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University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, April 8, 1992
OPINION
Tilting at Windbags.
Highways hail re-entrance of infamous Exit coalition
I have a Vision that Unless another coalition comes along, we as a collective campus unit, are doomed to representative mediocrity.
So, just like I did in a column last year. I am announcing my candidacy for president of the student body. That's right. The Exit coalition is back.
I wasn't sure I would run again this year, because campaigning is such a grueling task. But I felt that after the rousing support I received last year (three votes) I owed it to my constituents to give it another shot.
Like last year, I have posted my short but sweet campaign signs not only above the backs of doors across campus, but above doors across the planet. And this year, I've decided to take my sign placement a step further by branching out to the highway scene. I strategically have placed green signs bearing my coalition's name on highways all across the nation. The extensive sign-posting I have undertaken is a prime illustration of the time and commitment I would bring to the KU student body.
Each letter of my coalition name represents something important for you, the student voter. The "E" stands for everyone, since I plan to represent everyone to the best of my ability or something hackneyed like that. The "X" stands for itself, since few legitimate words begin with "X," and I have no intention of promising, "A xylophone in every pot." The "I" represents I, since it is I who will get to enhance my resume if I win. The "T" stand for trite, which is exactly what my two opposing platforms are.
Rich
Bennett
Staff
columnist
From what I've observed, Vision's strategy is to confuse students by making numerous grammatical and spelling errors in its fliers. Vision prints the same old recycled issues on the same old recycled paper, but randomly inserts: punctuation "marks" which, hyphnotize yoy — into voting, for it! If elected, I would "remain accessible!" and spell such words correctly (consult a Vision flier for unique, hypnotic spellings).
As for the original ideas on Vision's platform, it has about as much of a chance of being implemented as Dolly Parton has of seeing her navel. For instance, one of its master plans is to implement a more efficient meal plan for students in the residence hall. It's a good idea, as is disarming every nuclear weapon in the galaxy, but Student Senate doesn't have the authority to do either. But Vision obviously is in touch with the needs of students in residence halls, as evidenced by the fact that it refers to their living area with the much less preferred word, "dorms."
silly, though. For example, Unless intends to improve communication with the student body by requiring senators to wear a shirt or a button once a month that identifies them as student senators. Why should senators be required to identify themselves only once a month? A smart senator simply would hide in his or her home on Button Day until it is safe to return to the community without being harassed.
Vision's opponent, the Unless coalition, has several good, albeit rehashed, ideas. Some are a trifle
Another concern about the Unless coalition is its slogan, which is this quote from Dr. Seuss: "Unless someone like you cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." I am not kidding. This is the first time a Dr. Seuss quote has been used as a slogan since Howard Taft, our 27th president who weighed more than 300 pounds, used the slogan "Hop on Pop."
My big campaign promise is to bring integrity to Student Senate. I have never cheated on my wife, largely because I don't have one. I haven't gone back on any campaign promises, because I've never been elected to anything. I have never beaten one of my girlfriends nor cheated the Salvation Army. And I have never, ever, done drugs, unless you count the time I smoked parsley in the third grade.
OK, there you have it. But before I go off to campground, I need to announce my slogan. I've considered, "I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam, Am, but in light of my novel highway sign-placing strategy I have a better idea. "When you get out, think of Exit."
■ Rich Bennett is an Overland Park outdoor adventure trail.
Rich Bennett is an Overland Park senior majoring in journalism.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Jeans aren't a basis to judge
Wear Jeans If You're Gay Day should show that sexual choice should not be judged
Some minority groups have designated certain months or weeks of the year to promote education and sensitivity throughout the University of Kansas. This week, the gay and lesbian community at KU is celebrating Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week. This minority group on campus should be applauded for its efforts. It probably is one of the most oppressed groups on campus, yet each year it comes back with dignity despite widespread homophobia.
During this week, each day is designated for dressing up in a certain attire. Yesterday was Wear Blue Jeans If You're Gay Day, one of the most well-known days.
The point of the day is not for heterosexuals
to avoid wearing blue jeans. The point is that one's sexual preference should not be judged. The decision on whom to engage in sex with should be just as insignificant to others as the decision to put on jeans or some other form of pants on any given day.
It is important to acknowledge that although some heterosexuals purposely did not wear jeans yesterday, that was their decision to do so. We cannot label every person who chose not to wear jeans yesterday as homophobic.
This week should not be considered a time to judge people based on their sexual preference. It is a time to fight ignorance with listening. Not all of us may agree with how the message is communicated on Wear Blue Jeans If You're Gay Day, but we must understand why the message is important.
Julie Litt for the editorial board
Safe harbor good for KJHK
A proposal would allow the radio station to provide a wider variety
of music to its listeners
The question facing KJHK faculty advisers and staff is whether to approve a proposal that would create a "safe harbor" for indecent music. The answer should be yes.
The proposal would allow a time span during which music could be played that has been deemed indecent by the Federal Communications Commission. By FCC standards, indecent is "language or material that describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory activities or organs." KJHK currently does not play songs if a word or phrase in the songs is considered indecent.
One reason why the harbor should be approved is the community that it reaches. KJHK is a university radio station. A university is supposed to be a place where students are exposed to different cultures and ideas.
Music is a form of expression for both of these. Just because there is a word or phrase deemed indecent in a song does not mean that the message or emotion behind the song is indecent.
There is also the fact that indecency means different things to different people. What is considered indecent by one person may not be indecent to another person.
The proposal would have the harbor lasting from midnight until 6 a.m. The fixed time could serve as a sort of warning to listeners. Listeners would know when "indecent" music could be played. They could be more prepared for it. And just because the station would be allowed to play "indecent" music it would not have to pack all six hours with this sort of music.
