OPINION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2005
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
EDITORIAL BOARD
www.kansan.com
There's a world outside the United States that matters
Young people in Ukraine, the largest state on the western border of Russia, realized it was time to protect their democratic future, and, in the last two months, some fought for a change. The Ukrainian "Orange Revolution" demonstrated that people should stand up for their beliefs and appreciate every opportunity. It also reminded young people across the world that they should always keep an eye on international events, which could influence foreign relations and U.S. policy.
The revolution, named after the color of Victor Yushchenko's party, Our Ukraine, ignited after fraudulent elections. In November, the electoral commission announced the new president: Moscow-backed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. Observers of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, however, called the election turnouts "highly suspicious and unrealistic." As a result, supporters of the Western-learning Yushchenko poured into the streets. Demonstrations continued until last Sunday when the new president, Victor Yushchenko, was sworn in.
Although the elections are done, students should continue following the events in the region. Changes in the Ukrainian government will influence future U.S.-Russian relations. The relationship between the United States and Russia has been one of cooperation determined by self-interest.
In the last four years, the U.S. foreign policy team ignored internal matters of the Russian state such as lack of democratic institutions, free press and human rights.
Yet, with Ukraine, the United States had to take a stand. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Washington was "deeply disturbed by the extensive and credible reports of fraud." Support for Yushchenko was clear, as were the conflicting views of President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Another factor that might shake the Bush-Putin relationship is the recent U.S. interest in new military bases in Eastern Europe, namely Bulgaria and Romania. This poses a question of whether the United States would take advantage of another strategically-positioned country, which would enhance NATO's capabilities. Ukraine has partnership agreements with the EU and NATO, but is not a member. The goal of Ukraine's new president is to incorporate the state into modern Europe, and so, he might also lead Ukraine into NATO. Yet, Russia has always viewed Ukraine as one of its satellites and it is likely that Putin would try to prevent U.S. presence on Ukrainian territory.
On the other hand, as BBC world correspondents write, events on the western border of Russia could influence future liberalization of the state. Since January, President Putin has faced rare criticism and street demonstrations.
No matter what turn Russian politics take, Eastern Europe has changed and so will U.S. foreign policy. Therefore, it is important to remember that change comes from the inside, and no matter where it occurs, it will influence the global political agenda.
Today, international leaders have the ability to affect the life of every person. Also, the United States is the world's strongest military power, and U.S. citizens can influence the lives of people who are thousands of miles away. Thus, as an educated person who has the right to vote, every college student must stay informed. Students should take advantage of the various information sources.
They should appreciate the opportunity to go to school in a free state and be exposed to different perspectives. It is a student's civic duty to form an opinion and express it. Because, as the Ukrainians showed once again, there is no way people can be heard if they do not raise their voices.
Viva Bolova writing for the editorial board.
Call 864-0500
Free for All
tsunami program, said, "We knew we had an earthquake, and we issued a bulletin 15 minutes later."
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
图
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
I work at Jimmy John's and I just took a $150 order to the KU Visitor's Center and they didn't tip me anything.
So the Supreme Court just expanded the use of police dogs in drug searches. A police officer can pull you over for speeding and let his dog sniff your car? We need to band together and fix this problem!
To the two guys who were stuck in an elevator in Ellsworth, how come it took being stuck in an elevator to make you realize you loved KU and your moms?
tsunami program, said, "We knew we had an earthquake, and we issued a bulletin 15 minutes later."
As a Kansas alumnus and former resident of the house featured on the front page of Tuesday's Kansan, I'd like to extend my congratulations and heartfelt thanks for continuing a tradition of aggravating the neighbor who was quoted in the article. Well done, fellas.
I just saw a guy driving around with a Confederate flag tag on the front of his car. Dude, there's not a confederacy anymore!
TALK TO US
Andrew Vaupel
editor
4-1810 or avupel@kansan.com
Donovan Atkinson, Misty Huber, Amanda Kim Stairrett and Marissa Stephenson managing editors 864-4810 or datakson@kanan.com and avauelu@kanan.com
Steve Vockrodt and Laura Francoviglia opinion editors 864-4824 or opinion@kansan.com
Maloelm Gibson general manager and news adviser 864.7667 or mglibson@kansan.com
Jennifer Weaver
sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@kanan.com
Ashleigh Dyck business manager 864-4358 or advertising@kansan.com
Danielle Bose
retail sales manager
864-4358 or advertising@tansan.com
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
David Archer, Vivela Boloney, Johnye Chase
Ederton, Wheston Elkins, Ryan Good, John
Jordan, Kevin McKenna, Paige Higgins, Doug Lang, Moi Mastoffa, Eric Prather, Erick Schmidt, Davin Siles, Gabby Souza and Sarah Stacy
The *Kanman* reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 200 words and guest columns should not exceed 650 words. To submit a letter to the editor or a column, e-mail the document to opinion@kanan.com with your name, home town, year in school or position and phone number.
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
For any questions, call Steve Vockerd or Laure Francescola at 864-4924 or e-mail at opinion@kansan.com. General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 650 word limit
Include: Author's name
Class, hometown (student)
Position (faculty member)
Also: The Kansan will not print guest columns that attack another columnist.
