4A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
EDITORIAL
TUESDAY,MAY7,2002
New move-out policy should be adopted
Whether they are graduating or just eager for the summer, students have been counting down their remaining days on campus. And while classes officially end this Thursday, student still have a stressful week of finals to look forward to. On top of all that, students living on campus have to worry about moving out of student housing.
Unfortunately for some students, moving out can increase the stress of finals because of the schedule set down by student housing. Students are required to move out of their residence or scholarship hall by 11 p.m. on Friday, May 17.
For those students that have finals late in the day on Friday, this can be a hassle. Worrying about getting out of their tests in enough time to get all of their belongings out of their rooms could prove to be a distraction during their exams.
Several members of the Vision coalition ran with a platform that called for the establishment of a 24-hour move-out period for student with finals on the last day of finals week
Randy Timm, assistant director of housing, said that while a 24-hour move-out period was not official policy, the Department of Student Housing was willing to work with students who didn't feel they had enough time to move out of their halls.
Students need to talk with their resident assistants and complex directors to see what solutions exist for them. Complex directors will help students with problem solving before any decisions are made. In fact, several international students often take advantage of this system.
However, students often read the policies and think that they are set in stone. "Students see things as black and white." Timm said. He said students should talk with their complex directors if there is a problem with moving out by the assigned time.
But students should keep in mind that an extension is only a last resort. Resident assistants and other housing staff will not be around to ensure the safety of residents past the final move-out time.
The Vision coalition asked for the establishment of a permanent 24-hour move-out period. However, the current system of working with students to see what best fits their needs may be the next best thing.
Donovan Atkinson for the editorial board.
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For more comments, go to www.kansan.com
The reason The Kansan doesn't talk about NASCAR is because this is a university, not a trailer park.
--have dark skin and speak with an accent, you're not granted such privileges.
Listen up, man. Cribb is by far the funniest guy on campus, so put his name in the paper, now.
This is the jolly man, and I the guy that originally called in about with the Abercrombie and Fitch quote. I would just like to know what do frat guys think about that, because I know one, and he's not necessarily offended by it, but I know that some are, so let me know.
have dark skin and speak with an accent, you're not granted such privileges.
You left out the greatest grilled cheese in Lawrence — the one at Paradise Cafe. Homemade sourdough bread. It's killer, and you left it out. That's wrong.
This is to the writer of the Referendum B letter. The referendum was never instated. The rules and regs were never changed, so how can you say you support Loren for trying to reinstate it? If that's not enough for you, Loren just sent out a letter to all the senators apologizing for trying to do something that was not in her power to do. Before you go around criticizing columnists for not doing their research maybe you should do yours.
I just realized the last name of the KU football coach looks like it says man-gina. Now that's funny.
I just want to wish a happy birthday to my home girl Massa.
Her birthday is May 3. Love you, baby.
This in response with the girl who is irritated with the conformity of the sorority girls. I just wanted to say that some friends of mine are trying to get a group of people together for a coed fraternity/sorority that doesn't discriminate against race, gender or sexual orientation and won't stifle your creativity and individuality. Look for Pi Pi Pi symbols around town.
I regret every day that I decided at KU. And the reason why there is not a lot of diversity in the Midwest is because people don't want diversity in the Midwest, not because it can't be done. I should have gone to a Christian college.
To the Jayplay writers who forget to go to Bucky's, they have undoubtedly the unquestionable reigning champion of all grilled cheese sandwiches in Lawrence. Next time get your facts right.
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KNIGHT RIDDER TRIBUNE
PERSPECTIVE
As college life winds down, reality sets in: most people aren't as tolerant as they think
Amazingly enough, in the past few months, I've managed to grow even more cynical about humanity.
This is a rather simple story about a friend of mine. I haven't known him long, but he's become an important part of my life. We have a surprising amount in common, we learn from each other's differences and we generally have a good time.
That is, until we feel the disapproving stares, and see people we don't even know whispering to each other when we pass. But what's frustrated me most of all is the reactions, both overt and covert, of my friends and acquaintances.
At first, I though it was just a "race issue." You see, my friend has pretty dark skin. He immigrated to the United States when he was a teenager, and when he speaks English, he speaks with a noticeable accent.
COMMENTARY
But the more time we spend together, the more I realize that it's not so much that he's not a white, native-born American. Rather, I think it's the tattoos scattered on his arms and back, his shaved head, baggy jeans and earring that freak people out.
"He looks like a thug." "Oh, I didn't know that was your type." "All I'm saying is be careful." The comments he heard ranged from flat-out insensitive to politely disguised discrimination.
My friend is not a criminal. He's made some dumb mistakes in the past, but nothing much worse than some stuff I did in my younger days.
