4A - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2003
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Roy's right Stay safe while you celebrate
Within 15 seconds of the buzzer, the Roy's Rules of Order message flashed across the video board in Memorial Stadium encouraging safe, responsible celebration. Fifteen minutes later, Wescoe Beach and Massachusetts Street were seas of screaming fans. Rumors circulated of increased police surveillance and an inevitable riot.
But as people crowd-surfed and covertly drank beers, police calmly stood by entrances to buildings looking on. The crowds stayed under control and there were few incidents, aside from Massachusetts Street's transformation into Bourbon Street.
The hope now is that tonight's game will give Lawrence another reason to celebrate (knock on wood). After seeing a roaring Allen Fieldhouse welcome the Jayhawks at 4 a.m. on March 30, and after seeing Massachusetts Street on Saturday, it's hard to imagine what Lawrence might look like tonight (knock on wood again, seriously).
Whatever happens, it's important to celebrate responsibly. Although there are only a few reports of arrests on Saturday, not all postgame celebrations demonstrate the level of pride that Lawrence has shown. Just last week, 18 people were arrested in Michigan after Michigan State defeated Maryland. That Lawrence remained in relatively good shape yesterday morning suggests a respect that's often missing elsewhere.
It's that respect, not only for the University but for Lawrence as a whole that separates KU fans from others. But Roy's Rules of Order, while they attempt to point us in the right direction, are not specific enough.
First, don't light anything on fire. Or at least don't light anything that you don't intend to smoke. Don't light any fireworks underneath cars, either.
Second, don't overturn any cars. It would be interesting to see the difference in sales of shocks and struts after watching some of the cars on Massachusetts Street Saturday, but all those cars remained on four wheels.
Third, if you're going to take the Massachusetts-to-Bourbon-Street transformation literally, remember that pictures last a long time, and beads don't come cheap.
Fourth, if you're a teaching assistant, don't run through the streets with your shirt off. There's a possibility you might meet some of your students.
Finally, get out and show your support for the basketball team when we take care of Syracuse tonight!
Greg Holmquist for the editorial board
LYDA'S VIEW
CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY
Mark Lydia for The University Daily Kansan
PERSPECTIVE
Athletics shouldn't stop academics
April 5,2003 - a day that will live in infamy for all true academics left on Mount Oread. Academic services and facilities at the University are being shut down this evening to ensure we all take time to worship the real focus on campus: athletics.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway has declared that campus be shut down for purposes of security. Hemenway's given explanation for this bizarre course of action is laughable. The e-mail he distributed last week only confirmed that academics are being put in the back seat.
The official explanation of the campus lockdown is comparable to the end-of-the-world terror alerts we receive regularly from Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary. Just as the country readily accepts the terror alerts as gospel, the majority of campus will accept Hemenway's security rhetoric at face value.
Fortunately, many faculty and staff members have reassured me that they recognize Hemenway's actions as little more than a commercial play to celebrate athletics while he turns his back on academics.
GUEST COMMENTARY
Present on every college campus although dominant on some and marginal on others, is the undergraduate subculture of serious academic effort.
The essence of this system of values is identification with the intellectual concerns of serious faculty members. These students work hard, striving for exceptional grades. In the process, the
Ben McCarthy opinion@kansan.com
A good deal of Mount Oread is already dedicated to this culture. They are indifferent and resistant to serious demands that faculty would like to make on students for the sake of involvement with ideas and issues.
It started Saturday night and continues into this week: The University's academic culture is being told that it has no place on Jayhawk Boulevard. Instead, and once again, we will find that collegiate culture frolics about with Hemenway's seal of approval.
University certification—a diploma is more important than ever before. Naturally, students have to endure a myriad of academic problems present at large public universities to obtain the
Collegiate culture, satisfied in a world of football and basketball games, fraternities and sororites, dates, drinking and campus social events, is much easier for Hemenway to appease and control than academic culture.
diploma, a status symbol in our society. Academic shortcomings within the University are masked behind what Murray Sperber, professor of English and American studies at Indiana University, calls "the beer and circus." Sperber said universities would rather give students a parade of beer and circus — athletics — than invest the same time and funding to repair failings in the academic arena.
It is obvious that Hemenway is counting on his circus biggest attraction — the men's basketball team — to provide relief for students. It is hoped that minor details such as tuition increases, lack of faculty hiring and grade inflation will be swept under the carpet in the coming weeks. Students will have little time to demand better standards in higher education when they are saturated with 24-hour victory celebrations.
If Hemenway proceeds with his promise to shut down campus, I will not hesitate to respond by walking out on the University of Kansas. One day, the academic communities at public institutions of learning may stand up and hold individuals like Hemenway accountable for prioritizing the athletic circus ahead of academics.
That will truly be a great day, but until it comes, I guess you better get going ... there is plenty of beer and circus available that I wouldn't want you to miss.
McCarthy is a Lenexa graduate student
PERSPECTIVE
Candidates need to accentuate positive
Student Senate campaigns, current and past, have mainly focused on problems at the University of Kansas. And, to an extent, rightly so. After all, Student Senate should be about improving the University. Candidates should be exploring new and creative ways to address student concerns. But they should also demonstrate to students all the wonderful reasons to take pride in the University of Kansas.
