4A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
TUESDAY,FEB.26,2002
TALKTOUS
Leita Walker
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KEVIN GRITZKE/KANSAN
EDITORIAL
Commissioner should live with whomever he chooses
It doesn't matter that this year's elections commissioner lives with a potential candidate for the Delta Force coalition as long as he upholds the integrity of the position and follows the guidelines for his job.
David Mitchell, the commissioner, lives with Drew Thomas, an off-campus senator and Delta Force member. Both Mitchell and Thomas have said Mitchell isn't sharing information with Thomas in any way that would violate the elections code.
Members of the elections commission are approved by a two-thirds majority vote from Student Senate. Then the elections commission hires the commissioner.
It is far from ideal that the elections commissioner lives with a Delta Force member. For the past three years the elections commissioner was in no way connected to either coalition. Obviously, this is the better way to go, but it isn't Mitchell's fault.
Before Mitchell was chosen as commissioner, he disclosed to the commission that he lived with a potential Delta Force candidate. Kyle Brownning, student body vice president who ran with Delta Force last year, said when he heard about Mitchell's situation that he wasn't sure whether it was a good idea.
"It's up to the commission to decide, and they approved him," Browning said.
and they approve it. Branden Bell, a holdover senator who ran against Delta Force with theVOICE coalition last year, has said he was worried that Mitchell would be partisan and biased in favor of Delta Force. But Scott Kaiser, former student body vice president also sits on the elections commission.
Kaiser's Campus Cause coalition ran against Delta Force in 1998, thus it could be inferred by Bell's same argument that Kaiser could be as partisan, if not more partisan, than Mitchell, although he doesn't have the power Mitchell does.
Bell was concerned that changes to the elections code were not properly publicized. Because not many potential candidates knew about the changes to the code, they didn't have the opportunity to lobby to make changes.
mity to lobby to make changes. Potential candidates should've known about the changes to the code without having somebody tell them, but it would've been nice for Mitchell to publicize the changes more than he did.
But this in no way means Mitchell is exhibiting partisan behavior. He didn't specifically notify Delta Force of the changes to the code and not notify Senate.
The commission's responsibility is to ensure fair and honest elections Senate elections. Mitchell hasn't exhibited any partisan behavior thus far, and he should work hard to make sure partisanship doesn't rear its head on the elections commission.
Brooke Hesler for the editorial board
PERSPECTIVE
RAs are real people, too,and we know you're sneaking in a beer
W when school is in session I work as an RA, short for resident assistant, best at the
▼ dent assistant, here at the University of Kansas. Questions may abound in your mind, such as: What is a resident assistant?
How can I get one, as I need assistance?
Isn't that the guy that wrote me up for having alcohol in my room?
In response to the last question, yes.
Ever since the University of Kansas became a dry campus in 1987, thanks to the KSA bill 41719, it has been the responsibility of RAs to enforce a sort of prohibition in the residence halls.
Ironically, it shouldn't have to be enforced as nine out of 10 residents are freshmen and still have a few years before they can drink legally.
But, as the saying goes, where there's a will there's a way. I have worked as an RA for two years, and some of the ways people sneak cans of Natural Light into their rooms would make Harry Houdini proud.
I suspect that this is how many magicians got their start. ("And now for my
COMMENTARY
Justin Henning opinion@kansan.com
next trick, I will make this 12-pack look like a stack of books!")
That's not all there is to it. There is so much more that goes on behind the scenes.
You know those hall programs that are advertised on big sheets of paper with poster paint that you don't go to? We plan those. That bulletin board in your hallway about why you shouldn't smoke? We make those.
There are some RAs who make killer bulletin boards but might have a hard time talking to their residents.
time taking in to close out my article.
So as I start to close out my article and realize how much of a dork I am for having the phrase "killer bulletin boards" in this column, just remember that your RAs are people, too.
Granted, some RAs are better than others in certain areas. I just took took down my old bulletin board last weekend, which was all about Santa Claus. But I pride myself on making up for this shortfall by being approachable.
More than likely, they have some sort of a secret social life that, to you, pales in comparison to the cool ritualistic binge drinking that some residents go through every weekend.
So if you have any questions, or are thoroughly confused by this article's suggestion that your RA is a human being, go knock on his or her door and ask him or her to explain how this is possible.
possible.
While you're at it, see if you and your RA can come up with a way to kick that nasty binge drinking habit and handle alcohol responsibly. We're all good at solving that one.
Henning is a Leawood junior in journalism.
Put on the pounds, grab your boxing gloves, get an Oscar
PERSPECTIVE
Most Hollywood actors have one main motivating factor when deciding what movies to be in money. There is no limit to the amount of bad sequels or straight-to-video movies they'll appear in as long as the price is right.
Recently though, some actors have decided that they want to show the world that they are not money-grubbing beast-monkeys, but rather respectable actors. People like Sylvester Stallone, Will Smith and Robin Williams have stopped doing what they're known for and started doing something that they aren't so familiar with—acting.
