Opinion
Kansan
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4A
Lindsey Henry, kann
Dave Morantz, Managing editor
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Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Wednesday, April 15, 1998
SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Feedback
Kansan irresponsible biased for Delta Force
When Andy Obermueller was asked to resign from the Opinion page and editorial board, it was attributed to his partisan alignment. Judging from the 2.27.1 ratio of Delta Force to Campus Cause senator endorsements, as well as endorsing Emily Heath and Matt Dunbar instead of Kevin Yoder and Scott Kaiser, Obermueller apparently just sided with the wrong party. Why did The University Daily Kansan reduce the future of student government and involvement to two hokey questions on a form-letter questionair? This bodes poorly for the Kansan, when it stands willing to influence the perceptions of its 13,500 readers based on writing ability rather than individual dynamics or personal knowledge of the candidates.
Irresponsible journalism is a journalist's greatest fear, yet you so readily plaster it across the centerfold of our paper. Maybe someone on Student Senate could draft a resolution to encourage journalistic restraint — or would that cause them to fall even further from the Kansan's favor?
Joe Walberg Shawnee freshman
Senators have reasons to question KU Veterans
This is to address some of David Perico's allegations concerning the lack of "professional" conduct by Delta Force at Student Senate meetings. I think he left two important factors out
First, nearly every group that has requested funding this year has had its request closely scrutinized, both in committees and in Senate. Many senators have done this under the guise of fiscal conservatism. These same individuals publicly have condemned Senate for acting like Santa Claus. Perico's organization received scrutiny because many senators thought that a group which only has been in existence for six months was asking for a computer prematurely, considering that many more established groups have
not received that sort of fiscal support.
Second, and far more upsetting, was a comment made by one of the people attending the meeting to show support for Perico's organization. When a question was asked concerning sexual discrimination, this individual said, quite audibly, "Let the faggots in." I can think of few things more unprofessional than hate speech.
Whitney Black Wichita senior
Senators unfairly judge KU Veterans Association
I am writing this in reference to the Student Senate meeting on April 8. There are two reasons why I am writing this letter. One is to let students out there know about the KU Veterans Association, and the other is to remind students how important it is to vote in the upcoming Senate elections.
Greg Woollen, non-traditional senator, proposed two bills for the KU Veterans Association. One was to get a computer and the other was to get general office supplies for this group.
Let me give you a little bit of information about the KU Veterans Association. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of KU students who are veterans, married to veterans, sons or daughters of veterans, current members of the Reserves or National Guard, ROTC students and many others. On campus, there are about 500 people collecting the GI Bill as veterans and almost 300 ROTC students who will be directly affected by this group. This group is open to anyone and encourages people to join. The diversity of this group is what make it so supportive. The backgrounds of all the members give it the strength it has. Being realistic, mostly people with a tie to the military will have an interest in this group and people without that tie will probably not be interested. But that doesn't mean you can't be involved in it, just the opposite is true. Experience and diversity make a group stronger.
The debate about the computer lasted for several hours. At fist this proposal
was opposed by several senators because the Department of Defense has a "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy regarding homosexuals in the military. Freed Keeney, the secretary for the group, explained several times that this group has no discrimination policies and this is not affiliated with the Department of Defense. The homosexual community has a justifiable gripe with the defense department. But it is not fair to punish this student group that has no such policies or any ties to groups that do. Keeney explained that point again and again, and I hope that after several hours the point was made.
Lastly, I would like to thank Dave Perico and Fred Keeney for organizing this valuable organization. I also would like to thank Greg Woolen for proposing bills to help the group and Dion Jones and Scott Kaiser for supporting this cause.
This debate seemed more about politics than assisting a student organization. The fundamental differences between the two coalitions truly amazed me. I must sadly admit that I have never voted in an election but that has changed because of the other night. When members of one coalition can be openly hostile to such a large and honorable group, it showed me that such coalitions don't support students. They support political parties. It is our responsibility as students to elect people who will serve all students in a professional way.
