Opinion THE UNIVERSITY DAILY Kansan THE UNIVERSITY-DAILY 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 Eanger, Retail sales manager Dan Simon, Sales and marketing adviser Justin Knupp, Technology coordinator Tuesday, Feb. 10, 1998 ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL Editorials Rx for poor policy: Add bad riders to otherwise worthwhile legislation Last week's Kansas Senate bill banning most abortion procedures at the University of Kansas Medical Center is an unjustified attempt at asserting legislators' morality into state education even when considered without regard to the usual abortion-rights advocate arguments. The bill's original purpose was to establish a private board to govern the Med Center. The board will boost the Med Center's competitive edge and increase its efficiency. Most Med Center students, faculty and medical officials were pleased with this portion of the bill. Unfortunately, this bill is one of many that illustrates the point that a good bill can't be passed without a bad amendment. Legislators tacked on a rider that bans Med Center abortion ban shouldn't have been added to independent governance bill most abortions. The rider was simply a manipulative tactic promulgated by anti-abortion legislators. Backers of the amendment seemed to have forgotten that the Med Center is a teaching hospital. Only a handful of abortions are performed at the Med Center annually. By banning these few abortions, the Kansas Legislature is robbing students of important medical training at the expense of their own sanctimony. The Kansas Legislature has crossed the line in their interference with education. The offense is blatant and reprehensible Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence, said she thought the bill was a good compromise. She was wrong. One was wrong. The bill was the only way to establish a private governing board for the Med Center. It virtually had to pass. Adding the abortion-ban rider was just a not-so-stealthy political maneuver that fools no one as to some legislators' intent. Last year there was public outcry about the abortion-ban rider. But this year people resigned themselves to the fact that the only way to achieve a much-needed legislative goal is to give in to short-sighted, right-wing, conservative anti-abortion advocates. This is a not compromise, it's a sham. It's bad law, bad policy and it should be changed immediately. Nadia Mustafa for the editorial board Breaking our arm to pat you on the back This week we are pleased to give thunderous applause and Pats on the Back to: Victoria Thomas, the university's general counsel, for her quick response to the Elections Commission about the draft of the elections code. The Athletics Department deserves a Pat on the Back for the Legends Game. This sell-out event highlighted the very best of the Kansas Basketball tradition. Students, fans and alumni enjoyed this well-planned, well-produced event. Jeff Rogers and the KU Law Volunteer Income Tax Assistants organization, who are offering free tax help to members of the University and Lawrence community through April 16. The group will provide individuals with assistance in filing their 1997 tax returns. Jeff and the volunteers deserve a Pat on the Back for sharing their skills with people who need tax help. Rene Meyer, a Liberal senior in business and computer science, is a co-coordinator of the Jayhawk Connection. Rene has helped this fleedling peer mentoring organization through its second successful year of pairing new students with students of similar interests. Rene and all of the 225 Jayhawk Connection volunteers have earned a Pat on the Back for making campus friendlier and easier for new arrivals to navigate. Jackie Brewer and Brad Badger, who provide help for disabled students to get to and from class. Jackie and Brad are on-call seemingly all the time to make sure that wheelchair-bound and other differently-abled students can get to class. For providing a valuable service — always with a smile and a kind word — Jackie and Brad have earned a Pat on the Back. Andy Rohrback, an Andover senior in journalism, and a University Daily Kansan staff member, who volunteers two days a week at the Kansas City Christian Academy, helping students establish their own school newspaper. For selfless giving of his time and talent, the editorial board is happy to give Andy a Pat on the Back. To nominate someone who makes your day brighter, contact the editorial editors at opinion@kansan.com or call 864-4810. Andy Obermueller for the editorial board Kansan staff Paul Eakins ... Editorial Andy Obermueller ... 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 Lacelle Rhoades ... News clerk News editors Advertising managers **Beverage messages** Kristi Bislel 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 Brian LeFevre Zone Matt York Zone "Not that I condone fascism or any 'ism' for that matter. Isms in my opinion are not good." - Ferris Bauer, Ferris Bauer's Day 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. All letters and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-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. Today we live in a world that half-heartedly hopes we will soon reach King's Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream of a unified world. Today we live in a world that half Prejudices persist in world, at University ideals, but does very little to embrace them. People are discriminated against because of the color of their skin and other prejudices, such as sexual orientation, physical handicaps, religion, political associations and economic status. Melissa Robinson cnnipin@asaa.com At the University of Kansas many stereotypes and prejudices thrive. The faculty and administration are viewed by some as too absorbed in their personal research or book-writing to care much about students. Perspectives Student Senate members often are perceived as a bunch of corrupt, self-righteous politicians driven by ulterior motives. The student body is thought to be too apathetic to care about either group. And there is evidence to support this. Only about 14 percent student body voted in the Student Senate elections in the spring. Bacn of us should dig down deep into those corduroy, khaki or denim pockets and find five cents of caring. We can bring change to this university, but it has to start with individual action. Before our races can unite, shouldn't our living organizations? Don't stereotypes about Greeks, residence halls and scholarship halls need to be abolished? Shouldn't political or living affiliations be seen as a facet of one's personality, rather than as