4A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
MONDAY,FEBRUARY 24,2003
EDITORIAL BOARD
Classified employees deserve respect
Living in a dorm can be easy. Easy to make friends. Easy to get to classes on time. Easy to get food.
What makes it even easier is that person who's always there to clean up all the messes that are disgusting to look at.
There's someone to scrub the toilets and hose down the shower and vacuum the carpet in the hallway, and someone to empty the bigtrash cans at the end of the hall and to clean out the ashtrays on the front porch.
They are the custodians who make this campus and residence halls as sanitary as possible.
These people make up part of the classified staff of the University of Kansas — the custodians, secretaries and craftsmen, such as electricians and plumbers.
Some of them have families to support on jobs that pay little more than $8 an hour. About 140 full-time employees at the University live below the poverty line for a family of four.
It is easy enough to agree with the Kaw Valley Living Wage Alliance, whose goal it is to make sure that a classified worker has enough to live off of. But in the midst of a budget crisis, where is the money supposed to come from?
For classified staffers to get a raise, a series of bureaucratic channels, such as the "pay matrix," which delegates raises to employees based on their level of classification, stops the process. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has proposed a 1.5 percent pay increase for state employees, which include the classified workers at the University.
What can students and faculty do?
Thank them for doing their job.
Thank them by picking up that cigarette butt and conserving toilet paper and flushing that toilet. Don't party too hard and assume that someone else will clean up the puke splattered everywhere. It is easy, and even lazy, to say "I don't need to pick up after myself because someone else will."
For the classified workers at the University of Kansas, their jobs may not be glamorous, but they sure are necessary.
Jon Ralston for the editorial board
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EXQUISITE RELIEF
Lance Meneley for The University Daily Kansan
PERSPECTIVE
Information must be guarded
It happens to employees, families and students every year. A person gets a computer program. The license agreement instructs the user to make only one backup program on a single machine at a time. Usually, an urge to make copies for friends and family follows. The user is facing an ethical dilemma.
Meanwhile, a student lands a job in the Chancellor's office. He must enter personal data into the school computer system. He finds another student in the office attractive and wants to find out some personal information before deciding whether to ask the girl out Again, another dilemma.
COMMENTARY
When dealing with computer ethics, it's important to consider how you will affect other people's lives. But it's most important to take measures to protect yourself.
yourself.
The computer is like a double-edged sword. On one side, there is the opportunity for increased reliability, convenience and performance.
On the other, there is the possibility for error and invasion of privacy. Such was the case several weeks ago when the University's Student and Exchange Visitor Information System test files were
Elizabeth Moss opinion@kansan.com
broken into by hackers, and again when an SUA officer forwarded the personal information of about 700 students to a potential student body president candidate.
A democratic society that values equal opportunity needs a solid system for gaining assets. To keep opportunity equal, everyone could get a copy of the software. However there is not a reasonable computer service that could distribute programs to everyone. Even if a company could provide a program to every person,the company's payment for additional assets would disappear and the company would choose not to make the program at all.
As for the second dilemma, there are reasons why personal information is kept private. For example, treatment
for alcoholism or venereal disease is kept confidential to quell prejudices. Students cannot prevent some of the unfavorable situations that present themselves, such as mental illnesses or financial troubles. It can be easy to shun a relationship because of such information.
In an information-based society, institutions like the University of Kansas are collecting more and more data on our activities. When we apply for jobs, start bank accounts or even go tanning, someone is making a new file about us.
The University provided good advice on how to protect yourself from hackers. However, it was after damage had already been done. Just because this has left the recent memory of the campus doesn't mean we aren't still at risk. Follow the instructions on the University's Web site. www.ku.edu, to prevent the theft of your own identity.
The concern about computer ethics greatly impacts the safety and democracy of our country. Let's hope that good ethical choices outweigh bad choices now and in future years.
Moss is a Carmel, Ind., sophomore in journalism.
Nationality significant to identity
COMMENTARY
I have not eaten sushi recently, but still love Japan and am proud of where I was born and raised. While I miss my country, I would like to act as a cosmopolitan for the University of Kansas.
When international students try to join the American society, they are always wondering how they can show their nationality. For non-American students, nationality could be one of the most significant factors in defining their identity; therefore, communities might be interested in their nationality.
International students should show their nationalities and get involved in the American lifestyle. We international students cannot hide our nationalities behind our backs.
