the editorial correctly states that KU students get just 54 hours per week compared to the 99 hours at other Big 12 schools. Then, the editorial states that 61 percent of students use Robinson once a week and that 50 percent of these people didn't have time or interest. This is because Robinson is closed during the day for classes.
Students have given up on the University, opting for private health clubs costing $300 per year. The editorial notes that there is "no guarantee that Robinson would remain available to students." This is the reason that a new recreation center should be built. As the University continues to convert Robinson to classroom space, many more students will be turned away.
The editorial notes the proposal calls for the third highest fee and the University of Kansas would still be last in the Big 12. This simply isn't true. The combined square footages of both facilities put us in the middle of the pack for the Big 12. With respect to fees, I would remind you that what you get is what you pay for: Every square foot of construction costs a certain amount. If you want a facility bigger than what the plan calls for, then our fee would be even higher, further fueling your arguments.
The editorial cites the survey stating that 83.8 percent of students are satisfied with Robinson. The survey wasn't referring to student satisfaction with Robinson. It was referring to services and activities within Robinson. A
closer reading of the survey also shows that 67 percent of the respondents said improvements to our facilities should be a priority for the University. The survey also shows that 90 percent of the respondents indicated that they would be willing to pay a fee increase ranging from $30 to $60 for recreation improvements.
Robinson will remain open. It will not close. No one from the University has ever stated it will close. In fact, they have made statements to the contrary. The Provost has made a written statement that clearly indicates the University's stance on this issue: "The question has arisen whether students will continue to have access to the recreational facilities if a new recreational center is built. The answer is clearly 'yes.' Robinson is now and will be for academic endeavors, but I see no reason why less access would be available if you build a new center. Basketball courts, the swimming pool, etc. will continue to be available for students."
The editorial goes on to state that the proposal doesn't include operational costs. This is also a false statement. The proposal actually includes costs to build, run, and maintain the new facility as well as continue to support Robinson's nighttime operations. As far as "renovation costs" are concerned, I'm not sure what the editorial is referring to. Renovating Robinson for classes would be a poor use of student fee dollars.
As for the idea concerning an addition: Some simple research, which we have done, will illustrate that an addition to Robinson is not a sound remedy to the current situation. The current Dean of Education is against an addition. Robinson is an academic building and expanding it for recreation would be logistically difficult. We have obtained architectural plans describing what the space next to Robinson will be used for in the future. Further, we did include a question on our survey about an addition versus a new facility. Around 70 percent of the respondents selected the new facility over an addition.
In short, the editorial in Tuesday's edition of the Kansan viciously and falsely attacked a well-researched proposal. Perhaps its authors read a different proposal — a political one, made by Delta Force members for an election. Small wonder that even Delta Force members, such as Maria Abatjoglou, are in favor of a new facility, founded on sound research, planning, and student input.
The editorial board has a significant amount of influence over student opinion. When they print editorials that reek of misleading information, they are doing a horrible disservice to the student body. Students are being deprived of the truth on the recreation issue and are being taught that someone will swoop in with a better plan in the fall if they vote 'no'. In the end, the student body is the group that will lose because of the editorial board's misguidance.
Kevin Yoder
Hutchinson senior
Student Body President
Downbeat writing spoils Student Senate focus
1 eagerly awaited the first day of the Kansan's coverage of student government with Ryan Koerner's promise of "defending voter turnout and pleasant campaigning, the next four days will focus on Student Senate elections."
So on Friday, I opened the Kansan, and turned to page three and found two columns on why Senate is boring and campaigns inconsequential. My high school friend and person that I often bounce ideas off of, Andrew Marino, tells me of the "debatable value in student government." Not much of a start for a newspaper branding a goal "to offer insightful, researched articles about the candidates and the issues."
