4A - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2003
TALKTOUS
Kristi Henderson editor
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Election outcome shows need for change
The sidewalk chalk proclaims it - election time has come and gone. It's time for a quick election wrap-up.
Voter Turnout. Last week, 3,719 students cast their votes — 14 percent of the student body. Hmmm.
KUnited = greek. It's no secret that KUnited has a blatantly progreek slant, but it has taken things a tad too far this time, providing buses to the polls from fraternities and sororities, (promising a free pizza party to the fraternity and sorority that cast the most votes), and having coalition meetings at Greek houses. The areas that Delta Force dominated — graduate, non-traditional, fine arts — are those that are not traditionally greek. Now that fraternity and sorority members are considered to be "off-campus," KUnited has dominated that race as well. That's not to say that everyone elected was greek, though, roughly two of five, or 40 percent, of those elected are greek. Ideally, all senators will represent the entire KU community, not just the 20 percent who are Greek.
Social Welfare is socially acceptable. Congratulations to students in the school of social welfare, who elected two senators last week. That's two more than they have representing them in Senate now. This change is especially important in light of the recent actions of the Legislature in regard to Dennis Dailey's "Human Sexuality in Everyday Life" class, which may revoke funding for the school.
Online, but still on site. Online voting is cool. Only being able to vote at eight polling sites on-campus is not so cool. There was a severe lack of communication before and during the election about the location of polling sites, causing confusion among students. Next year, voting should be online and unrestricted to both encourage and permit greater student participation.
Delta Force's potential. We still support Delta Force's platform, believing that it's more specific, more achievable and more applicable to all students. Though Delta Force's campaign could have been more organized, we hope that both coalitions will be able to work together to make the University a better place.
KUnited elections code violations. On a sad note, KUnited coalition members were soliciting in GSP Hall on Wednesday. There are better ways to reach your constituents than harassing them late at night. That's not cool Period.
To all the candidates: Thanks for a great campaign. We hope that all candidates will continue to be active on and off campus.
Jennifer Wade for The University Daily Kansan
Lauren Stewart for the editorial board
REALITY CHECK
PERSPECTIVE
Dedication made Senate elections a smooth success across the board
The 2003 Student Senate elections presented many new challenges for the Elections Commission. New legislation created an entirely new voting system. Online candidate workshops emerged from 2002 Task Force recommendations. The Elections Commission Web site expanded greatly to accommodate the needs of candidates and students interested in the elections. The positive efforts of those working to address these challenges resulted in an election that ran so smoothly that the dean of students' office staff, who in previous years had to troubleshoot whenever problems with the elections occurred, were able to sit back and relax.
This success is because of the efforts not only of Student Senate and the Elections Commission, but also of those working in Academic Computing Services, Instructional Development and Support, and the dean of students office.
In December, just before winter break members of Student Senate and the Elections Commission approached ACS with the task of designing an online voting system. The deadline for the completion of the system was Feb.12, when Student Senate would be testing the system and approving its use for the upcoming elections. Excluding winter break, ACS had approximately a month to build an online voting system; their only guidelines being those set by the paper ballot elections of previous years.
Dave Gardner, together with ACS staff Aaron Brown, Ed Payne and Patrick Fehr, began work immediately.
When the commission went to them with the challenge of determining how to incorporate write-in candidates on the ballot or requesting that the system be able to compile polling site statistics, ACS answered their questions and made the changes. ACS provided all the computers used at the polling sites, and together with Facilities and Operations and Student Housing staff, set up the sites at 8 a.m. on the days of the elections.
With the help of Networking and Telecommunications Services, ACS rewired sites that previously could only support a student ID card reader, making them able to support several computers that would be used for voting. During the elections, ACS prepared for any number of calls they could receive about errors in the system. These calls never came. The system worked great, turning out results in a matter of seconds. The people at ACS worked long hours and even received calls at home to guarantee the success of the elections.
Craig Gerdes, instructional designer with the Office of Instructional Development and Support, assisted the Elections Commission in designing an online candidate workshop, presented on the KU blackboard. Craig made it possible for those running for office to complete the mandatory workshop from the comfort of their homes. The online workshop was an amazing success, with more than 90 percent of candidates opting to visit the blackboard rather than walk to the Union on a Friday afternoon to listen to a workshop taught by the Elections Commissioner.
Thank you to everyone whose hard work contributed to the success of this year's elections. You have been a part of a major positive change in the electoral system at the University. The election could not have happened without your help.
The dean of students' office served as "election headquarters" during the elections. Their staff received all the candidate paperwork (just ask anyone who ran for Senate — there is a lot), answered questions and welcomed visitors as deadlines came and went. Their patience while their office space was steadily invaded was amazing. Ruth Stoner, assistant dean of students, was an excellent resource for the elections commissioner regarding past elections, and was always there to assist her with encouraging remarks and a positive attitude.