It is good that KJHK is concerned about the quality of the music it plays, but by passing the proposal, the station still would maintain quality because it would provide a wider variety of music to listeners.
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 Bloemfoh, Jim Brown, J.R. Clairborne, Mark Coatney, Amy Francis, Tiffany Harness, Tiffany Lasha Hurt, Kate Kelley, Julie Eileen Litt, Stephen Martino, David Mitchell, Chris Moeser, Beth Randolph, Martin Scherstuhl, Julie Wasson, Frank Williams and Sarah Zercher.
Symbolism is revealed
Mark Coatney's editorial "Gun owners must be trained" ends with, "Although happiness may indeed be a warm gun, such happiness should also be intelligently and correctly achieved." Well, I agree completely, especially in light of the fact that the original saying, "Happiness is a warm gun" from a Beatles song and refers to sex. Yes, Mark, the Beatles were talking about man's favorite toy. Maybe if every man learned to use his gun "intelligently and correctly," women wouldn't have to worry about rape, and we could all worry less about sexually transmitted diseases. Think about it.
Jackie Hoover Lawrence senior
GTAs deserve waiver
I was both amused and angered by state Sen. Gus Bogina's reaction to graduate teaching assistants, asking for a 100-percent fee waiver and their threat to form a union. After having
approximately 40 percent of my classes taught by GTAs in my four years here, I realize their vital importance to this University, and this importance should never be taken for granted. I ask the "Honorable?" Sen. Bogina what he expects will attract highly qualified GTAs to this University — his appreciative attitude towards them?
After experiencing the comical but sad nature of the Legislature's dealings with higher education in its state, i.e. its failure to finance the third and final year of the Margin of Excellence and its questioning of whether the rebuilding of Hoch Auditorium should be a priority of the state, Iplead with it to do something positive for education in Kansas, at least this once, by granting GTAs a 100-percent fee waiver.
This would acknowledge that GTAs are an indispensable resource, both to KU and the state, which has a Legislature so obviously dedicated to the enhancement of the University and the education it provides.
San Antonio senior
I am not so subtle, so I will get right to my point. Mark Widell sleeps "better at night knowing that the American Civil Liberties Union is fighting to protect our freedom of speech."
Lettersto the editor
Perhaps he has never been kept awake by (eat) or emotional scars created by hate
Hate speech is wrong
Hate speech is not necessary for truthful dialogue and exchange of thoughts. For instance, one could refer to me as gay or homosexual without calling me a queer or a faggot.
Even if these words represent a hatred of me, there are more expressive and precise words to communicate that instead of calling me names.
Mr. Widell mentions that history teaches us that, "It is a short leap (which has often been taken) from banning words to banning those who express unpopular ideas or positions." I earned a minor in world history, and the lessons I remember best are those of hate speech being used as an excuse for physical
Lawrence graduate student
violence, institutionalized discrimination and genocide.
Patrick Dilley
Our free press is gone
Our most precious freedom, that of a free press, has been stolen. An Evil Empire, beaten into the dust by a brave and patriotic people in Eastern Europe and an old Soviet Union, is flourishing here in the United States. The leftist/elitist-trash-the-United States-at-any-time-for-an-reason radical movement, has taken over our news media. Our messenger is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
The radicals have built a new Iron Curtain between truth and the U.S. people, a new Berlin Wall between news and reality. Their most recent schemes include cheerleading any negative economic news and attacks on the presidency. Every time one of their devious, dull-witted, intellectually dishonest hacks have twisted, omitted, used inundo or led for their own purposes, they have put another nail
into the coffin of freedom: a freedom earned for 200 years with the blood and lives of thousands of patriotic U.S. citizens.
"Pravda niet Prvada y Izvestia niet Izvestia" was a famous slogan of the world diplomatic corps in Moscow in the old Soviet Union. Prvada is the Russian word for truth and also the name of the communist party newspaper. Izvestia is the Russian word for news and also the name of the state newspaper. The slogan, therefore, was THE TRUTH IS NOT THE TRUTH AND THE NEWS IS NOT THE NEWS. That is no longer true in the old Soviet union but, very sadly, is now true here.
Make no mistake about it: An insidious, relentless and powerful evil has enveloped our country like a black cloud. A contrived conspiracy, uniquely designed to capture your every thought and control political actions, is constant at work.
The citizens of today face the challenge of having a United States of the "Manchurian Candidate" or that of Patrick Henry.
John Thetwee
KANSAN STAFF
Roswell, Ga., resident
TIFFANYHARNESS Editor
VANESSA FUHRMANS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
Editors
News... Mike Andrews
Editorial... Beth Randolph
Planning... Lara Gold
Planning... Eric Gorski/Rochelle Oconle
Sports... Eric Nelson
Photo... Jill Jacobson
Features... Debbie Myers
Graphics... Aimee Brainard/J Jeff Meese
Editors
JENNIFER CLAXTON Business manager
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
JAYSTEINER Retail sales manager
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 phoebe. The Kansas reserves the right to reject or edit letters, guest columns and cartoons. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansas newroom, 111 Stuart-Flint Hall.
Business Staff
INFINITES
Campus sales mgr ... Bill LiEBleopnd
Regional sales mgr ... Rich Harnhargberv
National sales mgr ... Scott Hanna
Co-op sales mgr ... Anne Johnson
Production mgrs ... Kim Wallace
Marketing director ... Leanne Keeler
Creative director ... Leanne Bryant
Classified mgr ... Chip Kin
Stick
bv David Rosenfield