Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY Kansan
Published daily since 1912
Lindsey Henry, Editor Marc Harrell, Business manager Dave Morantz, Managing editor Colleen Eager, Retail sales manager Kristie Blasi, Managing editor Dan Simon, Sales and marketing manager Tom Eblen, General manager, news advisor Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Wednesday, March 11, 1998
Editorials
Guide dogs are cute and cuddly, but don't pet them while 'on duty'
The University of Kansas is a great place to live if you're a dog. Food is plentiful, companionship is offered from almost all passersby, and one cute look can woo your owner away from studying and into a potentially endless game of Frisbee.
But some dogs, despite their outwardly cute appearance, are on campus to do a job. Their job is to ensure that their blind owners get from one campus location to another safely.
location to mount a Guide dog and service animals, when in their harnesses, are trained to focus only on the job at hand. A guide dog waiting at a corner may seem as if it is just waiting to cross the street. But actually, the dog is acutely aware of passing buses, motorists, bicycles, pedestrians and other potential dangers. Approaching a guide dog with a "Hiya boy," may seem like a friendly thing to do. But it is
a distraction. The dog won't appreciate it and neither will the owner.
Training a guide dog takes about two years, including an intense month with the owner and trainer. But despite all the training, the dogs—just like humans—can be distracted. And this distraction could be deadly for a blind person.
per son.
Guide dogs are trained in 'intelligent disobedience.' When the dog-companion team approaches a crosswalk, for example, the dog does not make the decision to cross. The owner, who is listening to passing traffic, gives the 'forward' command when he or she thinks it is safe to cross. If the dog agrees, it will proceed across the street. If it sees an oncoming car or bicyclist, then it will not obey the command. This is a vital function that should not be interrupted.
But it is not only on street corners that
the dog should not be interfered with, it is at all times it is wearing a harness and guiding its owner. Even if the pair is just walking down Jayhawk Boulevard, the dog is making sure that there are no noverhanging objects that its owner will hit, no steps, and that there is enough room for the pair to pass through.
When guide dogs are at home with their owners and the harness is taken off, the dog undergoes a complete personality change and behaves like a normal pet dog. This down time is signified by the removal of the harness. Then and only then should an outsider ever touch or otherwise distract a guide dog.
Blind students, and their dogs, have to work hard to do the things that many students take for granted, like walking down the street or crossing at a crosswalk. Students shouldn't make their day any more difficult.
The editorial board staff
Office hours not time to campaign
Two of this year's candidates for Student Senate executive positions hold executive positions now. If either candidate is missing office hours or shirting the responsibilities of their current job, then students should issue them an ultimatum: Fulfill your responsibility or quit the job to concentrate on campaigning.
Emily Heath, Delta Force student body presidential candidate, is a codirector for the Center Community Outreach, a job that requires 20 office hours each week. She is paid by the state out of what is technically student money to coordinate volunteer efforts at the University.
Scott Kaiser, Campus Cause candidate for student body vice president, is the coordinator of KU on Wheels, the
Candidates for Student Senate who hold Senate jobs now shouldn't campaign on the clock
campus bus system. He also is paid by the state and required to serve 20 office hours.
There have been allegations from both sides that the other is not keeping his or her office hours. Heath has attended Delta Force Brown Bag lunches during her office hours, and Kaiser has also been absent from his office when he should have been there.
We have expounded on this before and we'll do it again: Neglecting your present responsibilities to campaign for a future position is wrong. Student
Senate has entrusted these two students to do a job. If Heath or Kaiser is eluding their responsibility, then that proves they not only can't perform that job, but also that they haven't earned another position with more responsibility. Like our mothers used to tell us, you have to make your bed before you can go outside and play.
Heath and Kaiser have performed well in their respective positions. The Center for Community Outreach does nothing but good, and KU on Wheels is one of the best student-run transportation systems in the country. Neither candidate should mar the job they have done so well by ending on a bad note.
