4 University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, April 21, 1992 OPINION m/120m2 Carnivore and son at play. Misconceptions plague the child-care situation at KU After working for nearly two years to help find a solution to the childcare problems facing student parent, I am pleased to find it the topic of conversation on the Lawrence campus. Unfortunately, I have found several misconceptions of the KU childcare situation and what is being done about it. As the president of OAKS - Non-traditional Students Organization, member of the Hilltop Child Development Center Board of Directors, Student Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Childcare and Unless' candidate for Nontraditional Student Senator, I have been involved in researching the childcare situation and seeking possible solutions. Marian Taylor Guest columnist Though a survey published in OAKS Leaves, the OAKS newsletter, and conversations with students, we found a serious need for infant and toddler care not only at KU but also in the Lawrence area. Because the number of openings for this type of care are seriously limited, many parents of very small children find themselves switching providers, juggling family schedules and taking infants to class. Secondly, there is a substantial need for quality care convenient to KU. Many students find themselves driving their children several miles across town to a suitable sitter or day care. There are several misunderstandings about the current status of Hilltop Child Development Center, their policies and availability Recently, a rumor has been circulating that Hilltop is in danger of being moved to a smaller location or eliminated entirely to provide a parking garage. Although the Ad Hoc Committee on Childcare did see a drawing of a plan like this, we were told that it was one of many possible solutions to the parking problem in that area and that this option was never seriously considered. We also have been assured that Hilltop is not in danger of losing its current location of being closed. Concern also has been expressed, by students unfamiliar with Hilltop, that their fees are high, that waiting list is long and students' children must compete with those of the community for slots. As the parent of a Hilltop child I can attest to the reasonable fees. In consideration of the varying, usually low, level of income of students, Hilltop offers a sliding fee scale base dn income. This scale is set according to governmental guidelines so only families in the highest income levels pay full tuition. All other student parents are eligible for financial aid. The wait is on. Everyone involved is working to find enough space for all the children who apply to this nationally accredited program. Lastly, Hilltopgives preference to the children of students. If none are on the waiting list in a particular age group, children of faculty and staff are offered the position, if none are available, children from the Lawrence community are considered. A lot of work is being done to relieve the strain not only on student parents but also on Hilltop. In March Student Senate passed a resolution presented by the Ad Hoc Committee on on Childcare that stated that Senate recognized childcare as a serious concern, agrees to take a positive role in finding a solution to the problems that exist and will consider a proposal, including a possible small fee increase to expand Hilltop to an additional site. The Childcare Committee has made a commitment to work though the summer to find an expansion site and best possible funding options. I hope that by this time next year we will be well on our way to alleviating the curricula, providing and providing a s safe, healthy and stimulating environment for all KU children. THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Marian Taylor is an Overland Park senior majoring in mechanical engineering and business. Homeless event is not sincere Fund-raising campaign in front of Watson treats problem of homeless with condescension Shantytown is gone, and a lot of money was raised for the homeless, but the event sponsored by Alpha Epsilon Pi has left a bitter aftertaste. The goal of the project was to raise awareness of the nation's homeless problem. This admirable goal was not met by pretending to be homeless in boxes on the lawn in front of Watson Library. The occupants did not seem homeless and their setup looked like a hamster's habit rail. The message of homelessness was not conveved very well. Usually, homeless people are not wearing gold jewelry when asking for handouts. Homeless people normally are refused when requesting free pizzas from a restaurant. And it is a well-known fact that homelessness exists in all seasons — not solely in the spring. The homeless problem is serious and should not be treated with flippancy. To many walking by the ersatz homeless, it looked like one big party. However well-intentioned the idea, the project seemed more like a parody than a thoughtful, philanthropic venture. Limousine liberalism, college-style. Homelessness is not something that can be emulated between classes. To think that sitting in a box on the University of Kansas campus represents the homeless lifestyle is naive and condescending. The donations to the Salvation Army are appreciated, but a little more sincerity would have been appreciated as well. There are many ways to draw attention to the homeless problem. We can do without the visual aids. Men's Union is a good idea Martin Scherstuhl for the editorial board Group may help men start to become more comfortable about who they're trying to be In this era of political correctness, it may seem odd that a Men's Student Union is forming at the University of Kansas. But although the name may bring doubts to many people's minds, the purpose behind the group is good. Some of the areas the group wants to focus on are the ending of violence and the promotion of safe sexual practices. This is good because some men might not feel comfortable enough in another group to discuss these issues. It is also good that a group of any kind recognizes these issues as serious and wants to take actions to deal with them. Another area the group wants to focus on is the re-evaluation of men's roles. This idea may sound strange, because men are usually considered to be those who hold the control and power positions in society. To some people, that may not seem like such a bad position to have, but not all men are comfortable with that role. It can be difficult for any person to cope with the pressure to live up to an ideal. There is also the fact that, because society is changing so rapidly, the idea of "traditional" male/female roles in society are becoming a thing of the past. It is normal that both women and men might become confused as to how they fit into society. Men's Student Union offers the potential to help men decide what they want their own personal identities to be so they can be comfortable with their choices. It is good that the group has a focus to help its members, but like all groups, the Men's Student Union shouldn't separate itself too much. There should be a balance maintained wherein the group also works with other groups when they have the same cause or goal. So far, the Men's Student Union is good in theory. It's now up to the members to make sure that it is also good in practice. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of The University Daily Kansan editorial board. Opinions expressed in letters, cartoons and guest and staff columns are solely those of the author or artist. Views expressed in columns and cartoons are not necessarily shared by the Kansan. Amy Francis for the editorial board Members of the editorial board are Alexander Bloommoff Jim Brown, J.R. Clairborne, Mark Coatney, Amy Francis, Tiffany Harness, Tiffany Lash Hurt, Kate Kelley, Julie Eileen Lit, Stephen Martino, David Mitchell, Chris Moeser, Beth Randolph, Martin Scherstuhl, Jia Wasson, Frank Williams and Sarah Zercher International perspectives Arab News, Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, on the British election; The scale of Prime Minister John Major's victory in the British elections becomes ever more impressive the more one looks at it. In the past three elections, the scales were obviously tipped in the Conservatives' favor. In 1979, they fought a deeply unpopular government; in 1983, the opposition was divided; in 1987, Labor campaigned on policies of nuclear disarmament and withdrawal from the European Community, both of which were distinctly unpopular with the general public. Yet in 1992, it was the Conservatives who were unpopular. High interest rates, the ravages of the recession and the poll tax were, in the minds of the image-makers, sufficient to sweep the Tories from office. Yet, the Tories received the highest number of votes that any party had in the election, because of the nature of British parliamentary politics, but the swing vote went to them. The outcome is that Major now has a power. ful mandate from the British people, rather than from the Conservative Party, which was the case until now. He can act as his own leader, rather than as Margaret Thatcher's successor — and that he clearly intends to do. It is hard to see Major lasting as long as Thatcher, but who knows? British like change, but not too much. Major has given them the exact degree of change that suits them. He may appear somewhat dull and unimaginative, but does that matter if he is doing the job that the majority of Britons want him to do? Anyway, most successful British politicians in the past 150 years have been gray and uninspiring. Major continues the tradition. The outcome may flash some light into the labyrinth of advancing Islamic fundamentalism. The extremists have lost to President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who has been boldly campaigning to re-establish Iran as a genuine member of the world community. The Jerusalem Post on Iranian elections: As the only powerful non-Arab state in the region, apart from Israel, Iran has suffered from the vindictive enmity of its neighbors. It may at times bleat, alongside the regional chorus, about "occupied Arab lands." But there are no Iranian lands "occupied" by Israel. Iran may, following another regional fashion, flirt with the PLO. But the results of the Lebanese, Kuwaiti and Jordanian experiences with the PLO have not been lost on Tehran. Moreover, unlike officials in even the most moderate Arab Gulf states, Iranians have had close contacts with Israelis. Now that both Israel and Iran are cozying up to the new central Asian republics, the opportunities for discrete communications are immense. Despite outlanking the opposition and winning a crucial vote in Russia's supreme legislature, President Boris Yeltsin remains under pressure on two important fronts: in parliament on economic policy and with Ukraine on *Khaleej Times*, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Boris Yeltsin; military issues. The advantage which apparently accrued from the West's announcement of a $24-billion aid package for Russia and other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States seems to have dissipated in the face of new controversies. Yeltish's proposal for a U.S.-style constitutional power structure is producing sparks. Together with Russia's row with Ukraine over control of the 380-ship Black Sea fleet and transfer of nuclear weapons from Ukrainier dismantling, these tensions may keep the political and economic situation in the most crucial part of the CIS uncertain for a long time. - La Montagne, Paris, on a court decision to drop war-crimes charges against Paul Touvier, who collaborated with Gestapo officer Klaus Barbie in World War II: France judged Klau Barbie because he was German and a Nazi. France probably won't judge Paul Touvier because he's French. How can we justify this difference of treatment to other Europeans, and especially the Germans, at the moment when the Maastricht treaty binds our futures together? How do we explain that we've decided to shed full light on the responsibilities for crimes committed in France between 1940 and 1944 on the condition that those responsible aren't 'French'? - Straits Times. Singapore, on Libva: Much like Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's attempts to turn the international opposition to his invasion of Kuwait into a so-called Western war on Islam, the Libyan leader has no better argument than cursing his enemies in language so emotional that much reason cannot be expected of it. The tactic did not work for Iraq, and it is unlikely to work for Libya. Libyan terrorism will get what it deserves. First, the argument was legalistic. Libya claimed to be appalled by the United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on it. Expectedly, with the legal winds taken out of his sales, Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi has fallen back on the tested "Islam under threat" formula. KANSAN STAFF TIFFANYHARNESS Editor VANESSA FUHRMANS Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser Editors Editors News ... Mike Andrews Editorial ... Beth Randolph Playground ... Lara Gold Campaign ... Eric Goraki/Rocky Mountain Sports ... Eric Nelson Photo ... 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