Movies like Copland, Ali and Good Will Hunting are all examples of this. Not to say that their performances were bad, but it looks as though they're saying, "Hey, if I put on a lot of weight, or grow a beard, will you give me an Academy Award nomination?"
These three are just a few examples from a much larger group of people.
The main reason I'm bringing this up is because the Academy Awards turned into something where there's a formula to getting a nomination.
Basically, if you put on weight and decide to play a boxer, you're pretty much a shoo-in for an Oscar. See Smith, Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington.
COMMENTARY
Marc Ingber opinion@kansan.com
It's a shame the Emmys don't give
out awards according to how much weight you put on or Matthew Perry would run away with the statue every year.
year. Another thing is that after they earn their respect, they go right back to making the same types of movies that made people lose respect for them in the first place. The only difference is that the preview can say Men in Black 2 stars "Academy Award nominee Will Smith" rather than just "Will Smith."
Let's say you don't want to put on weight. Don't worry. All you have to do is play a character with a mental disability, or a tortured genius and you've got it locked up too. See Dustin Hoffman, Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe, yada, yada...
Can't the Oscars give out an award to someone who can just play a normal person really well? Does there always have to be crying scenes and all this "triumph of the human spirit" rubbish? What about Ben
All I'm asking for is a little variety in the type of roles that get nominated. Actors in comedies are rarely nominated. Most young people are overlooked, too.
After seeing this year's nominations full of boxers and tortured geniuses, it doesn't look like I'm going to get my wish. I have hope for the future though.
but until then, I am starting my Oscar campaign for next year. I will be playing a boxer/ tortured genius/ single mom in a movie entitled I Am Sam Raging Bull "The Hurricane" Brockovich.
Stiller as Greg Focker in Meet the Parents? Or Eugene Levy for Best in Show? If you ask me they were robbed.
Forget the fact that I'm one the seven worst actors of all time, (I just edged out Steve Forbes) because the academy probably will, too, and give me the nomination. So watch the 2003 Oscars and see if I'm there.
Oscars and see if I can judge by my fashion sense you can look for me on Joan Rivers' annual Worst Dressed List. Unless of course I take Jennifer Lopez as my date, in which case no one would even notice me.
Ingber is a Golden Valley, Minn., sophomore in pre-journalism.
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It's 4:25 a.m., and we finally got in after that fire drill that took maybe two hours, three hours, and I just say this is not right, because we have class at8 in the morning, and we're not going to be able to go to class because of this.
Well, I just wanted to say that Tongue in Beaak thing is really cool. I think you should print it every day.
Hey Kate Eichten, if you're looking for material for your column why don't you come cover our intramural basketball team. First, we're not from Topeka, and second, we don't play hockey.
Yelling out the window of a sorority house at a kid in a yellow sweater, wow, that really tells us how intelligent and creative sorority girls can be.
I hate khakis. I hate capris. Wear jeans long enough to fray themselves, and cross the street to Arizona, and make your own darn style.
I think the $UDK$ needs to start being delivered to every fraternity's doorstep.
It's good to know that columnists like Chris Wristen do some much great research before they write a column
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Snow Hall may have comfortable desks, but that doesn't make up for how bad it smells.
OK, I just had a guy tell me that if there were one Brinney Spears for every guy the world would be a much happier place.
Yeah, Tongue in Beaksucks. You should get rid of it.
I know Captain Matty and Roscoe, and they are not normal guys.
To all the people making political statements in the Free for All, you're boring everyone. Stop boring everyone.
If Kansas fans knew anything about basketball they'd know that the best team is Duke.
Hue instead of chanting "Drew" when ever Gooden scores a basket I think we should all chant "Glue" whenever Carey gets in the game, because Carey is the glue that holds that team together.
Dude, I work with seven people here, and two of us got put in the Free for All on the same day. How is that for representing?
In response to why there's no random comments like razor bumps armpit hair, it's because Free for All is an opinion line, not some idiotic monor line.
Vanilla ice sucks. Go get a real job.
Most Hashinger kids didn't have friends in high school. They come to school thinking all stereotypes are lifted and have started some imaginary revolution. Get off your intangible pedestals, Hash.
I just got out of my class, and our teacher told us that the biggest form of pollution on campus was the United Daily Kansan, so I thought I'd call and tell everyone that we need to be a little more responsible than that.
This is to our janitorial staff, thank you for making two south McColum such a beautiful place to live.
Why doesn't my roommate like the Sound of Music?
I hear this season that Kirk Hinrich has been flirting with greatness.I was unaware that he has been flirting with me these days.
Tongue in Beakis satire?
My roommate says she's saving herself for marriage, but she had sex with me last night. Sweet lesbian loving.
Guys,watch out for the girls who wear handkerchiefs on their heads.Those are the ones who will break your heart the hardest.
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This is for Bob, the bus driver. Bob, we're glad you're back. We missed you when you were gone.
Please print this. Thanks to the guy who saved me by telling me my tire was flat, and thanks to the two guys who came to my rescue and changed my tire. Please, please, please print this.
C
I've never called Free for All, but my deep and passionate love for Meghan Bainum has got me in the mood to call, so that's all.
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