4A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
FRIDAY,APRIL19,2002
EDITORIAL
Rally a good idea, with poor timing
As the clock struck noon yesterday, students from all across this great land we call Kansas gathered en masse high atop the Topeka Capitol steps. Their goal their mission, was to prove to the Kansas Legislature that state funding is essential for higher education.
Signs were raised upwards towards the sky; participants chanted in unison. Student senators proudly proclaimed that they were mad as hell and they weren't going to take it anymore.
The shouting must have been quite an acoustical phenomenon as it bounced down those empty corridors.
See, the Kansas Legislature isn't in session right now. It hasn't been since April 13 and it won't be again until May 1. Three solid months of legislative proceedings this year and the rally organizers pick the three-week window of inactivity to stage this gathering. How serendipitous.
pressure towards legislators.
Symbolic, huh? So the legislators can "symbolically"
ignore it as they stay home vacationing with their families?
The Board of Regents can "symbolically" laugh at it behind closed doors as they increase tuition?
That's OK, though. The whole rally, according to student body vice president Kyle Browning, was just "symbolic" pressure towards legislators.
No, it seems that symbolic is another way of saying "we couldn't wait just two more weeks for the Legislature to actually come back because that might interfere with our finals schedule."
finals schedule." To make matters worse, Student Senate chartered two buses to taxi students to this rally. These buses were rented in part with student fees. One has to wonder how KU could possibly need more money when we're using our current funds so soundly right now?
This rally might, indeed probably will, garner significant media attention. But it clearly won't influence public policy. So while some people might grab their 15 minutes of fame shouting at the wind, yesterday's rally won't have any actual effect on the decisions made concerning education in the state of Kansas.
But cheer up. Next year KU students can, if they so choose, symbolically pay for their increased tuition in lieu of actual money.
Dan Osman for the editorial board
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For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
You know what, I don't agree with Lee or the other crazy, hippie cults running around on campus. The only thing I agree with is brew.
Considering there are more than 20,000 students at KU and fewer than 4,000 voted, it is pretty big-headed to claim that KUnited represented the normal people.
I know this guy named Nate, and he really, really enjoys pornography, so I wanted everyone to know that I relate to Nate.
mat Fisher
sales and marketing adviser
664-7666 or mltahe.@kansen.com
What do you know? The hippie on the front page is wearing sandals.
I'm Christian and I totally disagree agree with the way Lee and his little group are going about trying to get Christians to join the Christian community.
I'm a Christian, and I'm completely embarrassed by this shameful "I agree with Lee campaign.
To those of you calling in about the campus elections, you might as well stop, because nobody cares, and nobody cares who you are, and nobody knows who you are, because you don't do anything.
I'm part of Delta Force, and if one more people calls all of us hippies I'm going to go postal. I'm a punk. I like red meat. I hate granola. I hate the smell of patchouli, and I bathe. I've got pommade in my hair, and you better deal with it, because I absolutely cannot be lumped in with hippies.
Drew, this is your conscience speaking. Stay in school.
Drew, this is your conscience again. Uh, tell Nick and Kirk to stay, too.
图
It's funny that so many students within a democratic student system still see activism toward expanded rights of citizens within the government as a reactionary, revolutionary group to feel bitter about.
If wanting more power for students makes me a hippie, call me a hippie.
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Matt Fisher
PERSPECTIVE
Students should make University accountable for its actions, budget
Recent rallies on Wescoe Beach addressing tuition were heartening, but indicative of a recent trend on our campus. Students have less power and less say in our school.
GUEST COMMENTARY
Now, we are forced to rely on student formed rallies to express our opinions about our education and our money because the administration's "tuition discussions" were simply controlled question and answer sessions. No dialogue was allowed. I believe that the University of Kansas should be held accountable to its students. We are the reason that the University exists. We should have a say in what occurs.
travis Weller
opinion@kansan.com
A clear example of how the University denies student interests is the current situation with the Students-L list. The list, which includes every registered student's e-mail address, has been used more frequently by the administration in the past semester. However, when members of Student Senate inquired about using it to inform all students of yesterday's rally for higher education funding at the capitol, administrators denied their request because the student list is supposedly reserved for matters of University business.
In the University's eyes, it is acceptable to send students e-mails about NCAA tournament celebrations and the KU Card, but a rally in response to the tuition increase and budget shortfall does not qualify as "University business."
There are several steps we can take that will return power to the students.
return power to the students.
First, we must take back our unions. The Kansas and Burge Unions are supposed to be student buildings. The unions should be a place for students, by students. Student Senate has
made a few changes in the past year but more needs to be done. To guarantee that new additions to the unions meet student needs, they should be required to gain approval from Student Senate if they spend over a specified amount. For example, before a second Starbucks could be placed in the Kansas Union, Student Senate would have to approve it. This would allow us an easily accessible way to voice our opinions; we could simply contact one of the more than 60 student senators. Also our opinions would carry weight and the power would shift back to the students.