They should not campaign on the state's nickel, just do their jobs. Students deserve no less.
The editorial board staff
Kansan staff
Paul Eakins ... Editorial
Andy Obermueller ... Editorial
Andrea Albright ... News
Jodie Chester ... News
Julie King ... News
Charity Jeffries ... Online
Eric Weslander ... Sports
Harley Ratliff ... Associate sports
Ryan Koerner ... Campus
Mike Perryman ... Campus
Bryan Volk ... Features
Tim Harrington ... Associate features
Steve Puppe ... Photo
Angle Kuhn ... Design, graphics
Mitch Lucas ... Illustrations
Corrie Moore ... Wire
Gwen Olson .. Special sections
Lachelle Roades .. News clerk
News editors
Kristi Bisel . Assistant retail, PR
Leigh Bottiger . Campus
Brett Clifton . 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
Advertising managers
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A revised Book of Job for the Festival of March
Perspective
Chapter 1
In the land of Stephenson, east of Allen, there was a blameless and unright man named Job. Job was prosperous,
with a G.P.A. over 3.5. His study life was tough, but still with enough time to enjoy the finer things in life, like for example, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. He had a good and pious roommate, who although was better than him in every way, was still an OK guy. His luck with the women, while not great, had at least upgraded to the point at which he could view women as friends, rather than various restraining orders to be maintained.
Bartkoski opinion@kansan.com
In all, Job had it good. He was faithful to Roy and the University of Kansas. The Festival of March was coming upon him, and he was preparing with kazooes and dancing and the fervent hope that very little profanity would be directed toward the referees during the festival.
One day, when the sons of Roy came to present themselves before Roy, The Professor also came among them. And Roy said unto him, "Have you noticed my servant Job, who cheers with great fervor during the games, and avoids the evil of listening to Dick Vitale?" And the Professor said, "It is for nothing that Job is righteous. Does he not have free time? Has he not slept well for many nights? If your protection were removed he would curse The University of Kansas and all it stands for." And in response Roy said unto The Professor, "His affairs are now your concern, you may do unto him as you will but spare his life."
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
And so the next day, Job, who was foolishly taking 18 hours in a vain attempt to graduate in four years, was given arduous projects in every single one of his classes. And the midterms rained down from heaven. Suddenly he had four and five and six papers due on the same day. And he started screwing up during his games of X-wing vs. TIE Fighter. But Job continued in his quiet celebration of the March Festival and did not cry out.
Chapter 3
Chapter 18
Once again the sons of Roy came to present themselves before Roy, and once again The Professor came among them. Roy said unto the Professor. "See how my servant Job remains righteous even though he has now faced adversity." And the Professor said, "But see how he is still gaining enough sleep to resist these problems. And perhaps he would not be so righteous if we began returning his papers to him with the grades he has actually earned. And finally, have you noticed how he's almost begun to accept that females are revulsed if he presents himself as a somewhat sexual object. If we start forcing him to confront these issues, then he would cry out
Chapter 4
So the Professor began returning Job's papers, and Job could hear his G.P.A. slip. Furthermore, the Professor placed him in such a position that he had three papers and two exams due during the course of three days, forcing him to forego the sleep he so cherished. Finally, it dawned on Job that the ladies weren't exactly laughing with him, but Job still did not curse the University, and he continued his celebration of the March Festival.
against the University of Kansas and all it stands for!" And Roy again said "He is in your power; only spare his life."
Job had three associates that he confided in: Peter ben Foldsive, Rush ben Andjerrys, and George ben Kenobi. They spoke to Job in such words:
You who once was the favored of Roy
Art thou smoking the much better crack than the previous crack that could be found.
Art thou out of thy gourd,
Are not his musings that of an ass?
Are not man's days like a mate.
Are not his musings that of an as.
And Job replied by saying:
Are not his missings that of us?