As a 26-year-old, non-traditional student and also a combat veteran of the army, I wish the veteran's group had been on campus when I transferred here. Having moved from California and having two small children was hard enough, but not knowing anything about this campus or community added to it. I am sure a lot of my problems could have been helped out with this group. The value of helping someone out of a problem can't be measured. If this group helps out one future KU student, it will have served its purpose. I am absolutely sure that hundreds if not thousands will be assisted in one way or another.
Mike Rendzia Lawrence sophomore
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“What is man in nature? Nothing in relation to the infinite, everything in relation to nothing, a mean between nothing and everything.” —Blaise Pascal
How to submit letters and guest columns
Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author's signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a university student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
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All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stufer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Paul Eakins (eakins@kansan.com) or Ann Premer (apremer@kansan.com) at 84-481-80. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (apinion@kansan.com) or call 84-481-80.
Perspective
Dedication, experience will better University
Campus Cause is the reason you should vote this year. Let me describe the basic philosophy of Campus Cause. We think that the University of Kansas is a great university. As
Written by Kevin Yoder
proud Jaynawks, we have a vested interest in the improvement of our campus. Each of us has pledged our support to making the University a better place for all students not just special interests. We believe in positive change for this University and not the idea of a revolution or an overthrow of the KU administration. The Campus Cause coalition has great energy and dedication for the bright future our campus holds. It is this passion that drives Campus Cause to make the University the best it possibly can be.
However, it is not just philosophy that is going to improve this campus. Campus Cause has slated a plan to deal with many of the pressing concerns of the student body. However, we did not arrive at these issues solely through our ideas, we surveyed hundreds of students on this campus to find out
what they would like to see improved. They came up with the issues of enrollment, parking, safety and fees. Campus Cause has drafted a specific plan to solve all of these concerns. Campus Cause would like to improve our enrollment system by pressing for an online, computerized enrollment system in which students could enroll on the Internet. For parking concerns, Campus Cause will establish a park-and-ride system from the Lied Center.
Scott Kaiser
restripe parking lots and push for student spaces in the new Kansas Union parking garage. As for safety, Campus Cause will work to expand Safe Ride and add lighting and blue phones to campus. Campus Cause also pledges our support to let students play a bigger role in deciding what fees are enacted by sending all potential fee increases to a student-wide vote.
How can Campus Cause make all of this happen? With experienced leaders who know how to set goals and solve problems, Campus Cause candidates are ready to tackle any issue that comes their way. With members from more than 130 student organizations, including may officers within those groups, we are great representatives of the KU population. Among our candidates, we have 13 members from the residence halls, members of scholarship halls, off campus and fraternities and sororites. We also boast leaders such as the President of the Black Student Union and the President of Lewis Hall. It is with Campus Cause that students can be assured of the strong leaders that Student Senate needs and must have.
This year Student Senate has greatly misrepresented the feelings of students on campus. Campus Cause wants to fight to bring Senate back to the forum for all students. The coalition will work to unite not only the Student Senate but the entire student body. However, this task cannot be won on a partisan effort. To realize any goals, we must remove coalition biases once we get in Senate. This year some Senators kept their coalition ties and failed to represent what students really wanted. Campus Cause will lead the efforts to look at all issues for what they are, and not who is presenting them.
Hopefully, Campus Cause's concise plan to solve campus problems, our positive message and proven experience have given you reason to cast a ballot for Campus Cause today or tomorrow.
Yoder and Kaiser are Campus Cause candidates for president and vice president.
Action speaks louder than rhetoric for group
Y you probably shared the same stereotype of the student body president and vice president as we did. two white, male political science majors who seek the positions more
for themselves than for the student body's best interests. Last year, Delta Force began to question these stereotypes. To be an effective student body president or vice president, one needs passion, ideas, and ingenuity. We believe a female social worker and a male environmental studies major both are extremely qualified for these roles.