In addition, Jeff Markovich, dean of students office staff member and Web site coordinator for the elections commission put forth extraordinary efforts in improving the elections commission Web site. Thanks to his expertise, students were able to submit debate questions online, have their questions about the elections code interpreted online, and see election attack at the click of a button. Jeff was bombarded with e-mails from the elections commissioner about Web site updates that required immediate attention. He dealt with these e-mails quickly and efficiently.
Courtney Wachal was the 2003 Student Senate elections commissioner.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Give the man some respect
I just wanted to write someone at The University Daily Kansan about the lack of respect being shown to Roy around town right now. Although most of it is from the public and is word of mouth, isn't that a part of Kansas basketball? I mean, sure, this is terrible. Coach Williams is leaving for UNC, and we're losing probably the best coach in college basketball. I can't imagine how his players feel and what is going to happen next year. Yes indeed, this is not something anybody here at the University wanted to see happen. But while it sucks that Roy is leaving, hearing things like "I'm glad I didn't buy basketball tickets for next year" or "Thanks alot, Roy" is really making me angry. That man gave us 15 years of his life and he worked his ass off every day for Kansas and his players. It's his life. If he wants to coach at his alma mater, if he wants to be near his family, if he wants to go back to his home, he should be free to do so without ridicule from those who should support him as they have for 15 years. Those people should not act like a bunch of fair-weather fans. The decision itself must've been hard enough for the guy, just let him be. Roy, thanks for a great 15 years, you rock and will always be remembered here.
Why leave now?
Jason Sanders, Derby junior in chemistry
When is it appropriate to start wondering how much the University of Kansas meant to Roy Williams? I can't help but wonder if the team was nothing more than figures. How many times did you get to the Final Four? How many points did one of your guys score? How much money can one school offer you to make you break your promises?
So, why, after working so hard to create this program, why leave now that it's so near its pinnacle? Why didn't Roy Williams leave in 2000? What made 2003 so distinctive? Did all of his favorite players leave, making it OK?
I listened to the FOX press conference and realized I no longer respected this man. I couldn't help but feel betrayed and let down, and I am not a member of the team. Roy went to school in North Carolina, he coached as an assistant there for 10 years, but it was in Kansas that he made his home and it was in Kansas that we loved him. I have no desire to know his true reasons for leaving, because they will only seem petty. I do want to know why, after getting so close to winning the NCAA championship, he left to rebuild a weaker team. He was loved and respected for all he had done here and he claims to still love the University.
I had never watched a college basketball game until I came here. What stood out was the way Williams coached his team. The players made the effort to win because Roy knew how to reach them.
The players that made the biggest difference in the championship game are those who are still here. Graves, Langford, Miles and Lee — these men are KU basketball. Simien is still here. We are just as strong today and in the games to come as we were with Roy Williams. It's just too bad that Roy couldn't see that. Our time will come, have no doubt. Our time will come.
I want to see only one other game coached by Roy Williams. I want to see when North Carolina takes on and we kick their asses.
Last week, Roy was the best thing to happen to Kansas basketball. Today, should I still care for Roy Williams after all that he has done or should I focus on the man I saw on FOX who gave up the past 15 years for a new salary? I guess it's not really worth my time. It is only basketball, isn't it?
Maria Rossman, San Jose, Costa Rica senior in psychology
Free for All
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There's a guy on eBay selling his virginity.
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How come in every period-related commercial, women are bowling? I don't get it.
Whoever thought up online enrollment should be shot.
I used to hate it when aunts and grandmads would come up to me at weddings and pinch my cheeks and say, "You're next, you're next!" Well, they stopped doing that when I started to do it to them at funerals.
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Since when is it elite to use any drug, let alone cocaine?
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This is to the guy who had an issue with KJHK's "Jazz in the Morning" program. Jazz did not stop in 1965. It's still evolving. You just haven't been listening.
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If I was castrated, what reason would
I have to live?
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I've been around for a long time, and the way to get the ladies? Two words Star Wars.
I decided that if I could be anything, I'd be a clitoris, because the clitoris is the greatest part of the human body.
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Do you suppose that preacher on Wescoe Beach could get me Kirk Cameron's autograph?
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No wonder I was having so much trouble. I was using the wrong hand.
This is to the snob who called about the jean shorts. You're right, this isn't seventh grade. It's college, and I came here to get an education, not to make a fashion statement. Take all that nonsense, along with your SUV, fake boobs and cancer skin and go back to OP.
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When speaking of ejaculatory emission in the past tense, is it "came" or "cummed"?
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