Kengo Terada opinion@kansan.com
succeed in the KU volleyball team, set the freshman kill record last season. The Lawrence Journal-World, The Kansas City Star and The University Daily Kansan praised her accomplishment. According to these newspapers, she was the best volleyball player in Kansas last season.
Two public examples of international students taking advantage of American culture are Josiane Lima, Brazil freshman and Ryotaro Hayakawa, Narita, Japan, freshman. They are international students who jumped into American college sports with bravery and pride. College sports — this is a true American community. Children long to play them. Graduates show pride for their alma mater's sports teams long after they leave college. These two athletes could be good examples of how international students can succeed in the American society.
Hayakawa said he had never seen such a severe situation before coming to the United States. He would never have had that experience if he had played in a Japanese college league because Japanese college baseball teams are less competitive than American teams.
the KU baseball team, understood the American college sports system well after his first semester here. Last semester, he walked onto the team. Hayakawa tried out for the team with some of his friends who didn't end up making it onto the team. At the end of the last semester, some of his best friends on the KU baseball team transferred because they didn't fit in.
Hayakawa, a student manager for
Lima said she often compared Brazilian volleyball techniques to American ones.
"On the other hand, I am always open-minded toward the coach's instruction," she said.
cant teams Lima and Hayakawa displayed qualities of their nationalities while playing for KU teams.
Hayakawa said he respected his teammates because of their dedication to both academics and practice.
Hayakawa said he always showed teammates courtesy.
International student-athletes also have to overcome differences in culture.
Cultural differences come from differences in society's rules, Lima said.
"So I am always asking what is legal and illegal," she said.
Hayakawa said he was struggling with learning a new language.
"But I know that the more I try to understand, the more people make me understand well even if I cannot respond enough," he said.
The athletes mentioned several ways to show pride in their countries while adapting to the American society.
adapting to the situation he was admitted as a member of American society, he would make his contribution as an international student.
Lima said she represented Brazil by being natural, which was to have friends and act as herself.
There are two important criteria that international students should consider to succeed under American circumstances.The first is that international students should know how American society works. The second is that they should make the effort to be a real member of society.
Meanwhile, society has to support and respond to what newcomers want with equality and delight.
Both sides are able to play each part. Any nationality can join and co-exist in any community, in any situation.
Terada is a Kashiwa, Japan, sophomore in journalism.
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Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
this is the 21st century and we still have people who don't believe in evolution? Let's let evolution do its work and weed out these stupid people.
I need to start thinking with only one head.
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It may just be me, but it looks like that Iranian plane crash has U.S.A. written all over it.
this is the 21st century and we still have people who don't believe in evolution? Let's let evolution do its work and weed out these stupid people.
To the checks and balances guy in the Free for All, checks and balances only work if there are actually people to check and balance each other's powers. The House, Senate and executive branch are all run by conservatives now. So yes, Bush is taking us to war, and he has Republicans backing him up.And this is Kansas, so odds are most KU students' parents voted Republican, not Democrat.
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Sex is like dinner. You've got the drive-thru and you've got your gourmet meals. Men want the drive-thru every night with one or two gourmet meals a month. Women want the gourmet meal every night and want the drive-thru once or twice a month. Since the guys want the drive-thru, they just get porn.
rm just calling to say that I'm in a fraternity and I'm personally offended by the remark that the Greek system inspires arrogance. Um, just because I'm better than you doesn't mean you have to call me arrogant.
To those of you who haven't been to a KU baseball game yet, you should go. They're good, and you're missing out.
I was wondering if I'm an alcoholic if I drink while I'm showering.
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So you remember slap bracelets?
Wouldn't it be cool if they made slap clothes, like a slap bra that you just slap on? I know guys would love it — slap on, slap off.
--rm just calling to say that I'm in a fraternity and I'm personally offended by the remark that the Greek system inspires arrogance. Um, just because I'm better than you doesn't mean you have to call me arrogant.
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Let's be honest here. The real reason Republicans hate Bill Clinton is because he gave a blow job from an intern while he was president.
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It's Saturday night and I just finished watching "Dirty Dancing," and our alma matter is the same as their club farewell song. Yeah, a little freaky.
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Is it just me or is Saferide supposed to be a safe ride? I get in the car tonight and they're turning the corners at 90 miles an hour and the girl is cussing out like she's a truck driver.
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Today I saw two blonde chicks, both of whom were talking on cell phones, riding in SUVs with Johnson County plates. It's one thing to be a cliche. It's another to flaunt it so openly.
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