Opinion
4A
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Lindsey Henry, *Editor*
Dave Morantz, *managing editor*
Kristie Blasi, *managing editor*
Tom Eblen, *General manager, news adviser*
Marc Harrell, Business manager
Colleen Eager, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Friday, March 13, 1998
W. David Keith / KANSAN
Editorials
'Rape lots' at residence halls need better lighting, security
It is outrageous that any woman who arrives at her residence hall after 11 p.m., when most parking lots are full, has only the option of parking in a place commonly called the "rape lot."
Yet students at Gertrude Sellards Pearson-Corbin Hall and Daisy Hill residence halls must do so.
Women at these residence halls have designated three parking lots as "rape lots" because of the unsafe feeling that many of them have there.
This is an atrocity, and the University of Kansas should change it.
At GSP-Corbin, one rape lot is a gravel-paved lot north of 11th and Indiana streets that has inadequate lighting. The other is northeast of GSP-Corbin next to Ohio Street. It is out of the way of passers-by and the lighting
Despite statistics, if students feel unsafe walking from car to home, changes are needed
also is insufficient.
The Daisy Hill rape lot is the west end of the lot in front of Lewis Hall, which is far from the halls and poorly lit.
Some students who park in such lots fear for their safety during the walk from their car to their residence halls. With all the things students have to worry about, safety on campus should not be one of them.
Sgt. Chris Keary, KU office of public safety, said that most rapes and assaults on campus occur inside the residence halls or in Jayhawker Tow-
ers.
Although there may not have been rapes in the rape lots, KU students, particularly women, can feel unsafe and vulnerable because of the isolation and poor lighting. When this is the case, statistics do little to give a feeling of security. The University should provide safe surroundings in which students can feel secure.
The University should provide more blue phones, better lighting, and more frequent KU police patrols in these lots. The proposed escort program is another solution that would increase students' sense of security and safety. Until then, students will continue to look over their shoulders, peer into the dark, and hope they make it home unharmed.
Emily Hughey for the editorial board
University should have had snow dav
The University of Kansas should reexamine its class cancellation policy.
Sunday's snow storm layered sidewalks and stairs on campus with ice, making them slippery and dangerous. Sidewalks were unsalted. Streets were un-shoveled. And students were forced to brave the elements for the sake of salvaging their last excused absences.
The University was the only acade mic institution in Lawrence, Topeka and Kansas City to have classes Monday. March 9. The administration said that college students are mature enough to make their own decisions about whether to go to classes or to stay at home because it was too dangerous.
Such reasoning would be appreciated if the University regularly treated its
Having class Monday was irresponsible, risked safety of students, faculty, staff
students like mature adults. However, in many classes students can miss class no more than three times before their grade drops a letter. Perhaps if the University gave each student the opportunity to choose his own attendance policy all the time, students would be more supportive of the administration's decision Monday.
Students were not the only ones who risked life and limb for the administration. Pressing on through environmental adversity for the sake of students' academic excellence, faculty and
staff went on campus, taught their classes and did their jobs. The administration asked its professors and teaching assistants to risk icy demise because the University did not want to deny its student body a learning opportunity.
Although learning is important, the safety of students, staff and faculty is more important. When the wind chill is in the negative degrees, when people are slipping down icy stairs and when every other school in the area deems the weather dangerous enough for a snow day, class at the University should not be in session. The administration should reevaluate what it considers to be a snow day, consider the safety of all, and be a little more responsible in the future.
Emily Hughey for the editorial board
Kansan staff
Paul Eakins . *Editorial*
Andy Obermuelmer . *Editorial*
Andrea Albright . *News*
Jodie Chester . *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*
Lachelle Roades . *News clerk*
News editors
Advertising managers
Kristi Bisel . . . Assistant retail, PR
Leigh Bottiger . . . Campus
Brett Cliffon . . . Regional
Nicole Lauderdale . . National
Matt Fisher . . Marketing
Chris Haghirian . . 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
"Perhaps in time the so-called Dark Ages will be thought of as including our
own." —G.C. Lichtenberg
**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.
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All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staufer-Filn 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 Andy Obermuller (andyo@kansan.com) at 864-4810. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page stuff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
Perspective
Last weekend I was hanging out at the Yacht Club watching some people affiliated with Delta Force attempt to light things on fire. I didn't know which was worse.
You should run from, not for. Student Senate
things on fire. I didn't know the fact that they had nothing better to do with their time than light things on fire or the fact that I had nothing better to do than watch them.
Regardless, I knew that in the long run they were the losers in this situation because some, if not all of them, are running for Student Senate.
Now, now, senate people, breathe deeply and put down your pens. You don't have to write your "Senate
Erin Rooney
opinion @ kansan.com
I'm here today to get people not to run for Senate. I'm here to show that the majority of students on campus don't give a rat's [noun deleted] about Senate and that their apathy is justified.
matters" letters to The University DailyKansan right this second. Read this before you complain.
The largest indicator that students don't care about Senate is voter turn-out. Last year was a fairly successful year and only 15 percent of students voted. More students attended the Kansas-Pella Windows basketball game this year.
I contend that students are at the University to receive an education. A KU graduate will get a job because of what she learned in classes, internships and her personality. Whether she was a Student Senator is worth next to nothing.
Seven years from now being a Senator won't be important at all. The friendships might still exist, but whether you voted to lower the drinking age won't matter at all. Just like it doesn't matter now if you were homecoming king in high school.
