Opinion
Kansan
Published daily since 1912
4A
Lindsey Henry, Editor
Dave Morantz, Managing editor
Kristie Blasi, Managing editor
Tom Eblen, General manager, news adviser
Marcel Harrell, Business manager
Colleen Eager, Retail sales manager
Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser
Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1998
W. David Keith / KANSAN
Editorials
Trading the dankness of Blake Annex for the crowded corral of Wescoe
After years of plans to demolish Blake Annex, the teaching assistants and staff who called the building home were finally kicked out last semester and sent to the basement of Wescoe.
TAS deserve to have adequate offices and resources.
Blake Annex should have been demolished years ago to make room for a building that better met the needs of its occupants. The annex has heating and cooling problems and is smelly and dark. The nineteen Spanish, Portuguese and social welfare TAs and staff housed in the building often had to draw maps in order for students to find their desks.
Plans for its demolition are scheduled after asbestos is removed.
The former Blake Annex TAs now occupy a renovated space in the base
TAs deserve to have better offices than their current wall-less subterranean digs
ment of Wescoe, which they have appropriately named the corral. The space, shared by 64 TAs, consists of a square room the size of two Wescoe classrooms and two offices used as conference rooms.
The corral has no divisions and no desks; the TAs are lucky to have two computer workstation tables and some filing cabinets. Lockers were promised but have not yet arrived, so there is no secure storage space.
Because they must share the conference rooms, only four TAS can schedule office hours at the same time. Many are forced to meet with students
in the hallway or at Wescoe Terrace.
Tas justifiably complain about the office. And about the administration, which extols undergraduate education but neglects those who provide it.
There are rumors that TAs in other departments will experience similar reorganization in the near future. The administration should consider shifting priorities and devoting more resources to finding a long-term solution to this problem.
The administration should allocate adequate resources to give TAs usable office space. TAs and students both deserve a private place to meet. TAs also deserve a place to prepare for classes in a quiet, private environment. They are not cattle and should not be coralled by the administration, simply because it can't find space.
TAs deserve offices.
Nadia Mustafa for the editorial board
Thunderous applause and congratulations
This week's Pats on the Back go to:
Kristen Hall, St. Louis senior,
deserves a Pat on the Back for keeping
the Student Senate office going after the
office's secretary resigned to take a different job. Kristen is doing the work of two but hasn't quit smiling since she took office last year.
Frank Burge, former director of the Unions, for continuing to be a positive force on campus. You may have seen Mr. Burge riding his three-wheeled bike on campus, sharing an orange with friends, or giving doughnuts to hungry bus drivers. Mr. Burge is an avid KU supporter and about the nicest gentleman we've run across. He deserves three cheers and a Pat on the Back.
Two teams from the Kansas Debate
Squad have been invited to compete in the national tournament without first going through the qualifiers tournament. This honor is given to only 16 teams. For representing the University so well, Hajir Ardebili, Overland Park senior, Grant McKeesan, Overland Park sophomore, Amy Miller, Kansas City junior, and Mike Eber, Miami, Fla., sophomore, deserve a Pat on the Back.
Willie Thomas, The University Daily Kansan production guru, deserves a Pat on the Back for putting up with 30 years of journalism brats and countless late nights putting the Kansan together. Willie has taken a well-deserved leave of absence. We miss Willie and his skill and are awaiting his return.
has gone through more than 30 hours of hearings and deliberations to put together the line-item allocation budget for next year. The committee, led by Jordan Edwards, Junction City junior, and Aaron Quisenberry, assistant director of student finance, deserves a Pat on the Back for their hard work during long hours.
Kielyn Scott, Wichita senior in biology, was chosen as the new president for Student Union Activities. She'll oversee programming that most students take part of in some form, from Day on the Hill to speakers at the Lied Center. For taking on such a large responsibility with a vision, a smile and a can-do attitude, we're happy to give Kielyn a Pat on the Back.
Student Senate's finance committee
Andy Obermueller for the editorial board
Kansan staff
Paul Eakins . Editorial
Andy Obermuelier . Editorial
Andrea Albright . News
Jodle Chester . News
Julie King . News
Charity Jeffries . Online
Eric Weslander . Sports
Harley Rattif . 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 Rhoades . Neus clerk
News editors
Advertising managers
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
"Such is the human race, often it seems a pity that Noah...didn't miss the boat."