He toils and flunks an toils and flunks
One who is not fit to clean Raef LaFrentz's look strap.
He toils and flunks and toils and flunks
And nothing can improve his lot.
(Especially if he is grossly incompetent like me).
And Job's friends left him, especially since the Professor's latest trial on Job was a B.O. problem that wouldn't quit.
And yet Job would not cry out, and continued to celebrate the March Festival.
And then Roy addressed Job out of the TV and said:
I question you,
Pleasing to the admissions desk,
The University knew you in your high school days.
To the point of making little cash register noises.
It has molded six hundred and five thousand students before you,
Some with journalism degrees that have worth
Do you question the callous and cruel ways,
With which you are treated
Only in the paper they are printed on.
So look you
Or have we destroyed your ability to think for yourself
And Job replied, "huh?"
Like those thousands before you.
And Roy saw that Job's piousness was true, and Job went on to somehow salvage that semester and graduated in four years, getting a cushy job worth 40 grand a year with nice benefits. And to mark his covenant with Job, Roy put a new banner in the Firmament of Allen that says "National Champions 1998."
And Roy saw it was good
Bartkoski is a Basehor junior in English and journalism. He is going to Hell.
A Bill to Amend Student Senate Rules and Regulations, Articles IV and V
Summary: This bill calls for changes in the composition and duties of the Communications Board.
Legislation pending before committees
Sponsor: Dede Seibel, Nunemaker Senator
Referred to : University Affairs and Student Rights
Sponsor: Ann Marchand, Journalism Senator Referred to: Student Rights and Finance
A Bill to Amend Student Senate Rules and Regulations, Article VII
Summary: This bill calls for changes to Article VII pertaining to funding for special events.
A Bill to Amend Student Senate Rules and Regulations, Article I
Summary: This bill calls for changes to Article I concerning the percentage of majority needed to amend Rules and Regulations.
Sponsor: Ann Marchand, Journalism Senator
Referred to: University Affairs and
Student Rights
A Petition to Assist in Increasing Diversity on Campus
Summary: This bill calls for allocation of $1,483 from the Reserve Account for general funding and an honorarium.
Sponsor: Aaron Profitt, Nunemaker Senator.
A Bill to Fund the Environmental Studies Student Organization
Summary: This bill calls for allocation of $135 for the group's Benefit Bicycle Ride.
Referred to: Multicultural Affairs and Finance
Sponsor: Partha Mazumdar, Graduate Senator
A Bill to Fund the KU Korean Student Association (KUKSA) Korean Culture Night
Sponsor: Dede Seibel, Nunemaker Senator Referred to: University Affairs and Finance
Referred to: Multicultural Affairs and Finance
Feedback
University negligent during bad weather
A blanket of ice and snow fell on Lawrence on March 8. This mixture of melting snow and ice formed a thin sheet of ice during the night as temperatures fell below zero. On March 9, the University of Kansas held classes as usual despite the region's school closings. These closings included the Lawrence public schools, the Kansas City-area schools and Topeka schools. In addition, all of the area's colleges were closed because of this inclement weather. But the Univer-
sity, being a hero to all who love to slip, slide, fall and even crash on the ice, decided to hold classes. Not to mention the fact that the wind chill was up to 25 degrees below zero at times.
Students are expected to show up for class everyday, unless accompanied with a
The decision of the University created many problems. However excusable as some of them are, there is one that is not: The fact that the University failed to salt the steps and sidewalks, (such as those between Wescoe and Haworth halls and the south Naismith lot sidewalk), is inexcusable.
sanctioned University excuse.
Is the University's negligence in not salting or scraping the snow and ice off of the sidewalks an excuse for someone being irresponsible and not fulfilling their duty? Should the University be held liable for the accidents, wrecks, falls, and injuries sustained by students trying to get to class?
It must be the students' decision to attend class during inclement weather, since we give our money to the school, right?
Maybe not.
Chandra Cranmer Wichita freshman
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