4A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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OPINION
TUESDAY,FEB.12,2002
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EDITORIAL
Students want lecturers who talk the talk
It's not uncommon to hear students gathered outside Budig Hall or other buildings with large lecture classrooms voicing their complaints about the quality of their recently attended lecture especially when it concerns the speaking ability of the instructor leading the class.
Some students are dissatisfied with their instructors' tendency to make common mistakes usually associated with a lack of public speaking experience or an extreme amount of public speech anxiety — mistakes that lower the quality of the lecture and the amount of information students receive. It's as if almost everyone who has ever taken a large lecture class has experienced this problem at one time or another, but no one knows where to go with their comments.
What exactly can be done about this apparent lack of foresight by University officials associated with their instructor selection process? One option at the student level would be to take an active role and voice these complaints to the head of the respective department. After all, officials may be simply unaware that the instructor doesn't possess good public-speaking skills — an imperative trait for a successful lecturer.
At the University level, it is clear that some sort of prerequisite for public speaking experience must be placed upon these large-scale teaching assignments, such as an introductory speech class or workshop taught by experienced instructors. After all, graduate teaching assistants who do not speak English as their native language must pass an English competency test before they are allowed to teach, so why shouldn't all instructors be evaluated for their ability to express ideas clearly and effectively? Common mistakes made by lecturers include the habitual integration of the word "um" into their lectures—a word that, although quite eloquent, is not an important piece of information for students to jot down into their notebooks. Others use differing words to fill the time between important bits of information, but they use them so frequently that it distracts students from comprehending the actual point of the lecture.
Blake Shuart for the editorial board.
Others may stutter, trail off at the end of sentences or speak too slowly or too quickly for students to understand what is being taught. All of these problems are common symptoms of a lack of public speaking ability, and could be cured if speech classes were required for instructors.
These problems occur at the small-classroom level as well, but do not seem to impact students as much as in large lectures, where it is hard enough sometimes to understand information taught by a competent lecturer.
by a committee. If University officials were more selective in choosing instructors for large classes, or watch those that they hire a little more closely, it would drastically improve the quality of lectures for everyone involved - and give students something new to complain about.
PERSPECTIVE
Loss of color guard at games disrespects American flag
they say that on Sept. 11, everything changed. They were wrong some things changed, but oth-
Ithing changed. They were wrong — some things changed, but others, like death, taxes and the avarice of KU athletics, remained drearily constant.
It's difficult to imagine that anyone at the University of Kansas still harbors illusions about the Athletics Department. Students are crammed into the worst seats in the house. Graduate teaching assistants can't park on campus on game nights and grade papers. Season-ticket holders can drink merily in their climate-controlled box seats long after all the tailgaters have been told to get inside Memorial Stadium. Everybody knows that when it comes to athletics, money talks.
comes to athletics, my life comes to athletics. But that's OK. As disturbing as I find it, I have reconciled myself with the profit-driven exploitative nature of Division I Athletics. I've come to grips with the impossibility of pursuing my academic career during home games. I've learned not to think about the budget cuts, the police blotter, the elitism or the cynical manipulation of school pride. But I always assumed that there were limits beyond which even the Athletics Department would not go.
The last time the Jayhawks appeared on ESPN, Roy Williams actually had the gall to yell at the color guard for not clearing the floor quickly enough. Soon thereafter, the KU ROTCs were contacted and told that their services would no longer be required. There will
But now, even that assumption has been stripped away.
COMMENTARY
Robert Chamberlain opinion@kansan.com
be no more color guards at men's basketball games.
Perhaps I should rephrase that in a manner truly reflective of the Athletics Department's deprivacy: During the middle of a war on terror, in which thousands of American troops are putting themselves in harm's way, in an era of national unity, in a time when flags cover the landscape, Kansas men's basketball decided that it didn't have any extra time before the game to show respect for the colors. In the warped world of KU Athletics, the Crimson Girls are more important than the proper presentation of the American flag. It makes me want to vomit.
After talking to Brad Nachtigal, assistant director of facilities, I discovered that the reason behind this policy is that the cadets and midshipmen who present the flag sometimes disrupt the game schedule by 45 seconds — or sometimes even by a minute and a half. This purportedly significantly disrupts the performance of the coaching staff and their pregame pep talk.
Now, I'm not too sure what Roy
williams says in those 90 seconds that is so vital to the outcome of the game, but you would think that he would have the decency to be willing to forego some of his comments so that proper respect could be paid to the country that makes him free.
A pitiful attempt will doubtless be made by the department to make a show of patriotism by shining a spotlight at a flag they've pinned to the Fieldhouse wall. That's not the presentation of the colors. That's an embarrassment. The American flag deserves better than that.
Ultimately, we are responsible for what happens on this campus. I think every KU student has an obligation to call the Athletics Department and demand the reinstitution of the color guard. And if you really want to get their attention, resist the urge to yell as Roy comes onto the court. Your silence will be deafening. Don't cheer for a man who won't go to bat for the flag.
I promise, Al Bohl and the Athletics Department want your money and your support. If you require performance of their civic duty as a prerequisite, they will accede to your will. The American flag, the University of Kansas and KU students and alumni deserve a formal color guard. We must demand no less.
I never thought I would say it, but today I am ashamed to be a Jayhawk.
Chamberlain is a Topeka senior in political science.
864-0500 free for - - an interesting topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Standerous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
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For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
Why is it that I can get U2 tickets the day they go on sale but can't get KU basketball tickets?
the UDKran a lead article that says "Student Senate rejects legislation to fund University blood drive." So Student Senate is not going to do something for the community because they can't accept the fact that it would be stupid to pass along AIDS in the blood supply. If the Student Senate is as stupid as it is, just do away with Student Senate.