The world beyond the University doesn't function like Student Senate. After you've graduated and you have the desire to give money to the Kansas Union, that money comes directly out of your pocket and your pocket alone. You can't decide to force other people to give money. To get that to happen you'd have to hold a gun to a lot of people's heads or be a politician. I
hope and pray that you have more sense than that.
Further, I bet that the Center for Community Outreach helps more people, more effectively, than Student Senate. I would say the same for the non-traditional student organization OAKS, Hilltop Daycare center or the International Student Association.
If at enrollment time every KU student filled out a form and checked-off what groups received their money and how much then there'd be no need for the Senate Finance committee and virutally no need for Student Senate. It'd be a lot more efficient and meetings on Wednesday nights would be considerably shorter.
I understand that Student Senate votes to give supplemental funding to these groups, and I'm not arguing that this funding isn't worthwhile.
The tactics that coalitions use to get elected are humiliating. I pulled up Netscape on a computer in Budig Hall and someone had changed the preference page to a coalition's homepage. I checked other computers, and they were also set to the coalition's homepage. People go to the computer lab to do work or check their e-mail, not to have elections shoved down their throats.
But Student Senate isn't needed for these groups to exist.
If you want to show concern for campus, take my advice and use your talents somewhere besides Student Senate.
Finally, the cover of the Kansan the other day showed the opposing coalition picking up trash. Just to let the coalition know, this is fooling no one. Picking up trash will cease once the election is over, if it hasn't already, and the campus will return to the way that it was.
Student Senate isn't going to change the world. If you're running for Senate, get out while you still can and use your free time on Wednesday nights to do something a lot more worth your time.
I'd also argue that this is a campaign violation because I did not ask for this information to be supplied to me. If it applies to candidates' behavior on sidewalks, it should apply to computers in Budig Hall.
Erin Rooney is a Topeka senior in journalism.
Respect, not tolerance is key to human survival
a distinct habitat for understanding and perception of ourselves, as well as each other. Through these perceptions we subconsciously stratify our society. What does it mean to be an American citizen as we head toward the 21st century? I contend, it parallels that of Roman citizenship, during the height of Augustus Caesar's reign, with one outstanding exception. The evolutionary process has granted us tolerance. The First Amendment stands as a testimony toward this
As we wander down the path of life, our experiences shape our personalities and beliefs. Each individual is brought up in a distinct habitat. These habitats define our
Jason Holsman
opinion @ kansan.com
oueat. Now, it is our responsibility to continue building and bridge the separation from tolerance to respect.
ance of respect. Respect, In the proper context, is a powerful word. It possesses the capability to begin and end action. It is the epitome of agreeing to disagree. For us, as college students, our backgrounds are fairly similar. Although not all, but most, have a foundation of respect for the virtue that we all share. Past this point, respect is gained or lost through action and intent. At least, this is the way it should be transferred. Unfortunately, preceived notions, about an individual's disposition, dictates judgment. This becomes evident in our classes, social life and daily interactions. As humans, we love to label. Everyone must be associated or categorized in order for us to judge. Respect should be based on personal merit and character.
Race, ethnicity, religion and culture are the embs that boil our melting pot. Diversification has catapulted our nation to stardom. This country was built with hands from foreign lands. Fortunately, thanks to our steadfast Constitution, we have no choice but to tolerate or violate law. Some claim that this is enough to live in comfort. I submit that it falls short of our capabilities. Our
America is a strangely beautiful place. We've already accomplished more than any other civilization in history, and we have done it together. As the future leaders, decision-makers and participants of this nation, I plead to your heightened sense of reason. There remains so much left to be done. If we can make the move from tolerance to respect, we shall conquer. If not, the stress fractures in our dam will give way and drown the progress of our little river valley town. It is up to us to create the detail and envision the bigger picture.
current system is stable, but why remain complace? There are obvious stress fractures in our dam and our little river valley town is in danger.
Holsman is an Overland Park senior in political science and history.
What about respect for the true public servants? Have you ever gone out at 4 a.m. to thank your garbage man for a job well done? Society preconceives this job as filthy, blue-collar work. Why do you suppose garbage men work from 3 to 8 a.m.? They are scheduled these hours so the upstanding people don't have to witness waste being removed. Let these workers skip a month, and watch suburbia become an unsanitized landfill. Think about how healthy that would be for our children. Each garbage man, or woman, is an American who pays taxes, raises children and works hard at a job that you and I would never wish to do. Yet, everyday we take them for granted and tolerate the status quo. Imagine what a respectful "thank you" would do for the morale of these hard-working Americans. The few seconds you spend on saying it would impact an entire day.
Everyday we engage in interaction with another person. Some may be significant and some may not. Either way, it is the mindset in which you approach the situation that determines how you feel when you leave. When you've gone to the gas station or supermarket and a tolerant employee doesn't leave a lasting impression, give a respectful smile and brighten an individual's afternoon. I know this example sounds trivial, but it is the details that define the bigger picture.
Feedback
Kape article tactless and irresponsible
This letter is in response to the "Freshman allegedly raped by three men" article printed March 10,1998. This story had no business on the front page of The University Daily Kansan. A little more discretion would have been appropriate. I can't imagine
going through such a tremendously horrific experience, finding the courage to report it, then finding it, in great detail, on the front page of a newspaper. This woman's feelings obviously were not considered. I realize the point of the newspaper is to get the story and print it; however, I think a little tact could have been used.
The account of the incident wasasteless. People wonder why, if so many rapes happen, they aren't reported. Maybe it's because after enduring such a traumatic, degrading experience, they don't want one of the worst moments of their lives publicized for people to read about.
Alane Thomas Kansas City sophomore