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length:
200 word limit
Include: Author's name and telephone number
Class, hometown (student)
Position (faculty member)
SUBMIT TO
E-mail:
opinion@kansan.com
Hard copy:
Kansas newsroom
111 Staffer-Flint
STAYSKAL'S VIEW
SOME DEMOCRATS AVOIDED BUSH INAUGURATION BY TAKING A CRUISE OR WATCHING A MOVIE
Wyne Stayskal/KNIGHT RIDDER/TRIBUNE
Tsunami forewarning half-hearted
A tragedy has come out of the recent violent tsunami. Hundreds of millions of dollars raised to aid victims has stemmed from the tragedy. But for speculators, that aid isn't enough. What it really comes down to is that people feel the need to blame somebody or some country.
COMMENTARY
On the Web site japantoday.com Neil Western wrote an article about a far-fetched theory that claimed aliens were responsible for the tsunami.
Apparently, the earth's rotation was wobly and the earthquake fixed it. So it looks now as though aliens are trying to help humans instead of hurting them or destroying them, as movies and science fiction suggest.
In an article in The Seoul Times, Gautaman Bhaskaran wrote that India was to blame for the 10,000 deaths in India. Certain Indian cities, he said, formed because of tsunami incidents many years ago.
Bhaskaran said the Indian administration knew what effects the Indian Ocean could have on civilians surrounding it. He claimed the Indian administration basically chose to ignore predictions of the tsunami by staying out of the Pacific Tsunami
RUPAL GOR rgor@kansan.com
Warning System. Doing so prevented Indian officials from gaining knowledge of the tsunami. He even said India had paid for its foolishness. A tragic thought, but he's just looking for someone to blame.
More realistic, and more believable than the alien theory, is the claim that the United States was responsible for the tsunami. Dozens of articles state the United States, which was working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, knew of the deadly tidal wave in the Indian Ocean about five hours before the earthquake.
In the Dec. 29, 2004, edition of The Washington Times, Jeff LaDouce, director of the National Weather Service's Pacific Region and head of the
That so-called bulletin must have been the e-mail sent to officials in Indonesia.
But no phone call was made about the earthquake, which LaDouce said was not a "tsunami-producer."
The phone calls that were made were directed to people at the U.S. Navy base in Indonesia. Tsunami-producer or not, the defenseless people in Indonesia had every right to know what was about to change their lives.
Who knows what could have happened if just one call was made to the Indonesian government. The lack of equipment and knowledge caused 220,000 deaths to those living around the Indian Ocean. Except for the Americans at the base.
The pain far worse than the wounds, dehydration and hunger is the pain these victims felt after losing one or more — or all — of their family members. Anybody can be blamed, but it won't take back the results of the deadly tsunami.
Gor is an Olathe senior in journalism.
Greek stereotypes silly, irrelevant
Greek and nongreek status is well on its way to becoming the newest trend in personality traits. With 18 percent of female students and 14 percent of male students part of greek life on campus, distinctions will naturally be drawn inside and out.
But it is far-fetched to say that each of the University of Kansas' nearly 21.000 undergraduate students can be grouped into two exclusive categories.
HERE'S TO YOU
You are probably in the minority at the University if you have never been asked what greek house you belong to.
Whether the infamous question is simply an expression or is truly profiling when you've been introduced is debatable. But a great divide still exists between those who are greek and those who aren't.
Being green and having best friends that are not, I know all of the stereotypes and nicknames that are out there. But I still don't fully understand their significance.
RAY WITTLINGER
rwittlinger@kansan.com
Too often, it seems that a certain bar or club has been labeled "fratastic" or greek-only. Certain ways of wearing clothes or dressing for class seem to be attributed to one or a few sororities.
It often even goes as far as what clubs or campus organizations are OK to join based on your status as independent or a greek.
At a university such as ours, I have always believed that being greek and being nongreek have something to offer. Some students prefer their own space and mingling in a residence hall or apartment building with members of the opposite sex. Others thoroughly enjoy brotherhood, sisterhood or all the parties in between. Nowhere, though, does it say those two people have to be polar opposites.
If someone in my pledge class introduces me to his girlfriend and feels compelled to tell me that she is not in a house or feels excited to tell me which one she belongs to, that's up to him.
Frankly, I could care less. I hope that I can someday ask a girl if she's in a sorority and receive a simple yes or no, rather than "Oh, of course I am" or "God no, do I look like am?"
There are many reasons why a person would join a certain house or not join any.
While I am a proponent of the greek system, I have to confess that I have never bought into the idea of definitely being more successful in life when affiliated with a house. Benefits and connections are certainly plentiful and helpful, but they're just not limited to a few.
At this point in life, people seem to find their own way to unwind after a long week of lectures and quizzes. While in Lawrence, it is nearly impossible not to find some sort of fun.
Whether you drink, cruise the bars, play poker, watch movies or just hang out around someone's room, it shouldn't matter if the person standing next to you lives with 80 guys on Emery Road or just with four of his best friends on Massachusetts Street.
Wittlinger is an Olathe freshman in political science
'Kansan' report card
Pass:
Women's basketball. The Lady Jays look like a new team, securing victories in their last two Big 12 Conference games.
Rhino Page. Keep setting 'em up and knocking 'em down for KU's top-ranked bowling team.
Fail:
Louise's Downtown bracelets. The downtown bar decided to degrade an idea to raise money to fight cancer into a ploy to fight cover charges.
14th Street renovators. Of course changes need to be made, but for the sake of people living in the area, sometimes changes need to be made faster.
80
↳
1
---