Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Lindsey Henry, Editor
Dave Morantz, Managing editor
Kristie Blasi, Managing editor
Tom Ebien, General manager, news adviser
Marc Harrell, Business manager
Colleen Eager, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, April 7, 1998
Matt Breidenthal., / KANSAN
Editorials
Students should voice opinions about bike lanes in Lawrence
Every day Lawrence bicyclists must brave the streets as noisy trucks and cars speed past, narrowly avoiding them. With cars parked along most streets, Lawrence streets are less than accommodating to bicyclists, and can be downright dangerous.
KU students and Lawrence residents should go to the City Commission meeting tonight and voice their views about bike lanes in Lawrence.
The city's Bicycle Advisory Committee will present its proposal to the commission tonight, and the more input the commission has from the public, particularly bicyclists, the more able it will be to make a good decision.
Whether the city creates bike lanes will affect all KU students, even those that don't ride bikes. The creation of bike lanes could make life much easier for drivers who would not have to change
Go to the City Commission meeting at 6:30 tonight at City Hall, 6th and Massachusetts Streets
lanes or slow down whenever a bicyclist is riding — bicyclists would be out of the way in their own lanes. Also, bike lanes could lessen drivers' fears about accidentally hitting bicyclists.
Bicyclists themselves would benefit, of course, because it would be much less dangerous and much easier for them to travel in Lawrence.
The development of bike lanes also could affect students' wallets, as local tax dollars would have to be spent on the construction of these lanes. Students should consider the importance of bike lanes and whether the lanes would make
their lives better and benefit Lawrence
Early last month the city voted to implement a pedestrian and bicycle improvement project in which bike lanes would be created on Iowa street from Sixth Street to 23rd Street. However, many proponents of bike lanes and the Committee say that this is not enough and that lanes are needed on many more city streets. The Committee's proposal will include increased community educational programs about bike safety, increased traffic enforcement, "Share the Road" signs, better street upkeep, an engineering study for bike lane placement and eventual bike lanes.
What is the best solution? The only way to find out is to go to the meeting, listen to the ideas and tell the commission what you think about bike lanes - you may help make a historic change in Lawrence.
Paul Eakins for the editorial board
Good job! You get a Pat on the Back
The following people deserve thanks, praise and a good, firm Pat on the Back;
Jane Johnson, who retired Friday after serving as the chancellor's secretary for 27 years. She served three chancellor's in her time at the University of Kansas, arranging their travel plans, daily schedules, and taking phone calls. She deserves thanks and praise for doing what must be one of the more stressful jobs at the University.
Anthony Nicholson, Overland Park junior in engineering, and Kristen Merchant, Lenexa junior in journalism., who organized the student living organization exchange program. Students from scholarship halls, residence halls, greek houses and off-campus housing spent two days living in different housing situations. This helped these students see how the "other side" lived and promoted communication and acceptance among students at the University. It was a good idea, and a successful program.
To suggest a Pat on the Back, email opinion@kansan.com or write to 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall
Dion Jones, Holdover senator, for his hard work in bringing a bill to Student Senate that would give seats to minority student organizations. Jones had good intentions and spent much time and effort in bringing this bill, which Senate passed, to fruition. It certainly was a historic moment for Senate and may be the beginning of new ideas for our student government.
Rochelle Votaw, Lawrence senior, and Ericka Morris, Lawrence sophomore, who organized a student rally to oppose a Kansas bill that would amend affirmative action programs in Kansas. About 200 students and other supporters were at the rally, which surely sent a strong message to state legislators.
Pat Boyle, University Daily Kansan accountant who keeps track of the complex finances of the paper. She works hard to make sure that the Kansan staff is paid on time. At times she must go to great lengths to track down the staff members' time sheets and, as strange as it may seem, to bring them their pay checks when they have failed to pick them up.
Kansan staff
Paul Eakins for the editorial board
Paul Eakins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editorial
Andrea Albright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . News
Jodie Chebright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . News
Julie King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . News
Charity Jeffries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Online
Eric Weslander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sports
Harley Rattifl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Associate sports
Ryan Koerner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Campus
Mike Perryman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Campus
Bryan Volk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Features
Tim Harrington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Associate features
Steve Puppe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo
Angie Kuhn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Design, graphics
Mitch Lucas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Illustrations
Corrie Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wire
Gwen Olson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Special sections
Lachel Rheades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neus clerk
News editors
Advertising managers
Kristi Bisel . *Assistant retail, PR*
Leigh Bottiger . *Campus*
Brett Clifton . *Regional*
Nicole Lauderdale . *National*
Matt Fisher . *Marketing*
Chris Haghian . *Internet*
Brian Allers . *Production*
Ashley Bonner . *Production*
Andee Tomlin . *Promotions*
Dan Kim . *Creative*
Rachel O'Neill . *Classified*
Tyler Cook . *Zone*
Steve Grant. Zone
Jamie Holman Zone
Brian LeFevre Zone
Matt York . Zone
Quote of the Day:
"Communism is the opiate of intellectuals."
—Clare Booth Luce
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 home-town if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions.
Guest columns: Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stuaffter-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions.
For any questions, call Paul Eakins (eakins@kansas.com) 864-4810. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (apinion@kansas.com) or call 864-4810.
Perspective
Resignation accepted to preserve integrity
I am recanting on a promise I made earlier this semester. If you'll recall I pledged that this semester's University Daily Kansan staff would only write the headlines, not make them
If you'll notice the news story on page 3A, as of Sunday night, Andy Obermueller, Liberal senior, resigned his position as Opinion page coeditor.
