4 University Daily Kansan/ Thursday, April 9, 1992 OPINION Staff committed to help resolve GTA concerns The University of Kansas has taken seriously, and will continue to take seriously, the concerns of graduate students at the University. The tradition of the University has identified instruction, graduate education and research as the institution's primary mission. Late in the Fall 1991 semester, several University administrators met with a group of graduate students to discuss their concerns. None of the concerns that surfaced in that meeting can be challenged. Student stipends are low compared to peers'. Affordable health insurance and full teaching assistant fee waivers are needed. Child care remains a concern for much of the University population. The fact is that in many ways the University of Kansas is not keeping pace with its peers. Howard Mossberg Guest columnist At issue today is how best to approach this difficult, complex and longstanding set of issues with regard to graduate students. It is understandable that opinions vary on the best way to proceed toward the mutually desired goals for graduate assistants. The University is convinced that a united, collegial approach, which incorporates all the interests of graduate education, would be most successful in solving these issues. We believe that it is most effective for the University to work with the graduate students to address their concerns. A number of institutions have taken the position expressed by this University that status as "student" is the principal relationship between the University and graduate teaching and research assistants. Having taken this position does not mean that the goals of student assistants differ from the goals of those who must make policy and administer that policy. The duality of "student" and "assistant" roles for graduate students demands an approach that offers more than simple answers. Individual programs of graduate education within the University offer different options regarding course work, service and assistance components. A rigid solution applied across the University could be disruptive to course offerings, student support and other elements of graduate education. I agree with professor Bernard Hirsch's analysis, contained in a recent letter, that graduate teaching and research assistants' efforts are exceptional. The University views the recruitment and retention of quality graduate students through adequate financial assistance as important to the success of this institution. The University has in the past sought and continues in the present to seek full fee waiver for teaching assistants. We have in the past sought and will in the future seek the best possible support for the institution and its programs. The University administration recognizes the serious nature of the graduate student concerns, and we are committed to continue our efforts to resolve them. Howard Mossberg is interim vice chancellor for research, graduate studies and public service and dean of the graduate school. THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Students should not be blasé Legislature's failure to grant 100-percent fee waivers for GTAs is not acceptable for KU The state Senate Ways and Means Committee missed the point last week when it addressed the issue of fee waivers for graduate teaching assistants. The committee financed a fee-waiver increase from 75 percent to 87.5 percent. The increase was a compromise between the current 75-percent waiver and the 100-percent waiver the Board of Regents had requested. But one of the main arguments in favor of the 100-percent waiver is that it would enable the University to be more competitive in attracting top GTAs. While the 87.5-percent waiver is better than no increase at all, it still will not make the University competitive with schools that are offering 100-percent fee waivers. Because the University relies so heavily on GTAs to teach, attracting top GTAs is vital. State Sen. Gus Bogina, who heads the Ways and Means Committee, said the University attracted plenty of applicants. Maybe. But does the University attract the best applicants? In many cases it doesn't, because it can't. And of the top applicants it does attract, many are here in spite of, not because of, the University's financial offerings. The committee's refusal to finance a 100-percent GTA fee waiver is yet another example of the Legislature's seeming indifference toward higher education. The ball is in our court now. We can accept this compromise. Or we can continue to make our voices heard until the Legislature begins to care about higher education, or at least listens to those of us who do. The choice is clear — we shouldn't be placated by the committee's compromise. Bogina keeps hurting schools Julie Wasson for the editorial board The state senator is a threat to higher education at KU and should be voted out of office August Bogina, a Kansas senator from the 10th district, has been a constant threat to higher education. Bogina has used his position as head of the Senate Ways and Means Committee to decrease the quality of education for any student who attends a Regents school. It is time for students to stand up and ensure that Bogina doesn't return to the Statehouse. Bogina's infractions haven't been limited to one or two separate instances; they occur frequently. A few of the highlights: Bogina decided the fate of Hoch Auditorium last summer by casting the only vote against removing debris after a fire destroyed the building. Apparently, in his estimation, Hoch Auditorium was not an important part of the University of Kansas. Bogina also was instrumental in preventing the 100-percent fee waiver for graduate teaching assistants. GTAs finally received a nominal increase to 87.5 percent, but only because he had to give in to other committee members. Completely unacceptable, Sen. Bogina. Bogina's logic for not giving the GTAs a complete fee waiver is confusing. He claims that states such as North Carolina give no fee waiver to their GTAs and that Kansas therefore has an advantage. Unfortunately, KU does not exclusively compete against North Carolina for quality GTAs. When states such as Wisconsin and Michigan do offer a complete waiver, it is hard to attract quality teachers. To add insult to injury, Bogina threatened that if graduate assistants continued the process of establishing a union, their fee waiver should be dropped to 50 percent or lower. Sen. Bogina, people don't establish unions because they are being treated fairly, they do so because they are being treated unfairly. Years of being regarded as less than indentured servants have lead GTAs to organize to gain their rights. Thousands of Bogina's constituents have attended, are