—Mark Twain
**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.
How to submit letters and guest columns
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.
Perspective
All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staufer-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 Andy Obermueller (andyo@kansan.com) at 864-4810. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the page staff (opinion@kansan.com) or call 864-4810.
Aware I'm unaware and I just don't care
The seventh snooze alarm finally woke me up this morning, but I got halfway to lunchtime before I realized that something was horribly wrong.
Next, I thought about homework. Did I forget a midterm, misplace an essay, or let a too-long-put-off research paper go too long? I laughed when I realized the absurdity of such an idea. I haven't been in the habit of
Andy Rohrback
oignion@kansan.com
turning in work on time—why start now?
First, I made sure that was wearing all of the clothing necessary for leaving the house. I've had more than my share of night mares in which I was no doing so. I was relieved to find that the odd feeling was not a draught.
Suddenly the reason for my uneasiness struck me, and it set my world askew. I had gone almost two hours without being aware.
I wept silent tears at the back of a lecture hall as I became aware of my crime. So many well-meaning people had invested valuable time and money, even staged media-savvy protests, to keep me from committing such a sin. Yet here I was, living in a world without awareness.
Panic-stricken, my mind raced to catch up. Was I aware of the environment? Aware of human rights in Tibet? Aware of the healing power of Philip Glass? It seemed that just as I had raised my awareness level on one issue, another issue faded from my mind. Such a condition threatened not only me but also my community.
Shuffling books and the wailing whistle ended my class. I wandered across campus in a daze, the danger of a lack of awareness made only too real. This was a nightmare even more frightening than the one where I was aware of showing up at class in my Pretenders pajamas.
Carefully, deliberately, I recited more of the awareness canon. Was I aware of date rape? Of AIDS? Of sex? Drugs? Rock and roll?
Are you okay? "my friends asked, noticing my wild-eyed appearance. "You look more confused and disoriented than usual."
"Am I aware of cancer?" I asked myself. "What about Duthelm elm disease? Am I aware of the Rocky Mountains, John Denver, and the economic diversification needs of Côte d'Ivoire? What about the social injustice of the petroleum market?"
Soon, I found South Park and a friendly group of people who were only too eager to raise my awareness level.
When I tried to explain my plight, their faces paled and they shrank back as if I had a communicable disease. "Have you tried seeing a doctor?" they asked.
But their suggestion made me aware of an idea. I raced downtown to Massachusetts Street in search of a remedy.
"I don't think that Watkins is qualified to deal with problems like this." I twaswered.
Just by looking at me, they were aware of my problem. Instantly a group of their most high-tyrained awareness-enforcers circled me and tied me to the ground. Then they caringly struck me repeatedly with picket signs. Finally, in an inspiring act of human kindness, they tossed me in the back of one of their bumper-sticker-laden Volkswagens and dumped me near the South Lawrence Trafficcw.
When I regained consciousness, a thankful tear rolled down my bruised cheek. I could feel my awareness level rising. I was aware of ethnic cleansing, drum circles, affirmative action, fall break, and the ethics of dissection.
I whispered my heartfelt gratitude to the awareness-enforcers who were aware enough to put my world back in order.
Rohrback is an Andover senior in journalism.
He really did have Pretenders pajamas.
Feedback
Call for co-editor's head misguided
Not only was the column in poor taste, but it also lacked any sort of redeeming literary value. As I read the article I kept waiting for Mr. Spacek to make a point. Unfortunately, that never happened.
As a reader and staff member of The University Daily Kansan, I was both appalled and shocked at Nick Spacek's column that ran this past Thursday.
There's an old saying among politicians: Never get into an argument with someone who buys ink by the barrel. You might add the following phrase — especially if the journalist writes opinion and is under no obligation to present facts objectively and remain uninvolved.
Ted Frederickson professor of journalism
Suicide column bad judgment by editor
Maybe he thought he was being funny. He wasn't.
Incidentally, although Andy Obermeyer and I do not share much ideological common ground, I like and respect him very much. And, I would be very surprised to learn that Andy was working with any student politician to accomplish some political objective.
Maybe our editors think that suicide is a cute topic. It isn't.