Third, the campus budget must be made visible to students. If we are required to pay an exorbitant amount for our education, we should be able to know how the money is spent. Additionally, opening up the campus budget would allow us to see with which corporations the University has contracts.
would shift back to the academy. Second, a change needs to occur at the state level. The Board of Regents has an enormous amount of control over what policies go into place on our campus. They make decisions that affect every student, however, there is no one on the board who intimately knows student needs.
A student seat, with voting privileges, should be created. This would guarantee that student interests would be represented with power when decisions, like the tuition raise, are made. We cannot rely on the administration to present the students' view to the board. We have to represent ourselves.
A visible budget would keep the administration accountable and hopefully limit extravagant purchases.
Changes don't have to be large. In addition to these projects, there are everyday ways for students to get involved. I encourage students to contact their federal and state legislators and impress upon them the importance of funding higher education. Secondly, become involved in Student Senate. Any student can join a committee, write legislation, make speeches and ask questions.
Finally, be aware of what is occurring on campus. The first step to empowerment is knowledge. For us to take control of our campus, we must first know what is wrong and have suggestions to fix it.
the democracy of our campus Ultimately, we must take responsibility. As members of the KU community, we can cause change here. The tuition rallies have been clear demonstrations that students can stand up and demand that the administration recognize our opinions. It is vital that we continue in this manner and work to make our campus accountable to student concerns.
There are changes that can be made to ensure the democracy of our campus.
Weller is a Garden City junior in secondary English education.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
LITTERED CREEK
Deareditor.
Dear reader, I was disappointed with the Kansan's story on Wednesday concerning "recycling" in the West Campus creek ("Campus creek littered with University's recycling." April 17). After reading Thursday's follow-up article, my feelings are beavond disappointment.
I provided the Kansan with 70 photographs of the West Campus creek and nearby trash.
Many photographs showed oil floating on the surface of the water — countless small spots of oil still floating down from somewhere upstream and collecting in a few areas on rocks or by the creek bank, with the largest covering at least three square feet.
Half a dozen of the photos show a place by the creek that appears to have been bulldozed right into the water, with some garbage below including a trash can and an antifreeze jug.
Other photographs of the "recycling" piles near the creek show a duplicating machine leaking residue and a canister labeled "Hydraulic/Transmission Oil" with a notice to "avoid environmental contamination" and "dispose of properly."
pose of properly I am told that when the Kansan reporters showed some of these images to Facilities Operations manager Doug Riat and questioned him about them, he refused to be tape-recorded. In Tuesday's story he said that the oil in the photographs could have come from one drop of oil. If he saw the same photos I gave to the Kansan, that statement is ridiculous. You can see some of the photos at http://www.ku.edu/home/creek and judge for yourself.
Riat has made untrue or contradictory statements in the Kansan before, as far back as fall 2000. In the stories earlier this month about sludge being dumped in the creek, the first day he said no sludge had been dumped outside and the next day he said a strainer containing sludge was dumped outside. In Tuesday's article, he said the old office equipment was part of a recycling pile waiting to be picked up but on Wednesday it became a trash pile that has been in use for years.
years. Instead of ignoring the dishonesty of KU officials and continuing to take their word as fact, why don't we hold them accountable in our student newspaper?
Sean Ringey Clearwater junior
ROY'S MY HERO
Dear editor,
Who says there are no heros anymore? We have one at the University of Kansas. Roy Williams is the
definition of class, humility and honor. Not only is he one of the winningest coaches in college basketball, he is also a man you would want your son to grow up to be like.
Roy Williams is my hero because he is concerned with much more than winning basketball games. For example, he takes care of the fans, like buying them doughnuts when they camp out for tickets. He also expects them to behave respectably at games. He cares for his players beyond their talent for basketball. He welcomes them into his family. And, he is not afraid to ask them to pray before each game. But, most of all, he is my hero because when his "dream job" came calling, he turned it down because he wanted to keep his word to his players and their families.
We are so blessed to have Roy Williams at K.U. Thank you, Roy, for being my hero. Keep up the great work. We love you. Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
Stephani Masterson Andover1992 and 1995graduate
TURNOFFTHETV
Dear editor,
Why did six out of seven of us not vote in last week's elections?
Maybe we feel like it doesn't affect us enough to take time out of our busy days,when we barely have
Dear editor
I know it's hard for me to find time for homework, much less for reading about Student Senate candidates. I can't even find time to cook a good meal or to call my mom and see how she's doing. What about you? Is there anything you wish you had more time for?
time to do all our homework
My mom won't be around forever, so I want to call and talk to her more often. I want to eat less fast food and spend more time cooking meals. I want to study more and get better grades. I want to spend more time with my friends, and I want to get more involved on campus. To find time for all this, I need to spend less time on some things that aren't as important right now.
Like most people, I like to watch TV. When I heard that next week is TV Turnoff Week. I started thinking about how much time I spend on the couch and how many other things I could be doing. So I'm going to try something different. Starting Monday, I'm going to leave my TV off for a week. I'll try to spend the extra time on some more important things.
I'm not planning to give up TV forever, but maybe I'll find a way to prioritize things a little better. Maybe you should give it a try, too. I promise you won't miss a thing.
Y
Sean Ringey Clearwater junior
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