GUEST COMMENTARY
Low turnout and apathy have been familiar themes associated with Student Senate elections. Rarely do more than one-fifth of students turn out for elections. KUnited presidential candidate Andy Knopp thinks student involvement should not be blamed on apathy because they could be involved if given the right opportunities and leadership. Knopp is mostly right to call for student leaders
But leadership alone will not involve students. Students are generally a smart bunch; they will not be led for the sake of following. They need something to believe in, something to wrap themselves in. This is what Student Senate campaigns miss: They need to tap into Jayhawk pride.
Students from all walks of life are generally proud to be Jayhawks. Many of us grew up bleeding crimson and blue and many learned this tradition from alumni parents.
The University also has not only been adequate academically, but is a leading institution west of Mississippi River. The William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications is one of the oldest in the country. The school has
David Mitchell opinion@kansan.com
fought for the theory of evolution for more than 100 years. An alumnus even discovered Pluto.
The fraternity and sorority system boasts some of the most attractive mansions in Lawrence and many of the oldest chapters in the nation.
Activism and protest have been part of the University tradition from the beginning, from alternative media of all forms to sit-ins to feminist movements to outright violence.
Yes, many of us were born Jayhawks, but this tradition has allowed so many more to become Jayhawks.
This is not to say that the University cannot improve. Tuition increases are threatening to price students out of such opportunities. Students deserve better access to course information to further their academic success. More can be done to continue our tradition of diverse thought by incorporating as many diverse backgrounds as possible. Women still face issues of sexual assault that have roots deeper than those of the University. The coalitions are right: These are extremely important issues that Student Senate should address in the upcoming
Nevertheless, students will not come out to vote if their representatives continually tell them how bad their University is. The sentiment goes, "It must be so if the most active and involved students feel this way." This fuels criticism, cynicism and — yes — apathy. This style of campaigning continually cuts the legs out from under Student Senate.
year.
Candidates and coalitions need to continue offering solutions to our problems, but they need to anchor their issues to KU tradition. Students need to hear that they attend a University with a diverse campus, but more can be done to recruit and retain it. Students need to know they attend an academically rich institution, but more information can be provided for better choices. Students need to hear that women generally approve of campus life, but there are safety concerns that must be addressed.
More than anything, students need candidates who profess the pride all of us have. As a senator and Delta Force coalition member, I know that all of this year's candidates have a strong commitment to this University and its heritage. Their candidacy alone demonstrates their obligation to serve the University and its students.
In order for students of all types to feel that pride and sense of duty, Student Senate candidates must show their pride in the University of Kansas — not just their problems with it.
Mitchell is a Hays graduate student in public administration. He is a Delta Force graduate candidate.
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If Lord Wad wins the election, is he going to turn the Senate into a Parliament? Because that would be totally sweet.
Febreze fixes everything. It freshens your air, it does your taxes, it even kills terrorists.
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What's with the current craze over public hair? I went to this party and this girl was like, "I have the tightest pubes you've ever seen."
Thursday's crossword clue for self-satisfaction is missing a square, because "masturbation" doesn't fit.
11.
Just what was Bush's SAT score?
So you know you're bored when you're chasing around your roommate trying to get her to play with your mole.
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I just touched my roommate's mole, and all I have to say is, gross.
This is to the person who scored 200 more points on the SAT than Bush. Well I scored 200 more points than you, and I think you'd be a terrible president.
I'm from Coffeyville, and if Catharine Bell is elected to Student Senate, I'm transferring to Mizzou, because I had enough of her crap in high school.
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So the sidewalk chalk told me to vote for KUnited, because dinosaurs love KUnited, and KU Basketball also loves KUnited, so I think that's how I'm going to vote.
Does anyone think it's weird that everyone knows Vin Diesel's name? What the hell?
A kid asked his dad if God was black or white, and his dad said, "Both," and then the son asked if God was a man or a woman, and his dad said, "Both." Then the kid said, "Is God Michael Jackson?"
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Sometimes late at night, when my roommates aren't home, I turn the lights off, light a few candles, slip into something sexy, and turn on old Jeopardy reruns. Mmm, Alex Trebec.
This is to the person who was wondering how boobie tassels stay on: with some very good double-sided tape.
And remember, boys and girls, there's no sex in the champagne room.
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Dennis Dailey for president.
So if you had to choose between a hippie, a greek, or an insane megalomaniac for Student Body President, who would you pick?
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So I was watching the Colin Quinn show on Comedy Central, and I heard a good point. Isn't it rather ironic that Michael Moore condemns the U.S. for being excessively capitalistic while he weighs 400 pounds?
I bet Senator Wagle never gets laid, and that's why she hates Dennis Dailey.
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Hi, I'm a worker at GSP-Corbin, and I wanted to let the rest of the University know about some policy changes that everyone needs to be aware of. Due to the controversy surrounding the current war in Iraq, none of our staff is allowed to talk about the war at the desk. Although the war coverage can be on in the lobby, it should not be a topic while working, especially personal views about the war.
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Running with KUInted is like being from Johnson County. You become Republican by association. Don't fight it