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Kirk, or um Harry Potter, Jeff Boschee. Let me start that over. For the record, Jeff Boschee missed one of the four technical fouls as Harry Potter.
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I'd just like to say thanks to the Frogs intramural team for allowing us our first ever victory in intramural sports on Wednesday night.
图
Raise your hand if you tried to stop your stream while peeing today.
I just think it's funny to hear the announcers say that the Patriots are world champions of American football.
I don't know what the plan is for Day on the Hill this year, but if we could get a band like Jimmy Eat World or Weezer to play, that would freakin' rock.
I would like to make a nomination for the worst restroom on campus. I believe it is four south, women's wing, in McCollum. We have had someone pop on the floor six times this year. We're out to get 'em.
I just want to thank the Kansan for bringing Meghan Bainum back, Meghan, I love you, and your new picture is super cute.
I just wanted to thank Meghan Bainum for speaking on the PC muscle. Preach on, sister.
I would just like to say that if doing drugs helps to support terrorism, just call me Osama bin Laden.
Girlfriends are like butter. You keep them in the fridge until it's time to make popcorn.
Yeah, I was wondering if anyone thought it's bad if you don't graduate from college before the Olsen kids get in.
I was going to sing the entire *Titanic* song to my girlfriend, but I probably can't do it in 2 seconds, so I'll call you back.
weghan Bainum is in the Jayplay. All is right with the world.
Just what KU needs___another sorority.
酷
周
Pee Wee Herman is my anti drug.
You know what? I'm drunk, and did you know that a cucumber's a fruit? Wow, that's neat.
Time to stop worshiping the men's basketball team, and start worshiping the soccer team, just like in that movie Aliens.
ANSCHUTZ PAVILION HOURS
Another example of Athletics Department arrogance and elitism? Anschutz Sports Pavilion has been closed to the public for early morning walking and running.
Dear editor.
Yes, it is open from 9 a.m. to noon, but that is a bit late for folk who have to work or go to classes. This is interesting in light of the fact that the Athletics Department seeks public support (financial and otherwise) for its programs and even asks faculty to help monitor the academic progress and attendance of its athletes. It is always such a one-way street with the Athletics Department.
I wonder if this change of policy has anything to do with having a new athletics director and football coach. Of course, this affects a relatively small group, so it was probably worth a small bit of negative PR.
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
Dennis M. Dailey professor of social welfare
OFFENSIVE CHALKINGS
Dear editor.
Most students have seen the chalking and hanging of clothes hangers by prochoice students to commemorate and celebrate the 29th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and to remind us to be vigilant in the defense of women's right to choose. And most students have now seen the
offensive commentary added to these chalkings that use explicit language to describe male and female genitalia and what women's genitals "should" be used for.
Murder was also written across abortion is several places, female symbols attached to or next to swastikas were also added, and there was also a Free for All in the Kansan saying that hangers in trees are boring but hanging feminazis in trees is fun.
Associating pro-choice feminists with Nazis is an utterly ahistorical and ignorant assessment of both feminism and Nazism, and it minimizes the atrocities committed by Nazis and makes a mockery of women's struggle against sexism.
Manipulating a cry advocating women's right to self-determination into a degradation of women's bodies and a reduction of women's lives into sexual service to men is an expression of the rampant misogyny present on campus and in the world around us.
Violence against women takes many forms, physical, sexual, and yes, mental and emotional. It makes women feel unsafe and unwillingly sexualized, and allows men to feel superior to women and justified in their misogyny.
It is through the perpetuation, encouragement and acceptance of these ideas that heinous crimes against women continue to occur. The University has a sexual harassment policy which is ostensibly in
place to be a protection against such sexist displays, yet it seems that the University felt no need to enforce this policy.
Dear editor,
Beth Peterson
Kansas City, Mo., junior
SNOW DAY EDITIONS
Dex editor
Whew, I was worried. It's a good thing that Clay McCuistion wrote his column, "As Mount Oread took a break, the 'Kansan' kept working," (Feb. 6). Everyone on campus was so concerned with whether the Kansan staff had to keep working through the snow days that more or less paralyzed our campus. It must be rough. Seeing as how these aspiring journalists had to actually brave the weather and do their jobs, we are all so lucky that the Kansan got a chance to pat itself on the back. I have never seen a newspaper that not only needs to look up the word modesty in the dictionary, but also make a valiant attempt to practice it.
vital knowledge. The Kansan is a great newspaper. It is well written. The layouts are interesting and professional. I was, and not for the first time, disappointed with the content on the opinion page on Wednesday. Working on snow days is a testament to the work ethic of the Kansan's staff, but the newspaper doesn't need to use valuable space in a campus newspaper to praise itself. Obviously, the students do not need reminding that the paper continued to run
throughout the two snow days. The Kansans they read on those two days are evidence enough that Room 111 of Stauffer-Flint was not abandoned while every other building on Mount Oread was.
It is unfortunate that a well-respected newspaper such as the Kansan wrote about itself. The column published was space wasted which could have been used to thank those who spent hours helping fellow students de-ice and clear off their cars so that they could help out the citizens of Lawrence and the surrounding areas who had no heat or power.
Instead of praising the copy editors, photographers, designers and reporters, why didn't the Kansan praise those who had to travel to their families who were experiencing livestock problems, or those who had families who couldn't afford to stay in a hotel while their house became colder and colder in the winter storm?
The Kansan needs to be credited for all the hard work and determination that the staff is well known for. It does deserve a pat on the back for the excellent stories and photographs that were a part of the newspapers printed during the snow days. Just let us give the credit and pats on the back. Become journalists: accept it, appreciate it and move on to the better story.
Moegan Kelleher
Dmaha, Neb., freshman