Neither readers nor editors expect those who write columns and editorials to be neutral. They get paid to be opinionated. Andy Obermueller and Jason Fitzell have contrary opinions. Both opinions were shared with readers of The University Daily Kansan. I think that's the way the system is supposed to work.
It is embarrassing that the editors of the opinion page would allow such a worthless and offensive article to be published. Many people, including myself, have been either directly or indirectly affected by a suicide. Mr Spacek made a complete mockery of a serious and tragic subject and in the process exposed the editors of the opinion page. Andy Obermeller and Paul Eakins, as both unprofessional and untrustworthy.
I find it hard to believe that either Obermuer eller Eakins thought that Spacek's article was quality work. Instead, it looks as if Obermuer has once again taken his desperate need to solicit negative response one step too far.
It is these types of poor decisions that give the Kansan such a poor reputation on campus. I
Mobile Chernobyl column was illogical
Harley V. Ratliff Associate Sports Editor
Hemenway should have been there to officially welcome his newest colleague in the Kansas regents system. For him to be absent from these festivities is disrespectful of President Schalenkamp, disscounted to the Emporia community and an embarrassment to our local alumni and 'Hawk supporters.
Chancellor should've gone to ESU event
Janette C. Borst Emporia State University
only hope that Obermueller's and Eakins' lack of taste and professionalism does not reflect negatively on the rest of the Kansan staff. We all work hard to produce one of the nation's best college newspapers.
On Feb. 14, Kay Schallenkamp was inaugurated as the 14th president of Emporia State University. Forty-four institutions of higher learning were represented. More than half were college or university administrators. The University of Kansas was represented by Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, associate provost.
As the parent of two 1997 KU graduates, it was disappointing that Chancellor Robert Hemenway was absent. Nine university presidents from five states, including Wichita State, Fort Hays State and Pittsburgh State, were present. But not the University of Kansas'.
Andrea Repinsky's argument (Feb. 19) about the supposed dangers in transporting nuclear waste and safely storing it at its final destination was ill-thought. Her concern that transporting nuclear waste will lead to accident that will provide terrorists with opportunities to sabotage those shipments is misplaced. Since 1980, nuclear missiles have been riding on trucks and trains through Kansas. I learned this while working as an intern for the Kansas Historical Society. In the papers of the Carlin administration, open to the public, you can find correspondence to the governor requesting access through Kansas and a reply granting it. If the federal government has been shipping missiles for this long without incident, then why does the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation suddenly assume that the government will become sloppy?
Repinsky reports that there are no guarantees that the waste will remain contained and safe. This statement is ludicrous. She wrote that it is true that many reactors are experiencing a shortage of storage space. Oh my God! They're storing the nuclear waste right next to the reactors. The country is doomed.
All I've been hearing about is support for a KU fan whose rights were violated when his sign was taken away at a basketball game. Everyone thinks that the Athletic Department was wrong. Lagree.
You know what? Congress just might have thought the matter through and passed a sensible bill.
So why is it that now I'm seeing letters to the editor complaining about a column written by Nick Spacek about suicide? The University Daily Kansasan printed that column because Nick Spacek has first amendment rights. I wouldn't be surprised if the people writing the complaints were the same people ready to protest for the freedom of speech of the KU fan.
Spacek's article was about how hard it would be to kill yourself in a residence hall. He wasn't being serious. It was meant to be humorous. See, Kurt Cobain should have lived there because then he couldn't have killed himself. Get it?
Or not. If they are storing the waste next to the reactors and we haven't experienced a dozen more Chernobyls, then maybe they have devised a safe storage unit. In that case, why don't we build a huge one in Yucca Mountain and put the waste there?
OK, so maybe Spaceck won't be a writer for The Daily Show. And granted, suicide is a touchy subject. But he has the right to write his column, and the Kansan respected that. I commend the Kansan for supporting his rights, and if you've spent the week complaining about the Athletic Department, you should too. So maybe the column offended you. That's OK. But don't tell him he shouldn't have written it and don't tell the Kansan editors they shouldn't have printed it. If you are going to support First Amendment rights, you should support them for everyone. The column was supposed to be funny. Lighten up.
Ivan Williams Osage City junior
Lighten up: Suicide column was a joke
Katie O'Hara Overland Park junior