Opinion
Kansan
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4A
Monday, February 1, 1999
Seth Jones and Jessica Johnson / KANSAN
Editorials
High fines for underage drinkers ignores problem of drunk driving
The City Commission's decision last week to raise the fine for minors in possession alcohol from $200 to a minimum of $300 or a maximum of $500 may deter some underage drinkers, but it will not stop those older than 21 from driving after drinking at the bars.
The Alcohol Task Force, the City Commission and the Lawrence Police department should use the additional money to develop a program that would keep intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel.
Most students, regardless of their age, do not worry about expensive fines when they go to a bar or visit a party. They think about having fun. Then they drive, endangering themselves and others. The police should place sobriety check-points throughout the
Diverting some of the new money to prevention programs may make a difference.
city to keep people from driving drunk. Mayor Marty Kennedy said the task force was trying to educate tavern and bar owners and bartenders about ways to curtail alcohol-service to patrons. Kennedy said the extra fine money would go toward a general municipal court fund and that the commission had not considered contributing the extra money to drinking and driving prevention programs.
In the six weeks before the increased penalty for minors in possession will be
effected, the city should develop a pan that would address the prevention of binge drinking. An expensive fine alone will stop only a few. Increased sobriety check-points would stop many.
Provost David Shulenberger said that 50 percent of those who responded to the Northern Illinois survey distributed to KU students last fall admitted to driving drunk. Programs can work to decrease those figures, but it ultimately comes down to the individual's choice.
Students concerned with the allocation of the additional fine money should contact the police department and the City Commission. Instead of directing the money to a general pool, it should be used to prevent drunk drivers from endangering others.
Emily Hughey for the editorial board
Tenants, landlords must cooperate
In recent months, there has been an unusual number of incidents where students were forced to leave their homes.
Two students and another resident at 805 Ohio St. had to vacate their residence last semester because the landlord rented the space without the proper permit from the city.
The City of Lawrence condemned a house at 1247 Kentucky St. in August, which forced six students to leave their home. The tenants reported raw sewage in the basement.
A carbon monoxide leak last month at the Park 25 apartments, 2401 W. 25th St., sent two students to the emergency room. A furnace leak was responsible.
Instances such as these are a lesson to tenants and owners alike. Students
Students need to exert caution when signing a lease to avoid potential hardships.
renting houses or apartments need to be more selective consumers, and landlords need to clean up their act.
Before signing a lease, potential tenants should thoroughly examine the property and anticipate any potential problems that might arise. However, landlords need to take responsibility to meet city health and housing codes. This greater responsibility is in their best interest and would displace the tenants who might be displaced otherwise.
Landlord Jim Edwards is suing the students for more than $10,000 in lost rent and damages resulting from breaking the lease agreement.
out and didn't come back.
When the Kentucky residents' home was condemned, the students moved
Although it is understandable that the students would be leery of moving back into the house, they signed a contract with Edwards. It is their responsibility to honor that agreement so long as the landlord holds up his end of the deal.
Tenants need to begin looking more carefully at what they're getting into when they rent, and landlords need to take greater responsibility for their property. Until that happens, students are going to be temporarily living out of their suitcases.
Kansan staff
Erinn R. Barcomb for the editorial board
Ryan Koerner ... Editorial
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H.G.
Miller
opinion @ kansan.com
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Fast-paced life leaves best intentions behind
Perspective
For one reason or another, my instructors all have been bold enough to make the assumption that their class is the only one
I'm taking. This unfortunate occurrence has led me to carefully examine my schedule to budget my time more effectively.
It seems to have happened again.
Taking into account my present course load, along with the various assignments related to school and the number of work hours needed to warrant a paycheck large enough to handle such simple needs as rent and food, I have come to the conclusion that this will be a very suc-
custum semester if I just stop sleeping.
Of course, I enjoy sleeping very much. So, it appears this budget of mine will need a little revising.
cessful semester if I just stop sleeping.
First, let's take a look at study time. According to one of those "academic success" seminars forced upon me as a freshman, I should spend at least two hours outside of class studying for every hour I spend in class.
Yeah, right.
OK, we're not here to mock these counselors' good intentions. Let's just see if we can compromise the suggestions a bit.
For example, I believe in balance. So, let's say I only study for an hour for every hour I'm in class. Actually, I think I should only consciously spend time studying outside of class in relation to the time I'm conscious in class.
1
Of course, another way to compensate for lost time is to combine activities. For example, most of this column has been written in lieu of taking notes about the many exploits of Walt Whitman.
Yeah, that seems fair
In fact, I've found that most class time can be used for dual purposes. Along with learning, one can balance his checkbook, catch up on assignments for other classes or even chew a stick of gum.
A warm and hearty breakfast can be replaced with dry cereal and milk. Ten more minutes. Because the biggest sweat I'll break all day will be just getting out of bed, a shower can be easily skipped. Five more minutes.
Naturally, I'm going to miss a few classes due to unforeseen circumstances — illness, travel, outdoor temperatures above 70 degrees — so already there more class time that doesn't need to be matched by study time. Next, let's see if anything can be done about work.