Written by Emily Heath
Students need to question their leaders. But what makes a good leader? Is it being a committee chairperson, or is it the ability to mobilize people? Is it serving on the correct board or holding the right title, or is it seeing true results from accomplished work? Leaders should have their own beliefs, passions, and issues, but they should adapt those issues to suit the needs of all students.
Delta Force believes in
Written by Matt Dunbar
questioning the system, why it exists, and deciding what we can do to improve it. This doesn't entail burning down Strong Hall or ousting the current administration. It means working hard for real changes.
Thirty-five years ago students may have been a bit more radical, but they knew this as well. Where do we stand now? Is activism no longer cool? Have we lost hope and bought into the idea that we cannot challenge our predecessors or the system that placed them there? Delta Force decided to show students that activism still is
alive and that we all need to be a part of it
We've noticed some differences on campus and in the community. These changes were motivated by the same energy driving Delta Force. Lawrence now has an independent newspaper, the University of Kansas once again has a Feminist Union, and students of color are demanding that their voices be heard. KU students are energized, mobilized and ready to take some action. Let's not stop now.
Delta Force sees positive changes in the University's future. Ideas like fall break, increasing the number of minority faculty and students, a domestic partnership policy and bike lanes on campus and in Lawrence are credited to students. We see more students involved in student government: students from residence halls, scholarship halls, greek houses and off-campus residences. We must not shut out these bright and motivated individuals simply because they don't fit the standards of politicians. We should embrace them for their new and unique talents and abilities.
As Delta Force candidates, we believe this campus is ready for a change. We've lived in residence halls, off campus and in Greek houses. We've experienced all types of leadership from social service to social action groups. We believe in issues, and we don't have to be elected to work on these ideas. We will not let this movement die.
Get involved. Be a part of the action. Seeing ideas you believe in carried through is a beautiful experience. What kind of legacy do you want to leave here? Do you want to look back and say you were part of it all, to say, "I helped get these bikes on campus, create a city-wide bus system, and saw the Chancellor's minority faculty goals met?"
Do you want student leaders you can approach with new ideas, even if these ideas are a little crazy? We did, and we still do. That's why we're running.
Get out and vote today or tomorrow.
Heath and Dunbar are Delta Force candidates for president and vice president.
Feedback
KU Veterans group connected to military
I am writing in response to David Perris's letter entitled "Discrimination by certain Delta Force senators wrong." First let me preface this by saying that my father is an Air Force veteran. I have been raised with nothing but the utmost respect for people who give their lives to defend America. I hate neither veterans nor men and women in the military. I do, however, have a problem with the military's position on homosexuality.
As an officer in Queers and Allies, I am aware of prejudices and discrimination against members of the queer community. The U.S. military's "Don't ask-don't tell" policy is the most organized form of discrimination against homosexuals
today. The policy makes it legal for the military to discharge anyone who openly proclaims homosexuality.
I admire the senators at the April 8 Student Senate meeting who recognized this connection and took a stand. These senators realized that by supporting Perico's agenda, they also would be supporting an organization that supports some of the very principles that Delta Force rallies against.
Perico referred to "insults, objections and unjustified attacks" on his organization. The senators questioned whether funding his organization would violate Senate Rules and Regulations. They should do this with every bill. The only insult and objection that was uncalled for at this meeting was when a uniformed man who supported the KU Veterans Association suggested that they "let the faggots in."
This policy is enforced by the Department of Defense, which funds the ROTC program, is connected to the KU Veterans Association. Do you see the connection?
Perico, will your organization support this kind of behavior in the same manner you supported it at this meeting? Will you deny us the right to stand up for who we are?
Perico's blame is misplaced.
This has nothing to do with Senate and Delta Force. Before Perico places blame on Delta Force, which does strive to improve the quality of life for all KU students, he should look at his organization and see if it strives for the same thing.
Lisa Braun Deerfield sophomore