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Wednesday, June 17. 1992
OPINION
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FROM THE EDITORS
Supreme Court ruling restricts voting rights, eliminates competition
In an election year when an independent candidate has a real chance to ascend to the White House, it seems strange that the U.S. Supreme Court is removing some of our voting rights.
Last week, the court ruled 6-3 that Hawaii can bar its citizens from casting a write-in vote in any election. Justice Byron R. White wrote the majority opinion and basically invited other states to do the same. White wrote that in most situations a "prohibition on write-in voting will be presumptively valid."
This kind of decision will eliminate any serious competition for the two established parties.
Granted, in a presidential race, serious candidates such as Ross Perot will have the time, money and backing necessary to stage petition drives to place their names on ballots.
However, the problem occurs in local elections where a hopeful candidate might not have the time or money to organize a petition drive.
In essence, this means that the public is being limited as to whom they can vote for in any given election. If a worthy candidate is not a member of one of the two big parties or cannot afford the time and money to mount a petition drive, he or she, or rather the public, is simply out of
It seems that the right to vote in a democracy is based on the right to choose whomever the people want as their leader. It seems that our own Supreme Court is now threatening that right.
Maybe this doesn't matter to a nation where the overwhelming majority of the population can't even bother to get up from the television and vote. It is hoped that there are still some people who care enough about their rights and freedoms to challenge this ruling.
If nothing else, consider this. If the court feels it is permissible to restrict our voting rights, what will happen when they rule on cases of racial discrimination, religion, free speech and abortion?
Justin Knupp
Media should not waste good sense, money chasing cars in L.A.
As if the city of angels does not already have enough crime on its streets to fill the nation's newscasts for the next two decades. Los Angeles broadcast stations are spending a bundle to chase down more. Literally.
The broadcasters in Los Angeles are so overly impressed by their own "birds-eye view" coverage of the riots more than a month ago that they decided to keep sending choppers into the air for new stimulating coverage. Obviously, the newsworthiness of the events that they decide to cover is irrelevant And stimulating' Well, that must not be too important either.
When the L.A. traffic clears, or at least does not cause hourly clogs, there is some auto racing going on between the city's beloved police officers and some A1 User Jr. wannabes.
And Los Angeles viewers can witness these pointless "Dukes of Hazard" replays at home, from a birds-eye view as they happen. How stim ulating.
Granted, some of these car chases may result in an exciting, shoot out, death or drug bust, but probably not often enough to spend all that time covering every single one.
If watching the Indy 500 every Memorial Day just isn't satisfying enough to cure the Jonesses of speeding fanatics then maybe there should be more programs and documentaries about car racing—but to make it a nightly report is a waste of good technology, good money, good journalism and good sense. Jennifer Bach
TO THE EDITORS
Candidate Clinton offers loan solution to graduates
Justin Knupp's editorial "Finance issues need to be raised in elections," highlights the growing need for our elected officials to address the rising costs of higher education. Mr. Knupp states, "It seems Mr. Bush and Mr. Clinton have a little vague on the issue." (of student
This is only half correct. Mr. Clinton's Domestic GI Bill would allow graduates to pay back their student loans with a couple of years of community service. Not only would this remove the financial burden of loan-pay back from college graduates, it also would give them much needed work experience. I know there are a few unemployed grads who wish they could have had this opportunity.
This statue in front of Smith Hall is a representation of Moses praying to the burning bush. The statue is a model of the picture on the official seat of the University of Kansas, Designed by Eden Tefft, professor of Ementus, the statue took ten years to build and was dedicated in 1982.
Stephen Pingry / KANSAN
Learning a second language may prevent some embarrassing moments while traveling abroad
This summer term is the first semester haven't taken a foreign language class. I would like to have, but unfortunately, in the summer, you must actually go to the foreign country to do that. So, I'm taking a little break, or "one Pause machen" as we say in German.
I do think studying other languages is important. Everyone should have to learn at least one additional language. Even if for no other reason than not to sound like a total idiot when visiting other countries where the average ten-year old speaks better English than many Americans. About 11 years ago, I was living in Bayreuth, Germany, and the first McDonald's was opening in town. We Americans were so excited—a taste of "home" in our midst. For a week I practiced ordering Big Macs, Happy Meals and shakes in German. Opening day arrived. I took my note card to the counter and painstakingly recited my order in my best Deutsch, after which
Kate Kelley
Guest
Columnist
the German teenager replied in perfect English, "You want fries with that?"
German is a relatively easy language to learn if you disregard the grammar, which you do as soon as you're out of the classroom. For the most part, the words are spelled just like they sound and sound just like they're spelled. A great big long word can usually be broken down into many shorter words. And it will mean exactly what those short words mean when put together. For instance, the plastic wrap on the end of a shoelace might
be called a "shoelaceendplasticwran". It makes sense.
