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University Daily Kansan / Friday, January 31, 1992
OPINION
RAs' dual roles are one reason for hall vacancies
I couldn't help being amused by a recent article in the Kansan concerning the department of student housing and the current difficulty in finding enough people to live in the resident halls. I was also disappointed, but not surprised, by the housing department's lack of creativity in determining a solution.
I used to be a resident assistant in the halls a few semesters ago. I left by choice because of a difference in philosophy.
A confrontational relationship exists between students and RAs that is unnecessary. If you've ever lived in the dorms, you know what I mean. When I was an RA, my loyalties were with the students. I could never bring myself to embrace the authority of my position and tell students, only a few years my junior, to do and how to live their lives. Despite being patronizing and rude, it's an invasion of a person's privacy.
But these ideas are not only my own. There are a multitude of people who feel the same way and have tried to express this message. It baffles me that housing acts surprised that students aren't rushing to reserve a room.
I don't want to sound hypercritical.
Most of my former co-workers are
great people but there are some prob-
lems with the way things are managed
there.
One major problem is the RA position itself. When I applied for the job, I was attracted by the opportunity to
Brian Doyle Guest columnist
help guide and assist students. One of the major roles of the RA is that of peer counselor.
For many young students, it is an invaluable asset to know an older student who they can talk to and who they can count on in a crisis. But who wants to trust someone who is going to bust you for drinking on a Saturday night? When the RA has to play the dual role of peer counselor and police officer, an immediate dichotomy is established which ruins the potential for any meaningful relationship between students and RAs.
It is unnecessary for RAs to enforce the rules and regulations. The KU police, who have free access to the dorms, are employed by the University to be the enforcers. They are perfectly capable of handling any infractions to the peace.
The point is, that if students are treated like adults, they will be motivated to act like adults, lest they lose their privilege of freedom.
Another problem is that students do not have any way to effectively communicate their needs as tenants. There is the Association of University
Residency Halls, but this group hardly qualifies as a tenant organization. AURH receives its allowance from housing to throw pizza parties and rent movies and is in no position to be taken seriously. And they aren't. I recall one incident where a hall director, who didn't like what AURH told him, went ahead and blithely violated the procedures. He seemed to think that the hall was his, he was the boss and he would do things as he pleased. Case closed. AURH didn't do anything. You can't bite the hand that feeds you.
It is the responsibility of the students to organize and let themselves be heard. Housing must listen to them. Housing must also stop banking on the freshman class to exclusively fulfill its quota needs. If students are wanting to leave after one semester, there is a problem. But the idea of retention is something this university has never understood very well.
Fred McElhenie, the associate director of resident life has said that residence halls are financed through money from residents' rent. If McElhenie wants to see more students live in the dorms, then I think he must pay heed to the hands that feed him.
Brian Doyle is from Chicago, and although he currently is not enrolled, he has declared psychology and African studies as his majors.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Ticket policy slights students
Athletic Department ticket policy panders to wealthy alumni, limits student access to basketball
student access to basketball
The University of Kansas Athletic Department has established policies that are hardly student-friendly. Without a change in philosophy, KU risks eliminating one of the most important elements of Kansas basketball—the students.
This year, 6,300 tickets were sold to students,700 fewer than in 1990. The remainder of the 15,800 seats at Allen Field House was divided among alumni, faculty, other athletes and band members. Fewer than one-fourth of the students enrolled at the Lawrence campus could buy a ticket. The direction being charted is clearly unacceptable to students and should not be tolerated.
Access is further restricted in that students are only allowed to enter the far north doors of the field house. Even when all other entrances are free, students are turned away. This disrespect is representative of the treatment accorded students.
The athletic director and his staff have lost
sight of an important ingredient of Kansas basketball tradition and success. They have been blinded by the contributions of wealthy alumni. Attending basketball games as a student should not be a privilege for a few but a right accorded to many.
The department should immediately adopt a two-tier system to achieve parity between students and alumni at basketball games. First, 50 percent of the seats should be reserved for students. If students choose not to buy the tickets then these seats could be sold to anyone.
Second, students should be allowed to enter the field house at any entrance they choose. It is absurd to think that student access should be limited to certain doors. Students' money is as green as that of alumni. They should not be subjected to inferior service.
Every student should be allowed to experience the magic of Allen Field House. The students are the magic. This year, too many students were turned away when they wanted to purchase tickets. The University of Kansas serves students. Let students attend the games.
U.S. should promote peace
Stephen Martino for the editorial board
The government needs to stop selling munitions to the world and
start spreading democracy.
Recently it was disclosed that the Reagan administration provided classified intelligence to Saddam Hussein as early as 1982 during the Iran-Iraq war. President Reagan also authorized the sale of U.S. arms to Iraq to help Saddam avoid defeat in the war. Reagan failed to notify Congress in both instances.
This disclosure comes only a year after the New York Times reported that Reagan allowed Israel to ship several billion dollars worth of U.S. arms to Iran in January 1981.
Certainly the United States had a vital interest in the outcome of the Iran-Iraq war. A quick victory by either Iran or Iraq in the conflict could have upset the fragile balance of power in the Persian Gulf region that still exists today.
In addition, in 1983 the CIA did not prevent private U.S. arms dealers from selling sophisticated Soviet weaponry purchased in Eastern Europe to Iraq. One of the arms dealers involved in the sales was Sarkis Soghanian, a Lebanese arms dealer who was convicted last year of violating U.S. and U.N. sanctions that prohibited arms sales to Iraq.
