4 University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, March 31, 1992 OPINION Misperception plagues plan against hate speech I, frankly, am angered and maddened by John Altevogt's characterization of my opinions in his March 18 letter to the editor in the Kansan. I never have met or spoken with Mr. Altevogt. I assume that he has drawn his conclusions from a few recent newspaper articles. These covered the Human Relations Committee's efforts earlier this semester to engage this community in discussions about the purpose and value of free speech. This debate immediately degenerated into arguments about whether or not hate speech should be protected as free speech. We were not writing a speech code. Our goal was never to impose our view on the community but only to provide the first draft of a position paper or philosophical statement that we hoped eventually would evolve into an expression of the consensus of our community. We believe it was widely accepted that a personally hope that the hostility unleashed in reaction to that proposal is the result of misinterpretation. Nevertheless, the HRC accepts the fact that in order to proceed with this project the committee must produce a statement much less likely to be misperceived. Maggie Childs Guest columnist Mr. Allevott's letter typifies the kind of misinterpretation and ignorance of University policy and procedure that plagued our first proposal. He letter, however, does provide a grounding for this position of the HRC and my own opinion. Because there has been some concern that academic freedom is endangered by a trend toward so-called "political correctness," the HRC was trying to reassure people that the University supports free speech as a necessary component of academic freedom. However, we do believe that some speech should not be protected by the First Amendment. The University already prohibits speech it describes in the KU Student Handbook as harassment or intimidation on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity or national origin. I suggest that free speech is a right we should exercise with responsibility. Mr. Altevogt asked, "Responsibility to whom?". To classmates, neighbors, colleagues and co-workers, to any and all members of our community — that's who. He also asked that if a speech code were designed to curb harmful speech, who would decide what is harmful? Our policy on racial and ethnic harassment, as in the KU Student Handbook, already forbids racial and ethnic epithets, slurs and insults, directed at individuals with the intent to inflict harm. So, who does decide what is harmful? That decision rests with the person who feels he or she has been harmed, the Office of Affirmative Action and the Discrimination Hearing Board. speak on campus is difficult because the sponsoring group must pay the cost for the extra security. The result is that a considerable consensus is required to arrange for those funds to be committed to any such event. In supporting this arrangement, my remark about not inviting "anyone that is awful" was a reference to the Ku Klux Klan, who visit here a few years ago triggered an increase in racial incidents in this town. Obtaining controversial speakers to It is neither my intention nor that of the HRC to dictate right and wrong. It is our hope to inspire people to be thoughtful and considerate and to be curious and respectful of difference rather than ignorant and hostile. The goal is not to cut down on controversy or free speech but to educate this community about its rights and responsibilities. Dick Gregory is accurate legally when he asserts that we have the right to hate anyone. We, however, are not in a right to display that hatred. The KU Student is already on record as deploring "bigotry, intolerance, racial or sexual discrimination, anti-Semitism, and the like... As a university, we must allow expression of sometimes uncomfortable or controversial ideas and discoveries. But we have no obligation to provide a forum for the worn-out token of fear, ignorance, and prejudice." (Chancellor Gene Budig, KU Student Handbook, page 18) The HRC is seeking only to raise awareness and to increase consensus on Maggie Childs is the head of the Human Relations Committee. THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Affordable housing needed Experience of living in a residence hall should be open to every incoming student Student housing rates at the University of Kansas increase every year while the occupancy rate of students living in residence halls decreases. Apparently student housing has not made the correlation between its occupancy rate and its prices. The occupancy rate has decreased from about 4500 residents in the fall of 1985 to about 3600 projected occupancy in the fall of 1992. The residence double-room occupancy rates have increased from about $2100 in the 1985-86 academic year to $3080 for the 1992-93 academic year. The rates will increase 14.8 percent for next school year. Student housing contests that it will be providing a better service to students by consolidating the cafeterias of Daisy Hill into one