Other languages don't appear to be so easy to decipher—particularly French. Now, I don't speak a word of French, but I've been to France a few times. I think I may have figured out the system. You pronounce the first consonant of any word normally, say the following vowel(s) through your nose and then gag on the rest of the letters. While touring the Louvre (the famous museum in Paris, pronounced "Loove" by most ignorant Americans) the French tour guide kept saying it in such a way that I thought I might have to perform the Heimlich maneuver on her to get all the letters out of her throat. But at least she sounded French. One guy on our bus, whom we affectionately called "Jethro" kept saying, "Louver," as in, "We went to the Loover to see the spinks."
Even those who are very knowledgeable in other languages may have
a problem with accents. I will not judge anyone else, as I know at least two KU German teachers who could give you an earful about my own, but sometimes an accent can really change the context of what one is trying to say. A German tour guide, whom I'd heard speak fluent Italian and French, as well as English and German, was telling us a story about the tunnels in the Swiss Alps. She said the people used to go in them to "run from their enemas." It sort of gives a new twist to an armed forces movement.
With the world growing smaller and interaction with other countries more prevalent, it just makes sense to learn other languages. One day you may be in another country and believe me, if people start calling you "Jethro," it isn't a compliment.
Kate Kelley is a Ft. Leavenworth junior majoring in English
Eavesdropping on an imaginary conversation may reveal Bush's views on Panama, Yeltsin
I saw Chris Blattskey the other day. He said he had a friend of a friend, who had a friend, that had a friend that drove George Bush's limousine occasionally. The friend had overheard an interesting conversation.
It was on the way to the airport, just before the president left for Panama last week.
"Mr. President, we would like to remind you of the dangers in Panama at this time."
"Let's not worry about that now Joe, the people of Panama love us. Don't forget, we brought democracy back to them and put that Noriega fellow in jail. They won't hear from him again."
"But they did sir. He was quoted in the press."
"Don't remind me of the press."
"Mr. President, we have an update on the Yellins visit."
KANSAN STAFF
"Oh, Boris. How is the old fellow?"
"He's fine sir, Don't forget that he is trying to shore up some political support back in Russia."
KIM CLAXTON Business manager
Campus ... Gayle Otterberg
Acast. Assist ... Doug Flaherty
Copy Cheff ... Alex Bloemhof
Contributing ... David Mitchell
Photo ... Derek Nolan
Graphics ... Almee Brainard
"Don't worry, Carl, he will be like putty in our hands. Just think, two post-Cold War leaders, whose countries had sabers pointed at each other for so long, we be reaping the fruits of democracy together."
"Sir, Mr Yeltsin still disagrees with you over Russian nuclear weapons cuts."
JUSTIN KNUPP
Editor
"We have the latest on the Panama situation too, sir. There are many of us who would like you to consider a new location for your speech. In fact, maybe you should get sick at the last minute or something."
"Sir, you haven't decided what you will be serving Mr. Yeltsin for dinner."
Dan
Janousek
Guest
Columnist
"Did you bring the sunant oil? I hear the beaches are great there."
"No sir, but one Panamanian child has been reported killed in the violence."
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
"Anytime an American serviceman is hurt, that's bad. Killed is worse."
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
Business staff
Special Promotions ... Melissa Tarpin
Production mgr ... Brad Braun
Retail Support mgr ... Ashley Lingford
... Hilary Wilcox
Regional Support mgr ... Jane Henderson
Classified mgr ... Kate Burgess
"Tell him there is a good episode of "Married with Children" on tonight. I saw the previews while watching "In Living Color." That comedian does a great impression of me. The episode is about extramarital affairs or something, Tell Danny to watch it."
"Forget the dinner, Carl. Do you
JENNIFER BACH Managing editor
"Wait till he gets that $24 million in
aid that I am going to give him."
BRIAN WOLF Director of Client Services
Editors
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. Writers affiliated with the University of Kansas must include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position. Guest columns should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be the Kanassa reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kanassa newsroom, 111 Staffer-Flint Hall.
Business Staff
have that Everclear for the fruit? That reminds me. How's Danny doing? Is he holding the course after that "Murphy Brown" incident?"
"He wants to know what to do next, sir."
"Well you just call that new president down there, Endara, or whatever his name is, and tell him to get some protection for me. I don't need demonstrators in an election year. And while you're on the phone, see if you can raise Boris. Ask him if he can come a day or two early."
"I'm not going to run and hide from some small isolated group. It wouldn't be prudent."
"Do you think I really need this?"
"Better to be safe than sorry, sir."
"Has to be that way sir. Tear gas can seen into the finest cracks."
DanJanousek is a senior majoring in journalism.
"Gas mask! But...umph."
"We'd like to put this gas mask on you for size."
"Sir, we'd like you to take some pre-cautions before you go."
"It's a little tight."
"Press the speaker button sir."
"How does it fit?" "take care of yourself."
"ts lmp mu bu dub foo."
Loco Locals
MICHAUD 1992
KRISS, WE'VE BEEN STARTING
IN THIS FIELD TWENTY
MINUTES. IT'S GETTING DARK,
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT
you're LOOKING
by Tom Michaud
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