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University Daily Kansan / Thursday, March 5, 1992
OPINION
Moving might be hard, but it may lead to home
You can't go home again, or so the saving goes.
But when Thomas Wolfe wrote his novel by that name in 1940, he did not mean that border guards would impede your entrance at the city limits of your home town. He meant that things will not be the way you left them.
My parents recently completed their move to Hutchinson. Now I don't even know where home is. Our house in DeSoto, where I lived for 13 years of my life, is now inhabited by people I've never met. DeSoto is definitely not home.
Last week, I tried to change the credit line at the end of my column to say I was from Hutchinson. After all, it is now my permanent residence, and I was born there.
However, my editor informed me that I was to identify myself according to wherever graduated from high school. Thus, I am cursed to be associated with the little town of DeSoto for at least two more months.
Now when people ask me where I'm from. i.sw. "Lawrence ... I guess."
Which, I'm sure, impresses the hell
David Mitchell Staff columnist
out of them.
But my parents have gone home. They both grew up in Hutchinson. They graduated from high school there in 1960, and they married there a year later.
My brother and sister were born there. And my dad studied at Hutchinson Community College for two years before going on to Emporia State University.
Since then, there aren't too many pathetically small Kansas towns they haven't lived in: Pretty Prairie, Colby, Partridge, Pretty Prairie (again) and finally Delo.
Every time my dad had a chance to move up to a better job, he took it. He's been a teacher, counselor, principal and administrator.
Unfortunately, the latest change
was the first time the move was not by his choice. And when he went looking for a new job among Kansas' budget-crunched schools, prospects were bleak.
Ironically, at a time when school districts such as DeSoto were eliminating jobs. Hutchinson was creating one. Now he works for the school system he grew up in. The coincidence seems to be a good one.
For my parents, the move was difficult. They left behind their children, grandchildren, friends and a beautiful home. But the move also seems to be a good omen.
In the same month in which they will celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary, my parents have moved into a house on the same street as the church they were married in — in one of the town's nicest neighborhoods. My dad's brother lives just six blocks away. And my grandpa is still there in the house my mother grew up in.
Maybe I can't go home again. But my parents have, and right now that's all that really matters.
David Mitchell is a De Soto senior majoring in journalism.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Minority-based aid is needed
Elimination of scholarships is a step backward in minority recruitment and retainment
Gene Budig and other university and college presidents across the nation are doing everything they can to ensure that everyone will have a fair chance to get a college education. They are writing letters to the U.S. Department of Education in opposition to its proposal to ban minority scholarships.
The department says minority-based scholarships violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act states that "no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." By providing minority aid, the department argues that colleges and universities are discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin and should find other ways to recruit and retain minorities.
But banning minority scholarships is a step backward in minority recruitment and retention. Minority aid gives minorities the
opportunity to go to college. Banning minority aid would decrease the number of minority students enrolling in colleges and universities even more. Colleges and universities across the nation are in dire need of diversity. The U.S. Department of Education should make proposals that would encourage minority enrollment, not discourage it.
The Department is opposed to minority scholarships because they are targeted to minorities only. But all scholarships are discriminatory. Every scholarship discriminates against a portion of people because it is based on intelligence, gender, major, classification in school, etc. Minority scholarships were designed to give minorities a fair shot at a college education. These scholarships are not solely based on race. They are based on need and merit, too.
If the U.S. Department of Education has its way, minorities in this country are out of luck. If they are not financially stable, they may be deprived of their college education. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. The U.S. Department of Education should try to find ways to effectively educate young minds, not to take education away from them.
Transit head sends right message
Tiffany Lasha Hurt for the editorial board
NYC Transit Authority president hits mark in demoting employee for sexual remark to co-worker
New York City Transit Authority president Alan Kieper hopes to send a message. It is that sexual harassment in the workplace is demeaning and will not be tolerated. This is a message that is finally beginning to be made clear in American society.
Kiepper's action was precipitated by a remark made by Ron Contino, a senior vice president for surface transit at the NYTA, to his assistant, Velva Edwards. Contino commented that he felt so well after a recent triple-bypass surgery that he wanted "an auditorium that will fit all the surface managers" so that he, Edwards and Patricia O'Brien, another manager, could have sex on
stage. The comments were heard over a speaker phone by 28 other employees.
Kiepper demoted Contino to a job that pays $100,000 less per year and gave Contino's old job to Edwards.
Kiepper's message regarding punishment for sexual harassment should reach farther than the NYTA. The workplace is a sphere that demands people treat each other with professionalism and respect. There is no room in the workplace for sexual innuendo or overtures. Such behavior is demeaning and unacceptable.
Sexual harassment is not always as obviously stated or witnessed by others as in Contino's case. But it is hoped that harsh penalties given in instances where harassment can be proven will serve to influence the behavior of those who so far may not have taken this issue seriously.
Kate Kelley for the editorial board
Incorrect etymology
The Old English word for female was "wif," a meaning of the word still in use as late as Chaucer's "Wife of Bath."