cafeteria in Lewis Hall, so the increase in residence hall rates will be used to finance the consolidation. But what reason does student housing have for increasing its rates since 1985? Also, student housing said it would save money next year by leasing Joseph R. Pearson Hall to Haskell Indian Junior College. So why the increase? Granted, student housing recently built a new housing office located by Gertrude Sellards Pearson-Corbin Hall. Granted, inflation, food, utility, and maintenance costs must be accounted for. But since 1985, students have not seen a direct improvement in student housing to account for the increase in rates every academic year. Student housing probably does all it can to serve the needs of its residents. But an increase in residence hall rates every year with not many improvements cited by residents to prove it, leaves students wondering where their money is going. It is important for the University to make the residence halls attractive to incoming students. The experience of living in a residence hall should be an affordable option for every college student. Resident halls should be less expensive and more convenient than off-campus housing. Next year, not only will Daisy Hill residents have to pay high rent, most will have to walk down the street to Lewis cafeteria to eat. There must be a way to provide affordable housing for students and enable student housing to effectively take care of its finances without raising rates every year. Explore the benefits of hemp Tiffany Lasha Haur for the edith际 board Restricting research into the possible medicinal value of marijuana is unreasonable One of the unfortunate casualties of the war on drugs appears to be scientific inquiry. To see two men standing outside of City Hall every Tuesday seeking legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes, while admittedly a bit surreal, does raise interesting questions about scientific inquiry and political and legal restrictions. There is some debate about how accurate the claims of the medicinal value of hemp are, and it could be that there are none or that the possible benefits are outweighed by the side effects of the drug. The very fact that there is a debate about this, though, makes one think that research should be conducted to answer these questions. The question here becomes whether the potential benefits of supporting hemp research outweigh the problems associated with using a controlled substance for research purposes. They do, and this is not a reasonable restriction that should be placed on research. The law does have several reasonable restrictions on the areas in which scientific research may explore. It would not be reasonable, for instance, for scientists to conduct experiments along the lines that Fu Manchu's daughter did in the movie, drowning men to test the theory that they bob up and down three times before sinking forever. To restrict research into the possible medicinal benefits of hemp just because it is a controlled substance does not meet this standard of reason; nobody is going to suffer if research is done on hemp. People may, however, suffer from a lack of knowledge about its potential benefits. Let's at least investigate the possibilities and bring those poor men in front City Hall in from the rain. Mark Coatney for the editorial board Jamison answers critic I would like to respond to Mr. Knutson's letter questioning my knowledge of her heritage. First of all, Mr. Knutson doesn't know who I am or what I am about, so it is unfair for him to make an assumption about my character. What I portray on the court doesn't necessarily project who I am as a person. Secondly, the media only showed the part of the interview that was of interest to them. There were other parts of the interview that weren't shown. Typical. The question that was asked was about Howard's players, not the school. I responded by saying, "I know they're on the East Coast." Last time I checked, Washington, D.C., was on the East Coast. Knowing where Howard is and knowing its past don't prove my knowledge of my Affirmative Action Judgment shouldn't come from one quote, or one aspect of a person's life (basketball). The thing that bothered me most about the letter was the writer's blatant disregard of who I am and my pride in my African-American heritage. If he had any doubts about me, he should have written me, not the Kansan. Hopefully, this will ease his and any others' doubts of my pride in and knowledge of my cultural heritage, and this subject will be closed. Alonzo Jamison Santa Ana, Calif., senior Protect free speech Letters to the editor Regarding Patrick Dilley's not-suble letter of March 23, I sleep better at night knowing that the American Civil Liberties Union is fighting to protect our freedom of speech. I hate racist positions and harmful words as much, if not more, than you. Your list is ceramic in inclusion of all the abuses that are heaped on in our fellow citizens every day in this nation. I am, however, more afraid of anyone telling another what they can say or how they can say it. I thought that a university