Obermueller accepted the offer to resign after Kansan managing editors, Dave Morantz and Kristie Blasi, and I were notified that he was found early Sunday
Lindsey Henry
opinion @ kansan.com
morning on the porch outside the house of several students involved with the Delta Force campaign; on the porch were campaign banners and signs. This incident marked the end of a series of complaints I had received, both from Kansan staff members and from other students, concerning Obermueller's objectivity in dealing with student politics.
Obermueller did not resign because of his ability to manage an editorial page. He is a strong writer with exceptional editing skills and his talents will be missed on the page. His columns regularly prompted debate and feedback, the mark of a good writer.
But the bottom line in this situation was the perception of the Kansan. Every member of the newspaper staff is held to the same standards of journalism and behavior. No matter where staff members are around town or who they are with, no matter what may be said in jest, they are representatives of the Kansan, and their actions reflect on the paper's mission and have repercussions.
I don't pretend to monitor whom the staff befriends, nor would I want to. It is none of my business whom staff members spend their time with or what issues they believe in, but when personal ties conflict with the paper (in this case more than once), it is my job to insure that the Kansan suffers the least amount of damage to its perception and reputation.
In this case, I found no other alternative but to offer Obermueller the chance to resign before he was fired. He would disagree, saying I had other options. This incident came six days after the managing editors and I met with him to discuss our concerns and disciplinary possibilities. Obermueller was informed at the meeting that future involvement in compromising situations would result in his suspension or termination.
The ultimate decision was a difficult one, especially on a staff composed of close friends and peers. We are now working to find a replacement for Obermueller as coeditor with Paul Eakins.
Perhaps this was an exercise in hypersensitivity, but if what was lost was harmful to the paper, I stand by my decision and hope something can be learned. I regret the damage the Kansan may have suffered, and for the paper's reappearance into its headlines.
Henry is an Overland Park junior in journalism and editor of The University Daily Kansan.
Student apathy reflects misguided Student Senate
It's that time of the year again: Student Senate elections. The button passing, poster hanging, hand shaking and politicking has begun.
Yet student involvement is missing from the extravaganza. Last year a mere 15 percent of you took the time to vote, and unless things change, then that number will probably stay the same.
This apathy and indifference is not entirely students' fault. When the issues debated during Senate meetings have little or nothing to do with student's actual interests, it's hard to care.
When senators are more intent on voicing their opinions or toeing the coalition line than serving students, there's something wrong.
Kevin
Rapp
opinion @ kansan.com
As a Senate outsider, it's frustrating to read
About Senate because I feel helpless to do anything about it. It's too late for me to run for a Senate seat now, but I hope that you will agree that if more students take the time to get involved, then the more Senate will be forced to address student concerns. That should be it's primary order of business.
That's why its important for you to know what issues are discussed in Senate and how they concern you — or don't, for that matter.
Here are a few of the issues that Senate had heard in the last year that have had little or no affect on the average student's interest.
For instance, your student fees paid for a speaker who reported human rights violations in East Timor, which is occupied by the Indonesian government. In addition, Matt Caldwell wrote a column that appeared in the Sept. 10, 1997, editorial page of The University Daily Kansan. The basis of both were to condemn Phillips 66, a heavy contributor to the University, for its alleged involvement in what Caldwell termed, "Onr
of the most blantan and well-funded instances of choreographed genocide in the 20th century." Phillips' side of the issue was overlooked or ignored. In a statement released the same day, Phillips 66 stated bluntly that it had no income from, or current operations in, Indonesia.
All of this, however, is beside the point: No proposed action that comes from Student Senate at the University of Kansas, such as a boycott of Phillips 66 or an action condemning the Indonesian government, will improve conditions in East Timor, nor will it have any effect on the general students' welfare.
Not surprisingly, this is not the only example of misguided Senate efforts.
Recently, left-minded Senators proposed a resolution to protest military action against Iraq. Again the outcome of such legislation — just like the resolution to lower the drinking age — would be the same: little affect globally, nationally or locally.
A proposal also was put before Senate to build a waterslide on campus. Not only would the administration never approve such a project, but the laws surrounding its construction, insurance as well as maintenance costs would kill the project before it got off the ground. Therefore, any time spent discussing it was wasted, especially when there are more important issues that affect us.
For instance, parking is an issue that confronts the majority of students daily. So Senate should focus on issues like these rather than a waterslide or the East Timor occupation.
If you want to see these issues put before Senate, then vote. Vote to elect people who will listen to student concerns.
This is not meant to undermine the efforts of the individuals involved in the preceding causes. Their efforts are noble, but there is a time and a place other than Senate to address these concerns.
Rapp is a Colorado Springs, Colo., sophomore in political science and business.
Feedback
Women's history editorial ludicrous
In a recent editorial, Tommy Gallagher criticized history textbooks for underplaying and ignoring women's history. Gallagher stated that textbooks touch on women's suffrage, but neglect the struggle to make progress and fail to mention that women have been paid less than men for doing the same jobs. Frankly, I have to wonder how many textbooks the writer has glanced at lately. Curious about Gallagher's facts, I consulted six
recent history textbooks. None spoke of women only in the context of gaining the vote. Every single one of them pointed out that women have historically been paid less than men for performing the same jobs. The index of one textbook I use in my course contains more than 70 references to women's history. The textbook describes women's work in the home, in offices, in factories and in the government. Among other things, it depicts women's experiences in the New Deal, in unions, in ghetto, in the world wars and in the Klan. It
describes numerous women's organizations including the Women's Peace Party, the Women's Joint Congressional Committee, the Women's National Indian Rights Association, the Women's Trade Union League, and Women's Strike for Equality.
American history textbooks may well have their failings in their discussion of women and women's issues. To claim that they ignore or fail to acknowledge women's experiences, however, is ludicrous.
Martha K. Robinson
Tucson, Ariz., graduate student
and assistant instructor of history