But somehow people can forgive my past mistakes because I'm a blond college student. Apparently, if you work hard in construction,
Kursten Phelps kphelps@kansan.com
I've never been naive. I spent the majority of my childhood being looked after in an interracial household while my parents worked hard to make ends meet. I've never been sheltered from discrimination, racism, sexism or homophobia in my life. I'll even admit that, being human and all, I've had to take a good look from time to time at my attitudes about people who are different from me and work to overcome stereotypes I carry in my head.
But somehow, I thought, that in such a lovely "liberal" town like Lawrence and that on a campus crawling with so many brilliant minds, people wouldn't be so quick to judge the motives behind our friendship.
I guess reality is slapping me awake two weeks before graduation. I can only imagine what runs through people's minds when they see us:
"She must be one of those rich, preppy druggies like the girl in Traffic, and he must be her supplier." Actually, neither of us are druggies.
although we've both seen firsthand how drugs can ruin lives and relationships. It's something that bonds us in a common experience. And if you look at my pocketbook or my parents' house, it's quite evident that I'm far from rich (that's why I still live in a scholarship hall and pay extremely cheap rent).
"He must be illegal and mooching off her." For the love of God, I really am a poor college student! My mom works at a newspaper (I know firsthand how little that pays), and my dad works in a factory. I pay my own way in life, and my friend's got just as much money as me. And he's here perfectly legally, lives in a cute house with his family, whom I've grown to love, as well.
There's a million other thoughts I can read in people's faces. It makes me mad, but even more sad, that it bothers both complete strangers and people I know that my friend and I walk down the street together, occasionally grab hands and, oh no, perhaps even hug. It's hard to swallow that society still can't accept love and friendships that cross political borders and color lines.
But I've decided it won't help anything to give in to societal stupidity. I will continue to go out in public with my friend. Maybe if enough people join us, some day my other "tolerant" but concerned friends will realize they don't have to protect me from someone with dark skin and a shaved head.
Phelps is a Manhattan senior in journalism, Spanish and Latin American studies. She is opinion editor.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
KU NOT MINORITY-FRIENDLY
Denier editor
I was struck by the conjunction of three stories you printed three days last month. On April 17, you reported that minority students feel uncomfortable at KU ("Students make suggestions for minority recruitment") and on April 29, you printed a column criticizing efforts to diversify the KU campus ("Campus diversity requires student input").
On April 18, ("Stories of a KU Olympian") you reported that the Lakota distance runner Billy Mills, one of KU's greatest Olympic heroes, felt "like he never belonged at KU." Finally in the same issue you report that Paul Pierce and now Drew Gooden will be the only Jawahk basketball players to leave KU early ("Gooden in position of his predecessors"). One factor in Drew's decision might have been the numerous insulting comments made about him by alleged Jawahk fans after the loss to Maryland in the NCAA semifinals. Does anyone but me see a pattern here?
KU is not a friendly place for minorities, and this includes faculty as well as students. Despite all of the talk from the administration and all the committees headed by administrators who wring their hands over "the problem," this has not changed, apparently since the 1960s.
The administration is unwilling to do the things that could really change this pattern of racism, including specific recruitment of more minority faculty to replace the many who have left because of the atmosphere at KU.
Instead, KU's response is to treat with hostility any minority person who dares to speak up or disturb the peace of the white majority on campus, be they All-American basketball players or concerned faculty who speak out against discrimination. Similar points were made in the guest editorial you published on April 29. Until this is solved the problems with diversity will at KU never be solved.
Raymond Poriotti associate professor of biological sciences
vvUMEN STILL HAVE A LOT TO FIGHT FOR
Dear editor.
In response to the April 30 editorial ("Feminists shouldn't fight against 'Playboy'") I would like to know what fight, exactly, feminists have won that allows us to pose nude in a magazine. If you looked in your history books — never mind, women aren't in there. But if women were adequately represented in the history books, and if you looked at those history books, you would recognize the fact that women have never had to fight for the opportunity to have their bodies objectified — either as virgins or sex objects.
And actually, both vestal virgins and prostitutes were compensated quite nicely in the olden days. At least since biblical times men have paid for the privilege of controlling women's bodies — sometimes indirectly (by providing gifts, clothing, shelter) and sometimes directly.
I do agree, however, that protests against Playboy will not serve to deter the publication. Hugh Heffner does not care about the dignity and autonomy of women. (And, by the way, while the female models get paid well, they do not own mansions swarming with young, lithe men.) If women will pose and people will buy, then the publication will continue.
And so the more important work seems to be what goes on at KU, and other places, every day: professors putting women in the history (and sociology and literature and business and psychology) books; classes discussing the effects of patriarchal attitudes in our society; women refusing to be treated as objects and men refusing to treat them that way.
So while the "Women of the Big 12" Playboy issue will hit the shelves, we will not all be bushing to buy it. Some of us will be busy with the work of real life and real relationships. We will keep fighting the fights that need fighting the best way we know how.
Joanna Harader Kansas City, Kan., graduate student
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