the total person? How many of us can truly identify with someone from a different living organization, let alone a different race? Personal reflection may reveal that the need for change is pressing and imminent. Change can be achieved, I have learned. In early January, 65 of us reached the utopia of understanding at the LeaderShape Conference. Our only commonality was that we were the leaders of our many, diverse organizations we learned not only toleration, but respect. We created something called synergy, a dynamic energy greater than our individual spirits added together. We became committed to one common vision: Changing the University as a stepping stone to changing the world. After all, we have only this one, brief life to accomplish all that we are supposed to. I hope that when I die I am not remembered for the amount of money I made, the job I held or the powerful people with whom I was friends. Who wants a tombstone that reads, "Wow, she really had lots of money?" We each should do what few have dared: Recognize the purpose that comes with each life and leave the world a little better before handing it to future generations. Marshal Ferdinand Foch, commander-in-chief of the Allied forces in France during World War I, once said, "The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire." Each of us has the spark capable of becoming a raging fire. When we combine that with a common vision, we will be able to blaze a trail as a legacy for those who will follow. Commit to being minded. While many people at the University tout diversity as our biggest strength, how many of us seek to know about different cultures, religions or traditions? Melissa Robinson is a Hill City freshman in pharmacy. Wilt Chamberlain's visit to University bittersweet W lit the Stilt. The Big Dipper. Uncle Dippy. About three weeks ago, the University of Kansas was graced by one of the finest players ever to step foot on the hardwood. Wilt players ever to step foot on the haw Chamberlain. He gave us a few poignant words about the University, his "home." Now that the clamor has died down, let's refresh ourselves about just who I'm talking about. Wilt is the man who once scored 100 points in an NBA game, the man who still holds more than 50 NBA records, not to mention KU scoring and rebounds records. He is also the man who claims in an autobiography to have had sex with more than 20,000 women. David Toland opinion@kansan.com I agree wholeheartedly. How sweet it must be to virtually ignore for 40 years the University that, as he said, was an important building block in his basketball career and life, and then return to be honored by that very institution. How sweet it must be to be able to pull the wool over the eyes of thousands of KU alumni and students—including me initially—convincing them that the University is actually home to him. wut was treated horribly in many ways during his time at the University. Segregation was the rule in the 1950s, and he was forced to deal State game in which his No. 13 jersey was retired. Loving the spotlight, Wilt gave a touching speech in which he spoke about the University's infamous loss in triple overtime to North Carolina and how devastating it was to him. He went on to say that he felt that he let the University down by the loss and was met by a chorus of "No!" from the fans. But Wilt continued with panache: ".to come here today and feel the appreciation, the love and warmth...I've learned in life that you have to take the bitter with the sweet. And how sweet it is." Chamberlain was honored in a ceremony at halftime at the Kansas Realistically, it's understandable that he with the ignorance and prejudice of the times. He acted with courage and dignity and should be commended for helping to bridge the gap of segregation, particularly in college sports. Ically, it's understandable that he would have bad wishes toward the University and Lawrence. After turning down offers from more than 200 other schools to come to Kansas, Wilt discovered that the coach who had recruited him was being forced to retire and that he could not always go a burger at the nearest diner. Wilt, I think, was angry. And he had every right to be. But for him to suddenly give an encomium about the University, conveniently forgetting his track record of bad post-graduation relations with the University—and for us to swallow it—is ludicrous. His actions undermine his With this said, it is high time to start a new, happier chapter in our saga with Wilt. He is an untapped reservoir of fame and athleticism that must have people in University Relations falling over themselves to plaster his mug across the next Viewbook. The athletic department loved having Wilt around to add to Kansas' already considerable basketball prestige. Wilt could also be a boon to a university which has a lack of highly-visible alumni to speak on its behalf. Wilt's acknowledgement of the University can only help in the quest to regain the national spotlight and acclaim that it once had. Let's hope that Wilt's future actions will speak with half the force of his words. Feedback David Toland is an lola junior in political science. Stop moaning about the Scream Machine, it's a good thing I am one of the Big Jays. I am writing to respond to negative press about the Scream Machine. The reason we decided to introduce the Scream Machine was the success the idea had met at other Division I schools. credibility. Initially, I too was caught up in the emotion of the day, having a chill or two go down my spine as Wilt shouted the Rock Chalk chant. But stepping back, I can't help but think that calling the University "home" is an insult. At the first game things were not as good as we had hoped, but the idea was novel and we knew it would take a while to catch on. Last week at the Baylor game it was absolutely horrible. I was not in the suit at the time, since there are several of us, however I felt disgusted when University of Kansas Brian Carpenter Overland Park sophomore students were booing Big and Baby Jay, their mascots. We have decided to stop using this gimmick for the rest of this men's basketball season. However, this is not the end of the Scream Machine. We will use it again since it has received compliments from both alumni and administration. So the next time you see the Scream Machine, make some noise. When it comes down to it, all we are wanting to do is have a little fun. Correction The actual date is March 18. It is the KU Lobby Day, at which only KU students will lobby in Popoko. An editorial in yesterday's paper incorrectly gave the date of the Lobby Day that all KU students could attend as Feb. 18.