attending, or will be attending higher education institutions in Kansas. He has failed to represent their interest in the Legislature. They should let him know in November. They should vote Bogina out. Stephen Martino for the editorial board Coalitions are ignored While these groups are both looking to lead us next year, we know precious little about them. Why? It certainly is not from a lack of effort on their part. Vision! Unless! The past few weeks we have been seen a lot of propaganda regarding these two groups all over campus. They have been out in front of the Union and Wesco giving out buttons and fliers bearing their names. These two groups are coalitions running for our Student Senate. I stress the word "our" in that sentence. A week ago Monday the two presidential candidates debated on the Boss show. How many of us were aware that that happened? Not many. The day after the debate there was not so much as one sentence devoted to that event in the University Daily Kansan. A debate between the candidates on the very issues that affect us, the students, and our student paper does not do a write-up. I watch the Kansan daily for information regarding the election; I rarely find anything that would help me make an educated choice. I am not the only one. I have even spoken to people who did not know there was an election coming up. Letters to the editor Recently the Kansan has has been stepping up its coverage of the election. Yesterday it printed endorsements of the candidates. Sure, that is better than nothing, but what were their reasons for the endorsements? They know why those people are supposedly more qualified because they spoke with them; we didn't. Articles printed the day before the election have been too little too late. The students are the ones who will vote in this election. Vision and Unless have been out there every day trying to let us know what they are all about. What has the Kansan been doing these past few weeks? Not enough. Danielle Raymond Wilmette. Ill., freshman First, the surmise that DG on a license plate determines that the driver is from Lawrence is an inadequate inference. My wife and I have Douglas County plates, and both of us are from Tags can be deceiving In reference to David Mitchell's column on April 6 about Lawrence Driver, I would like to re- connect with him. Second, I must agree that driving in this town elicits language that most mothers would not want to hear. This University creates an amalgamation of diverse drivers from several large cities, all with their strange and bad habits that are unique to that place. It seems I direct most of my cursing to plates from Illinois, Missouri, Colorado and also from Johnson and Sedgwick counties. So, in the future, remember: Not everyone with DG tags is a native of Lawrence. ■ Kirk Ludlow another county. Many students, after living in Lawrence for a couple of years, switch their tags to Douglas County. Soldier senior Support waiver now Last Friday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee recommended that the graduate teaching assistant fee waiver be set at 87.5 percent rather than 100 percent, as recommended by the governor, the House of Representatives and the KU administration. The recommendation of Senate Ways and Means now goes before a conference committee. If the recommendation is accepted, it will If the conference committee approves the 87percent figure or chooses to drop the fee waiver back to the current level, it can do so. Once the bill reaches the Senate floor it will be too late to make our concerns known. then go before the Senate for a vote. It is critical at this time that members of the University community voice their support for the 100-percent fee waiver. The conference committee will begin meeting by the end of this week, and consideration of the fee waiver can take place at any time during that meeting. The Graduate Student Council and concerned students are launching a petition drive to gather signatures in support of the 100-percent fee waiver. In addition, we ask that students, faculty, staff and members of the University community write letters to their representatives in favor of the 100-percent fee waiver. Tables will be set up at the Kansas Union, in front of Wescoe Hall and at the Burge Union today to gather signatures and collect letters to the representatives. Please show your support by signing the petition and writing to your representative. Executive coordinator Graduate Student Council I would like to respond to Traci Moore's March 31 letter justifying minority scholarships. Ms. Moore's final argument in support of these scholarships asks "whether you or any other nonimmunity student could have received a minority scholarship if race wasn't an Well, Ms. Moore, yes, I couldhavereceived a minority scholarship had race not been an issue. Minority scholarships The scholarship, offered by Washington University in St. Louis, would have paid tuition, fees, living expenses and included a $1,000 stipend a year. This scholarship was based on a standardized test score and the qualification of being an African-American. Tell me, Ms. Moore, how you can begin to rationalize your twisted idea that this is not discrimination. I was denied a scholarship solely on the basis of my race. Any discrimination is wrong. Ms. Moore, maybe that's why you don't understand. ■ Don Fritschie Lenexa junior KANSAN STAFF TIFFANYHARNESS Editor VANESSA FUHRMANS Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser Editors News... Mike Andrews Editorial... Beth Randolph Planning... Lara Gold Campus ... Eric Gorski/Rochelle Olson Sports... Eric Nelson Photo... Julie Jackson Features... Debbie Myers Graphics... Aimee Brainard/J Jeff Meesey JENNIFER CLAXTON Business manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser JAY STEINER Retail sales manager Letters should be typed, double space and fewer than 200 words. They must include the writer's name, the student's name (if applicable), the university affiliated with the University of Kansas must include its name and both the university or faculty or staff position. Business Staff Campus sales mgr Brielle Englewood Regional sales mgr Rich Harbarger National sales mgr Scott Hannah Co-op sales mgr Arne Johnson Production mgrs Kim Wallace Lee Keefer Marketing director Kim Clutton Creative director Leah Fuchs Classified mgr Chip Kin Business Staff Guest column should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed. The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newroom, 111 Stuart-Flint Hall. Loco Locals SO, YAIDONT HAVE A GIRLFRIEND? WHY NOT?... IS THAT YOUR BICYCLE THERE? CAN I RIDE IT? MCHADOMFR2 NICEBASKETBALL... WHEREED YOUGET IT?... CAN'T VOOL GET A DATE?... by Tom Michaud