But one has to question the logic of a policy that seeks to prolong war instead of looking
for a solution to end it. The notion of arming both sides in a miserable war that killed thousands of people in order to serve short-term U.S. policy interests in the region is particularly troublesome.
And perhaps more disturbing is that Reagan's policies produced the result they were designed to prevent: the emergence of a militarily dominant nation determined to control the region. The arms that the United States allowed Iraq to obtain undoubtedly aided Saddam Hussein in his 1990 invasion of Kuwait and his subsequent war effort against U.S. forces.
If there was one lesson from the Persian Gulf War, it was the need to limit and restrict arms sales, particularly in volatile areas such as the Persian Gulf. Reagan acted irresponsibly by selling arms to nations such as Iran and Iraq who are not committed to the principles of democracy and freedom, and who have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted.
It must not be the policy of the United States to provide arms to dictators or military governments in any region of the world. Such policies are dangerously shortsighted. The United States should work with other nations to stop the spread of arms. It is in this way that the ideals of peace and democracy can best be promoted.
Chris Mosey for the edithorail board
Chris Mosey for the edithorail board
International perspectives
Asahi, Tokyo, on President Bush's State of the Union message:
What we expected of the president's address ... was, rather than a simple statement of economic recovery measures, a more far-reaching call to action. "We're going into self-examination on the part of the Americans."
The United States is ailing from the economic dolrums, crime and AIDS. In the face of those diseases, however, the American people pursue gratification of their desires. It is unthinkable that economic policies alone can cure the diseases arising from the distortion that was brought about by wide-ranging indulgence...
At a time when the genuine basis for democracy is at stake, it is not necessary for the American people to resolve to do something to save it? It is regrettable that President Bush's speech failed to evoke such resolve. That is because we still expect the Americans to continue to play the role of the champion of democ-
racv.
In East European and North African nations, and the Russian republic, people doubt whether nascent democracy and freedom assure social stability and prosperity. President Bush should have explained how the Americans intend to be involved in a new tide in the world.
Peace that is reliant on force alone is fragile. The Americans should be vigilant of new dangers that might close in on them while they are euphoric over their triumph.
*Maariv, Tel Aviv, Israel, on presidential hopeful Bill Clinton;
Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas and his wife Hillary believe that the private life of a politician should not have any influence on his public standing. But it is doubtful that the American public holds the same opinion.
In a country where half of the marriages end in divorce, fidelity to one's spouse is not exactly a social norm. But it seems that the American public expects its representatives to behave according to a standard which is not upheld for the simple adulturer. This also raises the suspicion that the Americans are prepared to forgive charismatic leaders, like President Kennedy, when they would not pardon an ordinary politician.
The question which will determine the fate of Gov. Clinton is not whether he was faithful enough to his wife, but whether he is charismatic enough to be forgiven.
■ The Guardian, London, on the Middle East peace talks;
The Palestinians have raised the stakes on participation in the Middle East peace process because they feel they have no alternative. The "Madrid formula," excluding representatives from East Jerusalem and from the PLO, had been accepted on the assumption that this would allow progress to be made. Three
months later the talks nave goge nowhere...
months later the talks have gone nowhere. It is hard now to recall the high hopes of MKM and that its official settlement was then viewed. The Palestinians may havevet to climb down in Moscow ...
But if the United States and the international community are serious about peace in the Middle East, they should think very carefully before driving them to the wall.
Gulf News, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on the nuclear threat:
Reversing the nuclear threat seems to be the order of the day, at least as far as the two major powers are concerned. ... President Boris Yeltsin told a U.S. TV network that he intends to stop targeting U.S. cities with nuclear missiles, and that he no longer considers the United States as a potential enemy. The Russian leader's offer to spare the cities will be hailed as an initiative that deserves to be matched by every nuclear power.
In fact, the two presidents are in close touch and are keeping each other informed in advance about their disarmament initiatives, which are now going well beyond the accords signed in recent years between the United States and the former Soviet Union.
Disarmment experts will attach a lot of significance to the U.S.-Russian moves, which are the first of their kind and will greatly improve relations between the two countries.
KANSANSTAFF
Yeltsin's offer to stop targeting the population centers is one of the most reassuring moves toward peace since the Cold War ended — and if it is confirmed that he has been able to implement this decision, he will become a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Interestingly, Yeltsin's bold announcement came just a day after U.S. officials revealed that President Bush had decided to halt the nation's nuclear bomb-building program indefinitely.
TIFFANY HARNESS Editor
VANESSA FUHRMANS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser
Editors
News... Mike Andrews
Editorial... Beth Randolph
Planning... Lara Gold
Campus... Eric Gorski/Orcilleon
Sports... Eric Nelson
Photo... Julie Jacobson
Features... Debbie Myers
Graphics... Jeff Messey/Aime Brainard
JAY STEINER
Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
JENNIFER CLAXTON Business manager
adiness
Campus sales mgr .. Bill Leibengow
Regional sales mgr .. Rich Harbargar
National sales mgr .. Scott Hanna
Co-op sales mgr .. Ame Johnson
Production mgrs .. Kim Wallace
Marketing director .. Lisa Keeler
Marketing director .. Kim Claxton
Creative director .. Leslie Harris
Classified mgr .. Kip Chin
Business Staff
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