9.
Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Ann Premer, kaan
Gerry Doyle, Managing editor
Angie Kuhn, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Jamie Holman, Business manager
Sarra Cropper, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Thursday, April 1, 1999
Editorials
Annual pride celebration begins tonight with theater's production
It's time for free condoms, drag queens, Fred Phelps and more. Today begins Queens & Allies annual Pride Week celebration. Spanning April 11-17, Pride Week is something of a misnomer. This year the organization has scheduled about a month of events, bringing to the forefront issues of the sexual minority and the differently gendered.
“Pride Week” was known as “Awareness Week” until two years ago, when organizers decided that the University of Kansas populace was ready to deal with the lesbiag community showing a little pride and sharing more of itself. Rightly so, as the celebration has grown from a few speakers and a dance to a much larger gathering of
A week of events has evolved into month of panels, shows by Queers and Allies.
the queer community from throughout the state.
The first event begins tonight and runs through Saturday. University Theater is putting on "Hidden A Gender." This was written by last year's Pride Week keynote speaker, Kate Bornstein, and is sure to play games with any preconceived notions about gender. Bornstein will perform again April 5 through 10.
The two headlining speaker's for this year's Pride Week, themed "A
Week of One's Own," continue the tradition of pioneering speakers that the University has welcomed.
The first is Riki Anne Wilchins, cofounder of the transgender group Transexual Menace. Insightful and hilarious, she'll be dishing up complex theory and zany anecdotes on April 13.
Lesla Newman will speak April 15. An established author in the realm of lesbian relationships, she is best known as the author of the controversial and acclaimed "Heather has Two Mommies."
Other events, from movies to panels and, of course, a drag show, also are scheduled between now and April 17. For a complete list of events, contact KU Queers & Allies at 864-3091.
Mathew Skinta for the editorial board
Kevorkian jury made right decision
Jack Kevorkian was found guilty of second-degree murder Friday in the death of Thomas Youk, a terminally ill man suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Although the verdict should be applauded, it is important to separate the message from the messenger.
The decision by the Michigan jury was a correct one. We live in a society governed by the rule of law, and Kevorkian broke the law when he administered the lethal solution to Youk. Kevorkian knew that he was breaking the law. By physically injecting the final dose, Kevorkian crossed the legal divide that had been his savior in previous trials. The jury had no other choice but to find him guilty.
In the past, Kevorkian was seen as
The doctor knowingly broke the law when he delivered a lethal solution to a patient.
a noble crusader for the rights of people seeking to end their lives. By beaming this last death across the world on 60 Minutes, Kevorkian turned his quest for justice into a laughable affair. He jostled the issue of physician-assisted suicide from top billing and inserted himself.
Further, by representing himself at trial, Kevorkian compromised the legitimacy of his struggle. In the past, Kevorkian could count on the prominent attorney Geoffrey Fieger to highlight the need for reform. Now, he can only depend on his less-
than-sterling speaking skills
The guilty verdict also sets in motion what will possibly be the Supreme Courts' biggest challenge since Roe v. Wade. As one of the great moral conundrums left for the High Court, the issue of physician-assisted suicide must be dealt with in a concise and thorough manner. Regardless of the outcome, the issue must be addressed. In this arena, both advocates and opponents of physician-assisted suicide will get what they have been seeking: closure.
By waging a self-serving and ridiculous battle against Michigan prosecutors, Kevorkian lowered the credibility of those fighting hard for this volatile issue. By finding him guilty, the Michigan jury did the right thing. They decided in favor of the law.
Kansan staff
Jeff Engstrom for the editorial board
Ryan Koerner ... Editorial
Jeremy Doherty ... Associate editorial
Aaron Marvin ... News
Laura Roddy ... News
Melissa Ngo ... News
Aaron Knopf ... Online
Erin Thompson ... Sports
Marc Sheforgen ... 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
News editors
Matt Lopez . . . Special sections
Jennifer Patch . . . Campus
Micah Kafitz . . . Regional
Jon Schlitt . . . National
Tyler Cook . . . Marketing
Shannon Curran . PR/Intern manager
Christa Estep . Production
Steven Prince . Production
Chris Corley . Creative
Jason Hannah . Classified
Corinne Buffmire . Zone
Shauntae Blue . Zone
Brandi Byram . Zone
Brian Allers . Zone
Justin Allen . Zone
Advertising managers
Broaden your mind: Today's quote
"Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans: it's lovely to be silly at the right
moment." —Horace
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.
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.
How to submit letters and guest columns
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 staff (apinion@kansan.com)
or call 864-4924.
Perspective
Senate campaigns tout the same tired message
This time of the year is always the worst The NCAA tournament is done, baseball won't get interesting until at leas August and the NBA tries to entertain us wilt
something they ball, which really isn't because real basketball cannot be played amidst a background of cheesy organ music.
Here at the University of Kansas it also is time for Student Senate elections — the most undeservedly hyped and silly spectacle of the year.
If we are first not bored to death with promises of more e-mail kiosks, then we will be lucky to survive.
Andrew Marino
opinion @ kansan.com
When there is nothing to fight about, they fight about nothing. YOU and Delta Force will undoubtedly groan about the petty partisanship. Maxwell already has said that as far as he is concerned "Delta Force isn't even out there."
It started this January with shocking allegations of candidates using non-partisan Student Senate phones and fax machines to do some campaign work. The estimated cost to students ranged into the hundreds of cents.