Even the zany antics of Nick Bartkoski calmed down enough to reduce student votes as simply wrong, preaching that "based on their performances, Maxwell and Seibel are going to win, and that's too bad because Hoffman and Liu are probably the better choice." I wonder if Nick would bellittle the decision of the voting Jayhawks so much if his sister Katie — who is running with Delta Force — won her Senate bid.
Kansan staff
Joe Walberg Shawnee sophomore
Ryan Koener . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editorial
Jeremy Doherty . . . . . . . . . Associate editorial
Aaron Marvin . . . . . . . . . News
Laura Roddy . . . . . . . . . News
Melissa Ngo . . . . . . . . . News
Aaron Knopf . . . . . . . Online
Erin Thompson . . . . . Sports
Marc Sheforden . . . . . Associate sports
Chris Fickett . . . . . . Campus
Sarah Hale . . . . . . Campus
T.R. Miller . . . . . . Features
Steph Brewer . . . . Associate features
Augustus Anthony Piazza . . Photo
Chris Dye . . . . . Design, graphics
Carl Kaminski . . . . Wire
Carolyn Mollett . Special sections
Laura Veazey . . . . . News clerk
Matt Lopez . . . . . Special sections
Jennifer Patch . . . . Campus
Micah Kaffitz . . . Regional
Jon Schlitt . . National
Tyler Cook . . Marketing
Shannon Curran . PR/Intern manager
Christa Estep . Production
Steven Prince . Production
Chris Corley . Creative
Jason Hannah . Classified
Corine Buffmire . Zone
Shauntae Blue . Zone
Brandi Byram . Zone
Brian Allers . Zone
Justin Allen . Zone
News editors
Advertising managers
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Buddha often chooses the already unfortunate as objects of his loyal friendship."
"Nobodv ever chooses the already unfortunate as objects of his loyal friendship."
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 home-town if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
Lucan
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staufer-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.
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.
Delta Force guarantees determined leadership
Perspective
For this upcoming year, in addition to city-wide transportation, we have many goals. We plan to work for responsible improvements to the University
If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4924.
of Kansas' recreation services. We do not believe that the University needs an expensive free-standing recreation center, but we believe that an addition to Robinson Center would solve all of the University's problems for a lot less money.
Mary Liu
Guest coilumnist
Seth Hoffman Guest columnist
We will change the way Student Senate allocates money to student organizations, making it not only easier but more ethical. We will advocate for responsible University investing so that the money that the KU Endowment Association invests in your name does not get funnelled into amoral corporations that abuse and exploit their employees.
Speaking of exploited employees, we will work to build a collegial relationship between the graduate teaching assistants union and the University administration. We also will labor for increased campus safety, and because we believe in building community not authority, we will work for a student-run Safewalk program that will augment the public safety office the University already has.
The editorial board also called us "representatives of student groups that have not led Senate for several years." We are not defensive about any of these statements. We are proud of where we live and content that we have not been in the charge of Senate for the past several years—and we would like to know what the editorial board was smoking before it decided that neither SenEx was important nor a University leadership organization.
Granted, the coalition we represent has not been in control of Senate, but that is why we're having an election today. The editorial board dismissed us simply as a Pearson Scholarship Hall resident and a McCollum resident and not the proven leaders that we are.
And, no matter what the Kansan editorial board may believe, we both have the ability to accomplish all of what we have set out. This is Seth Hoffman's third year on Senate, and this year he is the vice-chair of SenEx, the highest body in the University governance system. This is Mary Liu's first year on Senate, and she has been a vice president of the Association of University Residence Halls for two and a half years.
Delta Force has indeed accomplished more on this campus the past two years than Senate, and if we are elected, we will bring the energy and dedication of ourselves and the rest of Delta Force to Student Senate and actually have the elected student government work for the students.
dents at the University and has remained organized for three years now to ensure that students know that we work for and keep our promises. If we were to change our name, it would be easy to walk away from the promises we've made.
After saying all of this, it is important to remember that Delta Force remains accountable for the issues it brings up during campaigns. Senate coalitions usually disband after elections, having served their purpose of getting their candidates elected. That makes it easy to ignore all the promises they made during the campaign season. They expect students to forget what they said simply because they have changed their name.