Unfortunately, my current station in life allows me little more status than that of a wage-earner at a local mass-market retail store. Along with this, my employer doesn't seem apt to pay me when I don't show up, and I haven't been able to convince my landlord
Things don't get really bad until I start telling myself, "I'll just chew some gum."
These are just suggestions, of course. Perhaps the simplest way to free time in a hectic college schedule is to lower your standards. If graduation is all you're after, then let's be honest, not much more than showing up is really required.
Once my quiet slumber is interrupted by the tender strains of rock radio, my mind immediately begins looking for ways to shorten my morning ritual, adding to the time spent in bed. My personal philosophy is that any minute spent in bed is a minute not wasted dealing with the cold realities of life. Who needs that?
that sincere love and devoted affection are just as good as money.
So, it appears the work hours will have to remain in the budget as they are.
I'm sure some instructors will disagree with me, let's just hope they don't teach any of my classes. Should any of my current professors read this column, I would like to remind them that the true charm of a college environment is the leniency and understanding of its educators.
Now, it is time to begin trimming from some more specific areas of the budget. Although am not normally a detail-oriented person, I find that I can focus quite well on certain aspects of my life early in the morning.
I mean, you didn't actually expect me to read that whole book, did you?
Miller is a Hutchinson senior in English.
Afternoon fight reveals students' impure hearts
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D did you see the frozen dog? On Tuesday afternoon dozens of students were late to their classes, captivated by a coning.
canine
Bearing an uncanny resemblance to a lawn ornament, a Cocker Spaniel perched in front of Marvin Hall, his eyes glued to a crazed squirrel. While the squirrel collected nuts and licked itself, the dog took excruciatingly calculated steps forward. It was a sensual death match — a carnivorous Congo, danced in slow motion.
As the crowd expanded many students checked
Josh
Meyer
opinion @ kansan.com
As I walked toward Wescoe Beach, the crowd erupted with hoots, hollers and scattered applause. I've never heard KU students so happy. The monotony of the school day was broken. Bravo. A few lucky gamblers won their bets. Hurrah. Hurrah. Another predator slaughtered his victim in the middle of the afternoon. Clap, Clap, Clap. Everyone loves a good cockfight. It's human nature. I remember back in elementary school when the smallest recess scuffles became elaborate production numbers. Scores of children would run from the merry-go-round chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Eventually, a flustered teacher would blow her whistle, ending the duel and catapulting the kid with the least blood to
The sight of the Spaniel's flared nostrils was enough foreshadowing for me. The squirrel was going to get whooped.
"That squirrel's gonna get whooped!" a bystander said. The stakes began to rise, as time was skipping by and the deadlock lingering. This was no longer a dumb Disney cartoon where Pluto is belittled by Chip n' Dale. These were living, breathing beasts—a far cry from anonymous animatrons serving as sidewalk entertainment.
many students cheeka
their pocketbooks, often betting a few dol
lars on their favorite competitor.
Therefore, I plead with you. The next time you encounter inequality, level the playing field. Help a squirrel eat a dog. Help a dwarf smother Eric Chenowith. Help America restore it's dignity.
Meyer is an Overland Park junior in theater and creative writing.
It's time we take a stand against cheapened, cockamamie cockfighting. Without equality amongst the cocks, it's a cruel and ruthless exhibition.
infamy. The popular students won by fiat.
With grade school in the past, we find many other ways to quench our thirst for blood. You turn on Monday Night Football, and what do you see? Jockfights. You flip to a Fox reality special, and what do you see? Copfights. You turn to CNN and what do you see? Political fights. Although Bill Clinton and Kenneth Starr's only weapons are words, they still manage to peck themselves to death.
The dead squirrel doesn't bother me, but its manner of dying does. It didn't stand a chance, and everyone knew it. No one expected the squirrel to eat the dog. Is it our nature to cheer the predator and let the underdog (or in this case, undersquirrel) perish? (What would you do if you walked by the lawn of Allen Field House and saw Eric Chenowith smothering a dwarf? Would you show your team spirit? An informal poll reveals that 8 out of 10 KU students would cheer for our 7-feet tower of terror. Nothing against dwarfs — we just love Jayhawk hoops.
Now, before you accuse me of putting myself on a pedestal, let me make a confession: I cheered for the frozen dog. Just like you, I stayed to witness the bitter end. I was the one jumping up and down as the squirrel's head was ripped off, leaving its body buried in a pile of fertilizer. I was the one shouting, "That's my dog! Way to go, Butchie!" as I tossed doggy treats in the air. Yes, I played the fool, and now I will pay the price. My actions will hound me for a very long time.
Feedback
Students' needs ignored by Senate
I think Student Senate has once again failed to act in the interest of students here at the University of Kansas. The City Commission recently approved a motion to increase
to drink. It's time for Student Senate to start acting in the interest of students and quit spending their time on motions that go nowhere.
fines for minors in possession of alcohol by $100. I remember a time last year when Student State passed a frivolous motion for the drinking age to be lowered to 18. Yet, Student Senate did nothing to protest this new policy that would have a real impact on the KU students under 21 who choose
Gia Hua
Olathe senior