The University's election '99 will pit the YOU coalition headed by presidential candidate Korb Maxwell and vice-presidential running mate Dede Siebel against a Delta Force ticket led by Seth Hoffman for president and Mary Liu for vice president. Both coalitions will struggle mighty to convince students of two things and both will fail. The first is that there are substantive differences between the two groups and the second is that students should care about them.
In fact, it's doubtful that either side fundamentally objects to any part of the other's platform. Most of the disagreement probably will be about the details of recreation expansion and corporalization.
the swarps of candidates handing out brightly colored leaflets. The coupon-wielding old men we have become adept at ignoring will seem like good practice. Just remember the rule: head down and hands in pockets.
Liu also prefers that the campaign involve "no backstabbing, no smear campaigning, no harassment" — although she has failed to communicate this to her partner at the top of the ticket. On the same night, according to Kansan accounts, Hoffman declared that there had been "enough" white, male, Greek, political science majors leading Student Senate — a thinly veiled attack on Maxwell. What Hoffman lacks in argument, he makes up for with adjectives.
Because the election will not revolve around any big philosophical differences, the major players will be forced to resort to partisan pickering to stay in the paper.
According to the Kansan, the YOU coalition kicked off its campaign at The Hawk with "cries about student input and representation." Delta Force opened at the Granada, promising that students would come first — different bar, same vague message. Maxwell even ran on the Delta Force slate last year, but told the Kansan he decided to leave because the coalition wasn't moving ahead (whatever that means).
Does he disagree with Delta Force's positions? If so, what made him change his mind in six months? If not, is he trying to be more Delta Force than Delta Force?
Both coalitions want more student input in contracts that the University makes with corporations, both want to increase student fees to expand recreation facilities and both are in favor of a citywide busing program.
A campaign with more real argument would be better than what occurs now. This is why the majority of students will not care and will not vote.
Hoffman and his coalition have their own set of contradictions. The Delta Force Web site is littered with references to "radical" or "widespread and fundamental" change and professes a desire to "sweep out" the current Student Senate even though the coalition won a majority of Senate seats last year.
Marino is a Prairie Village sophomore in political science.
Collegiate experiences foster student evolution
I'm starting to see everything change, and I have to admit it scares me a little.
I'm beginning to hear a lot of my
friends talking about lining up interviews and scrambling to get a few final touches added to the old resume before they begin sending them to their respective employers of choice. I see people talking about apartment hunting, where they want to live and work after graduation and with whom they want to do both. And I get caught up in it and get a little excited thinking abo*
Rick Shearer
Guest columnis
tne endless possibilities, but it's only at ephemeral feeling. The moment passes, and in the end I'm saddened because it seems as if the world as we know it is coming to a screaming halt.
The first couple years after graduation can be the hardest because of trying to establish competency, becoming adapted to a completely new environment, and making your claim for total independence all at the same time. There is a roller coaster of mixed emotions involved, and it is going to be truly bittersweet process to leave the University and everything it's had to offer. At a certain age, you get a feeling inside you that says you're an adult now, and the time has come to pick up and move on.
The four (or five) years invested here have been more important than we ever possibly could have imagined as freshman.
The years spent here are the most formative years of your life, because they are the years you develop from a naive adolescent into a form of the adult you're going to be.
The classes and activities have been more than worthwhile. Looking back, it seems to me that most of the education hasn't come from the classroom.
The classes, activities, relationships, parties and various situations — both good and bad — are all part of the learning process of becoming the person you desire to become.
Call it evolution, I suppose. I have learned so much and seen so much in such a short time. And I will be sad to see it all end because this is the ideal place for a person to develop and improve. And yet, I will be excited to see the new roads that everyone will take. I have seen the changes take place in most everyone since my freshman year, and the changes are for the better. I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person that I want to be.
The beauty of it all is that a person can struggle at something, but then have a chance to recognize what went wrong, reinvent themselves, come back, and try again. It's all part of the process that molds you into an adult that is ready to take on real responsibility for the first time.
remaining hours
Best wishes to all graduating this year and good luck with each new endeavor and path.
It's a necessity to take the time to live your life to the fullest and cherish the remaining months we have on campus.
It's been a great experience and a ride that was truly worth the trip.
Leonard Magruder says that diversity requirements would force students to take unnecessary classes that force liberal ideas on students (University Daily Kansan, 3-31-99). These are very serious charges.
Liberalism claims avoid the issue
Shearer is a Leawood senior in journalism.
Feedback
V
first, it would clearly be unconscionable for any public-funded liberal arts school to teach liberal ideas; therefore, only nonliberal ideas should ever be taught. Moreover, 'liberal' means 'having to do with freedom,' and hence there should be no talk of freedom whatsoever
on a public University cam pus.
Third, I am horrified to learn that it is possible to force ideas on students. I had always assumed students had minds of their own.
Second, forcing students to take classes must surely violate their rights. Certainly, only those classes which are absolutely necessary to life itself should ever be required; which is to say, no classes at all.
I must say, however, that this new information explains a lot of formerly odd phenomena. Many students who act like zombies in class, probably are, in fact, zombies. It is widespread
zombihood that underlies the true danger identified by our worthy Mr. Magruder.
Indeed, what could be more dangerous than today a university, tomorrow a society of zombies whose heads are filled with senseless thoughts of toleration and understanding? It makes the mind rock and reel. I write with fear and loathing at the mere thought of being surrounded by strange people who like strange people. Is there no end to modern horrors?
David Burress
Research Economist
Institute for Public Policy and
Business Research