was supposed to be one of the places in society where all positions, no matter how unpopular, could be expressed. Speech codes, however well intended, serve only to intimidate people and the free exchange of thoughts. Truth can only be derived in the crucible of free expression. No offense, Patrick, but no matter how attractive the rationale, compromising the freedoms of this student body and controlling what people say is dangerously misguided. It is a short leap (which has often been taken) from banning words to banning those who express unpopular ideas or positions. How many times will history have to teach us this lesson? Boulder, Colo., freshman Mark Widell Boulder, Colo., freshman Scholarships not racist I am writing this letter in response to the letter by Scott McDaniel on March 25 about Congress' duty to repeal minority scholarships. Mr. McDaniel used the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a basis for his misinformed theory that minority scholarships are racist in nature Mr. McDaniel, who are so well studied in the history of civil rights and minority opportunities in the United States, could you explain why the Civil Rights Act was necessary and minority scholarships were created less than 30 years ago? Could it possibly be that minorities, after finally being allowed into universities, could not afford it because racism had barely allowed them to economically rise to the middle class, where we all know it's still difficult to afford college? Could it also be, Mr. McDaniel, that the need for the Civil Rights Act also reflects the need for minority scholarships? The two are not at opposite ends of the spectrum; they are one in the same. Minority scholarships allow students who at one time have not been able to seek college education, not only to go to college but to attend a major university. And not only attend the university because they are a minority, but because they worked hard, studied and deserved a scholarship. I think Mr. McDaniel has the impression that minority scholarships use race as their only criterion. As a recipient of a minority scholarship I can state that is a misconception Mr. McDaniel shares with many others. Minority scholarships are earned and are not any less valid than any other scholarships that do not use race as a criterion. Perhaps, Mr. McDaniel, you do not understand the need for the scholarships because you do not know your history well enough. Or maybe you feel that funding given to minority scholarships takes away money you might have received. One thing you should ask yourself is whether you or any other non-minority student could have received a minority scholarship if race wasn't an issue? Maybe that's why you don't understand. Traci Moore St. Louis senior Boycott quote clarified The article "International panel discusses women's movement," published March 25, unfortunately misrepresents what I said about a 1974 television scandal in Germany related to protests against the abortion law. "Panorama" had scheduled a report about a new, less painful abortion method. The program director ordered this report be pulled out. In support of women and their numerous protests against the old abortion law, the editor and his staff decided to boycott the entire program scheduled for that night. He asked the program administrator that saying that abortion should be painful," does not relate to the people who boycotted the program. Rather, I put it into the context of whether abortion methods and laws really were a moral issue or one of power and control of men over women. Pfa Thielmann Oldenburg, Germany, graduate student KANSANSTAFF TIFFANYHARNESS Editor VANESSA FUHRMANS Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser Editors Editors News ... Mike Andrews Editorial ... Beth Randolph Planning ... Gail Gossi Campus ... Eric Gorski/Rochelle Ollen Sports ... Eric Nelson Photo ... Julie Jacobson Features ... Debbie Myers Graphics ... Almee Brainard/J Jeff Meesey JENNIFER CLAXTON Business manager JAYSTEINER Retail sales manager JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser Business Staff Letters should be typed, double spaced and less than 200 words. They must include the writer's name, title and contact information with the University of Kansas must include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position. should be type, double-spaced and fewer than 700 words. The writer will be photographed. The Kazuo Japanese reader should 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 Saffer Fint Hall. Business Staff Campus sales mgr Bill Latheringg Regional sales mgr Richard Harabarbah National sales mgr Scott Hannah Co-op sales mgr Ame Johnson Production mgrs Kim Wallace Marketing director Lien Keeler Marketing director Kim Claxton Creative director Leah Nutt Classified mgr Kip Chin Loco Locals GOOD MORNING! ADAM WOLPERMOTHER, FILLING IN FOR KRISS EMPOWERED KRISSFUND... THIS MORNING... I HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST AUTHOR...A SIX-YEAR- OLD...THE TITLE OF HIS BOOK'DO PARENTS REALLY WHAT'S BEST. OR ARE THE DUFFIN? MICHIGAN 1982 by Tom Michaud