The etymology of the word "woman" in Laura Moriarty's guest column Feb. 26 cannot be allowed to stand. Whatever modern pronunciation may suggest to the unwary or fanciful mind, "woman" does not derive from the phrase "womb to man."
It meant simply "Woman from Bath," even though she had had five husbands by the time she encounter her in the "Canterbury Tales." The term had, however, come to be more and more specialized in the meaning "married woman" and the specific generic term for "female of the human species."
Two terms were supplied to fill the empty space:
1. From native roots, the compound noun "wif-man", referring to that group from among mankind capable of becoming a married woman.
2. Borrowed from French, "femelie," the diminutive of French "femme," the generic term for "female human." The borrowing was remodeled to "female" to provide a form analogous with "male."
Both generic terms are objectionable
because their history reveals how deeply male dominance is embedded in everyday language.
Lettersto the editor
One can hardly suggest to serious women that we go back in time and call it "lady liberation!" But let us not falsify what the real trouble with all our generic terms is, using explanations as remote from reality as that in the recent column.
Oddly, the less favored word "lady" is less objectionable in source; it derives from a usual occupation of women as opposed to men. The halaf-ord (lord) grew the grain to make the loaf; the halaf-dife (lady) was his partner and kneaded (dur) the loaf.
George Wedge Associate professor of English
Kudos to Rock Chalk
We accept your donation of $50,000 with a great deal of gratitude for your ingenuity, hard work and perseverance. This year's donation
Three cheers to all those who worked to make this year's Rock Chalk Revue a rousing success. The Board of Directors of United Way of Douglas County sincerely thanks each individual who helped to make this year's revue a financial success.
by the revue represents a 32-percent increase over funds raised by Rock Chalk a year ago.
The number of hours volunteered by team living organizations for community service work was truly astounding. More than 10,000 hours of community service were donated by 31 teams. University of Kansas students have shown us all what can be accomplished with a spirit of giving and caring. We salute your spirit and your commitment to making the lives of those less fortunate a bit brighter for tomorrow.
Diane Mullens
Diane Mullens
United Way campaign chair
Al Hack Jr.
President, United Way of Douglas County
Article was biased
Granted, throwing things from the stands was not a sportsman-like move of the Wildcat fans. But you failed to report the whole story. Why not mention that David Johanning was hoisting Rex Walters in the air after the game
As a K-State graduate now living and working in Lawrence, I was disappointed in the biased viewpoint of Lyle Nieden's article Feb. 24 about the K-State-Kansas game.
and that Walters was taunting the crowd with obscene gestures.
Basketball players represent their university, and at any coliseum they play in (not just Bramage) they will receive *Verbal barrages* and *Verbal bars* with that and remain classy representatives.
So, please do your part to be a classy bunch at the Kansan by printing this letter and beginning to look past your own biases.
Jim Dauber Lawrence resident
First, find all the facts
As an alumnum of the University of Kansas and a present employee of the U.S. Olympic Committee, I was distressed to receive a copy of an editorial that appeared in the Kansan concerning the dipping of the American flag during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France.
Many assumptions, most of them inaccurate, were made in this editorial. One assumption was that the United States was the only country not to dip the flag. Actually, only four of the 65 countries that marched into the opening ceremonies dipped the flag.
Second was that the French were offended by
Finally, the editorial failed to mention that Public Law No. 829 states "That no disrespect should be given to the flag of the United States of America, the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing." Congress passed this into law in 1942. In talking with our flag carrier, Bill Koch, a couple of days after the opening ceremonies, he told me that he was glad that he did not dip the flag because it wasn't a big deal at all. He did make it clear that he had the choice, which is what our country is all about.
Actually, the French commended the U.S. delegation members on the way they carried themselves in the opening ceremonies. Our athletes and coaches showed respect, not only for the French, but for the Olympic spirit.
The U.S. Olympic Committee is a very high-profile organization that has its share of flaws. Basically, we represent America, which is a great but imperfect country. There are times when we deserve criticism, but often people make accusations and assumptions without knowing all the facts. I believe that the Kansan is in that group, guilty of not gathering all the facts.
Assistant director public information/mediational U.S. Olympic Committee
KANSANSTAFF
TIFFANY HARNESS
Editor
VANESSA FUHRMANS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
our "lack of respect." This was not the case at all.
Editors
Editors
News .. Mike Andrews
Editorial .. Beth Randolph
Planning .. Lara Gold
Campus .. Eric Gorski/Rochelle Olson
Sports .. Eric Nelson
Photo .. Julie Jacobson
Features .. Debbie Myers
Graphics .. Aimee Brainard/J Jeff Meese
JENNIFER CLAXTON Business manager
JAYSTEINER Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
Campus sales mgr .. Bill Leibengow
Regional sales mgr .. Rich Harbagger
National sales mgr .. Scott Hanna
Co-op sales mgr .. Arne Johnson
Production mgrs .. Kim Wallace
Marketing director .. Lisa Keeler
Creative director .. Kim Clxton
Creative director .. Kim Clxton
"classified mgr" .. Kip Cbin
BusinessStaff
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MCHARDCE992
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COACH!
by Tom Michaud