Indecision sells students short. Delta Force believes that campaigning is more than just getting votes. Our members aren't afraid to take a stand on issues that really matter to the student body. We have never hidden behind campaign rhetoric just to get elected — we stand up for what we believe in.
Delta Force has made a commitment to stu
Hoffman is a Lenexa junior in journalism and the Delta Force presidential candidate. Liu is an Overland Park senior in East Asian studies and the Delta Force vice president candidate.
YOU promises to place students' concerns first
The YOU coalition brings fresh ideas and new people to Student Senate. We came together in October on the premise that student concerns were being neglected.
The University of Kansas has marginalized the interests of students too often, and student voices have been excluded on many important issues. We decided that we wanted to put YOU, the students and your concerns, back into the University of Kansas.
Korb Maxwell
Guest columnist
The YOU coalition includes 61 candidates who represent various campus organizations, living organizations and backgrounds. Just as the KU student body includes students from all walks of life, so does the YOU coalition. We pride ourselves on the diversity of our candidates and the genuine concern they have for improving the University.
Dede Seibel
Guest columnis
This campaign began by surveying students on the issues they felt were the most important in
A primary concern for students is the idea that their tuition is rising at an overwhelming rate. After researching this issue, we discovered that since 1980, tuition has risen 410 percent for resident students and 580 percent for out-of-state students. Because of a decline in state support, the YOU coalition thinks that these numbers are too high and will continue to increase without heavy lobbying efforts on behalf of the students.
the most important their daily lives. After compiling these results, we formed our platform issues. All of our issues are based on the fact that students care about them. The foundation of this coalition is student opinion. YOU seeks to continue this effort during the campaign and throughout our time in Student Senate.
In the 1980s, the Board of Regents and the Legislature promised that the state would provide 75 percent of education costs, and students, through their tuition, should pay only 25 percent. Unfortunately, state government has broken that promise to students. The state now pays 56 percent, and students cover 44 percent.
If elected, the YOU coalition will lobby the
We will work to prevent the overselling of parking passes, increase student parking in the new Kansas Union garage and strengthen student representation in the parking department. These solutions will alleviate many of the parking concerns on campus.
Finally, the YOU coalition feels that safety should be a priority at the University. Past safety efforts have been focused on single issues. YOU believes that these "Band-Aid" approaches to safety ignore the fact that total campus safety requires a multifaceted approach. Safety can be solved only through a comprehensive plan.
YOU plans to increase lighting and blue phones on campus, expand the current Saferide system, implement a Safewalk program, allow 24-hour access to campus buildings and redistribute campus public safety officers during night hours. With these efforts, the University can build a better sense of community and will have greater resources for a safer campus.
Additionally, students are concerned about their academic success. Many other universities — including Kansas State, Johnson County Community College, Oklahoma, Iowa and even Harvard — allow their students to retake a class and substitute the second grade for the first in their GPA.
Another concern is transportation and parking. Lawrence does not have a citywide transportation system. The YOU coalition will work to create a citywide bus system that can give students extra mobility throughout the city of Lawrence.
Legislature to freeze tuition rates, increase the amount of state funding and return to the 75-25, cost/fee ratio.
We encourage you to look at our issues and meet our candidates. We feel that students should be the first priority here, and we want to make improvements to the University that involve YOU and improve the quality of student life at the University for YOU. We urge you to vote for student representation, diversity, leadership and experience. Today and tomorrow, cast a vote for YOU.
Unfortunately, when a KU student retakes a class, both of the grades are figured into the GPA. YOU feels that KU students can be more competitive in the job market, with scholarships, and in graduate school admissions if they are allowed to replace their poor grades.
1
Maxwell is a Leawood junior in political science and American studies and is the YOU presidential candidate. Seibel is a McPherson junior in political science and the YOU vice presidential candidate.